557 – Mandragora Growing in Hell – 1

Since the triplets were born, they have been getting a little teased by the emperor.

“It was Jim who got married first, so why does the minister care more about his children?”

A miracle man who married several years later than he did and has four times as many children. That was the emperor’s main joke.

“Your Majesty only sees you, the Empress, but doesn’t Sosin have six wives?”

“Don’t be a coward and make excuses with numbers. Even if you had only one wife, you would have had more children than your luggage.”

I couldn’t bear to refute the sight of the emperor giggling. Honestly, that’s what I think.

Mar, who safely gave birth to Pedi and is looking for her second child, Trixie, who gave birth to triplets at once, and Rize, who had children as soon as she got married. No matter how much you think about it, if you had more children than the empress, you would have had more children. There is no one worthy of having fewer children.

At this point, I am afraid of myself. Once or twice can be considered a coincidence, but three times in a row? It’s not just that I’m lucky, I’m strange.

‘Is this really God’s blessing?’

That too is the blessing of three gods. If you do simple calculations, it’s three times that of others.

Yes, three times recognition. Double the event is enough to be called a blessing, but triple the event would be even greater.

“Anyway, looking at the minister, I feel like I should try harder too. It would be difficult for the emperor, who is supposed to lead the prosperity of the imperial family, to be worse than his subjects.”

Although the emperor spoke as a joke, there was probably some sincerity in it.

Too many royal family members can lead to division of the imperial family, but having too few royal family members is also problematic. Even just 30 years ago, wasn’t the direct lineage of the Livnoman royal family cut off? Fortunately, after searching through the secondary world, a rare monarch named Sang-Gang emerged. If it had not been for bad luck, the Rivnoman Imperial Family and the Khphelopen Empire would have ended their service 30 years ago.

Therefore, the emperor, the second and young head of the collateral family of Livnoman, must have many descendants for the sake of the imperial family and the empire. Her Her enemy Her Her Her, the Crown Princess, is not enough.

“I would feel at ease if I at least had a collateral.”

And just as Livnoman, whose direct lineage was cut off, found a spare collateral line, the current royal family must also create a new collateral line.

Perhaps the family created by Ainter, the Marquis of Idrafen, or the Emperor’s only younger brother will be the collateral.

…Ainter?

“So, how are things going with the Marquis of Idrafen and the Marquis of Barandiga?”

I mentioned something that I had almost forgotten due to the recent storm of events.

Ainter, a member of the royal family and the Marquis of Idrafen, and Shati, the only child of the Marquis of Barandiga, the only Marquis of the North. Their marriage has been discussed before, but we don’t know anything about the current situation. I’m busy with my own wedding, so how can I care about someone else’s marriage?

“Hmm? Don’t you know?”

“I apologize, but Soshin has been traveling around other countries such as the Holy Church and the Kingdom of Leon—”

“You may not know. A minister working for peace on the continent cannot worry about trivial matters.”

I kept my mouth shut due to the quick change in attitude.

I’m glad that b*stard still has a speck of remorse. If ‘The daughter of the Marquis of Barandiga is under the jurisdiction of the minister, why don’t you know?’ If I had said the same thing, I would have overturned it.

“Ainter went to the Marquis of Barandiga a few days ago.”

“…Yes?”

However, my head went blank at the words that followed. Ainter, the only member of the royal family other than the emperor’s family, came into my jurisdiction, and I didn’t know about it for several days?

‘No shit.’

Why didn’t I really know? Even if I wasn’t interested, the Marquis of Barandiga is someone who regularly reports even the smallest details, right?

‘Ah.’

Eventually, I remembered the time when Ainter went to the Marquisate.

A few days ago, it was a time when Trixie was having a hard time giving birth to triplets and the issue of where the triplets would live was being debated fiercely. To put it another way, it was a time when I was out of my mind.

‘I heard it but forgot.’

Or maybe you didn’t hear it at all.

I had no idea that the small ball our children shot would flow like this.

***

Strange.

Strange, strange.

This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening.

‘Why do I keep losing…!’

Today again, I fell to the ground and bit his lip. With this, he achieved the amazing feat of achieving a double-digit loss record.

I can’t understand it. Can not understand. I, who trained as the successor to the Barandiga tribe, ran with the wind through the grasslands.

‘To the person who just picked up the sword!’

I gritted my teeth as I saw the Marquis of Idrafen approaching with an angry smile as always.

When I heard that Marquis Idrafen had started training, I just snorted. When I heard that you wanted to spar with me, I thought it was an opportunity to hit it off.

But the result was completely opposite to my expectations.

“It was a fun sparring today, young lady. As expected, your skills are improving day by day.”

“Thank you.”

I was moved to tears by what seemed like a one-sided evaluation, but I had no choice but to accept it calmly. The Marquis is the winner, and I am the loser.

