Interrogation in the form of conversation(1)

Butler James was already waiting for Ethan. After greeting him, James went inside the office and, after a short time, came out.

"You can go in, young master Ethan."

James opened the door.

"Um, okay."

And after Ethan went inside, he saw his uncle and Captain Siegfried sitting opposite him. They were enjoying the tea.

"Ah, Ethan, come, sit down."

Karl Anselm turned towards James.

"Can you prepare more tea and necessary utensils for Ethan too?"

"As you wish, Master."

James bowed and left. And Ethan came to the table.

"Good day to you, Captain Siegfried."

Ethan sat down.

"Hoho, good day to you too, Ethan."

Siegfried said this after sipping tea from his cup.

Ethan's attention turned towards Karl.

"Um, uncle, why do you want to see me?"

"Ah, right. I was just slightly worried about you. After all, I heard that in my city there were several robbery cases. But seeing you, it looks like everything went well. So, have you managed to buy everything you wanted?"

"Um, yes."

"Then everything's fine."

Karl sipped his tea.

Remembering his recent talk with his teacher about Mr. Ash, though Ethan was hesitant, nonetheless, after mustering some courage, he decided to ask.

"Um, uncle... I met a city guard with the name Ash. So, um... Can I make him my personal guard?"

Karl didn't answer right away; he just calmly sipped his tea, looking straight at Ethan. Which made Ethan nervous.

Even though it was mere seconds, it felt like a minute went by for Ethan. He wanted to bring what he said back, but it was impossible, so his only choice was to apologize. But his uncle decided to open his mouth before that, after placing the cup on the saucer.

"It should be fine. But we need to do some checks about his background, personality, and talent. So if everything is fine and after necessary training, he can become your personal guard."

"Um, okay."

Karl Anselm turned his attention towards Captain Siegfried.

"I heard Ethan has great talent for shooting. It's truth?"

"Hoho, I say he's an exceptional talent. After only seeing how to properly hold a gun, he was able to use it so skillfully that it was like watching a veteran with battle experience."

"Wow, so talented?"

Karl looked at Ethan with wide-open eyes.

"Yes."

Said Captain Siegfried, sipping his tea.

And hearing Captain Siegfried's compliment and seeing his uncle's surprise, Ethan's face started to heat up from embarrassment.

"Not only with magic, but with guns too. It looks like you're as talented as your mother."

Ethan blushed even more.

"Um, it's nothing like that. I don't think I'm so talented."

"There is no need to be so humble, Ethan. I'm just stating the facts."

Ethan wanted to hide behind the table from embarrassment, but it would be inappropriate, so he just lowered his head.

"Um, thank you..."

He muttered quietly.

"I can't hear you, Ethan."

Ethan mustered his courage. And after raising his head,

"Thank you, uncle."

He was able to say it louder, and he lowered his head again.

"Haha, your overreaction is so cute. No wonder everyone likes to tease you."

Ethan raised his head again, only to see two grown men smiling at him.

"You're too mean."

Ethan pouted and moved his face to the side where he couldn't see their faces.

"Hahaha. You need to learn how to receive compliments without embarrassment. Consider this as your training."

"Um, okay."

He said it quietly.

There was a knock on the door, and butler James came with the tray. He skillfully placed the tea cup and saucer before Ethan and the tray with the tea set near them.

"Um, thank you."

"It's my pleasure, young master."

James bowed and went outside to not disturb their conversation.

Ethan took the teapot and poured the tea into his cup. After adding some milk, he added three cubes of sugar and stirred in a circular motion, with a clanking sound from the spoon hitting the tea cup. And after the tea was prepared, he started to sip it slowly so as not to burn his mouth.

"So you bought gifts for my daughters. But isn't it too early? After all, their birthday should be only after one month."

'One month?'

Ethan almost spat out his tea, but he was already swallowing it, so it only went a little to the wrong pipe.

Cough! Cough!

Luckily, Captain Siegfried was sitting near him, who helped Ethan.

"Really?! B-but last year I came here with my parents around this time, and Alice and Millicent's birthday was after a week!"

Karl sipped his tea.

"Is that so?"

He rubbed his eyes after placing his tea cup.

"I thought it was in one month. It looks like I was too focused on my work to even forget about my cute girls birthday. Thank you for reminding me."

And looked at Captain Siegfried with meaning. To which Siegfried just shrugged with shoulders.

"It's nothing. Um, please, uncle, don't forget about it next time. Alice and Millicent will be sad if such a thing happens."

"Haha. It's good that my daughters have such a good big brother. Of course, I won't forget about it. And, Ethan, please don't tell my wife that I forgot such an important date."

Karl winked.

"Um, okay."

"Good."

He said this after sipping his tea.

"It is good that you have talent, but there is no need to rush with your development. After all, though magic can do wonders, it is also very dangerous. So you should learn more about magic slowly and carefully before going further down the road of magic. In history, there were several cases when kids with talents became too arrogant, which ultimately led to their own demise, in several cases with people who were around them at the time."

Ethan listened carefully. And not only him.

[He has a good point.]

"Of course I understand that you wanted to become stronger to not worry us, your family. But don't forget that you're just a young boy for now, so have fun, play more, and leave the problems for us, the adults. Because it is difficult to see you sometimes behaving like an adult."

[Hm?]