Chapter 389: Rejoice, the Imperial Grandchild Has Arrived! (3)

I unconsciously swallowed and looked around. I’d like to think that the Crown Prince was joking, but this bastard’s specialty was screwing me over instead of joking with me. The very fact that I was desperately hoping it was a joke made it more likely that he was dead serious. It was ridiculous.

Moreover, there was no way he’d casually mention his daughter’s godfather as a joke in front of the Crown Princess. I might not trust the Crown Prince’s character, but I certainly trusted the Crown Princess’s common sense.

No, there wasn’t even a need to go that far—didn’t the Emperor say that it was the will of the imperial family? This couldn’t possibly be a joke.

“Your Highness. I’m truly honored that you value my loyalty this highly, but becoming the godfather is an honor far beyond my worth.”

So, I quickly bowed my head, showing my refusal with my whole body. Yes, it’s too much. It’s too heavy an honor for a mere count and Executive Manager to bear.

Besides, I hadn’t even been married yet, let alone had a child. Should I really meet my goddaughter before my own wife? It wasn’t impossible, but it felt too strange.

“Please reconsider, Your Highness. A humble servant like myself isn’t worthy to serve as the godfather of someone as noble as the princess.”

This time, I bowed so low my head almost touched the ground. A treasure of the imperial family, adored by the Emperor himself and celebrated by the Crown Prince—this newborn princess symbolized absolute legitimacy and was practically guaranteed to become the future ruler.

To become the godfather of such a being, one should at least be a current duke or a minister-level civil servant. It was a title that a green nobleman in his early 20s shouldn’t covet or even be interested in.

“You truly are humble.”

You son of a—

I almost cursed out loud at the Crown Prince’s calm voice.

You beast, this isn’t humility. It’s called being realistic!

“Raise your head, Executive Manager. The imperial family trusts you more than you think.”

The Crown Prince, who had somehow approached me, patted my still-bowed shoulder and spoke.

I was tempted to punch him in the chin right now to avoid becoming a godfather, but the immediate consequence of being branded a traitor made me abandon the idea.

“Your loyalty to the Imperial family has allowed our Empire to remain secure. The contributions of the Krasius family over the past three centuries form one of our strongest pillars.”

“I’m honored—“

“Therefore, it must be you. The path you’ve walked, and the legacy built by your family, are exactly why you’re meant to become the godfather to my daughter.”

I quietly bit my lip at his words. Anyone who had ever been involved in office politics would instinctively know: there were two types of orders—those you could negotiate your way out of, and those that left no room for refusal.

Unfortunately, this was the latter. Anyone could tell it was impossible to decline.

Damn it.

If I kept refusing after all he’d said, I’d essentially be insulting him and his entire family. It could even seem like I was rejecting the very loyalty he was praising.

I would have struggled until the end if it was just my personal problem, but I couldn’t fight back anymore once he brought my family’s reputation into it.

“…I fear I won’t be able to live up to the imperial family’s great trust.”

In the end, I surrendered. It wasn’t a direct acceptance, but I also didn’t ask to be spared anymore. Someone like the Crown Prince could easily read this subtle change.

“Don’t worry. As long as your loyalty remains unchanged, the Imperial family will never withdraw its trust.”

“I’m deeply honored.”

Judging by the brightest smile I’d seen on him lately, he had definitely recognized it.

Damn this.

I almost burst out laughing after seeing the Executive Manager’s face turn haggard in that short moment.

It never gets old.

Every time I saw him, I felt like I was looking at someone from a completely different world. How could a man who was both a high-ranking noble and a civil servant be so genuinely uninterested in power and honor?

Of course, there were always exceptions.  Occasionally you would see nobles who were content and virtuous, but the Executive Manager was well beyond that category, almost bizarrely so.

Those who are truly without greed don’t even enter administrative service.

People pursue official positions out of desires for wealth, honor, power, pride, or a sense of duty. Those without such ambitions usually live quiet, peaceful lives.

However, the Executive Manager rose to an official position. Although the current Count of Tailglehen influenced his entry and he frequently submitted resignation letters as if he belatedly realized his mistake—anyway, didn’t it mean he started his life as a civil servant with some kind of desire?

Yet whenever I offered him authority and favor, the quickest paths to fulfilling any ambition, he panicked and ran as if his life depended on it. From my perspective, it was amusing.

That’s why he can be trusted, though.

As he had pointed out himself, becoming the godfather to the Imperial Princess—especially one likely to succeed me—was an immensely prestigious role, far beyond what an ordinary Count or Executive Manager should carry.

But he wasn’t an ordinary count or Executive Manager. He was the heir to an imperial county that the imperial family could trust and someone practically guaranteed to become a Minister.

Moreover, he was a big shot deeply connected by blood to several ducal families. Such a person becoming my daughter’s godfather would ensure her future authority and security.

Though he could certainly wield great power by becoming her godfather, he would’ve done it long ago if he had ever intended to misuse his authority. There was no chance he’d suddenly start now.

He was practically born to be a godfather.

