Chapter 229: Cowards

***Arc 10 One Who Doesn't Acknowledge, Chapter 229 Cowards***

Three years after the War of the Five Great Powers.

Duke Remin's house――this estate in a prime location in the royal capital was wrapped by happiness.

"Cute. I heard that he's a boy, but..."

This was because the eldest child, Alsang, was born.

Last year, Aleha married Tekrea as the son-in-law of the Remin family, and while many nobles were struggling with infertility, they were already blessed with a child.

Both mother and child were fine, and the child was born with a grand cry.

Today, the Marshal, Selene, and the Alberinea, Krische, and the assistant Marshal, Eluga were visiting to deliver the celebratory goods.

Aleha, wearing military uniform, nodded at Selene's words and answered.

"Yes, Waltza and Milcarz-dono have been overjoyed ever since he was born. Tekrea and I were hoping that he would be born safely, but..."

"It's also my responsibility for causing hardship to everyone."

Tekrea's face became grim as she held her sleeping baby in her arms, and she was smiling gently.

"After all, when it comes to inheriting a family, it's best for a man to do so. There is a lot of anxiety about a female head of the family――"

When he looked at Selene as he spoke that, he shook his head in panic.

"...My apologies. That was rude of me."

"Fufu, don't worry about it. Giving birth is a big deal for a woman, and I think everyone wants a boy to inherit the family."

Selene smiled bitterly and Eluga told her to change the subject.

"...However, I can understand why the old people are happy. The child seems healthy and robust. I Saying it this way might sound strange, but for them who thought the two of you as their own children for so long, having a grandchild must be a joy like no other."

"Indeed. We each have been indebted to both of them for a long time."

Aleha also nodded and laughed.

He then turned to Krische and Bery, who were staring at the baby.

"Is something wront?"

"No, Krische also though this when Krische was looking at the encyclopedia, but babies sure kind of look like monke――mugu."

"Y-you..."

Bery instantly covered her mouth, and Selene let out an exasperated sigh.

Aleha and Techrea looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

"...I'm sorry. She's a kid with no common sense..."

"No, fufu... at first I also thought he looked a little like a stuffed monkey doll. Besides, I know Alberinea's personality, so don't worry about it."

Tekrea shook her shoulders happily, and after saying sorry again, Selene glared at Krische and gave her an earful, 'Don't say anything silly'.

Krische who had often people nicknames likening them to animals――she didn't quite understand what she meant by silly, but it was her sister's orders.

Cliché nods with an unconvinced expression on her face, and Bery also removed her hand with a troubled look on her face.

"I feel like I'm starting to look a lot more like Aleha than when I was born..."

"If anything, he probably looks like her mother. Unlike me, he has blue eyes."

"...The rest is probably Aleha. My hair isn't this bright gold."

"It will be like that when he's a baby. Gradually the color will――"

"It's Aleha"

"..."

Aleha was at a loss for an answer, but that didn't mean Tekrea had won.

Tekrea notices the gazes of those around them, and suddenly reflects on her worked up appearance, and when her cheeks turned red, she lowered her eyes.

Eluga didn't say anything, he smiled in a way that could only be described as evil, and Selene let out a giggle.

"Fufu, it's great to see that you're so happy. Mom and Dad used to argue over which one I looked more like...I wonder if it's something that happens everywhere."

"My, my, I'm jealous. My wife has always told me that she was glad that our son doesn't look like me."

Eluga listened to Selene's words, but for a moment the atmosphere in her room changed into something indescribable.

Only Krische tilted her head with a 'muu'.

"Krische thinks Skeleton's face is interesting and good though..."

"Kuku, the only one who would say that is only Krische-sama."

"...Krische was thinking of giving the child the nickname Boney Boney if they looked like Skeleton, but Krische was a little disappointed the other day."

"You don't have to give the child a nickname, you idiot."

Selene pulled Krische's cheeks.

