Moments before, Sovieshu had asked his secretary to bring Rashta to his room. But Rashta had refused again and Sovieshu muttered coldly.
"Always using the baby as a shield."
Although he honestly didn't expect her to come, it surprised him that she always made the same excuse.
The secretary looked Sovieshu in the face.
"If you ask a little stronger..."
"Forget it. I don't want her to say again that her belly hurts or some such excuse."
After Sovieshu shook his hand, he grabbed a box from a small table, opened it and approached the birdcage.
The blue bird stopped scratching and rushed in front of Sovieshu, opening its beak immediately.
Sovieshu examined the playful bird as he poured some of the food from the box into the feeder.
It was still a little thin, but now it had nice plumage.
Sovieshu smiled bitterly as he watched the bird eat from the feeder impatiently.
This bird, which he had tried to give to Navier but had been sent back, now became his little peace.
And he was disappointed to conclude that it was Rashta who plucked the feathers of this lovely bird.
How could she do that to such a weak and delicate bird?
"After..."
"I am listening, Your Majesty."
"After the baby is born, I will assign a nanny to take care of it."
"What?"
"I will need someone to take care of the baby when I can't."
"Hmm..."
"I'll have to start reading parenting books."
"..."
"Babies are small and weak."
The secretary was silent as he could not understand Sovieshu's thoughts.
Won't Rashta take care of the baby when His Majesty is busy? Does that mean that the nanny will take care of the baby when His Majesty can't and the rest of the time he will do it on his own? Does His Majesty want to take over his child's upbringing entirely?
Several questions were about to come out of his mouth, but he managed to remain silent.
The secretary was puzzled.
The imperial family, like the nobility, was not primarily responsible for child rearing. The responsibility usually fell to the nanny.
In any case, Sovieshu would not change his mind because of his secretary's opinion.
"What about the slave certificate? Haven't found it yet?"
"My apologies. It would be easy to find if I could count on the help of many people, but that is not possible, so progress is not as fast as might be expected, Your Majesty."
"You must get it as soon as possible. As soon as possible."
Once the secretary left, Sovieshu stuck his fingers through the birdcage and stroked the bird for a moment before sitting down on his bed.
With his forehead resting on his clasped hands, he closed his eyes and suppressed his anxiety.
He had saved Rivetti because he knew of the crimes Rashta had committed, but also to keep Viscount Roteschu's mouth shut.
