Chapter 4 — Secret Missive From the Twin Kingdoms

A month later, Aura’s pregnancy was confirmed.

Her stomach was not yet visibly protruding, but she had been experiencing characteristic symptoms of pregnancy and her cycle was over three months late, so Doctor Michel had determined that it was certain.

The grand tidings of her pregnancy had, of course, set the country aflutter. Droves of people aiming for an audience with the queen converged upon the palace to offer gifts, along with those suggesting names of potential concubines for Zenjirou. Also coming out of the woodwork were influential nobles offering wet nurses for the queen’s child, telling of women who were already breastfeeding along with those whose stomachs were heavy with nearly-due children of their own.

There were many cases where the “wet nurses” would feed the child in the mother’s place, but also more figurative instances where the child would simply be raised by another. Either way, any wet nurse and her own children would, without a doubt, have a strong influence on the heir to the throne.

It was usually difficult for news from the outside to reach an isolated place like the inner palace, but this particular information had originated from within, so they could not remain removed from it. Because of this, even Zenjirou had found himself with very little time to relax.

“Ugh, nothing useful. I really screwed this up.”

Sunlight streamed in from the open window, the harsh rays having abated rather recently. Zenjirou had been sitting at his computer for a while and had just stretched and cracked his neck before giving a dejected sigh. He had been looking over the materials on his computer ever since Aura had told him she might be pregnant, so he knew perfectly well that he was unlikely to find something new. Even so, he obsessively confirmed it to himself whenever he had the time, mourning his past self’s inadequacies.

“Why did I only ever think about what came after the birth?”

He understood that reprimanding himself didn’t help, yet the stream of complaints didn’t stop. He’d come to this world with the express duty of providing an heir to the throne, and had prepared for it to an extent. Baby bottles, freezers for breast milk, and even boxes of powdered formula were all on hand if needed. He’d even brought several sets of cute baby clothes and books like Papa’s Childcare Manual and What a Father Can Do.

All of the items and information he had brought, however, were useful after a safe birth, and none of them would help to aid his pregnant wife in the meantime.

“Man, I thought about childcare, but I just wrote off the birth itself as having nothing to do with me,” he spat reproachfully as he slumped over the computer. More accurately, rather than considering the pregnancy and birth as being irrelevant to him, he hadn’t been entirely aware of the inherent risks of the process.

As a young, unmarried, Japanese man, it was hardly surprising. The number of occasions where women were at real risk during their pregnancy in modern Japan had dropped sharply. The death rate was about 0.005%, a mere five women in ten thousand, lower than the likelihood of dying in a traffic accident in Tokyo.

Then again, even on Earth, there were still developing nations without sufficient hygiene standards and equipment where the rate was closer to five percent, with one in twenty women dying. Fortunately, it appeared that Capuan hygiene and medical standards were not terribly low. Even so, it was far from rare for an ordinary woman there to succumb to the rigors of pregnancy and lose her life.

Being the queen, Aura was surrounded by the best physicians in the country, and she was fit and healthy. But while Doctor Michel had assured them there was nothing out of the ordinary, Zenjirou couldn’t help but fear the worst.

“If we summoned one of the Gilbelles, that’d solve it all.”

The one exception to the medical capabilities here compared to modern Japan was the healing magic belonging to the Gilbelle royal line. Magic was a supernatural power, and healing magic could recover wounds, rejuvenate a patient, and even remove mental fatigue. If one of the members of the Gilbelle papacy were nearby, he would have nothing to fear. Aura would be even safer than if they were in Japan.

Even the Kingdom of Capua, though, reigning over the west of the Southern Continent, would find it near-impossible to hire a member of that family for the duration of a pregnancy. The birth was over half a year away, and the Gilbelles would never accept such a long contract given how concerned they were about keeping their blood pure and their royals safe.

That being the case, Zenjirou would have to settle for calling on them only if her condition took a sudden turn for the worse. It might have been a fantasy, considering the fastest method of transport in this world was a dash drake, but there was one method—in this very country, in fact—that could make the possibility a reality.

“If there was someone other than Aura who could use teleportation magic, most of our problems would be solved,” he mused, having lost track of how long he’d been sitting there.

