After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 219

Chapter 219: My Children

Three months ago, a nursery was set up in the royal palace. This was because two princesses, Clara and Beatrice, had both given birth to daughters, Luize and Fanny, in quick succession. As a result, the nursery now housed not only the royal children but also Erica, Adele’s child, and a team of five nurses who took care of the babies in place of their busy mothers. In total, eight babies had gathered there, making it more like a daycare center.

Not long ago, if someone had mixed the royal daughters with the nurse’s children or put Clara and Beatrice’s children together, high-ranking nobles would have raised their voices in disapproval. However, after the recent purge, which saw the “Clara faction,” including the Chancellor, fall from power, no one seemed to care about such things anymore. Even Beatrice, the highest-ranking mother, had said, “It’s more efficient to gather them in one place,” and indeed, there was no real problem with that.

When I entered the nursery, I expected the loud crying of the babies, but surprisingly, all of the children were quiet. I had thought that noble children wouldn’t cry, but that wasn’t the case. It seemed that one of the nurses was singing a lullaby with wind magic woven into it, which calmed the babies. This magic didn’t seem to be hypnotic but had a stabilizing effect on the mind, which could also work on adults. I had known that magic wielded by women influenced society, but I hadn’t realized it was also used for child-rearing.

“Auu~”

Despite the lullaby’s soothing effect, Beatrice’s daughter, Franziska (Fanny), was wide awake with her bright blue eyes. Her hair, which had a fantastical blue hue, had fully grown out in the past three months, and her face had already become quite delicate and beautiful. She was just incredibly cute. Upon seeing me, she stretched out her little hands towards me as though inviting me to come closer. When I reached out, she grabbed my thumb firmly with both hands, looking quite pleased. Come to think of it, Clara’s daughter, Luize, also loved my fingers. Could it be that they’re seeking my magical energy? I wonder if it’s safe to provide magical energy to such small children. What if it harms them?

“Don’t worry, Lutz. Your magic can’t be harmful. It’s magic that makes women happy, after all,” Beatrice said, as if reading my mind.

I was happy to hear those reassuring words from Beatrice, though I had to admit they were a bit biased and lacked solid reasoning.

“I see… She’s really grown cute,” I said.

“What are you talking about? Fanny has been cute from the moment she was born,” Beatrice replied.

It was surprising how much Beatrice, who had always been so composed, had turned into a doting mother.

“Yeah… I don’t really understand it, but this overwhelming feeling of cuteness just wells up from deep inside,” I said, a little embarrassed. “When my son from my previous world was small, I thought he was cute too, but it wasn’t like this. I guess girls are different, huh?”

“Hmm… I’m sensing a green aura from Fanny. While she’s receiving your magic, does her magical energy overpower the spirit energy?” Beatrice mused.

Wow. I couldn’t see it, but it seemed that Beatrice, with her high-level magic, could easily tell the difference.

Indeed, Fanny, who was supposed to have SS-class magic, was being suppressed by the “spirit” that had possessed her, preventing her from releasing her magic. This could pose problems for her future royal succession. However, Beatrice didn’t seem overly concerned about this. Instead, she was focusing on making sure that Fanny would have as many options as possible in the future. She had even declared that once things settled down, she would enter the “Dark Forest” to search for a way to connect with spirit users. It would probably be difficult, though, with monsters overflowing in that area.

“It’s okay. I’ll make sure to make this child happy. So, Lutz… please,” Beatrice said, looking up at me with a somewhat sad expression.

I could only nod. My wife had this way of naturally blocking any possible escape routes for me. As much as I loved that clever side of her, it was sometimes a little frustrating.

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Beatrice’s face softened, and she smiled gently.

“Now, Lutz, there are still two of your children here. You should dote on them.”

Yeah, I felt a quiet pressure on my back, as if reminding me.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

With her purple hair and sharp navy blue eyes, the baby before me looked just like Adele. Her nose and jawline were already nicely defined, and it was easy to imagine that as she grew up, she’d be chased by all the girls in the future.

“It’s amazing. In just three months, she’s becoming so handsome. She really looks like Adele. I hope she’ll be as smart as her, too,” I said.

Well, considering I passed down my lazy genes, I didn’t expect her to turn out as much of a genius as Adele. But as I thought this, I turned around and found the royal princess’s chief secretary staring at me with a rather intense look. She smiled slightly.

“Of course. This child was born to serve Princess Franziska. We will raise her strictly, so that she can help the princess,” she said, her determination clear.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable with her intensity.

“I think you’re pushing it a bit. Children should have various options, and who knows, she might inherit my lazy tendencies,” I said.

“Don’t worry. This child has the talent to support the kingdom in the future. There’s no doubt about it,” she insisted.

Huh? Even Adele, who was usually the most composed and rational person, seemed to be in full “parent mode.”

“I can tell, because I’m her mother. And besides, this child… if she spends her early years with Princess Franziska, she’ll never be able to resist serving her. She’ll dedicate herself to helping, no matter what, even if it means suffering. After all, she’s so adorable,” Adele said.

I could only wholeheartedly agree with that last part!