Chapter 14 Legendary Family

The convoy traveled for a day. Obviously, the newly joined female knight attracted extra attention from her colleagues. Of course, it wasn't just because she was the only woman among them, but also because of her relationship with the young master.

Last night, she had walked out of the young master's room. And overnight, she had willingly sworn loyalty on her own accord.

This attention, however, also carried a tinge... a bit of jealousy.

Yes, jealousy.

Because this woman had actually obtained the true title of a "knight"!

It must be pointed out that the so-called "guardian knights" of the family were not actually considered real knights. The family's guardian knights were simply a title, a title bearing the name "knight". Just like seahorses, even though their name also has "horse" in it, nobody really thinks seahorses are the same as warhorses.

In terms of significance, they could only be considered a group of "cavalry". They were a group of guard cavalry. They were not the true knight class. For a woman they had just met one day, a woman with mediocre martial skills, to suddenly obtain something that these men had dreamt of, it couldn't help but make them jealous.

Being dispatched to a remote and poor village with this pathetic young master was already unlucky enough for them. Their only pursuit could only be hoping that one day this master would suddenly favor them, recruiting them from guard cavalry to honor knights—this was their only pursuit.

Everyone knew that this young master had no chance of inheriting the title of an earl. At most, he would be a baron, and barons were only legally granted the authority to recruit ten knights... and now, within just one short day, a woman of unknown origin had taken up one precious spot! That was enough to make these people feel a bit unsettled.

The most reasonable explanation was that this thirteen-year-old young master probably didn't understand what a "knight" really meant. He probably treated this precious thing as a child's game and casually handed it over to someone else!

And, more importantly... who could blame that girl for being beautiful and having beautiful thighs?

Accept it!

Rolin could already feel the disdainful gazes from her new colleagues around her. Even her original two companions seemed somewhat puzzled. But Rolin decided to trust her own judgment!

This new master, this little lord named Duwei, was definitely not an ordinary person! Choosing to pledge loyalty to him should not be a wrong decision!

As the evening sky once again filled with hues of red, Duwei's convoy had just crossed a large river. The bridge, constructed of circular stones, had a history of nearly a hundred years. The stones near the river were covered in lush green moss, reflecting a beautiful emerald color against the clear flowing river.

And the name of this river was "Emerald River". Of course, it also had a more official name:

The Rolin River!

This river was named after the Rolin family.

The Rolin River cut through the southern province of Cotte, dividing the fertile southern part of the empire into two. With this river as the boundary, once you crossed it, you had entered the territory of the Rolin family! The southern half of the Cotte province, south of the river, belonged to the Rolin family!

On the southern bank of the river was a flat plain, which, considering the hilly terrain predominant in the southern region, was quite sizable. Here, there were fertile lands, verdant forests, scattered farms, warm climate, ample sunlight, and moderate rainfall.

This was one of the most fertile lands of the empire, and also an important location for the empire's grain production. This plain, which happened to be exactly half of the Cotte province, also had an official name... the Rolin Plain!

Yes, it was named after the Rolin family.

This peculiar naming tradition began about two hundred years ago.

Two hundred years ago, the Roland Empire experienced a great war of national defense. According to historical records, tribes from the north invaded the continent, dragging the entire Roland Empire into the quagmire of war. Additionally, there were internal rebellions within the declining empire, pushing it to the brink of collapse.

During the war, a group of outstanding individuals emerged, including a general from the Rolin family. This general accumulated great merit and eventually became a marshal of the empire (the only marshal produced by the Rolin family in its over three hundred years of history). Moreover, it's worth mentioning that the emperor, in order to win over this highly decorated marshal, married his own sister to him.

Just before a crucial battle, His Majesty the Emperor, to encourage his brother-in-law to bravely kill the enemy, pointed his riding crop towards the southern bank of the Emerald River and declared:

"If you return victorious, then from now on, south of this river in the province of Cotte, I will grant all the land to you! Furthermore, from then on, the river and this plain will bear the name of your family! This is to demonstrate the extraordinary achievements and contributions of the Rolin family to the empire!"

Such encouragement uplifted the marshal's courage. He brilliantly commanded the decisive battle, ultimately winning the war, saving the fate of the empire! And he also won the agreement with the emperor!

After that, the Emerald River was renamed the Rolin River! And the southern plain was also renamed the Rolin Plain—two hundred years have passed, and people have even forgotten what the plain used to be called!

Because, in all the official documents and local registers of the empire, it is clearly written "Rolin River" and "Rolin Plain".

Although two hundred years have passed, as members of the Rolin family, even these lowly guard cavalry, when they crossed the river and set foot on this plain, they couldn't help but feel uplifted!

This is a sense of belonging and honor to the family!

Look! This is the place of the Rolin family! This is where the great ancestors of the Rolin family carved their name into the history of the empire! They also carved it into this land!

Duwei, sitting in the carriage, felt the carriage slow down, and there was movement outside. Duwei opened the carriage window and saw the knights ahead couldn't help but take off their hats and cheer. They swept away the weary look of the past few days on the road, and each of them radiated genuine joy and glory from their hearts! And... admiration!

"We're home! The Rolin people are home! Back to our own land!"

These cavalrymen cheered, some even forgot discipline and galloped back and forth. Regardless of the joyous hoofbeats on the black soil, even their officers at this moment didn't restrain the excitement of their subordinates, but sat on their horses with smiles, watching it all!

Unlike other families in the empire, the Rolin family maintains a very ancient tradition! That is: the knights and warriors of the family only recruit people from the subjects of the family's territory!

