Alistair felt like he was heading into a battlefield, almost to war. He stood at the entrance gate of Sinclair's sumr house in Pertia. Well, it wasn't quite in Pertia, but rather a bit outside the city. It was a grand manor done in the northern style more typical for Fenrora—long spires, thick walls, small windows. He wasn't really a fan—it stood out like a sore thumb, especially next to the town that felt more sumry and holy.
The servants greeted him at the entrance gate, the head butler at their front. He was an elderly man, looking much like every butler Alistair had ever seen. "Young Lord, it is a pleasure to see you again."
"Nice to see you too, Jeeves." Alistair inclined his head in acknowledgent.
"Her Grace and Young Lady have been eagerly waiting for you. Shall I lead you to them?" Jeeves asked.
"Please do," he nodded and followed after the butler.
Alistair was a bit nervous about eting his mother again. It had been more than two months since he last saw her. He could still rember the pain in her eyes when Father insisted that Alistair be sent away to Sunglow as punishnt.
"Are my brothers also here?" Alistair asked, doing his best not to let displeasure seep into his voice. He didn't want to see his brother. His elder brother always acted like he was better than everyone, while Alan was just a scoundrel chasing after every skirt that he saw.
"No. Young Lord Richard remained in Fenrora to watch over the estate while Young Master Alan is currently in the capital. Although I'm not sure as to his activities there," Jeeves explained.
Good, neither of them is here. Alan must be busy trying to find the best brothel. I can't believe Father is letting him get away with it.
"I see," Alistair replied, not showing any emotion.
Before long, they had reached the dining hall where Jeeves announced Alistair's arrival to his family. When he entered, they all sat at the dinner table chatting about sothing. The mont Charlotte saw him, she jumped out of her seat and ran straight to Alistair.
He crouched down and hugged his sister. At least Charlotte was always happy to see him. Alistair was determined to retain his good relationship with his sister this ti around. They began to drift apart after his marriage, but if he didn't get married to the princess this ti around, then it was likely that they would remain close.
"Big brother!" Charlotte cheered as she backed away from the hug. "You ca to visit!"
"I did promise, didn't I?"
"Alistair," Mother said in her sweet voice, getting up from the seat. Father instantly ran to her side to help her stand and then walk towards Alistair. Despite being a middle-aged woman, Alistair's mother still had a youthful appearance. Her chocolate brown hair was tied into a neat bun, and her green eyes shone with joy as she gazed at him.
"Mother!" He smiled and hurried up to her. They hugged. It was odd to see how much taller he was than she was. He could still rember how she would hold him in her lap and read a story before bedti.
Unlike many noblewon who just entrusted the raising of their children to nannies, Alistair's mother loved children. She spent a lot of ti with them, taking care of them when they were sick, reading bedti stories, and playing with them.
"How have you been, Al?" Mother cooed, taking his face into her hands and turning it this way and that. "You haven't gotten hurt, have you?"
"No, Mother, I'm quite alright," Alistair said.
"Mother… peh! You see after such a long ti, and suddenly you're too old to call Mom?" She protested, pinching his cheek.
Alistair flushed from embarrassnt. Sohow, she always managed to make him feel like a small boy. "I'm a grown man now…"
"So you're suddenly too good for your mom?" She narrowed her eyes.
"I… No, Mom. You know I love you," he finally relented.
She bead at him. "As I love you! It's such a pleasure to see you again. Co, let's have dinner together."
Alistair helped his mother walk to her seat, and then they all sat down. Father looked sowhat peeved, but he didn't say anything. Probably out of consideration for Mom and Charlotte.
Dinner passed by pleasantly with Alistair mostly retelling his ti in Sunglow and how the small town functioned. He told about his duties in the Guild and the monsters he had fought. But he didn't say anything about
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