Yulia Archiman is the current matriarch of House Archiman after Alphonse, the father of both Ein and Aina and the patriarch of the family passed away. From what Mark had learned is that she is a boorish and shrewd woman, heavily implying that she wore the pants in her marriage this is even more prominent because when Alphonse was ruling the settlement of Ophel was nothing more than a major settlement with lesser settlements.
But when she was in control, Ophel had turned from one Major Settlement with at least six settlements to seven major settlements and seven, well six given what happened to Dahlia, minor settlements and Ophel had become a beautiful capital city.
Needless to say, Yulia is quite a talented leader.
I can understand the pressure on why she wanted to let loose for a bit, Mark thought as his family alongside Aina and Gray were gathered in the dining hall of the Mansion where they were greeted to a luxurious feast that would have made even someone like him feel ashamed. But he, alongside Miriam, cast it aside and the two of them were devouring like there was no tomorrow.
I feel ashamed for doing this, eating like an uncouth swine with no manners. Mark thought as he was in the middle of eating meanwhile their parents just have amused looks on their faces as they ate. Gray himself was contemplating going the same thing but he stopped as he felt some pressure coming from Yulia who just eyed the two of them.
"Mother," Aina finally spoke causing all eyes to turn to her. "About what happened in—"
"You don't have to say anything regarding that incident in Dahlia, I have been informed by your brother that the events that went down were nothing more than a tragedy," Yulia said as she started eating as well, she then smiled at them and extended her hands. "Please enjoy the meal."
"But what happens to me and Gray going forward?" Aina asked as nodded at Gray who reluctantly started to eat as well. During all this Mark, started slowing down his meal so that he can pay attention to their conversation.
"For now you and Gray will stay here; maybe this time you'll listen to me and provide Gray a proper education as she deserves," Yulia said while finishing her meal. "We'll make a decent Princess out of you yet."
She? Princess? No, it can't be but wait Gray had always taken an interest in other things. Not to mention girls frequently approach him back then to play with Tea. Mark's eyes narrowed as he noticed Gray suddenly pause and look at his grandmother. And not to mention the fact that Gray always spends time with Miriam too but never shows the kind of childish puppy love a person would have.
"Miriam," Mark whispered to her in a low voice. "Is Gray…a girl?"
"Yeah, why?"
"What!" Mark stood up in surprise causing all eyes to turn to him, with the Archimans present having a confused look on their faces while his parents had amused looks as though they were trying their hardest not to laugh meanwhile Miriam was already on the floor after bursting out laughing moments ago. Realizing what he had done, Mark cleared his throat, excused himself and sat down once more.
"You must be Mark Dirus correct?" Yulia said with a smile. "I have been informed that you have slain a behemoth at such a young age."
I don't think you heard the accurate account of the incident. Mark thought to himself. "May I have a word with you and then your parents?" She asked with a look of interest in her eyes gesturing him to walk towards her.
I can use it to improve my situation at an early age. Mark thought to himself as he glanced at his parents who were reluctant but nodded at him in approval while Miriam looked at him with awe with her face full of food, Mark then took a deep breath as he stood up and walked towards her hoping that he looked at the very least decent despite earlier gorging on her food and making an outburst earlier.
"Tell me, how did you manage to grievously wound a Behemoth with just a handful of homemade explosives," She asked causing Mark's eyes to go wide, this reaction of his appeared to have caused an amused reaction from Yulia who simply giggled and slumped back against her seat. "What? Did you think I would rely on second-hand accounts on what you have been able to pull off?"
"I did nothing much, just studied chemistry beforehand and used it to create handmade explosives," Mark explained trying his best to sound innocent and very much like a child.
"I see," She turned towards his parents with a calm smile on her face. He recognizes that smile, the smile a person would make knowing that they have just found a tool to be used in the long run. A smile that Marchosias had been using in his past life.
"Have you two started considering what will his and his sister's future?" She asked turning towards his parents, both of whom have concerned looks on their faces as they watched him speak in front of her. In hindsight, he's far too young to be considering that prospect, and they don't seem to be the type that would force their children into following certain careers.
"Don't you think it's a bit too early for that kind of talk?" Joshua said with an uneasy look on his face. "And even if that was the case, we'll gladly accept whatever career choice they accept," Mary said as he noticed her grab his hand and squeeze it.
