NOVEL NEXT Chapter 222
There are some drawbacks to simultaneously holding the positions of Chief of Staff and Duke of the Empire.
It’s not merely because the workload is vast, or because I am overly busy.
To be honest, I’ve gotten used to that now. In fact, I find myself getting a bit anxious when there’s nothing to do.
The worst part, I must say, is the situation I’m currently facing.
“Your Excellency the Duke! His Excellency the Duke of Neomes is passing by!!”
“What are you all doing! Hurry and greet him!”
“Chief of Staff! Chief of Staff!!”
Due to the nature of the Chief of Staff position, sitting at the desk and merely handling paperwork is not all there is to it.
Since the war ended only two years ago, I find myself visiting the field more often than expected.
Whether it’s for the reconstruction of the Western Legion, or perhaps the retirement ceremony for the heroes of the battle.
Whenever there’s an external event, I try to attend if possible, but the reaction I receive is always the same.
The bigger problem is that when they cheer and call out my name, I can’t just pretend I don’t see them.
It’d be a real tearjerker if someone muttered, “That guy got promoted and now he’s so arrogant!”
So when I wave back a little stiffly, I inevitably hear these kinds of responses.
“He saw me! He acknowledged my salute!”
“No, he was looking at me! He saluted back at me!”
“His Excellency the Duke of Neomes smiled at us! There can’t be a greater blessing than this!”
“Whoooa! Wowww!!”
…What the heck is that? Watching that scene reminds me of a movie I saw in my past life.
There was something similar there—War Boys shouting for Immortan Joe.
That guy saw me! He saw me! Valhalla! I… ahem.
Anyway, the soldiers I meet on my way are, without exaggeration, really just at that level.
I think they’re even more excited than when they just returned victorious from the war.
Even though they harbor no ill will. They simply show pure goodwill and trust.
Just how overheated must that atmosphere have been for my escort to be so on edge?
Given the situation, the headquarters and Ministry of War are trying their best to minimize my external activities.
I can see a future full of troubles if I go gallivanting about and something happens.
I decided it would be better to leave those tasks to someone else.
I respect their decision. At the same time, I’m grateful to those soldiers who show such enthusiastic affection.
I fully understand. I believe that my name still carries quite a weight.
If you search through the history of the Empire, there aren’t many who have achieved such a great victory.
‘But that’s that, and this is this. Damn it! Now I have to sit at this desk and work every single day!’
Sometimes, there are days when I can’t bear the restlessness.
Didn’t I sneak out to the field a few times because I couldn’t stand being so bored?
Of course, I received a great deal of scolding afterward, but still, boring is boring.
I was at least alleviating that a bit through the occasional external activities, but now it has come to this.
“To be honest, I think this is for the best.”
“Aide?”
“You probably didn’t know until now, but actually, the Duchess issued me a secret order.”
Bel? To my aide? This is the first I’m hearing of this!
“If you once again decide to sneak out to the field with some strange idea in mind, I’ve been told to either incapacitate you or make sure you don’t go.”
“…Aide. You are my aide, right?”
“If it’s my duty to prevent my superior from going to dangerous places, then I suppose that does seem accurate.”
Ah! You’ve gone too far there! I was just frustrated! And it wasn’t even that dangerous!
I always kept to the line and ended things before they got risky or managed to slip away—
“If you think that’s the kind of precaution that someone in the position of Chief of Staff should take, then I’d like to point out that you shouldn’t be behaving like that in the first place.”
“…Do aides nowadays know how to read minds?”
“Well, since my superior is the Empire’s genius strategist, one might say that being by their side for a few years makes me somewhat genius-like too.”
I’m at a loss for words. But then again, it’s not entirely unreasonable, so I can agree.
There’s a saying, after all. A dog that’s been around a classroom for three years will recite poetry. …Ah. Poetry. I meant to say poetry.
Is someone who gets idioms mixed up a genius strategist? Exactly. That’s my point.
I had high hopes and pretended to be a genius and strategist, but I always said I wasn’t!
“Traitor!… I want to say that, but I really can’t.”
“Hohoho. That’s just common sense. A couple is, after all, one, so I am faithfully carrying out orders, aren’t I?”
After joking around a bit, I dive back into my work, and the aide heads outside to wait.
Today, while letting out a sigh at the sheer volume of paperwork flooding in…
“Chief of Staff?”
The aide who had just stepped out returns to the office.
However, their expression is quite alarming. They look as if war has broken out.
