[To Lord Rudeus Greyrat
How have you been lately? Even though I'm far away in the Asura Kingdom, I'm thinking of you every day.
I think about it all the time: when will you be able to visit the Asura Kingdom?
Whether you wish to settle down or simply travel, my people and I long to meet you.
I heard your fourth child has already been born?
As your former student and now Queen Asura, I sincerely invite you...
If you are available, I would like to invite you to my child's third birthday party.
Your eternal student, your eternal admirer, your eternal supporter
Ariel Anemoi Asura
And so, my daughters and I traveled to the Asura Kingdom.
Although there's a teleportation array, using a carriage to make it look like a teleportation device is still necessary.
When King Ranoa learned that we needed to travel by carriage, he immediately provided us with one and even a driver.
Well, of the wives, only Sylphie came along.
After seeing the letter, she frowned and said she wanted to come along.
Sylphie is really jealous, though I don't think there's anything wrong with the content of this letter.
After all, I don't know this queen at all. She probably thinks I came to the Asura Kingdom just to show the nobles and people that she can get me to serve.
If Orsted hadn't mentioned earlier that I should help her out, I definitely would have refused.
Because this trip to Asura will probably only last two or three days.
So Roxy and Aisha stayed home to take care of Eris, who had just given birth.
Roxy herself wasn't interested, Aisha also said that Asura wasn't fun.
I've arrived in the royal city of Ars once again.
The world's largest city
The majestic royal city stands atop the hill.
Silver Palace
The vast mansions of the upper-class nobles surrounding the city
The fortress-like city walls that surround it stand in opposition to the vast, seemingly endless city streets.
A huge arena
Luxurious training grounds for the Knights
The beautiful temple of the Millis Church
land bridges encircling the streets
The headquarters of the world's largest trading company
The dojo of the Water God Style sect
Opera Street with numerous theaters
The hotel street filled with the fragrance of beautiful women
A gate built to commemorate the Laplace War
Upon entering the royal city, a grand welcoming procession was seen.
Ariel of the Asura Kingdom stood at the head.
Behind her was an entire order of knights.
As our carriage approached, she lowered her head and performed the highest royal courtesy.
"On behalf of all the people of the Asura Kingdom, I welcome you, Lord Rudeus."
carriage
The daughters were getting restless.
Hmm... I won't get off the carriage.
I drew back the carriage curtain and said to Ariel...
"My daughters are a bit shy, you lead the carriage ahead."
"OK"
Ariel clapped her hands, signaling the man who appeared to be the Grand Master of the Knights to lead the way for our carriage.
The coachman from Ranoa got off the carriage on his own.
Lara excitedly jumped onto my lap and looked out the window at the scenery.
Along the way, people shouted my name and threw flowers at us.
"Dad! That's you!"
"Um?"
My gaze followed Lara's finger.
It was in the center of a square, and in the center was a statue.
Giant statue
It's about five or six meters tall.
In the center of the fountain is my image.
Clad in an adventurer's robe, and wielding the image of the Arrogant Water Dragon King
this...
"You look so handsome, Rudeus!"
" Sylphie, stop teasing me..."
Lara on my leg spoke with longing.
"I want to be like that someday! I want someone to build a statue for me!"
Windsor and Lucy nodded silently.
Hmm... actually, it feels pretty good.
It's good that my daughters will admire me even more because of this.
About ten minutes later, the carriage stopped.
The commotion among the crowd subsided, and it seemed that time had come.
We got off the carriage together.
As soon as I came down, the Silver Palace came into view.
Ariel led a child up to me.
It's a boy...
He performed a very standard royal ceremony and began to speak.
"Welcome! My name is Edward Anemoi Asura, the First Prince of the Asura Kingdom."
Lara and Lucy ignored him.
Windsor frowned.
How old are you?
"Three years old"
"Oh"
Then, an awkward atmosphere ensued.
Well, Windsor is indeed not very good at chatting with people her own age.
She had originally planned to bring Pursena Adoldia along, but Pursena Adoldia didn't want to come.
She rejected Windsor on the grounds of her maid's training.
Unexpectedly, Windsor simply nodded and said she wouldn't bring her along...
Does Pursena Adoldia know that Windsor likes her, and now she's acting all high and mighty?
They actually dared to refuse Windsor!
at this time
Sylphie smiled and tried to start a conversation.
" Your Ariel, whose child is this Prince Edward? I've never heard of you being married."
only
Ariel's answer
It's certainly... unexpected...
Ariel smiled faintly, and said in a voice that only Sylphie and I could hear.
There were quite a few people that night, and I'm not sure whose child it was.
Sylphie and I were both stunned.
I don't know how to answer.
Seeing that I was stunned, Ariel spoke again.
"Well, Lord Rudeus, there's no need for that expression. I only have this one child."
