It's a Boy!

Okay, so you already know that Kiko-sama gave birth to a boy. Arcane and annoying though the rules about ascendancy may be, I'm feeling happy for Princess Aiko, whose future suddenly became wide open. Now she can marry a salaryman and become a housewife, if she likes, as did Aunt (the former Princess) Nori. Or she might be able to go to Harvard and become a diplomat like her mom. And maybe now everyone will get off Princess Masako's back and she can forget about trying to produce an heir. Hopefully she'll have a chance to become well.

I fear things may get more difficult for Princess Kiko, though. Although the wife of the second son doesn't have to put up with the same lofty expectations that wives of eldest sons do, it probably makes a difference when you're mom to the third to the throne.