That thought briefly crossed my mind. A loyalist who wouldn’t abuse the authority of a godfather, connected by blood to three ducal families that could support my daughter in an emergency.

He was truly someone the Great Emperor had placed for the imperial family’s sake. Wouldn’t it even be rude to the Emperor himself if we didn’t make proper use of him?

“What do you think, Executive Manager? Isn’t she a very pretty child?”

“Yes, Your Highness. She truly embodies the best of both Your Highnesses.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Manager, led by the Crown Princess’s hand to the imperial grandchild’s bed, spoke in a small voice.

As I thought, it wasn’t just me. Even someone unrelated by blood like the Executive Manager saw her as an angelic child.

Unrelated by blood…

Watching his back, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Although he and my daughter were currently unrelated, they would soon be as close as true family. The Executive Manager, surprisingly soft-hearted beneath his exterior, would surely cherish and protect her deeply, and she would grow up trusting him greatly.

Then, to others, the imperial grandchild and the Executive Manager will appear to have a very close relationship. They will become an inseparable ruler and subject.

To the extent that everyone in this world will think, ‘The Executive Manager will never turn his back on the imperial grandchild.’

A goddaughter would never abandon her godfather.

Of course, the opposite was also true.

Therefore, even if we, the parents, die an untimely death, or even if someone harbors evil intentions, the Executive Manager will forever be a shield protecting the imperial grandchild. And nobody will dare provoke or mislead him.

This was the greatest gift I could ever give my precious daughter as a father.

The day after I unexpectedly became the imperial grandchild’s godfather-designate, the Emperor announced that the imperial grandchild’s investiture as the Imperial Heir would take place this weekend.

It might seem excessive to appoint a newborn baby as the Imperial Heir, but it was a natural action considering the Emperor’s imminent abdication. With preparations for abdication already complete, postponing it for years would be troublesome.

Therefore, the investiture announcing the Imperial Heir, along with her official naming, baptism, and announcement of the godfather, would all take place simultaneously—a truly packed event.

…Godfather.

I still felt bitter. Somehow, I’d ended up becoming a godfather before getting married or having my own child.

Then, quietly turned my gaze to the communication crystal in my hand. The message the Crown Prince had just sent was proudly displayed.

The content of the message was short but impactful. He sent it by message in advance because, in his words, ‘a godfather shouldn’t be ignorant of his goddaughter’s name.’

But wait, I wasn’t even officially her godfather yet, just a candidate. Official and unofficial were entirely different things.

Damn it.

With a quiet sigh, I collapsed onto my bed. There was no turning back, so I might as well stay holed up until the investiture. Wandering around outside would only make me more frustrated—

“Ah.”

An involuntary groan slipped out. My communication crystal lit up as soon as I lay down on the bed.

If there was any consolation, it was that it wasn’t the purple glow symbolizing the imperial family. If it was an insignificant contact, then I should hang up right away.

“Executive Manager of the Prosecutors’ Office speaki—“

— Carl, my boy. It’s me.

I sat up straight as soon as I confirmed who was contacting me. I couldn’t ignore a call from the Invincible Duke.

“It’s been a while, Your Grace. Have you been well?”

— Of course. I’ve been having the best days of my life.

I nodded at his sincere answer.

He was probably telling the truth. As the commanding general who led the Empire to victory in the North and the proud grandfather of a newborn granddaughter, even someone without emotions would smile after experiencing such events in succession.

“Congratulations, sir. It seems even Enen has been moved by your efforts and has blessed you in kind.”

— What’s so great about this old man’s hard work? Rather, it must be that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s prayers reached Enen.

I kept nodding and agreeing with the Invincible Duke as he burst into laughter. They say joy shared is joy doubled, after all.

He talked for quite a while, but eventually seemed to realize he’d been doing all the talking and cleared his throat softly.

— Oh my, I’ve been doing all the talking.

“Not at all, Your Grace. Isn’t Your Grace’s joy the same as my own?”

— Haha, I appreciate your words, at least.

The Invincible Duke laughed as if more embarrassed by my response, but quickly composed himself and continued.

— Actually, I contacted you because I wanted to thank you, Carl.

“…Thank me?”

That caught me off guard, and I racked my brain for a reason. Was there something I did that deserved the Invincible Duke’s gratitude?

— I heard you’re going to be the godfather, is that right?

Ah.

That explained it. While the announcement was being saved for the Imperial Heir’s investiture, it made sense that her maternal grandfather would already know.

— I was so happy when I heard the news. Not only because the imperial grandchild has gained a reliable guardian, but isn’t it like you and I have become family in a roundabout way?

“…Yes, that’s true.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the Invincible Duke’s words. Hearing him say we were family carried a strange, warm weight.

— If you’re the godfather to my granddaughter, then you’re practically a son to me.

I didn’t bother correcting him to say that I’d be closer to a son-in-law than a son since it was his granddaughter.

I didn’t want to break the Invincible Duke’s joy with unnecessary words.

You bastard of a Crown Prince.

You really lucked out with a father-in-law like him.