Surviving as a Prince of Britannia

“Waaahhh!”

“Waaah!”

“Congratulations, Your Highness!”

“You have given birth to a beautiful princess!”

“Oh my!”

“Big Sister, congratulations!”

Euphemia was clutching Cornelia’s hand, tears and snot streaming down her face.

She had been the one who shook me awake after finding me dozing in my office.

I had stayed up late with Millirze the previous night.

And even though Cornelia had just given birth to a daughter, Euphemia was still operating in full extrovert mode, loudly doing everything she could to comfort her elder sister.

Cornelia managed a weary smile, her face deathly pale.

“I am sorry, my love…”

“It should have been a son…”

I shook my head and gently stroked her forehead.

“It is all right, my love.”

“How could I discriminate between sons and daughters when this life was bestowed upon us by the Savior and Saint Richard the Lionheart?”

“As long as you and the child are healthy, that is enough for me.”

Tears gathered in Cornelia’s eyes.

“Thank you… my love.”

She reached out to nurse the child.

Perhaps that was simply the instinct of a mother.

Just then, Euphemia’s eyes lit up.

“Elder Brother! What about her name?”

“Do not tell me you have not thought of one!”

I gave her a faint smile.

“Of course I have. However…”

Knock.

Knock.

“Your Highness, I have brought Princess Sakuya.”

The door opened, and Lady Alba, Euphemia’s new head lady-in-waiting, entered with a young girl.

Sakuya.

The protagonist of Rozé of the Recapture, whom I had rescued from Area 11 and placed under my protection.

She was also the only surviving child of Sherry me Britannia, who should originally have been the First Princess—and who was my elder half-sister.

Sakuya hurriedly bowed her head to Cornelia.

“My apologies, Princess Cornelia!”

“I was praying in the estate chapel for the safe delivery of your child!”

Cornelia smiled gently.

“Thank you, Sakuya.”

“Thanks to you, a beautiful little princess has been born.”

Sakuya’s face turned red as she immediately declared,

“Next time, I will make certain to arrive at precisely the right moment!”

For a moment, the entire room erupted into laughter.

Cornelia, Euphemia, Lady Alba, and I all laughed—and so did Millirze, who had entered after hearing the news.

I cleared my throat and called to her.

“Sakuya.”

“Yes, Prince Lysander?”

“Could you do me a favor?”

“May I ask what the favor is first, Your Highness?”

Oh?

Well, well.

She was learning fast.

I smiled.

“Would you be willing to become our daughter Claire’s first companion?”

Sakuya’s eyes widened.

“Her—her companion?”

Euphemia quickly stepped in to explain.

“The maids will change her diapers and feed her!”

“All you need to do is play with Claire, make sure she does not get hurt, and later, read her fairy tales and spend time with her!”

Cornelia added gently,

“In other words… we are asking you to become Claire’s very first friend.”

Sakuya thought for a moment.

Then, having apparently reached a decision, she answered with determination.

“Thank you for placing your trust in me!”

“I will do my very best!”

I smiled inwardly.

With that single answer, Sakuya had firmly placed herself on our side.

I had phrased it gently, but I had given her a clear choice.

She could become one of us—

or seek a different path.

I took the infant into my arms and whispered softly,

“Claire.”

Light.

Brightness.

It was a fitting name for my first flesh and blood in this world.

I had also borrowed it, in part, from one of our distant ancestors—

Claire li Britannia, the legendary Empress who appeared in the original manga, Renya of Darkness.

Cornelia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“So, you truly intend to use that name, my love?”

Sakuya also stared at me, her lips parting slightly.

She had been so preoccupied with my request that she had only now realized the weight carried by the name.

“Yes.”

“The name of the Empress who once illuminated the Empire more brightly than anyone else.”

“I hope that our daughter will inherit some of that light.”

Yes.

This left absolutely no room for doubt that I had designs on the throne.

Of course, I also genuinely wished for my daughter to live in a future every bit as bright and radiant as her name.

Cornelia smiled, tears glistening in her eyes.

“…Claire.”

"Claire de Britannia,” I said softly.

"Our daughter."

“It is a truly beautiful name, my love.”