Chapter 88: Home Visit (8)

“Father, I think there’s some misunderstanding. I’m not in that kind of relationship with them…”

I quickly tried to explain myself to him.

But Robin Julius looked at me with an expression that was both proud and exasperated.

“No matter how much you take after me, there are people you can touch and those you must never dare to.”

He closed his narrow eyes, just like mine, tightly.

It looked as if he was recalling his dazzling days as a mercenary knight.

“I mean it. All three of them were just business partners. I never confessed or asked any of them out.”

At my firm tone, Father cracked open one eye.

Then, he looked at his barely-twenty-year-old son with a doubtful gaze.

“Really?”

“Yes. Otherwise, there’s no way I would’ve resigned and returned to my hometown like this.”

I calmed him with a bold tone.

At that, Father opened both his eyes again, wearing an expression that was half regretful, half relieved.

‘He looks like he regrets something…?’

“In that case, it must really be that they scouted you, recognizing your talent.”

“Yes, but I don’t want to get involved in the political games of the upper class.”

I shook my head firmly.

Then I turned to look at the medals and trophies stored in my retired father’s cabinet.

“I’ve realized that it’s hard to stand on equal footing with them using just my own abilities.”

The former renowned knight seemed to agree with my words, holding back his response.

He let out a small sigh and quietly looked down at his worn hands.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ve earned enough money not to get entangled with them.”

I gave a sly smile with my naturally sharp eyes.

Watching me silently, Father let out a short chuckle and clicked his tongue.

“Alright, now I truly see it today.”

Because to his eyes, my smile didn’t seem sly at all.

He seemed to understand that I was just hiding the struggle to survive and trying to put my parents at ease.

“My son is more mature and cautious than I thought.”

Robin Julius had finally realized that I would be able to overcome anything, no matter where I ended up.

With that understanding, he rose from his chair and approached me.

“I guess I feel sorry, thinking it’s because of me that you came to think this way.”

A father who once tried to climb into the upper class, only to fall and lose everything.

His eyes seemed to say that he believed I avoided ambition because of him.

“But don’t let a chance slip away when it comes.”

Robin Julius, the knight of his glory days, placed his hand on my shoulder.

“This connection that’s come to you might feel like a burden now, but it’s definitely a good opportunity.”

He gleamed with green eyes, just like in the days when he thrived on the battlefield.

A fierce aura radiated from beneath his black hair.

“Please, don’t let my failures make you afraid.”

I thought I would never see that look again after the fall of our family.

But at least when he gave advice, he showed just how warmhearted he still was inside.

“You’re a much stronger child than I ever was.”

It was a kind of advice I had never heard in my previous life.

Back then, I had erased everything around me just to become Chief Secretary.

If only I had had a single moment to speak with my father back then…

Maybe I wouldn’t have died so pointlessly.

I let out a deep sigh inwardly.

Then, I looked at him with the resolve to pay more attention to those around me in this life.

‘But still…’

When I visited earlier in the day, Father had looked so modest and tidy.

‘When did his outfit get so extravagant…?’

All our luxury goods had supposedly been sold off long ago.

From a tie made by the premium brand of the Yekaterina Imperial Family…

To a pair of fine shoes from a shoemaker in the Imperial capital sponsored by the Saint.

“But really, you’re not involved with any of those young ladies?”

Of course. He wouldn’t be my father otherwise.

No sooner had the serious advice ended than he casually slipped the question in, eyes narrowing just like mine.

It seemed he had already been swayed a bit by their extravagant gifts.

“They only wish to recruit me for my skills, not because they see me as a potential partner.”

“A woman’s heart is never so simple.”

This time, Father answered with surprising seriousness.

“High-ranking women always find a way to get what they want.”

I waved off his ridiculous comment.

And then I prepared for my first official engagement since stepping away from the Grand Duke’s house.

The project titled “Imperial City Planning.”

Whether I was still a secretary or not, I had received an imperial order. That meant I had to go to the capital.

And I had to think in advance about what kind of directive I’d be issued.

「――――――」

The following week came just like that.

As she had said, Echina came to fetch me in person.

But.

Something about her atmosphere was entirely different from when she visited me last week.

“Roger Julius.”

She had always ridden alone on a majestic black horse.

But this time, she had arrived with a massive carriage made of Julmano black crystal, along with escort knights, and even attendants.

The entourage nearly numbered ten.

“Are you ready?”

Echina stood alone with her arms crossed, waiting for me outside Father’s mansion.

I stepped outside in a crisp formal suit and replied.

“Yes. But as expected, the escort detail is impressive—probably because we’re heading to an imperial audience.”

