Chapter 72

072.

Dranunus.

By the time of Blamia, the family had amassed a power so great that even the Empire dared not treat them lightly.

Many people praised and remembered him, or rather her, who had ascended to the sixth rank.

However, it goes without saying,

Dranunus was not sustained by Blamia’s strength alone.

If anything, Blamia was an unsuitable head of the family.

All she possessed was a power that could shake the heavens and the earth.

She fumbled at her desk, ineptly handling various interests until she passed her seat to her son.

So, how did Blamia manage to establish the world of Dranunus?

The efforts of those who worked unseen were significant.

Those who devoted their lives to the Dranunus family.

Most of them were picked up by Blamia when they were struggling to survive on the streets.

Blamia gave them life, and in return, they repaid her by dedicating their lives to her.

To make Dranunus the greatest, they studied and worked day and night.

It wasn’t even hard work; believing they were helping Blamia, their bodies moved without hesitation.

They handled not only the mansion’s servants and maids but also the internal and external management. Beyond the mansion, the entire estate was under their care.

Replacing Blamia, who could not skillfully wield a pen,

They built the world of Dranunus and gave it back to Blamia, who had given them a new world.

Even when Blamia decided to retire with Seline after acquiring irreparable wounds,

They silently followed her decision.

After all, they had already entrusted their lives to Blamia.

Now that they could stand on their own, they didn’t want to be a burden and followed her quietly.

However, they did not leave the mansion.

They waited for the day when Blamia would rise from her wounds and return home.

Back in the days when there was no trace of Blamia’s gray beard,

The children taken in by the empire’s archmage had grown up and had children of their own.

Now, what maintains the form of Dranunus is the intergenerational bond.

To the children who had lived by begging on the streets,

They became parents.

As the children grew up to become parents themselves, they sought to repay the favor to their own parents.

And that is Dranunus today.

And the archmage who had once left the children returned with a gray beard,

Willing to reclaim the events of the past.

“Lady Blamia!!!”

In the distance, a man and a woman, slightly older than middle-aged, were running towards them.

They reached Blamia quickly.

Falling almost face-first onto the ground, they wept uncontrollably.

“Oh…! Why did you return so late…!”

“Lady Blamia…! We missed you…!”

“I’m sorry.”

Kalen was surprised by the voice of Blamia,

Which was unlike her usual cantankerous tone.

It was a solemn voice that welcomed the fallen man and woman.

It was reminiscent of an elderly reminiscence of long ago and a jubilant cry for finally being on the right path.

“Quickly… We need to go. Everyone is waiting for you.”

“Gilon. Calm down a bit. Our bodies aren’t what they used to be now that we’re older.”

“Yes…! Yes…!”

“Lady Blamia, shall I carry you?”

“Aah… Mirda, I’m too old. How do you expect to carry me? Take care of yourself first.”

“Wahh…”

Gilon and Mirda.

Kalen recognized their names.

They were the first names mentioned when Blamia briefly explained the retainers of Dranunus.

It was said that they had been with her the longest and played the biggest role in bringing fame to the Dranunus name.

“Hm…?”

While holding Seline like a princess, Kalen pondered this.

The voice of surprise came from Gilon, who was now examining Kalen with a small pair of glasses perched on his nose.

“Aah. He’s the brat I mentioned. He’s incredibly arrogant.”

“…Master.”

“Aah!”

Mirda, wiping away tears, seemed to also recognize Kalen’s name.

Gilon and Mirda composed themselves and approached Kalen to pay their respects.

“Hello, my Lord Kalen. I am Gilon, the head butler of the Dranunus family.”

“I’ve heard much about you from Lady Blamia, Lord Kalen. I am Mirda, the housekeeper.”

“Aah. Yes. Nice to meet you.”

As Kalen looked at Blamia wondering what was happening,

He saw the cantankerous old man he had known.

He realized that the previous demeanor must have been out of respect for the retainers, and Kalen couldn’t help but smile.

“Ah…? Miss…? Lady Seline…?”

In the midst of looking at Blamia,

Gilon and Mirda noticed Seline carefully held by Kalen and shed tears again.

The long-lost young lady of the house.

