Aidan sat at the dining table, quietly tapping his fingers against the wood. He glanced at his parents seated on either side of him. His father, as always, wore a calm expression, while his mother looked… oddly expectant.
"Father," Aidan asked, breaking the silence, "why aren't we eating yet?"
Sophia turned to him with a small sigh, raising an eyebrow. "Aidan, did you forget what I told you this morning?"
He blinked. "About what?"
She frowned. "You're meeting your uncle and grandmother formally today. I did inform you."
Aidan let out a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his head. "Right… that. I did forget."
Sophia gave him a deadpan expression. "How is it that you're so sharp when it comes to your studies," she said, her voice dry, "but so utterly clueless when it's about anything else?"
"Mom, that's taking it too far," Aidan huffed, puffing his nose with a little flare as he crossed his arms.
"I just don't care enough about that stuff, that's all. That's why I forgot," he added, lifting his chin slightly, as if proud of it.
He tapped his chest with a smirk. "It's called selective intelligence. Something only people like me possess."
Sophia stared at him for a long second, unimpressed. "You mean lazy geniuses?"
Aidan's lips twitched as he dramatically placed a hand over his chest, leaning back as if he were about to faint. Mom, that's more than enough. he said, his voice feigning despair.
Sophia chuckled just before a laugh was heard from a corridor. Aidan turned his head just in time to see the man walk into the dining room, one woman ahead of him, and another beside him.
Aidan immediately recognized Lady Charlotte, her regal presence unmistakable. She was one woman that even Aidan had to admit looked every bit the true noble. But unlike her, the other woman was a stranger—her features unfamiliar, though there was something about her that hinted she was not interested in being there, her expression blank, as though she was dragged unwillingly.
She had black hair and black eyes, her custom-made robe clinging to her figure perfectly, accentuating her curvaceous form—which even Aidan had to admit was definitely top-tier. Aidan, startled by his own thoughts, hastily averted his gaze, feeling a twinge of embarrassment.
The man glanced at Lady Charlotte. "Mother, it's just as you said—this kid sure has a sharp tongue." Lady Charlotte chuckled at the man's words, but his smile faded slightly as his gaze shifted toward Aidan. "Well, it's good he carries the Wilson name."
The man shared the same white hair as his father, with similar features, though he wasn't quite as handsome as Liam. He definitely held his own, though. His eyes, sharp like Lady Charlotte's, seemed to miss nothing. Unlike his father, who often wore white robes, the man was dressed in dark robes, intricately embroidered with detailed designs.
Liam, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up. "How was your mission, both of you?"
Charlotte moved to the opposite head seat, sitting down with a playful smile. "Why, are you concerned for your mother and little brother?" Her voice carried an amused tone as she looked at Liam.
Liam chuckled and replied, "Oh? Do you want me to worry about you, then?" His tone was light, laced with amusement.
Charlotte sighed, her eyes narrowing with a playful glint. "You're still too young to worry about me, kid."
Erwin, seated beside her, gently tugged at her sleeve. "Mother, you know Brother is too smart to fall for your games."
Charlotte rolled her eyes, her playful demeanor fading as she sighed, this time with a calm composure. "The mission was easy, nothing difficult. We prepared everything necessary, setting traps and contingency plans in case any beast tide from the border arrived unprepared."
Erwin added, "I've already reviewed the logistics and assessed the soldiers' readiness."
Liam nodded calmly, then became silent again.
Sophia, noticing the right moment, rose from her seat and approached Aidan. Gently cupping his cheek, she turned to face the others.
"Brother Erwin, Lady Charlotte, Lady Violet," she began, her voice calm yet filled with pride, "this is Aidan Wilson—Liam and my son. We hope you both will grant him your blessings, so that one day, he may stand firm as a true Wilson and, ultimately, inherit the title of Duke of the Wilson household."
Erwin and Charlotte both smiled warmly, their eyes meeting Aidan's as they nodded in agreement. But one figure remained silent, her gaze seeming distant, as though her thoughts were elsewhere.
Sophia, noticing the shift in attention, gently spoke. "Aidan, this here is your Uncle Erwin." She gestured to the man beside Charlotte, his presence commanding. "And the lady here is your Aunt Violet," she added, pointing to the woman who sat with a calm, composed expression. Finally, she turned to Charlotte and said, "And Lady Charlotte here is your grandmother."
Aidan, stood up slightly from his chair, his small frame almost hidden beneath the table. Understanding the moment, Aidan carefully stood on his chair, bowing deeply before speaking with a voice filled with determination.
"I will do my best to meet the expectations you all have for me," he said solemnly. "I will not bring shame to the Wilson name, as long as I carry it."
The dinner settled into a quiet and harmonious tone…
Aidan stood in the midst of the training grounds. Every now and then, Erwin would glance at Aidan, noticing him observing from the side lines. But that didn't stop him from watching.
Aidan felt a twinge of frustration in his chest. The desire to step forward, to join them, to train with them. Instead, he focused on the small details—how Erwin's eyes flicked from soldier to soldier, how his posture shifted depending on the situation, he tried to remember every move performed by recruits or guards .
"He decided to talk to his mother, as he wanted to learn combat. In this world, learning combat wasn't an option but a necessity, the only difference being him wanting to learn sooner rather than later."