Space-time magic users like the royal family of Capua could ignore the barriers that distance posed. If they used teleportation magic, they could go anywhere on the continent in an instant. However, the current users numbered only one: Aura. And since calling for a healer would be required when she herself was the patient, she could hardly use her own magic to do it.

“This is something I should be doing. I need to be able to use space-time magic.”

Zenjirou had the ability, although it was latent, to use space-time magic. However, it had only been a few months since he had started his studies, and it would usually take close to three years to become capable of casting anything. His teacher, Octavia, had told him the timescale could vary significantly based on individual circumstances and how much the person practiced, but that didn’t mean he could shorten the three-year average to a single year, let alone a few months. If he were to succeed, it would take something along the lines of two years and ten months, or maybe two years at the absolute best. It was utterly impossible for him to manage it while Aura was pregnant.

“But that’s no reason to slack off. It’s not like this’ll necessarily be her only child,” he told himself, shutting down the computer and slapping himself lightly on the cheek. “I want to study more, but spending extra time with Octavia while Aura’s pregnant would definitely look weird. Maybe I should ask for an older woman to work with me, someone who wouldn’t cause rumors to spread. At worst, maybe I can leave the inner palace and get a guy to teach me.”

Zenjirou had enjoyed his life thus far, shut away under the pretense that it was to protect his wife’s position, but he was willing to take on some difficulties and leave the palace to keep her and their child safe. In fact, among the endless concerns he had about the pregnancy, he would need to leave the inner palace regardless to give an audience to the knight who had been loaned the wyvern bow, even if the meeting would be a short one. Perhaps he could use the opportunity to figure out what kind of issues leaving the inner palace would actually cause.

“Maybe I can act as her representative for public appearances that don’t need difficult decisions,” he said suddenly, pacing in circles as he thought things over.

Acting as her representative could influence her position within Capua’s patriarchal society. That was a fact, but putting such concerns before her and the child’s safety was prioritizing the wrong things. Essentially, Zenjirou would need to be careful and act like a well-mannered puppet.

“I’ll have to think about it properly,” he told himself, mentally affirming several decisions as he waited for his lesson with Octavia.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“This is rather troublesome,” Aura murmured, a rare near-complaint for her as she took a break from work due to a sudden bout of nausea.

It was a symptom of early pregnancy called morning sickness. If Doctor Michel was correct, the worst of it would pass soon, but she couldn’t help longing for the day it was over.

“And I was certain I had learned to... suppress nausea on the battlefield...”

“It would seem that a brief moment of psychological nausea is not the same as a pervading sense of it from pregnancy.”

“Indeed not, and I have become painfully aware of the fact... not that it is of any aid,” she returned, glaring up at Fabio from where she was leaning over her bucket. She couldn’t help but snap back each and every time he used his usual unadorned tone. She could now understand why Zenjirou hadn’t wanted people around while he was ill. Her condition made her more aggressive, and not letting that show was a significant burden.

In that way, she was thankful for Fabio’s presence. He had both the loyalty and forbearance to take a little harshness from her, and he was usually one to speak his mind bluntly, so if she needed to complain, she could speak freely. She would have to reward him and apologize in some form once she had given birth, but she could prevail upon his loyalty for a while yet.

Aura sipped some water from a silver cup and swished it around her mouth before spitting it into the bucket, letting out a small sigh as she sank back into her chair.

“So, what is next on our agenda?” she asked.

At the indication that she was ready to continue, rather than asking if she was certain or if she was feeling well enough, Fabio promptly resumed their discussion.

“Very well, our next topic is the letter delivered by an envoy from the Twin Kingdoms of Sharou-Gilbelle.”

“Ah, yes.”

She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head twice, then a third time, to clear her mind. An envoy from the Twin Kingdoms would normally be permitted a direct audience with her, but given her pregnancy, they were reducing the opportunity for external factors to come into contact with her as much as possible.

“I assume it concerns the rings I entrusted to Princess Isabella. Could I examine the missive?”

“Yes, here.” He smoothly pulled out the letter and placed it into her proffered hand.

“The Sharou crest?”