"Unyi!"

"You really are a walking rudeness."

The other day, when she visited Eluga's estate on a short errand, Krische was introduced to their six-year-old son, and contrary to Krische's expectations.

Rayfus Faren was a beautiful boy who was 100% purely looked like his mother.

It seems that he had heard a lot about Krische from Eluga, and he looked up to Krische――but as he greeted her, looking very nervous, she said,

'...Your face doesn't look very interesting'

That one sentence.

Selene had never forgotten the look on the boy's face when Alberinea, his idol, spoke to him with words of disappointment as soon as they met.

When her cheeks were pulled, Krische huddled closer, looking happy for some reason.

Selene smiled and patted her head, and Krische rested her back on her.

"There are a lot of children everywhere these days. Even Kurofuyo is making a fuss about having a baby."

"Kuku, it's after all that big war after all."

"It's probably time for everyone to appreciate peace."

"A blessing..."

"It is only when there is war that the peace and quiet can seem precious."

Krische thought about it for a moment and groaned.

Aleha pointed at himself.

"Even though I was thinking only about the war, when it was over, all I could say was that I was tired. As I sat down in the shade of a tree, I suddenly noticed the flower blooming beside me, felt love for it... and before I knew it, we had started a family like this."

And Tekrea, who was called a flower, had an indescribable expression on his face, and his cheeks were bright red.

"...How can you say such embarrassing things so calmly?"

Tekrea sighed, and Selene and Eluga laughed.

"Hmm, it's difficult..."

Krische tilted her head to one side, leaning on Selene and looking at Bery.

Bery noticed this and quietly smiled without saying anything.

'Aah', Krische smiled as she realized something.

They returned to Krische's room their estate.

"...I guess I'll have to think about it soon."

While drinking tea, Selene suddenly said that, and Krische, who was wearing an apron dress, tilted her head.

"About what?"

"It's about marriage. The Christand house will need an heir someday."

Krische hardened then stood up.

"Selene, are you going to be a bride?"

"You idiot. If I'm going to get married, I'll take a son-in-law. What will I do if I, the head of the family, get married away?"

However, Selene looked at Kreschenta in her nightgown clinging to Bery and sighed.

"...Even welcoming a son-in-law There are quite a few problems."

To be honest, this mansion was in a situation where there was no room for anyone else to enter.

Krische a demon kisser who kisses whenever she saw an opportunity.

Her Majesty the Queen, who was pampered by a servant and her older sister in a sloppy manner that was not suited for a queen.

Even if she were to get married, it would be extremely difficult for her to continue living with then as before.

"What's the point of having an heir? I'm genuinely curious."

"Haah...?"

"There is no benefit to taking risks to conceive and give birth to a child. If you really need an heir, why not pick one up from somewhere else?"

Sitting as if straddling Berry's thighs.

Wrinkles gathered here and there on the negligee, presenting a rather indecent appearance. However, her face surprisingly looked serious, with no apparent intention of mockery.

Being genuinely curious, as she said, Kreschenta tilted her head.

"Putting aside If you instinctively want to reproduce like a beast, if one think about it rationally, I think there is no reason for Selene-sama, the head of the family, to have children herself. Such a dangerous and disadvantageous role should be left to someone else.''

"...You're so frank huh."

"Because, if it were me, I would definitely hate it. It would be great if a child as smart as me and Onee-sama was born, but it would be a tragedy if a child as stupid as Selene-sama and Argan-sama was born after going through all the trouble."

"You..."

"...I'm on Kreschenta-sama's side this time too."

"I don't think you've ever stood by my side."

"Fufu, Ojou-sama is just forgetting about it."

She giggled and let her red hair sway down her back.

"No matter how you put it, if you think about it rationally, it's as Kreschenta-sama said. Though if there's a gentleman that Ojou-sama, then that's fine."

"...There's no one at the moment."

