Chapter 123 - Interlude: Yuri and Pence Thereafter
Interlude: Yuri and Pence's Aftermath
"I'm tired. I can't beat age."
After returning, Yuri went straight to the territorial army barracks with the soldiers to finish putting away his equipment, and finally returned home to take a breath.
It had already been nearly five years since the time he spent traveling across the country as a mercenary. As he approached forty, this deployment had taken quite a toll on a body that was beginning to show signs of decline compared to his prime.
Plumping himself down into a chair in the living room, he picked up his son, Yakov, who had approached him while supporting himself by holding onto furniture.
"Look, Father's home."
"Dada, welcome home."
"Oh, your speech is getting even better, isn't it?"
From around the time he passed one year old, Yakov had begun to speak meaningful words little by little. Since Yuri had no experience raising children, he didn't feel it strongly, but apparently, this was quite fast growth compared to children in general.
Watching Yakov frolic and giggle as he was held up, Yuri's face softened. It was a loose smile he would absolutely never show to anyone outside the family.
"My my, even after returning for the first time in a while, you're attending to Yakov instead of me again?"
Beside Yuri, Mai said in an exasperated voice while placing a cup of tea on the table.
As Yakov grew, Yuri's doting father tendencies increased, and before the deployment, he had spent all his time with Yakov as soon as he returned from work. It seemed that didn't change even after returning from war.
"What, did you want me to attend to you too?"
"That's... obvious, isn't it? Welcome home."
"Yeah."
For Mai, who had also fought alongside Yuri as a mercenary, simply waiting for his return was something that truly hadn't happened in a long time. Not since she was a child, used by Yuri as a chore-girl for the mercenary group.
When one is on the waiting side, worry accumulates, and one becomes lonely.
Without saying anything, Mai wrapped both arms around Yuri from behind and hugged him. Yuri let her do as she pleased.
"...Attend to Yakov properly for now. But once this child is fast asleep, I'll have you attend to me."
"...Yeah."
.....
"Wow, so this is where our love nest will be from today~"
"Don't put it in such a weird way."
Pence's house—upon entering the house where Pence and Rosetta would live from today, she muttered that first. Until now, Rosetta had been a live-in maid at the lord's mansion, but from now on, she would work as a commuter.
The personal belongings she brought after vacating her room at the mansion consisted of only one slightly large bag. Inside were only a change of private clothes, small items, cosmetics, and a small amount of savings. Such were the possessions of a commoner.
"Madam, I look forward to working with you from now on."
"Wow, being called Madam... I'm blushing~"
"Come on, return the greeting properly before you blush."
Those calling Rosetta "Madam" were the serfs owned by Pence.
Pence, who worked as a retainer while also owning his own farmland, left the management of that land to the serfs. Initially, there was only one, but he had newly purchased a female serf as a wife for the serf of marriageable age and had them marry.
Usually, the serf couple lived in a hut next to Pence's home, but they entered and performed housework in place of the busy Pence. Thinking that they would likely encounter her often if the master welcomed a wife, they had come here to introduce themselves as quickly as possible.
"Ehehe, I look forward to working with you both too~"
"As I've mentioned before, Rosetta is employed as a maid at Noein-sama's mansion. Therefore, I think there will be many times when both of us are away from home. I believe I'll be relying on you for the house matters in the future, but..."
"Yes, it is fine."
"Please command us at any time."
As a vice-captain of the retainers, Pence earned a reasonably high salary, and further had income from the farmland, so he gave the serf couple a higher wage than normal. Because of this, both of them had high motivation for their work.
"Well then, Rosetta, my... no, our bedroom is this way. Your luggage..."
"Yes... ehehe."
Happy that Pence had corrected himself, Rosetta followed after him with a small laugh.