The wax seal was set not with the family crest of Isabella but with the Sharou royal family’s, and the realization caused Aura’s face to crease into a slightly puzzled expression. A short period of consideration led her to conclude that, although it had been Isabella Gilbelle she had asked, the actual enchanting would be done by someone from the Sharou family, so receiving a letter from them wasn’t strange.

Her uncertainty quelled, she pulled a short bronze blade from the desk drawer and used it to cut through the seal.

“Hmm...” she murmured, the start of the message being exactly what she had expected.

As she read, however, her eyes narrowed in shock.

“Your Majesty?” Fabio asked, surprise plain in his voice for once as he moved to support Aura, whose chair had clattered back as she quickly stood.

“I am fine; it is nothing important,” she replied, but her pale face belied her words, the blood rapidly draining from her cheeks.

“Very well.” In spite of the blatant falsity of her statement, he decided to wait and withdrew.

When Aura finally finished reading the letter, she took three deep breaths. Her face was still pale, but the expression on it was far calmer now. Sensing an appropriate moment, Fabio spoke carefully.

“Your Majesty, may I ask about the contents?”

Rather than being sent by way of dwarf wyvern, this missive had been passed directly from one royal family to another. A secretary like Fabio had no real right to read it. But after taking another deep breath, Aura answered slowly, as if she were holding back a passionate outburst.

“The majority of it is what we assumed. As thanks for transporting Princess Isabella with my teleportation magic, they have accepted the commission to create magic tools from the rings per my request.”

Her secretary listened, wordlessly urging her to continue. Whatever had left her so shaken made even the usually stone-faced man clench his fist and feel his palms go sweaty.

“The issue lies within the pleasantries, and the ‘rumor’ included with them. Said rumor concerns a princess born to the Sharou family.”

“A princess within the Sharou family? There are many from the branch families, but I believe Princess Karolina is the eldest of the direct line at fifteen years of age.”

“Ah, it is not a current matter; it mentions a princess who vanished from their records approximately one hundred and fifty years ago.”

“One hundred and fifty...” Fabio echoed, his mask cracking slightly.

A royal who had vanished one hundred and fifty years prior, and a woman at that. Now understanding just who this must concern, and having a generally correct view of the situation, he moistened his dry lips and waited to hear what the queen would say.

“It would seem that, due to their complete removal from official records, this is a rumor only, but allegedly, a princess of the Sharou royal family fell in love with a man she would not have been able to marry at the time. It is said by some that the man was a simple commoner but other accounts claim he was from the royal family of an—at the time—opposing kingdom. Thus the two fell in love whilst unable to wed and eloped. They ultimately left for a new land where no one from their own kingdoms would be able to reach them.”

The last sentence was practically spat out as the words gushed from Aura’s mouth. Fabio followed his queen’s earlier example and took several deep breaths of his own. These were indeed grim tidings that would inevitably shake their current arrangement.

Regardless, the secretary was not directly involved and therefore far calmer than she. His voice was steady as he replied. “So, it would seem the prince spoken of in Capua, who fled to another world, was accompanied by a princess from the Sharou family. In other words, while the blood of the Capuans runs in Sir Zenjirou’s veins, so too does the blood of the Sharous?”

Aura shook her head, ashen-faced. “It is impossible to tell. No one knows the truth. The writer of this letter believes so, however.” Her nostrils flared in displeasure as she threw the letter onto the desk. The topic was extremely unpleasant, but she knew full well how important it was.

In this world, the unique skills that royal families possessed encouraged the maintenance of their individual bloodlines. Thus, there were no inter-royal marriages like there had been in the middle ages in Europe.

To use Capua as an example, users of space-time magic within two degrees of separation from the main line were not allowed to marry anyone from another country. Royals with space-time magic were an asset to their kingdom and could even be used as part of the country’s firepower, depending on the circumstances. Unease over the possibility of the bloodline being mixed with that of another country was understandable.

“Still, are the contents true? What of the possibility that they are taking advantage of the rumor to cause unrest within our lands?”

Aura shook her head unhappily at the suggestion. “I cannot deny there is a chance of that, but the messenger was too slow for it to seem intentional. It has been a month since Princess Isabella was here, so having an envoy bring the letter to us directly rather than sending it by dwarf wyvern makes that unlikely. If unrest was their goal, they could have used the wyverns far more easily.”

