I Returned As the Governor of the Country That Abandoned Me

21 – Robertane

“Is the Empire First?”

“This is not the first time we have crossed the border. Of course, I was caught shortly after, but…”

“… “

I and Ariel crossed the border between Hiran and the Empire. After riding a carriage for more than half a day, you will soon see the capital of the empire.

Actually, I thought returning to the empire was a story in the distant future. I didn’t know you’d come back so soon.

Ariel gripped his sword with both hands. She seemed quite nervous, so she brought up a story to lighten the mood, but she seems to have touched her sore spot.

She has lived her whole life in a kingdom, and even in the most closed village. The kingdom stream is too daunting, but how much more daunting would a larger empire be?

“I’ll check it for a while.”

Soon, the imperial garrison stopped us. Now, if you cross this gate, it is the capital.

“This is the 3rd Imperial Knight Commander, Aran von Robertein.”

“Confirmed. Please wait a moment.”

Overpassing the people in line to enter the capital, the carriage we rode enters first. A little taste of power. It may not seem like a big deal, but the eyes of others were full of envy.

“Ah, that… Girl, I have no place to stay in the Empire…”

“I know.”

Upon entering the capital, it was then that Ariel opened her mouth. Was she worried about that?

“If not, where would the girl stay…”

“I’m going to my hometown.”

“.. Yes?”

After hearing my words, Ariel’s face turned red. She visits her parents’ house with the opposite s*x. I also don’t know what this means. But what can I do? Finding a separate accommodation is expensive. If Serena knew that her expenses were coming from something like this, I might have to leave it up to her to manage the finances.

After entering the capital like that, I started moving to the Robertain Mansion with Ariel, who had become a blush. I told my parents not too long ago that I had to stop by the empire, so they’ll give Ariel a room to stay for a while.

On the way to the mansion, two carriages pulled up on either side of the carriage we rode in. Judging by the fact that Robertaine’s seal is engraved on it, it seems that this is the person my parents sent to meet me.

“Brother. Are you inside?”

And from the other side, someone’s voice calling me.

“Is it the butler?”

“Yes, that’s right. The countess asked me to come quickly, so I came to meet you.”

I can understand if it’s a mother’s personality. No, I think it has improved quite a bit lately. In the past, he even came out to meet me.

With the two wagons, the wagon we rode also started to speed up. The mansion is starting to get closer little by little.

“Your Excellency’s parents..”

When I raised my head and looked ahead, I began to see Ariel’s face, which was beginning to be stained with tension somewhere.

“Don’t worry too much. Both of you are warmer than me.”

These are the people who accepted me as their son when I suddenly came upon them when I was young. If such people are not warm, how can anyone in this world be called a warm person?

Soon, the Robertaine Mansion was close enough to be seen. There is no need for a check like before. Already, the carriages on both sides of me were engraved with Robertaine’s patterns.

Of course, even if you are being checked, if you show me your face, they will open the door right away. However, it seems that her mother can’t stand such a process.

As we got closer to the mansion little by little, we began to see the heads of several people. Probably the servants working in the mansion.

And in the middle, a woman with bright yellow hair caught her eye.

‘Mother.’

You can wait at the mansion, but you are here to greet me like this.

When I arrived at the mansion, I slowly got off the carriage. The people who greeted me in front of the carriage were my mother and father.

“Kuhm. I had a lot of trouble coming.”

The first person to greet me after getting off the carriage was my father.

“How did you come to serve as a substitute for the military?”

“I took a day off.”

My father said that, and slightly averted his eyes. The person at the end of the pupil is the mother. It seemed that he knew roughly what the situation was.

“Being a father, how can you not see off her son when he is dispatched to a foreign country?”

“No.. I saw it the day before..”

My mother is slowly approaching this way while glaring at my father. The two of them were relieved because they were the same as usual.

“Wasn’t the road going difficult? Are you eating well?”

“Yes. You don’t have to worry.”

Seeing my mother caressing my face and talking, I also said with a smile.

“Are you not writing a letter to Your Highness?”

“.. Yes?”

I was taken aback by my mother’s sudden words. Why did the princess’s story come out of her mother’s mouth?

“Sometimes they come here to lament.”

“Ah..”

I knew that my mother’s family and the imperial family were distant relatives, and that my father was the princess’s godfather. It was this background that made me become her escort knight.

For that reason, she often stayed at this mansion. It was then that she met her.

That was the day I first met her. When she returned to her mansion after completing her training as a squire, she found a naughty kid wandering around her mansion.

If she knew then that she was the princess, she would have just pretended not to know and ran away.

‘By the way, are you still here?’

A lot of time has passed since those things, but she still seems to be visiting this mansion often recently.

