Oukoku e Tsuzuku Michi

blunder.
Nobody would consider paper glue to be a tool for escape.

「That’s a former spy for you.
I didn’t think she’d actually escape though.」

I turn to the bed.
Visitacion’s child is supposed to be sleeping there, but the spot is completely empty.

「If she fled with her baby, then the distance she can travel is limited.
I assume she ran towards the south where security is lax.
Let’s send a search party immediately!」

I reject Celia’s proposal.

「Travelling with a baby is already tough.
If we chase and corner her carelessly, she’ll feel forced to run into the forest or the swamp and lose her life.
Let her go.」

Visitacion had sex with me and even bore my child.
If she ran regardless, that means my love and dick wasn’t powerful enough.

「If she comes back, don’t hold her down, welcome her politely.」

Many people are leaving today.
But there is good news too.

Celia and I enter the dining hall.

Waiting there is the former wife of lord Escaote, Rukino, and her son, Seika.

「Ah, Hardlett-sama! Seika, you too!」

The Baroness springs up from her chair and also pulls the cautious Seika to his feet.

The two were small lords of Goldonia who followed a traitorous higher-ranking lord, who was tragically destroyed by Myla.
They were unquestionably criminals and would normally have been hanged.

However, they were spared and left alone after that for some reason.

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In any case, it is certain that I hold their fates in my hand.

「Hahaha, you can’t eat if you’re standing up.」

I embrace Rukino’s shoulder unnecessarily intimately.

「Grrrーー!」

I really want to stick my hand in her cleavage as well, but Seika growls viciously like a cat, warding me away.

Because of this kid’s interference, I’ve only been able to tease Rukino here and there.
Having said that, I don’t want to act like a bandit and violate the mother in front of her son, which leaves me with difficult timings.

「How can you act like that to Aegir-sama, who saved you out of the kindness of his heart!?」

Celia threatens Seika back.
It’s like watching cats fight, how fun.

「I have a little present for you.」

I hand a dress and necklace to Rukino.

「I’m in no position to accept such gifts……」

I push the items onto the refusing Rukino’s hands and whisper in her ear.

「I want to win you over.
You understand why, right?」

She blushes and nods as I lightly brush her hair.
Taking advantage of her weakness is a villainous tactic, although it’s rather amusing in its own right.

「I have one more thing.
This is the real present.」

I leave Celia alone as she begins to grapple with Seika, and briefly exit the room.

I come back pulling the hand of the ‘present’ and open the door.

Rukino drops her cup, while Seika freezes, allowing Celia an opening to execute a beautiful joint lock.

「「Rukue!」「Sister!!」

I let go of Rukue, who makes a beeline to her mother.
Rukino meets the girl with open arms and hugs her.

「Me too!」
「Wah!」

Seika rolls and flips Celia out of her hold and joins the other two in their embrace.
I’m surprised.
I thought he was completely immobilized, but he slipped out instantly.

I pass the stunned Celia and tightly hug the mother and her two children.

「I’m sorry……I’m sorry, Rukue……your mom……your mom……」

「It’s okay, mom.
I knew you had to do it in order to protect the house and Seika.
Besides, we are able to see each other again.」

「Sis……big sister!!」

After the head of the family died, Rukue was sent out to be an apprentice for Count Hanran-whatever in exchange for the weakened Baron house to be taken under his protection.
Obviously, that was only on the surface, and she was really going to be treated as a hostage and sex slave.

In the end, the Count’s house switched to South Yuguria’s side and the Escaote family had no choice but to also follow.

Fortunately, Rukue was merely an apprentice.
She was someone in a grey area, while the Count was eradicated as the clear ringleader of the betrayal.

The case officer deliberated long and hard, finally coming to the conclusion to sentence her to death, but I jumped in, using my authority and physical strength to take Rukue for myself.

「Specifically, you rode in on your hose and punched the sentencing officer!」

It was as Celia said.

The trio cry tears of joy as they are finally able to reunite.
It feels good to see three girls happy.
The muddy emotions in my heart from the Gido and Visitacion incidents are being cleansed.

「There are two girls.
The other one is shitty brat!」

Oh right.
How did I get that wrong?

Eventually Rukino slowly separates from the circle and moves toward me.

I jokingly spread my arms and she dives into my chest without hesitation.

「Ooh……hic……how can I thank……egh.」

She can’t form proper sentences in between sobs.
I try to surprise her by grabbing her butt, but she willingly pushes herself against my hand.

