Chapter 602 – Reporting to the Family
Without even realizing it, Tauro had become a noble who owned a territory. It was a rather forceful arrangement, but one that had been made with the royal family’s approval.
From what he had heard, it was technically possible to sell the territory back to the royal family. However, the discovery of the rare metal Orichalcum within its mountains had caused the territory’s value to skyrocket.
Its value would likely far surpass that of the former Saissi territory.
Because of that, selling it back to the royal family for dozens of times its original purchase price felt wrong to Tauro.
He had acquired the territory without doing anything himself, so he even considered returning it at a lower price. Prince Fleue had recommended the land in the first place, which made Tauro feel a little guilty about the situation. On the other hand, the prince might simply be pleased that its value had multiplied so dramatically.
Tauro decided to discuss the matter with Prince Fleue when they met.
Afterward, Tauro’s meeting with Garfish continued. They discussed improved versions of Tauro’s inventions, nationwide expansion of his curry restaurant, and even commercialization of the yakiniku sauce Tauro had recently devised. The time passed quickly.
“Then we’ll proceed as we discussed. By the way, Lord Tauro… that puppet accompanying you—Seth, was it? Could you make another one? I’d love to have one for the company.”
Garfish had clearly taken an interest in Seth, the boy-shaped autonomous-thinking puppet, and was hoping to purchase one like him.
“Haha, I’m afraid not. Seth exists because of my [Puppeteer] and [Creation Magic]. I was able to reconstruct one core from the fragments of the four destroyed ones, but I doubt anyone else could control a puppet like Seth. He’s fundamentally designed to obey me as both his creator and puppeteer.”
Seth, standing behind Tauro, nodded in agreement with the explanation.
“Haha, that’s a shame. Well, I thought it was worth asking. Still, Lord Tauro, you’ve grown a great deal in only a year. Ah, I don’t mean physically—I mean your abilities. Prince Fleue will be delighted to hear how much you’ve progressed. And when he hears about your engagement… oh, I’m sure he’ll make quite a fuss!”
Garfish laughed, disappointed that he couldn’t acquire a Seth of his own but genuinely delighted by Tauro’s growth and engagement.
“I’ve already sent a messenger to request an audience with Prince Fleue, so I should be seeing him soon.”
Tauro was looking forward to telling his close friend everything that had happened.
I’m sure he’ll be happier than anyone to hear the news.
Come to think of it, Prince Fleue was the person most worried about Aeris’s and my future.
“Soon, you say? Actually, we sent word to His Highness when you arrived here, so a reply should come at any moment.”
“A reply?”
Tauro tilted his head.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
After Garfish called, “Come in,” a servant hurried into the room and whispered something in his ear.
“Lord Tauro! A message from Prince Fleue. His Highness will make time for you tomorrow, so please come to the Royal Castle. Hahaha!”
Garfish laughed cheerfully.
“Haha… I thought it’d take longer to arrange a meeting because he must be busy. I hope it’s really alright…”
Tauro smiled wryly at how quickly the answer had arrived.
After leaving the Garfish Trading Company, Tauro returned to the Graunewald residence as evening fell.
“Tauro! You disappeared for an entire year without contacting us! We were worried sick—and now you come back engaged?!”
By the time Tauro arrived, his parents had already returned and were waiting for him at the entrance.
The first thing he received was a lecture from his adoptive father, Count Graunewald.
“Dear, today is a happy occasion. Let’s not scold him. Welcome home, Tauro—and congratulations on your engagement.”
His adoptive mother, Countess Aida Graunewald, embraced him warmly as she offered her congratulations.
“Hey now, am I the villain here?”
The count complained jokingly about his wife’s “betrayal,” but he couldn’t hide his joy at Tauro’s safe return and engagement to Aeris, the daughter of his close friend Marquis Van Dyne. He soon gave up on the lecture and joined the embrace.
“Father and Mother were both worried the whole time because we never heard from you, Brother,” Haku added, voicing the family’s feelings.
Haku, Tauro’s younger adoptive brother, looked just as relieved as their parents.
“Father, Mother, I’m sorry for worrying you. And thank you for caring so much.”
Still held by his parents, Tauro apologized and thanked them at the same time.
“Alright, reunion complete. Lady Aeris is waiting in the dining hall. Let’s go.”
Count Graunewald smiled broadly, and the family headed to dinner together for the first time in a long while.
Ragune, Ankh, and Zion were already seated in the dining hall, all dressed for the occasion.
Aeris stood nervously beside her chair, fidgeting in a beautiful dress.
She looked different from her usual adventuring self, and Tauro stopped in his tracks, completely captivated.
“…Don’t just stare. Say something nice…”
Blushing beneath his gaze, Aeris struck a small pose to show off the dress she had carefully chosen.
“Yeah… You’re always beautiful, but… you look especially beautiful in that dress.”
Tauro blushed as well and sincerely complimented his fiancée.
After that, everyone shared a lively dinner with the Graunewald family, talking about the past year and Tauro and Aeris’s engagement.
“My son always does things far beyond anything I imagine, but who would’ve guessed he’d come back engaged to Lady Aeris? Hahaha!”
Count Graunewald remained in high spirits throughout the meal, celebrating Tauro’s happiness and even teasing Haku that he would be next.
Ankh, an old acquaintance of the count, joined him in drinking, and before long the two men were thoroughly drunk and noisy.
As punishment for getting so rowdy, Tauro used [Status Ailment Recovery] and instantly sobered both of them up. them to instantly sober them up.