Chapter 66: Congratulations and Work
Two weeks have passed since Sasha gave birth to Mint and Basil. Sasha was gradually regaining her strength and Mint and Basil were growing up healthy.
During that, though, I was in a neighboring office feeling exhausted.
“Zeke… what is this?”
“As you can see, these are from Her Majesty the Queen, Her Highness the Second Princess Serena-sama, many Nobles, and every acquaintance that Callis-sama knows congratulating you on the birth of the Young Miss and Young Master.”
“I understand that, but what is with this amount?”
There is a huge pile of gift-wrapped boxes in the room. I get that Nobles who I’m close to would want to send congratulatory presents… but did I know so many people? Certainly, the old Callis must have had a lot of connections, and due to my personality, I’ve made more, but are those people really close enough to send congratulatory gifts like this?
Zeke answered my question with a sigh.
“Given Callis-sama’s recent work, this must is natural. Incidentally, other than the presents from Nobility, there are many here from people in your territory.”
“From the territory?”
“Yes, because of Callis-sama’s kindness towards the orphanage among other things, the people gathered to celebrate the Young Miss’ and Young Master’s births.”
“Seriously…?”
The Nobility sending presents is within expectations, along with Her Majesty the Queen and Serena-sama… but I never would have expected my territory’s people to celebrate as well. Certainly, I have been donating to the orphanage and improving the territory, but since that’s to be expected of a Noble, I never expect to be thanked for it. Have I become adored a little by my territory’s people?
Well, putting that aside for now…
“Zeke, are you sure you have enough manpower?”
“What do you mean?”
“We recently hired more maids and guards, but do you really not need any assistance doing your work?”
Even though we increased the number of staff in the estate recently, we didn’t hire any butlers due to Zeke’s obstinate refusal. Zeke asserted that he alone was more than sufficient, and he seems to have a professional pride in his ability to get everything done by himself, but recently I’ve started to worry because his workload has started to increase in recent days. After all…
“Wouldn’t it be better if there were at least one person following you in case something unexpected happens?”
“Certainly, I have been thinking of training a successor recently, but… unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find someone with the right qualities. Besides that, it seemed like Callis-sama was reluctant to hire more butlers.”
“Well… that’s because I didn’t want other men to get close to Sasha and Laurier…”
In spite of my rational self, I felt it would be best if there were few men approaching Sasha and Laurier. In particular, since Sasha is so beautiful, I can’t help but worry someone will approach her… Truthfully, I chose guards who were under their wives’ thumbs and could never fool around, and female knights who weren’t at all interested in Yuri for that exact reason. After all, it never hurts to be cautious, right?
“Anyhow, I think it would be best if you hired at least one butler to assist you.”
“I see… if it’s someone who both I and Callis-sama approve of, I won’t have any complaints, but I refuse to admit someone half-hearted. If we’re going to admit someone, they should be enthusiastic and have talent.”
Someone who can pass Head Butler Zeke’s judgement… does such a rare talent like that exist…? And, with those thoughts, I acted as if this were someone else’s problem.
Chapter 67: Invitation from the Grandmaster of the Kingdom’s Order of Knights
Since my family’s grown larger, I don’t want to be away from home, but my duties as a Noble have kept me away.
Since a large number of people sent presents to celebrate my newborns’ birth, I’m unable to personally thank each and every one of them. That said, although I can’t personally thank people who live far away from me or are too busy, there’s no way I could ignore His Majesty’s gift, and so I’ve made my way to the Castle. On my way there, though, I happened to meet someone I knew at the Castle’s Knight’s Order’s Guardroom.
“Duke Fall! What a surprise. What are you doing here today?”
“It’s been a while, Viscount Grieze. Are you in the middle of practice?”
“That’s right. How about joining me?”
It’s been a while since I’ve last seen Grandmaster Grieze, and I feel like he’s gotten stronger since then… Come to think of it, didn’t his family send ours a gift as well?
“I’ll refrain for now. That aside, thank you for the gifts celebrating my Son and Daughter’s births.”
“Not at all. That’s something to celebrate! I was surprised to hear you had twins, though.”
“I was surprised too. More than anything, though, I was happy the twins were born safely.”
As Viscount Grieze nodded his head to my words, he looked like he remembered something and spoke.
“By the way, thank you for that time with my son.”
“Your son?”
“After you talked with my son, I’ve finally been able to properly speak with him.”
His son… Ah, that red-haired kid? Certainly, I met with him soon after I had reincarnated. I remember being a busy-body and meddling in the relationship between Viscount Grieze and his timid son, but…
“That’s all due to both of your efforts. I didn’t do anything.”
“You’re too modest. My son said he’d like to meet you again to thank you. Speaking of which, it was my son who first proposed sending you a celebration gift.”
“Is that so? Then, please thank him on my behalf.”
“Sure! Ah, do you have anything planned after you’re done with your business here?”
“Nothing in particular… Why?”
“Could you teach my son swordsmanship for a bit?”
Without letting my annoyance show on my face, I tried to indirectly refuse him.
“That… are you sure? Aren’t you, as Grandmaster of the Kingdom’s Order of Knights and his father, much more suited to teach him than me?”
“I’d like to, but… there’s a limit to what my sword can teach my son. As soon as possible, I’d like stronger people than me to teach him.”
“Well… after I meet with His Majesty, I should have some time, but…”
“In that case, please teach my son afterwards!”
What a hassle… but since I’m indebted to him for sending gifts to celebrate my children’s birth, I’d feel bad turning him down.
“Very well. I will teach him to the best of my meager ability. Where should I go to meet him?”
“Then, let’s do it in the training arena.”
Hm? What did he just say?
“By any chance, is your son already here?”
“That’s right! Recently, he’s been training with other members of the Knight’s Order here.”
“… I see.”
A kid who is barely 4 or 5 years old is already training with the Knight’s Order… I haven’t seen any signs of him having a cheat, but… Well, I guess that’s unrelated to me. Still, even though Viscount Grieze is such a strict person, I never expected him to be so harsh on his son.