episode_0108

Green lawn.

“Oh my! Debbie. Is that woman from a moment ago really your wife?”

“Uh… Mother?”

A mother with impressive long straight hair.

My mother, who has not changed at all from when she was alive, speaks with her eyes shining.

“Yes. Our lovely son. When did you grow up to find a pretty bride and get married?”

“Yes?”

He said that and stroked my head.

“They say Sae-a is an emperor? What happened?”

My mother said that and hugged me tightly.

Before I could answer, my mother’s eyes lit up.

“Moreover, they seemed to get along very well, so I can’t tell you how surprised this mother was. Ah… when did my baby grow up so big and get married?”

I try to get out of my mother’s arms as she pats my butt.

“Uh… Please let go of my mother.”

Something is strange. Was your mother that tall?

No, my body shrunk.

Otherwise, there is no explanation for such shortened limbs.

My mother spoke as she held my now small body in her arms, just like when she was a child.

“Hehe, this mother wanted to hug little Debbie like this for the first time in a long time.”

-Pat… Pat…

I tell my mother that I don’t want to get patted on the butt at this age.

“Uh… Please let go of my mother.”

“Let’s stay like this for a little while. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

I am at a loss for words.

Looking at my mother’s bright smiling face, I find it difficult to speak decisively, so I relax my body.

“Hehe. Debbie, our angel. When did I become such an adult?”

“That… that.”

And my mother asked as if she was curious.

“And you got married, and the gold thread looks nice… What do you mean by threatening to get married?”

“Uh… that’s…”

How could I tell my mother that I had taken my mother-in-law and sister-in-law hostage and forced them into marriage?

I was embarrassed and couldn’t say anything…

-bean.

My mother, who pretends to lightly hit me on the head, continues.

“Debbie. You know you shouldn’t do such bad things, right? Of course, this mother trusts Debbie, but even so, she says just in case, you shouldn’t do anything that makes a woman cry.”

I say that with an awkward expression.

“Ah… it didn’t ring.”

I rang several times before I got married. I remember not having rang since I got married.

– Pat pat.

“Yes, whose son is he? So when are you going to show me your grandchildren?”

“Yes?”

My mother nodded and asked me back as if what I said was obvious.

“Why are you so surprised when I ask you to show me your grandchildren? They look really good together and will be together soon, but this mother wants to see her grandchildren as soon as possible.”

“That…”

What should I say?

“Our Debbie is also good-looking, and Sae-bae is also good-looking. It must be really lovely, right?”

Sweat drips down my back as I look at my mother, whose eyes are already shining.

“I have no intention of having children?”

My mother, who was happily imagining what I said, frowned slightly and looked at me in her arms as if asking what I was talking about.

“What does that mean? A couple loves each other. A child is natural. So quickly show this mother her grandchild.”

I speak firmly to my mother, who lets her imagination run wild.

“You’re not going to give birth?”

My mother frowns at my words and scolds me.

“What does that mean? Does it make sense to not have children? Sigh… Our Debbie is young and sometimes has a quirky side. Even when you grow up, you can’t do that. You, the head of the Grand Ryan family and the Grand Duke of the Grand Duchy of Francesco, should not think such irresponsible thoughts. Besides, isn’t your wife the emperor of the empire? If such a person has no successor, the empire…”

Mother’s nagging continues.

“Furthermore, if a man and a woman fall in love, it is natural for God to have a child, so why do you not want to have one? Hasn’t this mother repeatedly told you how important your duties are as nobles? But this mother is very disappointed in our Debbie for saying such irresponsible things. Hurry up and have a baby…”

It’s been a while since I last met, and I feel discouraged by my mother’s nagging.

***

“Ugh… Well… I was wrong.”

“Honey, are you okay?”

I wake up to the feeling of someone shaking my shoulder.

“Huh? W… Where are you?”

Dream… Is it a dream?

“Haa…haa…”

I think I knelt down for almost an hour and listened to my mother nag.

I remember having a dream where I was scolded by my mother for refusing to have a child with Theodora.

A vague memory of a dream.

When I was young, sometimes I would kneel down and listen to my mother’s nagging, like when I was scolded by my mother.

I never thought I would have a dream like that.

Dog…is this a dog dream?

Theodora says, wiping the sweat from my forehead with the sleeve of her pajamas.

“Oh my, look at your sweat. Did you have a bad dream?”

I nod my head at those words.

“Ugh… I had a dream about being scolded by my mother.”

Theodora looks puzzled at my words.

“Yes? Did you dream about your mother?”

I nod slightly at those words.

“Yes. It’s been a while since I last saw you. I was extremely scolded. Haha…”

I can’t believe you nag me so much for not having children.

My mother couldn’t do that.

I might die when I have a child, but there is no way my wise mother would treat me like that without knowing the circumstances.

So this is clearly a dream.

But Theodora doesn’t think so, speaking in a cautious voice.

“Uh… honey. Actually, I also dreamed of my mother.”

At those words, my head quickly turns.

“Huh?”