Since using dwarf wyverns involved sending multiple copies of the information in hopes of at least one of them arriving safely, it was far easier for details to be leaked. If the Sharou family had wanted to cause an uproar by spreading rumors, there was no reason for them not to do so upfront.

“I see. Then what of the option of feigning ignorance?”

Aura’s gaze swung awkwardly off to the side at his daring suggestion. “Impossible. During her examination, my husband confessed it in front of Princess Isabella. He himself said that he was the descendant of a Capuan royal who fled to another world to elope.”

“That... was rather rash,” Fabio eventually managed, for once almost lost for words.

“It could hardly be avoided. Who would have assumed this information would be so important? Moreover, he was ill at the time.”

“I understand the circumstances,” Fabio replied, cutting harshly through her defense of Zenjirou, “but it does not alter the fact that it was rash.”

After a few more moments of thought, he put the grave situation into words. “So, that means the rumor is credible. Your Majesty, you are certain Sir Zenjirou carries the blood of the Capuan royal family?”

Aura leaned back in her chair, nodding. “There is no mistake. That was a condition of the summoning. My husband’s magic is not particularly strong for royalty, and he would not be able to use both space-time magic and enchantment magic simultaneously.”

There were no examples of a royal possessing two bloodlines, so they couldn’t declare it with certainty, but prevailing theories held that it was possible to manipulate two bloodline magics at the same time. Those theories also stated that for it to be possible, the holder would need twice the mana normally required.

“Which would mean that the Sharous’ fear is the latent potential in his blood and any children born with it.”

As Fabio spoke, his gaze came to rest on Aura’s stomach. The queen unconsciously rested a hand on her belly as she answered. “Precisely, although I doubt my own child would be an issue. Even if Zenjirou did inherit both bloodlines, and to an equal extent, when mixed with my own strong ties to the Capuan bloodline, the Sharou bloodline will be suppressed without question.”

That was assuming the child was not a monster born with such reserves that he or she would be able to use both forms of magic without issue. The Twin Kingdoms would not be basing their concerns on such extraordinary theories.

“Yes, that would appear to be the case, but a child between Sir Zenjirou and a concubine would be another matter,” Fabio commented. “In that case, there would certainly be a possibility that the child would inherit enchantment rather than space-time magic.”

“I believe that to be what the Sharou family is concerned about.”

She could understand the fear of their country’s closely-guarded abilities falling into the hands of another government, particularly in the case of the Sharou family, whose skills were inextricably linked to both the defense and treasury of their kingdom. Without a monopoly on enchanting, there would be a huge drop in their finances. Handling things indelicately here could lead to the Twin Kingdoms moving towards another great war.

“For now, my husband will not take a concubine, and intimating such should soothe the Twin Kingdoms.”

“And will that cause them to bury the hatchet?” her secretary asked dubiously.

Aura let out a sigh. “Unlikely. Even if he takes no concubine publicly, they will likely worry that he will impregnate an unconnected woman and have the child brought up as another’s to create an enchanter of his own.”

In fact, Aura herself might have been tempted to do just that if it were possible. She was well aware of the risk of angering another country, but the prospect of a Capuan enchanter was terribly alluring.

“At any rate, we should consider ourselves fortunate that we have avoided the worst timing for it.”

“Quite true,” Fabio agreed. “If this had occurred before your pregnancy, or after Sir Zenjirou had taken a concubine... I shudder to think.”

If the information had come to light before Aura was carrying his child, the Twin Kingdoms may have demanded that Zenjirou be handed over to them. And if he had already taken a concubine, it could have been the spark that ignited a full-scale war. This was likely the best possible timing for such a realization.

“If they had not sent this missive, I would not have had the faintest clue about my husband’s heritage. If they fear the snake, they should not prod the bush,” Aura sighed in disappointment and discouragement.

During her speech, however, Fabio had regained his cool. “I would assume they are unaware that we did not know the truth. Or, more accurately, there was no proof that we were ignorant of the rumors. Perhaps they decided that a wait-and-see approach would leave them unable to act if we were to become aware of it later on?”

