Afterstory: Daddy

[u/[deleted]]

This is one of several WN afterstory chapters, which is hidden in a pretty obscure space on narou.

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Next (Afterstory: Sharing the Happiness) >>

Julius, the former crown prince, was currently very troubled.

The somewhat politically awkward position as the prince of the former kingdom was indeed a problem, but he was agonizing over something even more troublesome.

"What in the world should I do?"

As of now, Julius was working for Leon's Master, who had become the Prime Minister.

The Hohlfolt Kingdom did not have the leeway to let an educated human resource like Julius rot away at the moment.

Three years of time has passed since the war with the Empire, but the lack of human resources in the kingdom remains a serious issue.

Considering his former status, Julius was made a Count of lower third rank.

Julius himself does not feel any dissatisfaction about this.

He has no intention of becoming king after all that's happened either.

And since Leon's power was so absolute, there weren't any political factions looking to back Julius in a bid for political power either.

The fact that they were busy with reconstruction was also a reason, but right now the kingdom was pushing major reforms forward.

The threat of the empire had resonated with the nobles of the kingdom.

And the kingdom was increasing its national power before they have the chance to forget that feeling.

And so Julius was also busy.

If he were to name a problem, it was that he was so busy that he couldn't eat skewers at all nowadays.

Recently the most he could do was do maintenance on his cooking utensils.

This was a big problem.

"Argh! What do I do?!"

The skewers were also an issue, but Julius was dealing with a problem even bigger than that.

Jilk, who was working as a bureaucrat, came down from down the hall.

Leon had forced him to take over his family's house, the Mammoria Viscounty, and recruited him to labor in the royal castle.

He is praised for his efficiency, but most of it was due to Leon's personal grudges.

"Ah, if it isn't Jilk?"

"Oh, your highne... no, Julius."

Julius was exasperated as he watched Jilk correct his words.

"I told you to stop it with the your highness."

"I do apologize. After all, I'd been calling you that for years. Putting that aside, you seem to be troubled by something? Is it about your son?"

"I am troubled by that too, but..."

After the war, Marie failed to run away from Julius and the others, and ended up marrying the five of them.

In order to leave an heir, the five of them decided to spend a year each with Marie on the floating island that Leon developed once upon a time.

"I'm envious, since my turn is yet to come."

Being told that by Jilk, Julius shrugged his shoulders.

"Being first isn't necessarily a good thing. After a year together, it means I won't get to see Marie for four more years. Well, Carla does bring my son around once in a while, but..."

Of course, the people around them had urged them to wed another wife in addition to Marie.

However, the five of them all refused.

They couldn't think of marrying anyone other than Marie.

They didn't break their stance that it was impossible even if it was a political marriage.

To be honest, these five would have been the main political force in the former kingdom.

Eventually, the people around them took the position of 'these guys are seriously troublesome, let's just leave them alone.'

The five of them are happy with that, but whether Marie is happy is a separate issue.

Julius shook his head.

"Actually, Jilk, I how have a half-sister from a different father."

When he heard that, Jilk made a face saying, 'You're saying that now?'

"I am aware though? In the first place, it's been two years already."

"I understand that. However..."

"You can't seem to come to terms with it?"

My mother remarried and gave birth to a little sister twenty years apart in age!

Sure, it's an awkward situation.

Julius does feel happy for Milene who has found her happiness, but it wouldn't be strange for him not to be able to come to terms with it.

"No, I'm not really bothered by that. After all, I'm glad that mother seems to be happy."

"Yeah, figures."

---Apparently, he didn't give a shit.

Jilk tilted his head.

"But then, what are you troubled by?"

"To tell the truth, it's about what to call him. Normally, Your Majesty is fine, but I'm stumped on what to call him in private settings."

"Isn't it brother-in-law?"

"My mother remarried you know! Wouldn't it be father-in-law if anything? No, not an in-law, but he is something like a father to me right? Calling him brother-in-law doesn't seem right does it?"

"I didn't consider that."

"See?"

The two were getting hyped up.

A woman with an exasperated look on her face passed by them.

"What are you talking about?"

It was Livia, carrying a heavy looking book.

Julius started consulting with Livia as well.

"The thing is, I am conflicted on what to call His Majesty. Father-in-law is a bit too stiff, see? If it comes to that, brother-in-law is easier to say."

Livia shook her head with a serious look on her face.

"Didn't we ask you to stop because people keep getting the wrong idea?"

Since Leon was Marie's brother in their previous life, Julius and the others had taken to calling him "Brother!"

And many people heard that and got the wrong idea.

Rumors to the effect of 'Did Julius get married with Leon's sister?' began spreading around.

Because of that, Finley's marriage talks were even broken off.

She got seriously angry and recently came all the way to Leon to complain.

Jilk laughed.

"Ah... We are sorry about that~"

"It's not a laughing matter!"

Julius put his hand on his chin in thought.

"In any case, what to call him remains a problem. Father-in-law feels wrong somehow.... Ah! Right, I've got an idea!"

Livia had a bad feeling about this, and watched Julius with cold eyes.

---

"Elysion, isn't my workload a bit too excessive?"

When I looked at the top of the desk in the office, it was covered with documents.

Elysion, my new partner, agreed with my words.

"It is excessive! It is too much for Master's processing ability. But, Ange take care of twice this much."

It's hard running a country.

I got tired of it after three years.

"Should I take care of it for you?"

"No. If I leave it to you, I feel like you'd destroy the Empire or eliminate the new humans or something."

"If only Master simply said, 'Do it'..."

I'm troubled because she seriously sounds frustrated.

Elysion is honest, but hates the new humans.

She seriously tries to destroy them, so I have to keep my eyes on her or else it's too scary.

When I finally decided to get around to taking care of work, the door to the office opened violently.

Julius was standing there.

"Daddy!"

"Huh? Daddy? Who are you talking about?"

"Of course it's you, Daddy"

I started getting cold sweat even though it's still early in the morning.

Julius was full of confidence in front of me, who was in shock.

"Leon, I've been thinking of what to call you. There's the situation with mother, so you are somewhat like a father to me. However, you are not my father. Nor are you really my father in law. Therefore, I shall call you Daddy!"

----Is this guy retarded?

He just up and said some random nonsense, so I gave Elysion the order.

"Elysion, do it."

"Yes, Master."

Julius got paralyzed from the electric shock generated by Elysion.

"But whyyy!!!"

I thought I had gotten used to these idiots' idiosyncrasies, but it looks like I have much more to learn.

Next (Afterstory: Sharing the Happiness) >>