Willem's brow twitched at the open criticism. Even though Walter was his only son and heir, his authority as head of the family was absolute. Yet, his son dared to speak to him in such a manner.
"You've changed a lot since your visit to the Herning family."
"Yes, experiencing certain things firsthand tends to bring about some growth."
"Growth? To me, it looks like you've lost your mind a bit."
In the past, Walter had been cautious, always concerned about displeasing his father. But after negotiating trade rights with the elves for the Herning family, he had become noticeably more self-assured. Willem was willing to overlook a little arrogance for his son's achievements. However, there was a limit to everything.
"Consider yourself lucky to be my only son. If I had another, I would have stripped you of your inheritance and erased you from the family records."