Scoundrels Delight at the Mere Sight of Each Other - 2
The moment day broke, I raced to the Demon Duke and asked her for a teleport. She gave me a suspicious look when I suddenly announced I was heading to the Imperial Capital, but the instant I mentioned I planned to finish quickly and meet the First Section Chief and the Fourth Section Chief, she agreed without further fuss. Being the eldest sister among my lovers, she grew markedly more generous whenever the others were involved. A welcome tendency—I could only feel pleased about it.
"Baby, you're certain it's nothing serious? This isn't another disciplinary matter, is it?"
"I already told you it isn't. Even if I wanted a reprimand, there's nothing to pin on me."
Still, worry and suspicion lingered in the Demon Duke's eyes right up until the moment we arrived in the Imperial Capital.
It stung a little that she seemed to regard me as a delinquent civil servant who got disciplined at the drop of a hat, but unfortunately her assessment wasn't far off the mark. During my Academy secondment, most of my trips to the capital had indeed been for disciplinary hearings. She could be forgiven for thinking this one was the same.
"If I were going to get chewed out, I'd have been too embarrassed to say a word. It's a quick errand, so stop worrying."
I pulled her into a hug while she continued to gaze at me with those moist, anxious eyes. Honestly, who would ask his lover for a teleport just to go receive a reprimand? I'd have slipped off quietly on my own.
Besides, that bastard the Crown Prince always sent a teleporter to drag me in personally whenever I actually needed disciplining. Put that way, he sounded like a slave-catcher.
"All right, I understand. But if anything happens, you must tell me."
When I embraced her, the Demon Duke returned the hug and whispered softly. Of course I would. If someone tried to harass me through unofficial channels instead of proper discipline, I fully intended to counterattack with the Demon Duke's full power.
On a brighter note, she seemed to be building up a tolerance for physical affection. In the old days she used to tremble like a leaf at the slightest contact.
"I'll tell you right away, so just rest at the manor. The butler will show you around."
The familiar vibration hit the instant the words left my mouth.
That steady bpm—definitely the Demon Duke I knew.
Not completely desensitized yet, huh.
Of course, being shown around the manor by the butler was essentially being welcomed as the lady of the house, so the reaction was only natural. Margeta had said she'd been delighted when the butler guided her through the estate.
Anyway, with Margeta and now the Demon Duke both properly introduced, I'd have to do the same for Luise and Irina once summer break rolled around.
I arrived at the Crown Prince's palace empty-handed. Showing up empty-handed to congratulate someone on a second pregnancy felt odd, but the Crown Princess's pregnancy was still confidential. Under those circumstances, the Audit Department Chief strolling into the Crown Prince's palace with a gift would be far too blatant a provocation.
On top of that, picking out a gift befitting the Imperial family in a single day was impossible, so going in person first and sending a present later was the sensible approach.
But what should I send? I needed some prior experience exchanging this sort of gift before I could even begin to choose something appropriate.
Of all people, it has to be a gift for the Crown Princess.
My head ached. If I were congratulating the Crown Prince himself, a few bottles of decent liquor would have been enough. But the one who was actually pregnant was the Crown Princess. Whether the Crown Prince liked the gift or not was irrelevant; I needed something the Crown Princess herself would appreciate.
Safe choice: jewels? Too safe. And any jewel I could get my hands on, she already owned. Fine fabric for baby clothes? Necessary, sure, but a bit premature.
...I'll think about it later.
After turning it over a few times, I cleanly gave up. Consulting the Duke of Victory or the butler would be far less stressful.
Or I could ask Margeta for advice. She had plenty of nephews and nieces; she would know a good gift.
Lately I had developed a peculiar habit. Now that we had entered the fourth month and Bi's belly was beginning to show, stroking that rounded curve had become the highlight of my day.
It was a habit I never would have imagined in the past, yet any man who has become a father would understand. My child was growing inside the woman I loved. Of course my eyes kept drifting there; of course I wanted to touch it again and again.
"Bi, the baby just moved. Was that a little kick?"
And while I was caressing her belly, I could even converse with the child—
"That was me moving, Your Highness."
"Ah."
A misunderstanding. Strange—I could have sworn our child was kicking, asking to play.
"What a quiet, deep-hearted child."
Yet the thought that the baby was staying still and enduring boredom so as not to tire its mother—how kind and considerate. I had no idea, of course, but the child was clearly taking after Bi.
—No sooner had the thought formed than Bi's belly gave a small flutter.
"Ah, it moved just now."
Bi stroked her own stomach in a bright voice. This time it really did seem to be a kick.
Already tossing its father around like this—what a clever child. The Empire's future was truly bright.
Your future will be bright as well.
With a warm heart I caressed Bi's belly again. Compared with my father, who had come from a collateral line, and myself, a son born of a secondary consort, this child was the legitimate eldest son. The chains that had bound my father and me from birth did not exist for this one. If the child succeeded me, the Empire would at last have an emperor of pure legitimacy after a long drought.
