Namgung Se-ga, the warrior, was reincarnated in Romance

After seeing off the reluctant-to-part-with-Rubert all the way to the second-year dormitory, I finally returned to my dorm room.

Shayden Roze, who had already packed his things, suggested we head to the dining hall for a meal, so we made our way there.

It didn’t seem like much time had passed, but when I asked, he told me he was already ready to leave. He had packed only the essentials, planning to leave the rest in his room.

He explained that he didn’t need to take his school uniform with him since he could just wear it if it still fit when he returned, and the other clothes were the same. I nodded in agreement.

Thinking about it, I also realized that I only needed to pack a few items—my swords for practice during the break and the one I always carry with me.

Since I knew packing wouldn’t take long, I didn’t feel guilty about spending the time with Rupert.

With a light heart, I returned to my room and finished preparing for my return home.

When I first entered Siron Academy, I had imagined that I would accomplish something great over the summer break.

Though my skills were lacking for performing the role of a hero, I had resolved to protect my family and fight off any threats, whether they be monsters or beasts. Those were the days when I tried to suppress the growing worries in my mind.

However, after finishing a semester without incident and receiving the pamphlet listing the courses I could take next semester, I found myself more relaxed, thinking that I should just return home to spend time with my family.

I regretted and felt guilty for having turned down the Ernhardt family’s invitations last summer to go to the beach or visit a lake.

At that time, I had hesitated to go too far, afraid that I might not be able to protect my family if something happened.

In my younger days, I had traveled with friends, visiting scenic spots while indulging in fine wines and poetry.

One of my companions, a fellow named Zhuge, especially enjoyed sipping rare wine and whispering poetry.

We would sit in high chambers, savoring food and feeling a sense of pride as if we were immortals. It was during these times that I learned the few poems I now remember.

Of course, these events were part of my time as a hero, where I would have to fight during meals, but with age, such memories of youthful folly have become something I laugh about when sharing them with old friends.

Now, I felt at ease.

Even though my skills were still insufficient, I was reassured knowing that my family’s safety and peace of mind were secured. I made up my mind to take Michael and Asdel out to see the sights.

The journey continued with Shayden Roze, as we rode in the carriage toward my family’s estate.

* * *

After spending seven weeks on the road, we finally arrived at the Ernhardt estate, and I was filled with a sense of nostalgia.

When I first arrived here, I hadn’t realized how much I had grown and how much smaller the estate felt compared to when I was younger.

The gates were wide open, and my family greeted me as I stepped out of the carriage.

“Brother!”

“Big Brother!”

As soon as I stood on my own two feet, the little ones jumped into my arms.

Michael, who was the first to reach me, was quickly followed by Asdel, who wanted to do everything Michael did. I caught both of them, lifting them into my arms.

“I’m home.”

“You’re looking stronger every time we see you, our son.”

“Of course, it’s thanks to you, Mom and Dad, for raising me well.”

The servants and family knights who were waiting nearby couldn’t hide their laughter.

I knew that my more mature way of speaking compared to other boys was what brought smiles to their faces, but I didn’t mind. At this age, I thought it was better to let others enjoy their laughter than to act immaturely myself.

As I walked along with the children, I felt how much smaller the estate seemed compared to Siron Academy.

It reminded me of the time I visited Namgung’s estate after returning from Soryeom. No matter how grand a building, it always seemed small compared to something even larger. Now, seeing the estate that I had once thought was vast, I felt a bit embarrassed for clinging to it so stubbornly.

I answered my parents’ polite greetings, listened to the children’s excited chatter, and looked around.

The garden, with its abundant pink and white flowers, caught my eye.

I realized that my mother, when she was still an Ernhardt, had gathered all the flowers in the area simply because my uncle liked her.

I had heard that my mother liked red flowers, which resembled my father’s eyes. The flowers in this garden must be in line with both my father’s and my uncle’s tastes. It was a funny thought, and I smiled to myself.

As I passed the garden, I noticed two small steps beneath a white table where I used to sit. One was for Michael, and the other for Asdel. The children had been determined not to rely on others, even at a young age.

It felt like it had been ten years since I first took a breath in this land.

Carrying both of the children in my arms as they excitedly chatted away, I passed through the garden.

In the summer, it was best to stay in the indoor garden, where the sunlight wasn’t as harsh.

I had sweet and cold treats brought out, and we sat together at a large table in the corner of the garden.

