"You've done well, Sifanny. You're doing great.
　"Yes, great.

　Some time later, after Sifanny's pregnancy was discovered, it was told only to a few people in Hercule's family, such as Karolina and Lunalie.

　The only other two people who knew about it were Todoris and Loukanos.
　It will be made public in due course.

　Thank you, Your Highness. Your Highness, Your Highness the Empress, Your Highness the Lunary.

　Cifany smiled happily.

　Since only High Elves could succeed to the position of Emperor, Cifanie's child would never be a rival to Carolina's child, and the same was true for Lunalie, who would give birth to the next King of Hayastan, the two of them would never be hostile to Cifanie.

　The fact that there are other women in the world besides them is a new story.

　"Well, take a break for a while. You can work again after the baby is born. What's important now is to have the baby safely.
　"Yes, I understand. But, you know, ......
　I'll come see you when I can. Don't worry.
　Yes!

　Hercule patted Cifanie on the head. 　
　In the event that you're in the market for a brand new pair of shoes, you'll be able to find a great deal of options.

　And by the way, Your Majesty ......, which would you prefer, a boy or a girl?
　Isn't it a bit early to be asking?

　Hercule smiles bitterly.
　If you're not sure what to do, you can always ask your doctor.

　I guess this is the difference in consciousness between a man who just conceives and a woman who has a life in her belly.

　I think the model answer is ......, but to be honest, I think it's a girl.
　"Why?
　If it's a boy, he'll have trouble finding a job. If it's a girl, she'll have plenty of places to marry, so it won't be a problem.

　Hercule has no intention of supporting a waste of food just because it's his child.
　She needs to be a bureaucrat or a soldier.

　But there are limited posts.
　Whether he can rise to the top depends on the boy's ability.

　If he's good, he's good. If he's mediocre, he's mediocre.
　It's hard when people expect a lot from you just because you're his son.

　Lunalie agreed with Hercule.
　Parents and children do not always have the same abilities.
　There are cases where a steeplejack gives birth to a hawk, and there are cases where a hawk gives birth to a steeplejack.

　Hercule is definitely a hawk.
　There is no one better than Hercule.

　I wish I could be as good as Sir Edmund Erdemort.

　Karolina muttered.
　Edmund, as you know, is Hercule's half-brother, the son of Hadrian and a concubine.
　He is currently supporting Hercule's regime as a soldier.
　If a child like Edmond is born, it will help Karolina's future child, the next emperor, so Karolina is probably hoping for the best.

　I'm sure you're right. ...... But your father didn't have a very high reputation to begin with. I'm sure Edmond would have taken it easy, not being expected to do so much. I'm not trying to be ...... smug, but I do have a reputation to uphold.

　The emperor's son!
　I'm not going to get carried away.

　I'm not going to flatter myself.　As a concubine. You could marry her off to a foreign country. We'll have Kuro Sticks, Fullerlings, Foulls, you name it.

　If you're a girl, you can live happily even if you're a little stupid because you still have a permanent job called marriage.

　As long as you don't have a bad face - although you will definitely be a beautiful woman since you are the child of Hercule and Ciphany - you will be branded as the child of Hercule, so you will be in great demand.

　But there's no need to get worked up. I just want her to be born safely. It's my first child.
　"Yes.

　Sifanny nodded.
　You can't tell if it's a boy or a girl until it's born.

　The devil will laugh if you worry about it before your belly is full.
　In the culture of the Lemurian Empire, would that make me a demon instead of a demon?

　In fact, since a while ago, Asmodeus and Citri have been laughing in a voice that only Hercule can hear, saying, "It's really funny that the master is your father.
　Hercule decided to give them a good beating this evening.

　"Your Majesty, I want it as soon as possible.
　"Don't be hasty. Don't be in a hurry. You have a hundred years to live.

　Hercule patted Karolina's head.
　Karolina would like to have a boy as soon as possible, but when you can have a child, you can have a child, and when you cannot, you cannot have a child.
　There was no point in getting defensive.

　Well, I'm going to be quiet for another year, so I should be able to be there for the birth. At least, if some other country doesn't do anything unnecessary.

　"So you're saying you're going to do something in a year?

