CH 36

36 My Parent’s Love

My gait felt as heavy as lead when we left Bates’s shop.

Rumour was something that would spread on its own, trying to prevent it from spreading was a fool’s errand…

But still.

Let’s try to be positive. Even if it turned out to be impossible, I had to at least have a positive mindset. Nothing good will come from trying to face away from the problem.

Thanks to Luke I realized that my reputation was really bad among the circle of noble offspring, I knew that my father and Luke’s father-also a reason for my bad reputation- were in fact getting along really well with each other. However, due to various reasons, it looked like they were political enemies, which in turn also put me in a bad situation due to my friendship with a certain loner.

I might be able to salvage the situation if I talked to my fellow noble children properly.

Moreover, Bates even said 「Come again to this store anytime」.

The matter of being able to befriend Bates who used to be a researcher in a research institute, and Trevor who was a member of the Court Mage Departement was the biggest boon in this outing. They even taught me about the internal situation of the organization.

In addition, I even managed to befriend Luke and got to know the personality of Luke’s father.

Yup, it was definitely a big haul no matter how you look at it.

I was mentally tired right now, but it was worth the harvest of information that I gained today.

――But, I really wanted someone to heal my tired heart right now.

Gosh, let’s go back quickly to see Wendy’s angelic smile.

「Are you okay, Theodore-sama?」

After we arrived at the main street and got on our carriage, Richard asked me with a worried look on his face.

Perhaps he mistook that I was feeling dejected since I didn’t speak at all since we left Bates’s store. Sorry for making you worry about me, Richard.

Since that’s the case, let’s smile to show him that I was okay.

This much was nothing. Yeah, nothing.

「Ou, it seems one day isn’t enough for me to recover but I’ll be alright by tomorrow. And Richard, make sure you come when there’s an invitation to a party. And give priority to the one that Your Highness Elliot and Fredrick participate in.」

Let’s put my plan in motion for now. Became a mediator for Fredrick and Elliot. It might take a few years for me to bridge their relationship but this was definitely the best shortcut available for me.

But doing this would enable me to achieve more than just erasing those annoying rumors.

On top of that, I could apply for Muriel’s hand-in-marriage again.

「Yes. Let’s do this.」

Richard replied with a relieved look on his face, Kevin was smiling upon seeing that. Yeah, let’s do our best.

◇

When we finally arrived at our family mansion in the royal capital in the evening, there stood another coach right in front of the entrance. Since that coach had our family’s crest, could it be that my father was about to go out?

「Ah, you’ve finally returned huh. Welcome back, Theodore.」

「I’m home, Father. Do you have a business outside, Father?」

「Yeah, there’s an evening party.」

Evening party, huh. I’ve noticed that this was the first time I saw my father off to a party. Though he might also go to parties when I’m not around, I mean, we always went together when there was a party at noon.

And in contrast to the clothes that he wore for the noon party, the clothes he wore for the evening party were gorgeous.

Well, I guess I’ll have to defer my question for now.

「Father, there’s something that I want to tell you, will you spare some of your time after you return from the party?」

「It might be impossible tonight since I most likely will be out till late at night, how about tomorrow? Come to my office before breakfast.」

「Yes, no problem. There’s something that I wanted to ask regarding today’s matter and something that I want to hear from you.」

「Understood. I’ll have my schedule open before breakfast.」

He said while brushing my head. Somehow, that simple action alone healed my heart.

「――Aah, incoming.」

At the end of my father’s line of sight was the dressed-up figure of my mother, standing above the entrance hall’s stairs.

… She was very beautiful, but this was the first time I saw her dolling up like that. What happened here?

My mother descended the stairs slowly.

「Ah, Welkum bach, Onii-chama. Look, dear mocher is really beauchiful, right?」

Though my mother descended the stairs slowly along with Wendy, the latter ran towards me as soon as she saw me.

Aah, sorry. Your onii-sama got charmed by our mother’s beauty to the point that he failed to notice you.

「I’m home, Wendy. Yup, our mother dear is really beautiful tonight.」

「Oh my, welcome back, Theodore. You’re not too late but please make sure that you go back a little bit earlier next time.」

「Yes, mother dear. My apologies for making you worry about me. And, I’m home. You’re about to go out with father dear, right?」

「Yes. Now, wait for us, Theodore. Mother will do something.」

Eh? Do what?

My mother then enveloped me into her embrace.

「Sorry, please forgive me for never being able to come out for such a gathering until now. I’ll appear frequently at parties from now on. Doing that might reduce our time together but, please be patient, okay? This is mine and Owen’s battlefield. Mother will do her best for you.」

Eeh, Mama, are you okay? Honestly, I have no idea what you are talking about.

Can’t you speak normally, please?

「Serena, look, Theodore has no idea what you are talking about. Anyway, let’s leave that for later, we’ve to depart soon, otherwise, we’re gonna be late. We can’t waste time anymore.」

「You’re right, Owen. We’ll go then, Theodore. Wendy, be a good girl and listen to Thalia.」

「Yesh, Deyar mocher.」

Wendy, who was being carried by her attendant Thalia, was waving her hand to our mother.

「See you later, Father Dear, Mother Dear.」

The two boarded the coach with smiles on their faces.

Honestly, I still had no idea what my mother was talking about just now.

I tried to ask Martha about that matter indirectly after dinner.

「Madam is blaming herself, regretting the fact that she has been neglecting her duties in the noble society until now… Well, it really can’t be helped since she was busy raising Wendy until now.」

「Yeah, it’s definitely not her fault.」

Honestly, that wasn’t something that could be blamed on her.

My mother seemed to be under the impression that it was her fault.

Even more so, both my parents felt the same way. So they thought it was up to them to raise my reputation.

「But I’m really happy. As expected of Mother Dear.」

「Exactly. A mother will become many times stronger to protect her children. That’s why, don’t worry Young Master, leave everything to your father and mother. You only need to think about what you can do.」

Martha’s gentle words warmed my heart.

Thank you very much for worrying so much for me.

I’ve to do my best too.