“In my dream, my mother thanked me for marrying you… greeted me… and asked me when… the child would be born… and that she would give me good news soon… ”

I ask while looking at Theodora, who is slightly blushing.

“Then what did your mother say?”

“He said thank you. I always felt sorry for your mother for not being able to take better care of you. Jo… He said he was relieved to get a good girlfriend…”

After hearing her words, I feel like the dream I had just a moment ago was a bad dream.

huh. It’s definitely a dog dream.

There is no way my mother would scold her son for not seeing her for the first time in a while and say thank you to her daughter-in-law.

On the contrary, I don’t know if he got angry and told me not to mistreat him.

“Ah… I guess, uhm… Isn’t there something your mother would like to say to us?”

At those words, I firmly shake my head.

“That can’t be possible. This is a fucking dream. Oh… It’s been a while since I slept here, so I’m having a strange dream. I’m sleepy so I’ll sleep a little more.”

Saying that, he lay down on the bed again.

***

“Hmm…”

A large warehouse.

I visited this place to inspect whether the war materials were in good condition.

“If you think about the loss rate… it’s roughly right.”

We are checking to see if there are enough war supplies such as grass, scrolls, and arrows to feed the horses.

It seems that Ioanes will move soon, so we need to prepare for this as well.

“Agrippa, how many new soldiers have you gathered?”

Agrippa says this while looking at the war oil next to me.

“The number of people has increased by about 1,000 since December last year.”

I nod my head at those words.

1,000 people… That’s a lot of hard work.

Unlike modern times where there is a conscription system, most of the wars here are done by hiring volunteer soldiers or mercenaries.

Mercenaries can easily gather a large number of troops with money, but it is difficult to trust them.

Even if it looks like they are at a slight disadvantage, they will run away.

So, the regular army is important, but it takes a lot of time to train, feed, and make regular soldiers worthy of their salaries.

Moreover, it is not possible to select people at random; if there are no applicants, you cannot be selected.

Unless the territory is extremely powerful, it does not send its serfs or even its citizens to the battlefield.

“Then wouldn’t we need more scrolls and shot put?”

The numbers written on the paper and the inventory numbers are roughly similar, but considering the number of new soldiers, I think we need to prepare more war materials.

“I think this is enough for scrolling and shot put. Unless all new recruits are going to become grenadiers, this is probably enough.”

I nod my head at those words.

If I had to choose the next most important troop here after the wizard, it would be the grenadier.

In modern times, it is a position close to artillery.

Well… unlike in modern times where you just have to produce and train artillery, here the grenadiers are operated separately by selecting only those with excellent physical condition.

The reason is that a heavy shot put must be thrown far away.

“Then let’s take stock like this… How does Agrippa feel? Now you’re marrying the woman you love, right?”

Agrippa laughs heartily at my words.

“I am happy. Honestly, I think I know what it feels like to fly.”

-Pisik.

“Then I’m glad. You know that next week is Mary’s birthday party, right?”

As soon as I got here, I started checking things that I couldn’t properly check since I was away.

There is a lot to see, from things like war materials, territory development status, and troop size to the expenses spent by the Grand Duchy.

Corrupt officers also steal a lot of war materials here, so you won’t feel safe unless you check.

Even numbers can be deceived if you try to, so I can’t rest my mind.

“Yes, of course I know. But it’s been a while since you’ve been here. Can you just work like this? Would you like to rest a little?”

I shrug my shoulders and say that.

“When I get old and die, I will sleep forever. ”

With that in mind, I come out of the warehouse.

“Still, His Majesty the Emperor and Mary seem to be upset.”

I shrug my shoulders at that.

“What do you do when you have so much to do? Oh right. Martin, who made a contribution in the last war, and Philip, who is an enemy general but is an excellent general. Could you please call those two people?”

Agrippa nods his head at my words.

“Yes. I will call you as soon as you return to the Grand Duke’s palace.”

I nod my head at those words.

“Ah. And Agrippa. Did you hear that after this wedding, you are scheduled to be inaugurated as Minister of Military Affairs of the Grand Duchy?”

The reason why Agrippa had not been given a high-ranking position until now was because of his status.

It would be difficult for Agrippa, who came from a low background, to control the arrogant nobles.

If Agrippa became a nobleman with the surname Ryan after marrying Mary, the issue of origin was resolved.

Agrippa answers my words with a dying look.

“To what extent are you giving me a position to treat you like that?”

I shrug my shoulders at that.

“I think it’s for my future children. Anyway, are the wedding preparations going well?”

“Yes. The preparations are over. In fact, I understand that Queen Octavia, who will be planning the wedding, will arrive the day after tomorrow.”

Usually, wedding preparations are handled by a high-ranking woman in the family.

For example, my mother, the previous Grand Duchess, should be in charge…

He already passed away.

Since Mary and I are insensitive to such things, my older sister, the queen of the North Sea Kingdom, decided to come and help with the wedding preparations and birthday party.

“Well then, I’m glad.”

So I nod my head.