Hektor did not expect Magistrate Tavros to show up so quickly and in person. He knew the man to be kind and conscientious but blind regarding matters about his son. Hektor thought the magistrate would take time to investigate the situation further and request his family’s presence through an intermediary. Saving Nikolae must have brought about the change.

But why go all the way and come in person? Nikolae was just a nephew to him, right?

“I apologize for speaking outside my post,” said the taller of the two behind the magistrate, “but may I request that we come inside?”

“Ah, yes. Could we?”

“About that, it’s not exactly the best time for… um, Hektor?”

Hektor had walked up to the door, interrupting his father’s attempt to decline.

“I was hoping to talk to you too, magistrate, but we can save that for later. Why don’t you come inside? I’m sure Nikolae would like to join us, too, right?”

The third cloaked individual was taken aback and uncovered his hood.

“How’d you know it was me?”

To be honest, Hektor assumed the third individual was Nikolae. He didn’t expect his gamble to actually be correct. Then again, it would have been far more embarrassing had he gotten it wrong.

“Are you sure?” said Hektor’s father. “What does Selena think?”

“I don’t particularly like this, but I’d feel worse turning them back now.”

Selena’s father shrugged his shoulders. “There you have it, David. The birthday kids are okay with it. Just let them in.”

David nodded and stepped aside. The magistrate and his group entered the room. One of the mothers provided the tall man—who introduced himself as Theo, the magistrate’s assistant—with a chair for the magistrate. While the magistrate kept to the side of the room, Nikolae walked up to Hektor and Selena.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize today was your birthday, Hektor. I would have asked the magistrate to come here another time.”

So it was Nikolae who brought the magistrate here. But still, he couldn’t believe the magistrate would go so far for a nephew. Was the magistrate just a doting man in general? Then again, maybe it was because Hektor had no immediate extended family for his parents to talk to.

“Don’t just apologize to me,” said Hektor. “It’s Selena’s birthday too.”

“Eh?”

“Hektor!” said Selena. “Don’t you think she’s had enough trouble for today?”

“Wait, wait, wait! Both of you are celebrating your birthdays together?”

Selena nodded and grabbed Nikolae’s hands. “Yes, but don’t mind that. If we keep having you apologize, it’ll bring down the mood.”

“Oh, um, okay.”

Hektor left Selena and Nikolae to enjoy the food and approached Magistrate Tavros.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“I apologize for interrupting your special day, Hektor.”

“Don’t worry about it. Besides, you have something more important you want to say to me, right?”

“You don’t mind me talking about it?”

“As long as we keep it out of earshot of everyone else. You already heard Selena, right?”

Magistrate Tavros nods. “You’re quite mature for your age. You just turned ten, I believe?”

“Does age really matter in the situation you’re here to discuss?”

“Hah, indeed not. This is about Peter’s incident, after all.”

“Speaking of Peter, what happened to him and Jason anyways?”

“Hmm? I didn’t think you’d be interested in them after what happened.”

“I have a right to know.”

Hektor didn’t ask because he cared about their well-being. He was only concerned about the changes he made to their futures. Besides a few naturally occurring events, he could not rely on his past life’s history for aid. Everything would have changed when he beat Jason—no when he and Selena woke up in their past selves.

Of course, this wasn’t something he could mention, so he kept his reasoning simple and his expression neutral.

“It seems you do have your reasons. I will not press you any further.”

“First of all, is Jason okay?”

“The doctor and surgeon will be able to mend Jason’s broken arm with the help of the doctor’s beast spirit. However, the extensive damage he took will likely end his future as a potential warrior.”

Hektor nodded. He understood the consequences of using his powers back then. Either way, Jason’s future would already be ruined, even without his intervention.

“What about Peter?”

“One of my servants will visit him in the village jail to deliver his verdict.”

“His verdict?”

“Yes. As of today, Peter will no longer be a Tavros man. He will be banished from my territory and removed from the family register.”

“Banishment?” Hektor’s eyes widened as he quietly repeated what he heard.

The magistrate’s assistant also took a step back in surprise. “Sir! Are you serious?”

Everyone turned to face their side of the room.

“Quiet, Theo.” The magistrate’s face did not change. “You’re disturbing our hosts.”

“M-my apologies, but sir—”

“Is something wrong?” said Hektor’s father.

“Oh, no, it’s nothing,” said Magistrate Tavros. “My servant is simply making a big deal of things. I apologize on behalf of him.”

Theo closed his mouth.

“You really are serious about banishing your son,” said Hektor.

“Were you expecting I would just give him a slap on the wrist and forgive him because he is my son? If he was still a child doing silly things, perhaps. But today’s incident, like many incidents before, is no silly thing. Today’s incident was an attempt at murder and a case of inciting violence. Most likely, he also troubled the village guard by trying to resist arrest, throwing out my name as if it still carried weight for him. I can’t afford to ignore the problems he’s causing forever.”

Hektor narrowed his eyes. “So you were aware of the things he’s done.”

“Indeed. I do not mind if you can not forgive me.”

“Are you really sure about this, sir?” said the assistant.

“Yes. I can’t allow my territory to be inherited by someone willing to murder to blow off some steam.”

“Very well. I won’t question your decision any further, my lord. But what will you do about your heir?”

“To tell you the truth, I have another heir candidate.”

Hektor raised an eyebrow. The magistrate had another child? As far as he remembered, Peter was an only child since his mother died after childbirth. Who was this other kid, and where did they come from?

“I see you’re curious, Hektor,” said the magistrate. “Would you like to bear with me a little longer? There is a bit of a story to this.”

It seems there was more to the magistrate than he remembered. Since he was already curious about how this might answer his question, there wasn’t any harm in continuing to listen further.

“Okay.”

“Theo, you listen closely as well. What I’m about to say has never been told before. This all started when I was born a peasant.”