First, I asked the Galactic Empire to select a wet nurse.
I made a polite request, but Wifey issued a direct command. We considered trustworthy, powerful nobles—Marma-kun, Old Man Ohno, Lily... even Wifey's mothers.
"What about the Inner Palace aunties?" I asked.
"I see. There are Court Ladies as well... but I cannot go to meet them!" Veronica replied.
In the first place, Maro's sisters were out of the question. Most of the other young girls there were related to the Duke Association. While they were on our side because they detested their own families, they were technically supposed to be detained in the Inner Palace, making it difficult to move them around. Using someone from the Duke Association as a wet nurse would only invite unnecessary speculation.
The Neutral Faction and the Military Faction members in the Inner Palace were mostly from families leaning toward the Duke Association. I didn't want to touch that mess! On the other hand, the history of Chronos as a kingdom was so short that finding someone there was simply impossible.
"First, I'll use that bastard Isono as a human sacrifice... and intentionally let the Hostile Faction provide a wet nurse..." I mused.
"Why are you saying that right in front of me?" Isono snapped.
I had been consulting with him in the Dining Hall.
"Because it wouldn't be fair otherwise!"
"Can I punch you now?"
"Jokes aside," I continued, "Marma-kun is too young to manage something like this. Our families aren't prestigious enough. We can't mobilize the Inner Palace. Old Man Ohno and Lily are out of the question; even if we wanted it, the public would never allow it."
"Well, a rough fisherman and a former pirate... and Lord Marma might spark suspicions about the Beast Race trying to take over the country," Isono said, leaning back. "Leo, is this actually a more important matter than we realized?"
"I just noticed it myself. What are we going to doooooooooooo!"
Regardless, One-oh-one's Zork legion and Kevin’s Female-type Zorks were absolutely out of the question. Embers of resentment were still smoldering throughout the Galactic Empire. We had only managed to pacify the imperial citizens by selling them the illusion of a total victory. We had merely forced them to maintain a sense of dignity as the supposed victors. If I showed them too much favoritism, it could easily spark a massacre and spiral into a Civil War.
The Galactic Empire and Chronos were merely enjoying a peace built upon the illusion that Wifey and I had created. However, since we were a monarchy, we could use the trick of passing down that illusion as legend until it became accepted history. Of course, historians would eventually uncover the truth. I was fine with that. As long as it prevented things from spiraling out of control, I was willing to be the target of their criticism. Let them bash me as they pleased; it was far better than a bloody civil war driven by old grudges!
To that end, I consulted the person who seemed most knowledgeable about this particular social sphere.
"Could you please refrain from dragging me into your schemes?" Raymond-san asked with a sigh.
"Whine, whine!" I pleaded.
"Listen to me! My wife ran away from me! You know that, don't you!"
"There's no one else but you, Raymond-san!"
"Aaaagh, fine! I get it! But with my connections, the best I can do is make inquiries through the university!"
Raymond-san reluctantly agreed. This was the man whose wife had left him and who wasn't even allowed to see his children. But I knew the truth! As a Lawyer for the military, he had drafted the various documents that brought the war to an end. Because of that, he was constantly invited to lecture at different universities, where he was incessantly hit on by female college students.
He was the Head of Administrative Affairs for the military and Wifey's Administrative Strategist. On top of that, I had publicly declared him my Administrative Master. Anyone who didn't try to win over a man like that was a complete fool. The Military Factions would never let him go. Those college girls were daughters of military families. He had even been assigned female secretaries of the perfect age, all as part of an effort to reel him in.
Previously, that bastard Amada had been the target, but now the focus had shifted to Raymond-san.
Wait... did I just overlook an incredibly important person? Who was it?
"Isono... was there someone at Amada's place who could handle a situation like this?"
"Selene-chan wouldn't be the one," Isono said. "Neither would Amada's parents."
"Wait, what did you just say?"
"I said Selene-chan wouldn't—"
"That's it!"
That was it. Selene-chan was the answer! I contacted her immediately.
"Save me, Selene-chan!" I cried out when she appeared on the screen.
Selene-chan, whose belly had grown quite large, looked at me calmly. "What is the matter?"
"I have to find wet nurses or everything is going to fall apart, please help!"
"Speak in a language that humans can understand," she sighed.
After I explained the situation, she nodded. "So, you need a selection of people who won't provoke the various factions. What about the Military Faction?"
"They're an option, but if they gain too much influence..."
"Then we should look to the Neutral Faction. Understood. Let's inquire with the Mama Network."
"The Mama Network?" I repeated.
"Yes, the Imperial Noble Wives' Association. It's an organization where people help one another regardless of their factional ties."
"Wait, what? I've never heard of that."
"It was only formed recently. You see, the Zork War left many women as widows. They suddenly had to manage their territories without any specialized education. They had to deal with land management, public safety, insurance, and various subsidies. While I was providing consultations for the nobles in the Imperial Capital, it grew into a massive nationwide organization before I even realized it... I'm not entirely sure how it happened myself..."
As expected of the Fairy's junior sister. Selene-chan was far too competent. If she ever got serious, she could probably destroy the Galactic Empire. Amada-kyun... the future of the Empire really did rest in his hands.
"I asked Raymond-san for help too, but I'm counting on you as well!"
"Sure, sure. I'll get in touch with Raymond-san from my end. Since these are the children of the Galactic Empire Emperor and the King of Chronos, you'll need quite a few people. There are plenty of wives who are looking for work away from home."
With that, it felt like several major problems were about to be solved all at once.
Isono looked at me in disbelief. "You... as usual, things just start falling into place like a line of dominoes..."
"Even I don't understand how it works!"
While we were shouting back and forth, I reported the news to Wifey and Claire.
"As always, Lord Groom's luck is far too strong..." Veronica remarked.
"It's so incredible that it doesn't even make sense..." Claire added.
I didn't understand it either. Really, at this point, I had no idea what was happening.
"At any rate, it seems the problem of the war widows and the wet nurses for our children will be resolved in one fell swoop! Thinking about it anymore will only give me a headache. Claire, make sure the Galactic Empire provides subsidies to the Wives' Association."
"Understood. I'll submit the budget request," Claire replied.
"I'll have the Kamishiro Group provide sponsorship funds as well," I said.
"I'm counting on you, Lord Groom... Still, Luna! Are you the mastermind behind this!?" Veronica barked.
The Fairy appeared suddenly. "Actually, I'm not. I only found out about this a moment ago myself."
"In other words, Luna's Clan moves toward usurping nations just by existing..." Veronica muttered.
Perhaps the Fairy really was the strongest of them all.