Victory (Part Two)

"Why put herself through that?" Romon stood far away, but the distance did nothing to obscure his view. His eyesight had grown exceptionally sharp, and he could clearly see the figure still retching.

Standing on the rise, Romon shook his head. Despite himself, he felt a measure of respect for her.

The young lady was bringing this suffering on herself, but as a noble bearing responsibility for her family, she was also doing what she had to do.

It was a pity she was a woman. That alone might not have mattered, but she also had a younger brother.

Still, Butland Fief might flourish again someday. Romon considered the possibility.

After a moment, he laughed at himself and slapped his forehead. "What am I thinking? Since when did I start worrying about other people's affairs?"

Why was he concerning himself with anyone else's problems?

He had plenty to deal with during his years of exile. There was no need to dwell on someone else's troubles.

"Seven years. Seven years... How many stretches of seven years does a person get?" Romon sighed softly. He thought of his two wives and his two adorable children, and homesickness welled up inside him.

But no matter how much he missed them, he could not set foot in Tatshaw Territory for seven years.

His entire territory and his family would be placed under someone else's supervision, and all contact with him would be cut off for those seven years.

Seven years... By the time he returned, his children would be old enough to run errands. How many precious years would he miss? Whenever he thought about it, Romon had to close his eyes and take several deep breaths before he could calm himself.

"One day. One day, I won't let others push me around like