Come to think of it, I haven't considered that as well. Mark thought to himself and given that he has yet to fully understand the world. The best two options that he can take care politics or the military if he wishes to climb up the ranks.
"I want to join the military," Mark answered this earned a surprised look from everyone present. "I want to see the world as a soldier."
"See the world huh?" Yulia said with an impressed smile on her face all the while Mary gave Joshua a worried look while Miriam, Aina and Gray have confused looks on their faces. "Then I think a Scout Ranger is a more fitting path for you."
"I want to be a Scout Ranger too!" "I wanna be a Scout Ranger!"
Both Miriam and Gray stood up, and Aina and Mary gave them both a worried look on their faces all the while Yulia burst out laughing and is visibly amused by the career choice that the three of them have chosen. But Scout Rangers, are an elite group of soldiers that owe no allegiance to nobody but they wander the world righting wrongs. A complete opposite of what Mark plans to achieve.
"But I'd–"
"I think that's enough talk about careers for now, why don't we continue eating?" Joshua spoke up causing all eyes to turn towards him once again. Yulia simply shrugged as she nodded at Mark to head back to his seat.
Scout Ranger huh? Mark thought to himself. I could consider it.
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[The Second Advent]
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Mark peered out from the room that he and Miriam were sharing that evening, they were provided with additional rooms until they can move out and return to the Fenrir Settlement and once it's been restored to Malachi's control then they would no doubt be integrated into the Archiman's domain making them vassals by turning the Fenrir Settlement into a settlement of the Archimans.
The first thing to know about the Archimans is that they have a little bit of a hierarchy similar to a feudal lord. The Archimans rule the domain from Ophel as monarchs, meanwhile Masters of Greater Settlements are more similar to Lords, all the while the Masters of Lesser Settlements are treated more as Knights. Mark is learning all of that right now from the book he had borrowed about the Archimans.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
That pattern, Mark thought as he made his way towards the window that faced the garden to reveal Gray standing outside holding a handful of rocks. "What's he—she doing out at night?" Mark asked aloud as he put down the book and made his way towards the halls and into the garden where Gray was waving with a smile on her face.
"What are you doing it's nighttime," Mark asked with a confused look on his face.
"I wanted to see you talk about the future, and other things." She said as Mark tried his best to avoid her gaze realizing she was probably referring to the fact that she is a girl and that Mark knew little about it.
"So why are you pretending to be a boy?" Mark asked straight to the point as they made their way towards the nearby bench.
"I want to be someone strong and reliable for mom," Gray answered as she sat down, Mark just sat down next to her silently waiting for a continuation of her explanation. "I've seen the way people look at mother, how she is weak and relied on her connections with the family to obtain such positions."
"Like the Wiessmans?" Mark pointed out recalling the previous incident. "They looked down on you and your mother for relying on relatives to get to such a place."
"Yeah like them, which is why if I became a boy they'd take me more seriously. But this meant I have to ignore the things that I like." Gray said raising her knees and started hugging her knees for a moment he can see her lips quiver as she is trying to hold back her tears.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"You're a fool," Mark spoke causing Gray to turn to him with a mixture of hurt and surprise.
"Wha—"
"You are a fool because you believe changing your gender will make people see you and your mother in a different light." Mark continued not bothering to look at Gray, this was mostly because the sight of her being in such a pathetic state reminded him once more of his early stages of life as Marchosias.
Something that he generally doesn't want Gray to go through.
"People will truly admire you not for what you look but rather what you have done in life." Mark stood up and offered his hand to her. "It doesn't matter who or what you are nor what is your past or background, what matters is what you have achieved."
Or that's what should be, Mark thought to himself. It seems even in this world, the latter is an important factor in achieving a good and easy life.
"You think I can do it?" Gray asked reluctantly looking at his hand. "I believe, no I'm certain you can do it," Mark answered but then she made a sweet smile as she wiped the tears from her eyes and took his hand.
"Fine but I'll need your help, as the heir of the Masterdom of Archiman and future Scout Ranger I'll need a close adviser," Gray said standing up, hidden in that smile was a spark of determination that even Mark can't help but feel hopeful for her future.
"Then I promise you Gray Archiman," Mark said standing in front of her, behind her the moon began to hang over him like a halo, as he offered his hand towards her. "I'll make sure you, no we, will achieve our goals in life."
