Ch.3010. I Love You (3)

“Congratulations, Lord Rueld!”

“Huzzah! And congratulations again!”

“Ah, th-that… thank you. Everyone. The sun has already set, so please don’t make such a fuss here…”

“No! Lord Rueld and Lady Ermina have had a son! How could we not raise a toast to celebrate?!”

“His Majesty has even proclaimed that we may hold a feast tomorrow!”

…Why go to such lengths?

Rueld struggled to suppress his blushing face as he made his way through the crowd.

Despite the darkness of night, his snow-white hair was particularly visible in the light of torches and lanterns, making him stand out.

Thanks to exchanging various congratulations and greetings, he was considerably delayed.

“Phew!”

Though it was called a count’s residence, it was rather modest, but by the standards of the territory… it was quite luxurious in scale.

Ermina had said it was too much at first.

“……”

Suddenly, a tension like a stone settling deep in his chest begins to bloom.

Anxiety creeps in.

Taking in the silence enveloping his home, his mood sinks anew.

Just moments ago, he felt like he had gained the whole world.

…Human emotions are always like this, he thought wearily.

“Still…”

He should at least show Kariel his new sibling.

……

…

During the time Ermina was in labor.

Someone came to find Rueld, who had been pacing restlessly in the waiting room of the Grand Cathedral.

“Hahaha! My goodness! A child after more than a decade! You’re something else! Such a harmonious marriage!”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

A man with a mountain-like build thrust his scarred face uncomfortably close and gave Rueld’s back several hearty slaps.

It was like receiving a foot massage from a bear.

Compared to this man, Rueld’s physique seemed somewhat diminutive.

Wearing the distinctive black uniform of the Golden Dragon Knights, Rueld spoke with an incredulous expression.

“Bariel? When did you return?”

“Just now!”

“You look too clean for that.”

“I was in the middle of a grand journey with my wives! Then I heard the news about this! Perfect timing, so I washed up and came! Hahaha!”

“…Sounds like you’re the one with the harmonious marriage.”

“I’m just a lecher!”

…He makes such shameless confessions with ease.

“By the way, where’s Kariel?”

“…At home.”

“Huh? Why? I mean, his mother is here and he’ll soon see his sibling. Are you planning not to let that child see his new brother?!”

“That’s not it, but…”

“I heard the news. They say he completely thrashed the prince?”

“……”

Has it spread that far already?

“Hey! Listen! Boys always grow up fighting with each other! What’s the big deal? Weren’t we the same?”

“The situation… went too far.”

“Then what about the prince who constantly provoked Kariel? Is he blameless? How upset must that gentle boy have been to beat him to a pulp? Tell me, when was the last time you had a proper conversation with your son?”

“Well, it’s been… a few days.”

“About what? For how long? How many minutes?”

“Well…”

The most recent conversation they had…

…

“You fool! The moment you hesitate, it’s over! It means you can’t think of anything!”

“Wait a moment! Can’t you see I’m anxious praying for Ermina’s safety?!”

“The fact that you have to think about it means it’s already over, you tactless knight.”

“……”

That’s exactly right.

The best he could recall was…

…at the dinner table, where he had done all the talking.

[“…Thank you for the meal.”]

[“Kariel! Your father is speaking, what kind of manners…?!”]

[“Ah! Darling! It’s alright! He’s at a sensitive age, we should be understanding.”]

…It was mostly like that.

Even in the carriage today.

The boy hadn’t uttered a single word.

Even then, he had only worried about what to say.

When they got home, he’d talk more carefully…

[“Why me?”]

[“…What?”]

[“Was I in the wrong?”]

[“Are you seriously saying that right now?”]

[“What excuse did Patina give?”]

[“…”]

“Judging by your expression, you haven’t had any good conversations? When kids hit puberty, you just brushed it off as rebellion? You rarely see his face, so it feels awkward to be affectionate. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s not…”

“You’re always busy traveling throughout the empire, so you’ve never properly spent time with Kariel, have you?”

“……”

“Of course I respect you. Everyone in the empire knows that you’re far more admirable than someone like me who bears fewer duties and responsibilities and lives a more comfortable life.”

If Rueld took a day off.

Somewhere, a life would be lost.

Someone would become an orphan, lose a child.

…Countless conflicts would result in bloodshed.

Property damage and crop damage were somehow manageable.

But lives being lost meaninglessly, in vain.

It was unbearable, now as it was then.

