608 – Your King Will Watch – 2

When I arrived at my maternal grandmother’s house, I was greeted with countless welcomes.

In particular, the Fire Spirit King sitting at the top of the World Tree dived and flew as soon as he saw us. I even heard the sound of the wind cracking, so I thought a fighter jet was coming.

– A long time. I was waiting to see when it would come.

I just blinked blankly at those words. It’s surprising that the Spirit King, who boasts a life close to eternal life, says it’s been a long time after only a few months, but the Fire Spirit King’s eyes were not on me, but on the triplets.

It’s not even a sneaky look. He blatantly turned his head 45 degrees and stared intently at the triplets. As if I don’t even care.

“…Yes, it’s been a while.”

When I suddenly opened my mouth, the Fire Spirit King cleared his throat in embarrassment and looked at me.

It’s late, you little fire chicken. I called you and came, but you treated me so carelessly. Is it okay to be a king?

‘That’s right.’

This is the king who plans to bestow his blessings on our children. Even if you tell them to leave the child behind instead of neglecting it, you may hesitate for a moment.

-Sorry. It’s been a while since I saw the young elf.

“It’s okay. I’m actually happy if the king takes interest in our children.”

Moreover, since he apologized obediently, I nodded my head calmly. If you know that you are sorry, there is no need to worry about it.

– Hmm. They’re cute kids. After all, new life is always amazing to see.

– This is proof that the life of the elves continued unabated even while the World Tree burned down. I am just happy.

Soon, the Spirit King of Water and the Spirit King of Wind, each with many fairies riding on their backs, naturally approached.

I feel strange. If it’s a quadrupedal creature, does it have a destiny of carrying children on its back? Why are the animals’ backs occupied by children in our mansion, in the imperial palace, and even here?

“Benefactor! Benefactor!”

“Long time no see! Goodbye!”

Anyway, the fairies that appeared with the Spirit Kings began to circle around me, flapping their wings.

“Okay, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Yeah! I’ve been fine! I’ve been fine!”

“With mom! We spend every day together! I’m happy! I’m happy!”

“World Tree! It’s cozy! I like it!”

“Ajumma Land plays with us all the time too! Auntie Land is fun!”

While listening to the fairies chattering non-stop, I looked at the spirit kings again when I heard the word “Land lady.”

A fire spirit king in the shape of a falcon. A water spirit king in the shape of a turtle. The spirit king of wind in the shape of a tiger.

“…Where is the Spirit King of the Earth?”

The fairy’s favorite talking snake, the Spirit King of the Earth, is nowhere to be seen.

– If it’s him.

The Fire Spirit King, who was clicking his beak at my question, looked back carefully.

‘Ah.’

As soon as I turned my gaze to follow the Fire Spirit King, a sigh came out.

The Earth Spirit King was a flying limp as if he were dead. To be exact, the Spirit King was not flying by himself, but several fairies were working together and flying while holding onto the body of the Spirit King of the Earth.

‘Is it luggage?’

It was so sad that I almost cried.

Who would think that that being is the Spirit King, a close friend of God and the pinnacle of spirits?

The spirit kings were ready to bless the triplets as soon as they saw them, but unexpectedly, the blessing was not given right away.

“Now. “This is your maternal great-grandmother.”

“Aww?”

“Hehe, it must be difficult now. Think of him as someone who loves you very much.”

“Bye!”

Because the intimate time between my great-grandmother and my great-granddaughters came before the blessings.

The triplets were sitting side by side on the floor and looking around. It was no wonder that he cried as he was dropped into an unfamiliar environment, but he burst into laughter at Trixie’s words, perhaps because he instinctively realized that it was his family’s home

“Byeow!”

Then, they showed interest by extending both hands towards their maternal grandmother, who was looking at them without knowing what to do.

Even children know this. My maternal grandmother has a similar appearance to Trixie, except for her hair, ear length, and a few wrinkles. It is natural to feel interest and attraction to someone who looks exactly like your beloved mother.

“Byeow!”

Among the triplets who had been reaching out to their maternal grandmother for a long time, Cattleya expressed her anger.

She’s stretching out her hand, asking for you to hug her personally. How dare you not hug her? From Cattleya’s perspective, even if the sky falls, it is impossible.

“Grandmother. Those children love to be held in your arms.”

“Is it okay if I hug you?”

Despite Cattleya’s fierce anger and Trixie’s encouragement, her maternal grandmother was still confused. If I hadn’t hesitated in the first place, I would have hugged those kids as soon as I saw them.

“Of course. It’s only natural that her great-granddaughter would be held in the arms of her maternal great-grandmother.”

“Bye!”

Cattleya also babbled at Trixie’s words as if they were true.

I don’t know if that babbling was something I understood or if it was just a coincidence, but it was enough to stimulate my grandmother’s heart.

“I… Have a child…”

Only then did my grandmother embrace Catlea, Cecilia, and Maria in her arms with her trembling hands.

“…This is the first time since Ariadne was young…”

Eventually, tears formed in my grandmother’s eyes.

