episode_0036

#36. I’m back (1)

“… … So, everyone went up to the capital to attend the royal birthday party.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Don’t look at me like that… … Do you really think I can tell if you slept with a woman just by her smell?

No, who would have thought that she would come to my territory without saying anything in the first place… … .

“So, ah… … To summarize what the Duke said, His Majesty the Emperor, who suddenly came to visit, found out about the entire contents of our contract, and ordered us to come up to the capital immediately to attend the imperial birthday party… … That’s what you’re saying, right? ”

“… … Yeah.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“I can’t help it! In the first place, refusing the emperor’s order is considered disobedience, so I can’t say no to him in front of him!”

“Haa… … .”

Ronan lets out a small sigh.

Ronan had just returned from the front lines and was told that he had to go up to the capital, so it’s only natural that he would react like that.

Besides, now that she knows that it was Ronan who made that suggestion, Ellie will probably have a negative perception of Ronan, so she’s worried about that.

“No, you had any contact with the Emperor in the first place? From what I’ve heard, it seems like you’re really close?”

“Ah, didn’t I tell you? When you were young, I saved you from being held captive in the Demon Lab. After that, we enlisted in the military together and fought in the war.”

“If it’s the laboratory, is that the place you were kidnapped and sent to when you were young?”

“Oh, there. At first, he was really nervous and had a bad temper, but I felt bad for him, so I took him with me and took care of him here and there, and we became really close.”

‘I fell in love with you.’

‘I fell in love.’

‘I fell in love.’

The three women had the same thought at the same time.

‘Now I understand. That’s why the Emperor reacted that way when he heard about our contract.’

‘I guess he’s planning to announce the Duke through a letter of state. I think he’s trying to make it known quickly that he’s officially that person.’

‘Then what happens to us? Are we going to become the women who had an affair with the Emperor’s husband?’

‘… … .’

‘… … .’

They were continuing an in-depth conversation through eye contact when they realized that they were being screwed by Lily’s words.

“Well, I’ll have to talk to him about the details, but he knows everything about the contract with you guys. But he doesn’t seem to have a negative opinion about the contract itself.”

“Yes? Why, Your Majesty… … ?”

“Perhaps for similar reasons to ours. In his case, he probably made that decision for the well-being of the empire.”

A warrior is not someone who can be evaluated simply as a ‘super cool person who defeated the Demon King’.

A great talent whose mere existence can prevent war with other countries and even become the cornerstone for conquering the continent.

It would be a huge loss to lose such a talent just because of personal feelings, so he chose a cause over desire.

“Then what about Yeongji?”

“Youngji, leave it to Sebas. I guarantee you that our territory won’t run without Sebas. You won’t find a talent like that anywhere in the empire, right?”

This is true.

In reality, 90% of the work of the estate first passes through Sebas’ hands and then comes to me, and all I do is stamp documents on the desk or personally go and slaughter rotten criminal bastards?

If I focused my stats on brute force, it feels like Sebas focused his stats on butler skills.

“Then where will I stay when I go to the capital? When I go to the rooftop, everyone keeps asking when I’m going to get married, so I don’t want to go… … .”

Are you going to your hometown for the holidays?

I guess asking your child, who has just come home after a long time, about marriage is the same no matter where you go in the world.

“Why don’t you just go to my house and sleep?”

“Does Your Highness have a villa in the capital?”

“No, I mean ‘our’ house. Isn’t that right, Ronan?”

“… … Huh?”

I guess you finally understand what I meant by ‘we’.

Well, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take this opportunity to say hello to your parents.

It’s been almost 20 years.

How will my home, which I visit after a long time, have changed?

* * *

“Stop, stop! This is the Willow Road Marquis! If you are not identified… … Your, your highness!”

“Welcome, Ronan!”

“Haha… … Long time no see, Bill, Perry.”

The gatekeepers guarding the main gate brightened with joy at the sight of Ronan’s face.

This part clearly showed Ronan’s kindness to his employees.

“Welcome, Master! I heard you went north, but you just got back? Other party members are here too!”

“It’s the Emperor’s birthday soon. I came back in a hurry because they’re holding a birthday party at the imperial palace.”

