episode_0011

“Childhood friend…? What kind of nonsense is that? Do you use such formal language with your childhood friend?”

To Lucas, the term “childhood friend” might seem absurd. However, even this could be easily explained with a little thought.

“Although it may seem superficial, this person is older than me. It is basic courtesy for a younger person to use formal language with an elder.”

“Older…? Just because she’s over twenty-three?”

The warrior expressed disbelief and turned his head towards Darin, silently questioning if what he said was true.

“Yeah, that’s right! I’m older!”

The setting of being childhood friends with my friends and Darin was somewhat absurd, but it was too late to change the story now. Darin somehow nodded along with his son’s words in agreement.

“My sister has been with me since I was young. She has also taken on the role of a governess.”

“She took on the role of a governess?”

“Yes, my sister was a noble lady from a fallen aristocratic family and was attached to Bayoren Manor, a nearby estate. She acted as a guardian for my father and was like a sibling to me.”

“Hmm…”

Lucas wiped his chin, looking uncomfortable, but he didn’t argue. No matter how long they had been childhood friends, it was appropriate for a younger sibling to use formal language.

“So, which noble family did Darin belong to?”

It wouldn’t hurt to confirm. Lucas considered checking the family records, as he thought a look at them might help ease his conscience.

“Her family is the Orange Viscount’s. They were once vassals of the Bayoren Marquis, but they fell from grace due to embezzlement.”

“Why would they provide guardianship at Bayoren for a member of a corrupt family?”

“My sister and I were originally close, and she was innocent. That’s why our family took her in.”

Surprisingly, the Orange Viscount family did exist. It was a clear fact that they had fallen into embezzlement. There were occasional cases of the offspring of fallen nobles being transferred to other families in the form of foster care, so the credibility itself was outstanding.

“Wait, the family name is Orange…?”

“If you don’t believe it, look through the noble registry. They are a wealthy family of commoner origin who became nobles based on an orange plantation.”

“…In that case, Darin.”

“Yes, yes!?”

Darin, who was startled by Lucas addressing me instead of talking to my son, was taken aback. I found myself flustered, wondering if I could answer his question properly.

“Your full name is…”

“…?”

Fortunately, it was quite a simple question.

“Is it Mandarin Orange?”

“…Yes.”

There was no problem with the answer, but the crimson-haired girl could only blush and bow her head. It was truly an awkward full name, even for me. Why did my son have to blurt out “Orange”? There were many fallen nobles with elegant names, after all.

Looking at the blushing crimson-haired girl, Lucas couldn’t help but chuckle. The more he looked at her, the more she seemed like a character from another world, just like me.

“So, the fiancée you’ve been talking about is this lady?”

“Fiancée? I never said she was my fiancée. I just said I would return to my hometown to hold a wedding ceremony.”

“Don’t joke around, Akal. I’m talking about whether the lady you intend to marry is Darin. Whether she’s your fiancée or not. If she’s the prospective wife of Bayoren, then as the eldest son, your opinion will be most important.”

At the warrior’s growl, Kael cautiously looked at my mother. Darin just stared blankly at her son, not knowing what to do. Kael smiled at his wandering mother and continued the conversation.

“Yes, my sister is the woman I will marry.”

He spoke with a brighter smile than ever.

“I have admired her for a very long time. And I am still courting her.”

“…Huh?”

Suddenly setting up an unrequited love scenario? Is it okay to complicate things even when there’s a marked woman? Darrin ended up making a dumbfounded expression at his son’s sudden behavior. How on earth is he going to endure the aftermath if the hero spreads rumors?

– Swish! Swish!

The woman with crimson hair wandered around in confusion. What if Cael and his real lover are here? As a mother, she probably wouldn’t want to block her child’s path of love. It might be a natural reaction.

“Phew…”

Fortunately, apart from the three people nearby, there was no one else around. Taking this in, a sigh of relief washed over her.