"Yes, I am aware that such gentleman does not exist."

Bery gave her a meaningful look, and Selene blushed slightly and glared at her.

"Even if Ojou-sama say that you want a child who inherits, Nee-sama, Gotoushu-sama, and your blood, if you don't have that partner in your heart, it would be pitiful for the other person...Practically speaking, there are various inconveniences."

Bery's eyes then fell on Kreschenta, who was playing with her older sister on her lap.

It seemed like a trivial problem, but it was also an important one.

It is because of the uniqueness of the Christand family that Kreschenta could spend her time here with peace of mind.

It was a small bird cage made of only people Kreschenta trusts and have faith in.

No new people could come in here.

At the very least, she would be living somewhere else, and most of all, Kreschenta's trust in Selene would be lost.

The reason Kreschenta trusted Selene was because Selene's first priority was Krische

If Selene's first priority becomes something outside this bird cage, Kreschenta would surely easily cut off her trust in Selene.

Kreschenta despised anything that threatened her peace of mind.

She wouldn't be able to maintain the same relationship with Selene as she no longer feels secure in her heart.

That was what Bery was saying.

"...Of course, I'm not saying Ojou-sama shouldn't think about it...but if you're thinking about marriage as a duty or a tradition, I think it's better not to do it. I understand that you thought of that after seeing Lord Aleha and Duke Remin, but...''

Bery narrowed her eyes in amusement.

"Fufu, I also recalled about Nee-sama and Gotoushu-sama when the young lady was born."

"...Please, please don't tell me any more about that story. It's embarrassing."

Her mother was very busy helping her father and was clumsy, and Berry was always at the mansion and was skillful.

Inevitably, Bery took care of Selene, and there were a lot of stories that she didn't want to be talked about.

"Well, I guess you're fine with it. But if things continue like this, I'll be too late to marry, so it's impossible to not think about it."

"Even if you say that Ojou-sama is still only around twenty――"

"You seems like the type to say, 'Ojou-sama is still only' even when I turn thirty"

When she said this exasperated, Bery laughed.

'Ojou-sama will always be Ojou-sama' Bery said.

"...Just as you think it doesn't matter if I'm late, I feel the same way about you, Ojou-sama."

"What do you mean?"

``What I'm saying is that Ojou-sama should be honest too. Once you put behind appearance and reputation, you will it's a trivial thing, and not worth it.''

Her large light brown eyes gently wrapped in reddish eyelashes.

It was clear what she meant.

"For me, Ojou-sama is not the marshal of the kingdom, the margrave, Selene Christand. Krische-sama is not Alberinea, and Kreschenta-sama is not Her Majesty the Queen. ...I believe that there is nothing in life that should take precedence over personal relationships and feelings."

"...I was just listening quietly, and then suddenly you start saying something rude. How disrespectful."

"Please forgive me, My mouth just..."

"Muguu..."

While saying so, Bery physically covered Kreschenta's mouth with her palm.

She literally treated the queen as if she was not queen at all.

"...If I accept your ideology, I'm afraid I'll be ruined."

"I think it would be better for Ojou-sama to be a little bit corrupt."

"I don't want to disrupt the morals of this house any further."

She sighed and rubbed her brow, looking at Krische, who didn't seem to understand what they were talking about.

"You're weird. Normally one'd want to monopoly it."

"...I'm greedy, so I want everyone to be happy. Ojou-sama, Krische-sama, Kreschenta-sama... and me too."

"...Is it the luxury of a victor?"

When Selene glared at her, Bery smiled vaguely.

"At least, I think that's what Krische-sama wants."

Krische, who come up, tilted her head in confusion, think about it, and nodded.

"Um...Ehehe, that's right. Everyone's happiness is the most important thing."

"......stupid"

Selene said exasperated and played with her hair.

"...You're a coward."

"But you don't hate it, right?"

"...That's what's so cunning about you, you coward."

Then she sighed again.