26/06/1164

William’s House

While sitting at the dining table, Aria asked, “Samuel must’ve arrived by now, right?”

While flipping the pages of his newspaper, William replied, “Should be about time. Worried about him?”

Looking at William, Aria rebuked, “Of course I am! How can I not be worried?”

Turning his head away, William sighed. “I’m more worried for the others around him.”

Giving William an odd look, Aria asked, “What’re you trying to say? Do you think my son is like that?”

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, William replied, “Aria, my wife, seems you forgot he’s my son as well. And his ability to cause trouble is no less than mine. It might even be worse. But that’s alright. We’re here. And children need to go through adversity and all sorts of situations to grow and mature into good, responsible adults, otherwise they’ll always be like those sheltered flowers who know nothing more than to abuse others and cover like dogs. I wouldn’t want my son to be like that, you know.”

“T-that’s quite rich, coming from you.” Aria said, her voice full of astonishment, her expression carrying traces of shock.

“Do you think whenever I open my mouth, I’d spout bullshit?”

“Mhmm.”

“….”

Turning his head away, William grumbled, “That was a necessity. Otherwise, I would long be dead.”

‘Not like you’re any better right now—That’s rude of me.’ Aria opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately chose her silence.

Silence filled the room as William and Aria gazed at each other, communicating and consoling each other through their eyes.

A serene air filled the hall when a door creaked open.

Amelia walked out of her room, Shiiro resting on her head, its eyes closed as if sleeping. Turning to William, she said, “Daddy, I have decided. I will become an author!”

However, the one who replied to her was Aria. “An author? What will you write about?”

Amelia replied, “I had a dream. I felt like sharing it. So I thought, what better way than to become an author?”

Inwardly, Amelia thought, ‘In a few aevis, the entertainment industry will flourish. Not only will this let me warn others in advance, I’ll earn some money to get the resources I want, on top of which, I might even make important connections which will help me out immensely in the future. Still, acting like a child is tiring. Although, I can’t deny it’s relaxing as well.’

Aria questioned back, “Then what about learning Magic or Ki Arts? You know you’ll have to attend the academy one way or the other.”

A sad expression filled Amelia’s face as she said, “Mommy, you know I don’t like fighting.”

Inwardly, she shook her head, ‘I don’t really like fighting and more than anything, I can’t just kill anyone willy nilly. I don’t think I am cut out for it. Still, there are many idiots in the world deserving of a sword through their chest. So I don’t really mind entertaining them. It’s just like cleaning out the trash, or it’ll just pile up and stink.’

Looking at the mood turning sour, William interjected, “Amelia, you know what makes a good story?”

“Lifelike characters, setting and plot along with a good paced character development?” Amelia replied.

William shook his head. “No. Uh, don’t look at me like that. I’ll get scared. What I mean is, of course all those you mentioned are important, but more than anything I believe that it’s writing the story that you like. And writing a story is like cooking. Although I don’t know much about cooking other than a few random dishes, I know that most important is flavour. It can’t only be spicy or mellow. It needs to be balanced. And… spice is important, which comes from fighting scenes. And what better reference than knowing how to yourself? We aren’t asking to go fight. Just learn it, both as a reference, and to use it in case you need to.”

While putting on a puzzled expression, Amelia nodded, “Okay daddy. If you say so.”

William nodded before asking, “So, it’ll be like story books for children?”

Sounding angry, Amelia reprimanded, “Daddy! Story books are not for children only! Anyone can read them! Haven’t you seen >? Even people older than you read it! It’s also a story book! If it was for children, then why are old people reading it?”

William retorted, “Of course! Don’t you know that children come in all shapes, sizes and ages? Those who read books like that are all brats and most of those brats are spoiled rotten.”

Amelia rebuked, “Daddy—”

However, Aria cut her short. “William, not like you’re any better. Who’s the one reading that newspaper, paying extra attention to comic strips at the side?”

Startled, William explained, “I am just admiring—”

But Aria cut his explanation short, continuing, “And who likes this candy? Isn’t it for children?”

While speaking, Aria opened a jar on the table, picking out a hard candy from within before popping it into her mouth. Her brows relaxed immediately as she nodded in satisfaction.

At the side, Amelia said, “Mommy, one for me as well!” before being passed a candy, which she also put in her mouth, looking content.

Looking back and forth between his wife and daughter, William sighed. “Since Samuel’s left, it’s now my fate to be bullied by you two, right?”

Aria nodded. “It’s your fate. Deal with it. Grow up and don’t be a child.”

William’s brow twitched as he changed the topic. “Amelia, I know a friend who works for newspapers and book publishing. So how about you write something to show, and if it’s good, we’ll send it to her?”

Furrowing her brows, Amelia asked, “Is it that big sister who came to deliver the letter from big-sis Ursula?”

William replied, “Uh, no. She’s her older sister. She works to publish newspapers like the one I’m holding, and occasionally some books. So maybe she can help you out.”

With her eyes shining, Amelia hugged William, exclaiming, “Daddy, you’re the best!”

Like a blowing wind, the next instant, she ran back to her room, looking at the picture of an excited kid. Closing the door behind her, she sighed, “Daddy really is amazing. Turning people of informants’ guild into publishers. Hehe, this also works out. Those people know what they’re doing. Time to get to work!”

Pumping her fist, Amelia put Shiiro down on the bed before walking to her desk, pulling out a notebook, writing with a devout passion.

Meanwhile, outside, sounding like someone older, Aria exclaimed, “William, you’re quite a talented child. Not only do you know how to play with little kids, you also know how to calm them. Still, you were right, children do grow fast.”

A moment later, as if remembering something, she added, “Of course, not counting you. You’ll always be a little rascal.”

A mischievous glint flashed through William’s eyes as he looked Aria up and down, retorting, “Just you wait, little one. Let this big brother recover. Then I’ll play with you so hard that you’ll be clutching the sheets.”

Aria felt her face burning, her voice full of embarrassment and shyness as she reprimanded, “William! There are kids here!”

William laughed, “Ofcourse I am here!”

Not daring to meet his eyes, Aria got up, saying, “I need to prepare for lunch.”

William shook his head. ‘Nice try, but you’re still too naïve if you want to play that game with me.’

With an expression full of pride, he lifted his newspaper, continuing to read.

However, looking at the next headline, his eyes widened. He muttered, “Why was this not at the front…” His voice raised as he said, “Aria!”

Feeling urgency in his voice, Aria asked, “What happened?”

With a shaky voice, William muttered, “D-destroyed.”

Looking distressed, Aria approached closer, rubbing William’s shoulder to comfort him. With a soothing voice, she asked, “Tell me what—”

Grabbing her shoulders, William said, “Castle of Deltramore, it… two days ago, it was destroyed! What more, when that happened, the castle was filled to the brim with those bastards of the republic. They say over half of those idiots died. Do you think that… that it’s that bastard’s doing?”

Aria’s brow jumped. Shock rippled from the depths of her eyes to her face, rendering her incapable of uttering even half a syllable.