“That would be about the size of it. Regardless, I must confer with my husband first. Considering the state I am in along with the matter at hand, I doubt it is possible to resolve the issue while keeping it a secret from him.”

Fabio looked like he wanted to contradict her but declined to put it into words, saying instead, “Very well. Regardless of its importance, this is a problem rooted in marriage, so I shall leave it to you.”

“Please do,” Aura answered with a firm nod, having forgotten her sickness during the intense discussion.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

That evening found the queen sitting across from Zenjirou in their quarters.

“...therefore, it is unlikely the Twin Kingdoms of Sharou-Gilbelle, or more accurately, the Sharou royal family, will leave you in peace if you have inherited enchantment magic. While I regret having to rescind my previous remarks, you cannot take a concubine. I apologize, but things will be rather tumultuous for a while.”

Aura had eaten and bathed, and the two were now settled comfortably in the inner palace. She had explained the details of the missive, all the information therein and what could be assumed from that information, along with the possible courses of action available to them. She had told him of the likelihood that the woman the Capuan prince had eloped with was a Sharou princess, and that, as their descendant, he may have inherited the blood and abilities of both families.

She had spoken too of the potential that his offspring might exhibit not only the space-time magic but enchantment magic, and the fact that he must therefore have no concubine in order to avoid needlessly provoking the other kingdom.

But because Aura’s got a stronger connection to the Capuan bloodline, the traits from the Sharou family will be suppressed, so that’s not a problem, I guess...

It hadn’t quite sunk in for Zenjirou, so he went over what he had heard in his head as he reclined on the sofa. He reached out to grab his glass, which contained a mixture of water, sugar, and fruit juice, and took a sip. As he tilted it to his mouth, the ice inside sloshed and splashed the drink onto his face.

“Ack?!”

Whatever else was going on, he wouldn’t normally make such a childish mistake. The revelations about his origins had evidently shaken him more than he’d expected.

“Are you all right, Zenjirou? Getting that in your eye would be exceedingly painful.”

“Yeah, I’m fine, just got a bit on my face,” he answered in embarrassment, pulling a gauze handkerchief from his pocket and wiping himself off. There was something he wanted to know regardless of what the answer might be. “Does that mean that, honestly, I’m a risk to the country?”

A wide smile made its way onto Aura’s face at her husband’s frank question. “No, your lineage is a slight problem, but considering our current position, your absence would be a far worse prospect than your presence. You need not worry.”

His wife’s assurances made him feel like he’d been fretting over nothing, so he smiled shyly. “Ah, yeah, all good. I wasn’t planning to run away or anything; I’m not that self-sacrificing. I was just thinking the nobles might end up taking action if I posed a threat to the country’s stability.” His answer made his fear spike as he shuddered.

“Hmm...” Aura murmured at the unexpected answer, falling silent for a time. His thoughts were calmer and harsher than she had expected, so she considered carefully before answering. “I think it is unlikely to be a concern. Currently, the only people who know of your connection to the Sharou family are them and us, and the information is top secret. Even if it were to become public knowledge, I believe the nobles of our country would be unlikely to want to cause you harm. The heir growing inside me does not change the fact that you are one of the few with strong ties to the royal family. The disadvantages of your loss would far outweigh the disadvantages of your presence.”

So, if he was aiming to be careful, his concerns should not be aimed at the local nobles but the Twin Kingdoms, she added mentally. His situation was undoubtedly a nuisance, though. If he were out of the way, the Sharou family would be the ones who benefited. Therefore, it was necessary to initiate some form of hidden negotiation so that they would not see him as being enough of a threat to wage war over.

Of course, there were people in both countries who might act hastily and move to deal with Zenjirou regardless of the logic of it, but trying to account for every variable would quickly overwhelm them, so such outliers would need to be dealt with reactively.

Turning these thoughts over in her mind, she frowned slightly and continued. “However, as I said, your ancestry is currently a secret, so it cannot be used to refuse concubines. Do you know what that means?”

Zenjirou looked up at the ceiling when she questioned him, thinking briefly before answering hesitantly, “Umm, so... I’ll need some other excuse rather than the truth when I say no?”

