About a month later ...

　I turned to the assembled commoners and nobles.
　Right next to me, something like a high plank stands, with a crimson curtain draped over it.

　I look around at the gathered crowd and then grab the curtain.
　I can see the crowd's eyes are focused on my hand.

　I can't help but get nervous.

　I can't believe I'm nervous about this... after all this time...

　I drew the curtain at once.
　A red-copper-colored, bronze slab emerged.

　There was a burst of applause.

　''Your Majesty the King!　Hooray!　Your Majesty!　Hooray!

　It is our country's first codified law.
　I call it the Code of Thirteen Articles for convenience, because it contains thirteen articles.

　'Your Majesty the King!　Our great king!　All of us commoners will continue to swear eternal loyalty to His Majesty!

　A representative of the commoners shouts.
　This is followed by a hail mary call.

　'Thank you. I will answer your loyalty to the best of my ability. Freedom of property and body are inalienable. I will do my duty as a king to protect your rights.

　I reply, and the applause and cheers intensify even more.

　'Your Majesty!　Actually, I have a suggestion.

　One of the commoners stepped in front of me.

　'What's the matter?　What do you have?
　"We commoners will continue to fight for you as soldiers. ....But we commoners all think that this wonderful Code is not a sufficient reward. But we have no treasures to offer Your Majesty.

　The commoner hangs his head deeply to me and says the lines as planned (scenario).

　''So ... we commoners would like to offer His Majesty the title of 'Father of the Nation'.

　Father of the Nation.
　There is no king in the land of King Loseys or any of the countries of Adelunia who has ever held this title in his hands.

　Because it is a title that is too heavy.

　In the Adelnian peninsula, there is a practice called 'patriarchy'.
　This means that the "father" is the most important person in the family.

　The father's control extends to his wife, children and even the slaves he owns.
　In Adelunia, the Father's command is absolute and must not be disobeyed under any circumstances.

　It's also possible for the Father to sentence wives, children and slaves to private punishment.

　And this authority is also recognized in the Thirteenth Code.
　However, it does not allow for the death penalty or confiscation of property owned.
　This is because those powers are guaranteed by the vassalage.

　If we consider the title "Father of the Nation" in light of the authority of the "patriarchal authority," we will understand the great authority of the title.

　In being the Father of the Nation, the people are his children.
　In other words, my patriarchal authority would extend to the citizens of King Rosais' country.

　Of course, that's only a nominal thing.
　Of course, that's only nominal, of course, and it doesn't mean the people actually think of me as their father, or that I can do what I want.

　But as long as I keep my father's title, the people will have to respect me as their father.

　It's a gift greater than all that money.
　Of course....

　'That's too heavy for me. I'll just take the feeling.

　I shook my head.

　Then several nobles, led by Bartolo, came up to the stage.
　Ron and the others are also there.

　I'd like to ask you to do the same for us. We ask that you accept the title of 'Father of the Nation'. We would like to be loyal to you, Your Majesty, as our father.

　This is an act to show that the offering of the Father of the Nation to me is the will of the nobility as well as the commoners.

　But I shake my head again.

　'Your offer is truly flattering. But it's still a disproportionate title for me.''

　When I refused again, Raimondo walked over to me and knelt down.

　''Your Majesty, I would like to ask you to do something for me as well. Please accept the title of 'Father of the Nation'. The son of the god of war, Mares, and the son-in-law of Master Gryphon. And it is to your credit that your country has developed into one of the greatest powers on the Adelian Peninsula. And no one is more worthy of the title than you. Please, I beg you.

　I can't blame them for saying this!
　It's not that I want it, it's just that you guys insist that I take it.
　I don't have any choice. You have to accept it.
　It's not that I'm not happy about it!

　.........
　And, well, let's end the farce here.

　It gets worse than this.

　''I understand. If you say so, I'll accept that title. Let's continue to work to live up to that title in the future!

　A loud cheer went up.
　.... haha.

　It smells like something ahoy.

______.

Code of the Thirteen Articles (Code of Almus (God Emperor))


Features include patriarchal rights, private property rights, guarantees of justice, and a criminal code that emphasizes equal customary law regardless of status.

It is one of the four major codes of the Romali Empire, along with the Code of Andalus (Thunder Emperor), the Code of Westoria (Wise Emperor), and the Constitution of Erestia (Holy Emperor) (Constitution of the Romali Empire).


________.


　'How about that!　Your father is now the father of the nation!

　I pick Fiona up.
　Fiona cackles and laughs.

　My beloved daughter Fiona and my beloved son Anx are each two years old by my count - twenty months old.

