Francesca sighed again. "My, my~ Heres isnāt the first one, my honey bun. These two older brothers of yours are the first one~"
She shook her head with an indulgent smile. "Ah~ I donāt even know which one will be giving birth first. Dear, I think we should move up their weddings, maybe a week after your marriage with Mylezra. What do you think, Garcinia? Phenelopie?"
Garcinia sighed as well, glancing at Aelius and Athine before shaking her head. "Since our husbandās already given his blessing, I suppose we should just hold everyoneās wedding ceremony at once."
Francesca placed her palm on her cheek, giving Garius a gentle, expectant look. "Dear~?"
Garius cleared his throat and adjusted his posture. "Well... I donāt mind."
"Good." Francesca let out another sigh, her warm gaze shifting into a sharp glare aimed directly at Marcellus and Cedric. "Since you two are about to become fathers, you must be ready to take full responsibility for your partners and children."
"Ye...yes, esteemed Mother," they replied in unison, their voices almost sheepish.
Francescaās smile returned, but her eyes landed squarely on Javier.
A sweet, loving look that somehow carried the weight of a royal decree. "Now, now, honey bun~" she cooed, her tone soft yet dangerous. "Since youāre my youngest, donāt even think about making your partners pregnant before marriage, okay? Youāre still my honey bun."
"Y...yes... m-mother." Javier stiffened, nodding rapidly.
While Javier sat in surprise, his expression remained calm, but inside his mind, a storm of thoughts spun.
Aelius... made Athine pregnant too?
...
THATāS MY BROTHER! AHAHAHAHA!
On the outside, Javier maintained a composed face, nodding slightly.
So, Athine and Aelius will finally get to be officially married to each other, huh? Good for them. This is a world of magic, thereās no rule stopping them, and with Fatherās blessing already given, who am I to get in the way of their happiness? No way! Ehehehe...
And Marcellus... does that mean Lithia and her mother are both pregnant? Or just one of them? Iāll have to get the details out of him later.
And Cedric... which came first, Meira, the catgirl, or Zania, the Amazarak princess? Donāt tell me he got both pregnant?
Well... with everyone getting married in the same ceremony, the people of Armand will have a lot to celebrate.
More weddings mean more feasts, and I can finally show off the new Holo TV and mana satellite system Iāll be launching tomorrow. That way, not just Fatherās wedding and coronation as Sovereign, but all the weddings can be seen live throughout Armand and Arjam.
He let out a quiet, satisfied breath.
Alright. Iād better make more Holo TV units before I sleep, then hand them to Father to distribute to every public office and village chief. I want the whole of Armand and Arjam to be able to watch the live broadcast.
"Honey bun~? What are you thinking?" Francescaās gentle voice broke Javierās thoughts.
Javier smiled, putting on his best innocent face.
"Ah, nothing, Mother. Iām just... happy. Aelius and Athine, Marcellus with Lithia and her mother Harny, Cedric with Meira and Zania, Heres with Kliatana, all getting married soon. With everyone so happy, I guess Iāll be an āuncleā soon."
Garius suddenly sputtered his drink, coughing while Garcinia and Phenelopie both tried to stifle their laughter.
"Everyoneās happiness is my happiness," Javier declared, showing his purest, most harmless smile.
Garius wiped his mouth, aided by Alf, who offered a handkerchief without a word.
"Such good words from my youngest... soon to be the next heir. With a heart like yours, and the way youāre happy for everyone, Iām truly glad youāll inherit the crown someday," Garius said, pride coloring his voice.
Javier met his fatherās eyes with a calm, dutiful smile. "Yes, esteemed father."
Inside...
Who the hell wants that crown or title?! Gihhh!! Just you wait, Father. Iām going to that place and making you eat those life-extending fruits, along with everyone else, so youāll all stay young and healthy before I turn eighteen. Mehehehe!
Oops... control your mind, Javier. Careful with this dried plum, he could read your mind with the Eyes of Truth. Donāt think of anything. Think of Liana. Think of Gloria. Think of the harem...
He glanced up and saw Gariusās right eye glint suspiciously. Instantly, Javier flooded his thoughts with nothing but Liana, Gloria, and a swirl of harem fantasies, faces, laughter, hugs, kisses, anything to drown out his plotting.
Oho~ I see you, dried plum.
Youāre using those Eyes of Truth on me, old man... Mehehehehe! You wonāt get anything!
Javier smiled sweetly, eating his meat with deliberate care while flooding his mind with a random jumble: fishing rods, grilled meat, Buddy, Buddy, Buddy, Liana, Gloria, Felicia, Mimi, Delya, one image after another, anything distracting.
How about this, old man? Javier pictured a solid brick wall, mind utterly blank.
He changed the mental image to a vast, endless sea, nothing but blue and silence.
And then, just for fun, Javier pictured Queen Mylezra chasing Garius through the palace, relentless and dramatic.
He peeked up, just in time to see Garius start coughing quietly, the glint in his right eye fading as he looked away.
Ehehehehe.
Javier kept eating, smug and satisfied, perfectly innocent to anyone watching.
After the meal, Garius stood up and looked around the table. "Iāll excuse myself and head to my office for a while."
"Dear, donāt overwork yourself," Francesca called after him, concern gentle in her voice.
Garcinia, Phenelopie, and Eridith all watched him go, a hint of worry in their expressions.
Garius waved a hand dismissively. "Donāt worry. Just a few documents to finish, then Iāll rest. Besides, Iām sure Alf and Erinnette are tired too."
"Donāt worry about us, my lord," Alf and Erinnette replied together, bowing respectfully.
Garius nodded, then strode out, leaving the dining hall quiet in his wake.
Inside his mind...
I still canāt read Javierās mind, can I? Nothing but a void...empty
But judging from his expression, that restless posture, and those fidgeting fingers...
A smirk tugged at Gariusās lips.
Well... letās see how good your plan is this time, my youngest~
( End Of Chapter )