The news of Yae and Hilda's pregnancy quickly spread throughout the castle, and soon, the whole place was buzzing with excitement.
Cheers and words of congratulations came from every direction, and the maids were already enthusiastically discussing what they needed to gather for the babies.
Kousaka-san was getting a little teary-eyed, saying, "With this, the royal family will have an heir," but sorry to disappoint, both of them are girls.
In countries where there are no sons, girls can inherit titles and even the throne, if there’s no male heir. Our duchy is one of those. However, that’s only if there are no sons, of course.
Normally, when there are no boys, the eldest daughter is considered as the successor and is taught the art of ruling. The reason that wasn’t the case here is probably because we knew that Kuon would be born later.
Still, with nine wives, it’s understandable that we expected at least one boy to be born.
It wasn’t just within the castle either; even the town below had started to hear the news, and a celebratory mood was building.
In a world with a low birth rate, it's often the case that people won’t announce a pregnancy until the baby is born. But in this case, we were certain everything would go well, so it was okay to celebrate.
I called my parents to let them know, and my mom yelled, "Well done!" so loudly that my eardrums almost burst!
Even so, it will be eleven or twelve years before my parents and the children can meet face to face here.
Well, future me will make sure the kids meet them in the future, but it still makes me feel bad that I won’t be able to witness their growth firsthand.
My mom told me to take tons of videos, which I was already planning on doing.
Wait, does future me already have those videos? Will my parents be able to watch the growth of Yakumo and the others before I do? That feels a little unfair!
With a vague, unsettled feeling, I began reading a maternity book on my e-reader.
Even though it’s confirmed that the babies will be born safely, that doesn’t mean I should take it easy. The future is something we create ourselves, after all. I need to prepare everything thoroughly.
Hmm, watch out for colds and infections. Be cautious about a folic acid deficiency? What foods have folic acid... broccoli?
"If you’re this serious already, you’re going to wear yourself out, you know?"
"I-Is that so?"
Leen said, looking at me with an exasperated expression. Well, considering the way things are going, you’re next in line, aren’t you?
I wonder if Leen, who’s physically smaller than Yae and Hilda, will be okay during childbirth. Though, with Quun around, she should be fine...
In this world, birth rates among commoners are low, but surprisingly, among the nobility and wealthy merchants, they aren’t as low.
That’s because we have recovery magic, which is like a cheat.
Even after a C-section, there won’t be any scars, and you can heal right after giving birth. You can’t restore lost blood or stamina, but it makes a huge difference.
If we add Earth’s medical knowledge to the mix, I’m sure this world’s medicine will progress even more. That’s why I bought so many medical books from Earth, but I didn’t expect to need them so soon.
"I feel kind of strange. I’m here, but I’m also supposed to be inside my mother’s belly..."
"Yeah, I feel weird about it too."
Yakumo and Frei were both looking at their not-yet-big mothers’ bellies, awkwardly laughing.
In time-travel movies, if you meet your past self, it often causes the past to change, and your present self disappears, which is a common plotline. Is that safe in this case?
In some children’s comics, the future self comes back to help with current homework, but I wonder if that’s what would happen here.
Well, if future me came and started spilling all the details about what would happen, like “This will happen next, and this will happen later, so do this,” it might spoil the fun of the future.
I already know too much.
"How are you both feeling?"
"I’m fine right now. Back then, the smell of curry and food really made me sick..."
"Same here. Also, now I can’t stand the smell of perfume or coffee..."
Ah, morning sickness...
Let’s see, morning sickness usually starts around the fifth week, peaks around the eighth to tenth week, and typically settles down by the twelfth to fourteenth week... So it lasts for about two months.
Looking back now, Yae has been looking really tired lately. Was that a symptom of pregnancy? It’s embarrassing that I didn’t notice...
I thought to myself as I read the maternity book, "Man, there’s not much a guy can do in these situations."
Oh? After cooling down, food becomes easier to eat because the smell isn’t as strong... Seems like I’ll have to tell Lu about that.
