Chapter: 817
In the spirit of year-end celebrations, the judicial inspections broke out on a grand scale, marking the transition of the Duke of Wulken. And among only eight people on this continent, it is known that Trixie is planning to retire from her dukedom position.
It was as if big events were falling from the sky like snowflakes! It made me wonder if Enen, up there, was throwing out events for the humans.
‘Well, this year was going to be chaotic anyway.’
I sipped my tea while gazing out the window at the snow-covered garden.
There was no need for Enen to plan an event because humans had their own lined up. The Pope’s retirement, and my own canonization were stealthily being prepared. I might not have heard from the Pope a specific date, but it doesn’t seem likely to last into next year.
‘A living canonization, huh.’
A bitter smile crept onto my face. Until just recently, I was too frazzled to remember this, but at this rate, I might end up becoming a saint around the same time as I become a dukedom representative. A mad fiasco where I carry both the authority of the ecclesiastical and the secular!
It’s almost laughable just thinking about it. The minister of the Imperial Inspection, the Duke of Servette representative, and a living saint all at once—who would have thought a single person would be burdened with such weights that keep piling up?
No, not just a feeling; it’s the truth. It feels like the gods are testing me, saying, “Can you endure this much? How tough are you?” It couldn’t be sadder.
“Time’s up!”
“Oppa!”
“Huh?”
Lost in my gloomy thoughts while sipping my tea, I turned at the sounds of the Crown Princess and Pedi.
The two kids arrived riding the waves of kindness and charity. Following them, with pure joy shining on her face, was Titi—
“Maaa~”
Oh, and there was Behemoth Junior, who was temporarily loaned out from Behemoth.
Wait, did we decide to just call him Junior?
“Time’s up! When are we going to see our Behemoth!?”
‘Oh no.’
And with the Crown Princess’s direct question, I internally sighed.
– We’ll temporarily leave this child with you. Show him to your little ones, and if you want to see such a cute creature again, tell them to come back in a month.
When I borrowed Junior from Behemoth, we discussed a visit timeframe of about a month.
However, with Tannian’s wedding, the judicial inspections, and the Duke of Wulken’s transition, we’ve suddenly entered February. It went past a month and into two now.
‘They’ll feel disappointed.’
Though they don’t express it actively, Behemoth loves when kids come over. But with two months passing without them visiting, I could imagine he’d secretly feel a bit sad.
‘At least the snow has stopped.’
I glanced out the window and saw that the heavy snowfall from just an hour ago had vanished. Only the traces of snow covered the ground.
“Shall we leave now?”
“Really!? Right now!?”
“Of course. If the snow fell, it might have been a bit tricky, but it cleared just in time for us. Isn’t that a revelation from the heavens, playing with the Behemoth?”
“Yay! I’m going to play with Behemoth!”
Seeing the Crown Princess’s eyes twinkle made me feel even more guilty.
Not only did I mistakenly gift Behemoth a no-show, but it also seems like I abandoned the kids for adult matters for far too long. I should appreciate how patient they’ve been waiting.
“Pedi, should we all go together?”
“Yeah! I’ll call the others!”
As soon as Pedi replied, the kind-hearted followed suit and swiftly turned around.
“Master! I’ll go to the three ladies first!”
“Okay!”
With that, the sound of hooves resounded loudly as they disappeared down the hallway.
It’s clear that Pedi has his own extraordinary steed, making me feel pleased. Even without formally teaching him to ride, he’ll go down in the annals of history. What kind of rider wouldn’t want to be a legend?
“I’ll bring the others back!”
“Let’s go, Princess.”
This time, Charity vanished with the Crown Princess in tow.
Pedi riding a horse and the Crown Princess riding a deer—surely a sight that would make others gasp. It might even drift into the realm of being awe-inspiring.
‘This is why they keep coming to my place.’
The Crown Princess, with her regular visits, has a habit of playing around. Recently, it’s been quieter with Henrietta popping by whenever it’s least expected and now Helen, who seems likely to visit soon.
There’s a reason why the kids are so fixated on our house instead of their own. While this is a newfound realization, watching Charity and Kindness glide away softly makes it feel all the more profound.
“Wasn’t it just you at first?”
– Moo?
After two kids and two mounts had left, I patted Titi, who was panting beside me.
Of course, this mansion wasn’t initially an animal kingdom. It started out as purely human habitations, but then Titi came along and gradually more beasts joined the party…
‘How many would that be now?’
At this point, including the spirits, it’s safe to say it’s countless.
– Moooo.
“Want a petting too?”
– Mooooo!
The lonely Junior waddled over, making cheerful sounds.
Now that I think about it, I owe him an apology too. He was supposed to stay just a month but ended up here for two. It’s like having him reassigned without the return date firmly set! That thought alone makes me shudder.
“You’ve been through a lot. It’s time to meet your owner again.”
Junior simply licked my hand in response.
