Tonight， You Will Be Mine. 296

Chapter 296 – 29. Bitches (6)

The warmth of the fire warmed the living room. The drawing room, drenched in deep, reddish lighting, was buzzing with the sound of cheerful laughter. It was nice to see everyone enjoying themselves even though they hadn’t had dinner yet.

“Did everyone wait long?”

Of course, the war of nerves between Henrietta and Marguerite, the two people who sometimes regarded each other as a thorn in the eye, was quite bloody. However, even the moment when the blood dried up like this was, in a way, a moment of daily life created by precious peace.

“Ah, Mr. West!”

“Romuald, come sit here!”

Her mother and daughter sat in a circle at a round table close to her and spoke to her with delight. They were Lemoang, who delighted the eyes with their brilliant blonde hair. It was the co-consort of Romuald, Baron of Ardennes, and a family that even those who did not know about it would feel that they were innocent.

“It looks like I’m the last one.”

Rom, scratching the back of his head as if embarrassed, moved to Lucienne’s side. He doesn’t care much about the gaze of others, so he usually wears a shabby tunic, but for some reason, he put his heart and soul into it.

Blues, a traditional Gallic top, trousers cut with layers of silk, a cowhide belt, and a wool cloak worn for cold weather.

A man whose identity was difficult to guess due to his shabby appearance has now been reborn as a nobleman who is handsome just by looking at him. It meant that this dinner had a great meaning to Rom. Because this moment was the scene that the knight in his previous life who had suffered hardships and trials truly dreamed of.

“Sorry. I was late because I was nervous in many ways. I’m used to competing for life and death against enemies with the intent to kill, but I wonder why my heart beats so fast standing in front of people who are special to me…”

The baron, who had a grim scar on his face, made a mockery of it. It was unusual for him to start with simple words on a subject that looked like there would be no blood or tears from the outside.

“The northern frozen land, someone’s hometown and the land where I decided to settle down, was able to achieve today’s revival thanks to you. You are the reason why the wandering knight, who was not welcomed anywhere, was able to build a decent family and talk like this.”

Hagiya, because he resembled his mother in Cortijan, and his appearance was outstanding. If it had not been for the scars left by life in the tumultuous journey, it was clear that this handsome man would have received even more love.

“As a child, I always longed for a family. I wanted to fill a heart that was so empty and sore with warm love. With the people who made it possible to endure the hellish life day by day.”

Having said that, Rom suddenly looked to his left. There, he met eyes with his sister, who had been showing an uncomfortable feeling a while ago. She was on her nerves, but she was taken aback when her youngest, who had unexpectedly grown up, thanked me.

“Sister Marguerite, thank you for always supporting this younger sister who is lacking. You are irreplaceable and precious to me. He corrected the life of a guy who could have gone astray and always guided him to the right path.”

“Rom…”

“In that sense, I would like to take this opportunity to earnestly ask you. In an age of war clouds like these days, there is no guarantee that even a person who has devoted himself to religion will be safe. Would you like to settle here with me and live happily ever after?”

Soon, Marguerite, who had a hearty expression on her face, nodded.

“Nanny Anais and Uncle Leonard told the timid and fearful child of the brave warriors who always roam the frozen lands on sleepless nights. The reason why the unknowing kid dreamed of becoming a knight came from that.”

“Bocchan has been imaginative since he was little. Every time I tell you the legend of my tribe, I can feel your eyes twinkling and concentrating. I don’t know, but I thought I would properly pursue the romance of knighthood when I grow up.”

“All my husband and I did was tell an unfamiliar fairy tale. It doesn’t sound like something to be thankful for. The things you have won now are the result of your hard work.”

She wasn’t the only one. After her sister, who expressed her positive intention, saying that she had nothing to say, Rome, who also pointed out a couple with her childhood, expressed her gratitude again. It was a part that explained why her man, who was not particularly interested in adornment, dressed up like this.

“No, the place you two occupy in my life is too big for me to readily admit such modesty. Just as I regard the frozen land as my hometown, my nanny and uncle are actually like my parents.”

Anais with a big smile and Leonard with tears in his eyes were proud.

“Therefore, I would like to offer you two new jobs. As the owner of the Ardennes family, I promise to serve you generously. Would you please stay here and become a nanny and butler for my children in the future?”

“Huh, that’s a nice word. We have no reason to refuse.”

“Miss Marguerite and Master Romuald are the benefactors who allowed Anais and I to revisit the hometown we had to leave as if we were running away. You don’t know how proud I am of the achievement of ending even the conflict between the frozen land and the great snowfield and achieving peace.”

“I guess I’m too old now. For some reason, there are a lot of words every week. Anyway, what I want to tell you is that I will do my best to repay you.”

The elderly couple nodded their heads without asking anyone first. Anais, who boasted a robust physique that was comparable to that of any other young man, even rolled up his sleeves to show off his bulging muscles. She was an expression of her confidence that she would raise her children strong like the grown-up she once was called godmother.

“Employees of the Lemoang family have boasted of their unwavering loyalty for a long time. The inside story behind how the citadel, which had been in chaos since the death of Marquis Gerard, was able to somehow manage its livelihood was definitely your silent devotion.”

And around that time, those who attended the dinner began to realize one by one. The commemorative speech recited by Romuald, Baron of Ardennes, contains the meaning of praise for those who have devoted themselves unknowingly or unknowingly.

“The Ardennes family will only honor that loyalty that money cannot buy. From now on, employees will be given three benefits. One is financial loans and full tax exemption for those who want to start a business, two are pensions and official residences for those who want to retire, and the third is to repair tangible and intangible wishes in return for the merits shown so far.”

In other words, it was an aspiration. Although the reputation of a single person may be great, it was an expression of his will to prosper in earnest by promoting his family, which was only a façade when looking at his family.

