The breeze was nice. The weather was great! And the training's been going marvelous.

There were more and more things I could do now. I've been trying this and that, and my blessing of danger rang far less nowadays. It was good, in other words.

I was now seven years old, and my plan was starting to take shape. But we'd get on to that more later.

For now, let's talk more about the recent state of my family. As I've mentioned before, Maya was pregnant, and she gave birth to a supposedly healthy baby boy, Adam Von Dawson. I say supposedly because I haven't seen him yet.

From the way George and Maya acted so far, I, for sure, thought that they would bring the baby into my room sooner than later. But I missed something, and that was the mana state of the newborn was not completely stable yet. There might be complications later on if the baby were to be exposed to a place where there was constant mana turmoil.

In this case...my bedroom.

I didn't know for sure, but maybe due to the constant use of word magic, the mana in my room has always been in disarray. Renata told me that it was a completely rare phenomenon, especially considering the cause was coming from a child.

That's why I totally understand why I haven't met Adam yet. And also tied to that, I haven't seen Maya much these days. Well, she needed to breastfeed the baby and all, I figured.

Alyson was also torn because she had completely fallen head over heels for the baby, but on the other hand, she was feeling guilty about leaving me behind. At first, I tried to express that it'd be okay if she spent more time with the baby. But it turned out to be counterproductive instead, and she felt more guilty instead, wanting to look after me and all.

This whole family thing was hard, I tell you. I was as clueless now as I was when this whole thing began...

Left with no clue, I decided to leave Alyson to her own devices. At least that way she wouldn't be tiptoeing around me anymore.

"Young master," Called Byron, entering the room. "The Master wishes to inform you that the former head and his wife will be visiting you in this chamber."

'Um...Okay, I guess?' I cast a questioning look at Renata and nod in reply for now.

If it was the former head and his wife, then that meant they were my Grandparents. I didn't actually get why my father needed to tell me beforehand about their arrival. I mean, it's cool, even if they just show up out of the blue. I have no problem with that.

I also doubt that the two elders were dangerous people. In the first place, I believed George was the kind of person who wouldn't let someone near me if they were going to be a problem.

That's why I didn't get why he sent Byron to tell me this. Was this some kind of aristocratic formality thing that I don't get? Maybe it was and since it would be a waste of time if I kept guessing this and that, I decided to ignore it altogether. Sooner or later, I would get my answer anyway.

Seeing that Byron was still standing near the door after saying his piece, I figured they were almost here already.

And lo and behold, I was right.

The door sprung open, wide as it could stretch, and two figures, side by side, entered the room with elegance yet powerful gaits. The man was wearing a large formal suit that really did his massive body justice, while the woman had a grey Victorian dress completed with a sapphire blue jewel on the neck that matched wonderfully with the color of her eyes.

The elderly man had lush blond hair with hints of white, contrary to his aging look. It flowed neatly to his back, accentuating the stern and fierce look that hugged the man's mug stubbornly.

And as for his spouse, straight as an arrow was her posture. Soft brown hair that was cut short to her chin yet still able to radiate the grace that swayed along as she walked.

One look and you could tell where George got his sharp and strong look from. They're the kind of grandpa and grandma that scared the living daylight out of children just by meeting their eyes.

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The older woman immediately went and claimed her spot on the sofa just beside the window, Maya's usual spot, while the hulking grandpa hadn't moved a muscle yet. His amber-colored pupil was studying me closely.

"Do you know who I am?" Heavy and rough was the man's voice.

I'd never seen them before, but I knew everything that I needed to know thanks to Renata.

'Rygor Von Dawson and Bella Von Dawson. The lion and lioness of the Dawson family.' I nodded.

From what Renata told me, it seemed that they were quite famous.

"How?" Queried Rygor.

'Point.' I moved my hand toward Renata, who hung her head low. 'Well, she told me.'

Rygor then cast a furtive glance to the side, at Renata. "Look at me, maid."

Renata peered, her eyes wandering left and right as though she was about to get swallowed whole by Rygor. There's no way this nutjob was scared shitless just from a look from Rygor, so I know she was definitely acting to keep her normal maid persona alive. And it was perfect.

It was nerve-wracking for me too. After all, she was my ally now. Luckily, she was safe. That's all that mattered.

If Rygor was as bit as Renata told me, then it'd be bad if Renata was caught.

"You can talk with the boy?" Asked Rygor.

"Y-young master talks using easy and simple gestures. Often times this undeserving maid can interpret what the young master is trying to tell." The anxious stutters, cold sweat, and the way her face's palette turned a shade paler as the seconds went by. It was truly an award-winning performance.

"Hm..." Hummed, but coming from his face, I almost mistook it for a groan.

"Do you know another boy was born in this house?" He asked me, and I nodded in reply.

"With him being healthy, it will be hard for you to succeed in the House. Not as long as you are still like this."

I didn't know why he was telling me all this, but I kept nodding nonetheless. I never wanted to be the heir, after all. It worked wonders for me that Adam would be there to save me all the future hassle.

"...Will you hate your brother because of it?"

'Will I hate Adam because he'll help me? Hell no! Of course not.' I shook my head.

Rygor frowned upon my answer.

"If you change your mind...come to us. It'll be better for you not to stay in this house at that point."

'What is this...Is he worrying about me, or is he worrying about me making Adam's life miserable? I can't figure out this grandpa...'

I nodded at his response.

Rygor seemed to get the response he wanted and made a beeline through the door. He didn't even cast a second to look back and left the room, followed by Byron.

And silence dawned yet again upon the wide room.

It was only me, Renata, and Bella Von Dawson who seemed keen to enjoy the view outside the window were there.

'Why's she still here?' I bewilderedly peeked at Renata.

Renata, who caught the meaning of my gaze, threw her gaze down and bowed in return.

A minute later, Bella, finally opened her mouth for the first time ever since she came.

"You there." And it was not addressed to me but to Renata.

She stood up and walked toward Renata, who was back into her acting mode. Her eyes narrowed sharply as her strict voice turned even colder than before.

"You touch a hair on the boy's head, and there will be no hole or creak where you can hope to hide. Do you understand what I'm saying, Maid?"

Now that's how you threaten someone. She was like a don I could only hope to see in movies from my past life.

"This lowly one can't and will never ever have the mind to harbor such blasphemous thoughts. This maid will give her blood and breath to serve my Lord!"

It was an over-the-top reply, but it also felt like Renata's genuine feelings and not her acting. She was thoroughly a nutjob, after all. Especially when it came to me, the subject of her fanaticism.

"...I pray you'll stay true to those words; else, you won't even know when or how your throat is going to be slit."

'Man, the woman of this house is never normal!' I cried out, hearing Bella tossing out the chilling threat like it was no big deal. I wondered whether she realized Renata was an assassin or maybe it was her gut that warned her about Renata...

Anyway, she then turned toward me after her business with Renata was over.

"Remember what your Grandfather said, Alexander..." Her gaze was different the minute her sky-blue irises landed on me. She still looked scary, to be honest, but I could tell there was something different there.

"May fate shine kind on your way..." And she left us with those words.

At long last, peace finally descended upon the room.

"My lord," Renata called. Long gone is the subdued look on her face that she wore most of the time. A dangerous glint could be seen lingering on the edge of her eyes. "Regarding the command you gave... all the preparation for the new seat's owner has been made."

"The House of light and darkness are ready to welcome the Merchant."

'Good...Let's welcome our newest comrade tonight...'