431 – With a new heart – 1
When I arrived at the estate, my mother and vassals were waiting for me as always. Even when I was the heir to the family, I came out to the front gate to welcome them, but now I am not an heir, but an imperial lord and a great lord. From the vassal’s perspective, it is a situation where they have to come out to meet him even if he is on the verge of death from overwork.
Of course, it would be a pity to see vassals who are going to fight for their territory even while working, but if you tell them that there is no need to come out to meet them, there is a high probability that they will be shocked. I wonder if that new count is already testing his loyalty?
So what should we do? All I had to do was quickly say hello and enter the castle.
“I’m back, mother.”
“Okay. Welcome.”
When I approached her mother and gave her a light hug, she hugged my mother as well and spoke softly.
“Erich is here too.”
“Ah, yes.”
Then, he carefully hugged Erich, who was behind me.
It was a somewhat stiff movement, but that hug must have been an act of great courage for my mother. Erich knew that too, so he accepted the hug without much resistance.
It’s a heartwarming sight. Just as the emperor accepted Ainter as a member of the imperial family, our family is gradually opening its hearts and acknowledging each other. Now, if only Erich and his father could become close, it would be perfect.
“I’m sorry. I came home and I was the only one there.”
The real problem is that the father I should be close to is absent.
“He said he was busy with work. But he said he’d be back by evening, so don’t worry.”
“It’s okay. It’s natural that the congressman is busy.”
At those words, Erich, who had just escaped from his mother’s arms, made a bitter expression. In just one year, he will become a busy lawmaker.
However, it is an excessive worry. It’s true that the congressman is busy, but it’s not as dire as Erich thinks.
– I guess I’ll be late. The chairman is really upset, so I think I need to deal with him a little bit.
A few days ago, I was able to hear the truth directly from my father. My father wasn’t away because of work. He just went a long way to go fishing like last time.
In some ways, he seems like a crazy family man who prioritizes fishing over his family, but I wasn’t particularly concerned.
– He’s still an earl, but he’s so rude that he asks why only you passed on the title to him. In fact, he himself is resigning after completing his term as chairman.
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My father, who was being dragged away, also sighed as if it was bothersome. He didn’t want to go, but it was clear that his old friend was trying to force him to go.
“Still, the Chairman considers my father a close friend—”
– I have never had a friend like that.
In the meantime, I hurriedly bit my lip in response to my father’s firm answer. A normally serious person answered with a sense of entertainment, so I couldn’t help but laugh.
Luckily, I held back desperately and didn’t burst into laughter. If the son laughs when the father is serious, it is a terrible act of filial piety.
‘I shouldn’t get caught this time.’
I looked at my mother approaching her lovers, wishing her father good luck in her mind. She hoped her mother wouldn’t kick her father out this time.
But it is surprising. My father already has a history of deceiving my mother several times. He even got caught at the end and got scolded by his mother.
However, my mother trusted my father and said that she was at work. She didn’t just say that, but she looked like she truly believed it.
‘Is this a couple’s trust?’
When I thought about it like that, I even felt a wonderful feeling. Since you have been a married couple for over 20 years, you may be trusting and supporting your partner for now, no matter what the outcome is.
Actually, rather than trust, it seems more like confidence that he can shake off his father at any time.
“It’s finally graduation. Now we can become part of the same family.”
“I’m happy that I can use the same last name as my mother.”
After thinking about that, a shiver ran down her spine as soon as she saw her mother and Mar having a conversation with her smiling face. If Mar becomes a hostess who has learned a lot from her mother, will she end up living a life where she too will be caught and kicked out for telling her lies?
‘It’s terrible.’
Soon, I instinctively thought of Wiridia. If I am driven out by Mar, this is the border territory where I can take shelter first.
Of course, my father also told me about his favorite lake to use in case of emergency, but honestly, since I have no fishing experience, I’m not really interested.
‘His Majesty’s grace…’
So, I thought of the situation in which you would be feeding your Excellency Gyegong right now. If He hadn’t given me Lydia, the only shelter he would have had was the lake.
It is truly a great grace. Starting today, let’s bow towards the imperial palace three times a day.
When my father returned in the evening, he was caught by his mother again.
Unlike last time, he could have committed the perfect crime by organizing his shoes neatly, but he was caught because of the fishing line marks left on his fingers.
I don’t know if my father, who always leaves traces, is amazing, or my mother, who notices even the smallest traces like a ghost.
“Do you like fishing, too?”
When Rize saw her parents-in-law fighting like that—no, being treated one-sidedly—she asked carefully.
“No. I’ve never done it before.”
I answered that question confidently. It was an honest answer because it wasn’t a lie.
That’s because before I was possessed, I didn’t have a chance to get into expensive hobbies like fishing, and after I was possessed, I had no interest in them.
