Chapter: 818
As soon as I returned to the mansion, a surprise greeted me.
“Did the senior give birth to the third niece?”
However, it was a bit of a bewildering surprise.
“What?”
I couldn’t help but mumble, stunned by Erich’s comment at the front gate.
I knew the Empress was pregnant with her third child. I was aware it was almost time for the baby to arrive, and that the Emperor was all excited about the upcoming addition. I even knew that in the midst of it all, the Empress was sneaking some vodka while restricting her activities to a minimum.
But I never imagined I would learn about the Empress giving birth right after a day of fun. If I had known, I would have gone to visit Behemoth tomorrow instead! Now, I’ve inadvertently made the Crown Princess a sister who was absent during a crucial family moment.
No, wait, it should be ‘older sister’ now, right?
“Is it a prince or a princess?”
“It’s a second princess!”
So it’s confirmed, I turned my older sister into someone who missed the important moment of welcoming a new sibling.
“This is embarrassing. I’ll probably earn the Crown Princess’s resentment for a while.”
“So what? We had fun while the baby was being born, and now there’s a pretty little sister!”
Seeing Erich giggle made me chuckle too.
If you think positively, that’s indeed the case. Honestly, having the Crown Princess there during the birth of the second princess wouldn’t have really helped anyway. It would have just stressed out the palace attendants, who would be busy comforting the Princess worrying about the Empress and her newborn.
‘Good call, taking the Crown Princess to Behemoth.’
It was brilliant to have taken her there. The Emperor probably didn’t bother to contact me since he wanted the Crown Princess out of the way.
“Still, it’s surprising that it’s already the third child. I’m glad the royal family is thriving.”
“I heard the senior is aiming for five kids.”
“Oh really?”
Thinking of that yellow-haired fellow in the palace made me laugh again.
Hang in there, buddy. You’ve already got three out of five, so just two more to go, right? If you keep trying, you’ll surely give birth to healthy and cute ones!
And with such harmonious relations, if they’ve been quiet for years, giving birth to the Crown Princess was probably her paying the price for being silent. If they had really worked hard right after marriage, they might have had a seventh child by now, not just a fifth!
“Do you know the name yet?”
“Nope! Well, they’ll probably decide quickly. I’ve heard they have dozens of options prepared.”
With that many choices, picking a name might just be a matter of waking up!
The next day at lunch, I took my time getting ready to go out. Since the Crown Princess hadn’t shown up to play upon daybreak, she must have been engrossed in the arrival of her new sister.
So, as the Crown Princess’s godfather, it’s only right that I personally congratulate her on the birth of the new sister! The happiness of the goddaughter is the joy of the godfather, and her sadness is the godfather’s sadness too. I need to applaud enthusiastically next to the ecstatic Crown Princess celebrating her new sister!
“Oppa, where are you going?”
“To the palace. I’m going to see the Crown Princess.”
“Can I go too?”
After a brief moment of hesitation, I shook my head.
Pedi has seen newborns more frequently than anyone, but only when they were direct siblings or cousins. In all other cases, it’s only right to minimize contact with a newborn.
So today, I should go alone. I won’t tell the Crown Princess about her new sister just yet. Instead, I’ll check on the Empress and the Princess, then decide when to bring the kids over—
“I want to see the new sister too!”
“Huh?”
At Pedi’s words, I jolted a bit.
What? It’s not like he’s referring to a younger brother, so how does he already know about the new princess’s birth?
“Mom told me! You had a new sister!”
‘Ah.’
Then it clicked. Erich has been blabbing about it all over the place.
Of course, even if Erich is free-spirited, she’s got a brain and wouldn’t leak it outside the mansion. But the eyes and ears inside are probably more than enough.
“Dad! Are you going to see sister? We want to go too!”
“We want to go! We want to!”
“New sister! I wanna see!”
Just like that, my kids rushed in after Pedi.
‘What to do…’
A shy smile escaped me as I looked at my eight eager kids. The Empress must still be weak after the birth, and the second princess is in her most vulnerable stage. To exaggerate, they should be careful even with their breathing.
Bringing eight kids into such conditions? No matter how special the bond between royal children and mine is, that’s pushing it.
‘It’s best to be firm and say no.’
After taking a deep breath inwardly, I composed myself.
I love my kids more than anything, but truly loving them doesn’t mean I’m going to coddle them. For their emotional wellbeing, I need to be a father who firmly puts my foot down when necessary.
A perfect balance of softness and firmness—that’s true parenting!
*
“Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I appreciate you coming to congratulate me, but I didn’t expect this many to show up.”
At my words, the Minister quietly shifted his gaze. It looked like he felt a bit sheepish himself.
‘Well, well…’
Gathered at the Minister’s feet were his children, their bright eyes glimmering.
Just seeing that made me smile. I figured some little guests would show up, considering how weak the Minister is with his kids, but I didn’t expect all of them.
“Hello, Your Majesty!”
“Hello!”
“Hi there!”
