Editing Masou Gakuen HxH:Volume 14 Chapter 4 (section)

===Part 2===
Grace was looking down on Zelcyone who was sitting seiza in the throne room with a conflicted expression. If her expression had to be interpreted, it was a face that was saying 「Even though this fellow is competent, why did she do something stupid like this?」.

「I’ll ask you one more time but……this baby, he is the child between you and Nii-sama, is that right?」

Zelcyone kept looking down and didn’t lift her face. A drop of cold sweat fell on the floor.

「Ye……yes.」

「I’m amazed you had the free time for something like that. When?」

「My, my deepest apologies. That, at the last night……it was, I drank alcohol together with Reiri and Queen Landred at that time. Should I say that it was because of alcohol’s influence」

「You’re a bottomless hole when it come to drinking though?」

「Yes, indeed……against my better judgment, perhaps it was because of the atmosphere, that, even I myself don’t know why I did something like that……for some reason, I was unable to contain myself, and visited Kizuna’s room.」

「Whether it’s Gravel or you……if I remember right, I was told that the possibility of making child is extremely low but……obsession is really something terrifying.」

Grace suddenly thought──it would be great if she also did it.

「Ye, yes. I also thought the same, who ever thought that a child would be created by just doing it once.」

「Once?」

「Ah……no, I don’t remember the number of times but……it, it was all night. Until morning.」

Grace held her head.

──To make this demonic royal guard captain fall this much……Nii-sama is really terrifying. He is truly Lemuria’s demon king.

「At that time Nee-sama was still the emperor. Therefore, you stole the emperor’s man and ended up bearing his child. On top of that you abandoned the important position as a captain and absconded away.」

Zelcyone lifted her face. Her complexion was pale.

「My, my deepest apologies! I, I will receive any kind of punishment. But, please just that child! Please at least spare just that child!」

Grace stood up from her throne and approached the cradle that was placed in front of it.

Inside it a baby who was still a few months old was sleeping. When Grace brought her face closer and peered into the baby’s face, the baby opened his eyes in a nice timing.

And then when he saw Grace’s face, he showed an innocent friendly smile.

「……」

──Cu-!

Cute!!

I, in addition, he has Nii-sama’s looks in him.

Maternal love and yearning toward Kizuna welled up in Grace’s chest.

「……Zel. In that case, I shall have you atone for your sin.」

Zelcyone lowered her head until it touched the floor.

「Yes……no matter what……」

「I’m formally dismissing you from your post as royal guard captain. And then I strip you off from your qualification as military personnel and you won’t be allowed to fight anymore. Teros’s core shall be confiscated too. On top of that I’ll give you your punishment.」

「……Yes.」

「It’s life sentence for you.」

*Twitch*, Zelcyone’s back jerked.

「A corner of the palace will be remodeled to become the baby’s rearing facility. You and this baby will live there from now on and cannot leave without my permission.」

「……Ha?」

Zelcyone lifted her face and looked up at Grace with a shocked gaze. Grace suddenly smiled and answered with a kind eyes.

「Your punishment, is to raise up this child to be a splendid person.」

「Grace-sama……」

「Of course, I intend to assign him the best instructor, but a mother’s existence will be the most essential. This is a child who is left behind by the husband of the previous emperor you know? Your responsibility is a heavy one.」

Tears spilled out from Zelcyone’s eyes.

「Yes……even if I have to pay with this life, I will raise him to be someone splendid……uu……」

「Don’t cry. Even though this child is finally smiling, he will also cry if his mother is crying.」

「My, my deepest……apologies……」

Zelcyone smiled while crying.

Grace peered into the cradle once more and poked the baby with her fingertip. Then a small hand grabbed the fingertip.

Just from that an indescribable affection welled up inside Grace’s chest.

──Nii-sama’s child.

What’s more he is a boy.

Surely he will grow to become a magnificent warrior like Nii-sama.

「……Umu. A mere difference of fifteen years old isn’t that uncommon.」

「Grace-sama? Did you say something?」

Zelcyone asked while wiping her tears.

「No, it’s nothing. More importantly──」

The throne room’s door was opened at that time. A blonde haired and blue eyed knight gallantly wearing a splendid military uniform entered with her mantel flapping behind her.

「Is it true that Zelcyone-sama has returned!?」

Zelcyone turned around toward that voice.

「Oo, Hyakurath. Long time no see.」

Hyakurath rushed toward Zelcyone and reverently grabbed her hand.

「Zelcyone-sama! I’ve waited for your return!! I wished it from the bottom of my heart!!」

「I see……thank you. Hyakurath.」

Zelcyone smiled gently.

Hyakurath had tears of happiness in her eyes. She showed a bright smile like someone who was liberated from all burdens.

「I kept persuading myself during my time waiting for Zelcyone-sama’s return to somehow take care of the matters in your absence. Aa, with this I can finally let go of the post as captai──」

Grace cuddled the baby while speaking with a delighted voice.

「Oo, I’ve just formally dismissed Zel from her post.」

Hyakurath’s smile froze.

「──Ha?」

「Or rather, I made her retire from military. She won’t take away the captain post from you. No need to worry.」

「Eh」

Hyakurath turned toward Zelcyone with a motion that was like rusted machine.

「E, err, Zelcyone-sama? I am, a temporary, captain, until your return, now that you have returned──」

Zelcyone smiled with a soft expression that was completely different from the past when she was the captain.

「Now I’m just a mother. From here on I’ll simply be someone under the protection of Hyakurath──no, Hyakurath-sama.」

And then she pinched the fringe of her dress and bowed politely.

「Please protect my child and Vatlantis Empire.」

Hyakurath fainted while still standing.

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