After a full day of sleep, Kael finally woke up from that great and first confrontation, where he had at least managed to make one of the great heroes use one of her abilities.

  Kael, thought:

  damn it, we put up a good fight yesterday!!!

  // -- that was weak, you barely made her use one ability, out of maybe eleven she could have, or even more… -- //

  Kael, thought:

  hey! Old hag! I’m just a little over three years old, don’t exaggerate… The other kids can barely move fast without crashing into the ground…

  // -- yes, but you’re a nasty old man with special abilities… -- //

  Kael got out of bed and noticed that dawn had already arrived, which meant it was time to start a new day. He found it strange that there was no maid watching over him; only the tracking dog was there.

  —“AAAAAA! How wonderful, another great achievement!” —he exclaimed—. “First getting rid of the annoying kids in my room, and now the maids too!”

  Only one companion remained with him in that room, wagging its tail energetically.

  —“AAAA, Chocolo!” —Kael said with a smile—. “How are you, my king? You can stay as long as you want. How about we grab some snacks for breakfast and then you come train with me?”

  —“Woffrrfrfrfrfrfrf,” —Chocolo replied.

  —“Ahahahahaha, those stuck barks are the best,” —Kael laughed—. “Ahahahahaha.”

  Kael quickly went to the kitchen before everyone else woke up, but when he opened the door, he was met with a big surprise. Jacki and Lasan were there along with several maids, already preparing multiple ingredients to start cooking.

  When Jacki saw the kitchen door open and recognized the visitor, she was shocked.

  —“MY YOUNG MASTER!” —she exclaimed—. “YOU SHOULD BE RESTING!”

  —“Huhhh?” —Kael replied—. “No. Chocolo and I are hungry…”

  Lasan took the chance to hand him some already prepared snacks and went back to making more.

  —“And why are you preparing food so early?” —Kael asked.

  From behind him, the organizer appeared.

  —“Because we will have important visitors, my young master…” —Redda said—. “And why are you awake? After yesterday, you should be resting…”

  —“I slept almost an entire day, that’s enough,” —Kael replied.

  —“Well, since you woke up so energetic,” —Redda continued—, “you will help. As the future lord of this house, you must learn how to properly welcome important guests…”

  —“I thought that as a lord I would only have to sign documents and fight forest beasts,” —Kael replied.

  —“My young master, the blows you speak of will come from me if you don’t help,” —Redda answered in a serious tone.

  Both the maids and the cooks felt Redda’s serious and imposing aura when she gave an order… and when Redda gave an order, even young lords had to obey.

  —“Ugh… yeah… suddenly I feel like helping,” —Kael said resigned—. “No need to start the day with several head flicks and punishment without food all day…”

  —“Ohhh, I see you’ve learned your lessons already…” —Redda replied—. “I’m so proud.”

  And so, Kael had to commit to helping all morning with the welcoming preparations.

  Despite all the movement, there was a part of the kitchen that remained covered, and a bathroom kept closed.

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  And so the entire morning passed. Everything was ready and prepared: the reception hall fully arranged and the entrance set for the arrival. A large part of the soldiers and maids were there, waiting for the welcome, and at the gate stood the lords alongside their main guests.

  —“Ah, at last we can give a more elaborate welcome,” —Laret commented—. “If it weren’t for Rowan being so disorganized, the first time would have gone well.”

  —“I told him four times to send the letter, and he just kept saying, ‘Yes, my love, I’ll send it…’” —Isadora replied, clearly frustrated.

  Everyone laughed at the queen’s visible annoyance toward her carefree king.

  And so, the mansion gates opened, and a carriage escorted by two imposing guards arrived. But before Kael could even see those two new figures, the carriage had barely stopped when the doors were violently thrown open and two furious fathers stormed out.

  They were Galen and Rowan.

  —“Kael, where are you, kid? I’ll make you pay!” —Galen roared.

  —“As king of Taratios, I demand that you bring me the heir of House Sungley right now!” —Rowan shouted.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Everyone present was stunned by such declarations.

  That was when Laret looked at Kael and asked him with complete seriousness:

  —“Son… what did you do to those two idiots?”

  —“How should I know?!” —Kael replied—. “Every time I try to do something good, they want to beat me up!”

  That was when Isadora and Freya remembered…

  —“Oops… sorry, I think it was my fault…” —Isadora said.

  —“Ah… mine too, sorry,” —Freya added.

  Caria, completely perplexed and unable to understand what was happening, asked:

  —“What did you do?”

  —“Well…” —Freya and Isadora replied in unison—. “We told them by letter that the girls were very happy with the ‘little child’ they believed Kael had given them as a gift.”

  Everyone wore expressions of confusion.

  When the king and the great healer finally laid eyes on the culprit…

  —“So you’ve been corrupting my beautiful daughter!” —Rowan and Galen shouted at the same time.

  —“Well, I guess I’ll go ask for political asylum in the nearest elven kingdom…” —Kael muttered.