As a maternal grandmother who did not see her granddaughter when she was a baby, this is the warmth she feels for the first time in hundreds of years.

“Aww, aww.”

“Hey, hey?”

Maria, looking at her maternal grandmother with her bright eyes, patted her maternal grandmother’s arm.

“Aw, ah… Baby.”

He continued to pat me while cooing like that. Just like I comforted my triplets by patting them on the back when they cried.

“Ah… Ah…”

‘Huh?’

But something is strange. It is subtly different from Maria’s babbling that I usually hear.

As if trying to say something─

“Cha… Kae, cha kaae…”

“Oh, Maria?”

“Huh.”

Both Trixie and I were surprised when Maria’s mouth came out with slurred words that were not babbling.

Our eldest daughter. You make dad cry in a good way.

***

I stared blankly into space, listening to the commotion in the elder’s house through one ear.

– Surprisingly. I thought I would first give a blessing as soon as the children arrived.

As I was lying on the ground looking up at the sky, the Water Spirit King came to me.

– I would like to, but isn’t blessing a process, not a goal? Even if you interrupt family reunions and give blessings, it is meaningless if you end up hurting the hearts of the families.

– Anyway, I feel warm inside, thinking it might not be fire.

Then, I was about to say, “Are you cold because you’re water?”, But I held back. By that logic, the spirit king of the land who is tormented by fairies every day is destined to be buried in the ground someday.

– More than that, what was it like seeing it in person?

Hearing the words of the Water Spirit King, he turned his head toward the elder’s house.

What do you think when you see it in person? It’s not even worth answering. What I felt, the Water Spirit King must have felt as well.

– It’s the best.

Nevertheless, I opened my mouth. Because I can’t suppress this pounding feeling of elation.

– Did you say Cattleya? The youngest of the three has considerable qualities. It’s more than we expected.

– I guess it wasn’t just me who had the illusion. Thanks goodness.

The two kings agreed. Even if one claim may be mistaken, both claims are true.

And if the Spirit King of Wind and the Spirit King of Earth, who are playing with the human emperor’s child, also express the same opinion, the truth will become even clearer.

“Wow! Wow!”

– Hold on tight. Then it falls.”

“Ugh! Be careful!”

– Meee!

Hmm.

– …Can I ask you later?

– Let’s do it. If you get in between them, nothing good will come out of it.

The Spirit King of the Wind, who roams around carrying the human emperor’s child with a gentle expression because he loves living things, and the Spirit King of the Earth, whose tail is caught and fluttering in the air.

I’m glad I didn’t choose the shape of a snake.

I’m truly glad.

***

The Crown Princess was left alone for a while for the reunion of her maternal great-grandmother and her maternal great-granddaughter, but fortunately the Crown Princess played well on her own under the supervision of her maid-in-law.

Elves, fairies, spirits, world trees. It would be even more strange if the Crown Princess didn’t play well since she was surrounded by things she had never seen before.

“Time! Time!”

The Crown Princess saw me coming out of her maternal grandmother’s house and came running with the Wind Spirit King.

Ah, the Spirit King of the Earth is also there. It was swinging so naturally that I thought it was a rope or something.

“Here! It’s amazing! There’s a lot of interesting things!”

“Are you happy?”

“Wow!”

He patted the crown princess’s head as she nodded confidently.

This is a heterogeneous society that is significantly different from human society. If the young crown princess thinks positively about such a place, it can only be a green light for future relationships between humans and other races.

“It may look different, but this is also a place where Your Majesty can have fun. It is no different from the imperial palace or my residence.”

“Ugh! Let’s go! Let’s all have fun!”

“Then that’s enough.”

It is enough if there is a perception that ‘a protected area for different races = a place no different from the imperial palace’. That would be good values for the Crown Princess who is still young.

– That’s a great education. Only the appearance is different, but the essence is no different. It is a truth that many monarchs failed to acknowledge, causing bloodshed among various races.

The Spirit King of Wind, who heard the conversation between me and the Crown Princess, smiled softly.

I don’t know if it’s possible for a tiger to smile, but that’s the vibe. It almost looks like a smiling face.

“As a godfather, it is natural for him to guide his goddaughter on the right path.”

-Hehe, her naturalness is the foundation for leading herself and her her world her her her in peace.

After saying that, the Wind Spirit King lowered his body so that the Crown Princess could come down.

-Charlotte. Would you like to come down for a moment?

“Hey… If I play anymore, will it hurt?”

– That’s because I have something to give.

At those words, the Crown Princess came down without any hesitation.

Our goddaughter. You seem to be faithful to your desires.

– May there be light for the future emperor who will lead the harmony and prosperity of various races.

The Wind Spirit King lightly licked the princess’s forehead and tapped her shoulders with her forepaws.

“What you just said…”

– It’s a blessing. It was fate that brought this child here.

The Crown Princess, who came to play and suddenly received the blessing of the King of Spirits, blinked her eyes blankly.

“What about a gift!?”

And she protested fiercely, not knowing that she had received something more precious than anything else.