One night under a full moon.

　Two people were born at the same time.







　'Oh, how could they be both at the same time!
　I don't know if I can help it...
　"My King, you are not welcome here.

　I was hovering between them, worried, when the sorcerers and maternity mothers kicked me out.
　They're rude. It's true that there's nothing I can do about it, but come on....

　What am I supposed to do!
　'Be calm, O King. Your confusion will not produce a child.

　May, Raimondo. I know that's what I'm doing.

　"Well, well, well. Just calm down. Have a drink or something.
　Oh, oh. Thank you I don't know what you're doing here, by the way. Bartolo.

　You sealed the borders of King Domorgal's country, didn't you?

　I was waiting for the news that you were expecting a baby in a few minutes. I'd still like to be the first in the great family to see them.
　Well what did you do when your daughter was born?

　Bartolo answered my question with a troubled look on his face as he stoked his drink.

　There's nothing a man can do about it. It is only hearsay and our imagination that childbirth is painful. It's not something you can do for them, is it?　I've been drinking.
　Yeah, well...

　That's right.......there's nothing I can do....
　I disinfected it with hot water and alcohol to prevent postpartum fever. And I've taught you the Lamaze method for pain relief, but....
　It's also possible that the kid that matters could have a disability.
　Yeah, why didn't I go to medical school in Japan?

　If only I had become an obstetrician or gynecologist, there might have been some things I could have done.
　No, I can't help but regret it.

　"Bartolo give me a stiff drink.
　That's the way it should be.

　I'm fueling the liquor that Bartolo has taken over for me.
　I can't taste it.

　No wonder you're so desperate to drink.
　I stopped drinking.
　Not at all distracted. I don't take the Bartolo formula for granted.

　Tell me something to get your mind off it. Or swing. The king's life.
　It's a strange life for a king.

　Raimondo and Bartolo look at me with a stupid look on their faces.
　Shut up and say something.

　Well, let me ask you something. How do you manage to give birth to two people at the same time?　Are you guys going to f*ck me all at once?
　'....one out of three times we were together...'
　I'm surprised you can forgive me.

　Raimondo shouts in surprise.
　No, I wouldn't be able to do it either....so I glanced at him.

　Then, when I did so, both of us were surprisingly flippant, or rather.......


　'My wife gets mad at me just for talking about other women. I'm very jealous of her.
　That's a tough one.

　I've been blessed.
　Dear Julia, dear Tetra. Well, well, well.

　I was talking nonsense like that when I heard the sound of a child crying.
　It was the cry of a child ... a baby.

　That must mean that....

　'O king!　You're pregnant!　It's Master Tetra!
　My body moved before I could think about it.
　I go straight to the room where Tetra is.


　'Alms........'
　Tetra was smiling.
　Her face was covered in sweat, though, and her hair was stuck to her cheeks.

　And in her hands she was holding a baby wrapped in a clean cloth.

　'A healthy boy. Take me in your arms.
　Yeah.

　I picked up the baby ... my own child.
　It's pretty heavy I feel the weight of life.

　"He's got hair like me, doesn't he? He looks like you. Especially in the cheeky way.
　Rude.

　I reached out my fingers to the baby's little hand and squeezed it.
　Oh he's so cute I want to eat him.

　''Name ... what do you want me to do with it?
　"Yeah this guy's name is Anx. Anx-as.
　Yeah. Good name. Anx the fruit of my love for me and Almus...

　Tetra grins and smirks.
　For now, this guy seems to be okay.


　When I was relieved for the moment, I heard crying from the next room.
　This means.........

　Go to him.
　Yeah, I know.

　I handed Anx to Tetra and then hurriedly headed to Julia's place.
　Are you okay........



　Julia!
　Oh, Alms....

　Julia smiled at me.
　It seems that this guy wasn't as difficult to deliver as Tetra, and I don't have the impression that he's that exhausted.
　But there is a hint of anxiety in its expression. Joy and anxiety........a mixture of both....

　Come in. I'm a spirited ... girl.
　Julia said and handed me the baby. That hand is trembling a little.
　Totally.........

　I kissed Julia's lips.

　'You've done well. Thank you. I'm happy for you.
　When I smiled at her, her expression brightened as her anxiety seemed to lift just a little bit.

　''What about the name ... am I allowed to give it to you?''
　'Good. It's your right as a father.

　Okay. Well......

　Fiona. Fiona Loseys. This girl's name is Fiona Loseys.
　Fiona... yeah, I think it's good.

　Julia smiles happily.
　I shift my gaze to Fiona.

　Her hair is a purple-red (lavender) color. Her face also resembles Julia's.
　When she grows up, she's going to be a beautiful woman.
　I'm glad to hear that. It's a little sad that I can't find much of myself in her, though.

　Oh, she's cute.
　I don't know what I'll do if he asks for your daughter. I'd be in trouble.

　I'll never give her a wife.
　...and you just had a baby, so what are you talking about?

　Julia laughed aloud.
　I'm glad you're feeling better.......Julia.





　After a break, when Julia and Tetra had fallen asleep.
　I was alone on the palace balcony looking at the moon. It's a beautiful full moon.

