Chapter 8: Chapter 8 - Homecoming (3)
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"...Now all I need is for you to stamp your seal here. Here, next to your name, please."
The meeting with Baron Perkins was brief. The documents he brought contained an agreement that House Robinette would pay ten thousand gold coins to the House Reed, and that House Reed would acknowledge that they were clearly responsible for the annulment of the engagement.
The language was concise and to the point, with no need for additions or subtractions. It seemed likely that they had drafted the terms themselves beforehand, as Perkins was Robinette's legal representative.
"Very well. Now, please stamp this document twice. Once on the line between the two pages, and then again along the fold of the parchment."
As this was a matter between two families, each family's seal was required to finalize the agreement. Perkins had brought Robinette's seal as a proxy, and ours was held by our butler, Hudson, who handed it to me earlier. Apparently my father had entrusted it with Hudson before retiring to his study.
Once we had stamped both copies of the document and exchanged them, the process was complete.
"Thank you for your cooperation. It is fortunate that this matter has been resolved amicably," Perkins said. "Outside, bring them in!"
Perkins called out to the hallway outside of the reception room, and servants who had been waiting in the wings stepped in with two large sacks.
"This is ten thousand gold coins in Manning standard. Please verify it."
"Thank you for your consideration. Hudson, please check it out."
"Yes, my lord, then..."
Hudson poured the contents of the sacks onto a large table in the center of the reception room and picked up a gold coin.
The coin began to rattle as Hudson muttered an incantation and imbued it with mana; the mana flowed out of his hand and enveloped the pile of gold coins on the table.
Then, like the coin in Hudson's hand, the coins on the table began to vibrate individually.
-Clink, Clank Clink.
-Clink, Clank, Clink.
A loud clatter filled the reception room. Hudson remained silent, concentrating on his task, while Baron Perkins and I watched the spectacle unfold before us.
After a minute or so, the trembling of the gold coins began to subside. A moment later, three coins fell to the floor next to the table.
Hudson stopped the magic, picked up the coins to inspect it before handing it to me.
"It's done, my Lord. These three coins have chipped edges and did not pass the integrity check. What would you like me to do with them?"
"It's fine. It's only a minor issue. Baron Perkins, I don't think there's a problem. Shall we conclude here?"
"I apologize. We did check them before we left… but it seems the gold coins at the bottom of the sack must have chipped during transport. I am very grateful for your understanding," Baron Perkins said with an apologetic look.
"It's all right, isn't that a common occurrence? Don't be too hard on your people. I'm afraid they might come back at me."
I waved my hand dismissively, as if it was no big deal, and Baron Perkins, realizing my intentions, replied with a laugh, "Hehe, they should know that Young Master has been so considerate, and I will do as you say."
"Well, I should be going. Thank you for your time. What are your plans for the rest of the day? If you would like to stay for a while, I would be happy to offer you the use of our family guesthouse."
"I'd love to, but alas, I have to get back to work. I need to leave as soon as possible," Perkins sighed wistfully. Perhaps it's because he's such a good lawyer, but even in his old age, he seems to be keeping busy.
"...Then, I'll take my leave now. I wish you peace at Reed."
"Thank you. I wish you a safe journey. Butler, see the Baron off."
Baron Perkins nodded graciously, and I reciprocated with a light bow. After he left the reception room, I turned back to the table. To my surprise, the gold coins had been neatly packed back into the bags.
"Are you there?"
As my voice echoed, the door opposite to the one through which the Baron had gone, and which led to the interior of the mansion, swung open.
Entering from there was a middle-aged woman with a warm demeanor.
"Did you summon me, my lord?"
The housekeeper, Roberta, entered and bowed her head respectfully in greeting. She had been with the family for nearly thirty years, long before I was born.
After my mother, the hostess, died, she willingly took over the running of the household, and it could be said that no one in the household could match her in loyalty except the butler.
"It's been a long time, Roberta. How have you been? Here, put these gold coins in the safe for me. I must go upstairs to greet Father."