‘…How is it so strong?’

I quietly lowered my head as the question still remained unanswered.

Of course, I heard that the Marquis of Idlaffen received instruction from Count Tyleglen, the greatest swordsman on the continent, at the Imperial Academy, but what is more important than his teacher’s ability is the disciple’s ability. No matter how fertile the land is, if the seed is damaged, it will not bear fruit even after 100 days.

However, the Marquis far surpassed me, the warrior of the plains, in just over a year and an hour. This is a result that could never be achieved if the marquis lacks talent and effort.

‘I thought it was a flower in the garden…’

Confusing. The marquis, who grew up in the safest space on the continent called the imperial palace, and who grew up under everyone’s protection, is this strong. I can’t believe your talent is developing faster than me, who has been wielding a sword since I was young.

It even feels unfair. A person who lived in vain as a member of the royal family even has such talent? What will become of me who lived fiercely in the grassland?

‘I really hate it.’

I hate it so much. I hate the marquis who laughs shamelessly and the marquis who is stronger than me.

And I hate myself even more for continuing to lose for laughing at the Marquis.

“Thank you for the good sparring today too.”

Therefore, he still bowed his head and expressed his courtesy gratitude to the Marquis.

Because I felt like I would burst into tears when I made eye contact with the Marquis.

***

I smiled secretly as I watched the young lady hurriedly run away.

A rugged and honest person. A somewhat immature person who is not good at hiding his feelings

‘That’s cute.’

I don’t know what to say, but he is someone who somehow makes me feel at ease and have fun when I’m with him. I can’t help but be happy to see such a transparent person, not like nobles who judge others with just a look or a word.

“You may come out now, Your Excellency.”

As I watched the young lady walking away, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Haha, did you know?”

Then the Marquis of Barandiga, who had been secretly watching our sparring, appeared.

In fact, I did not sense the presence of the Marquis Barandiga on my own. If I hadn’t happened to see the shadow during sparring, I wouldn’t have noticed it.

“As a son-in-law, how can I not know when my father-in-law is watching?”

But I laughed it off, pretending I knew it from the beginning.

Strictly speaking, the Marquis was caught secretly spying on my wife and I. Even if you know this, you have to answer as if nothing happened so the Marquis will be at ease.

“Oh my, you’re a father-in-law! Those are such sweet words!”

As expected, the somewhat awkward expression on the Marquis Barandiga’s face quickly relaxed.

‘As expected, the young lady takes after her father.’

And I smiled again at the sight of the Marquis Barandiga, who looked as rugged and honest as a young lady.

After talking for several days and finding out, the Marquis of Barandiga is a person who is happier about having a son-in-law than about being connected to the royal family. So much so that I wonder if I would have been warmly welcomed even if I wasn’t a member of the royal family.

At first I was skeptical. He was the head of a tribe even before becoming a marquis of the empire. There’s no way a person like that would choose just anyone as a spouse for his only daughter

But the question was resolved in just a few days.

‘He must have been worried that his only child would die unmarried.’

The young lady’s personality is a bit harsh. I don’t intend to do it, as I am like a fiancé, but if it weren’t for me, a normal marriage wouldn’t have been possible.

So, from the Marquis Barandiga’s point of view, I am like a savior who will save his daughter and family.

“It would be nice if Shati had an open mind like His Excellency His, Marquis Idrafen …”

Perhaps that’s why the Marquis of Barandiga made a bitter expression whenever the lady and I had the slightest conflict. It’s as if I’m worried about what might happen if I lose my chance.

“Haha, isn’t it a matter of time? That’s why I came all the way to Barandiga.”

However, there is no need for the Marquis to worry. I have no intention of relenting even if the young lady shows signs of giggling. I have no intention of abandoning my duty as a member of the royal family and being a fun person to be around.

Now we just need time. We need time to get used to each other and for the lady to acknowledge me.

To wait and be patient. That level is nothing to me.

‘…There’s nothing to call patience.’

Waiting with a happy heart is not patience but joy.

Let’s wait until the day when my daughter can enjoy this joy, not just me.

It seems that the young lady is trying to please me in various ways.

“Your Excellency. If it’s okay with you, wouldn’t you like to go hunting together?”

A young lady holding a bow with burning eyes.

In those passionate eyes, I could see the determination to win.

‘It’s hunting.’

It seems like the young lady used her head this time. Because I focused on learning the sword, I only learned archery and horseback riding at an advanced level, but if I were to compete in a hunting match with a nomadic lady, wouldn’t I be a sure loser?

“Good.”

Still, my worries were short-lived.

“Hunting in the vast grasslands must be even more special.”

After yesterday’s sparring, my hesitation disappeared as I remembered the young lady who bowed her head deeply.

Sometimes, you have to let the young lady win so that you can see her bright face her.