#998 Maternity Rhapsody 7: A Rewarded Workaholic

My name is Mamoru.

A Heavenly One of the Demon King’s Army. They call me Mamoru the Coveted.

Back in my officer days, I earned the nickname Mamoru of the Shadows.

I got this name because I worked quietly and effectively in the background, supporting the Heavenly Four without drawing attention to myself.

I also had the task of constantly guarding the daughter of my superior from all sorts of unsavory characters—minor nobles looking for an advantageous marriage, enemies trying to cause scandals, and playboys who had no business being around her. Needless to say, I dealt with these pests swiftly and silently.

I never imagined I’d end up becoming one of the Heavenly Four myself, following in my superior’s footsteps.

Even more unthinkable was marrying his daughter and becoming family through this succession of rank...!

Despite my best efforts to protect and keep her pure until marriage, my colleagues teased me, suggesting that I kept her safe from those playboys just to have her for myself.

As much as I wanted to deny it, the truth was right there, so I couldn’t argue.

I’ve known my wife since childhood. We met when I was six, and she was eight.

My father was also an aide to the Heavenly Four, and he had a close bond with my superior, Lord Ravillian, which transcended ranks and was more like a brotherhood.

Because of this connection, I was introduced to her, and I remember my father grandly declaring, “This is the lady you will serve for life.”

At the same time, he warned me, “Don’t even think about falling in love with her; remember your place.”

However, my father later died in battle.

He sacrificed himself to save Lord Ravillian during the Human-Demon War. It was a noble death, one that earned great honor.

Lord Ravillian, feeling indebted, took me in and raised me as his own.

This brought me even closer to my future wife, and for a while, we were like siblings.

Who would’ve thought that we would grow up to become husband and wife?

...

Why am I suddenly reminiscing about the past, you ask...?

It’s because a new and unexpected twist of fate has just shaken things up for us.

My wife is pregnant!

After nearly ten years of marriage, the long-awaited miracle has finally happened!

My wife had been troubled for a long time, but this blessing has brightened our home instantly!!!

***

“My lady! I’m home!!!”

“That’s not right.”

After working thirteen consecutive days, I finally returned home, and my wife greeted me.

“I’m your wife now, so calling me ‘my lady’ is strange. Please call me by my name.”

“O-Okay… I-I’m home, Arias…!”

“Welcome back, darling ♥”

Guooooooooooh!!!

My wife is adorable!

The cutest in the world! And beautiful, too!

She’s so cute and beautiful, I’ve combined it into one word: ‘cutiful’!

Having such a cutiful wife makes me the luckiest man alive!!!

Even if I had to work eighteen hours a day for twenty days straight, it would still be worth it!!!

“A-Arias...! How’s our baby doing?”

“Growing strong and healthy,” she says, rubbing her belly lovingly.

Oh, how precious! This scene is so picturesque, it should be immortalized in a holy painting!!!

Even if I had to work ninety days straight without a break, it would still be worth it!!!

“Ahh! I love you, my lady!!!”

“You’re calling me by my old title again! But I love you too, Mamoru!!!”

We hug each other tightly.

Nothing could ever tear us apart!

“What are you two doing standing at the entrance, you silly couple?”

There he is, my father-in-law and former superior, the previous “Coveted” among the Four Heavenly Kings, Lord Ravillian.

“Hello, Father. It’s good to see you.”

“You don’t call me by my old title anymore. You two are acting like newlyweds again since you found out about the pregnancy. It’s like you’ve regressed after finally starting to settle down.”

Ngh…!

True, we’ve been married for nearly ten years, and we’re not exactly newlyweds... But our love for each other is as fresh as ever!

Isn’t it wonderful to still be a lovey-dovey couple after ten years?

It’s way better than letting things go stale and your relationship cooling off.

And besides, we’ve finally been blessed with a child! That’s one of the biggest events in a marriage!

Can’t we celebrate a little?!

“Your lovey-dovey act is a bit too much to watch. And my child, you should reflect on a few things too, don’t you think?”

“Like what?”

“A noblewoman’s duty is to marry into another house and produce an heir as her top priority. Yet it took you almost ten years to have your first child. That’s quite a long time, don’t you think?”

L-Lord Ravillian, or rather, Father…!

That’s something you really shouldn’t say…!

“In our family, Mamoru joined us as a son-in-law, making your position much easier than others. But don’t let that make you neglect your duties as a wife.”

“Hehehe... Oh, Father. Getting scolded here when it’s usually the in-laws’ job is refreshing.”

My lady... I mean, Arias, smiles.

“But Father... the reason we haven’t had children for so long... is it really just me?”

“Huh?”

“To have children, you need to, well, do the deed. And for that, you need to spend time together. But Mamoru’s been so busy with his duties as Heavenly One that he’s barely home. Sometimes, he’s gone for months.”

Exactly.

You can’t have kids if you don’t spend time together.

It’s definitely not Arias’ fault that it took us this long to have a child...

“So, why is Mamoru so busy? I don’t remember you being this busy when you held the position, Father.”

“Well... that’s because... that’s because...!”

“Because Mamoru’s been cleaning up your mess, hasn’t he, Father...?”

Yep, that’s right...!

Back when Father was a Heavenly One, he made a huge political blunder, angering the Demon King.

Because of that, Lord Ravillian stepped down. But that alone wasn’t enough to resolve the issue. In the worst case, he could have been executed, and even in the best case, he was looking at a lifetime of house arrest somewhere remote. It was a truly desperate situation.

“Mamoru’s been working tirelessly to restore our family’s honor. So, the delay in having children is partly your fault, too. You have no right to lecture me...!!!”

“S-Sorry!!!”

Father, unable to bear the pressure from his beloved daughter, bows in apology.

Hey, Arias, calm down!

Sure, part of my busyness is fixing Father’s mistakes, but it’s also because Lord Belphgamilia is lazy and dumps his work on me!

Some say there’s no benefit to it, but that’s not true at all!

There’s a huge advantage I got from taking over after Lord Ravillian! And what might that be, you ask...?

“I got to marry you...!”

“Oh, Mamoru... I love you!!!”

Marrying Arias, who seemed out of reach, was thanks to Father’s blunder.

So, in a way, it all worked out.

“Thanks to Father’s mistake, the Coveted-Holy Sword faction was in shambles. No one wanted the position, so Mamoru stepped up and saved the day, right, Father?”

“Yes!!!”

I worked hard right after taking over, earning the Demon King’s favor, which helped lighten Father’s punishment.

Lord Belphgamilia’s laziness meant more work for me but also more achievements...

Maybe that was his plan?

No way.

He’s just lazy.

“Because of this, Father only lost his position but can still live in the Demon Capital. I was prepared to say goodbye forever. So please overlook the delay in having children.”

“Yes, yes!!!”

“Honestly, I might have preferred having children sooner, even if it meant not seeing Father again.”

“My daughter?!”

Arias is always tough on Father-in-Law...

But with a child on the way, maybe our home will become livelier and more harmonious?

“Anyway, Father, make sure our child grows up healthy. No more angering the Demon King. We can’t have our child’s future ruined.”

She’s right!

Please, Father-in-law, I’m at the peak of happiness!

May this moment last forever!

Ah, such bliss!