10. i love you (3)

“Congratulations, Mr. Rueld!”

“Congratulations! Congratulations again!”

“Ah, that, that… Thank you. Everyone. The year has run out, but don’t be so mean here… .”

“no! Rueld-sama and Ermina-sama gave birth to a son! How could we not have a toast?!”

“His Majesty has also announced that it is okay to have a party for at least one day tomorrow!”

… What are you talking about?

Rueld struggled to suppress his blush and made his way through the crowd.

Even in the dark of the night, his pure white hair was a unique torch and was clearly illuminated by the lanterns, so he was particularly conspicuous.

Thanks to that, thanks to congratulations and greetings, it was delayed for a long time.

“Whoa!”

It’s really narrow to be called a count’s residence, but this is enough within the system… It will be of a very luxurious scale.

Ermina said it was too burdensome, it was like that at first.

“… … .”

Suddenly, tension arises as if a stone has landed deep in the chest.

Anxiety creeps in.

When I look at the house surrounded by silence, my mood subsides.

Just a moment ago, I thought I had the whole world.

… The human mind is always the same, but I thought it was difficult.

“still… .”

Shouldn’t we show Kariel the image of a younger brother?

… … .

… .

The time when Ermina was struggling.

In the waiting room inside the Great Church, someone came to see Rueld who was restless.

“Ha ha ha! Oh my gosh! A child after ten years! You’re pretty too! The gold thread is very simple!”

puck! puck! puck!

A man with a distracting build pushed his scar-filled face burdensomely and gave Rueld a friendly slap on the back.

What would happen if you received a foot massage from a bear?

Compared to this man, Rueld’s physique seemed dwarfed.

Rueld, dressed in a black uniform unique to the Golden Dragon Knights, said with an absurd face.

“Bariel? When did you return?”

“now!”

“After going through that, it’s pretty tidy, right?”

“I was in the middle of a big campaign with my wives! But didn’t you just hear the news? It was just right, so I washed it well! Ha ha ha!”

“… … Aren’t you really good at gold thread?”

“I am horny!”

… He is good at making embarrassing confessions.

“By the way, where is Kariel?”

“… at home.”

“yes? why? No, my mom is here and I’m going to see my little brother soon, so you’re not going to show him a little bit of your little brother?!”

“It’s not… .”

“I heard the news. Didn’t you really silence the prince?”

“… … .”

Has it already spread like that?

“mind! men and horses! Guys grow up arguing with each other when they are young! what do you have that much Didn’t we?”

“For that… The case has gone too far.”

“Then, what are you constantly telling Kariel about? If he was really pissed off, would that purebred boy have made a bowl of muk like that? You man, how long has it been since you had a proper conversation with your son?”

“That, a few days… Too bad.”

“On what subject? how much? How many minutes?”

“So… .”

The most recent conversation was… … .

… … .

“Hey! The moment you sigh, it’s over! You mean you can’t think of anything!”

“Wait a minute! Can’t you see I’m nervous about praying for Ermina Musa?!”

“It was over at the point where I had to think about it. This tactless knight will be better.”

“… … .”

That’s what it says.

Let’s just say that’s what I thought of.

… … What he talked about at the dinner table.

[…] I really enjoyed the meal.]

[Kariel! My father says, what kind of burlesque hair… ?!]

[Ahh! honey! it’s okay! It’s a time to be sensitive, so we need to understand.]

… I guess it was something like this.

Even in the wagon today.

Because he didn’t say a single word.

Even then he… I was just wondering what to say.

Go home, talk a little more carefully… .

[Why me?]

[…] … What?]

[Did I do something wrong?]

[Are you saying that right now?]

[What excuse did Patina make?]

[…] … .]

“Looking at that expression, didn’t you ever say anything nice? Did you treat the kids roughly because they were in puberty, as if they were rebellious? I haven’t seen your face often, so it’s kind of burdensome to be friendly. is not it?”

“Isn’t it… .”

“Because you’re always busy going back and forth across the empire, haven’t you ever done a good job with Kariel?”

“… … .”

“Of course respect. It’s a story that everyone in the Empire knows that you are much better than a person like me who has less duties and responsibilities and lives moderately softly.”

When Rueld himself takes a day off.

Somewhere life dies.

Some become orphans and lose children.

… There is bloodshed due to countless conflicts.

Property damage, even crop damage, but somehow it goes over.

Life is meaningless and fleeting.

It was hard to handle even now.

The empire looked extremely stable on the outside, but on the inside it was still festered and rotten.