Roberta heard my greeting and suddenly looked shocked, "My goodness…I guess this is the day Roberta dies, after receiving a greeting from the young master. When I heard that you had divorced Miss Iris, I thought the young master was going crazy, but now that I see it, it doesn't look like that... Young master, did something happen at the academy? Why do you look so pale?"
The housekeeper's sharp words made me feel my face flush.
"What are you talking about? Even when I greet you, Roberta, you have so many complaints. Fine, just take those gold coins away. I'll go upstairs to see my father alone, so you don't need to show me the way. I'll call you if I need anything. Go."
"Or perhaps you've come to your senses too late. If that's the case, I'm deeply moved... It's only now, after your death, that I will serve my lady."
Despite my urging, Roberta laughed heartily, seemingly having said what she wanted to say. I had no idea she would react so strongly to a simple greeting. Suddenly, I felt a tremendous sense of guilt.
Passing through the door into the mansion, I climbed the stairs leading to the second floor; at the end of the corridor, I saw a pair of wooden doors that opened on both sides.
I approached the door and took a slight breath before lightly clenching my fist and knocking twice.
"Father, it's Edwin."
"Come in."
As I knocked on the door, the voice of a man with dignity came from inside. At my father's nod of approval, I turned the knob and opened one side of the door, entering his study.
Across from the door, a grand desk was positioned in front of a large window, where my father conducted his affairs.
And the man sitting at that desk, scribbling on some papers, was the current Patriarch of House Reed, the Lord of Madehaven, and my father, Count Albert Reed.
* * * * * * *
"It's been a while, Father. Have you been well?"
"Yes, I've been well. It's been a long time since I've seen my son's face...Edwin!!! My goodness, what have you done to yourself?"
The count, who had been engrossed in his paperwork, raised his head and suddenly began to stare in horror.
It was only when he looked up that he could see the figure in detail; the Count's black hair and deep gray eyes bore a striking resemblance to Edwin's own. There was a glimpse of Edwin in the corner of his eye, too, and from his appearance, it seemed that he was popular in his youth.
'I wonder if I'll look like that if I lose weight?'
I thought fleetingly. While I was lost in such trivial thoughts, my father appeared to be very uncomfortable with the sight before him.
Hudson and Roberta had already commented on my appearance, and now my father was doing the same. What on earth was the problem?
"Come closer, my boy. What's the matter with you, eh? Is it because of your break-up with the Robinette Young Lady? What am I going to do with this poor child..."
I smiled wryly and moved closer to my father.
Hearing his words, I finally understood why people had been reacting this way when they saw me. When I checked, I didn't lose much weight, but it seemed different when seen through the eyes of those who had always known me.
Count Reed was a capable and shrewd businessman,, but he was an infinitely doting father to his son, Edwin.
Now that his wife was gone, his only son was a treasure he would not trade for anything. And the fact that he had pursued the engagement with Iris was also because he was thinking only of Edwin's future.
But even though the engagement was annulled and he was suspended from the academy, he didn't say a single harsh word to Edwin.
It's a bit awkward to say this, but I think this old man is to blame for my personality being so messed up before I regained my memories. Even if Edwin was a precious child, the Count should have raised him while disciplining him properly.
Looking at the count's temperament like this, it is clear that he would have welcomed Edwin back as if he had returned home with great honor even if he had been expelled from the academy as in the original work.
"Look at this bony body. It's a miracle you made it this far from the Academy in this condition. I'll tell Roberta to prepare dinner right away..."
"It's not like that, Father," I said, "we can eat later, but I have something else to tell you."
My father got up from his seat and cupped my face as he spoke.
And as I tried to move away from his touch, I noticed something behind his desk, hidden from view until now.
The things behind the desk were things that didn't seem to belong here at all.
Teddy bears, rabbits, cats, and other stuffed animals were strewn across the floor of the office.
And among them was...
'A little girl?'
She was a small girl, no more than 10 years old, wearing a white dress with light frills.
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