The Sweet Alpha Crown Prince Loves Me So Much Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Waking up, Adrian fumbled in the empty space where someone should have been, as a matter of course.

“Ah, again.”

Grinding his teeth with a grrk, Adrian stretched, then smoothed out his crumpled frown and pulled the bell cord.

As if waiting, a servant entered the room with a basin of water and lukewarm tea.

“When did Carl leave?”

To the question he had been asking for who knows how many days, the servant answered consistently.

“It has been about half an hour since he left.”

“For heaven’s sake.”

I really don’t know who gave birth, him or the Empress.

Adrian, having neurotically drained his cup and changed his clothes, threw open the door with the menacing air of a man chasing after his runaway spouse.

It had already been three months since the Empress’s delivery.

In that time, a portion of Heineken’s personnel, including Marco and Elizabeth, had returned to the Empire, and as the Empress quickly recovered her strength and returned to her duties, Duke Hendrick, who had worked hard in the meantime, had decided to take a long rest.

Macallan, who had seemed to have much to say to Carl, had also quietly returned to his fief for the time being due to the birth of his wife, the Marchioness.

Meanwhile, with the declaration of a national holiday, a festive mood had been in full swing in the Empire for some time.

The aftereffects had not yet faded, and people continued to lay flower petals on the main road leading to the imperial palace day after day.

The world was changing faster than predicted, and the surrounding kingdoms, taking the fates of the Lindbergh Kingdom and the Parman Kingdom as a cautionary tale, were also gradually seeking change.

Thanks to that, Carl and Adrian were also leisurely enjoying the true taste of newlywed life and were about to cautiously set a wedding date, when an unexpected dark horse threw a wrench in the works.

It was none other than his much younger brother.

“Boo, baa.”

“Charlene Heineken.”

Adrian glared at the baby nestled in Carl Lindbergh’s arms with eyes blazing like fire.

A hand smaller than a maple leaf gently gripped Carl’s finger.

His white skin was Theresa’s, his green eyes, a perfect match to Adrian’s, were Glenn’s, and his chubby cheeks made him a lovely creature.

As Charlene, oblivious to his brother’s piercing glare, gave Carl a bright smile, Carl Lindbergh broke into a broad grin in response.

“Oh my! Did you smile? What was so funny that you smiled?”

Carl pursed his lips and planted kisses on the baby’s palm.

The maids sighed, haa.

The combination of a once-in-a-generation handsome man and a round, lovely baby. A heart-fluttering combination like this was rare.

“Carl Lindbergh.”

Unable to fight with a baby who hadn’t even learned to be tactful, Adrian’s jealousy landed squarely on the back of Carl Lindbergh’s head.

“Aboo, abooboo.”

Every time the baby made a sound, a bubble of saliva formed on his pouting upper lip and then popped.

“Oh my, how cute. Are you full? Are you feeling good?”

I see, I see.

He seemed so delighted by the baby’s babbling, which was vague in meaning and incomprehensible, that he didn’t even seem to notice Adrian’s presence.

“Look at this little one’s belly. Hm?”

He practically folded his eyes in half as he stroked the baby’s chubby belly.

Adrian swept his hair back and, with a ‘ha’, put on a serious face.

Just as the maids began to belatedly notice the Crown Prince’s mood, Adrian strode towards the back of the seated Carl.

Today, he would definitely grab him by the collar and lock him in the bedroom.

He wasn’t young enough to be dissatisfied with having to share his parents’ attention belatedly, but he couldn’t stand losing Carl’s already divided attention to his younger brother.

From behind, leaning on Carl’s shoulder, which was all Adrian could see, Charlene looked at his brother and let out a poo sound, smiling.

That smile was somehow annoying, and just as he was about to poke his cheek with a fingertip, Carl gently rocked Charlene and murmured.

“Eat a lot and grow big and strong, don’t get sick. It would be nice if you became as handsome as your big brother. Right?”

His touch was so familiar as he patted the baby’s back to soothe him.

Even the great Adrian must have had a time when he was this weak, small, and cute.

His nape, his nose, they look just like Adrian’s.

Because of Carl, who was murmuring as if singing, Adrian lowered the hand that had been about to snatch Carl by the scruff of his neck.

“Baa.”

“Oh my, yes. You got it?”

Instead, Charlene took the hand he had put in his mouth and reached out to Adrian.

“Carl.”

Adrian took that hand and called to Carl.

The baby’s hand was slightly sticky and smelled of milk.

Suddenly called, Carl turned around, his eyes wide.

“Oh? When did you get here?”

“Just a moment ago.”

Regardless of whether the maids were blushing or not, Adrian pressed his lips to Carl Lindbergh’s.

Their lips, which had met with a smack, touched and parted repeatedly, making a wet sound. Carl, who couldn’t push him away because he was holding the baby, was at a loss for words, just standing there dumbly, when Charlene’s chin suddenly quivered and he began to shed tears like chicken droppings.

“Hic, waaa.”

“Uh, uh oh? He’s crying.”

Finally stepping back from Adrian, Carl bounced the baby to soothe him.

“Why is he suddenly like this? Is he hurt somewhere?”

“Waa, waa.”

Adrian Heineken’s lips twitched as he thought, ‘That thing is trying to steal Carl’s attention right now.’

Whether he knew of this thought of Adrian’s or not, Charlene cried out waa, waa, and upon meeting his eyes, he began to wail hysterically, flailing his arms and legs.

Finally, a quick-witted maid approached.

