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143 Retainers'
Families
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Translator : PolterGlast
There are no customs
of ringing the New Year's Eve bell in the middle of the night, nor is there a
word for New Year's Eve. Tonight is the last night of the year. In a few
seconds, next year will be this year. And that moment has come. That being
said, I have no watch, so I'm just guessing it's midnight.
"Happy New
Year!"
When I thought the
year had changed, I raised my glass high.
" "
"Happy New Year!" " "
Many of my retainers
and their families have gathered for a New Year's Eve and New Year's party.
"Last year, you
all did a great job. We unexpectedly got this territory, discovered a dungeon,
fought a war, and my territory suddenly grew several times its size, making it
a busy year. The fact that we were able to overcome all of these things is
entirely because of your hard work and efforts. I am truly grateful."
I'm talking a lot for
me. But I really mean it and I am grateful.
"I also want to
express my utmost gratitude to the families who have supported my
retainers."
It's a little sad that
the only family of my senior retainers who are present is Banarji's. Barth,
Jojok, Lin, Rosalina, and Solidia are all single, and while Gandarvan is
married, his family doesn't live in Triange. I've told the single people, like
Jojok and the others, that they can have their parents and siblings come here,
but I wonder how they're doing. I haven't really delved into it, so I should
probably check on them.
The problem is
Gandarvan... I heard that Gandarvan's situation is a little special. Well, you
know. It's a romance story.
Gandarvan's hometown
is the Liver Empire, a country north of the Oda Kingdom. The Liver Empire and
the Oda Kingdom have a bad relationship, but let's put that aside for now.
Gandarvan was a knight who served a noble in the Liver Empire, but one day, he
fell in love with the noble's daughter. You wouldn't think so of a stiff person
like Gandarvan, but they say love is blind. The noble didn't approve of their
relationship, but the daughter's belly started to swell. Gandarvan, you're
quite the man, getting her pregnant before marriage. The noble was, of course,
furious. Gandarvan was imprisoned, and his daughter was placed under house
arrest.
Just then, that noble
fell from power. Stories like this happen everywhere, even in different
countries. Nobles of the same country drag each other down and sometimes plot
to make them fall from power. Amidst the chaos, Gandarvan and the daughter
escaped. The noble who fell from power was too busy to chase after his
daughter. But the people who made him fall from power assumed that the noble
had let his daughter escape. Gandarvan and the daughter fled to the neighboring
Doran Empire and then to the Oda Kingdom. He asked an acquaintance in the Oda
Kingdom to shelter the daughter and child, but it's probably about time he
brought them here. The Koga clan is monitoring any suspicious people who enter
my territory, and I could have some of the Koga clan act as his family's
servants to secretly guard them.
While I was thinking
about this, Anneliese was staring at my face. Her dress today looks great and
she's beautiful. As always.
"Is something
wrong?"
"I was thinking
about everyone's families. I don't know if they'll be buried in this land, but
I want them to live with their families if they can."
"That's a good
idea. Let's have everyone's families come here."
I don't think there
are any retainers who would mistakenly think I'm doing this to hold their families
hostage. So I want them to bring them here. Some family members might not want
to leave the place where they were born and raised, but if they don't have a
problem with it, I want them to come to Triange.
"I want everyone
who can come to be here by the time of our wedding."
"That's a good
idea."
A gentle melody began
to play. I took Anneliese's hand and went to the center of the hall. This is
not my style, but "Shall We Dance?" If we don't dance, no one else
will.
I'm not good at
dancing, but I learned it as a noble's etiquette. I can do the bare minimum.
Just the bare minimum.
Everyone started
dancing around us, and the hall became lively. My job here is done. The rest is
just eating and having fun.
Two days after the
celebration party, the main members gathered in the afternoon. Some people
seemed to have hangovers from drinking too much on New Year's, but I won't
mention that. In my previous life, it would have been a day off, so it's fine.
Yamato, it's fine to be hungover, but don't puke here. Hey, are you going to be
okay?
"The celebration
party was fun. I hope we can have a similar party at the end of this
year."
Everyone nodded at my
words.
