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TL: ALT
Chapter 25 – Family Reunion
After his meeting with Lord Moye, Wataru breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he felt the noble had opened up to him a little, the meeting still forced him into an extremely tense state.
Although he knew it wouldn’t result in an immediate death sentence for him and his relatives, he was still afraid of incurring Moye’s displeasure in some unforeseen way.
This was not just a foreign country; it was a different world altogether, with different cultures and norms.
He always had to consult with Mariel and Aire beforehand to ensure that his gifts wouldn’t be considered rude.
“Seems he liked it.”
“He was in quite a good mood, wasn’t he?”
“Next is meeting Mariel’s parents. I’ll make the initial introductions, and then you two can enjoy some family time alone.”
“Thank you for everything. I never imagined that I, a slave, would see my parents again.”
Mariel bowed deeply.
Slaves rarely see their parents unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Most only return home after their service ends and they are freed.
If they became slaves at a certain age, it often meant a permanent separation.
Mariel’s parents were temporarily staying in a house some distance from the lord’s mansion.
Perhaps because they held some noble rank, their neighborhood was in an upscale district.
When we announced our visit, Mariel’s parents promptly came out to greet us.
For nobles, their footwork seemed surprisingly nimble, though this was common among rural lords. Above all, considering how the parents felt about reuniting with their daughter, they likely wanted to see her immediately rather than adhere to formalities.
Mariel ran toward her parents and embraced them.
“Father! Mother!”
“Oh, Mariel!”
“You both look well. I’m so glad.”
Usually composed, Mariel was overcome with emotion, her eyes glistening with tears.
Her father patted her on the back lightly, his voice trembling.
“You too. We’re sorry we were such failures and caused you so much hardship.”
“When you became a slave, I thought I might never see you again. Seeing you here, healthy and well… I’m so happy.”
“I thought I’d never see you again, either. But my master said he’d make sure we met. Oh, this is my current master, Wataru-sama.”
Mariel wanted to linger in the emotion of their reunion, but she broke free from the embrace to introduce Wataru.
Honestly, she was too considerate for her own good.
At a time like this, she should have taken more time to simply be happy.
But Mariel’s parents also snapped to attention and straightened their posture. Perhaps, for those raised as nobility, such decorum came naturally.
As expected of Mariel’s parents, they both possessed refined features.
Her father was a distinguished gentleman with an impressive beard, tall and solidly built.
Her mother gave an ethereal impression.
She looked so youthful that Wataru wondered if she was truly Mariel’s mother. Though he didn’t stare, he thought Mariel’s splendid figure must have been inherited from her mother.
They both had complexions showing no sign of fatigue from the long journey. They must have been recovering slowly.
“Pleased to meet you. Lord Moye has informed me of the situation. I am Daniel, Mariel’s father. This is my wife, Marina.”
“I am Marina. Thank you very much for your efforts in this matter.”
Daniel and Marina both bowed deeply, causing Wataru, Aire, and Cloche to gasp.
It was extremely rare for nobles to bow to commoners.
This was because their loyalty was pledged to the king.
In feudal society, those of a higher rank did not bow to those of a lower rank.
They must not bow.
Therefore, Daniel and Marina’s deep bows signified their profound gratitude toward Wataru.
Wataru immediately knelt on the spot.
To avoid embarrassing the two who had bowed, he had no choice but to lower himself further.
If any stranger had seen this, they would have looked down on Daniel and Marina at least formally.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Wataru. Please raise your heads. I’m the one Mariel is helping. This time, I simply wanted to repay her in some small way. Mariel deserves the praise, not me.”
“Master…”
Mariel’s eyes glistened with emotion, but Wataru’s sentiment was genuine.
Without Mariel’s help, Wataru’s current success would have been very different.
It’s doubtful that he would have secured connections with the nobility. Even if he had, the likelihood of painful failure would have been high.
He had a reliable bodyguard, Aire, and an assistant, Mariel, whose judgment he could trust.
Wataru was keenly aware that gaining these two was an immense stroke of luck.
Moreover, he had already shared physical intimacy with Mariel, Aire, and Cloche, and feelings had blossomed.
Though their relationship was master and slave, Wataru naturally wanted to fulfill her wishes.
“Your daughter is quick-witted and has been a great help to my business. She’s a splendid girl. It’s proof that she received an excellent upbringing from her parents.”
“Hahaha… We’re fallen nobility, so it’s rather embarrassing.”
“I understand that was beyond your control. There’s just one thing that doesn’t sit quite right with me, and I’d like to ask you about it. I realize this might sound rude, but would you mind telling me what it is?”
“What is it? I suppose I can forgive most things when it comes to my daughter’s benefactor.”
Ever since hearing about her parents, this had been weighing on his mind.
“Why did you relinquish Mariel? Ultimately, you gave up the territory and paid off the debts, didn’t you?”
“Ah, well. That pertains to our country’s policies, so I must ask you to keep it confidential.”
“At the time, managing the territory had been going poorly for a long while. That’s when the reconstruction plan came up.”
“Yes.”
“The country would provide subsidies to repair the roads and compensate some farmers. The territory lacked assets, and we were headed for bankruptcy either way if things continued as they were. Even if we had to let Mariel go temporarily, we were certain we could get her back someday. That was the thinking.”
“But it didn’t turn out that way.”
“That’s right. The governor at the time refused to approve the plan. They pulled the rug out from under us. They claimed there was a policy with greater economic impact.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
Wataru couldn’t tell if such a policy truly existed.
It might have been real, or perhaps the reconstruction plan itself was a political maneuver from the beginning.
The only clear thing was that this plan was the starting point for Mariel becoming a slave she never should have been.
For Wataru, it was incredibly fortunate. For Mariel and the others, it was terribly unfortunate.
“Mariel hasn’t seen her parents in a long time. You must have a lot to talk about. We’ll step aside so you can take your time.”
He wasn’t uninterested in Daniel and Marina, but he wanted Mariel to spend time with her family more than anything.
He firmly urged Mariel, who was trying to decline, and left the room.
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