　I fuel my drink by myself.

　'Leader.....'
　Ron. You're a little late.
　'I've been a little busy. So I'm sorry I'm late. Congratulations on your progress.

　Ron came quietly to stand next to me.

　'I'm sorry. I only have one glass.
　'No, that's fine. And ... you seem to be having some difficulty.
　Do you understand?
　'Yes ... you mean Yulia-san, right?'

　You guessed it.
　Well, maybe it's not surprising that it's all over our heads.

　Julia's son will be the next king.
　It's a tacit understanding. Everyone in the country knows that.

　Of course, if I tried to crown a son of Tetra to the throne, it would split the country in half.
　Especially House Rosais. It's obvious that they would oppose me head-on if they had a different story to tell.

　I know that, and that's why I didn't give Anx the family name of "Lossies".
　I'm not going to be the heir to the throne. To show that.

　Julia gave birth to a girl. And Tetra gives birth to a boy.
　It's a bit of a messy situation.

　Well, Yulia's position is unassailable at this level.
　But if this goes on and on, it becomes a problem.

　In other words, it's a pattern where Yulia keeps giving birth to only girls and not giving birth to boys.

　It's not impossible to choose not to do this with Tetra until Julia gives birth to a boy...but that's not possible.
　I don't want Tetra to put up with that much, and besides, Abraham that old bastard would be complaining about it.

　If it wasn't for that old bastard, we wouldn't have gotten into so much trouble.

　I've heard it said that it's the sperm that decides who gets to be a girl and who gets to be a boy. So I'll be the bad guy.
　Yeah, but I heard that a woman's constitution is also involved.
　They're both bad....well, bad is not the right word. Or should I say, there's a cause.

　'Well, I'm honestly happy for you. I wanted a girl and a boy, and I wanted both. There's roughly a one in two chance. There's no way a girl is going to last forever.
　'Yeah, I think so too. Julia-san and Tetra are both important to me. I don't want to see the two of you fighting each other.
　Yeah, I won't let you. Never.

　I stared at the full moon.
　The full moon continued to shine brightly, ignoring me.






　The days of peace would pass and June would come.
　I grew wary of the invasion of King Domorgal's country that I had heard about and the siege that would accompany it.

　And just as I had expected, the peace was over.
　The one thing that wasn't as expected was....
　It was not the invasion of Domorgal's army that broke the peace, but the civil strife in King Domorgal's country.

___________

Episode 95.5


　'Cute little ... it's your grandfather!
　....

　Fiona looks at her father-in-law's face curiously.
　Fiona, who has only just been born, has almost no vision. However, her father-in-law seems to be looking at her and is overjoyed that she seems to be looking at him.

　'Yes, you look just like Julia.

　Suddenly his father-in-law starts crying. A strange switch seems to have been flipped.

　'By the way, where's Tetra Ass?'
　Tetra?　She's in that room over there with Anx.

　I'm not going to let my presence be a distraction...
　Tetra said that and went that way.

　It's not that Yulia and I don't mind, but Tetra herself seems to be awkward. Well, there's no particular reason to force her to come.

　It's not a good idea. It's not a good idea.

　Your father-in-law said so, and then he called the slave to bring Tetra to him.
　Tetra came quickly. I could see the strain on her face.
　The anx in my hand is sleeping easily.

　I beckon Tetra to sit beside me. I'm always ready to shelter her...

　Your father-in-law smiled and said.
　'Let me hold the boy.
　What?

　Tetra gave me a slightly surprised look. I probably have the same look on my face.
　Of course, Tetra and your father-in-law are not blood related.

　I thought I was going to say a word or two of advice.

　'Julia's son-in-law is my son. Her son's daughter-in-law is my daughter. That daughter's son is your grandson, right?

　Your father-in-law grins.
　Tetra has a puzzled look on her face, but she quickly stands up and takes the anx to her stepfather.

　''Go ahead........''
　Hmm.

　Your father-in-law picked Anx up like he was handling a broken object.
　Then, looking at his face, he said to Tetra.

　'Yeah, he's a good boy. That's your son. I'm sure he'll be a wise man.
　Thank you very much.

　Tetra thanked him with a slightly flushed face.

　Your father-in-law returned the ankhus to Tetra and then let them leave.
　Then he left them alone with me.

　For a few moments, silence dominated the scene.
　It's your father-in-law who opens his mouth first.

　'May I?　Whether they are willing or not, there will be conflict. There will be people who will try to carry them up by themselves.
　I know what I'm doing.

　I will protect them and their child no matter what. As a husband, a father, a king.

　"I got to see my grandson. But I will not go without peace of mind until I see the Dauphin's face.
　I'll do my best.

　The next king is a Uriah boy. This is a must. Otherwise, the country will fall apart.
　My primary purpose in existence is to produce a boy with the blood of House Rosais.

　'Worst case scenario, I'll have to get Anx and Fiona married. I'd prefer to avoid that if possible.
　I know. Huh.....

　At worst, it's incest.
　I don't know if I should mourn it or be glad that there's a last resort.