Chapter 232 - 11: Baron Odogin
Chapter 232: Chapter 11: Baron Odogin
After the banquet, Robson spoke with a group of newly-minted nobles for a while before taking Valentino back to Fengman Mansion as evening fell.
When he woke the next day, a group of guests had arrived at the mansion, much to Robson’s astonishment.
Upon hearing the news, Robson, with Anna’s help, quickly dressed and hurried to the main hall.
In the drawing room sat two male nobles dressed in the southern fashion of the Franks. Valentino was seated across from them.
Seemingly having heard the commotion upstairs, the younger of the two nobles looked up and saw Robson.
"Ha! Robson!"
Recognizing them, Robson hurried down the stairs to the main hall.
"Third Brother? Father? What are you doing here?" Robson asked, surprised.
These two nobles were none other than Robson’s father, Otto Odogin, and his third brother, Marquez Odogin, who had rushed to the Royal Capital upon receiving the King’s decree.
"If I hadn’t come at once, how would I have known you’d achieved something so incredible!
Robson, do you have any idea? This is unbelievable! Absolutely shocking! Do you know how I felt when I saw the King’s decree?
Ha! A royal decree! I never imagined the day our Odogin Family would receive a royal decree!
On our way here, even that perpetually sour-faced Viscount Weisheng had to put on a smile for us! And you know what? Mother was beside herself with excitement, and even Second Sister and her husband came to see us..." Marquez said to Robson, his face a mask of boundless joy and awe.
Robson stepped forward, hugged him, and patted Marquez on the shoulder.
"I didn’t expect to see you all so soon after returning from the Western Front. By the way, Fioro is here too," Robson said, his gaze then shifting to Baron Otto, who was sitting to one side.
"Such shouting. Have you no sense of decorum?" the elderly Baron Otto finally spoke, frowning at Marquez.
Hearing Baron Otto’s words, Robson’s smile vanished. ’In this world, filial piety isn’t as deeply ingrained as it was in the ancient world of my past life, but it’s still considered a fundamental virtue.’
’The Odogin Family was a very traditional one, and the father’s role was to be a figure of authority.’
’Of course, Baron Otto lived up to that authority. For every one of his children, from the eldest to the sixth, who went to war, the Baron would prepare a serviceable set of knight’s equipment and some soldiers.’
’That might not sound like much, but it helped a noble avoid becoming cannon fodder.’
"Father..." Robson looked at Baron Otto, at a loss for words.
’To be honest, ever since I arrived in this world, I’ve felt a barrier between myself and these people. Only after several months have I slowly begun to integrate into this world of sword and magic.’
’As the barrier faded, a strange feeling toward these family members and friends began to grow within him.’
’After all, I inherited my predecessor’s memories. The Odogin Family has always been harmonious, the brothers kind and respectful to one another.’
’Influenced by those memories, I still feel a genuine familial bond with them.’
’My original plan was to take Valentino back to my family’s home in the south after my fief was officially granted.’
’For one, I needed to seek support for the future development of my domain.’
’Even with the help of Marquis Oscillate and Prince Noah, my domain currently faces many problems: start-up capital, population, food supplies... ’
’My army is still living off the provisions we seized on the battlefield. I’ve been considering selling the captured Beastmen leather armor in the south. That could bring in a few thousand Gold Coins.’
’A Viscount’s Domain requires so much. The investment I need right now is no small sum.’
’For another, I need to complete the engagement ceremony. I have to truly face my family in this world.’
’Everyone has roots they must return to. Running away forever is no solution.’
Looking at his two sons before him, and then at the formal suit Robson was wearing—worth one or two Gold Coins on its own—Baron Otto suddenly felt a bit dazed.
Baron Otto appeared composed, but in reality, he was no less shocked than Marquez.
When the King’s decree and the battle report from the front arrived, Baron Otto had read them through carefully twice.
At first, he thought it was some kind of prank. It wasn’t until an official from the Provincial Governor’s office came to see him that Baron Otto slowly came around and accepted the truth.
His son had become a Viscount. His future daughter-in-law was a Countess of the realm. His in-law was a titan of the entire southern faction, Marquis Oscillate!
A Marquis! Baron Otto had only laid eyes on Marquis Oscillate once in his entire life.
Thirty years ago, when Baron Otto was charging on the battlefield with the Guard Knight Order, he’d heard someone say that the man leading the charge at the very front was Marquis Oscillate of the Edward family.
Baron Otto never in his wildest dreams imagined that his next connection to Oscillate would be as an in-law.
Baron Otto looked at Robson with a complex expression on his face.
After a long silence, Baron Otto spoke. "Robson... you’ve surprised me. I must admit, you’ve done very well. Like a true Frank."
"Ha, right, have you all been properly introduced yet?" Robson laughed, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
"This is my father, Baron Otto, and this is my brother, Marquez," Robson said, introducing them to Valentino.
"I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before, but I have five brothers and four sisters. The Odogin Family is a big one."
"And this is Valentino von Man. As you know, she is a Countess, and she is currently... well, a friend of mine," Robson said.
’I know they’ve probably already met, but it’s best for me to make the introductions myself.’
’Knowing each other on their own is one thing, but being formally introduced by Lord Robson is another matter entirely.’
"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Baron," Valentino said with a smile. "I am Valentino von Man. Robson speaks of you often. He greatly admires your character."
’That was complete nonsense, of course. I had never actually mentioned my family to Valentino.’
’It wasn’t that I had anything to hide. To be honest, my current relationship with Valentino has had very little to do with the Odogin Family.’
’There was just too much happening on the battlefield, and I never had the time—or the need—to go into detail about them.’
But clearly, Baron Otto was very pleased to hear it.
"Robson has always been the pride of our Odogin Family..." Baron Otto’s mind was still in a bit of a whirl; this was his first time in the Royal Capital.