Surprisingly, as soon as he was in the maid’s arms, Charlene stopped crying.

“Aah, something must have been uncomfortable for you.”

A disappointed Carl Lindbergh pouted and looked down at his own flat chest.

Was he uncomfortable because I don’t have breasts?

“We were playing so well until now.”

“His mood changes dozens of times a day. Is there any need to assign meaning to every single one?”

Adrian gently wrapped an arm around the shoulder of Carl, who had lowered his head dejectedly, and kissed his forehead.

His goal was to have breakfast like this, take a short walk in the rear garden, and then go back to the bedroom.

“Then have a fun day today.”

Carl, with a look full of lingering attachment, waved to Charlene and took Adrian’s hand.

Charlene looked back at Adrian and smiled brightly.

‘He wasn’t a hindrance, but an angel. Thank you.’

The Empress, who was entering Charlene’s room just in time, approached Carl and Adrian and hugged them affectionately.

“Oh my, good morning.”

“Good morning, Your Majesty.”

Carl’s face instantly brightened.

“I see you both here again today, without fail.”

At the Empress’s words, Carl scratched his head sheepishly.

“A baby grows differently every day, so it’s a shame to miss it, and I find my feet leading me here without realizing.”

“Huhu, how thoughtful.”

The Empress stroked Carl’s hair without hesitation.

Anyone watching would think Carl Lindbergh was her son and Adrian was the son-in-law who had married into the family; they looked that close.

The Empress, seeing Adrian’s eyes gradually narrowing, grinned like a mischievous child.

“With such reliable big brothers, Charlene must be so happy. Isn’t that right, Adrian?”

“Well, he’s probably happy for now.”

Adrian secretly made a sinister plan, thinking that Carl Lindbergh’s doting on Charlene would only be for a short while, and he would make sure of it.

Because of Adrian, who said something unnecessary about how things might be different when he got older and taller, Carl shook his hand without the Empress noticing.

‘Why are you talking like that?’

Hmph. Adrian squeezed the hand he was holding without a word.

“Adrian acts like this, but deep down, he finds him unbearably cute.”

Hahaha, Carl laughed and patted his shoulder. Even though he knew it was a cue to play along, Adrian stubbornly kept his mouth shut, so Carl bowed to the Empress and excused himself.

The Empress watched Adrian’s back as he was seemingly dragged away by Carl and clicked her tongue.

“They say love makes a person childish, but that one is a truly severe case.”

Well, the fact that she found even that side of him cute meant that the Empress herself was quite a fool for her family.

 

***

 

Belfry remained in Lindbergh.

On the surface, he said there were still many things to help with and learn, but the Grand Duke, the Duke, the Emperor, and the Empress all knew that his real intentions were different.

Meanwhile, he was now in the midst of a heated debate.

“An excellent student becomes an excellent educator and produces another talent, so this much budget is appropriate.”

“We are already short on pretext and time to collect taxes. If we spend that much on academics, our military strength will weaken. Therefore, please hand over this much.”

“It seems Your Excellency has not yet recognized that this is a completely different institution from the academy that previously revolved around the nobles. Please keep in mind that the majority of the young people in Lindbergh grew up without even receiving the basic education necessary for daily life.”

“Well, what if an external force invades, even if the level of knowledge is high? The weakening of national defense will shake the foundation of the country. In fact, isn’t that why the Lindbergh Kingdom fell?”

“Ahem, the Princess is present, please watch your words.”

Setting the annual budget for the Lindbergh Principality was taking a surprisingly large amount of effort.

The newly appointed nobles, who had been selected from time to time, were each expressing their own opinions. Since they knew in detail how the old noble factions had weakened Lindbergh’s national power, the debate was growing even more heated.

The fact that the rot had been spreading little by little in all areas, leaving no place untouched, also played a part.

“Physical strength is also national power. Please also consider where the young people who will become the pillars of the nation will build that physical strength to protect this land.”

Belfry sat down, fuming inwardly, and Leia looked back at him, then tapped the round table to draw everyone’s attention.

His stubbornness and his unwavering principles in matters he believed to be right were also part of Belfry’s charm.

‘And he shows such a passion, to the point of spitting blood, for a country that isn’t even his own homeland.’

Is there anyone else who suits the position of Princess-Regnant’s ^[1] Why did I even use Prince-Regnant before??? consort this well?

The more time she spent with him, the more she didn’t want to let him go, and Leia licked her lips without realizing it.

At the scent that was slowly wafting from her, the new nobles, most of whom were Betas, showed little reaction, but Belfry squeezed his eyes shut.

‘I wonder what kind of improper thoughts she’s having now.’

Leia cleared her throat with an ‘ahem’ and brought the meeting to order.

“Now, everyone. This was not a matter to be decided in a day. For now, let’s set a temporary budget with the assets confiscated from the old nobles and the full support of the Empire, and tackle it little by little. However, let’s prepare groundbreaking proposals by sector that can be transformed into something sustainable.”

A debate without a conclusion would only add to each other’s fatigue.

There was no need to expend their energy in advance at this already tiring time.

Leia stood up first, and at her glance, Belfry reluctantly rose from his seat.

That evening, Belfry received an unexpected message from Adrian.

– Have about three kids, and send one to the Empire. I’ll raise him well like my own child.

“What do you mean by that?”

– Ah, 16 years old? That age would be just right. When they’re neither cute nor pretty.

Adrian stated his business and then cut off the communication, leaving only a bewildered Belfry in his place.

• 1. Why did I even use Prince-Regnant before???