“Anyone have any questions?”

The maids, who were dazed and blinking their eyes, suddenly raised their hands. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been drinking, but he seemed to be already drunk.

“Baron! It’s been my dream since I was little to open a clothing store, but then…”

“Yes, we promise to rent downtown land, construction costs, and livelihood support for the next year. After opening the dressing room, please ask me too. As you know, I don’t have the talent to wear original clothes.”

A question and answer with a maid whose long hair and freckles stood out.

“Hey, every time I come to work, I’m worried that my mother is home alone… !”

“Retire and get a pension. If there is a place you like anywhere in the city, we will provide it. Sooner or later, I want to develop a snow mountain hot spring as part of a city tourism project, so I would like to recommend that you and your mother work as a manager there.”

A question-and-answer with a maid who is short and has her hair tied in two pigtails.

“I have a younger brother, and he is really smart. She wants to send her to the capital to study abroad so she can go to university, can you help me? I’m on the side of living a little better these days, but my family’s situation is still poor…”

“Oops, I didn’t even think of going to college because I was a ignorant knight. If it’s okay, we’ll set up a learning center that won’t lose to the capital as soon as possible, so why don’t you put your decision on hold? If you want, I will pay for everything right away.”

Q&A with a slim, mature maid with bobbed hair.

“Do you have any more questions? If you are interested, please feel free to visit my office anytime from tomorrow. On behalf of the Baroness of Ardennes and the Marquis of Lemoyn, I would like to express my deepest gratitude again for your hard work.”

Rom, who had a conversation with many other people, moved on to the next one. I looked at Antoine and Annette, who seemed to have developed a good relationship.

“Chief of the 10th department, our family’s glory has always had you, who did not hesitate to serve as a distant and dangerous messenger. Having walked the battlefield alone for a long time, if I had to choose a trusted comrade, I would shout the name Antoine without hesitation.”

“Baron…”

“I offer you the first vassal of the Baron Ardennes. Regardless of your title, please become my servant and join me in the cause of achieving my reign.”

A man who was born in a barren land and had to bear the sorrow of losing his family finally wept. Unable to hold back any longer, he jumped up from his seat and got down on one knee in front of everyone.

“My lord, I declare that I will give you this one life.”

Even Rome, who had been pretending to be calm all along, seemed helpless. He grinned at the feeling that he was about to burst into tears, and this time he spoke to Annette.

“Mrs. Annette, as you have declared to the public, Madame LeBlanc is now my concubine. I don’t know how you, who were employees of the Duke’s family, will accept this series of facts, but it is. Henrietta LeBlanc’s name means her family to me, and in the same vein you have indebted me.”

“With all due respect, I think the same is true of master-servant relationships. In the flow of time, it often becomes a concept similar to family. Master is a person who means no small thing to me and to my colleagues under me. I dare to treat you as a family member, just like the baron does.”

“The family of a family is still a family. If all of them were to come together, it would be a very bustling, big family. I would like the lady-in-waiting and everyone to become new members of my family.”

Brightly, those who had previously sat together with Margaret gazed at Annette in unison. It was a situation that could have felt quite burdensome, but skillful responses continued, as if the position of maid of honor of the duchy had not been obtained for nothing.

“… I will do my best even though I am lacking in body, Head of Household.”

Seeing that Henrietta, who was sitting far away from her, liked her happy face, it seemed that she had some kind of communication in a short moment.

“Okay then, this is the last time.”

No matter how meaningful a speech is, if it is long, it will become boring, and the baron, who thought that he should stop talking about trivial things, turned the topic to a woman who was full of a worthwhile expression from afar.

“Madame Marion, if there is an adult to be respected most in this Marquis, it is by far you. Just as Nanny Anais is like a mother to me, the blind maid is a mother to Orianne and Henrietta.”

“I just did my duty, so I don’t know what to do with overeating.”

In a previous life, when the vice-count’s faction revolted, it was thanks to whom Rom and the margrave’s family were able to escape. It was thanks to the maid who risked her life to block the passage. Marion, a nanny of the Aquitaine family, was truly deserving of being her mother-in-law to the baron.

“Please continue to be together as a family that is not related by blood, but by ties. That’s all I want to say. It’s only natural to ask the head maid to take care of the Ardennes house.”

“I devote myself to not becoming a nuisance to the family with consistent sincerity. It’s a substitute, but please make Miss Oriane and Miss Henrietta happy…”

Yes, of course it was. Finally, having honored all the attendees, Rom grabbed a tall glass from the table in front of me. It was a very improvisational action for a baron with an insignificant amount of alcohol. Not to mention, the liquor in the glass was strong distilled spirit, Lucienne’s high-end taste.

“… No! I will make all my people happy!”

Everyone at the round tables poured their favorite drinks into their respective glasses as if they had promised. As it was, it was held up high along the lead of the banquet and prepared for the unison.

“Everybody, you can point your finger at me for being greedy! Since I was born, I will dream big, keep it deep, and strive to achieve it as long as I live! The past of despair swept away by the cruel era is in the past, and today is the day to walk hand in hand with loved ones!”

It was a truly dramatic moment. Such was the scene in which a considerable number of people were united and intoxicated with a heated atmosphere. Now, there is nothing new about it, and it shimmers dazzlingly as if hinting at the bright and hopeful future of this land.

“Therefore, thank you and love you all!”

“Eat and drink! Dance and sing!”

“For Baron Ardennes! For the frozen land!”

“Towards the day when everyone will be happy together, cheers!”

It was a beautiful dinner.

* * *

“After the evening, the night will of course be ripe, Mr. Seo, right?”

“Uh, welcome…”

“I can’t stand it, so hurry up. It’s okay to keep you waiting.”

As much as the follow-up orgies in the baron’s harem, that secret space.