Duck-

And then it was. What sound came from the carriage I got off?

“Who are you with? If there were guests, you should have told us in advance.”

My father’s gaze turned to the carriage. Come to think of it, did I tell you about Ariel?

Soon, the carriage door opened and Ariel began to get off the carriage lightly.

She did not learn the etiquette of a nobleman, so the appearance of getting out of the carriage was not very dignified, but even so, the way she stepped out of the carriage with each step was more than dignified.

“….”

My father was speechless at the sight of him,

“Oops.”

Her mother couldn’t stop admiring her.

“Ah.. Nice to meet you. Girl, I am Ariel, His Excellency’s servant.”

Ariel bowed his head and greeted the two of them. Seeing her like that, her mother’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Welcome. I am the mother of this child. She’s Aran’s knight squire? How did you two meet? Where did you meet?”

Her mother moved her steps in an instant, and she took Ariel’s hands and began to lead her into her mansion.

“Hmm. I understand now.”

Seeing the two of them like that, her father nodded her head and muttered as if he was convinced.

“What do you mean?”

“Not too long ago, Her Highness the Princess sent me a letter. At first, I thought she wanted to invite me to a banquet because she was full of stories about your mother, but that’s not the case.”

“If it is false..”

“I heard you applied for the military, saying you had to go to Hailan right away. That’s a fairly large number. Oh, of course I rejected it. After that, your mother worked hard to convince Her Highness, who came to the mansion in person.”

Hearing her father’s words, I remembered what Ellen had said before leaving.

[You said you brought in a pretty woman?]

Did you tell it to the princess in the end? She didn’t expect her to turn out this way, although she actually expected it.

“If you ever need to see Your Highness later, explain it well.”

Saying that, my father moved into the mansion. I too followed my father into the mansion.

.

.

.

“Ariel-sama, you can use this room.”

After coming inside the mansion, I was so distracted that I couldn’t even remember what had happened.

Talk to His Excellency’s mother, then have dinner together. And now, a man who appeared to be an attendant of the mansion led me to my room.

“Ah, thank you.”

A neat room at a glance. Can I enjoy these luxuries? Just two months ago, I was locked in a narrow and dark prison.

“Do you like the room?”

And then, I heard the voice of a woman next to me. Your Excellency’s mother. The person who sincerely welcomed me, a sudden uninvited guest, without any sign of discomfort.

“Perhaps I was trying to rest, but I wonder if I was bothering you. Maybe because I’m old, I don’t have a chance to talk to my kids these days.”

“Oh, no. It’s not uncomfortable at all.”

“That is very fortunate.”

His Excellency’s mother entered the room. Nobility was buried in her slow movements, and beauty was buried just as well.

She slowly sat down on her desk. As she moves, various attendants fill it with refreshments.

After confirming that His Excellency’s mother nodded, I slowly moved towards her and sat down in front of her.

“The princess deserves such a reaction.”

Your Excellency’s mother, looking at my face and speaking. Ah, I think I heard the name Princess before.

“I told you to tell the princess…”

So, I instinctively opened my mouth. Realizing belatedly that it was rude, I covered my mouth, but the water had already spilled. Even so, His Excellency’s mother didn’t blame my rudeness and just laughed.

“Her Highness the Princess is a distant relative of mine, and Aran’s father serves as Her Highness’s godfather. For that reason, His Highness used to come to this mansion often.”

I also roughly know what kind of existence the princess is. By the way, no matter how distant the two of you are, even if they are distant relatives and godfathers, why did His Highness visit this mansion in person?

I wanted to ask why, but I couldn’t bear it. Because I couldn’t commit the same rudeness as before. I just nodded and listened to His Excellency’s mother’s story.

“You are Aran’s servant, right? If so, I will work for this Robertaine family someday.”

“Yes. Your Excellency is my benefactor. For him, I would do anything.”

“Then, let me tell you about our Robertaine family and the imperial family.”

His Excellency’s mother’s expression turned serious in an instant. Seeing her mother like that, I couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.

“If you dare to tell the story you heard today, we, Robertaine, will find you wherever you are.”

At her words, I still remained silent and looked at her mother. I will find it. Because I don’t know the meaning behind those words.

“Please tell me.”

If I hear more than this, I will never be able to escape from this family. Nevertheless, I told His Excellency’s mother. Please, tell me about it.

Seeing my reaction, His Excellency’s mother nodded her head in satisfaction and began to speak.

“Your Highness the Princess.. So, the 5th Princess we call that, among the children of the Imperial Family, is not the only child of the Empress Mama.”

The moment I heard her words like that, I stepped into the muddy political arena, into the forbidden realm.