Chapter 44: When I Came to My Senses, It Was a Needlessly Glamorous Hell 7

Following the servant’s guidance, I arrived at the inner chamber’s entrance, feeling a hint of tension as I cautiously entered through the door they had opened.

Immediately, my eyes fell upon the large table and the figure of my father, Count Turen, seated at the head. Beside him sat a dignified middle-aged woman and a young female.

At that moment…

-Screech!-

As our eyes met, the middle-aged woman pushed back her chair and rose abruptly.

Then, her expression taut and her gait stiff, she slowly approached me.

And…

“…”

“My child…”

She gripped my hands tightly, her voice trembling with emotion.

I could easily discern this woman’s identity.

“…Mother?”

“My dear child!”

With those words, she unhesitatingly embraced me.

Although I felt a hint of awkwardness at her warm embrace, a part of me found it not entirely unpleasant.

It evoked a sensation akin to my late mother’s embrace from my previous life.

Despite the differing circumstances, I instinctively returned the filial gesture, gently embracing the ‘mother’ before me.

“Praise be to the Lord… Thank you… Thank you truly…”

She poured out her unrestrained joy at regaining her long-lost child.

While her reaction tugged at me slightly, I swiftly brushed aside the feeling and remained present in the moment.

After a while, having seemingly released the emotional knot within, the mother slowly released me from her embrace. Gently caressing my cheek, she beamed with elation.

“You have grown so much… Just as your father said, you have become a fine man.”

“…My apologies. Even so, I should have at least sent word…”

“No, no. What does that matter now? You have returned to us, a noble gentleman. That alone is enough for this mother. Come, take a seat. I have so much I wish to hear from my son after all this time.”

Although she had likely already heard the broad details from my father, as a mother reunited with her long-lost son, she understandably had many things she wished to discuss.

Taking a seat by the table laden with tea and snacks, I caught a glimpse of a young woman shooting me a rather stern gaze.

‘That person… judging by her age, she seems younger than me. Could she be… Dust?’

In the original work, Count Turen had three daughters.

All were accomplished mages who had played significant roles, great and small, in the Bohemian forces.

Considering her apparent age, having just entered her late teens, I surmised that she was the youngest of the three – Dust Andreas.

‘As expected, her first impression is quite prickly…’

Dust’s personality in the original matched the demeanor of the young woman before me – constantly dissatisfied and prone to irritability.

Although gifted in magic, her temperament left an unfavorable impression on those around her. Consequently, her wartime achievements paled in comparison to her elder sisters’.

Bearing this in mind, I regarded my ‘sister’ maintaining an unpleasant silence, prompting my father to speak with a smile.

“Ah, I seem to have neglected the introductions. You may not remember, but this child is your sister, Dust. She was a mere six years old when you left home, but she has now blossomed into a fine young lady.”

“I see… So this child is…”

Dust shared my fair complexion and reddish-blonde hair, along with dark eyes.

Adopting a cordial smile befitting an elder brother, I addressed her.

“Hello, Dust. It has truly been a long time.”

“…”

Rather than responding verbally, she merely nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

While one could consider her attitude discourteous towards an elder brother, being familiar with her original characterization, I paid it no mind.

However, unlike me, our parents – particularly our mother – seemed unable to overlook such conduct.

“Dust… Even so, your brother has returned after so long. Could you not offer a proper greeting?”

“…Hello.”

Replying curtly with evident reluctance after our mother’s admonition.

Heaving a deep sigh, our mother turned to me.

“Haah… My apologies. She has become rather sensitive lately due to adolescence. Perhaps she finds it difficult to accept her brother’s return.”

“Haha, no… It’s quite alright.”

Feeling somewhat burdened by our mother’s excessive apology, I responded reassuringly. In an attempt to shift the mood, I cautiously inquired about my other ‘sisters.’

“However, I do not see the other two. Might I ask where they are?”

“Ah, yes… As for your elder sisters, their return may take some time. As you can imagine, the recent circumstances have kept them rather occupied with their duties. It may be a few days before you can see them.”

“I see… If it concerns them, I can certainly understand their being busy.”

Being familiar with my ‘sisters” roles from the original work, I readily accepted this explanation.

I then subtly scrutinized my ‘sister,’ who had been fixating on me intently since our arrival.

‘It doesn’t seem like I have anything on my face… Could this be related to that particular matter?’

Dust’s continued dissatisfied gaze reminded me of a common trope in melodramatic dramas – a child from a wealthy family harboring resentment and competitiveness towards a suddenly appeared sibling due to concerns over inheritance or positions of power.

While Dust’s prickly personality was undoubtedly a factor, I couldn’t help but place more weight on the possibility that her behavior stemmed from such underlying motives.

Putting aside my discomfiting ‘sister’ for the moment, I responded to my mother’s inquiries, much as I had done with my father earlier.

“Living in Milan must have presented many difficulties. I hear the people there can be rather ill-mannered…”

“Well… Not necessarily. While there were certainly some unpleasant individuals, I encountered quite a few kind people as well.”

As I contemplated my current circumstances, I continued answering my mother’s many questions.

-Screech!-

“…!?”

“…”

“…Dust!”

At some point, having seemingly reached her limit, Dust abruptly rose from her seat and stormed out, ignoring Count Turen’s call.

“…Haah…”

“Truly, to react in such a manner after her brother has returned at long last…”

Our parents heaved deep sighs at Dust’s attitude.

Since her arrival, the only word she had uttered was a curt ‘hello.’

Considering her behavior, I surmised building a rapport with her would be challenging. However, given the more pressing issues at hand, I decided not to dwell on such trivial matters.

“…Haah… Haah…”

After leaving the inner chamber, the woman hurriedly entered her room, closing the door tightly behind her.

Dust Andreas leaned against the door, trying to steady her racing heart.

In contrast to her stern demeanor in the inner chamber, her face was now flushed, and she appeared flustered.

At this moment, as the reality she had longed for sank in, an involuntary smile began forming on her lips.

‘…He’s back… Finally… Finally, you’ve returned… Brother Santana…’