"Also, Anneliese
and I are getting married in the spring. I want to say this to all of you
again. I want you to invite your families to Triange and live with us. Some
people might not want to leave the land where they were born and raised, but if
they don't, please invite them."
"It is said that
a retainer's quality of work is related to their family's well-being. I agree
with your idea, my lord."
Banarji immediately
agreed.
"What about you,
Barth?"
"My parents have
already passed away, but my brother and his wife are protecting the land of our
ancestors. I have no other siblings, and no close relatives. I once asked my
brother in a letter to move here, but he replied that he could not leave the
land that our ancestors left behind."
I can accept a reason
like that. Understood, Barth's family won't be moving here. But...
"Then, the next
thing is marriage. Is there anyone you like?"
"T-that's..."
What's with that
reaction? Is there someone you like?
"My lord. Barth
has a crush on someone."
"Oh. Is that so,
Barth?"
When Lin snitched on
him, Barth glared at her. Lin turned her face away and whistled. What kind of
comedy duo are you two?
"He and Rubianne,
a member of the Knight Order, are getting along well."
"Hey,
Solidia!"
This time, Solidia
snitched on him, and he raised his voice.
"I see, Rubianne,
huh? What does she say about it?"
Rubianne is a
second-generation woman who is a fellow canine beastman like Barth. She's a
person who became free after her Explorer job exceeded Level 40 and has been
working for me ever since.
"Barth is in an unrequited
love."
"Why are you
saying that too, Jojok?!"
Barth, everyone knows.
It seems your behavior makes it obvious.
"Hmm, unrequited
love, huh? Well, I guess, do your best, Barth."
"Ugh."
He turned beet red and
looked down.
"I get it about
Barth. What about Lin, Solidia, and Jojok? You're all single too."
When I called them
out, all three of them turned their faces away. You guys...
"You have no
right to tease Barth if you're like that."
Honestly, all of you.
Look at me. I have a beautiful fiancée, and I'm getting married soon. You must
be jealous. Hehehe.
"What about
inviting your families?"
"My family will
be here before spring."
I'm glad to hear that
Lin's family is coming.
"My family will
also be here around spring."
Jojok's family will be
moving here too. That's great.
"My siblings are
planning to come."
Solidia's parents
can't leave the land, but her younger brother and sister, who won't be
inheriting the house, are coming.
So, they've already
invited them. I guess I didn't need to worry about it. Except for their
spouses.
"If that's the
case, then the next thing is marriage."
When I brought up
marriage, all four of them were reluctant.
"Well, I'm not
going to force you to get married, but you don't have to hide it."
That's true. I'm a
person who lives a fulfilling life, so I won't tell you to explode. Having
emotional stability is important. Hahaha.
"Now, let's put
Barth and the others aside for a moment. Gandarvan, you should have your family
come here."
Gandarvan, who is
usually unflappable, had a dark expression on his face when I brought this up.
"Please don't
worry about me..."
"I can't not
worry about it. It's about your family, my right-hand man. This is an important
matter."
"Your
Excellency... but it would cause you trouble."
"Hey, do you
really think I would care about that? Whether it's a noble or an empire, I'll
punch anyone who complains, so don't worry."
I gave him a
thumbs-up. I will never abandon Gandarvan and I will protect his family. He
should think that I have that much confidence in myself. If I need a higher
title to protect Gandarvan's family, I'll become a count or a marquis. Or I'll
even ask the Princess to move the country. So, bring them here without a worry.
"Thank you, Your
Excellency."
"Then go and get
them. Your wife and child must want to see you. That's right, I'll give you
some time off. Go and get your wife and child. That's a good idea!"
"No,
that's..."
"This is
final!"
It won't work even if
Gandarvan refuses. It might be a little overbearing of me, but isn't it pitiful
for a child to live separately from their father?
"Your Excellency.
Sir Gandarvan needs to get his thoughts in order. How about he goes to get his
family after the New Year's audience in the royal capital?"
"Do you need to
get your thoughts in order or be prepared to go and get your family? Well,
that's fine, I guess..."
And so, we decided to
inform them by letter that he would be coming to get them.
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