　'Daddy, is it great?　Amazing!
　'That's right!　Daddy is awesome!

　Fiona can already speak one language, if only in one language, and she can eat a lot of baby food.
　And guess what!

　I can walk a little!

　Great, right?
　That's my girl. You're a genius.

　Yeah, she's a genius.　

　Julia gave a wry smile.
　No, but I can walk, can't I?

　That's great.

　"Me too! Me too!

　Something pulls on my toga.
　I look down and see Anx pulling on my toga.

　"Oh, Anks. Hold on for a minute. Fiona, I'm going to switch places with your brother now.
　'Yes!　Yes!

　Fiona grabbed a handful of my hair and started to flail about.
　She doesn't want to get away from me.
　It's hard being a popular dad!

　Five more times?　One!　Two!

　I give Fiona five times, high and high.
　Fiona laughs happily.

　I can tell she's been getting a little heavy lately.

　Fiona looks like Julia and has a very pretty face.
　Probably the best in the world.
　I wonder how beautiful she'll grow up to be when she grows up...

　I'll never give you a wife.
　He's saying it again...

　Julia sighed.
　No, I don't really mean it either, you know?

　On the Adelnian peninsula, a woman who is not married is not treated as a full-fledged woman.
　Marriage is the only thing that makes a woman happy I don't think, but it's obvious that if you delay, you'll be unhappy.

　We'll let them get married.
　Of course, they will test you well.

　Five!　Then I'll take your place. Julia, take over.

　I hand Fiona to Yulia.
　Fiona doesn't flail about, and Julia holds her quietly.

　I pick up Anx, who is puffing out her cheeks below me.

　'See, don't be so sulky,'
　Me, me, me, me!
　All right, all right. Five times.

　I raise Anx as high and high as Fiona.

　Anx has gray hair like mine.
　His eyes are the same color as Tetra's, a blue sky color.

　She is similar to Tetra in that she wants to be pampered.
　The difference is that Tetra doesn't express her emotions, but Ankus is more expressive.

　Maybe she's like me in this area....
　Am I that in-your-face?

　'At least you're having fun now. Better than when you were named Father of the Nation.

　Tetra pointed out to me.
　It's good, even if you can grin at least when you're with your kids.

　Honestly, I'm not the least bit happy with the title of 'Father of the Nation' emotionally.
　Well, it's politically necessary, and it's definitely more convenient to have it.

　More than that, I enjoy being in touch with my children and my wife.

　'Anx, five times done. Next time you switch with Fiona.　
　'Yes!　Yes!

　Anx whines.
　Maybe this kid should learn to be a little more patient...

　No, now is the time to be selfish.

　This is my child.
　He can't live free to do as he pleases.

　He will be born of Julia, who will serve the Dauphin, and he will be the one who will have to carry this country on his shoulders.
　This is the only time you can be selfish.

　In fact, I want you to choose your own life for yourself.
　But I can't give these children that freedom.

　I'm sorry.

　Well, three more times.　
　'Alms. You spoil Anx too much.

　Tetra said and forcefully pulled Anx off me.
　Tetra cupped Anx's sobbing cheeks with her hands.

　''Ankus. Don't embarrass your father with your selfishness. Okay?
　Yes.....

　You don't have to be so hard on him, do you?

　No. It's a habit. The world is full of things that go wrong. Don't let them think that you're wrong.

　.........
　Well, if that's your policy, I won't complain.

　I'm sure you (Julia and Tetra) spend more time interacting with the kids than I do.






　'Ial, that's the only thing I called you out on today. It's about your marriage.
　Well that's what I was talking about.

　Ial smiled bitterly.
　I had forgotten all about it until recently.

　It was a blur, because of all the events that happened in quick succession.

　I had originally intended for Ial's marriage to be a way to curry favor with the Dibel clan, but the Dibel clan had obeyed me without his marriage.

　The need for it had faded and I had forgotten about it.

　Recently, at the urging of the Dibel clan's powerful family, I finally realized that I was not going to be a part of the Dibel clan.

　I need to continue to be on good terms with the Dibel clan, and I have to get Ial to settle down as soon as possible.
　Even though the need for it has diminished, I still need him to marry me.

　'You don't have anyone else in mind, do you?
　He's not here...

　Ial looked gloomy.
　He's never been in love before in his life.

　Poor thing....

　Well anyway, tomorrow you have an arranged marriage meeting. Find a good match.
　"I understand, Your Majesty. I'll do my best.


　Three months later, in February of the year.
　In February, Ial married the daughter of the Dibel clan.

　This was the only thing that could save the Dibel clan.

　There was only the As clan left.