Then when Pedi bowed his head at me, the other kids eagerly followed suit.
“Well, come on in! It’s cold out, and you’ve come all this way.”
Fortunately, unlike their father, they all seemed cute and polite. What a blessing for the royal family and the empire.
‘So what if they all came?’
So, maybe that’s why my slight, very slight feelings of embarrassment evaporated quickly.
Seeing the kids follow their daddy here, it makes sense, right? And they aren’t just here with their dad—they’ve come to see my daughter too! They think of her as family, just like they’d view distant cousins. Their strong bonds of friendship are what drives them to shuffle their little legs these distances!
As a father to the Crown Princess and a brother to the Emperor, it’s my pleasure to welcome these familial little guests. I’ll treat them like their uncle.
“I’m sure our Caroline will be happy too. She’s got such amazing big brothers and sisters here!”
“Caroline?”
“Caroline! Is little sister Caroline?”
“That’s right! Your little sister’s name is Caroline.”
Upon hearing this, the Minister’s kids burst into cheers.
I guess if our princess complains about having no personal time, she won’t have to be lonely at all. With eight enthusiastic family friends around, how can she?
“So the princess’s name is Caroline!”
“That’s right. It’s one of the names suggested by my father-in-law. Isn’t it lovely?”
“Caroline Livnoman. What a truly beautiful name!”
The Minister responded, nodding happily.
Of course, it’s a name given by none other than the father-in-law, so it’s bound to be splendid!
“Anyway, since you’ve braved the chill to be here, the main character should graciously receive you all. Come on in!”
“B-but is that okay? The Empress and the Princess must be very tired…”
“Did you come here without knowing that?”
Again, the Minister’s gaze shifted away.
“It’s just a joke. The Empress is strong, carrying the blood of Duke Nuren, and the princess is well protected, so just a quick peek should be fine.”
I laughed lightly, giving the Minister a pat on the back.
It’s obvious what he’s doing. Out of concern for the health of the Empress and Princess, he probably intended to only bring a few kids along. But ultimately, he must have collapsed under their earnest wishes.
I get that completely; I’m a father too, so how could I not understand? Plus, the Minister has a tougher job convincing and soothing those eight kids.
‘One is overwhelming, but eight…?’
Imagining the Crown Princess healing all of them makes me shiver involuntarily.
Though they’re adorable, they’re such a lovable handful; I’m not sure I can handle it.
Caroline was peacefully sleeping in her cradle.
Next to her was the Crown Princess, gazing at her baby sister, cradled in the lap of the head maid. The Crown Prince was also gazing down at his new little sister in her gentle embrace.
‘How nice.’
Seeing this heartwarming scene made my nose sting.
I was one of three brothers myself, but never grew up with such warmth and cuteness. How fortunate those kids are to experience the joy I couldn’t.
“Ummm? Bebe?”
“What’s up?”
Just as the kids were looking at the little one with those warm eyes, they turned their heads at the sound of the Minister’s steps.
I felt a pang of disappointment. Even though Dad and the godfather came together, they looked for the godfather first. Shouldn’t they be calling for Dad first in moments like this?
Though, to be fair, they had just been in here minutes before greeting the Minister—so from their perspective, it makes sense the Minister would be more exciting than me.
“Crown Princess, Crown Prince! Congratulations on your beautiful sister—”
“Shh!”
“Shhh!”
Upon receiving the Minister’s congratulations, the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince decisively cut him off.
“Bebe! Mommy and Caroline are sleeping!”
“Oh, forgive me.”
The Minister lowered his head slightly, and I couldn’t help but grin at the sight.
Our wonderful Crown Princess, how bold she is!
*
Suddenly, I found myself in a silence retreat. Considering how the Crown Princess would jump for joy at each new sibling’s birth, this was quite the unexpected situation.
“I mustn’t be too surprised. I should be appropriately surprised.”
“What?”
Besides, she used such a strange phrase! ‘Appropriately surprised’? What on earth does that even mean?
Still, thanks to the Crown Princess reigning in the atmosphere, our kids naturally maintained their silence. They simply gazed wide-eyed at the second princess till we returned calmly.
It’s quite impressive how she manages to control children who can’t even be tamed by adults. I guess being a future emperor brings out some innate powers!
“Master!”
Thinking of such things as I opened the mansion door, Yuris rushed in, as if waiting for me.
“What’s wrong? Is something happening?”
Her panicked expression made my heart leap in tension.
Yuris is always cheerful and sunny! For her to be in such a fluster is no ordinary affair.
“Th-the first lady! She just started labor pains! I was going to inform you right away, but I just saw you coming back!”
?
“What? Labor?”
“Yes!”
After hearing this, I rushed off with my kids to the palace together.
Now the rumor is that a child is being born in our house this time!
‘What is going on?’
I mean, sure, the Empress and Mar were indeed roughly on the same pregnancy timeline. After all, only a few weeks separated them, so it wouldn’t be out of the question for them to give birth almost back-to-back.
But is it really acceptable for them to be born just a day apart?
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