His answer was correct, and she gave a shallow nod. “You will. However, as we discussed, refusing concubines is politically unnatural. Frankly, it is difficult to conceive of a reason the nobility will accept. I must apologize for asking, but might you use your selfishness as a reason for refusing?”

“My selfishness? What do you mean?” he asked in confusion.

Aura’s embarrassment won out over her logic, and her gaze was unsteady as she answered. “I thought we could make your opinions from our own discussion of concubines public. So, well... you could say that you wanted to avoid anything impinging on our time together, or that you were completely enamored with the baby and me, with no room to think about anything else... or a similar excuse.”

“Ooh! That’s what you mean... right, right.”

Zenjirou couldn’t hide his lack of composure, and he felt his face flush as he sputtered his response. He had said some rather embarrassing things when they had talked it over, now that he thought about it. Nothing he’d said had been a lie, but the truth of the words didn’t change how mortifying they were.

They already had a child on the way, but a painfully awkward silence fell between the two of them. Eventually, Aura seemed unable to take it any longer and raised her voice as she went on.

“You see now. Not only can we not publicize your lineage, but there is also no other excuse they will accept. Therefore, you shall have to use your emotional argument as a shield and force it through. That will be the most reasonable option. I apologize, but this will end with your reputation being sullied. I rather imagine you will be saddled with the image of a man who lost himself over a single woman, and who foolishly ignores politics in her favor.”

Zenjirou rose from the sofa as he watched his wife bow her head, her hands clasped by her knees, and he quickly moved over and sat down next to her.

“Zenjirou?” she asked as he took her hand and gazed into her eyes.

“This is the best option, though, right? Then it’s fine; a little ill-repute won’t really hurt, and it’ll stop me from being put on a pedestal, so it’s actually kinda helpful. Besides... those rumors... would all be true.”

“Zenjirou...” she breathed, a soft smile making its way onto her lips. She reached out with her free hand to touch his face. “Your face is scarlet.”

“Stop that!” he cried, his feelings unusually clear as he comforted his wife in spite of the awkwardness he felt. “I was holding in the embarrassment!”

The queen’s smile had returned completely at the sight of his red face, and she stroked his cheek, apologizing with a hint of laughter in her voice. “Sorry, sorry. I simply could not help it, your devotion made me too happy to resist. Thank you; I shall ensure you are repaid for this.”

Zenjirou answered in a lower tone as he felt the cool fingers of his wife tracing lines along his ruddy cheek. “It’s fine. I’m always taking advantage of you, so putting in a little effort to keep up my lifestyle is nothing.”

This time, it was Aura’s turn to feel embarrassed, and she answered plainly, “I suppose so. Being the queen means that I must not invite issues that might damage my reputation. A reputation for my severity on the battlefield or my cool head during negotiations is useful, but matters of the heart are not.”

The prince consort refusing a concubine because he was consumed by feelings for the queen would result in him being seen as a political fool, but the queen blocking him from such actions herself would lead to dissent and questions about whether she should remain upon the throne. If one of them had to accept the label of “lovestruck” then Zenjirou was the natural choice.

After a while of him holding her hand and her stroking his cheek, Zenjirou gently released her and continued the conversation with a sober expression.

“Besides, I asked for this. I have to apologize for taking back what I said before too, but I think I’d like to do more outside of the inner palace, if that’s all right.”

Aura’s face tightened instantly. It was a natural request, but it was so far from his words and deeds thus far that she found her voice sharpening. “You want to? Why?”

He felt the sharpness of her tone but didn’t falter, answering while keeping his own voice soft. “Yeah, this month’s worn on you pretty heavily, hasn’t it? So, I thought I could act as your representative for things that don’t need any serious decisions and that are appropriate for me to handle. I know that runs the risk of attracting the attention of the nobles, but I think your health is more important.”

“Hm...”

She fell silent at his sincere concern. Certainly, the month since her pregnancy had come to light had seen many obstacles to her productivity. Even restricting herself to the minimum amount of work for a monarch, she had kept the country running, ensuring that people and laws were in place. A proxy would undeniably make things easier.