“Well, this is nothing.”

The black-haired Grand Duke’s daughter closed her eyes and raised her chin proudly.

“Did you think I went around alone because I had nothing better to do?”

“…?”

At her muttered words, I tilted my head in confusion.

Echina waved her hand, telling me not to mind and to follow her.

From a distance, my father, Robin Julius, silently watched that scene.

Once a man who had drawn the attention of many women, he slowly walked toward us.

“I greet the Grand Duke’s daughter of the North.”

“There’s no need to bow to me, Baron Robin.”

Echina, surprisingly, was very courteous in front of my father.

“I was quite rude last week.”

“Not at all. From what I heard, you had every reason to visit in a hurry.”

Unlike how he usually behaved toward me, Father also greeted Echina quite respectfully.

Then, glancing at me, he slipped a small envelope into my hand.

“Roger, once you arrive in the capital, you’ll find your brother there.”

‘Ah, come to think of it, Ronie was attending the academy there.’

I had dropped out of the Imperial Academy because of tuition, but Ronie was able to attend.

I remembered him being somewhat of a gifted student…

But as I recalled, he hadn’t graduated either.

He quit school, saying he wanted to learn a new trade, and picked up baking at a pastry shop.

Of course, I knew the truth.

It wasn’t that he wanted to learn something new, but rather that the rising tuition costs had forced him to quit.

‘Back when I dropped out at nineteen, tuition for final-year students was a staggering fifty million gold.’

If even I had to quit, then he must’ve felt even more burdened, thinking it was selfish to keep attending.

But now, he no longer had to feel that way.

‘Because I’m back.’

“When you see Ronie, pass him this month’s tuition.”

I took the envelope my father handed me.

It was made of very high-quality material, the kind usually used by the upper class.

Even though we had fallen from grace, he still cared enough to use something nice—so his son wouldn’t lose confidence.

Though he always acted stern on the outside, he thought deeply about his children.

“Understood.”

I tucked the envelope into the inside pocket of my suit.

But the money he worked so hard to prepare wouldn’t be going to Ronie.

From now on, I would take care of it myself.

―――――

I walked toward the carriage.

As I approached, Echina threw a comment at me.

“For someone so sly, you’re still awkward with your father.”

“Indeed.”

Just before boarding the carriage, I glanced back at him.

Robin Julius still wore the same dignified, stern expression as always.

But something was different today.

Just slightly.

As if, for once, he had allowed himself to feel at ease.

The corners of his tightly sealed lips lifted—ever so slightly.

“……”

I bowed my head, leaving a final silent farewell.

Given the circumstances, ‘I’ll be back’ would’ve been the more appropriate phrase.

But for some reason, today I wanted to say this to him:

‘I’m home, Father.’

――――――

I boarded the carriage.

And I expected to finally enjoy some peace, riding alone in the spacious interior.

There was even another carriage available, and the Grand Duke’s daughter typically preferred to ride alone.

However.

“You’ve arrived, Roger Julius.”

What greeted me inside wasn’t a plush seat…

But Chief Secretary Debier, seated with a deadly serious expression.

“Looks like you’ve been resting well. Your face certainly seems refreshed.”

“Have you been well yourself, Chief Secretary…?”

He looked at me with a chilling gaze behind the monocle over his left eye.

“Thanks to you, I’ve been doing very well.”

As expected, he was clearly furious.

And understandably so.

“I went through all the trouble of appointing you as an official secretary, and you turned in your resignation on your very first day.”

“I’m sorry. I had my reasons.”

Trying to run both the Erian Foundation and the secretary post was like being a nail sticking out.

A person sworn to serve a single lord holding a second job—and one that, if ill-intentioned, could even betray that lord and swallow the entire organization.

There was no way the Grand Duke of the North would take kindly to that.

Either way, under pressure, I would have been forced to give one up. It was better to step down on my own.

“Fine, I’m sure you had your reasons.”

The Chief Secretary sat with both hands resting atop his cane.

With his fingers, he lightly tapped the carved black lion head as if it were a piano key.

“A life as the Director of the Erian Foundation or as the Grand Duke’s Secretary. You could only choose one.”

As expected, he had considered my situation.

Which was why I decided to be honest with him about my intentions.

“I didn’t think either choice would look good.”

“And why is that?”

He asked coolly, as if testing the sincerity of my answer.

“If I chose to stay on as Lady Echina’s official secretary and stepped down as director, there would’ve been heavy backlash from the current staff.”

I responded calmly to his question.

Because if I didn’t express my thoughts clearly here, I risked drawing resentment from the Grand Duke’s house.

