4. Rynella’s fate is decided by Rynella (20)
My parents and older brother, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, looked healthy.
My father, Theon Percus, the head of the Percus family, extended his hand to me with a welcome smile as always.
My father, a middle-aged middle-aged man with a sad face, was famous for his casual attitude.
Despite being an aristocrat, he was a person who did not feel a sense of authority.
Most nobles learn power along with etiquette as they grow up. It is to realize that the gap according to social status and the sword-like authority are the basis for maintaining society.
This was a kind of social trend established over generations.
Therefore, even if most nobles wanted to stay away from the sense of authority, they could not. On the contrary, the very fact that a nobleman like my father existed was a mystery.
No matter how individualistic a person may be, it is impossible not to be unaffected by education.
I had heard the explanation before that it was because the history of the Percus family was still short. This was understandable, since the shorter the history, the less cultural assets are accumulated.
Because of that, it was easier for me to adapt to the academy, so I had no particular complaints.
There was only one thing I was worried about.
Except for Leto and Celine, whom he had known since childhood, his father had never met his son’s friend.
Even more so, he would not have known in his dreams that the face of the other person would be so splendid.
One of the highest-ranking leaders of the Holy Nation, the saintess.
Seria, the genius swordsman of the Yurdina family.
Senior Elsie, the promising genius of the prestigious Rainella family.
Even within the academy, there were people who had no contact with me for a while. These people became my friends and came to visit me in just a few months, so it was not strange for my father to feel that it was out of the blue.
Surprisingly, however, the father did not show much surprise.
“Nice to meet you, guests. A friend of my poor son… … .”
“Oh no!”
Rather, it was the women who jumped up.
In particular, senior Elsie raised her voice in surprise as soon as she heard the word ‘ugly son’.
“Oh, rather, I am the owner… Oh no. I owe you Ian. Gee, for real!”
Senior Elsie’s title was a little better, but strangely, everything was the same.
I somehow endured until ‘Master’, but I couldn’t even correct the title ‘Ian-nim’ out of embarrassment.
Even so, my father put his hand on the back of his head and let out an embarrassing laugh.
“Hahaha, Miss Rainella, doesn’t her tone sound unusual? It’s ‘Ian’… … .”
My father’s benevolent golden eyes glanced at me.
I just turned my head while clearing my throat.
In the end, my father shook his head with his eyes closed and a wry smile.
“… … It seems a long way from hearing that kind of honorific yet.”
I couldn’t help it because he would always look like a young son when his father saw him.
Isn’t that what parents are originally?
If I also wanted to stand as a confident adult in front of my father, I would have to show the image I deserved.
Of course, my father wasn’t the only one who would criticize me at my hometown, which I hadn’t visited in a long time.
My mother also seemed to still see me as a young son.
The mother, who gave off a modest atmosphere, still looked young. My father was also young, but my mother looked even younger than that.
At first glance, she looked like my older sister rather than my mother.
However, the affection and concern that shimmered in those eyes were the kind of emotions that only mothers with children can show.
First of all, the mother hugged her son whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. Then, he sighed and started scolding me in earnest.
“Ian, I’ve been hearing strange rumors lately… The story of how you defeated the devil and ruined the plot of the Dark Church.”
“… … yes, what.”
I was at a loss for words, so I had no choice but to roll my eyes again.
I could roughly guess what my mother would say next.
“Of course you are an adult too, and it is time to take responsibility for your choices. However, we, the Percus family, have always followed the principle of moderation. Rumors are bound to be exaggerated, but as a mother, I am concerned that you got involved in something so dangerous.”
My mother seemed to think that the rumors about me were mixed with exaggeration.
You must have thought it absurd that I, who had been going to the academy without saying a word a while ago, suddenly became a supernova rising from the continent.
To be honest, I still haven’t realized it.
I thought it was better.
How would you react if you confessed to the fact that you have come to the point where your body can’t recover if you don’t get sick of it after going through several near-death crises?
