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Vol 06 Chapter 197: Escape I

 

「And that’s why you ran away?」

「…In short, yes.」

I am currently in the frontline town of the Second Western Conquest. I came here to discuss the governance of the western region with Ron and the others, and to inspire the soldiers…

At least, that’s the official reason I used to escape from the castle.

Admittedly, leaving my two pregnant wives behind might seem cruel. But still…

「I have to hear them gripe every day for at least four hours, sometimes it goes up to six hours! This happened every day last week! There’s a limit to everything!」

Sure, both Julia and Tetra are beautiful. They have great personalities and fantastic figures.

They’re the perfect wives. I’ll admit that.

But even so, coming home exhausted from work every day and having to listen to the same unproductive complaints and anxieties for up to six hours, repeatedly, is unbearable.

Even if they’re the perfect wives, there’s a limit. In fact, I think I deserve some praise for my patience and kindness, I even answered each repeated concern with slight variations in my responses without getting angry.

Moreover, it was Raimond who suggested I flee.

「When I couldn’t take it anymore and consulted Raimond, he said, ‘I’m more worried about Your Majesty’s mental state, so please find an excuse to leave for about a week. I’ll persuade the two of them. Listen, Your Majesty, dealing with women in that condition is never-ending.’」

This problem won’t be resolved until Julia-sama gives birth to a boy. Whether you’re there or not, a boy will be born if it’s meant to be, and a girl if that’s what’s destined. There’s no point in mentally exhausting yourself over it, so try to relax.

That was his advice.

As expected from a seasoned veteran in life. He hasn’t lived all those years for nothing.

「But thinking about what will happen if a girl is born gives me a headache… Is there no magic or magicraft that can ensure the birth of a boy?」

「If there was, wouldn’t Julia-sama have tried it by now?」

Ron’s calm observation was spot on.

「Speaking of which… General Bartolo mentioned before that he heard somewhere that eating lion meat results in the birth of a boy.」

Roswald chimed in.

Lion meat, huh…

「There aren’t any lions on the Adernian Peninsula, are there? There is Griffon-sama, but…」

「No, actually, the lord we just defeated yesterday kept a lion.」

Apparently, they were at a loss about what to do with it.

The cost of feeding a lion is no joke, after all…

「So if we get Julia to eat that meat…」

「No, you should definitely not do that.」

Gram said, shaking his head vigorously.

「What if it doesn’t work? Plus, it could put undue pressure on her… Wasn’t it you, Your Majesty, who once said we shouldn’t tell someone trying their best to keep trying?」

「That’s true…」

So, doing nothing as Raimond suggested might be the right answer after all. Sigh…

「Anyway, what should we do with the lion?」

「Sell it, eat it, keep it—do whatever you like with it.」

I’m not interested.

Well, some patrician might want to keep it, so he could sell it to one of them.

「Then I’ll keep it.」

「Ron?」

Surprisingly, Ron volunteered.

「No, it’s for Soyon…」

Oh, right. She does love animals. Well, that’s fine.

「But do you have the money to feed it?」

「That’s covered.」

I see, then that’s fine. I’ll check it out when I have some free time.

「Also, Your Majesty, I have a report and something to consult with you about… well, it’s not urgent, but…」

「If it doesn’t have to wait, then just say it. I’ll help if I can.」

Then, Ron prefaced with ‘It’s the first time I’m telling anyone…’ and continued…

「I’m having a child.」

「You were a woman this whole time?」

What a shocking revelation. So, who’s the father? Is Soyon actually a man!?

「No, Soyon is the one who’s pregnant!!」

「Yeah, I know. I was joking. That’s great news.」

Welcome to hell, Ron. Let’s struggle together.

「No… I don’t think Soyon will be that much of a hassle.」

「Julia and Tetra were quite reasonable before they got pregnant too.」

Be prepared. It’s going to be incredibly tough.

「And Soyon is worried about our income…」

「She can’t work while she’s pregnant. I get that worry. But…」

With Ron’s income alone, I think you should be more than able to live comfortably… I haven’t given you an estate, but you have a decent amount of land, right?

If you are having slaves and tenant farmers grow hemp and flax, you should be making a considerable profit.

