Chapter 4: 4

Chapter 4: A Mother Who is Easy to Understand and a Father Who is Hard to Understand

　As I landed in front of the mansion, the gatekeepers standing on either side of the gate looked at me with disturbed eyes.
　They were new faces who had not been there three years ago. They probably didn’t know my face. The problem was that the carriage I was using was the cheapest one available to save money. My family is a count family with close ties to the royal family, we receive only influential guests, and those below a certain rank are not even entertained.
　Besides, I’m wearing commoner’s clothes at the moment to keep a low profile. I’m not dressed as a countess. It’s only natural that they don’t know who I am.
　Even if I told them my name, they wouldn’t believe me, and there’s no need to go through the trouble of making a mess. Let’s just get by with our worldly wisdom.

“Excuse me. I understand that this is the residence of Graham-sama, but is there anyone named Cairo here?”

　The gatekeeper nodded at the name Cairo when I asked humbly.

“Oh, are you acquainted with Grandma Cairo?”
“Yes, I’m a close friend.”

　 Grandma Cairo has been my caretaker for many years. She’s someone I feel closer to than my own mother.

“I’m sorry, but could you please tell her I’m here? I haven’t been here in three years.”
“Okay, what’s your name?”
“If you say “Rome,” I think that will do the trick. Once again sorry, and thank you.”

　At my name, the gatekeeper looked as if he had realized something, but after a small laugh and shaking it off as impossible, he allowed me into the gate.
　A few moments after he entered the mansion, a scream came from inside, and an old woman jumped out from the front door.

“Oh, Rommmeee-sssaaammmaaa!”

　The old woman who came running, oblivious to her age, had aged over the past three years and her hair had turned gray.
I hug and catch her before she tumbles over.

“Miss, is that really you?”

“Yes, It’s me, Grandma. I’m so sorry I worried you. I’m home.”
“Oh, thank God, I’m so glad you’re back. I’m so happy to see your face.”

　Grandma Cairo breaks down in a sob, with tears streaming down her wrinkled face.
　The two gatekeepers were surprised to see us crying and hugging each other, so I cleared up the story while she calmed down.

“Oh, my name is Romelia von Graham. I am the daughter of the owner of this house. I have not been back here for three years.”

　The two men stand tall and their faces turn blue as they realize that the person they were staring at was their employer’s daughter.

“Oh, it’s all right. Don’t worry about it. You can continue your work as you were. Come on, old lady, it’s about time you stopped crying, okay?”
“Yes, but I’m so glad to see you.”

　Grandma was just that and more, but I reflect on how much I had worried her.
　After the old woman managed to stop crying, we went in together.
　When we entered the mansion, I saw the butlers and maids. I did not recognize many of their faces.

“There’s so many new faces since I’ve been away.”

　I don’t mean to be prideful, but the Grahams have been a prominent family for a long time. Therefore, there are not many jobs that offer better conditions than working for our family, and the butlers and maids who work for us usually stay with us for a long time. Even though I had been away from home for three years, it was a little surprising to see such a large turnover in the staff.

“That’s the thing, though, miss. There’s been a lot going on.”

　The old woman was trying to say something, but it’ll have to wait. I should probably see father and mother first.

“Grandma, let’s talk about it at length later. Are father and mother here, and are my brothers still abroad?”

　I have two half-brothers who are older than me. However, both of them went abroad to study three years ago, and they aren’t suppose to be back yet.

“Yes, they have not yet returned. The Master and the Mistress are in the living room.”

“Well, then I’ll talk to them first.”

　We headed for the hall where my parents were.
　As I entered the hall, I heard a woman crying, and there sat a tall, elderly man and a fat woman. They were my father and mother.

“Father, mother. I’m back.”

　My father, whom I had not seen in three years, had more wrinkles and gray hair. He also looked a little emaciated.
　On the contrary, my mother was fatter than before. She soaked her handkerchief with tears, and when she saw me, she sobbed and cried even more.

“Oh, my God, what a pity that your engagement to the prince was broken!”
“You, please calm down.”

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　My father tried to soothe her, but she would not stop crying and continued to sob away.

“It’s terrible, oh so terrible. Our family has been loyal to the royal family, and this is how they treat us.”