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[The Second Advent]
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"So how do you want this to be done?" Yulia said in the middle of her office as she went to meet Aina, Joshua, Owen and Mary. Unaware that their two children are off discussing things in the middle of the garden making childish promises as they do. She pulled out a small metallic device that appears to be made of glass and placed it before the table.
"You're on speaker phone Ein, Malachi, so tell us what you wanted to say," Yulia said slumping at the back of her seat.
"Very well," Malachi was the first to speak up. "I have consulted my inner circle and thankfully they have all decided to agree that we desire to become part of the Masterdom of Archiman so that we—"
"Granted!" Yulia said with a snap of her fingers much to the surprise of everyone present in the room.
"That fast mother?" Ein asked being just as confused as he was.
"Of course, I like the idea of gathering new allies. Not to mention—" She explained as she turned towards Joshua and Mary who were still trying to process the idea that they'll become vassals under the Archimans. "—I've taken an interest in one of his grandchildren, I wish to observe his career with great interest."
It was true, while she isn't against Gray nor is she playing favourites, she can see potential in Gray but she has yet to discover that. Mark, on the other hand, well she can see that he's a whole different case altogether.
"Are you two interested in joining my family?" Yulia said with a rather devious smile, the kind of smile that one would see when teasing a young couple in love.
"Mother are you saying—"Aina spoke as a wide cat-like grin emerged from her lips while Owen's eyes went wide from the realization. Meanwhile, Mary made a similar smile as well while Joshua just sighed and shook his head as though he wasn't surprised.
"–Yes Aina, I am very much interested in pairing the two together," Yulia said with the same grin she had on her face. Ever since the two children started becoming close friends, Aina, Joshua and Mary have started expressing an interest in the two children becoming a couple and then eventually getting married together all under the idea that the two of them would become a lovely couple.
"Yes from the way I see it, Gray appears to be drawn towards Mark and vice versa." Yulia continued meanwhile the two younger women moved their chairs closer while the two men exchanged looks, meanwhile Ain and Malachi are silent listening to what is happening.
"Oh believe us when we say that she is more than drawn towards him," Aina said with a cackle that could easily be mistaken for an old woman relishing in a rather lewd thought. "And for all of my son's intelligence, he seems to be unaware that she's drawn towards him," Mary said with a disappointed look on her face.
"Do I have a say in this?" Owen commented in a low voice as he was nervously tapping his foot on the ground. "You're Gray's father so yes, but the thing is once those two women have gotten into that mood they won't listen to reason," Joshua said walking towards a table and pouring tea for both of them as they both simultaneously took a sip of the tea.
"Are they...always like this?" Malachi asked aloud through the device. "No...not really and it's scaring me…." Ein said with an uneasy voice.
"Now I'm not sure about you two but I would gladly like to witness some great-grandchildren," Yulia said this alone caused an uproar of reactions within the room.
"What!? But they're too young!" Both Joshua and Owen said in disbelief, after all the two are just children after. "Yes, we want to see grandchildren also!" Both Mary and Aina nearly shouted in agreement, after all not only would this combine their two houses but also they'd be able to see and care for grandchildren.
"I mean they're not even half the age of adulthood." Both Ein and Malachi trailed off, after all the two are far too young to be getting into the idea of a child making as the age of consent and adulthood is both sixteen, and since Mark and Gray are both seven they're still a few years off.
"Even still! Gray is still too young to be thinking about marriage!" Owen spoke raising his tone to get the attention of all the women present who were still cackling at the idea of the two children as a couple. "Plus you two are reading into their actions too much also!" Joshua chimed in.
"And I refuse to agree with the idea of Gray being railroaded into marrying someone, she has the right to marry whoever she chooses when she is old enough." Owen continued walking towards the table and slammed his palms on the table to an unfazed Yulia which further fueled his annoyance, he was already slightly annoyed both because Gray is too young and at the same time annoyed by a protective father that doesn't want to see her daughter off. Even if said husband is from his brother.
"Then perhaps we can get into some agreement?" Yulia said giving them a smile earning a curious eyebrow raise from Mary, a confused look from Joshua and Aina, and an 'oh boy' from Ein and a chuckle from Malachi. "I'll make sure that Gray, and to an extent Mark, don't get into an arranged marriage despite what my constituents insist."
"If it meant Gray will get to choose who she loves then fine," Owen said standing up properly and taking a seat.
