By Zephyria 
Marian had aged more with the passing years, but her smile remained much as it had been in her childhood. She giggled like someone playing a very mischievous prank, her face scrunching up until wrinkles formed across the bridge of her nose.
She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
“The legendary ‘Your Majesty’s Mamma’ incident.”
“…Hmm?”
“I heard the capital was turned upside down once already. During an Imperial Conference, our august Emperor Rubel suddenly said, ‘I heard there is a lack of mamma in the Belmora territory.’”
“…Excuse me? What?”
“The Baronry of Belmora is situated between Kiadris and Withrow, right? I think he intended to reprimand them for not managing their food supply properly, but because he phrased it like that, the atmosphere became unbelievable. And then, Young Master Edwin Kiadris shouted back, ‘My apologies, Your Majesty. I shall feed them mamma immediately.’”
“That brat did? Why?”
“Because His Majesty keeps interfering in the Duchy’s direct territories… No, but isn’t it hilarious?”
Was it something to laugh at?
However, as soon as I heard the story, I only felt distressed and worried.
He said he was busy, but was he being overworked to the point of barely sleeping? One should not take the position of Emperor lightly, but still, it felt as if Ruben was shouldering all the burdens of the world alone. Since Ruben was the type to rarely show how exhausted he was, how awkward and embarrassed must he have felt?
Seeing how Edwin knew exactly how to tease people at the right moment, it seemed the boy hadn’t come to his senses yet. I decided it would be best to postpone taking away the 2nd Magic Tower from him this time.
When a wicked fellow gains great power, things tend to go wrong. He still needed more time to mature.
Even as I looked at Marianne, who was peering into my face in anticipation, I couldn’t bring myself to smile.
“I don’t know. How deeply ingrained must childcare be in one’s mind to make such a mistake? It’s a bit much to laugh when you know Ruben would be embarrassed. If anything, it’s just pitiful and heartbreaking…”
“…Ah… Please enjoy your beautiful love… I briefly forgot about the love between you two…”
“Mm.”
“Teo-oppa was making a huge fuss, saying he was dying of the creeps.”
“Teo… Surely you don’t mean Theodore Grand?”
“Eh. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, when did you two become so close? You’ve only met a few times.”
“Does the number of times we’ve met matter? We both serve the same boss.”
Benjamin looked over, only to have his cheek grabbed by Titi’s small, plump hand, forcing him to turn his head back. At that, Marianne blew a hand-kiss toward Benjamin and made a gesture of fluttering it away.
Knights were a breed that seemed to have eyes in the backs of their heads. I watched Benjamin’s clean earlobe turn bright red for a moment before changing the subject.
“Come to think of it, I heard Ruben mentioned he would act as a matchmaker for Shayden this time.”
“Ah, I heard that too. Shayden was laughing his head off. Something about giving him time to actually date before trying to matchmake him.”
“Hmm. I assume this is something I can pass along?”
“Of course. Seeing how Shayden practically begged me to tell Mika. He’s only been able to visit once since he built that villa in Ernhardt’s territory.”
“Mmmmmm.”
“I want to take the Emperor’s side, but I’ll refrain. Honestly, His Majesty was in the wrong. He’s still sulking over something that happened years ago. Shayden put himself on the line because he was worried about Mikael, and the Emperor knows the whole story.”
“…Still, the Rose family became much more prosperous thanks to that…”
“‘Prosperous’ is a strong word. I heard Count Rose sings at the top of his lungs every night about how he can’t do this anymore and wants to hand everything over to Shayden and take an early retirement. They say the Count’s singing can be heard outside the mansion walls.”
“…Mmmmmm.”
“Honestly, they’re such a pair of fools in love. His Majesty and you really are a perfect match.”
“Does it look that way to you too, Marianne?”
“Yesss. Including points like this.”
Marian gave me a coy glance and began to cackle. Titi, who had been absorbed in her play a short distance away, followed along with a giggle, laughing without even knowing why.
She whipped her face back toward me, her black eyes sparkling. When I opened my arms toward the cute little thing, she threw away all the chess pieces she was clutching in both hands and came charging over, clinging tightly to my lap.
“Up we go,” I made a deliberate sound of effort, though it wasn’t hard, as I lifted the child. Titi, now in high spirits, snuggled into my chest, rubbing her cheeks and patting my shoulder, shaking with excitement.
Watching this, Marianne continued cheerfully.
“And here is some good news.”
“Good news?”
“Thanks to him working day and night, it seems the Emperor will be coming through the portal tomorrow. Estimated arrival time is three in the afternoon.”
“…And Marianne knows this before I do?”
“That’s what Teo-oppa told me. Aren’t you grateful?”
“Yes. Thank you. I almost missed the chance to go greet him.”
“If you need someone to watch Titi for a bit tomorrow, tell me now. I brought various things intending to unpack in the guest room anyway.”
“Then I shall ask that of you.”
“Me too! I want to go pick up Daddy Ruben too!”
Titi, who had been stuck to my chest, opened her eyes wide and began to squirm. When I held her back and told her not to, her mouth immediately puckered like a little bird’s beak.
Seeing this, Marianne smiled brightly, propped her elbows on the table, and leaned forward to catch the child’s attention.
“Which is better: going to pick up Daddy, or making a surprise secret present for Daddy here at the mansion?”
“…Surprise secret?”
“Yep. Daddy Ruben will be so, so surprised. He might even hop from here to there because he’s so happy.”
“I’ll do it! I want to make a hop!”
“Good. Then tomorrow, while Mika-papa goes to get Daddy Ruben, let’s play with Auntie.”
“Okay.”