“Aide? What’s the matter?”
“Chief of Staff! You need to hurry to your territory!”
“What do you mean…?”
“The Duchess has gone into labor.”
Hearing those words, I had to shoot out of my chair so forcefully that it nearly tipped over.
*
Isabelle sat in her chair set up in the garden, basking in the warm afternoon sun.
As her due date approached, her movements had become a bit uncomfortable, so sitting here had become her daily routine.
Watching Kael, who was busy every day, sometimes made her feel guilty for being home alone and relaxed.
When she once expressed those feelings, Kael dismissed them, saying it was nonsense.
He said that she was working hard to raise their child, so it was no different from having a similar struggle.
Instead of feeling guilty, he added that they should simply encourage each other.
Right now, this chair and the beautiful garden were all created under Kael’s orders.
All for her sake. For his partner. He supervised every detail with care and affection.
Thus, Isabelle sitting in this garden, in this chair, was her greatest joy.
Being here, she felt that she and her baby were receiving all the love from their husband and father.
“Hmmm, huh…”
When she first became pregnant, she had many worries.
She was afraid this lovely little soul would blame her for not being able to be a good mother.
She had heard that many mothers get suddenly negative feelings during their pregnancies.
She wondered if such feelings might find their way to her and what would happen if she ended up disliking her child.
But now, all she felt was love and pride.
Soon, she would get to see him or her. The day was not far off; she could only wait in anticipation.
“When is our baby coming to be with this mommy and daddy?”
As Isabelle touched her belly, she began to rise from her seat.
It was at that moment that she suddenly felt a strange sensation in her body.
“Ah?”
An indescribable feeling pushed against her fiercely.
As she barely managed to hold up her shaking legs, maidens rushed over.
“It seems labor has begun.”
“I’ll contact His Excellency the Duke and be right back.”
“The rest, bring the Duchess inside quickly…”
The voices of the maidens beside her grew faint.
Even amidst the pain that felt like her body was being wrung out, Isabelle managed a faint smile.
My goodness. Our baby. Did you hear mommy? Good. Thank you for coming to see us.
*
“Brother-in-law.”
“….”
“Brother-in-law?”
“…Y-yes, Your Highness.”
“Calm down and take a seat. Seeing you so worked up makes me uneasy.”
When a mother is giving birth, the whole family gathers to observe the situation.
However, as Isabelle is a princess, her father, the Emperor, of course cannot attend.
In his stead, the Emperor chose to send his heir to show his concern and interest.
That was one of the reasons why the Crown Princess had dropped everything and rushed over.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
“Are you really okay?”
“…I apologize. I’m really, really not okay.”
The man trembling like this, is he truly the Kael I know?
Even though the doctors and wizards hadn’t mentioned anything of concern, he was acting like this.
If the people of the world saw him like this, they might be asking,
Just where could that amazing strategist of the Empire be?
Where is the man who sat alone on a meager gate and sent the Dedorant Army fleeing?
If someone were to ask, honestly, the Crown Princess would have nothing to say in rebuttal.
Because Kael was indeed shaking, unable to hide his anxiety.
“Okay. Brother-in-law. You’re right. You need to calm down.”
—Shaking.
“…Gnaius.”
“Yes, sister.”
“Are you shaking your legs like that while telling him to calm down?”
Why are the men all so jittery? I’m calm!
Though the Crown Princess thought that, she didn’t notice she herself was biting her nails.
How much time has passed?
“Your Excellency the Duke.”
The door opens, and a maiden speaks. Her face is lit with a bright smile.
“Come in.”
“Is it over?”
“Yes.”
“And Bel?”
“Both the mother and the baby are healthy.”
Hearing that, Kael almost faltered, and Gnaius quickly caught him.
“Get a grip, brother-in-law.”
“Phew, phew.”
“I’m also shaking madly since I’m an uncle, but now that I’ve become a father, I need to be strong.”
Fortunately, Kael quickly regained his composure and stepped inside.
What caught his eye first was the incredibly fatigued expression of Isabelle.
Kael immediately took her hand and thanked her for her hard work and apologized.
In response, Isabelle lightly tapped his forehead, saying it was no trouble.
“Did you see our baby?”
“No, not yet… Wait. Bel, what did you just say?”
“Congratulations, Your Excellency the Duke.”
The doctors, wizards, and maidens bow their heads politely.
“It’s twin princesses.”
At those words, Kael had to stagger once more.