Chapter 3: Compelled
We had a hard time after that.
Although Father kept moving about with me in the city, Father’s former subordinates kept thronging after us, crying and begging for him to return.
Wherever we went, we kept seeing grown men crying and begging, imploring father. Pitying them, I told Father my honest opinion.
「They are worried because you didn’t contact them, why don’t you go and greet them? Then, won’t they stop pursuing you?」
「Un, this will be a pain to hear.」
The subordinates who heard me cried and thanked me. But when I said 「Father」, the subordinates shrieked in surprise, dumbfounded.
「Ellen, will you go to Mother’s place? Father will be heading into the enemy camp for a while.」
「The enemy this time seems to be very hard. I’ll be watching attentively, so summon me if you need support. On Mother’s and my prestige, we may call forth a small natural disaster.」
When I said that, Father floated a gentle smile and kissed me on the forehead and the cheek, saying that we are much too reliable. And then, I hugged him. I felt bitter.
I also in return kissed father on the cheek. When observed as a Japanese, there was a great sense of resistance at first. It’s scary how accustomed I’ve grown to it.
Waving goodbye to Father, I moved to where Mother is in the spirit world.
The destination of my teleport was the throne room of the spirit king. Mother, sitting on the throne, seemed to have seen the whole situation via the water mirror installed right next to it. I wondered if I needed to explain. (f)reewebnovel.com
「That’s not fair. I wanted to eat a meat skewer too…」
Mother, feeling left out, wanted to have fun too.
Wait a minute. Didn’t we eat those skewers a few days ago?
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As soon as Ellen left, Rowel put on a blank expression. There was little emotion that could be felt from Rovel by the surroundings.
Alberto, who had been by Rovel’s side for 20 years, was surprised at Rovel’s expression of parental affection.
Except for the eyes and hair, Rovel’s appearance has remained almost unchanged since 10 years ago. However, a small child wearing a hood who had called Rovel 「Father」. From the voice, it sounds like it is a girl. Hair shining like silver thread can be seen out of the edge of the hood. Based on the physique, about 5 to 6 years old?
In this world, it can be said that there are no humans with silver hair. Silver hair can only be a spirit of high rank. Presently, Rovel’s hair had also turned silver. Was that influenced by the spirit country?
Because his eye color has changed, he thought that it was a stranger, his subordinates having made a mistake in that report.
He remained skeptical about it, but he heard by chance that the man had escaped in a panic when his name was called.
To put his mind at ease, he decided to see if it is a case of mistaken identity. Alberto, realizing that he had escaped having known the faces of his subordinates, decided to meet with the man directly to confirm it.
But the situation that had happened in front of him had deviated so much that Alberto was confused because his brain could not process it.
「Rovel-sama!? A child…?! And, teleportation!??」
「…I’ll send my greetings to the castle, you have nothing to do with me from now on.」
Alberto came to his senses as Rovel declared that with a blank expression.
Except for the eyes and the hair, his Lord’s figure had not changed since 10 years ago. Even the way he had been shot down.
「The Vankreift Duke house, and all of us, have been awaiting for your return!」
「…Duke?」
「10 years ago, we were promoted because of the achievements of Rovel-sama.」
「Father died in the monster tempest. Even though I was not around, I was still bestowed a promotion in peerage?」
「…Currently, your younger brother, Sauvel, is the head.」
「In that case, I need not return.」
Currently, there will be no place for Rovel who has returned after 10 years. The 2 years younger brother is a fine, 25 year old man. He probably took over once he reached adulthood. Governing over the territory for 9 years.
In this Kingdom, the marriageable age is 10 for women, 20 for men. Presumably, in the absence of an heir to inherit, he should have married soon after.
It is unthinkably so as he was even promoted in disregard of the absence of Rovel.
In other words, the younger brother’s family may be staying in his parent’s home, making the circumstances all the more complicated.
「No, no! Even so, you must return!!」
「…Why?」
The hunch was right. Listening in inquisitively, it was the beginning of a storm.
Note:
1. The second part is from a third person point of view.
2. Well, remember what I said last round? Well, screw that. I’ll just capitalize “Father” and “Mother” when referred to by Ellen.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m