And aren’t you making some extra money during the breaks between wars? Someone in a position as high as yours should be receiving quite a few gifts that border on being bribes, right?

「That’s true, but… it’s the social obligations.」

「I see…」

Ron is a retainer who rose from being a plebeian. He doesn’t have the advantage of lineage or family connections that other nobles and patricians possess.

You might wonder why that matters… but connections are incredibly important.

The Adernian Peninsula is a society bound by blood. It’s no exaggeration to say that blood relations equal connections.

Without blood ties, you have to build your network through other means. That means money.

It’s not about giving bribes, though that’s one way to do it… Generally, it’s about gifts.

Someone gets married, so you send furniture. Someone falls ill, so you send a get-well gift. Someone has a child, so you send baby clothes. Someone… Someone… Someone…

It never ends.

Thus, no matter how much money you have, it’s never enough.

If Ron were only thinking about himself, he probably wouldn’t be working so hard to build these connections. But Ron is a noble.

The position Ron holds will be inherited by his children.

The network of connections he builds will also be passed down to his children. Without these connections, his children’s future could be bleak.

Personally, I believe that the greatest gifts a parent can give their children are ‘talent, education, and connections’. With these three, wealth and status can be achieved through the individual’s effort.

「That’s true… Maybe we should introduce a maternity leave system?」

I had considered it once before but never fully implemented it. However, if our country aims to become a powerhouse in magic, it might be necessary.

Currently, most magicians in our country come from wealthy families—namely patricians, big landowners, or merchant families.

Without the wealth to afford private tutors or go to magic school, one cannot become a magician. Thus, most magicians don’t need to worry about their income during pregnancy.

However, in the future, many magicians from poor backgrounds will emerge. This is because we plan to officially establish a magician training school system after relocating the capital’s functions to the new capital.

Even the most talented magicians, will likely marry someone of low birth if they come from a lowly birth. If the husband’s income is low, they will be concerned about income during pregnancy.

Having more children is beneficial. Our country’s military system is conscription-based, and an increase in workers boosts tax revenue. A growing population expands domestic demand, stimulating the economy.

Be fruitful and multiply or something like that

「Maternity leave system, you say?」

「Yes, exactly. Essentially, it means that they will receive pay without working during pregnancy. This should alleviate their worries, right?」

「Isn’t that strange? Receiving payment without working…」

Ron tilted his head in confusion. However, this sentiment is likely common among all Adernians.

He who does not work, neither shall he eat.

On the Adernian Peninsula, it’s generally understood that compensation or money is earned in exchange for work.

Incidentally, politicians and military personnel don’t usually receive salaries. It’s similar to noblesse oblige. Political activities are considered voluntary work.

There are even some magicians and bureaucrats who refuse their pay, saying, ‘It is only natural to serve the country, so we don’t need money.’

While I admire their noble spirit, I prefer that they accept their pay quietly, as I want to attract talent from all economic backgrounds, rich or poor.

Introducing a maternity leave system is likely to face significant opposition from the magicians themselves.

「I understand what you’re saying, but we can’t let the rich monopolize magic.」

「I see… Well, as far as I’m concerned, it’s a beneficial policy if Soyon can receive a salary during her pregnancy. I have no objections.」

Ron had a complex expression. He found the system strange, yet it would benefit him personally, making it odd to oppose it. However, supporting it also felt peculiar.

「Ron having a child, huh…」

In the near future, Roswald and Gram will likely have children as well. Now that I think about it, their sons could be suitable matches for my daughters.

Since Ron and the other two come from plebeian backgrounds, it might be good to strengthen their bloodlines. Thinking about it, Iarl also came from a plebeian background. Bartolo is from a patrician family, but a small one…

Hmm… that means I’ll need five daughters… no, six. Mutzio already has a reservation.

Not having a son is problematic, but having too many is also an issue. On the other hand, the more daughters, the better.

Sigh…

Thinking about all this is making me depressed.

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「In Romalia, there are three genders: male, female, and magician. Of these, only males and magicians can receive subject rights.」
– Fiona Julius Rosais Caesar, First Princess of Romalia