The granddaughter of their benefactor.

The always vibrant and lively young miss had returned, slightly more mature.

“Wahhh…”

“Wahh…!”

Gilon and Mirda wept despite having wiped their tears earlier,

And Kalen, watching them, understood where Seline’s penchant for crying might come from.

*

“Lady Blamia!!!”

Even the most joyous reunion cannot linger outside the mansion for too long.

Gilon and Mirda were well aware of this fact,

And after barely composing themselves, they led the way to the mansion that resembled a fortress.

As the towering mansion came into view,

Kalen noticed people waving his way.

Gilon and Mirda.

Their reactions were not too different.

Some looked upon Blamia with tears in their eyes,

While others collapsed in place, their legs having given out, their hands clasped together.

It was evident what kind of figure Blamia was to them.

Kalen followed such a Blamia, his gaze lifted up towards a mansion he could barely see the top of,

And countless people welcomed both himself and Blamia.

Those who were taken in by Blamia had become parents,

And they too had become part of the Dranunus family.

Even though the number of retainers was much higher than when the archmage had left,

Even though only Seline remained as a direct descendant.

One by one,

Blamia properly greeted each of Dranunus’ retainers,

And they noticed Kalen who stood there holding Seline.

“Young one. Stop being awkward and come over here.”

“Yes.”

At Blamia’s words, Kalen slowly approached them.

Their eyes held curiosity.

It was understandable that they would be cautious about someone they didn’t know, but clearly, Blamia had spoken well of Kalen to them.

And among them,

A woman with braided hair approached Kalen.

“Is this Kalen Lord?”

“Yes.”

“Ah! It’s an honor to meet you; I am Seline, the head maid.”

“Yes. The pleasure is mine.”

To be honest,

Kalen is not accustomed to etiquette.

It might not seem like it to others, but it’s something his body is not used to.

Thanks to Blamia and Seline, Kalen has managed not to make any mistakes.

But that doesn’t mean he can use it with ease as if it was his second nature.

In Kalen’s view, Seline’s etiquette was excessive.

After all, they were both on the same boat, having been found by Blamia.

And with Seline still in his arms, he was unable to perform proper etiquette correctly.

“…Sorry.”

“Hm? Oh, it’s fine.”

Seline looked at Seline in his arms and smiled as if understanding.

A certain warmth radiated from her smile.

“It must be difficult for you. I’ll carry her from now on.”

“Aah. Alright.”

Kalen nodded and leaned forward.

Seline extended her arms to take Seline.

Nevertheless,

Seline remained attached to Kalen’s body as if glued.

Even as Kalen bent down, she didn’t let go.

Consequently, both Kalen and Seline ended up in an awkward position.

Simultaneously, Kalen could feel it.

Of course, it was Kalen who held Seline.

From the arm around Seline’s neck, he could feel her desperate effort not to let go.

“…Sorry, but I’ll continue to hold her.”

“Oh, dear…”

However, Seline had no way of knowing that.

To the head maid, it looked like a youthful moment between a boy and a girl.

Seline stepped back with a light smile, and only then did Kalen feel Seline’s arm relax comfortably as he approached Blamia.

“Get along with Seline. She’ll be taking care of your convenience around here.”

“Yes.”

“You should thank her, young one. Having the head maid assigned to you is no small thing.”

“…Thank you.”

“Tsk.”

When Kalen glanced at Seline,

Her gentle smile was accompanied by a light wave of her fingers.

“Are you ready?”

Blamia asked idly, looking at the Dranunus mansion.

Her eyes seemed unfocused, as if reminiscing about a distant past.

Kalen answered without disturbing the moment.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Aware that his hesitation might inconvenience others,

Blamia quickly resumed his usual cantankerous smile.

The steps toward the mansion were filled with excitement, not fear.

Clunk…

As befitting a mansion that resembled a grand castle,

The door itself was massive.

A sound akin to opening the gates of a fortress echoed.

Blamia paused briefly.

For just a moment, he lifted his foot.

Long ago.

The old man who had lost his son and daughter-in-law.

The one who had engraved his pain like a scar.

Now triumphs over it.

This was the first moment of his return home.

*The End*