“Tsk.”

The hero sharply contorted his face and stared straight ahead. The white-haired savage also responded, illuminating the wall. It was an expression of a lowly insect crawling in without understanding the situation. Considering their power disparity, Akai shouldn’t have shown such an attitude.

The fierce exchange of glances between the two men didn’t last long. Lucas clicked his tongue and looked away first.

“Today, as the saying goes, let’s overlook it for now.”

In truth, the biggest reason he didn’t want to show any disgrace in front of someone he had just met in life was that it would be uncool to admit it, so Lucas was casually skirting around the issue.

“Haha, I’m truly grateful for that.”

Naturally, it wasn’t a genuine expression of gratitude. It had a mocking nuance.

“You’ll surely regret it soon.”

Lucas asserted with a sharp tone.

“If you can, go ahead and try.”

Akai retorted nonchalantly with a chuckle.

‘This damn bastard…?’

He knew that the savage was unlucky, but he didn’t expect him to get under his skin like this. Lucas swallowed his anger and looked at Darrin. It’s really time to part ways now.

“Darrin.”

“…Yes?”

“I’ll make sure to visit Bayoren soon. Let’s finish our unfinished conversation then.”

“…Ah, yes, yes!”

What could Darrin say in this situation? She could only nod her head in response.

The warrior, as soon as he finished speaking, put on his hat and walked forward. With each step, the heavy sound of his footsteps echoed through the royal palace, making it clear that even strangers would be greatly angered.

“Hey, what are you trying to do, Kael?”

The woman could only look frightened. At first, she had treated me kindly, so I thought she was a good person. But now it seemed otherwise. Her relationship with my son didn’t seem good either.

“You knew what kind of person the warrior is, so why did you provoke him like that?”

Even though she was a noblewoman who had never been to the battlefield, she knew that the warrior was a monster who was different from the usual criminals. How could my son, no matter how talented, defeat someone who had blessings and cheats from a past life?

“No, this isn’t right.”

She grabbed my head and scolded me. When I think about it, this situation arose because I rashly participated in the improvement ceremony, and now I was venting my anger on my innocent son. I must be an ugly mother.

“What should we do? What, what…”

Because of me, it seemed like my son was in danger, and my mother fell into a panic state. What should I do? The warrior’s anger was something even my husband couldn’t handle.

“Should I ask Lord Duke Bukbu to mediate?”

She paced back and forth, trying to find a solution. It was a habit she had since her maiden days when she feared confrontation with her husband.

“For now, since Bayorunga is coming, I’ll somehow apologize in his place then…”

While Dallin was making excuses, Akarel just looked at the path the warrior had taken with a calm expression. It was an unexpected conflict, but he remained tranquil, saying, “It’s just one more mountain to cross anyway.”

Akkael had quite a few mountains to crush in order to achieve his great undertaking. The warrior was the tallest among them, but he had no intention of avoiding it. Retreating from an unfavorable fight was something only cowards did.

I didn’t want to confine my mother like my damned father, so was it wrong to allow her to go out? No, Akkael doesn’t think so. It was her long-standing wish not to live under the scrutiny of others, after all, the queen of the tangerine tree.

“Oh, I’m sorry, sorry Kaell, for going out for no reason…”

I seemed indifferent, but my mother seemed truly anxious. Self-blame was one of her long-standing habits. Even when she had to lie down in despair on the tangerine farm, she cried and blamed herself.

At times like this, it was the duty of kinship to reassure her.

“Mother.”

At the call that emanated from the deep voice, the girl’s pumpkin-colored eyes blinked and began to rise. A man as solid as a boulder smiled and gently held her small hand, just like when this woman comforted my cheek when I was very young.

“Don’t worry.”

That’s why Kaell wanted to sincerely relieve his mother’s anxiety.

“I will soon make a separate apology to Lucas.”

But a savage’s apology would be enough with just one axe.