Chapter 598 – Reunion with Family

Returning to the Royal Capital after a year away, Tauro and his companions were struck by how lively it was, befitting the largest city in the kingdom. In fact, it seemed even more developed than before.

The crowds were so overwhelming that I felt as though I might get dizzy. Even though I had been granted the title of Honorary Viscount Giro Sugar and was now independent, I decided to head straight to my family home, the Graunewald residence.

“It feels like the population has increased even more compared with last year,” Aeris remarked once their carriage entered the noble district and the noise subsided.

“I thought so too. Did something happen in the capital this past year?” Ankh added.

But since they had all spent that year together, none of them had an answer. They could only exchange puzzled looks.

While the group wondered about the changes in the Royal Capital, their carriage arrived at the Graunewald residence.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. This place hasn’t changed at all,” Tauro said as he stepped down from the carriage and helped Aeris out.

“True… Oh? Tauro, someone’s coming out,” Aeris said, pointing toward the mansion.

As everyone disembarked and looked toward the entrance, someone emerged through the front door, just as Aeris had said.

“Ah! That’s Haku!”

Tauro narrowed his eyes for a better look, then smiled when he recognized Haku, his younger adoptive brother and the heir of House Graunewald.

“Brother! Welcome back! It’s been so long!” Haku called, hurrying toward them.

“I’m back, Haku. But why are you here? I thought you’d still be back in the territory,” Tauro asked, tilting his head.

“Haha! I’ve started attending school in the Royal Capital. More importantly, congratulations on your engagement, Brother, Lady Aeris! Father and Mother were overjoyed when they heard. Mother especially keeps rereading your letter with a smile.”

Haku’s enthusiasm made it obvious how happy the family was about Tauro and Aeris’s engagement.

“Sorry I couldn’t come and tell you in person. But I’m glad they’re doing well,” Tauro replied warmly.

“They’re—as close as ever. And the seeds you left behind have grown beautifully over the past year. They’re bringing great prosperity to our lands,” Haku said happily.

“That’s good to hear. We just got back from the north. Would it be alright if we stayed here?”

“Of course! Everyone, thank you for always looking after my brother. Ah, this isn’t the place to talk. Please, come inside!”

Only then did Haku seem to realize how long he had kept everyone talking at the entrance. Slightly embarrassed by his own excitement, he quickly ushered them inside.

Once inside, Haku immediately instructed the servants to prepare rooms for them.

The rooms they had used before were exactly as they had been a year earlier.

The main differences were that Tauro and Aeris would now share a room as an engaged couple, and that Seth, the boy-shaped autonomous-thinking puppet, was with them.

Haku stared intently at Seth.

“His movements are so smooth, it’s hard to believe he’s a puppet! To think you made something like this, Brother!”

Seth understood that Haku was Tauro’s younger brother and bowed politely to him. The gesture only amazed Haku further.

“How should we arrange the rooms?” Haku asked. He seemed to have taken an immediate liking to Seth and was already treating him more like a person than a puppet.

“Seth can stay with us. There are spare rooms anyway, so he can use one if he needs to wait somewhere,” Tauro replied, smiling at Haku’s excitement.

“Okay. Then I’ll come get you again once Father and Mother return.”

“…Wait, they’re here in the Royal Capital?” Tauro asked in surprise. He had assumed his parents were back in their territory.

“Yes. They wanted to stay until I got used to school life. Today is actually their last day here. They said they were going on a date and went out together,” Haku replied with a grin.

“Haha… They’re as close as ever,” Tauro said with a fond smile. His parents’ relationship had always been something he admired.

“Tauro, let’s take care of some errands before they return,” Aeris suggested.

Once they entered their room, she had Tauro take her clothes out of [Magic Storage] and then promptly pushed him back into the hallway.

　

“I need to get ready. You should use the time to arrange appointments with the people you need to meet in the Royal Capital,” she said before closing the door on him.

“…Brother, you’re already under her thumb, aren’t you?” Haku teased with a laugh at the sight of Tauro being driven out of his room only minutes after entering it.

“Am I? Haha… Well, she has a point. Haku, could you send out some messengers for me?”

Tauro didn’t think his relationship with Aeris had changed much, so he simply smiled and turned to Haku for help.

“Of course. Just tell me who you want to contact.”

Haku handled the matter efficiently and dispatched servants at once.

“I have some time now, so I’ll head out with Pella and Seth. What are the rest of you going to do?” Tauro asked. Since Aeris had chased him out before he could even settle in, he decided to take care of some business in the city.

“I think I’ll relax in my room and have a light drink,” Ankh replied, already asking a servant to bring him some alcohol.

“I heard some senior dragonfolk are in the Royal Capital, so I’ll go greet them.”

Ragune had heard about them in the Dragonfolk Village before coming here, so she was already preparing to leave.

“The Royal Capital is incredibly crowded… so I think I’ll rest,” Zion added, clearly exhausted by the crowds.

“Got it. See you all later, then.”

With that, Tauro asked Haku to prepare a carriage and headed back out into the Royal Capital.