The rioters were rounded up in short order.
Ren doesn't pull her punches the way I do. I mean, once you start sniping at people, being shot dead is simply the natural consequence. Even so, they survived thanks to emergency surgery. Since their ability to speak remains intact, we can still interrogate them.
And so, everyone lived happily ever after—though what actually happens to the criminals next is anyone’s guess. The Pirate Guild, which used to be the catch-all for people like them, is under my thumb now, too.
Well, whatever.
Let’s talk about Ren. She can dodge attacks by sheer beastly instinct. Her accuracy is so high she can hit her mark without even trying. Apparently, there was a period during her childhood where she and Maruma went hungry because of the First Wife’s harassment. She supposedly used to hunt wild animals in the territory with a shotgun in one hand just to put food on the table.
Ren laughed as she told me, "I’d intended to get back at her eventually, but the First Wife passed away."
Her eyes weren't laughing, though. It was terrifying.
The First Wife poisoned Ren’s biological mother. There’s no hard evidence, but Ren is certain of it. When the woman moved to kill Maruma next, Ren negotiated. She calls it a "negotiation," but it was almost certainly blackmail.
The situation only settled down when she declared she would attend the Officer Academy, gain her independence, and leave the house with Maruma. The military looks after its own. If a fellow officer’s younger brother were murdered in a succession dispute after they’d earned their commission, things would get ugly. The Duke Association might not be afraid, but a house in the Neutral Faction would simply be swallowed whole by the Military Faction. In that scenario, it wouldn't matter whether the parents or the older brother were left alive.
During the Maro Era, discrimination against the Beast Race made it difficult for them to become a Head of House. A groom was needed to justify the family's continuation.
Let's see... the requirements would be: a classmate from the Officer Academy, likely the third son of a noble family, someone with no prejudice against the Beast Race who viewed them simply as the opposite sex, someone from a house ranked Marquis or higher to match their status, a member of the Military Faction or an independent noble, and someone capable of actually fulfilling the role of a groom... To ensure the future stability of the Duke House, a groom with a Japanese-descended face would be ideal.
Wait... that’s me, isn't it?
...I should stop thinking about this.
Anyway, if the First Wife had possessed a shred of wit, she would have realized she was checkmated. She could have chosen to kill Ren before she entered the Officer Academy, but she kept failing until Ren was old enough to make her move.
Ren is a rational person. She likely intended to graduate, involve the military, and then eliminate the First Wife, her father, and her older brother. They were nothing but obstacles to Maruma’s future. Now that I’ve seen her in action, I understand. Even I would have felt I had no choice but to kill them.
The Military Faction would have expanded its influence by using the Duke House Mistral as a figurehead... And there I would be, likely serving as a soldier, knowing absolutely nothing, acting as their convenient, lightweight puppet... Wearing a look on my face like I was just the luckiest guy in the world for marrying into a Duke House...
Can I go to the bathroom for a second? I... I have a sudden, urgent need... born of pure terror.
—
I wiped my hands and disinfected them.
It seems there was a high probability that my marriage to Ren was predetermined. In other words: destiny. The reason Ren is so sensitive to bloodlust is probably because she was targeted for death so many times as a child.
Yeah, I really need to treasure my wife and kids. I want to raise my children with as little a sense of danger as possible. Ideally, I want them to be the kind of kids who run full tilt while flying a kite without looking where they're going. The kind who knock themselves out by running head-first into a telephone pole (I’ve been there).
But it’s also a problem if they don't develop any survival instincts and grow up unable to sense the winds of political upheaval. Hmm... I’m already fretting over their education. Papa is such a novice at this...
I wanted to see my kids' faces.
"It's Papa~"
I paid them a visit. Ren smiled as she watched my face melt into a doting mess.
Their heat-regulating fur had started to thin out, making them look more human. Their internal organs, hearts, and pores must have begun functioning properly.
"Nn, Papa."
The Eldest Son, tagged with the number one, flailed his arms and legs. The sextuplets can already talk a little bit. They don't understand the meaning of the words yet, though. They were only a hundred grams at birth, but now they're about three kilograms each. Their intelligence has developed just enough to recognize me.
Being born small was a survival tactic for staying hidden. Growing quickly was for escaping predators. They are a species completely specialized for combat.
"Husband-sama, look. They look just like you."
They really did. Especially the hair and the eyes. The strength of my genes is honestly terrifying. If anything, the Eldest Son has a gentle face like Ren’s.
As for the daughters... are they "gallant"? "Dignified"? At any rate, they’re sharp-featured beauties. They look exactly like me when I’m not running my mouth. Yes... they're beauties. Beauties, and yet!
"A-in!"
A funny face.
"Kyah-kyah-kyah! A-in!"
"Kyaha!"
The sisters... despite being beauties, were making ridiculous faces at each other to get a laugh. They were doing it completely on purpose.
What am I going to do...
I looked at Ren with a strained, awkward smile. She immediately averted her eyes. All five of them are such unfortunate girls...
"I’m... I’m sorry..."
"N-no, I was prepared for this..."
It looks like we'll be able to build a cheerful home. This father has decided to simply ignore reality. They’re healthy, and that’s what matters!
Next, I headed to Claire’s room. Wifey was in the middle of a checkup with the doctor, so I couldn't go in there yet. I’ll visit later.
"Ark-chan, it's Papa~"
"A-buu."
Compared to Ren’s bunch, he’s still in the cooing stage. Apparently, it stays like this until they’re about three months old. He doesn't seem to recognize me yet.
"Who's a good boy~"
When I spoke, he stared at me. He seemed to be watching my lips.
"Can I hold him?"
"You’ll get tired, so just a stroke for now," Claire said.
I patted his head. Good boy, good boy. He wasn't making any funny faces. Success!
Ark feels like the perfect blend of me and Claire. He looks exactly as I expected. At first glance, he has a smart-looking face, but I have a sinking feeling he’s going to grow up to be a total goofball.
"Ah—"
I suddenly felt a wave of anxiety, so I whispered to Claire.
"Hey, about Ren’s daughters..."
"What’s with the serious face?"
"They were making funny faces at each other..."
I gave her a hollow smile. As their father, I had no choice but to try and laugh it off.
Claire broke out in a cold sweat. "W-well... he is Leo’s child... I suppose I’ve already resigned myself to it..."
Claire turned her head away, too.
"I'm sorry..."
Forgive me, Claire... Ark is probably going to grow up to be an eccentric, too. It’s not like he’s playing the jester because the household is tense. That would be tragic. He’s just a jokester by nature.
"Y-yeah. It’s okay. Honestly, I was prepared for things to turn out like this."
I’ll have to talk to Wifey about this, too...
For some reason, I found myself shedding a few tears.