The Deity Said, 'Daughter.'
The deity said, 'Daughter.'
Naming the nephew. Ah, I understand. I can understand that much.
But the nephew is the prince? If the child is healthy and grows well, one day he will become the Emperor? Naming such a child is something I, not anyone else, should do?
"Your Highness. Naming the prince's name for me... is a bit..."
"Are you unwilling?"
"Absolutely not. What should I say. Naming a prince's name as a mere subject has never been done, has it?"
Even the founding heroes who contributed greatly to the founding of the nation beside the first Emperor never did such a thing.
A noble or a subject naming a royal? The Emperor or the grandfather Emperor or the head of the imperial family, not me. How am I supposed to do it?!
Think more broadly. I learned from my father. Power is always sticky mud that clings.
If our nephew is disrespected because of the name I gave as a nephew, or because a subject gave it, how much will my heart be torn!
He said he would go to the house of the one who said such words after seeing that sight and pull out a dagger.
And with this swipe and this stab, the one who dared to say such words...
"Listen here, brother-in-law."
The Emperor is looking at me, and from his eyes, there is a hint of pity.
"You are forgetting something."
"What am I forgetting?"
"A mere subject naming a prince's name has never been done? Yes, that's right. Never. But listen. No subject of any empire has ever received the Medal of Honor as a soldier's rank or been blessed by the god's love and shown a miracle."
...Ah. Ah, I see. Thinking about it, I must not be normal.
"Did you not tell the Emperor about this matter? The Emperor was already very pleased. The one who received the god's love and showed a miracle, the name given by him himself. The prince would be very happy, he said, and would live with pride for life."
Of course. It's not the Holy See, where you call me 'adult' or 'noble' or something.
There, nobles who value honor highly 'Ah, how do we write the name given by a mere subject!' would never say that. If they did, they would immediately turn the church into enemies.
So what? Am I forced to name our nephew's name?
"...Well, Your Highness. It seems difficult right now... I would like you to give me time to think as well."
"That's a natural thing to say. Were you planning to decide our prince's name right here?"
Hahaha! The Emperor bursts into a hearty laugh and comes closer, patting my shoulder.
"Don't worry too much, think of the prince who will rely on you more than anyone else and give him a name."
"Your Highness."
"Of course, it is unthinkable for the one who will be the master of the Empire to rely on someone. But family is still there to support you. The passion and love for the Empire you have shown so far. And the appearance that shows such good influence. Looking at that, I want to rely on you too."
So, there will be no more reliable subject or family for the prince than me. The child who likes uncle the most and relies on him.
At the Emperor's words, I nodded without realizing it. Indeed, I want to be such an uncle to the nephew. A family to rely on is the best gift in a lifetime.
"Then, the name will be two..."
"Hm? Why two?"
"Eh? If the prince is a boy or a girl, we have to think about both cases, right?"
Don't they all do that? In my previous life and this life. My parents said when they gave birth to me, they had at least two names thought up?
"No. Brother-in-law."
—Snap—
The Emperor's hand holding my shoulder tightens slightly.
"Only the girl's name."
"Your Highness?"
"You only need to think about that."
"But, what if there's a boy's name...?"
"Eh. Didn't you say you prayed to the deity? For a pretty niece. And the deity responded with a miracle. Then, the answer has already been given, hasn't it?"
"..."
No. But... I really don't know! How can I know how the chromosomes will change suddenly!
The Emperor doesn't know, but thanks to my previous life, I know, right?! It's not something you can wish for! The chromosomes are up to them! Are you not considering the case where a boy is born?!
I said with sincerity, 'Your Highness. After all, we don't know about the world. Since so many people are praying to the deity, too much...'
But the Emperor's reply was 'Then I'll think about the boy's name. You only need to think about the girl's name.'
This guy really bet his life on a daughter. Oh no. If the first son comes out, he'll be in a bad mood!
'Nuna, don't you think you should stop him?'
The only hope is that Nuna comes out and says 'Your Highness, please stop.' with one word.
