"Huff...!"
I opened my eyes, gasping for breath.
My entire body was drenched in sweat.
Feeling the sensation of my damp body sinking into the bedsheet, I stared blankly at the ceiling.
'...Was it a dream?'
I felt like I had dreamed something, but upon waking, I couldn't remember what it was.
Leaving only an impression of something impossible and strange, it scattered like smoke rising from a chimney.
As I gazed at the ceiling, I felt warm, lukewarm touches all around me.
Not just around me, but on my stomach, legs, and so on... My whole body felt heavy, as if weights were hanging from it.
As my dazed mind awakened, their identities began to register in my head.
"...Kids."
A low voice escaped my lips, followed by the sound of giggling.
"Mommy!"
"Mmm... Yeah. Mommy's awake. So, could you get off me?"
Then, I felt something shaking and wobbling all at once.
...It's troublesome how much the kids love me. Really.
Soon, a clattering sound was heard, and the door to my bedroom swung wide open.
The source of the noise was Claudia.
She entered with a flustered expression, but soon let out a sigh of relief and a stifled laugh.
"Our husband is too popular for his own good."
Looking at me with a mix of envy and pity, she approached the bed and lifted Pelicia, who was curled up between my legs.
Still half-asleep, Pelicia, not understanding what was happening, fluttered her tail and ears before burying herself in Claudia's ample chest.
"This makes me a little worried about whether the kids will want their own rooms."
"...Yeah."
Feeling a slight coolness between my legs, I waited briefly, and soon the other members, like Claudia, hurried into my bedroom, checked on the kids, and chuckled wryly.
...Regarding the kids' obsession with me.
Well, it's much better than being hated or ignored... but the problem, if it is one, is that there are just too many of them.
It's not like they won't sleep or cry without me, but it's a bit troublesome how they swarm into my bedroom every morning as if by appointment.
'Well, it'll get better.'
Seeing how I can't bring myself to say anything to the kids, I realized I'm an indulgent parent too.
The kids grew up so fast.
After moving, time flowed like water, and now the kids can walk freely and easily open and close doors.
They speak so clearly that it's hard to believe they were just learning to walk and crawl not long ago.
"Mommy!"
"Let's go outside and play."
"Let's go to the rooftop."
"Read me a book."
...Though the missing teeth seem unavoidable.
We had to go all the way to Selina's villa to throw the teeth because there was no rooftop to throw them from—an absurd but somewhat amusing situation.
One day, they all crowded onto the rooftop to splash in the water and play.
Another day, they played hide-and-seek or took naps in the garden outside.
Thinking it was time, I showed the kids the upper floor, but they seemed oddly indifferent.
...Don't they usually want their own space?
Is it because they're still too young?
Or maybe...
"What are you thinking about?"
"...I'm wondering if the kids are learning from us adults."
"...I want to deny it, but it somehow feels true, so I have nothing to say."
Maybe they're just imitating their mothers, who take turns visiting my bedroom every night.
Seeing Claudia sniffing and wagging her tail beside me while saying this awkwardly makes it a certainty, not just a suspicion.
...Because of this, contrary to the design intent, doing anything in the shared bedroom... has become very difficult. Even in my own bedroom.
You never know when the kids might barge in!
I suspect it'll stay that way until the kids become independent on the upper floor.
At least I don't have to worry about Lime being left alone now that she can get out of bed, which eases some of my concerns.
'Is that why I had that strange dream?'
That dream I can't remember.
Though I don't recall the content, only the impression of it being very strange remains.
'Am I sexually frustrated...?'
I don't know either.
Anyway.
The days when the kids couldn't control their bladder and bowels while lying down are now over. I can't say it's completely hands-off even as a polite exaggeration... but that's how it was.
I wrote a letter.
...It was time to return to my hometown after a long time.
It had been quite a while since the invitation was sent, but I believe my mother understands my feelings. After all, she raised me and my sister.
Thanks to that, I turned out like this, but let's just say the result is good enough.
The letter I sent arrived slowly and belatedly, but my mother's reply was very quick.
