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The week I spent on the two farms was a fresh new experience that I rather enjoyed. During this time, I volunteered to help with the farm chores and get a feel for the farm life.

My request to help freaked the two families out at first, even Dave, Sam, and Elise were looking at me like I had grown a second head, but after much asking and ensuring them that even if such labor was beneath my station, I did not mind. In fact, I wanted to try.

Eventually, they relented, and I started my work on Dave’s farm. I was just in time to plant the winter crop before it snowed. They prepared the land by borrowing a few bulls from Sam’s farm, hitched them up to some plows, and let them at the fields, all I was instructed to do was prod the bulls if they were going off course.

After the fields were all plowed, furrows for drainage were made, and manure from Sam’s farm was spread, after that, it was time to plant some seeds.

When they brought out the seeds to show them to me, I honestly could not tell one from another, but the plan was to plant root vegetables and the heartier leafy greens, mainly because they could withstand the mild winter that they usually experience.

This took the better part of a day, even with multiple hands, and I could tell that I was slowing down the whole operation because I did not know what I was doing, but they were kind enough to humor me.

After all the seeds were planted, the last step was to water them. Now, this was something I could easily help with, so I insisted on helping by casting a water spell to draw water from their well and sprinkle it above their fields like it was raining, and I kept the spell up until Dave’s father tested soil by digging up a clump of soil and rubbing it in his palm before telling me it was enough.

The day after that, I helped out with some weedings before I moved over to Sam’s farm. The moment I arrived, I was put to work feeding the livestock, the cows, goats, and sheep got their hay, and the pigs got the vegetable clippings that we did not eat… and also last night’s leftovers.

The ducks and chickens had to be herded over to Dave’s farm to do some pest control on their crops, and while the birds were away, we went to their coops to collect their eggs.

After that, it was off to milking any animal with teats… of the four-legged variety, of course. I, along with Sam’s family, spent a good few hours milking the cows, sheep, and goats, when they were done being milked, we let them out to pasture and used that time to clean out the barn and pens while they were unoccupied.

Throughout the rest of the week, I learned a lot about animal husbandry, how to check their feet and maintain their health, and I even helped deliver a calf, the process was hella disgusting, but before I knew it, the calf popped out, and in a matter of minutes after the mother cow was done licking it clean, the calf was taking its first stumbling steps as it tried to find it's footing, I had to admit the calf was a cute little bugger.

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Before I knew it, a week was over, and the coachman was back to pick us up and continue our journey. We all said our goodbyes and loaded up to finish the last leg of our journey.

***

A week and a half of travel later, I rolled up to my hometown of Grenfell, and the moment I identified myself to the town guard, one of them took off running, most likely to inform my parents of my return.

When I entered the gate of my family estate, waiting in the courtyard of the mansion were my parents, siblings, the house servants, and finally, Emma and her family.

When I got out of the carriage, I got hit head-first by a flying missile that was my sister, Charlotte. I accepted her headbutt to my stomach with a small “Ooph”, but took it in stride as she clung to me with her arms and legs while shouting, “Big Brother is back!”

I just walked up to my family while my little monkey of a sister clung on to me. When I got closer, my much more reserved younger brother Cedric broke away from my mother, tackled my other side, and emulated his older sister, climbing up my other side.

After a few more steps while carrying the two small monkeys, I was before my parents, “Welcome back, Son.” “Welcome back, sweety.” my father and mother said as they leaned down to hug me.

“I’m home.” I whispered with my head between theirs.

When we got the hugging out of the way, I turned back to see my friends awkwardly standing beside a coachman who was waiting for his payment. I paid the man, and seeing that I was happy with his services, I booked him for the return trip.

After that was done, I began with the introduction, “Dave, Sam, Elise, this is my Father, Baron Alden Ironcrest, and my Mother, Lady Amara Ironcrest.” I then turned to my parents, “Father, Mother, this is Dave and Sam of Dunmire village, I had a lovely time on their families’ farms on the way here, and this is Elise of the capital, I have offered them positions as our family’s retainers, of course pending your approval.”

My father nodded, “Yes, our son has mentioned much about the three of you in his letters. Be welcome, guest of house Ironcrest. As for the matter of becoming my house’s retainers… it seems like we will need to test your mettle before I say yes. But that is for another time, you all had a long journey”

As everyone was entering the mansion, I walked up to Emma, who had been very fidgety ever since she saw me again and had a perpetual blush. “Hello, Emma, aren't you going to welcome me back?” I said teasingly to my childhood friend.

Her mother, Anna, who had a naughty smile, nudged Emma toward me, “Come, daughter, welcome the young master and escort him to his room to freshen up.”

At her mother’s words, Emma had a resolved face as she mechanically took one of my arms and hugged it as she pulled me into the house, from behind me, I could hear Anna softly chuckling.

As Emma pulled me along to my room, I could not help but feel Emma’s softness on my arm, confirming that despite her young age, her Holstaur blood ran strong in her, making certain parts of her physiology more… pronounced.

No! Bad Luke! Emma is a child and like a younger sister! Evil thoughts, BE GONE!

I glanced down to where Little Luke was. Don’t even think about coming out to say hi… no matter how nice she smells… Fuck! Fuck this early-onset puberty!

After Emma brought me to my room, she bowed as maids were trained to do, and after a few seconds of hesitating, she lunged forward and hugged me, “Welcome back.” she said in a muffled voice into my chest.

All I could do was smile and stroke her head, “I am home, Emma.”

After Emma ran off, blushing, I had to take a cold shower to calm myself down.