Grant looked around the luxurious room, finding a chair, he took off his coat and sat on it.
A moment ago he met with his family after five years, but unlike the heartfelt reunion showed in the dramas, their interaction felt awkward, to say the least.
Well, Grant couldn't blame them after all seeing their three-year-old son return as a fully grown young man in just five years will definitely shock any normal person.
Actually, he should feel satisfied by the fact that they didn't outright throw him out of the house.
Well if anyone asked him what happened, he could just blame it all on the Goddess saying it was her will or some sh*t like that.
For some reason, humans of this world really revere the Goddess.
'I suppose it's a given since she shows so much favourability towards humans....'
Whatever the reason may be, it was none of his concern.
Grant rubbed the silver ring in his hand, as his luggage suddenly appeared before him.
Three-dimensional storage ring, created by him on his first year of learning magic.
It is without a doubt one of the most convenient things he learned.
Unfortunately, he is unable to store any living being in the storage ring.
*Knock*
Suddenly a soft knock came from the door, Grant quickly stored the luggage back into his storage ring.
"Who is it?", Grant asked even though he used detection magic and found out that it was his mother Alina.
"It is me Grant.", Alina said in a soft voice.
Standing up from the seat, Grant opened the door with his hand revealing the figure of his mother Alina.
Because people marry early in this world, his mother looked as young as ever, magic also played a part in it as the life expectancy of people from this world was higher than that of his original world's.
Now that he thought about it, Grant wondered what his life expectancy was.
500 years?1000 years? or maybe more? Well, he can think about it later.
They both looked at each other.
"Please come in mother.", Grant said as he invited her inside.
With hesitant footsteps, Alina sat on the chair offered by Grant, after she sat down Grant took another chair and sat in front of her.
"..."
Another awkward silence enveloped the room.
Grant could see Alina continuously looking at several parts of his face as it comparing.
Grant didn't rush her but instead offered her water from the vase, which she accepted with slightly flustered movement.
Finally, after drinking some water and having stared at his face till she was satisfied, Alina no longer had the awkward look on her face replaced by a loving one.
Slowly she raised her hand to touch Grant's cheek.
Her hand stopped centimetres away from his face and trembled a little as if hesitating.
Grant didn't need to think twice as he moved his face forward and let her touch his cheek.
At first, it was just a small touch but then she started tracing his perfect jawline, touching his eyelashes...at some point she stood up and started stretching his cheeks using both of her hands.
Grant started regretting his previous action a little.....
*drip*
Looking up Grant could see small drops of tears falling from the corners of Alina's eyes.
He forgot that his mother was a crybaby.
*Hug*
Suddenly she hugged Grant and burst out crying saying things like "I'm sorry, I am such a bad mother", "It's all my fault" and stuff.
Grant also hugged and started patting her back, though it only made her cry even louder.
-------------------
Grant carefully wiped Alina's eyes using tissues, there was a happy smile on her face, it looked like she was enjoying it.
"Grant...."
Alina said as she interlinked her hand with his, although Grant's hand was almost twice the size when compared to her's which made it look like a giant holding a child's hand.
"You must have had it rough....."
She said in a sad voice, as she placed his head in her bosom.
"Don't worry tomorrow I will personally make breakfast for you!"
Alina suddenly said in a vigorous voice as she made a power pose.
A smile appeared on Grant's face when he saw her making muscle pose.
Although she had given birth to him, Grant couldn't really accept her as his mother, It's not like he felt like she was in pain or anything like that.
He knew that she genuinely cared about him, which definitely made him grateful.
But the feeling of a mother....sorry to say but she just didn't feel like one to him.
Though he didn't consider her his mother, there wasn't a need to show something like that.
"I will be looking forward to it mother", Grant said with the best smile he could.
Indeed if a smile from him could make her feel better then he wouldn't mind making such small efforts.
The relationship with his family was a bit complicated, but then again most relations are like that, complicated.
You don't need to go out of your way to make some extra efforts, sometimes just giving a simple smile could very well make others feel happy.
"I feel pressured now."
Alina said as she smiled.
"Well then.....Have a good night, my son Grant."
"You too mother."
Grant closed the door after Alina left.
Throughout the entire conversation he didn't ask questions about the lady with red hair, neither did he mention the little girl.
He wasn't so insensitive as to ask his mother about the concubine when they met after five years.
Also, it felt like unnecessary trouble, if he were to mention her then most probably Alina would start crying and share the entire story which he could more or else predict after watching so many movies online.
Shaking his head, Grant once again used the storage ring.
*Knock*
Of course.
Stopping his action, Grant once again opened the door.
This time a dignified face came into his vision, a well maintained moustache with short golden on his head.
It was none other than his father Cyric Ashdown.
Their faces looked identical, anyone who saw them could tell that they were father and son.
Both of them stared at each other's faces, none having the intention of saying something.
"..."
*Stare~~~*
This went on for quite some time.
"Is the room comfortable?", Cyric said breaking the silence with his monotonous voice.
"It is."
"I see."
"...."
*Stare*
It was getting a bit awkward now...
"Sleep well then....."
"Same to you father."
With that Marquis Cyric left with a steady pace.
Grant closed the door and wondered why there was such a contrast between the two visits.
Boys are indeed unable to express their emotions.
Or maybe it is their way of expressing emotions?
Sad.
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