As soon as I entered the castle of Maust, the surrounding lords sent envoys to congratulate me.
They said, "Congratulations on the pregnancy of your wife, Your Excellency.
I thought how quickly the story spread, but lords everywhere are struggling to survive. It is only natural that they would have one of their own in charge in the capital and come to congratulate the most powerful man in the kingdom.
Rumi responded to these envoys with a smile. I told him to get some rest,
"It''s my wife''s duty to meet with the envoys.
He was unyielding. I think this kind of stoutheartedness is similar to Serafina''s.
Or rather, all of my wives are strong-willed even though they are different types. Maybe I''m naturally attracted to such women.
Returning to my castle by the river doesn''t mean I''ll lose my job. In fact, there was a lot of work because we were back in the castle for the first time in a long time.
Fleur was entrusted with some of the duties concerning the appointment and dismissal of nuns and other girls. Fleur might be more like a bailiff than a wife. She calmly and quietly performs her duties. Her clerical skills must be very high, but she rarely looks as if she is having a hard time.
Because of the nature of their work, Fleur and I sometimes share the same room and take care of our own political affairs. On that day, they were both working on documents for the territory.
"Regent, perhaps it is time for you to have your own household administration at the castle of Maust..."
During a short break, while I was drinking a cup of tea, Fleur said to me, "I''m sorry, but I''m afraid you''re not going to be able to make it.
A person in the position of a king or the heir to a great lord has the authority to form a small government, so to speak, with himself at the top. They have to take care of their own lands and temples.
Rumi also has his own domain apart from mine because he is the sister of the king. However, until now, I have been handling it by myself with the help of other bureaucrats and my subordinates.
But as I become heavier, even that will become difficult. Then, it would be better to set up a solid domestic organization to take care of the paperwork. That is what Fleur is talking about.
"Yes, I agree. But first I will talk to my wife in person.
It has been a few days since I returned to Maust Castle, and I have not been alone with Rumi.
It is true that I have a lot of work to do, but it is also true that we have been putting off seeing each other for that reason.
However, it is not possible to meet Rumi in such a busy state.
"Your wife seems to be having a hard time because she is too pure of heart.
"Then it is as if Fleur''s mind is clouded."
"At least, when I became the Regent''s concubine, I was relieved that my family might be able to survive. I thought of the house first."
Fleur laughed at herself.
"Whatever Fleur''s intentions, you''ve been good to me, and I love Fleur. I still remember the first night we held hands."
I haven''t forgotten how happy Fleur was smiling at that moment. I have a good memory. Odanobunaga also said that once he heard something, he usually did not forget it. I don''t know how much of this is true, since he said it himself.
"It''s not good to talk like that in the daytime.
Fleur smiles with her mouth full.
Fleur and I are close enough to be able to talk lightly like this.
I wish I could have this kind of relationship with Rumi, but I guess Fleur and Rumi are in too different a position. The daughter of a lord on the verge of extinction and the sister of a king, albeit a leaning one. They can''t possibly be looking for the same thing.
"I would like to speak with Rumi tonight. Rumi will be extra tired with the birth approaching."
"That would be good."
With a clerical expression, Rumi nodded.
Rumi nodded.
That night, I dressed up in formal attire and visited Rumi.
In other words, I visited the king''s sister rather than entering my wife''s room. Because I was dressed in formal attire, I was also wearing a sword.
"You are looking very mysterious today, my dear.
Rumi welcomed me with a sad smile.
The maids of honor had been dismissed, so there were only two of us in the room.
"Rumi, I have something very important to tell you today. Please listen attentively."
Yes, I understand. Please tell me.
We sat across the table from each other.
"I want to change this country into something truly peaceful. Not just for a year or two, but for hundreds of years.
"It''s a noble idea."
Rumi had the look of royalty. It was in the blood of one who had ruled this country for so long, I thought. He was more kingly than the current king.
"To make that happen, I want Rumi''s child to take the throne."
I stared into my wife''s eyes and said, "I''m sorry.
She did not look away.
"Does that mean you are going to open a new dynasty?"
"There is no one in the Kingdom of Thirlwil with more power than me. I will stand at the top of this kingdom and open a new dynasty. For the sake of peace. I need Rumi''s help to do this."
"That sounds like treason to me."
It''s not treason. It''s just that I''m going to unify this country.
We were still staring at each other.
I felt that if I looked away, I would lose.
"Then, I''m sure your brother won''t have a good time.
"I want to fight for my wife''s happiness. My brother-in-law''s happiness is lower on my priority list than my wife''s."
"So, then, what if ......"
So Rumi finally averted his gaze.
Tears were welling up in his eyes.
"What if I told you that I would report this to your brother? Then ...... you''ll have no choice but to kill me. ....... You said you were doing it for your wife''s happiness, but you''d be a terrible liar ......?"
"I don''t see the point in that assumption. My wife loves her husband more than her brother, I''m sure of it."
I stood up and hugged Rumi from behind.
"My wife wants me to be happy, so our interests are aligned. Am I right?"
Rumi nuzzled his face into my chest and cried for a long time.
"If I had hated you more, history might have changed. ......"
"Give me a king, Rumi."