Chapter 67

In the inner garden of the mansion, inside the living room.

I was facing the maid Zoe.

I was sitting deeply in the sofa, and Zoe was standing right in front of me.

"Following your orders, I have secured four wet nurses. They are all experienced mothers, and their milk supply is guaranteed."

"Hmm."

"I have also secured four nannies and sixteen educators as per your orders. Among the educators, two are recommended by Evelyn, and one by Lady Shirley."

"Understood."

Four wet nurses, four nannies, and sixteen educators.

These were the people I had gathered for my son, who was about to be born.

In the royal family, unless there is a special reason, mothers do not breastfeed their own children.

There are several reasons for this.

One is that it is considered dangerous and should not be done.

Another, to put it bluntly, is that noblewomen must continue to bear children—specifically, male heirs—until they produce one.

Therefore, it is necessary for them to recover quickly enough to be able to give birth again as soon as possible.

In fact, I, who have memories from the moment of my reincarnation, clearly remember being raised on the milk of a wet nurse, not my mother.

Incidentally, for a crown prince, having milk brothers is basically non-existent.

This is because stillborn girls are used as wet nurses.

Milk brothers tend to become special figures, so their possibility is eliminated from the start.

Before the empire took over the world, there was a case where the emperor's milk brother interfered in politics and destabilized the country. Therefore, our empire does not allow the crown prince to have milk brothers.

"But... that's impressive..."

"Hmm? What is it, Zoe?"

"You haven't even given birth yet, and you've already gathered nearly twenty people. I've never heard of so many wet nurses and nannies before."

"It's for the family."

"For the family, you say."

I nodded quietly.

"An excellent child will make the next generation of the family even better. It's inevitable to put in the effort when you think about it."

"Indeed! As expected of you, Master!"

When Zoe was convinced, I counted the days until the birth on my fingers.

Audrey's belly was swelling steadily, and the doctor's regular check-ups confirmed that everything was going well.

I was eagerly awaiting the due date.

As I was thinking about this, there was a knock on the door, and Zoe went to answer it.

The door opened, and one of the maids whispered something to Zoe.

Zoe nodded, closed the door, and came back.

"Master."

"What is it?"

"It seems that an auspicious omen has appeared."

"Again?"

I smiled wryly, half in exasperation.

There have been a lot of auspicious omens recently.

The first was a meteorite that supposedly had the character "wise" naturally formed on it. This was a complete fabrication.

The next was a child born clutching a gemstone.

And now, another auspicious omen has appeared.

"What is it this time? Has it already been presented as an offering?"

"No, it doesn't seem to be an object."

"Not an object?"

"Yes, please look outside the window."

"..."

I tilted my head in confusion but stood up from the sofa and walked to the window.

I was surprised, so surprised that I couldn't help but catch my breath.

Outside the window—there was an aurora in the sky.

A curtain of aurora high in the sky.

It was unmistakably something I had never seen before.

"An aurora here?"

"It seems that this hasn't appeared in Almeria for at least a few hundred years."

"Of course not."

Auroras appear in the far north or the far south, not in a place like Almeria with its warm, agricultural climate.

"Bahamut."

"Yes, Master."

"Is this something caused by human intervention?"

"I sense no such will."

It seems to be a natural occurrence.

I found that quite interesting.

Seeing this, it's not surprising that it would be considered an auspicious omen.

"Seeing something like this, it's no wonder you think I'm amazing..."

Zoe, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, looked at me with admiration, treating the omen as something meant for the ruler.

☆

In the end, it turned out to be an auspicious omen.

A few months later, Audrey, who had reached full term, gave birth to a boy as smooth as a gem.

It was a very smooth delivery, and both mother and child were healthy.

"Good job, Audrey."

I praised Audrey, who was lying on the bed.

"Thank you."

"Since it's a boy, we'll name him Sem, as we decided."

"Yes..."

Audrey nodded, her eyes closed with a faint smile after completing her great task.

"Now... Zoe."

"Understood."

Zoe approached the baby, Sem, who was being held by a nanny, and cast a spell.

It was the same spell I cast when I was reincarnated—born—to check his abilities.

Immediately, the child's status appeared.

--------------------

Name: Sem Ararat

Gender: Male

Level: 1/100

HP: F Fire: F

MP: F Water: F

Strength: F Wind: F

Stamina: F Earth: F

Intelligence: F Light: F

Spirit: F Dark: E

Speed: F

Dexterity: F

Luck: F

--------------------

"Wh-What!?"

The moment the status appeared, the maids, nannies, and midwives in the room all gasped in surprise.

"His level cap is 100."

