After the Adrian made his declaration to his parents and left, Malcom and Amanda are still in the dining room mouths agape.
"Darling, it seems that our son will be better in the future than you." Amanda made a statement.
"I know, and that is good. Sorry for making this remark but sometimes I still can't believe he is our son. He is too smart and talented. But we watched him grew up that means he is our son. The heir to the Cross county. Right now, I will do anything to nurture and protect him. I have made my decision. Ralph!" Malcom stepping up his maturity.
"Yes, master." Ralph stood up straight when hearing his named called after standing at the side still in daze of Adrian declaration.
"As of right now you are temporarily no longer my right-hand assistant. I will temporarily task you to be Adrian's personal butler, guardian and right hand until the day he left for the academy. You will be responsible to watch over him." Malcom declared
"But master… who will assist you if I'm not with you?" Ralph asked worriedly.
"That will be me. As the Madame of the house, I will be more suitable for this right Ralph. Don't worry about him." Amanda replied ready to get into the action as well.
"I see. Madam is the best substitute to assist master Malcom. Please take care of the master, madam. As of right now, I will be beside young master until he attends the academy." Ralph praise Amanda while taking up his new responsibility.
"And also… I will grant permission for you to take Adrian to the borders but can only cross 5 km of the borders." Malcom adds
"But darling that's too much. He is just 10 years old still 5 years away from adulthood. You can't do this to him! It is too early." Amanda strongly rejects the proposal.
"I know… I know. Still, he needs it. The garrisons at the borders will also be there to assist Ralph in guarding Adrian. Remember, Adrian is a 10 year old with a spirit weapon. A scary weapon at that. Don't worry Amanda, Ralph will make sure Adrian will be safe. Right, Ralph?" Malcom assures Amanda while staring daggers at Ralph, making him shiver.
"Yes, master. Don't worry madam, I will protect the young master with my life. I swear it!" Ralph swears his life with this promise.
"Sigh… It seems like I am getting old… My son has already grown up. I still remember when he was just a loud crying baby. So small and fragile. I carry him around in my arms yet before I knew it, he carries a big ambition. He is not a baby anymore. Please, keep him save Ralph and keep to your promise." Amanda reminisces all her time watching Adrian grew up.
"Of course, we are getting old, my love. We are already in our 30s. We are not that young anymore. Our hair will become white before we knew it. You will be an ol…" Malcom was about to finish his words but suddenly,
"Freeze"
Amanda cast a spell that left Malcom frozen as a prehistoric caveman. Frozen solid but still alive.
"Ralph, I leave my son in your care. Also, about Marylyn. I think Adrian will find a way to let Marylyn loosen her hold on him. He can't take his sister everywhere. We just need to let time takes its course. Now excuse me, I will bring my husband back to his office." Amanda tells Ralph to be patient while dragging her solidify husband away.
"Sigh… Master, why are you still direct and oblivious?" Malcom sighs and shakes his head seeing the awkward scene of Amanda dragging the frozen master of the house.
"I just need to be young master protector until he attends the academy. Sigh… I need to stop being so shocked seeing young master's surprises." Ralph thoughts to himself while proceeds to the library.
'Knock, Knock, Knock.'
"It's me, Ralph. May I come in." Ralph knocks on the library door.
'Splash'. A sound is heard and there is water flowing out from inside the library
"YOUNG MASTER, YOUNG MISS. What happen? I'm coming in." Ralph barges in.
Inside he saw 2 soaked children, thousands of wet books and a flooded library.
"Hehehehe… big brother made giant ball of water pop." Marylyn seems like having fun.
"Augh… my bad. Sorry Ralph. I help you clean up. I'm very, very sorry." Adrian said full of remorse.
"Don… Don… Don't worry young master. I call the maids to help with this. You two should go change before you get a cold." Ralph gives a reply while a vein in his head popped out but still being patient.
"Also, young master, you can bring the books to the training grounds, correct?" Ralph adds a question to Adrian.
"Ah yes, I'm very sorry I only cast magic outside next time. I will take Marylyn and go change first. I come back later to help. I promise.' Adrian felt sorry for Ralph and the maids to dry all these books. The library is about 42m2, it will take the maids lots of time to dry the place.
Ralph didn't say anything and call as many maids that are available to help clean the library up.
Adrian brings Marylyn to her room and he prepared hot bath and dry clothes for Marylyn to change in to.
"You are a big girl now Mary. You need to learn on how to bath and dress yourself now. Don't take a bath for too long, dry yourself properly and put in the correct holes when wearing clothes. After you are done come in my room. I want to show you something." Adrian gave Marylyn some tips then he quickly goes to his room to get change after seeing Marylyn nodded.
Adrian finishes freshen up in 10 minutes. He is worried about his little sister. He went to Marylyn's room and knock on the door.
"Mary, are you done?" Adrian asked.
"Yes." Marylyn opened the door after she replied.
Adrian almost rolling on the floor laughing seeing Marylyn. Her hair is still dripping wet and she wears her one-piece dress backwards. Noble women's clothes have zippers on the back but Marylyn wears it in front. She looks cute making a smug expression like she did a good job.
"Let me help you." Adrian holds back his laughter and helps Marylyn dry her hair with magic and make her wear her dress properly.
"Done, let's go to my room for a second I want to show you something." Adrian holds Marylyn's hand and bring her to his room and show her the books on his shelves.
"These are the books that I write since I was 3 years old until now. There are many plans, notes and theories. I want to make those things came true to help the people I care about, including you Mary but I feel burden if I do this alone. Will you help me, Mary?" Adrian asking Marylyn for help.
"But Mary is not a 'genius' like big brother. Everyone praises big brother. Why is big brother asking Mary for help? Mary is just big brother's little sister." Marylyn feels a bit confused.
"Yes, it is. Mary is my most beloved little sister but I don't want to be called a 'genius'. I just want to live a peaceful life with mom, dad, Ralph and Mary. The world is a dangerous place, I want to protect all of you if a danger comes. I am not a 'genius' Mary, I am your big brother, no matter what." Adrian smiles at Marylyn but Marylyn feels sad all of the sudden seeing her big brother's eyes.
"I want to go and help Ralph in the library, you can stay here as long as you want." Adrian pats Marylyn's head and left the silently standing girl alone.
Marylyn is processing the words and the sad expression that Adrian shows. She walks to the bookshelf and saw many books with strange tittles.
"The world is a dangerous place." Marylyn said Adrian's quote and grab a book titled 'Monsterpedia' and begin to read.