I wondered if magic really needed to be used for this, but not using what's available is also laughable.
"...She must have really been waiting."
So, we now had to prepare for the trip.
Just like last time, all my wives wanted to go, and the kids... well, they seemed thrilled just by the idea of going outside.
Surprisingly, Pelicia didn't particularly like going out, but when she heard we'd be taking the magic train she'd read about in books, she went around giggling.
...There weren't many options for the route, but there was a lot to prepare.
Even by simple calculation, there were over ten people. And that's including kids who need care, so it goes without saying.
But fortunately, we...
Had a lot of money.
Though there was the minor issue that fatigue can't be solved with money, going wasn't a difficult task.
...Even if it felt almost like moving house with how much luggage we had.
And so, on the day of returning to my hometown.
"Just check on it occasionally."
"Don't worry and have a good trip."
After entrusting the house to Eubris, who smiled contentedly, and Iris, who nodded, we set off on the journey back to my hometown.
The kids were captivated by their first carriage ride and looking outside.
Meanwhile, I indulged in the affectionate antics of my lovely wives, who seized the opportunity.
We arrived at the familiar station, loaded our luggage, and boarded the passenger car.
...After brushing off countless requests for handshakes, I looked around the somewhat familiar passenger car.
"Memories of that time come flooding back. When you were under the name Shaa—"
"S-stop that!"
I covered Selina's mouth.
No one knows about the things I did back then!
Judging by the vague looks, everyone seemed to have already caught on, but...
Well, what can I do?
I decided to just steel myself.
Since Her Highness Selina had chartered an entire train car, there was plenty of space.
...We let the excited kids roam freely but strictly guarded the doors connecting the train cars.
This part was fine since there were plenty of people dedicated to handling it.
Long live our Highness. Truly.
If the kids suddenly dashed toward the train doors, all we had to do was watch them being played with by the delighted staff and then bring them back—a very easy task.
The taste of power and money was truly sweet.
While enjoying the comfortable train with the kids.
Selina approached me with a slightly troubled expression.
I sensed something ominous.
Feeling the urge to escape, I tried to sneak away, but she wrapped her arms around my waist and whispered.
"Where are you going?"
"...The restroom?"
"Shall we go together?"
"Huh, men and women are separate..."
"You say that after giving birth to five kids?"
What am I supposed to do if I don't want to hear it? If you wanted to say that, you shouldn't have made that expression.
The story Selina, coiled around my waist like a snake, brought up was truly one of the things I never wanted to hear since getting married.
"They want to see the kids at home."
"..."
She softened it by saying "home," but where is "home" for Selina?
Obviously, the Imperial Palace!
"...If it's not to see us make a royal visit, they said they'd like to see their grandchildren's antics."
I'm going to lose it.
I swallowed those words, but Selina chuckled and kissed my forehead.
"I suspect Cordelia might have stirred things up, but... what can we do?"
"...There's no avoiding it, is there?"
Selina shrugged.
"Wouldn't it be more comfortable for us to visit? Imagine them coming to our house... it would be utter chaos."
Imagining the scene of countless attendants surrounding our house, I eventually sighed and nodded.
Selina, smiling wryly, beamed at my nod.
Honestly... I'm going to my house, so it'd be unfair to say we can't go to yours.
...It seems like there will be many places to visit this way.
What can we do?
This is also something I must bear.
Even I would feel sad if my daughter got married and didn't show her face, let alone her grandchildren's.
...Thinking that way felt a bit strange.
'The kids will grow up and become independent someday, right?'
Those little ones?
Will I be able to endure that?
I shook my head inwardly.
I can't stop the kids from doing what they want because of my own greed. That wouldn't be right either.
But the bitterness in my mouth is unavoidable.
...The thought that it would be over ten years before the kids do such things didn't cross my mind at that moment.
Meanwhile, the magic train stretched onward and onward.
My hometown.
It stopped at Astarote.
Author's Note (Author's Afterword)
Um... cut? Who are you talking about?