  And so, a chaotic welcome began, with two furious fathers chasing a small child who only wanted to help.

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  After a generous welcome lunch and with both fathers finally calm and happy, smothering their daughters with kisses —who became the two newest victims of this world that abuses children’s cheeks— the new meetings began.

  After completing the formal inspection by the royal bodyguards, the two personal guards stepped forward to report that everything was perfectly secure and to request approval.

  Thorian, known as Rowan’s Shield, is a royal knight of imposing presence and unshakable loyalty. He began his military life serving the Sacred Empire, where he quickly stood out for his absolute discipline, his ability to remain calm even in the bloodiest battles, and his exceptional mastery of shield and longsword.

  During the War against the Demon King, Thorian witnessed the Empire’s internal corruption: silent betrayals, unnecessary sacrifices, and an alarming lack of humanity among its high command. It was then that he made the decision that would define his destiny: abandoning the imperial banner and swearing loyalty to King Rowan, becoming his right hand and personal protector.

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  Eldric, known as the Lion of Steel, is the main general and highest military authority of the Kingdom of Taratios. His mere presence commands respect: a tall man with a severe gaze, hair golden like a heroic banner, and silver armor that seems made for a king rather than a soldier.

  He is considered one of the strongest knights in the entire kingdom, both for his flawless technique and his indomitable will. Every one of his battles carries the weight of a silent oath.

  In his youth, Eldric served under King Domen, the father of the current monarch. Those years left a deep mark on the young knight: during the attack that ended King Domen’s life, Eldric was unable to arrive in time to protect him.

  That failure still haunts him to this day.

  An invisible wound… but one that is always open.

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  Ken and Holley were waiting for them to confirm the report.

  —“As always, the discipline and order of the knights of Cautares are worthy of admiration…” —Eldric commented.

  —“We appreciate your words, great General Eldric,” —Holley replied formally.

  Thorian approached Ken and spoke to him in a low voice, though with a clear smile.

  —“I see prepared soldiers, but exhausted ones… It seems you are quite severe.”

  —“Of course,” —Ken replied—. “In the mornings they must train rigorously and go to sleep with their bodies exhausted, only to repeat it the next day.”

  —“Always demanding and ruthless…” —Thorian said with satisfaction—. “I like that.”

  —“You two get along quite well,” —Holley intervened—. “Why don’t you go on a date?”

  —“Hey, she’s right,” —Ken replied—. “How about we start with some hard training with the soldiers and then go for some beers at the bar?”

  —“Ah, Ken, you move me,” —Thorian replied—. “Yes, let the beers come.”

  And so, Thorian and Ken began a brutal training session that ended, as expected—

  —“Well… I think I’ll file a report to the king about the indiscipline of his second-in-command,” —Eldric commented in a dry tone.

  —“Here we handle it more directly,” —Holley replied—. “When he comes back drunk at night, I’ll beat him until he expels the last drop of alcohol.”

  —“Disciplined and ruthless, Miss Holley…” —Eldric said—. “You remind me of your father during the civil war.”

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  After an afternoon of sharing and catching up, all the heroes of Taratios would gather weeks before separating once again due to work. And, once more, everything fell upon poor Kael and his bet with his grandfather.

  Garbard was in the garden when he was visited by Kael and Redda.

  —“It’s been a long time since I relaxed in the garden after a lunch as crowded as the one happening inside,” —Garbard commented, laughing—. “Ha, ha, ha…”

  —“Grandfather… it’s time,” —Kael said seriously.

  —“Oh? Really? What is it about?” —Garbard asked, intrigued.

  —“We need to talk business…”

  —“Very well, boy,” —Garbard replied—. “Tell me what you have.”

  Kael asked Redda to hand over the documents.

  Garbard began reading them while Kael explained calmly:

  —“I asked Redda to personally manage the creation of the Sunglay S.A. Company, which will manufacture different products and include several divisions. We will specialize in various products and services. With this company, I plan to generate a large number of factories and jobs. Our main goal is to provide paid work to the lower middle class of Cautares, in order to boost the growth of our domain.”

  As Garbard read each document, his expression grew more and more serious.

  —“You plan to manufacture a wide range of products and also distribute multiple departments…” —he finally said—. “Toy lines, textiles, construction, raw materials, aesthetics, pharmaceuticals… and many more. You’re preparing a major revolution… and you think we can handle all of this?”

  —“Of course,” —Kael replied without hesitation—. “The Sungley family only needs to guide the direction, because it will be the very people who want to strive, grow, and improve who will manage the sub-processes.”

  // -- wow, what an entrepreneur… are you sure you didn’t study business administration? -- //

  Kael, thought:

  no, this will work here because there are no labor laws and exploitation will be limitless… LONG LIVE CAPITALISM!!!

  Kael, thought:

  no, seriously now… it will work because we are offering a different way of life than what people in this world can aspire to… you’ll see how this place will improve.