377 – I, Return – 1
As soon as I put the small piece of steak in my mouth, I almost exclaimed. It tasted so good that even I, who have yellowish taste, knew that it was different from usual. Of course, it wasn’t that the dishes he had eaten at the mansion before were bad, but each and every dish on the table was excellent.
“You’ve got a good chef.”
I quickly swallowed the steak at the words of my father, who was eating across from me.
“An excellent chef who improves every day.”
“That’s enviable. If it weren’t for your chef, I would have taken it.”
My father nodded in satisfaction, then cut the steak again and put it in his mouth. Apparently, the chef was awakened by the news that not only me and Fenelia, but also my father were eating.
‘I must have been very surprised.’
From the chef’s point of view, Fenelia and I were expected attendees, but I would have never imagined my father would come. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of times my father has visited my private mansion.
But now that the awkward relationship with my father has been resolved, it is no longer unusual for my father to come to my mansion. Even on this visit, Fenelia did not bring her by force, but came herself. In the future, there will be frequent occasions to greet father at the mansion.
I drank wine while thinking of a gift to give to the chef who will struggle in the future. Maybe it’s because of my mood, but somehow the wine tastes better than usual.
“Keuuu, it’s definitely good to have good skills. I’ll have a good match with my family’s chef.”
I slightly turned my gaze toward the sound of the boisterous voice. In fact, the surprise guest who awakened the chef is not the only father.
“It’s a pity that a guy who can’t even go to the manor says that.”
“Do I really have to say that?”
Seeing the former Earl Horfeld muttering as if he was saddened by his father’s outburst, I burst into laughter.
When I returned to the mansion after a drink at their tombstone, my father was resting with the former Count Horfeld. Considering the friendship between his father and the previous Count Horfeld, it was not strange that the two of them were together, but it was strange that he had come to his friend’s son’s house instead of his own after the war.
“The condition of this guy’s campaign was not to fight directly, but he was caught by Xenovia. That’s why he said that he shouldn’t even think about returning to the territory.” ＜ /B＞
“That’s right.”
I was convinced as soon as I knew the reason. She was just a normal father kicked out for worrying about her daughter.
So what should I do? A person he didn’t know, who had fallen on the same battlefield, heard his daughter’s tearful mistreatment and lost his way, so he had no choice but to provide a place to stay. After the meal anyway, he said he was going to the Krasius family’s mansion with his father, so there’s no big problem.
‘…Should I make a shelter too?’
And I couldn’t look away from the appearance of my former Count Horfeld, as I could see my future dimly.
If I get caught fighting myself, I’ll be punished worse than that. Because I only have six people to punish.
‘Damn it.’
I already feel like my tears are trembling.
After seeing off my father and former Earl Horfeld after dinner, I moved to the garden.
“Master!”
“Are you here, manager?”
Especially, as we headed toward the smoking area, servants and ink clowns who enjoyed a splendid barbecue greeted us. Because there are so many people, it’s hard to eat together unless it’s in the garden.
In the meantime, there’s something strange about grilling meat in the middle of the garden of an aristocrat’s mansion, but I think it’s enough for the mouth and stomach to enjoy.
“Master! Sister! Let’s eat together while you’re here!”
Everyone said hello, and even Yuris, who didn’t know how to leave in front of the grill, rushed over. After that, it was extremely dangerous for Sophia, who was holding both of her hands full of the plate that Julis had left, to follow her hurriedly—
“Oops!”
“Nueek!”
I really fell down before I could think. Even the plates in her hands scattered like claymores and landed on the back of the head of Julis.
“Juris! Sophia!”
Fenelia warmly watched as the two maids, like her younger brothers, came running, but she was frightened by the sudden change and ran.
At least Sophia fell on her lawn and didn’t seem hurt.
‘Is your hair okay?’
Seeing Julis floundering on the floor, she reflexively took out her communication device. A plate stuck in that little head must have caused a big wound.
“What’s the fuss in front of the master? You’re only hurting yourself because you’re running around for nothing.”
Words were scolding Fenelia, but her expression and gestures were full of concern. The way she lifted her fallen Sophia up and ran through Julis’s hair to see if she was bleeding made her look more like her mother than her older sister.
And the attention of the people around them began to focus on the disturbance caused by the two maids. It was more of a worried look towards the mascot children rather than a sudden burst of excitement.
“…Just a lump.”
I just sent a message requesting a healing wizard to the Mage Tower, and Fenelia, who had been checking for a while, let out a sigh of relief and said, Fortunately, the dish ended up with a hump as it was attacked enough to break.
Our Yuris, you must have been very strong… No, I knew that she was strong, but I didn’t know that her hair was also strong.
