21. Familial Bonds (1)

My recovery didn't take any time thanks to my Supreme Healing ability but there were significant changes in the people around me, especially in Duke Arthur. 

He was less cheerful, he would spend more time in his office and whenever he saw me he would have a strange expression.

Rune had also noticed which was why we decided to discuss it.

"I think he feels guilty because you got into trouble." Rune speculated and I agreed.

His expression was close to that emotion but something else was also bothering me. It wasn't only guilt but also something more to it.

I needed him to get better for future purposes, the deal with the Mage's Tower was still on hold because of my kidnapping incident and I still had not started creating a foundation of my plan yet. If the Duke wouldn't cooperate then I would have trouble in future.

[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to not see the people as mere objects to make your plan successful.]

[Goddess of Wisdom agrees.]

"Then care to answer me what's wrong with him and how I can fix it?"

[Goddess of Wisdom says you should consider your father's feelings.]

"How?"

[Defender of Divine Glory is disappointed at your lack of empathy for a hurt man.]

I sighed, I couldn't keep up with these guys it was tiresome enough.

"Maybe we should talk to him." Rune suggested and I hummed.

"Should we have tea with him this afternoon? He is usually busy all day but if we go during a break, we would be able to talk to him."

I hummed again, I had no idea of how to deal with this I never had to nurture another person's feelings before and having to do this now had put me a little out of my element.

Things would be a bit better if this were only a game with the system and my quests but having to go along with the people's real emotions wasn't my forte.

"My subordinates were better." I mumbled.

"Pardon?" Rune asked and I shook my head.

"Let's go with your plan."

As the afternoon came up, I and Rune, along with a tray of tea and snacks stood in front of the Duke's office.

I reached out and knocked on the door, we heard a little shuffling before the door opened and a familiar face poked out.

"Young Master and Young Miss?" Viscount Ainsworth blinked in surprise as he saw us.

"Um... Can we talk to Father?" Rune asked.

Viscount seemed hesitant for a moment as he reported on our appearance, the Duke's voice responded and we were allowed inside.

There was a stack of papers on the Duke's desk and the workload seemed a lot. Duke stepped past his desk and walked towards the sofa where I and Rune sat.

I couldn't help but feel pity for the man in front of me, his face seemed haggard and tired with the dark bags hanging under his dull eyes. His shoulders were slumped giving him the look of an overworked office worker.

"How are you two?" He asked us, his voice lacked the vitality that it usually had.

"We are fine." Rune replied and then glanced at me.

We probably had the same thoughts. 

"Have your lessons been going well, Rune?"

Duke made small talk and Rune replied for both of us at times while I sat only answering when needed as I observed the Duke.

Rune tried to probe around the Duke's problem but it seemed as though the Duke wasn't ready to say anything.

We left his office after a while and Rune sighed deeply.

"We couldn't find anything in the end."

"It's fine, I'll talk to him again."

"He seems to have a lot of work."

"It might be the reports about the trafficking incident." I spoke as I recalled my share of paperwork after all the missions I had to work on.

Rune had to leave for his afternoon classes after that I went to the library to think about a way to bring the Duke's usual self back. I sat and stared at the chess game on the table as I kept thinking of various ways but none of the ideas felt good enough.

[Defender of Divine Glory insists that you shouldn't treat people like pawns of the chess game.]

I sighed, "I'm not doing that."

[Goddess of Wisdom says that you are.]

"Well, I don't know how to do it another way. Enlighten me, will you?"

[Defender of Divine Glory suggests you go and talk with your father.]

"And what?"

[Defender of Divine Glory says that will be enough.]

"Well, can you guys at least tell me what his problem is?" 

[Goddess of Wisdom says that you should find that out yourself.]

I sighed as this wouldn't lead to anything productive. Dinner time arrived before I could think of any plan and to my surprise, it was only me and Rune at the dining table.

"Is father not coming?" Rune asked.

"His Grace is busy, he said he would eat later." Tobias, our butler said.

Rune and I exchanged glances before we started eating. It was rather uncomfortable, I had gotten used to the Duke's chattering and the silence was kind of irritating now.

After dinner, Rune and I went back to our rooms. I changed my clothes and sat on the sofa reading a book that I had brought back from the library.

It was about the relationship between a father and a son who were estranged because of a misunderstanding but they ended up reuniting after years and made it up to each other.

I thought I would have some insight into the father's perspective or even get some idea of how I should approach my situation, but it turned out useless.

The circumstances and the dynamics between the protagonists and my situation were completely different.

Maybe it was because I was too engrossed in my research that I failed to catch the slight disturbance in the mana around me.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked me and I jumped up getting into the fighting stance on instinct.

Silas, who had intruded without any sound stood near the sofa where I sat with his usual calm posture and I relaxed.

"You scared me." I sighed and he leaned over and picked up the book that I was reading.

"You like these kinds of books?" He asked and I sat down on the sofa.

"Not really..." I looked at Silas who was now skimming through the pages of the book.

"Why are you here though?" I asked.

"I came to check if the communication brooch that I gave you is working or not?"

"Huh?"

"It has been three days and you never contacted me either to inform me about your health or the contract. So, I thought maybe the brooch was malfunctioning."

"That's not the case." I mumbled and he hummed.

"What's wrong?" He asked and I ran my hand through my hair.

"Is it regarding your father?" He prompted and I looked at him.

A vague idea popped into my head, Silas was the Duke's brother-in-law and also someone who had known him for a long time so if I could get some information from him then maybe it could work.

"Uncle?" I started making his eyebrows twitch for a moment.

"What is it?"

"... Father seems quite down lately, he has a lot of work and he doesn't eat well. He isn't his usual happy self so... I'm a little concerned." I admitted and he looked at me for a moment.

"Why do you think he's behaving like that?" He asked.

If I knew why would I ask you?

"I have no idea."

I felt Silas's heavy hand rest over my head ruffling my hair a little, "Try to think by yourself instead of relying on this then."

He showed me the book and I sighed.

"I tried but I can't figure it out."

Silas removed his hand and looked at me, "I thought you were smarter, but I guess even you have some aspects that make you dumb."

His words made me feel a sense of Deja vu. 

"I haven't talked to him but I can figure out why he is being like that."

"Why?"

"Because he loves you,"

"I know that..."

"Then would he be happy after knowing that after recovering from the long illness that you had you nearly died two more times? Both of which being the times that you were helping him?"

Ah...

"Then... what should I do to resolve it now?"

Silas fell silent at my question and then sighed, "Talk with him. I can only tell you that for now."

His hand patted my head again, "You managed to get the Dragon's Mana then why is it hard for you to talk to your father?"

Right, if I managed to get the Dragon's blessing then why was I hesitating so much with Duke Arthur? He was not like the trash of a man from my past life. 

I should talk to him and if possible also try to get rid of my trauma now. I couldn't let that man dictate my new life as well.

"All right," I said, "I'll go talk to Father."

I stood up and Silas looked at me, "Now?"

"The sooner the better. Thank you for talking to me, Uncle. I'll contact you later regarding the contract."

I started walking towards the door and faintly heard Silas's words, "... quite a lucky fellow."

I turned to see him already teleported away and proceeded further towards my present goal.

I walked down the hallway towards the Duke's office which still had the lights burning, I stood in front of the door hearing the faint sounds of the scratching of pen against the paper from past the door. I inhaled deeply before I lifted my hand to knock on the door.