“Say, ‘Bring Daddy back quickly.’”
“Bring Daddy back quickly!”
“Good girl. Such a good girl.”
“Auntie. Auntie.”
Even without proper words, I knew exactly what it meant when she fidgeted and pestered like this. She wanted to cling to Marianne, lured by some interesting toy.
As I handed the child over to Marianne, who opened her arms with practiced ease, she let out an exaggerated “Oops!” and hugged her tight, planting kisses all over her soft, warm cheeks.
The sight of her looking so relaxed made me smile.
“You’re looking at me like that again.”
“Hmm? Like what?”
“Just like this, as if you’re looking at a grandchild. Your smile is practically reaching your ears.”
“She’s not a grandchild; I’m looking at my own child. Of course she’s precious.”
“You should prepare yourself to see a niece or nephew soon.”
“…What? Uh, Miha—Mikael?”
My eyes widened, wondering if the boy, who had only just graduated from the Academy, had caused some sort of accident before marriage. Even though I exchanged Ranunculus with my family quite frequently, I had heard nothing of the sort.
The memory of Asdel shaking his head, saying Mikael had been acting so ticklish and cringeworthy lately that it was painful to watch, flashed through my mind, and I started.
“Wow, are you crazy! Mikael has been dating for less than a month! Not him, me. Me!”
“What? I thought you wouldn’t until you succeeded…”
Marian coyly stroked the cheek and ear of Titi, who was sitting on her lap. She pressed her lips a couple of times against Titi’s round forehead, who was clinging to her happily.
“What do you mean? I am currently the most successful wizard in Sierren.”
“…Then, perhaps?”
“Not yet. I’ve just made up my mind.”
“Ah… How? After worrying about it for so long.”
“I have eight papers pending in my name. And they’re major ones: the radical stage changes of 10th Circle Magic, the driving methods and operational facilities of regional portals, the correlation between Black Magic and Monster Aberrations, the form and action-reaction of Otherworldly Mana, and so on. The youngest Tower Lord in the history of the Empire, the dream of all wizards, the representative of progressive magic. That’s me, Marquess Marianne Philodendore, isn’t it?”
“That is… true.”
“There are still more things I want to research. But I still have time to come visit Mikael and Titi. After achieving my dream earlier than expected, many thoughts came to me. If it happens by chance, well, it can’t be helped. And if it doesn’t, that also can’t be helped.”
“What happens?”
“Auntie’s baby. If Auntie has a baby later, will Titi play with them?”
“Yes!”
“Even though babies are very, very small and you have to play with them very carefully?”
“Yes. I’m very good.”
“Auntie knows that. Our Titi is so good, she’s a little Goddess.”
Though the Goddess in question was quite far from being ‘good.’
I just let the two girls be as they whispered and giggled cutely. Naturally, my eyes met Benjamin’s, who was standing still behind Marianne’s right side. He gave a silent, beaming smile.
I really didn’t know when that fellow had started smiling so slyly.
“Are you still in contact with Jenny?”
“Of course. You’ve heard that Jenny’s parents have perfectly adapted to life in the capital, right?”
“Yes. I heard they’ve made many neighbors, enjoyed banquets, and attended tea parties.”
“And did you hear that her mother has practically regained her youth thanks to that?”
“No, that’s the first I’ve heard of it. Regained her youth? What, some Spiritual Medicine…?”
“Not that, but she originally had almost white hair, right? But starting from the week before last, I heard the white hair completely vanished. She says she feels like she’s living a second life. So Jenny said she’s fully settled in the capital and feels sorry that she won’t be able to live in the Duchy anymore, and asked me to convey that.”
“What is there to be sorry about? Filial piety comes first. Tell her I’ll visit once the children are grown. It won’t be long before we enter the palace ourselves.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if Mikael wrote a letter telling them not to worry?”
“Hmm. Yes, let’s do that.”
“Very good!”
“Very good!”
When Marianne playfully echoed the phrase as if praising Titi, Titi quickly followed suit and praised me.
A hand the size of a maple leaf patted and ruffled my hair. Even though I knew my hair would be pushed in the opposite direction as if licked by a cow, the sight of her pouring out her memories of being loved was so cute that I couldn’t stop chuckling.
The help I receive from the capable Marianne is not small. I must quickly relay the things I heard today to Ruben. If it’s Ruben, he will surely find a gift that suits Marianne perfectly.
As we talked about this and that, a deep longing washed over me again.
“You said three o’clock.”
“Yesss. Probably with an hour’s margin of error? It would be safe to go and wait by two.”
“Yes. I will. Then, for now, let’s have a meal.”
“Great! Since I’m here, I wanted to call Damian too, but he has to be with Titi, so that won’t work.”
“Yes. I heard this is a particularly busy week for him. I barely saw him once last week, so I’ll ask him to make time again once Ruben returns.”
“Good, let’s do that. With His Majesty and Mrs. Christopher as well.”
Just then, Titi, who had been dangling from Marianne’s arms, suddenly leaped into my embrace.
Startled, I caught the child. It felt like being hit in the chest by a large cannonball—stinging and dull.
She does this because she knows I’m the only one who won’t get hurt no matter how hard she clings. Since she isn’t intentionally trying to hurt anyone, I couldn’t bring myself to scold her. It’s better for her to be mischievous with me than to pounce on someone else like this.
Looking down at the giggling child, I let out a long sigh and gave her cheek a little playful nip.
Part of me wants her to grow up quickly, and another part wants her to remain such an affectionate child forever.
Above all, right now, I just wanted to see Rubel.
Because there was no time happier than when Rubel, Titi, and I were together.