「You let me see Rukue again.
If my ass is what will make you happy, please touch it as much as you want.」

「I am a beast of a man.
If you show me such a sweet face, I might just strip you naked on the spot.」

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Rukino responds by kissing my chin and sliding a sleeve of her shirt off down her arm.

「I don’t mind.
I won’t say you have to take responsibility.
I’m fine with no contraception and no responsibility.」

My groin throbs.
Naturally, it’s a man’s duty to take responsibility.
I also believe that I am qualified to love a woman only if I am willing to take responsibility for getting her pregnant.

But nevertheless, those words coming directly from a woman’s mouth struck me in a way totally opposite to my paternal instincts.
Screaming that throughout the town would give at least half of all the men a boner.

「Mom!」
「Seika.
Don’t disturb them.」

Rukue wraps her arms around Seika, who tries to block me as usual, and she gestures to me to proceed with her hand.
Wow, receiving permission from the daughter on top kind of turns me on, but I can’t go all the way here.

The disgruntled Celia is stuffing her mouth with my portion of bread, plus there are four sets of eyes and boobs peeking from the half-open door.

「Well, let’s put that aside for now.」

I kiss the portion of Rukino’s bare chest that is beginning to show from her clothes shifting and reluctantly adjust her shirt back to its original state.

「Your territory has already been seized by another noble.」

Although there was no official word on the matter, the neighboring lord who did not conspire in the betrayal went ahead and absorbed the land.
Due to our difference in standing, I couldn’t appeal to the kingdom.

「So I will find a suitable place……a small area with at least one city and three villages……could I ask the three of you to be the governors? You may not look skilled at territory management, but Adolph can always step in to help if you’re in trouble.
This will keep House Escaote alive.」

The three of them exchange looks.
They seem to be reflecting on what I said, unsure what it means.

Celia’s mood worsens and she jams more food into her mouth.
She’s becoming more like a mouse than a cat.

I’ll shower them with more information while they’re lost.

「And then I’ll have you, the head of the family, accompany me to evening parties.
If you’re absent for too long, people will misunderstand and believe your household to have fallen.
Attending will confirm your status.」

That causes Rukino’s face to stiffen.

It makes sense.
She didn’t receive any special punishments for being associated with a traitor, but individuals who know the truth will also be participating in the party.
It’s not hard to imagine the dirty looks and mean comments directed at her when she appears in a social gathering.

I give Rukino a thumbs up, indicating to let me handle it, and then take my seat in front of my meal.

「……eh, there’s only salad.」
「Mogu, mogu.」

Celia ate everything else, huh.
Fine, I’ll take it from her mouth.

「Mom, look at this dress, it has a slit in the butt area.」
「Wah, the chest area is also terribly revealing! Not only will it show the shoulders, it shows the nipples too! This man-!!」
「It’s fine, I’m sure Hardlett-sama has a plan.
Mom will do her best for you girls.」

Leave it to me.
I’ll prove to you why I’m called the resourceful general.

「Hgg, hrgh.」
「Now, now, Celia.
Don’t steal the salad too.」

Seeing how the conversation was over, Nonna and the others rush in from behind the door.

「It’s dangerous to shelter someone who worked with a traitor! And if you’re going to attend an evening party, you should go with me, not a freak who emerged out of nowhere! Also, there’s a fluffy fox walking around in the courtyard.
It can make for a fancy fur――」

「Aegir, I’m bored――!! Since the war is over, let’s go hunting!」

「Aegir-san.
Those girls are all still young so it wouldn’t hurt if you left them along for a few years.
Each day for a ripened woman like me is very precious! Pay more attention to me.」

「Hardlett-dono! A combat tournament is going to be held in the neighborhood!! How about you and me enter as a pair!!?」

「Hardlett-sama.
I have finished summing the data for the financial statement for the territory, including that of the new land.
Please spare some time after you finish eating.」

The last remark turned my sunny mood cloudy again.

I’m impressed all of that work was done in one day, but I don’t feel like giving any praise.

「Hggh, hgah……urk!」

「Hey, Celia’s choking! Why is there so much food stuck in her mouth!? Aegir, turn her upside down and shake!」

I go into thinking while I’m holding Celia and jostling her by her legs.
There are the two elves who have become ‘mothers’, Visitacion, and then Rukino……for some reason, I’m encountering lots of moms lately.

I feel a shiver run down my spine when Lucy, who I recently dreamed of, appears in my mind.
I’m not sure I understood its significance.