Chapter: 680
Carolus Livnoman. The first royal born since the Emperor’s ascension and the Emperor’s first son.
In the reign of Aimanque, at the age of 17, he will be known as the Crown Prince of the imperial family, and upon Aimanque’s 18th birthday, he’ll receive the title of marquis, becoming the new patriarch of the collateral line, just like Ainter.
To top it off, not only does he carry the blood of the royal family, but he also has noble lineage from the Nuiren Ducal House, one of the five ducal families of the Empire. Therefore, the celebrations for his birth were nothing short of extravagant. It was so grand it would put an average birthday party for a newborn to shame.
‘Is this a sneak peek at the New Year’s Ball?’
As I scanned the guests attending the banquet, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
All five dukes were present, along with no less than thirteen marquises. With Ainter even gracing us with his presence at the banquet instead of just staying at the residence, it was safe to say that all senior officials of the Empire had gathered here.
To be honest, even if we included mid-level positions and lower ranks, attendance was bordering on 100%.
“Everyone came just to see Carolus!”
The Crown Princess, snug in my arms and surveying the banquet hall, puffed her chest with pride.
What a cute sight! The attendees had come for the prince, but the Crown Princess was the one beaming with pride. If she were about ten years older, would she have felt jealous and protective over her little brother, stealing the spotlight?
‘Somehow, I doubt it.’
No matter how many times I pondered, I couldn’t imagine the Crown Princess being jealous of her sibling. She had an inherently gentle and kind nature.
“Time to say thanks!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Make sure to bring everyone! I want to thank them for coming to see Carolus!”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at that.
The age difference between the Crown Princess and the prince was only three years. She was still little, but here she was, wanting to express her gratitude. This was beyond commendable; it was something astonishing!
“Can I…?”
“Of course, you can! No problem at all!”
“Yay!”
The Crown Princess, who had been pouting, lit up with a beaming smile at my words.
Let’s head over to where the dukes have gathered. Since Prince Ewald, who is rumored to have blessed family ties for three generations and holds a prominent position there as well, is present, I figured it would make for a smooth introduction.
As the Crown Princess descended from my arms, she stood tall, looking up at the dukes with a regal air.
“Welcome! Thank you all for being here!”
Her lively greeting brought a smile to the Vice-Captain, who knelt slightly to match her height. Given their size difference, simply bending the waist wouldn’t suffice.
“Thank you for your warm welcome, Your Highness. I’m honored to be received so kindly.”
“No! You all came to see Carolus! I’m the one who should be thanking you!”
“Ha ha, is that so? It’s a privilege.”
As the Vice-Captain rose, a silver-haired man behind him knelt before the Crown Princess.
“Long time no see, Your Highness. Have you been well?”
If someone was dragged out of bed, they’d probably look a bit disheveled like this guy, but the Crown Princess seemed just delighted, nodding away.
“Yep! Have you been okay, Uncle?”
If that weary soul was family, it was no wonder she was glad to see him.
“Thanks to your worries, I’ve been well.”
He said that, and then Ewald took a quick glance around before pulling out a small box from his robe.
As someone who recognized it immediately, I had to stifle a grin at the size, packaging, and brand—these were the chocolate boxes I had secretly bought for the Crown Princess!
“This is a little gift from your uncle. Keep it a secret from the Empress, alright?”
“Wow! Uncle, you’re the best! I’ll eat it all up!”
Seeing the Crown Princess clutch the box and giggle was heartwarming, and Ewald couldn’t help but smirk back.
While this was clearly a sweet exchange between uncle and niece, the zombie-like look in Ewald’s eyes made it heartbreaking. What sort of escapades had he faced in the Hablem Duchy?
“I’ll share it with Carolus!”
“Your Highness, Prince Carolus isn’t old enough for chocolate yet. Remember, we agreed to keep this a secret from the Empress…”
“Oh! Mama!”
“Your Highness…?”
While scanning the room, the Crown Princess spotted the Empress approaching and dashed off toward her.
There was no point in mentioning how forlorn Ewald looked as he watched her run away.
“The Empress will surely let it slide since you’ve said it’s for my nephew.”
“I certainly hope so.”
Ewald nodded, a bitter smile breaking across his face, as if to say, “What can you do?”
“Speaking of which, Minister, since you’re here with the Empress, I prepared a little gift for you too.”
Ewald rummaged through his robe, as if just remembering, producing a blue fountain pen.
I felt a bit touched. For a guy who looked like he just crawled out of bed to bring a gift along was quite something.
“Because of you, it seems the Empress and the Emperor can enjoy their peaceful days. Though it’s a small gesture, please accept this as my heart.”
“I’ll use it until the day I retire.”
“Ah, I can’t say it will last that long.”