“Haha, I see! It’s an honor to have you back! Come on, everyone, hurry inside… … Uh, but who is this person… … ?”

Hmm… … So you still can’t recognize me?

I guess they aren’t the soldiers who worked while I was there. Or maybe it’s because my face has changed so much.

“Oh, I’m also the master of this house.”

“Huh? What is that… …?”

“The master of this house is here Ronanni- Oh, really?!”

“Can you open the door for me? I’ll walk slowly, so you can call me inside leisurely.”

“That, that, that… … Yes! Oh, I understand! Come on in!”

Squeak-

The gatekeeper, who appeared to be a shooter, opened the door hurriedly and whispered something to the assistant shooter. The assistant shooter, whose face turned pale, ran into the mansion so quickly that it was difficult to keep track of him with one’s eyes.

Um… … I came here on purpose without even sending a letter as a surprise, but was it too much?

“Because of who, only the servants are dying~”

“I’ll tell you, I’m a resident of this house too. It’s only natural for me to come here.”

We walked slowly together along the path from the main gate to the mansion so that the people in the mansion who had been contacted could prepare to welcome us, even if only a little.

“It’s been a while.”

The family I revisited after almost 20 years had grown much larger than I remembered.

Ronan’s achievements were recognized and he was promoted, and it seems he even started construction on an extension to his mansion.

“You’ve become quite the marquis. The garden seems to have gotten a lot bigger since I was a kid.”

“My mother’s hobby was gardening. I heard that my father paid some attention to it.”

You are still a very happy couple.

They were such ideal parents, except that they didn’t really care about me.

Anyway, if the relationship between the couple is good, then that’s good.

“Are you okay…?”

“Hmm? Of course it’s okay. What’s your question?”

“That… … This is a place where the Duke has some not-so-good memories. So, I wonder if you feel uncomfortable… … .”

Ah, so that’s what you mean.

I chuckled and roughly stroked Seira’s hair.

“Gyah! I’m dizzy!”

Whose daughter is she? She’s really kind.

Herongherong-

Seira, who had been stroked by me, rolled her eyes and felt dizzy.

“Thank you for worrying, but I’m really okay. I don’t care now, and I was somewhat prepared for it back then.”

“Are you prepared?”

Ronan asked with wavering eyes at my somewhat strange answer.

“Well, it’s nothing. I always thought that there would be a lot of outside intervention, given my position as the warrior’s brother. But don’t think it’s your fault. It’s the bastards who kidnapped you that did the wrong thing. What’s your fault?”

“… … .”

Crack!

I gave Ronan a hard slap on the back as he was about to become depressed.

I hate to say this, but I’m so worried about my older brother who ate my girls. He’s so naive, I’m worried, I’m worried.

“Let’s hurry up and go home. I’m hungry.”

“Ugh, yeah. Hyung”

* * *

As we entered the mansion, dozens of servants lined up in the main hall to greet us.

“Welcome, Master Ronan! Master Kane!”

Some of the employees were faces I remembered, and it was quite funny to see them acting surprised and confused at the news of my return, and continuing to glance at me.

“Cain!”

“Oh, hi dad.”

Wow!

My father, who came out in light clothing with only a coat on, ran towards me and hugged me tightly.

“I feel sorry for this father. This father is incompetent… … .”

“Okay. I really don’t care. You don’t have to worry about it too much.”

“No, even if the royal family gave up, I, as your biological father, shouldn’t have given up. I should have led my own army and searched the entire empire… … I’m truly ashamed.”

It’s really strange.

In the original work, the story about the warrior’s parents does not appear much.

At best, he neglected his eldest son while giving more attention to his second son who was chosen as a warrior, and as a result, his eldest son became a villain?

There was no description of them worrying about their son or looking for him, so I just thought they were typical trash parents, but when I saw them crying in front of me with true sorrow, I felt a ache in my heart.

I could have come to see them all the time if I wanted to, but I decided to cut ties with them because I thought they wouldn’t want to remember me in any way… … Now that I think about it, I still have a long way to go.

I’ll get into the details of the tyranny later, but doesn’t it seem like the other side isn’t visible?

“But where is your mother?”

“Ah… …Your mother said… …That’s… ….”

“?”

Why, again, what.

What’s going on?