Jared was greeted by his entire family upon his return to the mansion.
He could finally feel that he had truly returned to the capital city.
“Welcome back, Jared. Thank you for your hard work,” Hannelore said, representing the family with her words of encouragement.
Jared bowed his head, apologizing for his safe return and for causing worry, but she smiled and said she had believed in him.
“I’m so glad you’re safe, Older Brother!”
Yeny, his cousin, rushed over next. Jared caught his younger “sister figure” and lifted her, her eyes moist with tears as she repeatedly told him how worried she had been and how glad she was that he was safe.
“Sorry for worrying you. But I came back safe and sound.”
“I believed in you… but I was still worried.”
Yeny, showing an unusually age-appropriate demeanor, reached out to check Jared for injuries, just as she said she had been worried.
Jared managed to calm her down by stroking her head, explaining that she couldn’t possibly undress him outside the mansion, especially in front of the family.
“Hmph. It’s your own fault for Yeny to worry about you. It’s pathetic to fall behind like that.”
Rosa Roen, her red hair fluttering as she snorted, was his mother Liz Murphy’s younger sister, Jared’s aunt. He hadn’t even known she existed until recently, and they had even been adversaries. Before he knew it, she had come to live with them, and the youngest son of the Ducal Family had developed feelings for her, receiving magic instruction from her.
“Pfeil also scolded me. I have to redo my training. Almeida, please help me again.”
“Of course. I was worried sick too, so I’ll train you so this doesn’t happen again.”
Almeida, his benefactor and master of magic and combat, had also come to greet Jared.
With her peach-colored hair and a fondness for dresses adorned with excessive frills, she appeared to be a beautiful girl with no connection to combat at first glance. However, in a fight, she was so skilled that Jared wouldn’t stand a chance.
It was thanks to Almeida that he could leave the mansion unattended. Jared trusted her unconditionally.
“Welcome home, Brother.”
“Thank you for looking after things, Rio.”
Rio, the princess of the Dragon Kingdom, had initially attacked him, but now she was completely devoted to him. She, a dragon who transcended human existence, had become like family in this mansion, cherished by all. Rio also considered everyone family and had promised to protect the mansion in Jared’s absence.
He stroked the head of the dragon, his “little sister,” who had started calling him brother before he realized it. She narrowed her eyes contentedly. She seemed more like a cat than a dragon, and his lips couldn’t help but curve into a smile.
“Jared, I’m glad you’re safe. Of course, Olivier was worried, but I was too.”
“Sorry for worrying you—Thank you, Trane.”
Trane, the maid responsible for the mansion’s household affairs, had also been concerned about Jared. From within her pale blue hair, he could sense through her seemingly expressionless, well-formed face that she had indeed been worried.
At first, he hadn’t noticed, but realizing she showed even a tiny bit of emotion, he no longer thought of her as expressionless as before.
He apologized to Trane, with whom he had been acquainted for as long as Olivier, for causing her worry.
And then—
“It has been a while, Jared. I am truly glad to see you safe. Please forgive me for coming here during your absence.”
“It has been a while, Emilia. It’s good to see you.”
The last to greet him with a polite bow was Emilia Alway, Olivier’s younger sister. He had known she would be coming to the mansion, but he was unsure when it would happen due to various circumstances. He was surprised, never expecting it to be at this particular time.
Unlike when they last met, she seemed to have shed a burden and had a slightly brighter expression, though he told himself it must be his imagination.
“I apologize for the suddenness, but please take care of me from today onward.”
“Not at all. It is I who should say that. Please take care of me.”
He felt relieved that it had finally happened, knowing that Olivier and Hannelore had strongly desired for the girl in the silver-rimmed glasses to live with them.
He had heard that she had been struggling within the Ducal Family. Her real mother, Cornelia, had persistently targeted Hannelore’s life for a long time and had failed. It was none other than Emilia’s cooperation that led to the exposure of all her wrongdoings.
However, it was also true that she had once sided with her mother. Although she wasn’t punished as severely as her mother, she had been living in de facto house arrest, aside from attending the Academy. Her family and even the household staff treated her coldly; her few supporters were her father, her brothers, and her youngest brother and his mother.
Cornelia had abandoned her, and Hannelore, concerned about Emilia’s unfortunate situation, had decided to raise her as her own child, and so it was.
Jared prayed that Emilia and Olivier would become as close as they were in their childhood, which he had only heard stories about.
“Well then, it’s not good to stay outside forever. Let’s have some tea inside the mansion. Jared, I’ve prepared a meal for you too, so eat to your heart’s content.”
“Thank you, Hannelore.”
“If you’re thanking anyone, thank Olivier and Trane. They were working so hard because you were coming back.”
“Was that so?”
He unknowingly turned his gaze to Olivier, who blushed and looked away.
“As your Fiancé, I wanted to do something for you!”
“I’m so happy, Olivier. Thank you. Trane, thank you always too. I’m glad I can eat your cooking again.”
“I am also happy to be able to take care of you, Jared.”
He conveyed his gratitude to Trane as well, and she smiled, a clear smile that anyone could see.
“Pfeil isn’t back yet, so let’s celebrate tonight.”
With Pfeil’s speed, he should be back at the mansion by nightfall.
Seeing his family unchanged, Jared felt a sense of relief, and the fatigue seemed to drain from his body.
As they were about to return to the mansion together,
“Wait, Jared. You have something to say, don’t you?”
“Um—Ah, that’s right.”
He remembered something important he had forgotten to say and turned to everyone. Jared clearly voiced it.
“—I’m home.”
