91 [2-25] Are you talking to your family? (1/2)

A baritone's voice echoed from the study of the Earl of Keighley's castle.

The study is a room for relaxation and often serves as the office as well.

However, since the castle separates the office from the study, the study was purely a private space for the lord of the castle, Oswald.

Oswald sang the tragic story of a man who fell in love with a fairy queen, accompanied by a small magic lyre that played automatically.

As an aristocrat, one must master at least one of the arts or be accused of being illiterate.

This may seem surprising because of his stiff image, but Oswald was very good at singing.

However, when he was about to reach the climax (the chorus), Oswald stopped singing and turned off the automatic music.

This was because he felt the presence of a person behind the door.

As Oswald stops singing, someone knocks on the door and enters the room.

”Father. Am I interrupting your training?

The man who comes into the room is a young man in a dark blue suit with the same citrus-colored hair as Oswald. His movements were square-shaped and jerky, as if he had wires in his body.

Trevor Henrik Keeley. Oswald's eldest son and next lord. A man with the air of a competent official, in other words, much like his father.

”No. No, it's just a distraction. What's the matter, Trevor?

Steve's arrived.

Hey, Dad!　It's been a long time!

A shadow about two sizes too big peeks out from behind Trevor, who is a little less than dignified.

I'm not sure what to make of it. He looks like a bandit wearing a beast skin cape over his scarred armor.

This is Steve Adrian Keeley. He is the third son of Oswald.

He is the third son of Oswald, a man who has been living as an adventurer in the Gilesh Hathar Commonwealth since his semi-abandonment.

Trevor poked him in the head when he heard Steve's light greeting.

”Hey. Say father.

I haven't seen your face in ...... years, and you've gotten all vulgar.

”You said it, brother.

”Ha-ha-ha, but you're getting tougher, too.

Oswald greeted Steve and patted him on the back, which was now much wider than it had been.

When he left home as an adult, he was still an immature boy swordsman, but now he is a full-fledged adventurer. I had talked to him a few times at the communications station, but it had been a long time since we had met.

I'd like to be happy to see him again and have a leisurely chat, but ...... that's not going to happen.

I heard Priscilla is back too?

Yeah. She's hanging on to Catherine 24/7.

Steve. I'm sorry to be the first to arrive, but we're on a clock. Let's talk about where we are and where we're going.

Trevor, go get Priscilla and Hadley. And ......, Catherine.

*

The entire Count family, except for the Countess, was gathered in the study.

It was not a place that would normally be used for a family meeting, but it was to use the materials in the study.

Books on demons and magic were pulled out from the bookshelves and piled up.

It's been a while since we've seen each other, though.

”Yes. I'm really surprised. I didn't expect that Steve would come back as a great bandit.

The man who'd made fun of Steve was Hadley Kasper Keeley. Oswald's second son.

He and the eldest son, Trevor, are twins and look exactly alike, so it was decided that Trevor would wear blue and Hadley would wear red.

Although Hadley was not a legitimate son, he was a reserve in case something happened to Trevor, the eldest son. He never left the house like Steve did, but helped his father run the estate.

When teased, Steve shrugs his shoulders in a tone of annoyance.

That's what most adventurers are like.　I'm sure you've heard of it.

...... By the way, Dad. Why is Catherine here?

I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

Considering the agenda of this family meeting, Steve thought that Katherine's presence would be unavoidable and not something to be heard.

But Oswald shook his head with a somber expression.

It's necessary. Catherine was one of the parties involved, and she was voluntarily investigating ...... the Rose of Hell.”

”...... Catherine?

Well, anyway, let's start with what happened. Can you talk?　Catherine.

Yes, Father.

And then Catherine told me about the events of that day.

That day when the royal capital was raided by the Rose Princess of Hell and she herself was taken prisoner.

That day when Teiralare, which boasted a history of over a hundred years, was attacked by an immortal army in just a few hours.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea.

...... The First Order was almost completely destroyed. The second knight order has only a few survivors, including the commander. It is believed that not only his Majesty but even his courtiers were almost all killed.

”Jesus Christ, man. ...... It's even worse than I thought.

Steve let out a shuddering sigh as Oswald concluded his story.

Incidentally, Catherine was sitting on Priscilla's lap being hugged the whole time they were talking about this.

When Priscilla finished listening to Catherine's story, she hugged Catherine deeply as if to reassure her that Catherine was safe.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm going to do it. I was so worried about you that I couldn't even eat. I was so worried that I couldn't even eat. I tried to contact you through the communications station, but I couldn't get through. ......!

When I heard that the mighty undead had invaded King's Landing, I was so worried that I doubled the number of times I kissed your likeness, and the next day I increased it fivefold, and on the third day I threw everything away and ran out of the academy.

I can't believe I'm in King's Landing and I'm being held captive by the Rose Princess of Hell!

Oh no!　I'm so glad you're okay!　I'm sure this is God's will for me.

A tall woman with long, citrus-colored hair braided like a crown. She had a mature face and body, but with a girlish innocence about her.

She was holding Catherine tightly and was swooning over her.

She was holding Catherine tightly and was holding her firmly in place, not caring if Catherine twisted around in annoyance.

Her name is Priscilla Mayu Kiely. Oswald's eldest daughter.

With her mother's talent for sacred magic, she is an elite cleric's egg studying at the Temple Academy of the Holy Kingdom of Diretta.

She wore the Temple Academy uniform, a white dress similar to a monk's uniform. She was wearing a white dress that resembled a monk's uniform.

”No, Sister. I was allowed to live because of the whims and nobility of the ...... princess.

There was no such thing as God's will for that place. ......