And I discovered that Cow slobber is pretty sticky right after embracing Mary, who had just crawled onto the scene.
“Ewwww…”
I shut my eyes, feeling sorry as I watched Mary squirm at the sticky and wet sensation.
Sorry for the sudden hug, Daddy’s just trying to be affectionate.
Leading nine kids, we ventured towards Behemoth.
– Ah, you finally made it. I’ve been waiting.
“Sorry for the delay. There was a lot to handle.”
– No need to apologize. I fully understand how busy you are.
The Behemoth lightly shook its head at my apology.
Well, to Behemoth, it’s light, but to someone who sees, it would look like a rock was swaying back and forth.
– On the contrary, due to the time that has passed, I have also completed the preparations for the little ones.
“Preparations?”
I turned my head slightly towards Behemoth and realized what he meant.
The lake that Behemoth was crafting last time I was here… The terrain around it had shifted dramatically.
In front of the lake, it now resembled a typical pasture for raising cows or sheep. And farther back, it looked like the grasslands we saw in the western regions of Yuben.
‘Is this really possible?’
It’s a marvel. With Behemoth around, I expected the ones from Yuben to live pretty well in the empire, but I never imagined he would go as far as changing the terrain itself.
Even more astonishing is that this wasn’t a miracle performed by a god; it was accomplished by a sentient being! To achieve such a feat after being reborn from death—it makes me ponder just how many miracles were performed when he was a god. It’s no wonder he’s revered as divine.
Suddenly, I found myself curious about what miracles the sky gods in the north can perform, but I quickly brushed it off. No need to provoke an easily irritated deity.
“Wow! Look! The animals we saw at the zoo! There are so many!”
“They’re all so big! Huge!”
The astonishment on the kids’ faces as they gazed at the incredible harmony between the eastern and western continents was priceless.
They’d already beamed with joy at seeing a few of the caged animals before, but now they were face to face with swathes of them in the open grasslands. Not just any ordinary creatures like cows or sheep, but giraffes, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, ostriches, buffaloes, and bison!
Honestly, even adults would be in awe witnessing such a spectacle. If I had come alone, I would have hopped onto a bison and gone on a wild safari!
“I never knew you’d set it up so nicely. Thank you!”
– Taking care of the children is my duty. I was just fulfilling what’s expected of me.
With those words, Behemoth glanced at Junior, who had been sticking close to me.
– Oh.
Then he nodded appreciatively, as if impressed.
– It appears you’ve taken good care of that child. I see trust in their eyes directed towards you.
“Trust?”
His unexpected remark caught me off guard, prompting me to glance at Junior.
It feels a bit embarrassing to admit, but I haven’t actually treated this creature that nicely or given it proper care. To me, it was just one of the many animals under my roof. Since he was destined to leave in a month anyway, I thought family and servants would look after him even in my absence.
‘Did he recognize me as his owner instinctively?’
If Junior trusts me, then he has identified me as the mansion’s master. He must think, ‘My owner told me to be good, so I guess I’ll enjoy it.’
However, the truth Junior may have missed is that while I legally own the mansion, my rank inside it is ranked way lower. I should have lined up with the kids or the wives instead.
‘Sorry about that.’
What you’re holding is just a plain string colored gold. It’s not a rotten string, but it’s nothing special either.
– Mooooooo!
As if sensing my thoughts, I patted Junior’s head, eliciting a cheerful noise from him.
– It seems this one has taken a liking to you; will you take him and raise him yourself?
“Should I…?”
Releasing a creature I mistakenly held onto feels almost like a violation of conscience.
Might as well make him a permanent member of the mansion now.
*
Playing around with the Crown Princess and the others at Behemoth was immensely fun.
I wanted to keep playing, but the Crown Prince instructed us to return before dark, so we came back instead.
‘Winter is the worst!’
In summer, we played for longer! But in winter, it gets dark so soon! We can’t play for long at all!
Besides, the sun comes out late too! Winter is such a drag!
‘That long-nosed creature was so cool…’
I loved it. Tomorrow we should visit Behemoth again and play with that fascinating long-nosed one.
That… that… elephant? Oppa said that’s its name ‘kokka’! Because it has a long nose, it’s ‘kokka’!
“Your Highness!”
“Hmm?”
As I was heading home with the maid, a stableman came running toward us.
“The Emperor and Empress are waiting for you, Your Highness!”
“Huh? Dad and Mom?”
“Yes, Your Highness! That’s correct!”
Why? When I play with my siblings, Dad and Mom usually don’t wait for us?
“Your Highness, please don’t be startled, but… The Empress has given birth to your second sibling!”
“……”
“… erm, Your Highness. Please try not to be too surprised…”
“Wowwwww!”
A sibling! A sibling!
The second one after Carlo! My sibling!
“Really!?”
“Yes! Just born into this world, Your Highness!”
Wowwwwwww!
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