Sometimes it was necessary to cut out the rotten parts, as if to prescribe a poison.

“I’m saying let’s all live well and be happy, but why are you and Ermina so anxious about not being able to save others?”

“we… .”

because we have to

Because if we don’t, we won’t.

If only we cared a little less.

Somewhere, of course, tragedy ensues.

When you are only a few seconds or minutes late, facing a terrible tragedy right in front of your eyes.

At that moment, I felt like I was going crazy.

When you see the child’s parents crying desperately as they hold on to the child’s dismembered corpse… .

When you see a child who keeps waving at his immobile parents and keeps crying out to get up without understanding the situation… .

“That’s because you can’t save them all.”

“… … .”

“I don’t even want to take it easy, but you. I don’t drink, I don’t know how to play. Relieving stress means swinging a sword again. You hear that Kariel always works harder than your father because of you, right? Do you think the whole world is superhuman like you? And, abstinence should be enough. From before, whenever Kariel did something wrong, he made me confess, it was punishment, he fasted and prayed, and at worst, he didn’t sleep for days. Don’t you think that’s too harsh for a kid who is in the middle of growing up and doing everything in his daily life?”

“What? No, I did that… Say?”

“yes? what? I did not know? Ermina is especially sensitive to crimes, so she shoots at her. It was the same for us, but what about Kariel? Was Ermina flexible enough to make exceptions? He’s kind to others, isn’t he strict with you, us, and himself?”

“… … .”

“I told you before. Ermina said she didn’t know the trick. If you don’t support me, I’ll just bear the scars and suffer inside.”

I thought this would be a good couple.

“Why don’t you put down your work for a while and take a break with your family? No, it’s not a matter of choice, do it! Just do it!”

That moment.

A child’s cry could be heard from far away.

The hearing of the two caught this casually.

back up

The sound of running steps, staggering as if they were about to fall several times.

heard with him

“Sir Rueld! Congratulations! Son is coming! son!”

Oh Bariel! and clapped their hands.

He hesitated, looked at Rueld, and said as if instructing.

“First, after seeing his face, call Kariel quickly. If you don’t see this moving sight, you will be left with regret later on.”

“Uh, yes… okay.”

Your Majesty the Emperor!

Check Ermina’s condition. Even hugging a child who just came out.

Being congratulated, and responding to it one by one.

I was completely out of my mind.

However.

The moment when she just held her second child.

Rueld involuntarily recalled the memory of when he held his first child, Kariel.

At that time, the former pope, who was dying of illness, came to Jedo while personally getting up from his bedside.

Then, it is his last mission, pouring oil on the head of the child himself, a blessing bestowed by the world, and a child of revelation.

Wasn’t that praised?

Besides that… Besides that… .

But why?

“What about Kariel? No, it’s not too late now, so hurry up… .”

“No, no. I’ll go myself.”

Shaking his head at the emperor’s words, Rueld revealed his intentions.

“If you are in a hurry, shall we go together?”

Let’s give the empress, Melineos, a glance as if she would cast the teleportation magic right away.

“No, I will walk myself. As we go… I want to organize my thoughts a little.”

“Get it quickly. Like the kid, Ermina looks pretty tired.”

Bariel urged, carrying the second son of Rueld who had just been wrapped in swaddling clothes.

“I’ll be back soon.”

… … .

… .

The interior of the house was enveloped in silence.

Most of the employees are out of work.

One person will stay for a full-time job, but at least excluding those who are on standby for the purpose of external surveillance and home protection.

The inside of the house was as quiet as if a mouse had died.

Rueld was seized by a strange sense of incongruity.

Let’s quickly spread the mana and check the signs.

“Sylphia?”

“Oh, you’re here, Mr. Rueld.”

maid’s dormitory.

Rueld, who had just discovered Silfia waiting there, asked with a puzzled expression.

“You haven’t slept yet, what have you been doing?”

“that… .”

“Rather than that, was it night shift today? No matter how many people are waiting outside, what if I leave a child alone inside… .”

“… … Mr. Rueld.”

“yes? why? Do you have anything to say?”

Sylphia took out the stationery she had put in the pocket at her waist.

With moist eyes, as if she would burst into tears any moment.

“Bocchan, this… He told me to pass it on.”

“… … .”

Oddly enough.

The chills were intense.

It sounds like you’ve had something similar to this before.

Then, what happened?

For a while to get caught up in deja vu.

Rueld took it with trembling hands… .