636 – Springtime Sea – 4

On the day I kindly taught the Crown Princess how to write numbers from 1 to 200, the emperor received a sincere thank you. He expressed his gratitude so passionately that the emperor’s sincerity could be felt even through the communications port.

I still feel happy when I think about that time. Giving the Crown Princess hope that she would soon have a younger sibling and even teach her the huge number 200 were the best choices a godfather could make, wasn’t it? The emperor probably knew that too, so he gave me high praise.

‘Have a hard time.’

I gently covered the corner of her twitching mouth with my hand. There wasn’t anyone nearby, but my face reflected in the window seemed like a very dark smile.

But how can I bear this? Thanks to the ball I shot, the emperor’s troubles increased.

‘I will suffer every day until my second child is born.’

From now on, the Crown Princess will stir-fry the Emperor with each passing day, and even if her second child is born, she will hope for a third and fourth child. It is entirely up to the emperor to handle such desires.

It may be something that will make the emperor shed tears of blood, but there is nothing he can do about it. Honestly, the time I spend playing with the princess is overwhelmingly longer than that of the emperor. I was next to him and said, ‘If you sincerely ask His Majesty the Emperor, you will have many younger siblings.’ Even if you say this, there is no way to stop the emperor.

All you have to do is lament your own fate as an emperor. If he became a father like me who could play with his children anytime, anywhere, he wouldn’t have to suffer such humiliation.

‘I am higher than you in the family.’

Finally, the laughter I had been suppressing burst out. Within the empire, within the bureaucracy, I am below the emperor. This is a clear truth that cannot be denied.

However, from a family perspective rather than an empire, I am the overwhelmingly strong person. Because I have complete control over not only my children, but even the Crown Princess. An emperor who is busy with work every day is just a father who can’t even reach my feet.

‘It came.’

While giggling for a while, I saw the Crown Princess and her maid Jang through the window.

Today is also the time to have fun with the Crown Princess.

The tragedy came suddenly.

The Crown Princess roaming the hallways riding on Injeolmi, the Crown Princess laughing while nibbling at sacred animals, the Crown Princess sharing a pedi and chocolate, and the Crown Princess wandering around leading her triplets.

It was clearly the same as usual, but just one word brought about a change in the peaceful mansion.

“Isn’t it okay to leave Pu-di and Aal-Lina in the same place?”

In addition to playing around in her hallways and gardens, the Crown Princess loved watching Frederick in his room her her her and Alina in Alina’s room her her her.

After going back and forth like this, the Crown Princess suggested that the two should be merged.

“Same place?”

“Wow! You two are brother and sister!”

Looking at the Crown Princess nodding her head vigorously, she softly touched her chin.

Actually, there is nothing that cannot be done. Since both children are unable to crawl, let alone walk, there is no problem in keeping them in the same room and on the same bed. In fact, it may be more efficient than splitting manpower between two rooms.

But the reason for keeping it separate was simple. No matter how adults manage children, children are subject to many variables. One person may suddenly start crying, and if one person cries, there is a high possibility that the child sleeps next to them will also cry.

That’s a problem. It’s very difficult to soothe two crying children at the same time.

“Me! I see that you two are valuable! You’re both so small, so I’m happy!”

However, it was even more difficult to firmly say no to the princess with sparkling eyes.

Is it really right to disappoint a child full of expectations? Wouldn’t keeping Friedrich and Alina in the same place help the two children’s emotional development? It’s a good thing if siblings grow up together from a young age.

‘It is natural to comfort a crying child.’

If you think about it, children cry even when they are 3 years old and even when they are 5 years old. A child cries even when there are dozens of people gathered at a daycare center or kindergarten.

So, saying that you both cry when you’re together is just an excuse. It’s just that we’re used to having our kids in different rooms, so we didn’t consider combining rooms—it’s easier to think of it that way.

“Eye patch…?”

When I was silent for a moment, the Crown Princess slumped her shoulders with a sullen look on her face,

“Appa. I also have value, please let me know.”

The crown princess, who was next to her, also earnestly asked me.

“Me too! Me too!”

“See you! See you!”

Even Maria and Cecilia, who were chattering while sitting on the floor, supported the Crown Princess’s wishes.

It seems like he’s just imitating the words of the Crown Princess and Peddie without even knowing what they mean.

‘I fell asleep just then.’

Meanwhile, Cattleya was sleeping peacefully in Titi’s arms. She didn’t even know that she was sleeping so naturally.

“I understand. I think Friedrich and Alina would enjoy being together.”

“Really!?”

At my words, the sullen face of the Crown Princess quickly brightened.

‘Is it that good?’

All it takes is having the children lie in the same bed. It’s amazing and cute to see someone so happy about such a small thing.