“People would’ve started saying the founding director was ousted and that the Grand Duke’s daughter, who lacks managerial experience, seized the foundation for herself.”

I took a seat opposite him, composed.

Outside, the attendants were performing a quick inspection of the carriage before departure.

“Besides, both of our star performers—Sir Bennet and Miss Gehenna—have stated that they’ll only perform under my direction. So if it looks like the Grand Duke’s daughter forced me out, the foundation will face serious complications.”

“So you decided to step down yourself, to avoid that potential friction?”

The Chief Secretary pushed up the monocle perched on his face as he asked.

My serious expression was clearly reflected in the transparent lens.

“That’s right. If those two stars leave, Lady Echina’s qualifications as president will naturally come under fire.”

“I see.”

Debier nodded slightly, as if he understood.

Encouraged by this, I explained why I hadn’t just quit the secretary position and kept the role of director.

“But if I were to resign from the secretary post alone, I believed the Grand Duke of the North would feel deeply betrayed.”

“By someone like you, no less?”

The Chief Secretary asked with eyes that held not a trace of amusement.

But.

I responded with a bold move.

“Yes. I think I’ve earned that level of significance now.”

Blunt honesty, nothing less.

At this point, I wasn’t affiliated with the Grand Duke’s house anymore—in fact, I even held a foundation that bore its name.

That’s why I intended to make it clear, without hesitation, that I had no ill will in my decision.

“……”

Veins flexed on the back of the old man’s hand gripping his cane.

Having once served right at the Grand Duke’s side, his martial prowess must have been considerable.

But he soon reconsidered.

Even if I came across as arrogant, he knew I had no intention of seizing the foundation for myself using Echina’s name.

“Very well. From your position, perhaps giving up both was the wise choice.”

The Chief Secretary let out a deep sigh.

“However, leaving the Grand Duke’s house without any report—that is something you deserve to be reprimanded for.”

He pointed at the determined light in my eyes as he spoke.

“Someone of your caliber should’ve known better, yes?”

“Yes. I truly apologize for that part.”

Debier turned to look outside the carriage, where Echina was discussing the itinerary to Haman with the escort knights.

Then he shifted his gaze back to me and continued.

“However, I didn’t come today just to reprimand you. I came to deliver His Grace the Grand Duke’s message.”

The Grand Duke of the North—who was known never to speak again to those who had once left—had sent me a word.

“To receive it with reverence.”

I rose from my seat and knelt down on one knee.

And then I listened to the Grand Duke of Luton’s words.

『I command this to Julius Roger.』

Echina silently watched from outside the carriage.

Arms crossed, she wore a faint smile on her lips, as if she already knew what I was about to hear.

『Seeing that you resigned from both the secretary and director positions simultaneously, it is clear you did not intend to use the Grand Duke’s name for personal gain.』

The continent’s second-in-command did not condemn me.

Instead, he judged that I had wisely let go of my greed and avoided conflict.

『Therefore, if you so desire, not only will your reinstatement be granted, but you are also permitted to assist Echina in whatever capacity you see fit.』

The Chief Secretary stood up from his seat.

Then, he pulled out an appointment letter from the inner pocket of his suit.

『You are also reinstated as Director of the Erian Foundation.』

It was an incredibly bold proposal for a Grand Duke to make.

“Then… does that mean Lady Echina no longer has a secretary?”

“For now, yes. She’s always been reluctant to keep close attendants anyway.”

I did feel a bit sorry.

But someone like her—who had risen to the position of Knight Commander by her own merit—would have no trouble taking over the family legacy.

Besides, I’d still be helping her as the major shareholder.

“However, on the day you resigned, there was a marriage proposal.”

A marriage proposal.

Well, at twenty-one, most young ladies of the nobility would be expected to marry.

“It was from Young Lord Dalton of Count Giovanni’s house. He said that if she married him, he would help Lady Echina awaken as a Swordmaster.”

“That’s a generous offer. It’s not just about taking her as a wife—he actually respects her.”

Hearing my response, Debier remained silent for a moment.

Then, watching Echina approach our carriage, he spoke again.

“She turned it down.”

“…Excuse me? Why?”

I tilted my head and asked, puzzled. Debier answered firmly.

“I don’t know. But the moment she declined, she jumped on her horse and bolted out of the Grand Duke’s house.”

He looked at me, as if he had some idea.

In the meantime, Echina opened the carriage door and sat beside me.

“Quite the long appointment, wasn’t it?”

The Grand Duke’s daughter sat next to me, arms still crossed, and gave me a sidelong glance.

“I trust you accepted the reinstatement as Foundation Director without a fuss, Roger…?”

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