I didn’t know I might pass out on the spot.
Mother was a soft-hearted person. I decided to reassure my mother a little bit as a child.
“Don’t worry too much, mother. Didn’t you come back intact?”
But my mother only looked more sorrowful at my words.
I was at a loss, not knowing what to say. After being away from my family for a while, I didn’t know what to say.
It was the saintess who opened her mouth then.
“Mother, I understand a little bit how you feel.”
“… … Ah, saintess.”
The mother, a devout believer in the Catholic Church, jumped up in surprise at the appearance of the saintess. However, the saintess held her mother back with a benevolent smile.
Still bewildered, the mother hesitated and sat back down.
In the first place, it looked like he couldn’t believe that there was a person who looked like a saint in the Percus mansion.
“My mother isn’t the only one who gets nervous every time Ian goes into battle. I also had to tremble with anxiety for countless hours by Ian’s side.”
Her soft voice pierced her ears.
Her mother seemed very moved by the fact that the saintess was empathizing with her. How much more does he say that he is worried about me along with himself?
There was no parent who would not be moved by the fact that their child was being treated more than they could have imagined.
When her mother put on a sad expression, the saintess quickly covered her mother’s hand with both of her hands.
“But don’t worry, mother. Because I’m always by Ian’s side. With this power granted by the Lord, I will always support Ian.”
How long do you want to help?
Hearing the words made it seem as if he was courting her.
Of course, my mother was very moved and shed tears. The holy woman’s divine power was no different from a kind of miracle.
If she was by my side, I would never lose my life.
Mother squeezed the saintess’s hand and left several requests.
“Please take good care of our Ian, Lady. black… Because she is such a kind and tender child, it is difficult to see blood. I had a lot of trouble even when I first raised the sword… … .”
“Aha, ahaha… Is that Ian? to see the blood… Shi, do you hate it?”
The saintess tried to laugh it off somehow, but she looked at me with an absurd look as if she couldn’t.
I meant what this meant.
But what can I do, it was true.
Still, father and mother were on the slightly better side.
Aaron Percus, the heir to the House of Percus and my older brother, was one of those people who were particularly reserved.
He was the only older brother in the family of Percus, who had a slender body type, and had a bold appearance.
If a large figure with a reliable impression does not speak, it is bound to give a strange sense of intimidation. So there were many times when hyung was misunderstood by those around him, and it seemed the same today.
Seria was flustered in front of his older brother and was looking at his eyes.
Regardless of whether or not, the older brother just looked at Seria without saying anything. Those golden eyes were sunken so deep that it was impossible to know what was inside.
After saying goodbye to my parents, I approached my older brother.
My older brother looked at me without saying anything, and I rushed at him with a big smile.
“… … brother!”
As I approached him in a friendly way, he tapped me on the shoulder a few times, as always, without saying a word.
It was an indifferent face, but I knew it. The fact that there was a look of satisfaction in those eyes.
It’s nice to see my brother after a long time.
Despite his outward appearance, he was deep inside and caring. He also cares about his younger brother, so he was the closest to me.
Actually, Lia was strangely difficult with Aaron.
It seemed that his older brother’s bear-like appearance gave Leah a sense of distance. At one time, my older brother was also sullen because of it, but now he doesn’t look particularly sad, probably because he’s used to it.
Of course, when Lia quietly avoided her brother, she still wore a hurt face. But this was unavoidable.
There was bound to be disagreements between family members, as well as between friends.
In particular, Lia had been away from home for a long time due to an illness in her childhood, so when she returned to her hometown, her family must have all looked unfamiliar.
Maybe that was why she was obsessed with me.
It was because I was the one who spent the most time with Lia at the time and took care of her.
Apparently, as the owners of the Percus family, my parents had to keep their dignity, and brother Aaron had no choice but to do so because he was so reticent by nature.
So, even now, when dealing with her parents and brother Aaron, Lia used to be polite. The only person my sister was comfortable with was me.
