Chapter 415: The Great Lord Also Has a Daily Life (2)

After realizing my strange discrimination towards Mar, my mind became complicated. It was so bad that I even let the Emperor’s speech go in one ear and out the other.

Of course, the speech was probably full of ceremonial words, so it wouldn’t be a problem if I didn’t listen.

“It’s a shame that my child isn’t here when my son-in-law has come all the way to the capital. It’s unfortunate.”

“I feel the same. I wish the vacation would come soon so we could be together.”

Anyway, although my inner thoughts were so complicated that I couldn’t hear the Emperor’s words—I tried to maintain a calm exterior. It’s a rare occasion for all my fathers-in-law to gather and greet each other, so it would be troublesome if their son-in-law alone had a serious face.

Even now, Marquis Iones, Elizabeth’s father and my fifth father-in-law, is smiling.

“Still, it seems you contact each other often. Please continue to do so.”

“Of course, father-in-law.”

I kept nodding to my fifth father-in-law, who was holding my hand and making this request. There’s no need to worry about Elizabeth as she’s a bold girl who will contact me first if I don’t, but I don’t want to embarrass my father-in-law by saying such things.

“It’s fortunate that Louise is a student. Although it’s regrettable she’s not by my side, I can’t express how reassuring it is to know she’s with my reliable son-in-law.”

“Well, it seems I gave birth to my child too early.”

In response to my third father-in-law’s smiling words, my fifth father-in-law, who has a non-student daughter, reacted as if aggrieved.

It’s strange. Even though they’re family in a broad sense, having the same son-in-law, a baron and a marquis are conversing comfortably. Could it be that my fathers-in-law keep in touch with each other? If not, I can’t explain this intimacy.

It’s good if they get along.

I figured it out while watching my laughing fathers-in-law.

Yes, it’s welcome for a son-in-law if the in-laws get along well. If there were conflicts between in-laws, it would be awkward for the lovers who are bound to be heavily influenced by their families.

I was especially worried about my third father-in-law, who has the miraculous position of ‘a baron sandwiched between a duke, a marquis, and a count’, but seeing this now, it seems my worry was unnecessary.

Is he the original capybara god?

Come to think of it, he’s Louise’s father. If the pink capybara trait is hereditary, then he must be the original and prototype that surpasses Louise.

Suddenly, my third father-in-law looks different to me.

The banquet that lasted for several days concluded smoothly and peacefully. The Emperor has achieved a normal succession to the throne amidst the nobles’ oaths of loyalty, and the nobles have no intention of going against the new Emperor’s mood. Rather, they bowed their heads to avoid being cut off from the imperial power at its peak.

Fortunately, I too could enjoy that peace. Considering that I had already suffered through various tasks as the Emperor’s attachment toy such as overseeing the establishment of the Ministry of Inspection, managing Wiridia, and forming the northern faction, he didn’t bother me with other work.

“Ah— Oo— Aoo—“

“I’m glad to see Your Highness is healthy today as well.”

“Aooo—“

If there was any work, it was visiting the Crown Princess, whose babbling had become more fluent. As the Crown Princess’s godfather, this was natural, so I didn’t particularly mind.

Instead, I wish she would refrain from holding onto my finger for dozens of minutes. It’s not once or twice that I’ve been caught after just showing my face.

“It seems Your Highness really does recognize her godfather.”

As I was bowing with my finger offered again this time, the head maid who was observing the scene said with a smile.

“You mean me?”

“Yes. Her Highness quickly lets go of other people’s fingers except for His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Majesty the Retired Emperor. Only you are an exception.”

“I see.”

I couldn’t help but smile at those words. If what the head maid says is true, it means this little baby recognizes her godfather and considers me like family…

…

“Does the Retired Emperor come as well?”

I suddenly mentioned the words I was about to naturally pass over. The Retired Emperor is also a sacrifice offering his finger to the Crown Princess?

“He comes often. Last time, he was holding Her Highness directly and got his beard grabbed.”

I was at a loss for words at the head maid’s answer, who added that he continued holding her for an hour because she wouldn’t let go.

The iron man who led the empire for decades and whose beard turned completely white due to the unavoidable years and hardships. Imagining him standing blankly for an hour with his beard grabbed by his granddaughter causes cognitive dissonance.

The hand that grabbed the Retired Emperor’s beard.

It’s awe-inspiring. That small hand has achieved a feat that no one else on this continent has. A feat that neither the Kagan who threatened the empire’s mandate of heaven, nor the Pope who stood at the continent’s peak with the Emperor, dared to achieve.

And since my finger is grabbed by the Crown Princess, doesn’t that mean I’ve indirectly touched the Retired Emperor’s beard?

“The Retired Emperor seems to adore Her Highness very much.”

Of course, it was too treasonous a thought, so I forced out an ordinary comment.

“Aoo—“

The Crown Princess babbled as if in response.

That response sounded like the cry of a hero boasting of their achievements.

I’m glad I don’t have a beard.