　"Sort of.

　Hercule smiled and answered Lunalie's question.
　Hercule intends to achieve his original goal.

　It's a big project that will be finished within his reign no matter what.

　It is time to punish him for what he has done.

　Hercule smiled lecherously.










　Well, let's go back a year or so.
　It was after Hercule and Cecilia had finished their council.

　"Well, you've lost, Lucanos. Not to High Priestess Millenia and Patriarch of Lemuria.
　"You lost ......?

　Lukanos tilted his head.
　If he meant that Cecilia had defeated him, Loukanos could understand.
　But it's not clear to me that Hercule lost to Millenia and the Lemurian Patriarch Cronus.

　"Parenting. I can't believe you raised your child to be that good, compared to ......
　"Oh, you mean that.

　Lucanos got the point.
　In other words, Hercule raised a girl named Cecilia to be an excellent medium, with her predecessor, Millennia, a medium, and the Patriarch of Lemuria, Kronos, .......
　I'm comparing Erkur himself, who is currently raising Nia, and Loukanos.

　What's the difference?　I'm sure Nia is pretty good too, but... Did she have a bad upbringing?　Isn't it possible to use your circumstances to your advantage?

　I'm sure you're not the only one. ...... The current High Priestess of the Medium is certainly very talented, if not on par with His Majesty. But she was born that way, wasn't she?　You shouldn't compare them.

　I'm not talking about the difference in ability. I'm not talking about the difference in ability, I'm talking about the disadvantage of Nia, who was never educated. I don't compare those things.

　Human beings are inevitably born with certain things.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has this problem.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　That's why I don't want to compare them.

　What Hercule is comparing is ......

　You can't be more spontaneous, can you?　Think for yourself, actively absorb knowledge, and put it into practice. I don't know how to get them to do that. Parenting is hard.

　It's .......

　Nia has been able to absorb the knowledge given to her by Hercule and Loukanos, digest it, and make it her own.
　But only the knowledge given to her.
　So far, she has not taken any action to acquire knowledge on her own.

　"If all you can do is what I tell you to do, there are plenty of alternatives.

　What Hercule is looking for in a favored vassal is the ability to assemble the intentions of his orders, to think for himself, and to act accordingly.
　It is not easy to do as you are told, but there are plenty of vassals who are just that good.
　The bureaucracy and officers of the Lemurian Empire are well rounded.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that. He's growing up, little by little. ...... Can you watch over him a little longer?

　"Yes,......, I'm sure Cecilia will have some thoughts when she sees what her best friend is doing. I hope you will take action, whatever it takes.



　In the meantime, Cecilia and Nia were drinking tea together.
　Cecilia can only return to being a 15-year-old girl when she spends time alone with Nia.

　"Huh. ......

　Nia let out a sigh.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'd like to know what to do.

　"What's wrong, Nia?
　No, it's nothing. ......
　...... is fine, but please let me know if you need anything.
　"Yeah, okay.

　Nia smiled vaguely.
　You can't say, "I'm depressed because I see the difference between you and me.

　I used to think that we were equals in our own way, despite our different status and birth.
　As soon as we met again, I thought that we were finally on par.
　But in reality, I was wrong.

　He had become far superior to me.
　To the point where he could stand on the same level as Hercule, who he had always looked up to.

　And it became clear to me when Cecilia told me that she and Hercule had become man and wife.
　Cecilia had been accepted by Hercule.
　There is jealousy and envy, but ......
　But more than that, what was swirling in Nia's mind was her own inadequacy, the fact that she had been by Hercule's side all this time and had not received any recognition from him.

　(I haven't changed one bit since the old days: ......)

　I'm a lot smarter than I used to be.
　My body has grown a lot.
　I've gained a lot of knowledge.

　But mentally, I haven't grown at all.

　Can I walk down the street with my heart on my sleeve now?
　No.
　That's because I'm wearing the mask of nobility, not because I've grown.
　Nia was aware of this.

　In the end, now and then, it is still the same in that you keep looking up at the sky until help arrives.

　What should I do ......?
　Did you say something?
　No, nothing.

　I didn't know what to do.
　But I knew I had to do something.