Pregnant women need to make sure they get the nutrients for their babies, so it’s tough... I’ll need to study up on this too, and make sure we’re both doing our best.
I’m really going to be a dad. It’s a little intimidating, but I think I can do it.
I’m not sure if I’ll be a “good” father, though... What makes a good father, anyway?
My dad was more of a laissez-faire kind of guy. I have more memories with my grandpa than my dad from when I was little because he was always busy with work.
But it’s not like we had a bad relationship, and I didn’t dislike him. I don’t even remember going through a rebellious phase... I think. I had a rough patch in middle school, but that was mostly out of the house, and I tried not to cause trouble for the family.
Maybe, despite not spending much time together, I always felt that my dad was watching over me, in his own way.
He was a man of few words, but when it came to disciplining me, he did it, and when I did something good, he praised me.
...Now that I’m going to be a parent, I finally understand how much my parents’ love meant to me.
Anyway, looking at the kids, I don’t think I’ve been giving them wrong education, but it doesn’t feel like I’m the one who raised them, either...
"Anyway, I’ll leave the health management to Flora, so you two take care. Oh, and no mock battles for now."
"Eh!? You can’t be serious!"
"That’s so cruel!"
"No, seriously. What if you trip or someone hits your belly?"
Pregnant women shouldn’t engage in heavy exercise... The books I read said no jumping or long hours of exercise, or anything that puts pressure on the stomach.
I’d prefer they just stick to walking. I know they love moving their bodies, but it might be a bit harsh on them.
...Come to think of it, we have a lot of female knights in our order. When they get married and have kids, we definitely need a maternity leave system, so they can take time off without hesitation.
Maybe I should talk to Kousaka about establishing a daycare center inside the castle, too. That way, if they’re working, they can still see their kids during lunch breaks. I’ll bring it up next time.
Though there’s still time before I’ll have to think about all that.
Anyway, even though it’s a joyous event with Yae and Hilda’s pregnancies, the time for the kids to leave is rapidly approaching.
They’ll be leaving for the future the day after tomorrow.
I’d like to do something memorable before they go... Oh.
"Let’s take a picture."
"Huh?"
My wives gave me confused looks, as if saying, What’s that supposed to mean?
"I mean, let’s take a family photo, a group photo."
"Ah, I see. That’s a good idea!"
Yumina clapped her hands, as if she understood.
"Hehe, I’ve been prepared for this! This digital SLR camera I bought on Earth is going to be put to use!"
Quun proudly displayed a big, black, bulky camera. Wait, did we even buy that...? I feel like I’ve been buying a lot of random stuff lately and lost track.
"The shooting location would be nice in front of the flower bed in the courtyard. I’ll also prepare a tripod..."
"Wait, wait! If we're doing a proper shoot, I’d like to change clothes!"
With Quun in high spirits, Elze stopped her. Indeed, if it's a proper shoot, would it be better to change clothes?
When taking family photos at a photo studio, everyone tends to dress up. Is it like that, I wonder?
"If you're going to wear a dress, it might be better to do it indoors?"
"Why not take two shots? One outside in casual clothes, and one inside in formal wear."
Linze and Yumina also joined in and started voicing their thoughts. This is becoming quite a big deal... I was just thinking of taking a light commemorative photo...
Well, maybe the wives wanted a proper photo with the children as well.
For now, we all gathered in the entrance hall to try taking one shot.
Centered on me, the wives each stood behind their children, and we took the photo on the stairs, but somehow it didn’t feel quite right. No, it’s not that it’s bad, but it looked kind of like a commemorative photo when a cabinet is formed. Is this the birth of a child minister? The stairs and red carpet probably didn’t help...
We went out to the courtyard, put out some chairs, and gathered everyone in a close pose to try taking another shot. That one turned out to be a pretty good commemorative photo.
Getting carried away, I also took a photo of me and one of the wives, along with three children between us.
Well, it looked more like a photo with younger siblings than with children.