“If you want to go fishing, please come to our territory. Eels are easy to catch.”
“…Yes.”
I ended up answering that question half a beat late.
I was surprised. At this time, of course, ‘Brother, please don’t do things like fishing.’ I thought that would come out.
***
Not long after returning to the imperial palace, I received a call from His Majesty the Emperor.
For a moment, he wondered if he had done something that would get him caught, but he was able to calm down quickly. His Majesty the Emperor will no longer aim for my head. Unless I dream of treason, His Majesty will not cast me out.
And since I don’t dare to dream of treason unless I go crazy, I can say that my future is peaceful.
“Now you too should receive a title.”
I thought so until I heard His Majesty’s words.
“Do you mean commission?”
Once she suppressed her embarrassment, she opened her mouth. Because it is not polite to remain silent when His Majesty himself mentions the title.
“Yes. Aren’t you the emperor’s younger brother now? You will even become the emperor’s uncle in the future, and if you don’t have any title, the nobles will look down on you.”
It occurred to her that she was familiar with it to that extent, but she didn’t bother to say it out loud. Your Majesty is approaching me in a friendly way, but it would be foolish to bring up a past dispute.
At the same time, I felt a cold sweat break out. It wasn’t long ago that we made fun of Erich becoming a baron. But this time, I will receive the title? It is obvious that there will be several times more teasing and obligations than the teasing. It is not expected that a titled nobleman, who is both a member of the imperial family and the emperor’s younger brother, will live a peaceful life.
If you want a comfortable and quiet life, it is right to avoid titles. However, as a member of the imperial family, I cannot refuse an order disguised as a proposal.
‘It only raises suspicions for no reason.’
The emperor’s children do not receive any titles except crown prince or crown princess. Something tragic may happen and another child may become the heir to the throne, so until then, it remains random.
In other words, this means that the royal family without a title are those close to the imperial title. Now that a new emperor has ascended the throne, if his younger brother refuses to take the title, it means that he still has lingering feelings about the throne.
That is not possible. Now that I have finally escaped a life in danger, I have no intention of walking back to hell.
“I am deeply moved by Your Majesty’s grace. I will never forget your grace and dedicate myself to the imperial family and the empire.”
I quickly finished calculating and bowed. If you have to receive a title anyway, it is better to accept it obediently.
“…Okay. I look forward to it.”
After a moment of silence, His Majesty answered in a low voice.
It’s strange. For some reason, that short answer seemed to contain many emotions.
“As is customary, the title of Marquess of Danseung will be given. Please note that it will be formally awarded at the New Year’s ceremony.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
However, he soon returned to his previous voice. As if what I felt was an illusion.
“Also─”
Soon, His Majesty, who continued speaking as if he wanted to add something, closed his mouth again.
“No, I’ll say this later.”
And I flinched at the next words. It was clear that the words were related to my treatment, but when I heard that they were putting it off until later, a strange sense of anxiety and worry soared.
Of course I didn’t show it. If His Majesty speaks next time, there will be a good reason.
***
I sent Ainter away and sighed softly. I still have a lot of concerns about Ainter.
Of course, I do not regret acknowledging Ainter as a member of the imperial family. Thanks to the Minister of Inspector General, concerns about that have been put to an end a long time ago. He is just worried about how much title and power he should give to Ainter.
‘It’s easier to follow customs.’
I touched his chin and continued his worries. First of all, it is customary to give the title of marquess to the emperor’s siblings. Because it is a single succession, not a succession, only the person concerned is recognized as a titled nobleman.
Yes, it is an honor granted only to those involved. Unless the emperor particularly favors the marquis and grants him the title of earl, the marquis who was a member of the royal family tends to marry into another noble family and pass the title on to his children. Sang Sang also had such a marquis as his ancestor.
That’s why he worried until now. Should we also give Ainter the succession to the earldom? Or not,
‘Should I marry another marquis?’
In fact, it is easier than granting an inherited earldom, which is rare. From the Marquis’ point of view, since he is of imperial blood, he would not treat Ainter lightly. He’ll probably give her daughter a subordinate title.
Then, Ainter can pass down the title to his children. You have to be lucky to become a high-ranking noble, but just having a title is something.
‘…I think Barandiga is okay.’
Then the Marquis of Barandiga suddenly came to mind.
A nobleman who is willing to mix imperial blood and give a decent title to his daughter who will marry Ainter? This is the Marquis of Barandiga. Coincidentally, the Marquis of Barandiga has only a daughter.
…
“Barandigara.”
The words that had been floating around in my head came out of my mouth.
A central point of the North and a new nobleman who has just become a nobleman and needs authority.
Furthermore, he is a nobleman with an extremely low chance of causing an accident because he is a member of the Minister of Inspector General’s faction.
‘It’s okay.’
It is worth actively considering.