The First Step in Changing the Future (2)

The next morning, Ellendise heard the news from the maids that the temple was attacked by a horde of monsters because something went wrong with the barrier.

Fortunately, the count was safe and only suffered some superficial injuries. He was on his way back to the county.

"Thank goodness the madam and the young lady stayed at home."

"Right? They would have been in danger if they visited the temple. "

"I don't want to curse the young lady but it seems getting sick saved their lives."

"Yes... It's a good thing that they're both safe. The count would be happy to know they didn't come. Who knows what kind of monsters they would have encountered?"

Ellendise stayed on her room for two more days. The count arrived during the third day so the countess and Ellendise came to welcome him back.

"Welcome back." The countess said as she approached the count. There was obvious worry on her face and she seemed to be silently wondering if he was okay.

"I'm back, Debora." The count answered with a relieved smile on his face and with a loving voice that he only used when he was talking to his wife. He couldn't help but look at her and Ellendise with obvious relief.

It seemed that the count was really thankful for their safety.

When they were at the study room, the count was quick to study Ellendise's condition.

"Ellen, I heard you got sick after using magic. How are you feeling?"

"Thank you for worrying, father. I'm fine now. But father was the one who suffered the most. I should be asking father if he's okay."

The count immediately shook his head and smiled.

"I didn't get hurt that much. Just some minor scratches. The priest was able to heal them. It's Mortia's blessing that the two of you didn't come. I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to my two precious angels." The count was crying rather childishly after he said this and the countess was quick to comfort him.

"Honey, don't cry. We're all safe. That is what's important. "

"Yes but if Ellen didn't get sick, what would have happened? I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if the two of you had gotten hurt. It was my idea to come to the temple."

Ellendise smiled.

The count was very different from the one in the novel. The count in front of Ellendise took his job as father more seriously than his title as the count.

He was very loving to his wife and he loved both of his children equally. Especially Ellendise who shared the same eyes as Countess Debora.

He was very doting towards her and Ellendise barely did anything to make him her unofficial fan.

It was rather surprising that the count was a slave to his daughter and son. Even more so to his wife. Ellendise was satisfied with both of them.

The only other problem was her older brother who she hadn't seen for the past two years.

He was currently on a training trip with their uncle, Viscount Rufus Mierheart. From what Ellendise knows, her brother would immediately come home after hearing the news regarding the monster attack to the temple.

Ellendise would only wait for a week before her confrontation with her brother happens.

She wanted to know what kind of person her brother was and how different he would be compared to the person written in the novel.

One week later, Ellendise was not surprised to see a serious looking young boy at the age of ten.

They share the same silver hair but his eyes were blue, the same as the count.

"Nitense... You're back. My darling boy is back." The countess had tears on her eyes as she embraced the already ten-year-old Nitense Rudvik Vitron.

The boy's expression has always been serious but he immediately gets flustered as soon as his mother hugged him.

"M... Mother!" He stuttered rather lamely.

Ellendise smiled again.

Her brother was rather cute. He wasn't as difficult of a character as she expected. Of course, she was still a little wary because this ten-year-old boy would soon grow up to be the youngest head captain of the Knight Deployment Unit.

He would raid countless lairs of monsters and he would soon receive a medal of honor from the royal family for countlessly completing raids without a single casualty.

He was the Harchen Empire's most skilled swordsman that would bring honor to the empire and county. He was the "Silver Light' of the dark days, who fought countless monsters and won wars one after another.

But this wouldn't happen until thirteen years later. For now, he was just an adorable ten-year-old kid learning to wield the sword from his uncle and shying away from any form of physical affection like any little boy who was approaching puberty.

Ellendise soon met his gaze and they both inspected each other. The two years that passed without seeing each other was rather long.

It was Nitense who took the first initiative.

"Ellen...?" His tone was soft this time as he looked at her. Ellendise has ran this scenario over her head countless of times, thinking of many ways to win his affection but the obvious blush on his cheeks told her that there was no need for any underhanded tactics.

Ellendise smiled.

"Hello, big brother. Welcome home." She said in an equally soft tone.

Nitense smiled as though her words had melted whatever wall that formed between them. But realistically speaking, children were very simple creatures that were easy to coerce.

"You've grown up! You're even taller than the last time I saw you!" His excited tone and expression were as plain as day. Even the countess couldn't help but smile at his reaction. It was as if those two years that he was gone didn't exist.

"Of course. Next year, I'll be even taller than big brother. "

Nitense laughed and patted her hair.

"Alright, grow taller than me, Ellen. I'll even teach you all the sword moves and techniques that Uncle Rufus taught me!"

"I'll have to trouble big brother then." Nitense was very happy at the sight of his adorable sister to the point that he started boasting about his training trip with their Uncle Rufus.

"If I had been at the temple, I would have definitely slayed some monsters! Fortunately, you and mother stayed at home. But I heard you got sick from using magic. Are you okay now?"

Ellendise was rather amused at how similar to the count his acts were so she couldn't help but play with him for a little bit and humor his words.

Ellendise extended her arms.

"Big brother, my legs are tired. Will you carry me?"

She smiled like a little rabbit and blinked her adorable reddish pink eyes at him.

Nitense who was only ten years old was weak against his little sister's adorable face and immediately stepped forward to accept the task as though it was a very important mission.

"Yes! Let big brother carry you!"

"Thank you, big brother. "

And that was how both father and son became her slaves.

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