Jared had brought his fiancée, Olivier, to visit his childhood home for the first time in a while.
Stepping into the mansion, which held few pleasant memories after his mother’s death, was daunting. However, he couldn’t refuse the summons from his stepmother.
His stepmother had stayed by his side when he was depressed after his mother, Liz, passed away, and had comforted him desperately. She doted on him like her own child, and her son also admired her, so Jared had come to see her as his second mother.
He had planned to visit alone, but was surprised when Olivier suddenly declared she would accompany him. Apparently, she had been concerned about never having formally met them.
Until now, she couldn’t conveniently leave the mansion or go out due to the threat of Cornelia Alway. But now that that worry was gone, perhaps Olivier wanted to go out.
Yeny had also said she would come, but had to forgo it as she had been summoned by her grandparents.
Furthermore, Jared was relieved that Yeny wasn’t coming, as he didn’t know what his younger brother Rex, who was fixated on her, might do.
Rio had also thrown a tantrum, wanting to go to Jared’s childhood home. However, he couldn’t possibly take a member of the Royal Family of the Dragon Kingdom around with him. More importantly, if she were to become emotional for any reason as a dragon, it could lead to a catastrophe, so he promised to buy her souvenirs and left her at the mansion.
Recently, Rio had come to admire Jared as an older brother. The thought of her encountering a relative who harbored ill feelings towards him and treating her coldly sent a shiver down his spine.
“This is Jared’s childhood home, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Although, I don’t have many good memories here. Besides, since returning to the Capital City, I’ve been living in my grandfather’s mansion. I actually spent more time there during my childhood, so I don’t have any particular attachment to this place.”
“It’s the same for me. I prefer the mansion where Jared and I live now to the home where I was born and raised.”
Jared smiled back at Olivier, who offered a gentle smile.
“Still, I wanted to see the home where you grew up, just once, with you.”
“And what do you think?”
“I can’t quite put it into words. But I am truly grateful that you were born.”
Olivier’s words made Jared blush.
He was inwardly surprised to hear words from Olivier that he had only ever heard from his mother in life.
But he was happy.
He couldn’t say it, for fear of angering her, but Olivier Alway sometimes reminded him of his deceased mother.
Her somewhat strong-willed speech and actions, her nostalgic words that brought back memories as she had just done, and other small things had surprised him repeatedly since they met.
“Brother!”
As Olivier gazed at the mansion, her eyes narrowed, someone suddenly called out to him.
It was his younger brother.
“Roik, it’s been a while!”
He caught the boy, his flaxen hair disheveled as he ran, and lifted him up.
“Yes! It’s been a long time. Were you well? I missed you, Brother.”
As he shared a long-awaited embrace with his brother, a woman with long flaxen hair, wearing a dress, appeared slightly later, her gentle smile in place.
She was a kind-looking woman who resembled Roik—his stepmother, Karina Daum.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Jared. And it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Olivier. I am Karina Daum. Welcome. Roik, you too, greet them properly.”
“Y-yes, Mother!”
Hurriedly breaking away from Jared’s embrace, Roik bowed swiftly towards Olivier.
“I am Roik Daum, your brother-in-law. Please treat me well, Older Sister!”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mother-in-law, Roik. I am Olivier Alway. I apologize for not being able to formally introduce myself until now, despite being Jared’s fiancée. I came to accompany Jared when I heard he was returning to his childhood home. I apologize for any inconvenience.”
As Olivier finished her greeting, Roik gently tugged on Jared’s sleeve.
“…You’re beautiful, unlike the rumors.”
“Rumors aren’t to be believed. She’s a very kind person.”
He said so, making sure Olivier couldn’t hear him, and Roik’s smile deepened.
Although her visit had been announced, perhaps his younger brother had been nervous. The reason was undoubtedly the rumors. He was dismayed to realize that the negative rumors about Olivier, which were no longer commonly heard, had somehow reached the ears of his thirteen-year-old brother.
Olivier herself didn’t seem to mind and had even used the rumors to her advantage to keep others at bay. But that would be different now. There was no longer a need to use malicious rumors to drive people away from her.
Therefore, Jared hoped to gradually dispel the rumors.
However, this was not something Jared could handle alone, and he considered needing to consult with Duke Alway.
“We have tea prepared. I hope it suits your taste, Olivier. Please, make yourselves comfortable inside the mansion.”
“Mother-in-law, please don’t be so formal. If you are Jared’s family, then you are my family too. It might not be possible right away, but I would be happy if you could consider me your daughter. Roik, you too, please think of me as your real sister.”
“Yes, Older Sister!”
Olivier nodded with satisfaction at Roik’s spirited reply.
Karina, watching her, relaxed her shoulders.
“Understood. I will endeavor to do so as time goes by.”
She smiled, a hint of relief in her expression.