"Of course, Master, that's amazing. Your blood has been perfectly passed down to Young Master."

"Indeed."

A level cap of 100 is quite remarkable.

A level of 15 is in the top 5% of humans.

A level cap of 100 is a talent that appears once in tens of millions of people.

"So, that omen must have been predicting this."

"Perhaps... Yes, I should give this child a territory."

While not as much as a prince, it is common to give some territory to a prince's child.

It is common, but of course, it is not the only thing.

If the level cap of 100, which he inherited from my blood, is high, what about my unique ability that increases with territory and people?

"I'll give him Doss. How does that sound, Zoe?"

"Thank you!"

Zoe bowed happily.

Doss was the land of her hometown.

Giving this land to my eldest son, Sem, who has a high chance of being the heir, is a form of favor.

After that, I had Zoe cast the status spell again.

--------------------

Name: Sem Ararat

Gender: Male

Level: 1/100

HP: F Fire: F

MP: F Water: F

Strength: F Wind: F

Stamina: F Earth: F

Intelligence: F Light: F

Spirit: F Dark: E

Speed: F

Dexterity: F

Luck: F

--------------------

No change.

I see, the "plus" is indeed unique to me and was not inherited by my child.

Still.

"Level 100."

"When was the last time a three-digit number appeared?"

"Wasn't it about fifty years ago with General Grant?"

The people around naturally began to expect great things from Sem and looked at me with even more respect.

☆

With Sem's birth, I flew to the capital.

A prince has the duty to report to the emperor when a child, especially a boy, is born.

I returned to the capital to fulfill this duty and entered the palace to request an audience with His Majesty.

I was immediately granted an audience and came to His Majesty's study.

"Ah, you've come, Noah."

His Majesty, who was in the study, raised both hands and came toward me with a full smile.

I knelt on one knee on the spot and bowed according to etiquette.

"Your formality is good, but raise your head."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"I heard about your child. Sem, was it?"

"Yes."

"His level cap is 100, I hear. Truly, Noah's child."

"I am honored. I will return to my fief and bring Sem back to the capital as soon as possible for Your Majesty to hold him."

"Very well. But, Noah, I have something to discuss with you."

"Something to discuss?"

I looked up, a bit surprised.

His Majesty's face was unusually serious, unlike the smiling face he had just a moment ago.

"Yes."

His Majesty nodded and dropped a bombshell.

"I am going to abdicate and become the retired emperor."

"Wh-What—"

I was genuinely surprised.

In the sixteen years since my reincarnation, this was the most shocking moment.

"…What do you mean?"

"I have been thinking about various things. Your advice was also a factor, but it is still uncertain."

My advice—embedding a will, which would determine the next emperor, in my body.

"Even if I do that, the next emperor will still be decided without me. Therefore, I thought it best to decide the next emperor while I am still capable of making sound judgments."

"…I see."

His Majesty's words made sense.

No, rather, they were impressive.

"Therefore—Noah, will you be the next emperor?"

"…Sem, you mean."

Instantly, a white lightning bolt struck my mind.

A month ago, I might not have understood, but now I do.

With Sem's birth, I understood His Majesty's thoughts.

"Indeed, you are amazing, Noah."

His Majesty praised me.

"Yes. Sem, with a level cap of 100, a talent that appears once in tens of millions, will ensure the prosperity of the empire for three generations if I pass the throne to Noah."

"…I see."

"That's what it means. Will you do it, Noah?"

"…"

I thought for a moment and then knelt silently.

"Understood. For the prosperity of three generations, I will strive to meet your expectations."

"Very well."

His Majesty nodded and patted my shoulder.

"The ceremony will come later, but from this moment, I pass the throne to you."

Instantly, the status in the corner of my vision changed.

--------------------

Name: Noah Ararat

Emperor of the Empire

Gender: Male

Level: 15+1/∞

HP: C+C Fire: E+S

MP: E+C Water: C+SS

Strength: C+S Wind: E+E

Stamina: D+C Earth: E+C

Intelligence: D+C Light: E+B

Spirit: E+C Dark: E+B

Speed: E+C

Dexterity: E+C

Luck: E+C

--------------------

My title changed to Emperor, and all the "plus" values increased by one level.

…Interesting.

When I became the Prime Minister Prince, all the "plus" values became SSS.

But now, they have only increased by one level.

This means that His Majesty, even after becoming the retired emperor, does not intend to completely relinquish power.

Therefore, I said,

"I will strive even more to become an emperor worthy of entrusting the entire empire to."

"That is what makes you great. The second generation will be secure."

His Majesty smiled happily.

And so, I became the emperor, transitioning from a prince.