But it seems the agreement with Nuna is already over. Or perhaps Nuna wants a daughter more than a son. She doesn't seem to be trying to stop her husband, the Emperor.
"...Understood, Your Highness."
Finally, after promising 'I will cut the girl's name very prettily', the conversation could end.
"Then, I'll pray once."
"Here?"
"Since I received a miracle or light from the Holy See... it seems better to pray as soon as possible."
Perhaps if I don't know, if I really pray, the light will come in with a whoosh! and respond.
Honestly, in a world with previous life and magic, the deity can't beat chromosomes?
"...Hm."
However, unfortunately, while praying, nothing special happened.
Probably because it was the Holy See. There, the deity's domain, so I made a kind of hotline, and the deity immediately shot out a beam of light in response format.
'Too bad. It would have been nice if I showed it in front of Nuna too.'
...No. If I did, Nuna might really cause a ruckus. Our Karl is amazing.
No matter how, the sight of Nuna hugging the Emperor and wiggling in front of him is enough to show once. More than that, the pride of the Medal of Honor recipient doesn't allow it!
So, the story of 'naming our nephew's name' barely flows.
"By imperial decree, new policies are being discussed by the ministers."
The real discussion between me and the Emperor begins.
"If it's a new policy."
"At first, I thought of making a medal in the name of brother-in-law. But that became a non-event as you wished. Instead, the Emperor wants to give greater rewards to all those who have fulfilled the Empire's defense duties."
At that moment, I almost said 'Haven't we already given enough rewards?'
I belatedly realized the Emperor's words have two meanings.
One is to give sufficient compensation and honor to all who have faithfully performed military service, not just those who gained merits on the battlefield and were injured.
And the other is, in short, that from now on, in the Empire, it's not just giving rewards a few times for sacrifice and ending it. It's to create an atmosphere that they must remember and be grateful forever.
The problem here is that it requires even more taxes. Whether it's a reward or an honor. In the end, to show that, the most sure way is to use money, isn't it?
"The Emperor's will is firm. Whether you went to the battlefield or not, the time you sacrificed is the same. We must give an appropriate response to those who took care of you."
"All the people of the Empire will praise the Emperor's benevolent decision."
"Benevolent decision. The Emperor himself feels very sorry that he thought of it too late."
Too late. How many don't do that.
They naturally accept others' sacrifices and mock that it's not a sacrifice. Then, when they feel sorry, they ask for one more sacrifice.
I want to call them disgusting parasites. Rotten flesh to be cut out, smelly pus, maggots. Things worse than garbage.
"Still, I'm worried, Your Highness. After all, isn't it simply a 'money problem'?"
"Why? Are you worried that the tax next year will be high, brother-in-law?"
"I am. For my seniors, juniors, and comrades. If it's about taking care of them, I'll welcome it with open arms. But whether the whole Empire accepts it is a completely different issue."
The Emperor nodded, agreeing with me. Perhaps this too could become a coercion.
If it becomes a forced reward for sacrifice, it might have the opposite effect of killing the true heart.
"So, the more important your existence is, brother-in-law."
"...Again me?"
"What can I do. You know your own position well now."
Ugh. No words. Perhaps the Emperor's decision was because of me. For both honor and result.
In fact, when the atmosphere is good, it's wise to quickly leave.
*
Karl leaves the Crown Prince's palace. Ricata, watching the scene from behind with a smile on her face as the Emperor embraces her from behind.
"You didn't know I wanted a princess."
"I told Be too, but I took good care of my younger sister. I don't know what he thinks, but anyway. But, it seems a daughter is better than a younger sister."
"What if it's time for the child to grow up and get married."
"Then, I'll be nagging at the granddaughter. After scolding the daughter a bit."
Hahaha. The Emperor was about to say that and come in to rest.
Sss--
"...Your Highness?"
"Be?"
Sunlight suddenly floods in on Ricata sitting by the window. The sun must be afternoon, far away, but why is the sunlight coming in suddenly.
The man and woman staring blankly at the scene burst into laughter.
Perhaps it was a response to Karl's prayer just now. The light was precisely on Ricata's belly.