"Take responsibility and marry my daughter Aina—"
"—wait hang on!—" Aina spoke realizing what was happening causing her face to turn red.
"—I'll do it, I still love her and I want to be around Gray." Owen said causing Mary to smile at Aina widely while Joshua just muttered 'about damn time' under his breath meanwhile Aina buried her face in her hands in sheer embarrassment from what had just happened.
"Well, that settles it," Yulia said with a satisfied smile on her face. "All this just to settle a broken family?" Ein chuckled.
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[The Second Advent]
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A lot of things have happened in the last few weeks which honestly felt like a blur for Mark as he went through all of it.
First is that his grandfather had not only succeeded in returning to power within the Fenrir Settlement but also convert it into a greater settlement of the Archimans. Turns out they were loyal enough to continue without him for years but slowly decayed without a proper leader, so his returning alongside the Prince to the largest Faction within the Region was more or less good news for the people.
The Downside is that it'll take some time before they would move into that place as it is in dire need of renovation and reform but it was agreed that the Dirus family would be managing it. Thus making them Lords of the Archimans.
Second is that Owen and Aina, whom he learned were former lovers with Gray being the product of that relationship, had decided to get married. And so for the last few weeks have been spent preparing the wedding of what is supposed to be the Commander of the Archiman Armed Forces and the prodigal daughter of Archiman, and while Gray and Miriam are enjoying the festivities because the entire city of Ophel had become livelier than originally expected.
Third, he had recently learned of an amazing device known as a Holo-Phone, a collapsible metallic device that's at least six inches to fourteen inches with a screen that appears to be made of hardened light that allows Mark to connect it to what is known as an internet which allowed him to access information beyond the realm of books. While there are other uses, as shown by Miriam and Gray who use what is known as Social Media which allows people to connect over vast distances, Mark uses his Holo-Phone to study and learn more about the known world.
"Ugh so tiring," Mark said sitting by the plaza as he was holding a Holo-Phone, he and Miriam were given Holo-Phones as gifts by Yulia commenting that through Owen they are now her grandchildren as well. Which somewhat made sense, He was after all brothers with Joshua and now that he's her son-in-law this meant that they were her grandchildren and Gray is now his cousin.
But the way she looked at me and Gray is off-putting like she was up to something. Mark thought as he felt a shiver down his spine recalling the earlier scene where he saw Gray in a beautiful white dress and she was giving them this funny look on her face like she was expecting something from him.
"I can't figure that woman out," Mark said as he took a seat underneath a tree in the plaza all the while he was reading an article about the Scout Rangers and their notable exploits. From what he had learned they are one-man armies that helped establish peace and order within the continent and are beloved by the people for it.
From what Mark had learned their reputation seems to be overestimated, yes they are elite soldiers who are capable of performing the impossible through rigorous training but they are still humans as evidenced by various stories saying that they have made peace with various bandits tribes.
"I don't think children should be reading stuff about the Scout Rangers."
Mark turned around completely on guard to find an older man looking over his shoulder with an amused look on his face, he had white hair that had been done in a single ponytail and his eyes had heterochromia with one of them being green and the other being brown, he wore a set of blue clothes and combat armour indicating that he was some kind of mercenary or adventurer.
He quickly pulled away and gave him a cold stare, he wasn't confident in his fighting skills but he had trained well enough that he is capable of fighting. This act alone seemed to have made the Mercenary let out a chuckle as he buried his hands in his pockets. Behind him was Joshua with a disapproving look on his face as he yanked the older man by his ponytail causing him to let out a pained yelp.
"What did I say about taking people by surprise, Marvin." Joshua scolded him while still gripping his hair.
Behind him was a woman within the same age group as Marvin was but she had pale lavender hair and tanned skin all the while gripping a heavy two-handed sword while her light brown eyes silently glared at Marvin with disapproval, she wore the same set of clothes that Marvin wore indicating those were of the same material.
"Jeez, Joshie I was only teasing your son." The Man named Marvin said with a cheeky grin on his face, he then placed a hand over his brows and started scanning the area while Mark nervously ran towards Joshua's side while shooting a weary look at Marvin. "Where's the other one? You said in your emails that she gave birth to a pair of twins."
"I'll introduce you to Miriam later since she's busy," Joshua said running his hand through Mark's hair with a reassuring smile on his face.
"Mark this is Marvin and Sandra he and another woman be your tutor for you and your sister from now on."