Ch.332Chapter 332 – So, When Will There Be Grandchildren?

When I opened my eyes in the morning, I saw the mark “1/1” indicating the new year on the magic calendar placed on the table.

That’s right. It’s a new year. The new year has dawned.

I want to say, “How is it already a new year when I haven’t done anything!” but there were so many things that happened last year, weren’t there?

I lived quite busily last year too, but among everything, what remains most memorable was definitely my marriage to Karen.

“Mmm…”

Karen was sound asleep, holding me tightly. Looking at the clock, it was still around 5:30 AM.

The first day of the new year is officially a national holiday, so no one works on this day.

Even slaves are absolutely guaranteed rest on both yesterday and today, continuing the tradition established by the Founding Emperor’s decree.

If anyone forces slaves to work on the last day of the year or the first day of the new year, they will be punished, even if they are high nobles.

So today, neither I nor Karen have any official schedules.

Ah, of course, we only have no “official” schedules, but my father-in-law and mother-in-law have asked us to visit them to celebrate the new year.

[Son-in-law, come visit your in-laws after so long. Let’s have a meal together to welcome the new year.]

It was a letter with raw expressions, not even using the official title of Grand Duke Aurelion.

Well, naturally I agreed… The teleport station opens at 6 o’clock, and breakfast time is at 8 AM.

The Imperial Palace usually has breakfast at 6:30 AM, but today is the new year.

Moreover, since Karen and I live separately from the palace, they inevitably pushed breakfast time back by about an hour and a half.

What was that feeling of silent cheers coming from somewhere at that moment?

Anyway, I need to get up and prepare now to arrive at the Imperial Palace in time for breakfast.

“Karen. Wake up. We need to go to the palace.”

“Mmm, just 5 minutes… let me sleep 5 more minutes…”

We need to get up, wash, and go to her parents’ house, but Karen whined about sleeping 5 more minutes and hugged my waist even tighter.

If I were an ordinary person, it might have caused spinal problems, but now I’ve mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Technique and have become very sturdy!

On top of that, my achievements with the Heavenly Demon Divine Technique have been increasing recently, probably due to my revival after offering all sorts of spirit medicines and spiritual creatures as sacrifices.

In terms of pure physical ability rather than combat power, I’d say I’ve reached the level of a master who can emit sword energy.

Ah, of course, I can’t actually do that since I haven’t learned martial arts. Apparently, to do such things, one must live with a sword in hand and only eat.

“Stop sleeping and get up. We’re having breakfast together at the palace today.”

“Tch… Fine. I’ll get up.”

When we need to show our public image, we use formal speech with each other, but when we’re alone like this, we speak comfortably.

As it turns out, she also finds it difficult to maintain that old-fashioned way of speaking. Although she’s used it since childhood, she’s accustomed to casual speech in private settings, so it’s hard for her to suppress the comfortable way of speaking.

“I’ll wash up first. You’ll need some time to get ready.”

“Mm, okay. Go ahead…”

Karen still seemed half-asleep. Well, she played board games with the other women until 1 AM, so it’s understandable.

‘No! Why did the dice stop there of all places!’

‘Sister! Using telekinesis is cheating!’

‘This lord does not use such things as mana! Hahaha! I rolled a 6!’

…How should I put it, it was quite a scene of madness. Everyone played board games until 1 AM to welcome the new year before going to bed, claiming they were tired.

But with seven people living in the Chancellor’s residence, it’s really cramped. It seems like we’ll really need to move to the mansion in the capital right after I graduate.

The mansion in the capital that my sister-in-law gave us is currently being diligently managed by servants dispatched from the Imperial Family.

Since I plan to move in there as soon as I graduate from the Academy, it’s already furnished to some extent.

Ah, of course, when visiting the capital, we stay at the Imperial Palace due to the unspoken pressure from my mother-in-law.

Anyway, after washing my body in the shower attached to the room, Karen gathered a towel and fresh underwear and went into the shower.

“Take your time. We still have time before the teleport station opens.”

“Okay, got it.”

As Karen went to shower, the door opened and Sister Regina walked in.

“Are you ready to go?”

“Yes.”

“Then sit in front of the mirror. I’ll help you get ready since it’s an important day.”