“Me! I see that you two are valuable! You’re both so small, so I’m happy!”

And then, remembering what the Crown Princess had just said, laughter escaped her.

Even though he himself is small, he looked at Friedrich and Alina and thought they were so small and cute. It is a heartwarming sight for adults to see a small child loving a smaller child.

“When?”

Is that why? Without realizing it, I stroked the princess’s head.

“Your Majesty.”

“Wow!”

“I’m glad that your height is my children’s older sister.”

At those words, the Crown Princess’s eyes turned round, and she smiled broadly and flapped her arms.

“I have a lot of younger siblings! Jo!”

It was truly a perfect answer and the smile never left her face.

Friedrich, who was lying on the bed watching the mobile, was moved to Alina’s side.

“Ugh?”

Friedrich, who had been moved from nowhere, blinked his eyes and turned his head here and there, his eyes fixed on Alina next to him.

Then he looked back at me, then at Alina, then at me again, then again at Alina,

“Wow-“

She stretched out her dainty hand and poked Alina’s cheek.

“Woo…”

Of course, she was sleeping well, but when she touched, Alina frowned and squirmed. No matter how dainty her hands are, she still has physical power.

“Aww?”

Anyway, Friedrich, seeing Alina squirm, slowly withdrew her hand and looked at Alina.

It’s just her guess her her her, but she seems to be surprised by Alina, who doesn’t react much even though she touches her. Until now, whenever Friedrich touched someone, that person hugged or played with a face brighter than the sun. Moreover, his older brothers and sisters who came to see him also responded to his touch, so it must have been the first time for Friedrich to experience no response.

Thanks to this, I am glad that Friedrich seems to be curious about Alina. I was worried that she might cry because she was lying on a bed other than the one she always lay on.

“Aw- woo- woo-“

“My brother, Friedrich, you must not disturb his sleeping.”

However, her curiosity seemed to be a little too much, and she tried to repeatedly stab Alina with her free hand.

‘I’m not breaking this.’

And Alina, after being repeatedly stabbed by her, only slightly frowned, but she was not at all agitated and continued to sleep soundly.

Our Alina. She was a bolder child than I thought. This father is happy that his daughter will grow up to be a strong child.

“Friedrich is her older brother, so she should take good care of her younger brother.”

“Woo?”

Looking at the calm Alina, she sighed in relief and gently scolded Friedrich.

I wonder if Friedrich, who can’t even crawl yet, will understand what I’m saying, but I think it will work if he restrains me like this every time he touches Alina, who is sleeping. Repetitive learning is important.

“That’s right! Since you’re my older brother, my little sister! I’m telling you to take care of yourself!”

“Uh?”

The Crown Princess also nodded her head at my words.

Friedrich just kept tilting his head, but it was okay. Because he didn’t mean to understand.

‘It looks good.’

The Crown Princess clings to Friedrich and chatters away, Fedi sneakily approaches Alina as if Friedrich’s continuous stabbing was impressive, and Maria and Cecilia enjoy a nap on Titi’s stomach like Catlea. Lastly, Friedrich and Alina lying on the bed amidst the commotion.

Seeing the sight of seven or five children gathered together, I took a quick step back. Now I want to capture these children at a glance.

‘Cherry blossoms and the sea.’

Eventually, I realized that the names of the two children lying side by side coincidentally were connected.

The older brother, the one with pink hair, is Cherry Blossom. The younger brother, the one with blue eyes, is the sea. How wonderful this is.

‘The first snow is also here.’

The corners of her mouth went up at the sight of Alina’s pedi being pressed against her cheek.

Now, when the autumn leaves appear, our mansion becomes a place where every day has four seasons.

***

Let’s have fun at home again today!

“Charlotte. “Did you have a good time?”

“Wow!”

It was so much fun. Not only am I going, I’m going with my dad and mom too!

“That’s right! Mom!”

“Why are you doing that?”

“Pu-di and Al… Lina! They’re so cute together!”

“Hehe, really?”

“Ungh! Ungh!”

You are so, so helpful! Pedi, Maria, Cesilia, and Katrea are small, but Pedi and Aalina are smaller so they are even smaller!

“After 200 nights, am I going to have a younger sibling?”

“Then. Our Charlotte will also have a cute younger sibling.”

“How much!?”

Peddie has a lot of younger siblings! If there were a lot of people, I would go to Joket!

“Hmm. Our Charlotte sister…”

My mom, who was touching my head, hugged me tightly.

“There must be three, right?”

“Three! Joe!”

“How about the four of you?”

“The Joe!”

Mom!

“Charlotte. Be sure to tell your dad too. I want four younger siblings.”

“Alas! Four!”

“It’s okay to say five.”

“Waaah!”

Mom, I’m so happy!