If I had a beard, it would have probably fallen victim to this little hero’s achievements like the Retired Emperor’s.

It’s terrifying.

I finally returned to the Academy. It was such a long outing that I can barely remember how long it’s been since I left.

Now, I won’t have any long outings until the Academy dispatch work itself ends. The north has quieted down and a new Emperor has ascended, so there’s no way I’ll be dragged back to the capital.

This isn’t just a flag or a happiness circuit, it’s common sense. If something of this scale happens again, it would be a divine curse.

…Curse.

Mentioning a curse reminded me of a wound, but I hastily shook my head to shake it off.

There’s no such thing.

I’m not cursed, but a priest with divine stigmata. The goddess herself and not some other being, said so.

Yes, I don’t have any divine curse. I only have divine stigmata, so I believe a peaceful and quiet daily life will welcome me from now on. Surely it will be so.

Comforting myself like this, I moved my feet. There probably wouldn’t be anyone in the club room yet, and Beatrix quickly disappeared saying she had a class soon. So my destination was automatically decided.

The president’s office.

I need to go see my first lover, whom I unintentionally discriminated against.

I sat on the sofa in the president’s office, staring blankly at the ceiling. It’s strange for the owner to sit on the sofa prepared for guests, but these days I feel so empty that I can’t even care about such obvious things.

I know well why this feeling of emptiness arose. But even though I know the cause, it’s impossible to solve.

There’s nothing to do.

The emptiness I’m experiencing is an emotion that arises when there’s nothing to do. It’s an emotion that can’t be resolved unless I create work for myself.

Usually, this would be impossible. As the Academy’s student council president, I might have some spare time, but a situation where there’s nothing to do shouldn’t occur.

However, being in my final year and having no intention of becoming a civil servant, this strange situation has unfolded.

“President, you’re about to graduate, so you should spend your last days comfortably. We’ll handle the work.”

The vice president took over the work, saying it would be sad for a soon-to-be graduate to work hard until the end.

“That’s right. There aren’t any big events left anyway, right? It’s fine if one person is missing.”

Amelia actively supported the vice president’s claim instead of stopping it.

It’s not wrong. The Academy doesn’t have any significant schedules left until the closing ceremony, and it’s not like there will be problems if one president is missing.

Nevertheless, the reason past presidents worked until the end is simple. It helps a little when taking the civil service exam or having interviews. No civil servant would look favorably on someone who became lazy just because graduation is near.

“Thanks. I’ll leave it to you then.”

So, I was forced into retirement under the subtle pressure of the officers.

Honestly, it was comfortable. It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel relieved being freed from the daily work.

However, that sense of liberation didn’t last long. If I had been liberated while Carl was here, I might have been purely happy, but as days continued with neither Carl nor work, I started to feel increasingly depressed.

But he’s coming today.

I slowly lowered my gaze from the ceiling to the front. Despite the terrible emptiness, I was able to endure somehow because of Beatrix unnie, Elizabeth unnie, Louise, and Irina.

Moreover, today is the day Carl is coming, the day Carl finally returns to the Academy after leaving.

Thank goodness. If Carl had returned even a little later, I might have fallen into depression.

Knock knock—

“Mar. Are you there?”

And as if heaven helped, just as I thought of Carl, I heard a knock followed by the voice I longed for.

A smile immediately formed. Surely Enen took pity on me as I became more listless day by day.

“Yes, come in.”

I hurriedly raised my slumped body as I answered.

My heart is pounding. It’s still early, not even lunchtime, and Beatrix unnie must have just started her class. Until Elizabeth unnie comes unexpectedly, I can monopolize Carl.

My empty heart began to fill with happiness. Time without work to spend with Carl is truly the best.

“I’m back—“

I hugged Carl before he could finish his sentence as he entered the president’s office. Though surprised by the sudden embrace, Carl soon hugged me back and patted my back.

“It’s been too long since I came, hasn’t it?”

With those words, Carl kissed my forehead.

I’m happy. Indeed, happiness isn’t just about physical comfort, but something you can feel when you’re with the person you love.

“I’m sorry. But when Mar graduates, we can attend these events together, so please bear with it a little longer.”

My smile reached the sky at Carl’s following consolation.

I wanted to whine a little no matter how happy I felt, but I can’t complain when I hear words like that.

“Okay. I’ll endure it since there’s not much time left.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Then, Carl kissed my forehead again.

I instinctively tightened my arms around Carl. To have such intense skinship in a short time, if I’m not careful, my legs might give out—

“Since Mar is so understanding, may I make one request?”

I barely managed to grasp my senses at his following words.

“No, I phrased that wrong. Actually, it’s not a request but a notification.”

“Pardon?”

I blinked at these incomprehensible words. A notification? There’s no way Carl would do something so rude.

As I looked at Carl with a perplexed heart, Carl smiled deeply.

“We’re going to be married soon, so speaking formally seems too stiff. From now on, I’ll speak comfortably.”

“…What?”

A third forehead kiss followed.

“Is that okay?”

I felt like my mind was about to fly away.