Commander's Rounds Volume 1

Entry 106-3: A Dose of Truth

The commander had decided that he and King George wanted some privacy for a couple of weeks after Matilda was born. They had some things they needed to get used to, like working out the logistics of their work lives. One of the things that was a big help was that there would always be a time when at least one of them would be home, and also giving instructions to Dido. Even aside from that, King George V wanted some amount of rest after everything she went through over the time when she was in labor as well as having her newborn be under observation. It wasn't so much the physical strain as the mental, and that's something that applied to both of them.

And then there was the problem of learning how to sleep when there was someone in the house who hadn't quite developed the capacity for a sane sleep schedule.

He was glad that the fleet was understanding, plus there was the fact that the more responsible members of the fleet would certainly keep the less responsible members in line through the promise of punishments that the commander could only really describe as "creative".

So, the commander and King George had their peace, aside from the occasional gifts dropped off by varying well-wishers, as well as even more baby supplies dropped off by Kashino.

But once those two weeks were up, they were happy with accepting guests once more, the guests included the very expected and otherwise.

"Hehe, Helloooo~" Said Friedrich in the friendliest voice she could manage. Despite Friedrich's towering dark presence, even little Matilda considered Friedrich about as intimidating as the average pillow, thanks to whatever part of the battleship's nature made it so.

It was not only Friedrich who was there, but all of King George's sisters. They knew enough not to crowd Matilda, as the baby hadn't been outside of her mother for longer than she had been inside of her, so Matilda was still getting used to the idea of there being an outside world and everything that was outside of her mother.

Prince of Wales scratched the side of her head. "...I don't think it's a secret that I had my doubts at the beginning, commander."

"We got those sorted out, didn't we?" He shrugged. "...I don't think I can hold it against you. The longer I've been around each of you, the more I've understood how deep your bonds go."

Howe giggled. "And now you have four sisters-in-law, and four aunts for Matilda to know."

The commander nodded. "She's not like a Kansen, so it's going to be some time before you'll be able to talk to her, so I hope you can be patient. This... Will take some patience."

"We can wait. I can't speak for everyone, but I think we're all glad that everything went well in the delivery room." Howe handed the commander an oatmeal pecan cookie. "For your trouble~"

"There is one thing, though." The commander took a bite of the superb cookie. "Vestal says she's relatively strong as far as newborn babies go, so she may start crawling or even walking a bit earlier than normal."

Duke of York chuckled. "Then, like her father, she means to cause the most ingenious trouble." She put her arms around Prince of Wales. "But it is fine that she got your blue eyes... After all, you did have something to do with this, commander, I am told."

"I'll have a lot more to do with her. I didn't do this to abandon her."

Monarch poured herself a bit of wine. "If nothing else, our commander is consistent in how he treats others."

King George was involved in holding Matilda, and watched Friedrich do her thing while Matilda made some excited noises. "...So, was this everything you hoped for?"