I don’t know who contacted them, but Ende and the others appeared midway, and we ended up taking a photo with Alice too. It was Alice’s family photo and a group shot with each family centered around Kuon and Alice. This one, I think, turned out to be a nice photo too, except for the fact that Ende was glaring at Kuon with a fierce look. Can’t he make an effort to hide that?
The photos were transferred to everyone’s smartphones, and I asked the doctor to print them out for us. Later, I’ll put them in frames and display them on my desk in the office. With these photos, I’ll be able to handle those tough tasks more cheerfully.
After everyone, including Lu and Arcia, had a gentle dinner for the two pregnant women, they all went to take a bath.
I went out alone to the balcony, feeling the pleasant evening breeze while drinking cold juice at the table.
If I were drinking alcohol here, I might look a little more refined. But somehow, I can’t quite pull off the dandy look.
I’m still sticking to the rule I set for myself before turning 20, and I haven’t drunk alcohol yet. Well, I’ve broken that rule a few times, though.
How many people are there, I wonder, who haven’t drunk alcohol even once before turning 20? (That should be the norm, right?)
Curious, I looked it up, and it turns out that 70% of minors have already tried drinking. What!? It makes me feel really empty about sticking to the rule... No, I’ve drunk before, so I’m one of the 70%, huh...
On the other hand, it seems that young people are moving away from alcohol. Only about 8% of people in their 20s have a drinking habit, and in their 30s, it's about 17%.
I remember my grandpa's generation drinking like crazy. People here in this other world drink a lot too...
"Hmm?"
When I felt a presence behind me and turned around, Kuuon was standing there.
"Huh? Didn’t you go to the bath with everyone?"
"No, I thought I’d take a bath with Father."
Ah... Kuon is six years old now, and since he's mature, it might be awkward for him to take a bath with his mother or sister.
I understand that feeling. I think I stopped bathing with my mom around that age. I think public baths also have a rule where mixed bathing isn’t allowed for children over seven.
"Would you like a drink, Kuon?"
"I’ll have some."
I took a glass of grape juice from the [Storage] and placed it in front of Kuon, who sat across from me.
I don’t know what to talk about when it’s just me and my son alone... What should I say...
"I wonder what I’m like in the future?"
"What do you mean...?"
I tried asking Kuon about what I thought earlier, but he tilted his head, perhaps not understanding.
"Well... I mean as a father..."
"Let me think... Not only in this country, but also resolving conflicts between other nations and starting new businesses, I admire you as a king. But I also think you're a great father. You let me do what I want, listen to me well, and watch over me kindly. You think things through with me when I don’t understand something, and most importantly, you care deeply for Mother and the other mothers. I want to be like that kind of father someday..."
"Wait, wait, stop! This is embarrassing!"
Who is that!? I can’t even imagine it at all!
Wait, did I fall into some spring and get turned into “pretty Touya-kun” or something?
The me Kuon knows is me from several years in the future, so I’m sure I’ve gained experience, but to be thought of like that by my son...
It’s a weird feeling—kind of happy but also empty, like someone else is being praised instead of me.
"Well, well... I guess it’s fine to say I’m doing my best as a father and a king...?"
"Doing your best... Yes, I think you're doing your best. Although sometimes I feel like you might be doing too much. When Father does such amazing things, there are times when I wonder if I’ll ever catch up to you. Can I take over and lead this country correctly...?"
Kuon muttered in a slightly downcast tone.
This is unexpected. Even this child has such worries. He seems mature, but it's natural for a child to have anxiety about the future. Or perhaps it's because he’s mature that he feels such anxiety.
When I was Kuon’s age, I don’t think I had worries like that at all...
...Was I too carefree back then...? No, isn’t that how kids that age are? Isn’t it?
I don’t think Linne or Steph think much about such things.
"I don’t think you need to worry that much. Kuon, just do what you can do. Together with everyone around you. If you’re serious and care for others, they’ll help you. If you make a mistake, they’ll point it out. You don’t have to do everything by yourself. If you can rely on others, whether it’s your parents or even gods, then go ahead. If it solves the problem, there’s no problem at all."
