Roland, the eldest brother, returned to Bluebird Castle at dusk with the knight squad, dejected and hanging his head.
He had indeed not been injured, but his clothes bore obvious signs of having been tugged at, and his hair was a mess. He had clearly gone through a rather embarrassing ordeal.
"Father, Mother!"
Seeing Baron and Madam Roman there to welcome him, Roland was so ashamed he wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.
Madam Meryl glared at Roland in disappointment, while Baron Roman merely patted Roland lightly on the shoulder. "It's good that you're back. Don't overthink it. Go take a bath and straighten yourself up first, then come back for dinner."
"Yes, Father." Roland left the hall listlessly and sheepishly.
However, no one brought up Roland's matter during dinner. Everyone tacitly kept silent about it, and they finished the meal in a normal atmosphere.
After dinner, the family chatted merrily for another hour or two before returning to their rooms to rest.
"Roland, Russell, come here." Madam Meryl beckoned.
"Mother."
"Mother, is something wrong?"
After entering the room, Baron Roman held a thick book and rapidly flipped through it page by page. Madam Meryl gestured for Roland and Russell to sit down first, then looked solemnly at Roland until he felt uncomfortable all over.
"Mother, just say what you need to say." Roland forced himself to speak. "I was the one who made the mistake. I'll take responsibility."
"What responsibility? Marrying that whore?" Madam Meryl said coldly.
"How could that be possible? I... I'll just give her some money and send her away."
"Is that your solution?"
"I already asked. Grandfather extended Pine Forest Manor's father-to-son succession period by five years. When the time comes, I'll convert it into money and pay whatever