Among the guard cavalry who returned with Duwei, a considerable number of them were born on the Rolin Plain! They are the true subjects of the Rolin family, people who have lived here for generations!

According to tradition, the private soldiers of the Rolin family's territory, as well as the guard cavalry of the family, and even the personal guards of the family head, every attendant, are selected from the "own people" of the Rolin Plain as much as possible! Because every family head believes that this practice can ensure the loyalty of their subordinates and the cohesion of the family! For example, the current Earl's chief bodyguard, the Enlightenment Swordmaster, who is also the martial arts teacher of the second young master, Gabriele, is a true native of the Rolin Plain.

Although the guard cavalry who were exiled from the empire with Duwei were unhappy about being driven out of the empire, fortunately, at this moment, the joy of returning home finally dispelled the melancholy in their hearts.

Duwei sat in the carriage, watching the cavalrymen galloping and cheering joyously. He pondered for a moment, immediately understanding the reason, and then smiled, "Mard, have we crossed the Rolin River?"

"Yes, my lord," Mard immediately felt the side of the carriage with his horse. His face also showed a hint of joy. "We're home."

Duwei glanced at Mard. "Oh, Mard, tell me, were you also born in the province of Cotte?"

"Yes. Although I grew up in Yanjing, my father is a native of the Rolin family." Mard also smiled. "My father worked as a stableman for the Rolin family all his life, and I inherited his job."

After a pause, Mard cautiously glanced at the young master and lowered his voice. "My lord, there's something I need to remind you of... um..."

"What is it?"

"The way you phrased it just now, your wording, might be a bit inappropriate." Mard's face showed an unusually serious expression!

"What's inappropriate?" Duwei smiled. "Feel free to point out my mistake."

"Just now, you asked if I was 'born in the province of Cotte'. Such wording is a bit inappropriate." Mard carefully observed his master's expression as he spoke cautiously, "Although the Rolin Plain is within the boundaries of the province of Cotte, when a true subject of the Rolin family mentions their birthplace, we never say 'I am from Cotte' like that! A true subject of the Rolin family, when mentioning their birthplace, will only say 'I am from the Rolin Plain'. A true subject of the Rolin family feels proud and proud of their identity as a Rolin person from the bottom of their heart! My lord, so... in the future, when facing other subjects of the Rolin family, please never use phrases like 'people from Cotte', please be sure to use 'people from the Rolin Plain'! Otherwise, the other party may feel hurt by just one sentence from you. Moreover... you are the eldest son of the family head, and you must not hurt the feelings of the family subjects in your words."

Looking at this former stableman who could speak so proudly, even Duwei couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

Perhaps... I have underestimated this family.

Looking at those cheerful cavalrymen, seeing the sincere pride on their faces... Only a truly great family could achieve this.

In that case, given this situation, the Earl in Yanjing, back then when he saw that his highly anticipated eldest son was actually an idiot, the Earl, burdened with the heavy responsibility of the family, as a father carrying on the family's honor, his disappointment and anxiety must have been imaginable.

Although he didn't agree with the way his father treated him coldly before. But now, Duwei suddenly understood the Earl's feelings from the depths of his heart!

As a father, perhaps he could tolerate his son being a waste! But, as the leader of the family, he absolutely could not tolerate the family heir who was highly anticipated turning out to be a waste! Because he must bear responsibility for the future of such a great family!

With this realization, his decisive abandonment and coldness towards himself became understandable.

In that moment, Duwei was lost in thought.

Seeing the bewildered expression on the young master's face, Mard was somewhat surprised. Because since he became Duwei's personal servant, what he had seen was this: from the age of six, the young master always wore a calm and composed expression, unperturbed by favor or disgrace! Has the master's face ever shown such confusion and loss of composure?

"Um... my lord, shall we start our journey back home?" Mard asked cautiously.

"Home... Oh, home." Duwei unconsciously replied, then suddenly, an unstoppable thought surged into his mind!

Home!

At this moment, the somewhat confused heart of Duwei seemed to finally bloom with a glimmer of light after all these years!

Yes, home!

For someone like me, who doesn't belong to this world, what I lack the most is a sense of belonging to this world! The indifference I've shown over the years, my dislike of expressing inner emotions, and even the deliberate suppression of some inner feelings... the fundamental reason is: I haven't truly regarded myself as part of this world! Because of this, many times, many things, viewing this world, seemed to be observed from the perspective of a spectator, an onlooker... And such an attitude has led to inner indifference!

Home... what a beautiful word it is.

And now, what I lack the most is indeed a sense of belonging to this world, isn't it?

Originally, Duwei, who had shown a faint mood towards everything over the past few years, suddenly felt a strange anticipation deep in his heart for returning to the ancestral heritage of the Rolin family!

Looking at those proud cavalrymen...

Hmm... the Rolin Plain? I wonder if I can find a sense of belonging of my own on this land?

I hope so!

Since true returning home is impossible now, then... seeking a new home where I can find solace in my heart, where I can have an inner sense of belonging, seems appropriate.

After all, since I have come to this world, life must go on.

Accompanied by the lingering light of the setting sun, Duwei Rolin pushed open the door of the carriage, stepped out of the dark and enclosed compartment, stepped out of the shadows, and stood under the beautiful sunset.

The rosy light shone on his face, as if dispelling all the gloom. The young man finally showed a faint smile on his face... and in his expression, there was finally a hint of long-lost emotion.

That emotion was: anticipation!