“Yu, Julis, are you okay? I’m sorry, because of me…”
“It’s okay! It hurt a little, but like you said, I got a lump!”
At Sofia’s words, her tears welled up in her eyes, Julis smiled and replied.
It’s a beautiful figure, but it’s strange to think that Sophia’s fall was because of Julis’ passing it on. I wonder if the seeds that were sown came back too soon.
“If you don’t mind, both of you can apologize to the master. It’s rude to make a fuss in front of the master who has just returned from the north.”
From noble mtl dot com
At those words, Julis and Sophia, who had been patting each other, hurriedly lowered their heads.
She was fine since honestly no one was hurt, but seeing Fenelia with her stern expression on her face, her mouth couldn’t be opened. Considering that she is an older sister educating her younger siblings, she cannot bear to interfere.
“I’m sorry, master. It’s been a while since you’ve been there… It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, so it’s nice to see you…”
“I’m sorry, you haven’t been here in a while, but we’re making a fuss…”
When she apologized sullenly for her order, not hers, Fenelia’s expression softened as well. Yes, teaching children how to apologize is an important part of disciplining them.
That’s why I stroked their heads. If you have received an apology from your children, it is very important to forgive and comfort them.
“I hope you didn’t get hurt. But when the wizard comes later, get tested. I just called.”
“hehehe, it’s okay. It’s just a lump.”
She shook her head at Julis, who smiled shyly. It ended up as a lump to her eyes, but who knows if her bones were cracked or her brain was damaged. Her head needs to be checked even if it has minor bumps.
Moreover, she picks up and raises a child who was dying of starvation, and if the child’s end is ‘death by being hit by a plate during a party’, she cannot carry her face as a guardian. It is an incident to the point of being featured as one of the stories of abuse of a servant of the aristocracy.
“Receive it while calling. It’s rude to call and cancel at most.”
Only then did Julis nod at the firm request. That’s what it will be.
“These kids must have missed Fenelia so much. Well, it’s only natural that she sleeps with Fenelia when she stays at her mansion.”
After confirming that the situation was over, the butler opened his mouth with a smile. In order to settle the mess with love for Fenelia after falling and getting a bump on the back of the head.
But sleeping together, I didn’t know that either. Was there ever a time when Fenelia came to her mansion while I was away?
“I’m sorry. Fenelia will sleep with me tonight.”
As I spoke with a smile on my face, a sudden silence came.
The butler’s smiling face hardened, and the gazes of the servants and the ink clown, who had been slowly withdrawing their gaze, were fixed again.
‘…Ah.’
Belatedly, I realized that my words were misleading enough. They weren’t officially married, but they were like a married couple, so I asked them to sleep together. It was never said to imply beyond that.
But when I carefully looked away, I saw Fenelia, with a flushed face and a pouting mouth.
Than my karma. Strange her words only stirred her Fenelia’s heart.
***
From the day Aga went to the north, every day felt like hell. Wouldn’t the war continue on a yearly basis, wouldn’t the baby go wrong? I couldn’t sleep well because of that worry.
I was able to endure through those hellish days because I was the duke and the owner of the Mage Tower. As the highest-ranking person called the duke, and as the highest-ranking officer of the war magicians called the tower master, he had the authority to access the contents of the expeditionary force’s report. I couldn’t access all the information, but I was able to get a rough idea.
For example, the gathering of the northern tribes was beyond imagination, the war seems to end quickly, the damage seems relatively small—
Aga fought on his own.
‘You’re heartless.’
He sighed again. In fact, I was prepared for the fact that Aga would fight. Your Majesty’s appointment of Agha as war inspector must have had Agha’s fighting situation in mind.
But isn’t there a case where his head and heart play separately? It is now.
‘I’m taking my own risk.’
I understand that Aga went to the front to save his father-in-law. However, it is unbearable to stand in the vanguard to directly kill the villain who claimed to be Khan, and to engage in a one-on-one battle with the villain’s tricks.
Still, if, very, if Aga had revealed the truth himself and said he was sorry, he might have forgiven him. It is unavoidable that something unexpected happens during a war.
‘I hid it until the end.’
On the day the improvement ceremony was held in Jedo, I received a call from Aga. He conveyed the good news that he had been well, the consolation that he was safe, and that he would be going to the academy soon.
Unfortunately, none of those words said that he was on the front lines.
It’s a pity. There shouldn’t be anything to hide between lovers, but if it’s something to be found out anyway, I want you to tell me first.
‘…I’m sure it’s something I’ve been prepared for.’
That’s why I tried to capture his heart. If Aga wants a confession after an interrogation, not a confession, let’s do it.
…Of course, when you come to the academy, let’s hug each other first. No matter how sad you are, you can’t go further than welcoming your baby.