Although it was me, Aaron was more comfortable than my parents or the picky Lia.
He was a kind older brother who did not make a loud noise even when he played a practical joke when he was young. I was intrigued and asked my brother.
“Long time no see, brother! how have you been?”
“Um, yes. I’ve been fine, but… … .”
The older brother’s blunt eyes turned to Seria again.
Seria seemed to be restless, wondering if she had done something wrong.
However, his older brother’s interests always exceeded people’s expectations.
“… … Are you Jesu?”
“My, my number! Mr. Jesu!”
Seria was so choked up by that one word that she couldn’t even vomit properly. He looked very surprised.
I could see why my brother was interested in Seria.
My younger brother, who had returned after a few months, had brought a lot of pretty girls, so I was wondering if there was anyone among them who would suit me well.
A sigh escaped from my mouth.
“No, bro. Seria is from the Yurdina family… What do you miss me… … .”
“… … Oh no!”
Seria started denying my words with a slightly excited voice. In that momentum, it was to the point where I felt a strange determination.
“Gwa, it’s okay! My number, uh… You can call me Mr. Jesu! Oh, on the contrary, senior Ian is someone I deserve!”
It was the first time Seria was so hot.
I don’t know if he thought that his respected senior was insulted. Leaving behind me who had been staring at Seria for a while in a daze, Aaron-hyung rummaged in his arms.
And handed the small rough ruby to Seria.
Now it was Seria’s turn to be dazzled.
I spoke again with a sigh to Seria, who couldn’t guess Aaron’s intentions.
“It means I wish you well. Aaron’s hobby is mining… So, if you find something like a gemstone, keep it and give it to me as a gift.”
So, when I went to Aaron’s room, there was a pile of pickaxes on display.
Seria immediately lowered her head as if she was taken aback by my explanation.
“Go, thank you! that, so… ugh… Father?”
Rarely, a satisfied smile appeared on Aaron’s lips.
He tapped me on the shoulder a couple of times. And he said in a heavy voice.
“Do well.”
What the hell do you want me to do?
For a long time, the parlor of the Percus family was crowded with people. It was Celine who pulled me out of the mess.
Celine whispered to me as she tugged at my collar.
“… … Brother Ian, brother Ian!”
It was just as he was about to head towards Lia, who was just making a sad face in the corner.
It’s been a long time since I came back, but I didn’t treat the other person, so he looked upset.
I was resentful of my situation of having to stop before a major event to appease my younger sister.
My eyes turned to Celine questioningly.
I meant what was going on.
Celine then shuddered and whispered in my ear.
“Hey, look over there!”
Then Celine gently pulled me in. Thanks to that, my arm made contact with her soft chest, but Celine deliberately refrained from pretending.
Hee hee, I laughed and contemplated whether to pull Celine’s cheek all the way.
No matter how much I pretended not to know, I couldn’t avoid my notice. However, it was also true that Celine’s expression looked uneasy, so my gaze followed Celine’s index finger.
There, standing in front of the door, a tall middle-aged man was glaring at me intently.
He was Elsie’s uncle.
We just said goodbye and parted ways, but before I knew it, he returned to the door and was staring at me. To be honest, it was burdensome.
Celine seemed uneasy about that.
“Isn’t that person dangerous just by looking at his eyes? Isn’t that how you die?”
“Ah, no way.”
“I can’t believe they’re catching people!”
Despite my denial, Celine didn’t show any signs of anxiety.
she proposed to me
“Your eyes are cold… Can’t you go and have a chat?”
I wanted to tell Celine not to worry unnecessarily, but I couldn’t.
In fact, it was because Elsie’s uncle was a car that I was very concerned about.
Eventually, I coughed and had to turn around. In the drawing room, where the Percus family and the guests were mixed, my gait was not very noticeable.
And facing me, Elsie’s uncle said as if he had been waiting.
“… … Where can I see your skills?”
It was a really unexpected proposal.