His Majesty shared the same feeling and would lend his full weight to the child's legitimacy. He would probably name the child Imperial Grandson even before abdicating. Perfect legitimacy.
—Knock knock.
While I was renewing my vow to raise the child well, a knock sounded at the door.
"Your Highness. The Audit Department Chief has arrived."
Sir Hendrick's voice came from beyond the door, and I turned my gaze slightly. Bi had only leaked the news of her pregnancy yesterday, yet the man was already here—as swift as ever.
"Very well, show him in."
In a sense he was a guest interrupting my time with Bi, yet a guest who had come to congratulate her pregnancy was always welcome. The more people who offered congratulations, the happier one felt.
And when that guest was the very pillar who would support the Empire for decades to come, how could I not rejoice?
Only twenty-two.
Unbidden, the Audit Department Chief's age surfaced in my mind. A youth barely past twenty. With proper care of his health he could easily live another sixty years. No—with the Demon Duke at his side, even longer might be possible.
I, on the other hand, could not guarantee even forty years, let alone sixty. The burdens of the throne were crushing; I would either die before the Audit Department Chief or abdicate early. Either way, it was vital that my child succeed me while the Audit Department Chief was still active.
A loyal subject who serves three generations.
My heart felt at peace. Nothing could be more reassuring than knowing the Audit Department Chief would support my child. Given his character, he would never look down on someone younger than himself, and because the child was Bi's he would never treat the child coldly either.
...Thinking that far, I felt a faint regret. If only the Audit Department Chief would live a hundred and twenty years instead of sixty, I could truly rest easy.
The moment I opened the door, the scene that greeted me made me flinch. The Crown Princess sat in a chair; the Crown Prince was on his knees before her.
What the hell was this? If the Crown Prince was kneeling, did I have to kneel too? No—if the Crown Prince stopped at kneeling, I would have to prostrate myself—
"Your Highness. If you remain like that, the Audit Department Chief will be put in an awkward position."
"Ah. I've shown the Audit Department Chief an undignified sight."
Fortunately the Crown Princess spoke gently and the Crown Prince rose. As expected of the sole conscience of the Imperial family. I had faith in her.
"Karl Crassius, heir of House Crassius and Audit Department Chief of the Ministry of Finance, greets the Empire's Little Sun and Little Moon."
"Welcome. It is good to see your face even in the midst of your busy schedule."
The moment I saw the Crown Prince standing on two feet I bowed quickly, and he answered in a calm voice. If he knew I was busy, wouldn't the proper answer have been not to summon me in the first place? Leaking the pregnancy news to the First Section Chief was as good as ordering me to come.
Still, this concerned an Imperial grandchild, so I would endure it.
Yes, I was enduring it, but...
Why are your eyes like that?
The instant I straightened, my gaze locked with the Crown Prince's. His eyes held an emotion so bizarre and unspeakable I hesitated even to name it.
What was wrong with this bastard? His usual expression was never exactly pleasant, but right now his stare was downright creepy. It was the look of a dog-butcher who has just spotted a lone stray wandering through a country village.
"Having heard of a joy that belongs to the entire Empire, how could I remain still? I offer my heartfelt congratulations, Your Highness."
The gaze was instinctively repulsive, so I hastily changed the subject. I had come to offer congratulations; I couldn't very well flee in terror.
"As ever, the Audit Department Chief's loyalty never fails to move me."
"You flatter me."
Fortunately the diversion seemed successful; the Crown Prince nodded with a satisfied expression.
"When I hear of the Audit Department Chief's own good news, I shall celebrate just as grandly, so bring word swiftly."
Or had I steered it wrong?
It was clearly a well-wishing remark aimed at a prospective groom, yet it sounded oddly ambiguous. Was it just my imagination that it felt like an order to start producing the next generation of labor to succeed me?
"Audit Department Chief."
While I was murmuring polite yeses on the surface, the Crown Princess's voice reached me.
"Thank you for coming in person to congratulate us. Even this child seems happy to see the Audit Department Chief and is offering a greeting."
The Crown Princess stroked her belly with a warm smile; the Crown Prince immediately knelt before her again and stroked it with her.
It was lovely to see a family overflowing with affection, but couldn't they wait until no subordinates were present? From a servant's perspective, watching one's superior kneel was extremely awkward.
"I am honored by your words. If His Imperial Highness the Grandson looks kindly upon me, then he will surely look kindly upon the children of mine who will serve him as well."
Awkward or not, I couldn't simply keep my mouth shut. I offered a mild smile and a safe reply—
"Of course. The Audit Department Chief will be the chief retainer serving this child; how could he ever look unfavorably upon your children?"
?
What the fuck.
You bastard, what exactly do you mean by that?
Even a Crown Prince shouldn't cross that line. Hell, Hwang Hui retired before King Sejong died, yet you're telling me to become the Hwang Hui who served all the way through King Munjong? Are you even human?
"If the Audit Department Chief watches over the child, we will feel truly secure."
But seeing the Crown Princess's eyes sparkle with joy, I couldn't bring myself to deny it.
"...You flatter me."
Fuck.