That’s what I’ve done too. After all, there’s a limit to what you can do alone.
If it weren’t for everyone, I wouldn’t have been able to overcome any of the challenges I’ve faced.
I hope Kuon can find many friends too.
...Although if he ends up with as many wives as me, that would be something else...
Alice, at least, doesn’t seem to mind side wives as long as she’s the main wife. But she has quite a bit of a yandere vibe toward Kuon... That’s definitely Ende’s bloodline.
Well, I feel like Kuon will smoothly handle the relationships between his wives, though.
"In the future, do you not have any friends other than Alice?"
"Friends, huh? Well, I have friends named Lotus and Milan."
Oh, he has friends. Lotus and Milan?
"Lotus is Logan, the captain of the patrol knights' second son, and Milan is Mika, the manager of ‘Silver Moon,’ and Lanz’s first son."
Ah... Logan’s son and Mika and Lantz’s son.
Looks like Mika and Lantz really did end up getting married.
From Kuon’s story, it seems like both of them are eager to join the knight order. Perhaps they’re candidates for Kuon’s close aides?
"I also have a few good friends from other countries. Including cousins like Beatrice-sama and Jurota-niisama."
Hmm? Beatrice is... Beatrice, daughter of Reinhardt, who is Hilda’s brother-in-law, right? Jurota... Could it be...?
"He's the son of Jutaro-ojii-sama."
"I knew it."
So Jutaro-niisan’s son. That makes him my nephew. For Kuon, though, even though they’re not blood-related, they’re definitely cousins.
Prince Yamato of the Belfast Kingdom is also an uncle, and the Crown Prince of the Regulus Empire is also a cousin. It seems Kuon’s family connections have grown quite large, but that’s all my doing.
Thinking about it, political marriages are really important for a country... but that’s another story! I’m not sending my daughters off to get married!
As with the world conference, representatives from different countries hold discussions, and the royal children also have some exchanges at each country’s weddings and events.
If they’ve known each other since childhood, it’s easier to become close, though they might end up fighting and growing distant. But the other countries will step in to mediate.
Listening to the children talk, the future seems bright...
By the way, I mentioned earlier about starting a new business. Did I start something?
"Ah, the communication business. We set up a system centered on Babylon to make smartphone communication possible on a global scale. I think almost all the nobles had one when I was around. They were planning to release a cheap smartphone for commoners next..."
Eh!? Are smartphones that widespread in the future!? Even now, we only give them to top officials and ministers...
Well, it’s convenient, but... Is it really okay to spread magic tools created by other countries across our own? Don’t they worry about being eavesdropped on? There were some shady apps developed in other countries, even in Japan, right?
When I voiced my doubts, Kuon smiled with a cynical grin.
"As expected, once a convenient tool becomes familiar, it’s not so easy to abandon it..."
"No, it’s not like I distributed them with that intention!?"
I thought it would be convenient for kings to be able to communicate with each other easily! It’s not like I was plotting something underhanded for the long term!!
"Ah, they also said they’d develop and spread TV broadcasts using Crystallized Ether Screens... Ether Vision."
"Are you planning to become the king of the media?"
TV, huh... Well, it’s definitely the king of information and entertainment, so it would definitely be a hit...
If smartphones come first, TV might have a bit more credibility since it won’t spread reckless rumors so easily...
But if TV is developed, it might be used for various things. Maybe we’ll have singing contests at the end of the year?
It’s a bit exciting that smartphones are so widespread in the future. People can connect with each other, and eventually, that connection could become a big wave that moves the world.
But, if you get too dependent on it, it could be a problem. Information is just information, and I hope people still use their own heads to think.
From now on, royalty and nobility might not be able to neglect the common people as much. Bad deeds will spread quickly. In that sense, it might have been better if smartphones hadn’t been widely spread.
"Well, here’s to the future with smartphones, I guess."
I raised my glass while reflecting on the future Kuon described.
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