The empire appeared extremely stable from the outside, but internally it was still festering and rotting.

Sometimes, like administering strong medicine, it was necessary to cut out the rotten parts.

“We’re all trying to live well and be happy, so why are you and Ermina so desperate to save everyone else?”

“We…”

Because we have to.

Because if we don’t, no one will.

Because if we pay even a little less attention.

Somewhere, tragedy inevitably occurs.

When you witness a horrific tragedy firsthand just because you were a few seconds or minutes late.

In those moments, it truly feels like going mad.

Seeing parents drenched in blood, holding the dismembered body of their child, wailing desperately…

Seeing a young child continuously shaking their unmoving parents, not understanding the situation, whining for them to get up…

“You can’t save everyone, you know.”

“……”

“I’m not even asking you to take it easy, but you know. You don’t drink, you don’t know how to have fun. Your idea of stress relief is swinging a sword. Because of you, Kariel is constantly criticized for not working as hard as his father. Do you think everyone in the world is a superhuman like you? And your asceticism should have limits. You’ve always made Kariel confess whenever he did something wrong, punished him with fasting prayers, and sometimes even kept him from sleeping for days. Don’t you think that’s too harsh for a growing child who still has to function in daily life?”

“What? No, I didn’t go that far… did I?”

“Huh? What? You didn’t know? Ermina is particularly sensitive about sinning and lashes out. She did it to us too, so how do you think she was with Kariel? Is Ermina flexible enough to make exceptions? She’s only kind to others; to you, us, and herself, she’s strict, isn’t she?”

“……”

“I told you before. Ermina doesn’t know moderation. If you don’t support her, she’ll just internalize her wounds and suffer silently.”

And here I thought they were a happily married couple.

“Why don’t you set aside your work for a while and rest with your family? No, this isn’t a choice! Just do it!”

At that moment.

The cry of a baby could be heard from far away.

But their keen hearing picked it up effortlessly.

Hurried footsteps,

Stumbling as if about to fall several times,

Could also be heard.

“Lord Rueld! Congratulations! It’s a boy! A boy!”

Bariel clapped his hands with an “Oh!” and then,

Smoothly, looking at Rueld, he instructed:

“First, go see the baby’s face, then quickly call Kariel. Missing this touching scene will be a lifelong regret.”

“Oh, yes… I will.”

His Imperial Majesty has arrived!

Checking on Ermina’s condition. Holding the newborn baby.

Receiving congratulations and responding to each one.

It was all quite overwhelming.

But.

The moment he held his second child,

Rueld couldn’t help but recall the memory of holding Kariel, his firstborn.

At that time, the previous Pope, dying from illness, had personally risen from his sickbed to come to the territory.

Then, calling it his final mission, he had anointed the child’s head with oil, proclaiming him a blessing bestowed by the world, a child of revelation.

That’s how he had praised him.

And beyond that… beyond that…

But why?

“Where’s Kariel? It’s not too late, quickly send someone…”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll go myself.”

Shaking his head at the Emperor’s words, Rueld expressed his intention.

“If it’s urgent, shall I go with you?”

As Empress Melineos gestured as if ready to cast a teleportation spell immediately.

“No, I’ll walk there myself. I want to… organize my thoughts a bit on the way.”

“Bring him quickly. Both the baby and Ermina look quite tired.”

Bariel urged, cradling Rueld’s swaddled second child.

“I’ll be right back.”

……

…

The interior of the residence was enveloped in silence.

Most of the employees would have gone home by this hour.

One person would remain on night duty, but aside from those waiting outside for surveillance and protection of the residence.

The inside of the house was as quiet as a grave.

Rueld was seized by a strange sense of discomfort.

He quickly spread his mana to sense any presence.

“Silphia?”

“Oh, you’ve returned, Lord Rueld.”

Having just discovered Silphia waiting in the maid’s night duty room,

Rueld asked with a puzzled expression.

“You’re still up? What were you doing?”

“Well…”

“Besides, was today your night duty? Even if there are people waiting outside, how could you leave a child alone inside…”

“…Lord Rueld.”

“Yes? What is it? Do you have something to say?”

Silphia took out a letter from the pocket at her waist.

With eyes glistening with moisture, as if about to burst into tears at any moment.

“Young master asked me… to deliver this to you.”

“……”

Strangely enough.

A chill ran through him.

It seemed like he had experienced something similar before.

What had happened then?

Momentarily gripped by déjà vu,

Rueld received it with trembling hands…