"Well, I was a little surprised, since I don't know you very well."
"Now you can start getting to know me, my child grew up listening to your stories."
After Ariel finished saying that sentence
Sylphie immediately became alert, grabbed my hand, and we intertwined our fingers.
Seriously...
I smiled wryly.
"A three-year-old child can't be associated with the word 'grown-up'... By the way, where's Norn? Isn't she in the Asura Kingdom?"
Miss Norn and Rujierd have gone out on a research trip.
"Fetching materials?"
"Yes, Miss Norn is currently the most popular novelist in the Asura Kingdom. She came to the Asura Kingdom to see Rujierd, so naturally I gave Rujierd a break."
"All right..."
"Shall we head to the banquet hall then?"
Ariel was leading the way.
Sylphie and I walked in the middle.
Lucy and Lara were next to us.
Windsor was in front of her two younger sisters, just behind Ariel.
At the tail end of the procession was an entire knightly order.
Tsk...
The boy named Edward
Throughout the entire time, Windsor was by his side, chattering away as if he were talking to Windsor about something.
"Sister Windsor, what do you like?"
"A sword, a big, fluffy dog, my sisters, and my parents."
"Oh! You like swords too? I only recently started practicing... and I haven't been doing well at all."
"You must persevere. Both Mom and Summer Mama say that only by persevering will the sword respond."
"I see... Okay! I'll stick with it!"
Windsor nodded and didn't say anything more.
She would only speak when the topic Windsor up.
"Sister Windsor, you still like dogs, right?"
"Um"
"We have a golden retriever, would you be interested, Sister Windsor?"
"A golden-haired dog?"
"Yes, Sister Windsor, you like her. I'll take you to pet her after the banquet; she's very well-behaved."
"Oh!"
This blond kid
How can a three-year-old be so glib?!
It must have been Ariel who taught him that, no way.
Ariel's ideas are so blatant, especially since she's acting on them right in front of me, her father.
Just as I was about to speak, Sylphie squeezed my hand, which was clasped with hers, slightly tighter.
" Rudeus, it's perfectly fine for kids to talk about things they like."
"But... but...!"
Ariel chuckled and spoke.
"Lord Rudeus, Edward seems to prefer swords and animals."
"What a coincidence... Have you been instilling something in your child?"
"How could that be? Lord Rudeus, please don't say that. Even I would be saddened."
Your expression doesn't tell the whole story.
"But Lord Rudeus, don't you think you can rest easy if Edward and Windsor get engaged?"
"What?!"
" Edward is still young. Wouldn't it be more reassuring for you if he grew up with Windsor, knowing her well and understanding her background?"
Oh
Peace of mind?
This brat doesn't even know who his own father is...
The child who carries your blood will definitely be a womanizer in the future.
How could I possibly feel at ease?
I took a deep breath and began to speak.
"I don't want to discuss this. I don't want to interfere in the children's upbringing, so don't try to be clever and make your child cater to Windsor."
"Yes, Lord Rudeus, I'm truly sorry to have offended you... But what if the children are mutually attracted? After all, Edward does indeed love swords and animals."
"... How old are they?"
"There are always people who fall in love with their partner from childhood, don't you think, Sylphie?"
Sylphie smiled and nodded.
"Indeed, I've liked Rudeus since I was seven."
"You see, your wife has loved you since she was a child."
I don't know why
Sylphie came along because she was jealous after reading Ariel's letter.
It seems like he and Ariel are getting along quite well now...
Helpless, I spoke up.
"If Windsor has made it clear, then I won't bother with it."
"You are an enlightened father, Lord Rudeus."
"Hehe..."
Sylphie smiled wryly.
" Rudeus, we have four daughters! You have to accept that they might get married when they grow up."
"But... but... they're still so young..."
"When you grow up, you should prepare yourself mentally in advance."
... Feel
I can't accept it no matter what.
I don't want any of my daughters to get married.
At least... at least ten years after I die before you remarry?!
At that moment, my trouser leg was tugged.
Looking down, it's Lara.
"Dad"
"Um...?"
"I won't get married! I can stay with Dad forever!"
"Oh oh oh oh!!"
I released my grip on Sylphie's hand and picked up Lara.
Lara is clearly the most mischievous, yet she always manages to say things that make me like her even more.
Having a daughter like this... is truly wonderful...
"Dad..."
Lucy's voice was a little soft.
Of course, I just picked Lucy up and carried her.
Lara touched my face.
"Dad is so willful."
Lucy also whispered
"Yes... we will always stay with Dad..."
Lara and Lucy both said that.
Although it was just something a child said to comfort his father, I was truly happy at that moment.
Sylphie smiled helplessly to the side.
Ariel's tone was somewhat teasing.
"Your daughters love you so much! We're at the banquet hall now."