I sat in the chair in front of the mirror as Sister Regina suggested.

She walked behind me and simultaneously cast two silent spells with both hands.

One produced warm air, and the other produced slightly cool, strong air.

“Aren’t you using magical tools?”

“Why would I need those when I can control the output better than any tool?”

“Well, that’s true.”

If we were to compare the world’s strongest archmage with commercially available hair styling magical tools, the archmage would obviously be superior.

Anyway, Sister Regina used magic to dry my hair.

“Your hair has grown quite long. Shouldn’t you go get it trimmed sometime?”

“I was actually planning to have it trimmed by the Imperial exclusive barber to celebrate the new year. The Academy barber has trouble cutting my hair properly.”

“Do as you wish. I respect your choices.”

That’s Sister Regina for you. Being the oldest among the wives and having the most social experience, she’s the most understanding person.

While I was getting my hair styled by Regina, Karen finished her shower and came out wrapped in a bathrobe.

“Oh, Sister. You’re up early.”

“When my husband is going to his in-laws for the new year, I should style him myself, shouldn’t I?”

“That’s right. You’ll do a better job than I would.”

Karen sat next to me and took out a magical tool to diligently dry her hair.

“Are you coming back right after having the meal today?”

“Probably? There’s not much to do even if we stay at the palace for long.”

“Then why don’t we all go out to the capital together? It’s been a while.”

“I’d love that, Sister!”

Seeing Karen now comfortably calling Regina “Sister” fills me with emotion.

The most important condition for forming a harem is mutual respect among the wives.

In that regard, my harem is very stable.

“Oh, right. Dad said he has something to give you when you visit?”

“Something to give me?”

My father-in-law has something for me? What could it be?

“Yeah. What was it again? Mandrake concentrate and sea eel, I think?”

Mandrake concentrate and sea eel. Both foods are known to be good for a man’s nighttime activities.

In other words, the food my father-in-law told Karen to bring has the following meaning:

‘Now that the year has changed, isn’t it about time you showed me a grandchild?’

Such blatant items clearly conveying the wish for grandchildren.

‘Well, I suppose it is about time.’

It’s already been two months since Karen and I got married. Usually, nobles often conceive children after returning from their honeymoon trips, so I’m a bit late by those standards.

“So, when are you planning to have children?”

“*splutter*”

For reference, my father-in-law asked this openly at the dining table. My mother-in-law glared at him.

“As you know, you should have at least one daughter and one son.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Ahem. Anyway, I hope to see grandchildren soon.”

…I’ll try my best.

I looked at Karen as I said this, and her face was bright red.

“After you finish your meal, why don’t you take a stroll around the capital? Everyone is quite curious about you two as a couple.”

“We will do so, Father-in-law.”

As my father-in-law suggested we go out, it’s only natural for me as a son-in-law to comply.

After a meal where I barely noticed whether the food was going into my nose or mouth, Karen and I held hands and went out to the capital.

After breakfast, the sky was cloudy, and it was snowing.

“It’s snowing. I haven’t seen snow in winter for quite some time.”

“Indeed. I think this is the first time I’ve seen snow in the capital.”

The citizens of the capital were delighted to see the snow falling from the sky.

Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, probably because they were seeing snow after such a long time.

“Regina and the others said they’d be waiting in the square, so let’s head there.”

“Yes.”

Now that we’re outside, Karen and I started using formal speech with each other.

As we walked toward the square where they were waiting, a commotion broke out.

When we went to see what was happening, someone was courting Professor Emelda Carmen.

“Oh, beautiful lady. Would you grant me the honor of your company today?”

“I’m sorry, but I already have someone. Please step back.”

“Indeed! A flower is most beautiful when it has an owner! But wouldn’t a brief dalliance be possible?”

Huh. An interesting fellow, isn’t he?

I normally wouldn’t want to do this, but seeing that person hitting on Professor Emelda Carmen made my blood start to boil a little.

This won’t do.

The Pathos who was walking as an ‘ordinary citizen’ is now gone.

From now on, I return to being Aurelion the Grand Duke, husband of the Imperial Princess, hero of the Empire, apostle and saint of the Great Goddess Order.

I won’t forgive anyone who tries to touch what’s mine.