846 – Meaning is what you give it – 3

There was an incident where the Emperor inhaled vodka in anger, but if you think about it, it’s not that special for him to drink vodka. In the past, he would pretend to abstain from drinking when the Empress warned him, but judging from the fact that he remodeled the floor of his office to take out vodka, it seems like he’s given up on even pretending.

Anyway, the Emperor was troubled by the Scepter of Trika discovered in Armen and the Orb of Armen discovered in Sorden.

‘The weather is nice.’

I was living a peaceful life apart from the Emperor.

Trika’s Scepter? The Emperor and the King of Armen quickly signed a treaty, and it will be transferred to the Empire in a few days. Armen’s Orb? The Emperor said that he plans to keep it a secret until the wedding of Luteus. Since it has come to this, he will hand over the orb in accordance with Armen’s celebration, and while Armen is happy, he will discuss the value of the orb.

The Scepter that comes in on its own if you stay still, the Imperial Foreign Ministry’s hard-working negotiations for the jewel agenda. Neither of these have anything to do with me. Thanks to this, I can be at ease whether the Emperor drinks vodka or not.

If the Emperor had said something like, “You’re going to Armenia anyway, right? Can you negotiate while you’re at it?”, I would have rolled my eyes. I can’t tell you how fortunate it is that the first rebellion did not occur during the reign of Aimanka XVII.

“Boo-“

While I was leisurely drinking tea and looking out the window at the scenery, I heard innocent babbling coming from the steps.

“Our Robert. Are you doing well now?”

“right-!”

I smiled brightly and held my nephew Robert, the main character of the babbling that was at my feet, in my arms.

Clearly, when I saw him a while ago, he was a child sucking his thumb in the arms of Eri and Xenovia. But Robert, who was like that, has now become a strong child who can move around on his own.

As a big dad, it was a sight that made me incredibly happy. Children usually grow up quickly in a day, but seeing my nephew crawling in the blink of an eye brought me indescribable joy.

“Shall we crawl together with Grandfather?”

“right-?”

Robert tilted his head at my words, as if he couldn’t understand what his uncle was talking about.

Erich, you b*stard. Did you walk on two legs against a child who had just started crawling? You stood on two feet and looked down at your beloved child as he proudly walked around the mansion?

‘cheeky.’

It’s a shame. This guy crawled around the mansion with his children. He didn’t seem to know how much joy and memories his small efforts gave to the children.

“Okay, let’s play with Grandpa.”

“right!”

Now that it’s come to this, I have to show my nephew a new world. If a newbie dad can’t do his job, then even a skilled big dad has to work hard.

So, with a determined mind, I laid Robert down on the road, and I also got down on the ground and prepared to walk on all fours─

“Oh, Grandfather?”

‘ah.’

Just as I was about to lie down, Zenobia came in.

It’s embarrassing. I was lying down in peace because it was just Robert and me in the room, but who would have thought you’d come in at this particular timing?

“My nephew looks very bored…”

An awkward and ugly excuse came out reflexively. It was embarrassing for me, but how much more embarrassing must Zenobia have felt when she suddenly saw her grandfather lying face down on the floor.

“Oh, yes. Thank you…”

Fortunately, Zenobia accepted my excuses and let it go.

It could be that he is saying this out of genuine gratitude, or it could be that he is saying this because he wants to naturally get over his grandfather’s embarrassment. Either way, it is a way to break the awkward atmosphere. I am grateful for Zenobia’s consideration.

“Erich and Sarah?”

He changed the subject by returning to bipedal walking as naturally as possible.

Erich left his brother, who had finally visited the mansion, alone with his own child. It was truly an arrogant and irresponsible act, but given the circumstances, he was understanding.

Erich is busy taking care of his second niece who was born not long ago. Sarah, who is not in good health to begin with, is concentrating on recovering from the aftereffects of giving birth, so Erich cannot help but focus on his second niece.

“I just put Eduard to sleep and laid him down next to Sarah. I’ll be back here shortly to make sure he doesn’t wake up again.”

“Really? That’s good.”

“That’s right. He cried so much that Erich and I had to cling to him to console him.”

I chuckled at Zenobia’s words.

My second nephew and Erich’s second son, Eduard. His full name is Eduard Trimara, after Sarah’s last name. Since his biological mother, Sarah, was on the weak side, there were concerns that his child might be born weak as well, but he shattered those worries and was born strong.

‘Crasius’ blood is strong.’

When Sarah and her nanny heard that Erich, who appeared in Sarah’s stomach, was healthy and resembled Erich, they cried so much. Sarah’s father, Baron Zaigel, also tried hard to hold back his tears.

However, Erich is having a hard time because he is too healthy. He cries frequently as if he is so frustrated, and when he is hungry or has something to do, he cries to leave the room, and he cries for no apparent reason. There is no such thing as chaos. It is almost like Teresa in her prime.

‘It would be better if Sarah recovered.’

Even if both parents are raising a healthy child, they can take care of them, but Sarah is currently out of the field recovering. Unfortunately, Erich has to take care of a child who is similar to or slightly younger than Teresa in her prime.

So Zenobia, who had to take care of Robert, was also hurriedly dispatched to the Eduard front. It wasn’t for nothing that Robert was alone with me.