“Don’t you want to put them down?”

“They’re still light. If you’re worried about bad habits, I’ll put them down.”

“Hmm, no. It’s fine for now, but let’s make a promise to sit properly on chairs from tomorrow. Michael, Asdel, can you promise that to Dad?”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

My father, who had been trying to sound stern, couldn’t hold back a smile after hearing the children’s cheerful responses.

I sat in a chair with one child on each of my thighs, chatting with my parents about this and that. Most of the topics were ones we had already discussed before, but the talk about midterms and finals was new to them, so there was much to talk about.

My family was surprised to hear that I had learned to use Ice Magic, and when I mentioned that I hadn’t yet reached the level of Sword Master, they all burst out laughing.

My shoulders lightened as I heard their comforting voices telling me that there was no need to rush.

“And… this summer, I think it would be nice if we could go on a family trip,” I said.

“Wow!”

When I finally said what I had been planning to say, my parents were taken aback and their eyes widened. The children, overjoyed, laughed and clung to me.

I held them tightly to keep them from falling off the chair.

In the Central Plains, it was not customary for non-warriors to go on long trips for leisure. There was no reason to leave familiar ground unless fleeing from a disaster or pursuing an enemy to defeat.

Thus, the idea of the whole family going on a long trip seemed strange and unsettling. I had rejected all previous suggestions to go on trips.

Because of this, the Ernhardt family usually considered a day or half-day trip to scenic spots within the count’s domain to be sufficient rest during both summer and winter.

I now realized, belatedly, that my parents had longed for the sea, the lake, and the river, their voices filled with yearning. I felt there was no need to delay it any longer.

As I spoke slowly, my parents’ faces bloomed like flowers.

It was such a beautiful sight.

“I’m glad we enrolled our son early, seeing him do things like this.”

“A family trip! What a great idea, where should we go? Maybe we should go to the sea since it’s summer?”

“It might be a good idea to ask the Serbel family about renting one of their villas. If we send a telegram today, we should be able to leave within the week.”

“I’ll have to get clothes for the trip. I’ll call the tailor tomorrow. The clothes will be made from light fabric, so it won’t take too long.”

Feeling a little awkward as my parents fussed about, I spooned some ice cream into my mouth. I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for having been so serious and stern in the past.

I listened to the children excitedly talk about the beautiful landscapes they had seen in picture books—about the sea, the lake, and the river—until my ears ached from the chatter.

* * *

In the midst of the quiet, the soft sounds of breathing filled the room, a bit strange to hear.

Michael, not wanting to be apart from his older brother after such a long time, had clung to my side. With my parents’ permission, I was allowed to have him with me for the night.

I gently combed through his soft, fine black hair, feeling a sense of peace.

In the Central Plains, it was considered impolite for people to be physically close to each other, so I had never allowed anyone to be so near. But now, as I felt the child’s breath and heartbeat against me, it seemed like something I would never forget, no matter how many lifetimes I lived.

The room in the Ernhardt family estate where I slept was very large.

Noble families in Siron tended to build larger rooms for their family members.

The room was arranged in a similar style to the academy dormitory but much more grandly. The sitting room had three doors, leading to a bedroom, bathroom, and personal library.

The bedding was also of much higher quality than what I had at the academy. Lying in my own bed after so long felt as if I were sitting on a soft cloud, and my body was at ease.

Unlike the plain, white ceiling of the academy dormitory, my room’s ceiling was adorned with various decorative patterns.

There was no deep meaning behind the designs, just beautiful ornamentation.

I slowly traced the patterns with my eyes, lost in thought.

The thought that captured my attention most was how I should raise this little child, who was so closely attached to my side.

My mother, who had given birth to me, might laugh if she knew, but this was the first time I had felt like this child was truly my own son.

Thinking that I wouldn’t marry for the rest of my life, it seemed only right that I should pass on the title of Count to this child.

Furthermore, if I were to succeed in my studies and receive a higher title, I didn’t see the need to carry a title or rank that didn’t hold any real purpose.

I also felt that managing an estate and engaging in social activities were not things I was suited for.

If I were to leave responsibilities to this child, it would only be right to share the rewards with him as well.

I briefly entertained the thought that if I felt more strongly like my parents’ real son, perhaps I wouldn’t have been so willing to share, but it was a foolish thought.

No matter how much I thought about it, it was all too vague. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.