Chapter 12: Moving Out

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I realized that the number of concubines and their children living in the annex had dwindled.

“Toma, you didn’t know? You’re so smart, yet sometimes so clueless.”

Talia looked exasperated.

“Alright, let me explain. Actually, the Lord is retiring. So, they’re looking for homes for us illegitimate children living in the annex.”

“Looking for homes for us? Isn’t this about marriages for the concubines?”

“Anyone who wants to marry is free to do so. But basically, it’s about providing support and having someone take in and manage us illegitimate children.”

“Isn’t it shameful to leave the responsibility for their children to others?”

“Well, for lower-ranking nobles or merchants, taking in and managing us illegitimate children offers a fair amount of benefits.”

“So, it’s a mutually beneficial deal.”

The Marquis family could get rid of unwanted illegitimate children and pass on the Lightstar bloodline to other noble families. Meanwhile, the lower nobles and merchants gain financial or political advantages. It’s an unpleasant look into the adult world.

But none of us will forget the abuse we suffered.

Even if the children eventually inherit those homes, they might rebel against the Lightstar family. But the selfish Lightstar nobles in the main household probably wouldn’t worry about that. They take for granted that everyone will submit to them, so they likely feel no sense of danger.

As Talia explained all this, I grew even more resentful of the people in the Lightstar Marquisate—selfish individuals.

I suppose Roxfall-sama’s offer to take me in as an adopted son came first, then the decision to marry my mother. Although, thinking back, no one explicitly stated the marriage would happen first.

Still, if managing the Lightstar bloodline is so bothersome, they shouldn’t go around making offspring with any woman in sight.

If my mother is only marrying Roxfall-sama to protect me, I may need to stop this from happening. But, seeing as she might be happier with Roxfall-sama than here, I can’t make that decision easily.

I need to talk to her again!

“Talia, thank you for explaining all of this.”

“You’re welcome. But this will be goodbye for us, Toma. I’ll miss you.”

Talia said she would be adopted by a baronial family, and her mother, Louise, would become a baron’s concubine. Many concubines would either become wives or concubines of those who accepted their children.

“I’ll miss you too, Talia.”

“The next time we meet will probably be at the academy. Take care, Toma.”

Talia hugged me tightly.

Aside from my mother, Talia and Louise were the only people who had ever embraced me. Thank you, Talia.

When I went to my mother’s room, I found her happily packing her things, even humming a little tune.

Seeing her so joyful made me feel my worries might have been for nothing.

It looked as though she was genuinely looking forward to joining Roxfall-sama, with joy radiating from her whole body.

“Oh, Toma. Have you finished packing?”

“Yes, I’m done.”

I only had clothes and a few personal items to bring, so it didn’t take long.

“Oh, you’re quick. Hehehe.”

There was no need to check further. I had nothing more to say.

Roxfall-sama came to pick us up.

Of course, neither the Lord nor anyone from the main household came to see us off. It would have been awkward if they had.

“Roxfall-sama, thank you for taking us in.”

“The pleasure is mine, Toma. And you as well, Alyusha.”

“Thank you, Roxfall-sama.”

My mother and I bowed deeply to Roxfall-sama. He hurriedly told us to raise our heads, but I couldn’t help feeling immense gratitude for taking my mother away from this wretched household.

Roxfall-sama rode on horseback, accompanied by four soldiers, a covered carriage, and a supply cart.

My mother’s belongings filled two bags, and mine only one, so they quickly loaded everything onto the cart, and we set off.

The carriage was just for my mother and me.

The journey went smoothly, and near sunset a few days later, we arrived in a small village nestled in the mountains.

Along the way, we encountered monsters several times, but Roxfall-sama dispatched them with a single slash each time.

Roxfall-sama was incredibly strong.

Monsters come in many types. Beast-like ones are called demonic beasts, bird-like ones are demonic birds, insect-like ones are demonic insects, fish-like ones are demonic fish, and anything else is simply called a monster or creature.

Watching monsters splatter didn’t bother me, but their blood-red eyes reminded me of something terrifying from my past. Those eyes looked just like my father’s when he used to abuse me.

Monsters are frightening, but I have to face that fear if I ever want to stand up to those trash gods.

The best way to level up is by hunting monsters, after all.

Roxfall-sama was much stronger than I expected, so I decided to use my skill to check his status.

“Ohhh…”

I couldn’t help but gasp.

Roxfall-sama’s rank was B, his blessing was “Earth Magic Warrior,” and his level was an astonishing 320.

He was the highest-leveled person I had seen so far.

Even the four soldiers with him were quite high-leveled. Roxfall’s household must be filled with elite fighters.

The highest-level soldier in the Marquis household was at level 180. The fact that Roxfall-sama’s level was 140 points higher than that was remarkable.

The Lord’s level was 49, and his grandson Jaiz was level 2. It seemed that people of higher status tended to have lower levels, so why was Roxfall-sama so high-leveled?

“This is my home. It’s much smaller than the Lightstar annex, but I hope it will suffice.”

The property was about 30 meters by 50 meters—quite spacious.

The building itself was about 60 tsubo (Japanese measurement, about 200 square meters) with two stories, making it around 100 tsubo in total. In Japan, it would be considered a large house, with its humble stonework and orange-tiled roof.

“Oh no, it’s more than enough for us.”

She’s right. Compared to the storage room, any place is a mansion.

Three servants lined up in front of the Roxfall residence: an elderly butler, an elderly maid, and a young maid around ten years old.

“Welcome home, sir.”

“Welcome home, sir!”

Roxfall-sama’s household included these three, along with a coachman who doubled as a gardener. There was also a butler and a maid who managed his residence in the royal capital.

It seemed that, unlike the Marquis household, knightly households like his operated with fewer staff.

The elderly butler was Johnson Bobson (60 years old), with salt-and-pepper hair and blue eyes.

The elderly maid was Sara Bobson (60 years old), with white hair and brown eyes (Johnson’s wife).

The young maid was Lara Bobson (10 years old), with green hair and brown eyes (the Bobsons’ granddaughter).

The coachman, who also served as the gardener, was Otto Ayle (32 years old), with red hair and green eyes.

The butler and maid who managed the capital estate were Lara’s parents.

“We look forward to being in your care.”

“Thank you for having us.”

My mother and I greeted everyone and stepped inside our new home.