“I’m here…”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Just as Zenobia was about to hug Robert, who was crawling towards her, a haggard-looking Erich came trudging towards her.

“Wow- Ah-!”

“Our Robert, how have you been with your uncle?”

“Boo-!”

“Yeah. I’m glad things went well.’

In the meantime, he smiled as naturally as possible towards his son who welcomed him.

It’s a sad and admirable sight. You may be a beginner, but you’re still a father. You must have lost all your energy dealing with Eduard, but you’re bravely dealing with Robert.

“Xenobia. Would you like to go out with Robert? I have something to talk to Erich about.”

“Yes. If you need anything, please come to the communication room.”

At my request, Zenobia hurried out of the room. It seemed to Zenobia that Erich’s condition was critical.

“Sit down and rest for a while.”

“That’s right. I think I’m going to die like this.”

So when this room became a no-kids zone, Erich sighed deeply and sat down.

In fact, Zenobia must be having a hard time because she came here to appease Eduard, but Robert has a very gentle personality compared to his younger brother. If you take care of him with the help of the servants, you should be able to handle it.

“But it’s not fun raising a child if it’s noisy. If it’s too quiet, that’s a problem in its own right.”

First, I gave some comfort mixed with persecution to Erich who was grumbling.

The fact that it is difficult to take care of Eduard is proof that Eduard is healthy. Isn’t this noise more enjoyable than the quiet of a small, delicate child who is weak and sick?

“That’s true.”

In fact, the corners of Erich’s mouth went up with difficulty at my words.

Erich and Sarah were also quite worried about Eduard, although they never said anything about him. They were afraid that if they talked about his health, it would be met with negative reviews, so they kept quiet about it, even though others were worried.

How happy I am that after all that worrying, a healthy baby is born. I can handle this level of fatigue.

“But, bro.”

“Uh, why.”

“By any chance, can I borrow the holy water lilies that my brother is raising for a bit?”

At those words, I looked at Erich with compassion.

“Is it very difficult?”

“I told you before. I felt like I was going to die.”

I nodded silently because it was an answer full of sincerity. Being able to endure something and being difficult are two separate issues.

“Just one. I think I’ll be able to breathe a little easier if I just have one.”

It is a proven truth that holy water is incredibly effective in taking care of children. The children of our mansion, the children of the Emperor including the Crown Princess, and Teresa in Teilglehen are all dazzled by holy water. How could Robert and Eduard be any different?

“Once you send it, you have to keep sending it. It would have been better if it never existed in the first place, but if it disappears after being there, there’s going to be chaos.”

“I’ll just ask you to wait until Eduard can crawl. After that, I’ll take the kids to my brother’s mansion.”

Rather than waiting for an on-site service, a firm determination to become an on-site service yourself when the time comes.

If you say it like that, there’s nothing you can do. Since they’re going to be dispatched to Tilglehen anyway and also going on a tour of the island, you can just add dispatching them to Erich’s mansion.

‘Maybe you’ll like it?’

Besides, no matter how active Eduard is, it is only the activity of one person. From the perspective of the saints, they may think it is better than our mansion.

“…Can I send it starting tomorrow?”

“Thank you so much.”

I quietly grabbed my teacup while looking at Erich who was smiling brightly.

It would be a good idea to start with a small chick first. If you send something too big, your nephews might be surprised.

When he heard the definitive answer that a relief pitcher would pitch starting tomorrow, Erich relaxed and slumped down like a corpse.

“Ah, bro.”

The road was soon revived.

“What happened in Armenia?”

“what?”

The sudden question made me frown.

“I recently contacted Ryutis to ask how he was doing, and he seemed to be smiling more than usual.”

“It must be because the wedding is just around the corner.”

“With that kind of smile, you wouldn’t say anything. It was like a smile that was trying to hide something that happened without letting it show.”

It was such a sharp deduction that I almost burst out laughing.

The discovery of Trika’s Scepter in Armenia is still known to only a few. Among those few would be Prince Ryutis of Armenia, so it is only natural that Ryutis would be controlling his expressions.

But Erich saw right through the official. He sensed the emotions the prince was trying to hide.

‘Are you really at an expert level now?’

It’s amazing. Is it because he’s bickering with the members of the Imperial Diet and maintaining friendships with high-ranking officials from all over the continent? I can feel Erich’s abilities rising steadily.

“If you don’t know, I don’t know. How would I know about foreign affairs in the first place?”

However, aside from the wonders, I cannot reveal any confidential information. After all, once the Scepter is in the Emperor’s hands, it will be officially announced, so you will naturally know then.

“Everyone on the continent knows that you have been discussing all sorts of things with His Majesty. I thought Armenian affairs were also known.”

‘This kid.’

The curse rose to the tip of my tongue. How can you say something like, ‘You’re just an AI bot emperor anyway, right?’ to your brother who’s on vacation?

‘How did you know?’

Unfortunately, Erich is right.

I am an AI bot who is constantly summoned by the Emperor even though I am on vacation, and I get to know all sorts of things, and even hear news that broke out in Armenia.

‘Fuck.’

But I heard that from my younger sibling too. How on earth did my image get ruined?