I was amused by his self-deprecating comment. Ewald gently patted my shoulder and, avoiding the incoming gaze of the Empress, he stepped behind the Vice-Captain.
Just like the Vice-Captain, who thought of me like a son, Ewald regarded me as a brotherly figure. Despite our busy lives, every now and then we met, and he always thought to bring a little something.
“Your Majesty! It’s a true pleasure to see you on such a joyous occasion. It feels like I found a moonbeam in the darkness.”
With that, I redirected the attention toward me rather than let it linger on Ewald.
Having received a lovely gift, I felt compelled to return the sentiment. Besides, giving Ewald a good-natured teasing from his little sister was simply too much!
“Such shameful words. Is it alright for you to say those in front of your wife?”
“The Empress is the mother of all subjects. It’s only natural that a child praises her mother’s beauty.”
Even as I flirted with the risk of a national tragedy in front of Trixie, my smooth words put a deeper smile on the Empress’s face.
Thankfully, I managed to capture her attention.
“By the way, Minister, what about that fountain pen?”
“It’s a token of friendship from Prince Ewald. While he humbly claims his taste isn’t up to par with your majesty’s, what’s more precious than a heartfelt gift from a friend?”
A peculiar gaze fell upon the back of my head. Ewald must be silently protesting that he never said such a thing.
But hold on now. This is all for finding a way to escape the Empress’s scrutiny!
“Kind of you to say! Though, brother, your taste has never been the best. Still, as the Minister mentioned, your heart has always been warm.”
As Ewald felt the sting of my words, the Empress’s expression lightened up even more.
Now Ewald’s chocolate deal with the Crown Princess had shifted into an act of ‘goodwill.’
*
Stepping back, I took a moment to smile at the beautifully and extravagantly decorated banquet hall.
Yes, this was the right choice. This was the correct path. Preparing such a magnificent banquet for my child, for Carolus, was undoubtedly the right thing to do.
Honestly, the authority of the Crown Princess and the solid royal succession path in the palace wasn’t something that could easily be swayed by a single banquet. I had simply overreacted due to the sensitivity surrounding legitimacy from me and the Emperor.
“I pledge everything I have to support Crown Princess. My family, along with those bound by my ties, will do their utmost to bolster Her Highness’s reign.”
If the Minister had not offered such words back then, would I have made a lifelong decision that I’d regret?
No matter how I think about it, I owe a great debt to that Minister. If I could, I wanted to grant him a few more territories.
“Dad!”
“Your Highness?”
However, bestowing new territory upon the Minister, who already held vast land from the Leon Kingdom, would only further exacerbate the talent shortage. While pondering a gift of more value than mere land, the Crown Princess trotted up to me.
“I want to hold Carolus!”
At that, I gently patted her head.
It would be risky and insecure to trust a newborn prince to the tiny hands of the Crown Princess. Under normal conditions, such an occurrence would be out of the question.
Yet, this banquet was meant to celebrate the prince’s birth, but also to showcase the Crown Princess’s love for him. There was no better performance than watching the young Crown Princess lovingly cradle her infant brother and walk around.
And as a father, it was a moment I wanted to witness, to see my eldest celebrate her baby brother’s arrival with fervent joy.
“Alright. Let’s get you ready.”
As I finished speaking, the royal mages behind me rushed up to the Crown Princess, casting various spells on her.
Magic to temporarily enhance stamina and strength. Spells that boosted agility and balance. Barriers to ensure that even if she tripped, she and the prince wouldn’t touch the ground. All measures were taken to ensure she could hold the prince without issue.
“Now, let’s show him off to our guests.”
“Yay! Let’s go!”
Nodding enthusiastically, the Crown Princess reached out to take the prince from the maid.
It was an utterly heartwarming scene.
*
In a crowd or not, young Carolus was blissfully asleep. The Crown Princess, holding him high to display her little brother, while the nobles bowed their heads in reverence to the newborn rightful heir of Livnoman.
What a sight! In front of the Emperor and Empress, in the presence of the Duke and all, this was a moment where the next Emperor was being held high by the Crown Princess. What a scenario to bask in the spotlight!
‘Just grow up to be a kind lad.’
I didn’t expect much from the boy. Just that the prince, born under everyone’s blessings, could be a blessing himself for Livnoman. I wished for him to grow with kindness over wisdom or bravery.
One calamity like Dorgos was enough for a lifetime.
“Long live Livnoman! Long live Kefellofen!”
“Long live the Emperor! Long live Crown Princess! Long live Prince Carolus!”
The cheers from the nobles erupted, shaking the banquet hall in applause.
Fortunately, thanks to the magical precautions arranged in advance, the prince didn’t wake up crying.
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