“Well, I appreciate the offer, but you are aware that it would make things much busier for you?”

“I’m ready for that,” he answered with a laugh. “Well, I say that, but it’ll probably be worse than I’m thinking.”

“Far worse, without a doubt. Once you start involving yourself in matters outside of the inner palace, it will not only be the ambitious who cause issues. Even my confidants will be looking at you with skepticism.”

As tempting a target as the prince consort’s proactive change would be for some, it would be equally concerning for those who had sworn their loyalty to Aura herself. Without a doubt, her right hand, Fabio, would look questioningly at every action he took.

Her husband frowned at that before answering. “Obviously, if it’ll cause you trouble, I’ll restrain myself.”

“Hmm...”

She pondered the matter a while longer. It was true, she had initially sought a husband who would not interfere in politics at all, but a husband working to maintain her own power was far more desirable than one who did nothing. However, while he had so far shown no sign of hindering her political influence, she had her doubts about whether he could negotiate a conversation with the wily nobles without making any unwise promises.

But it is also true that my current state will have a large influence on the country’s future politics. I had not thought pregnancy would be such a detriment to my work.

Her initial plan had been to continue having children every year for some time, but her current experience suggested that the goal was unrealistic. The gestation period was commonly ten lunar months and ten days. A year had twelve of those months, or thirteen during the years with an intercalary month. If she had a child each year, she would spend five-sixths of her time pregnant. It would inevitably impact her ability to govern.

Being both mother and ruler is truly a heavy burden.

It was at the very least unrealistic to continue with no marshal or prime minister in place. Yet if she were to install anyone into those positions, she would see her power and authority decrease in proportion to her burdens. The power balance between her and the nobles would become an even greater issue.

So, there might be some worth in allies whose motives I can trust, even if I cannot rely on their abilities, she mused, looking at Zenjirou. He simply looked back and remained silent as he waited for her answer.

There was a long, quiet moment as they looked into each other’s eyes. Eventually, Aura’s expression relaxed. “Very well, the burdens upon me are certainly too heavy at present. I would appreciate it if you could aid me. However...”

“Yeah, I get it; if I start causing trouble instead and ‘you decide’ it, then ‘of my own volition,’ I’ll shut myself away again,” he interrupted with a smile.

Even as a monarch, interfering with her husband’s free will would ruin her reputation. Zenjirou had been made well aware of the country’s values on that front. He was indeed the best husband she could have asked for.

Her expression broke at his deep love for a moment, but she quickly pulled herself together and replied, “I apologize, but please do. That does remind me, though... the current plan is for you to leave the inner palace to receive knight Natalio Maldonado’s oath. I shall have Fabio, my trusted advisor, accompany you.”

Fabio would doubtlessly give him precise instructions. And while she didn’t want to consider it, if Zenjirou began to grow ambitious, her secretary would soon recognize it and deal with it accordingly.

“Then I shall retire to bed. It is a little early, but I must leave more time to make up for the sleep I lose,” she said as she rose slowly.

It wasn’t every night, but her sleep had recently been interrupted by discomfort, and even if that hadn’t been the case, Doctor Michel had said she should sleep as much as she could. Her late-night activities had become a habit since their wedding due to the lighting devices that Zenjirou had brought from his own world, but her prior habits would have seen her going to sleep around this time on a regular basis.

“Huh? It’s already that late?” he asked, glancing at the clock as he stood to follow her. He took her hand gently. “Yeah, let’s go to bed.”

“You do not have to retire early as well,” she protested as he guided her to bed.

“It’s fine; the maids are in the living room, so I wouldn’t be able to relax anyway.”

The maids were on watch in case Aura fell ill during the night, and they would wait in the living room as it was the only room connected to the bedchamber. Zenjirou usually had them stay out during his private time in the living room, but he wasn’t willing to be selfish when it came to his wife’s safety and comfort. At this point, he felt less uneasy when the maids were in the neighboring room, but he still couldn’t comfortably lounge around in there while they were present.

“I see; then let us head to bed,” Aura said, intertwining their arms.

“Yeah, let’s.”

There were currently two beds in the room, so they opened the door slowly, still arm-in-arm and reluctant to part.