　Hearing them cry was frustrating.
　Come to think of it, my mother has always been like this. She’s the kind of person that cries a lot anyway, but she’s never shed tears for others. Her tears were only for self-pity. As proof of this, there were no words of comfort for me.

“Go to your room and rest now, and I will make everything all right.”

　Father comforts mother, tells her to go back to her room, and instructs the maid to take her.
　If my mother starts crying, it is more tiring to keep her company. It was best to let her cry as much as she wants in her room.

“Yes, please. There is nothing more I can do.”

　Mother did not speak to me till the end and left crying. She was still crying and screaming when she went out into the hallway, and her voice could be heard even in her room.

　Two sighs overlapped the distant crying. The two eyes who made the sound collided.

I waited a moment for him to say something, but he didn’t open his mouth, so I started again.

“I’m back, father. I’m sorry I left without permission.”

　I can now say that I was out of my mind when I ran away from home three years ago. All I could think about was the departing prince, and not my remaining family or Grandma.
　To be honest, I thought I deserved a slap. Even if I wasn’t, I was prepared for the words of reprimand and abuse that would come my way.
　But none of that happened.
　Father stared at me without flinching. I didn’t know what those thin, open, small eyes of his were thinking.

“Well, ….… and…uh, as I mentioned in my letter, and as I’m sure you’ve already heard, the prince and I had some difficulties during our travels, and we broke off our engagement.”

　Frankly, this is a big blow to our family.
　We had strong ties to the royal family and were counted among the most important vassals supporting them. My marriage to the prince was intended to show that unity both inside and outside the family.
　The fact that the engagement was broken is tantamount to a real loss of power at the center. He will probably not be able to stay in the royal capital and will have to return to his domain.
　I couldn’t complain even if I was disowned, but father did not say anything about this either.
　After a few moments of silence, he finally opened his mouth and asked,

“Are you hurt?”
“? No, I am not hurt.

　During my travels, I had several serious injuries. I fell off a cliff and broke my leg once and I also fell off a horse and dislocated my arm. When I was shot through the shoulder by an arrow fired by a demon, I really thought I was going to die.
　Thankfully, Elisabeth was already with us at the time, so she was able to heal me. However, small scrapes and cuts did not heal, so I am left with a few scars on my body. My skin is also rough from the harsh travels, and my hair is sore.
　Compared to three years ago, when I was playing the role of the “Daughter of the Deep Window,” my skin is probably much dirtier. However, I have no regrets because I am not so attached to my appearance.

“I see, you must be tired. You should take the rest of the day off.”

　I was somewhat bewildered by my father’s attitude, which I didn’t know what to make of, but I had no choice but to go back to the house, where I found the old woman fidgeting and waiting outside.

“Oh, miss, How did it go?”

“He just told me to get some rest, that’s all.

　That was really all there was to it. Mother is easy to understand, but father was rather difficult.

“Please don’t be angry with the Master. After the young lady left, he was told that this was an elopement and that Mademoiselle Rome had seduced the prince.”
“Oh, I see.”

　Elopements are the flower of romance novels, but that’s for the two people who elope, and those who are left behind are left with hell to pay.
　Children’s marriages are decided by their parents, and children obey their parents. If a child elopes against their will, the parents and the family will be seen as not being able to even raise a child well, and they will be pointed at.
　Since I could not speak ill of the royal family, It went along the lines of I seduced him.
　Many of the servants were replaced, probably because many of them left at that time.

“But you found out along the way why the prince departed, didn’t you?”

　To be honest, the prince’s journey was far from smooth and was filled with many detours with twists and turns.
　The royal family had sent a pursuit party to bring him back, and there was also a brief incident when he passed through the territory of a hostile Nation. Because of this, he had to move around often, and word spread of him throughout the country, and it must have been known that he was on a journey to defeat the Demon King.
　At the very least, having saint Elisabeth as a companion should disprove the theory that he had eloped with me.

“Yes, after a while the rumors died down, but with the break-off of this engagement, ……”
“It’s left a bad impression, that I was a slut.”

　I guess they must’ve said a lot of things about me in social circles. But if that is the case, it’s even more strange that father didn’t say anything to me.
　What on earth is he thinking?
　I don’t know, but I soon stopped thinking about it. I had other things to do.

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