"Haah... You win again, Syvestian..." Samael says panting as he got down from his horse.
They've been racing for hours and the sun is already setting. It didn't even take an hour for Yves to learn horseback riding, which is annoying since Samael himself took two days to be able to ride a horse.
Yves comes down from his horse. He pets his horse, as if complimenting him for doing a good job and the horse is loving it.
"I've barely tasted failure, Father," Yves states with a smile.
Samael became pissed at this little bastard's cocky response. He got a feeling that this kid was just like him, but he never thought it would be the same with the personality.
He stared at him for a moment. Yves was smiling and petting the horse, he looked so precious.
Samael can never regret making a deal with this kid. He's too talented, and he'd be a fool to not claim him.
Samael heaved a deep breath.
"...why did you save the other children? You could've escaped perfectly on your own," Samael asks. He was curious about why did he have to take the others with him. This is a matter about a child's mentality.
No one recognizes him, and his name was not among the missing cases. In the first place, he's forgettable because of his common features, unlike his unique name. Samael judged him to be a commoner, or worse... a beggar.
Children like him would've done nothing, but if he could save himself, then he would've just left the others alone. But in his case, not only did he escape, he also disabled their captors, and saved and cared for the children altogether. In addition, the children were disciplined and healthy all the while they were with him.
Yves' expression remained unfazed at the question, he's still smiling. He can't question why Samael would ask that.
After all, he's a mere child.
"If I could do something and make it even better, then why not?" he answers simply.
However, there was no way he can act like a child in this body. He values his own rules way too much. He could not have saved those children and take care of them.
He has a mentality of the curious and perfectionist. He simply did what was best.
Samael smiled. 'Why did I even bother asking, he's already old enough to know what's right and wrong,' he thought to himself. He then stands straight, dusting his own clothes.
"Shall we?" he asks the young child.
Yves was confused.
"To where?"
Samael had a wide grin.
"Where else? To Grimstone Duchy, your new home."
Yves had never felt the need to look for a home. When he was a deity, he was everywhere, or simply busy at his study or lab. No one taught him about home, or anything else. He had no family to return to or learn from.
He has always been self taught.
Another reason why he agreed to the deal is because he wanted to experience something… To be able to grow and be taken care of by an adult, a parent figure, or at least by someone he sees as older than him. He's a such a child at times.
And there's nothing wrong with that, according to him.
Years passed, and rumors and news about Samael's adoptive son and only heir have been spreading.
"That child was definitely some beggar the Duke found cute." Fact.
"The Duke is so desperate to not get married." Fact.
"The Duke is a lot more foolish than he looks." ….fact.
"He definitely has a reason. I've heard that there are sightings of goods being delivered to their manor." Fact.
Throughout the years, the heir of Grimstone made a name for himself without revealing his real name and his face. The Duchy had also started a business, which the heir solely owned.
The business he was managing, VOID, was just him recreating his inventions here on Earth, and it didn't take long until mass production was possible. His brand became known across the world. His inventions created numerous bonds and partnership, local or international.
Other than that, he published books and researches that became as famous as his brand. He used VOID as a credit name. Most of them are used as academic textbooks, and it's rapidly helping the growth of learners.
A decade and two years have passed, and Syvestian… was entitled as the Empire's Genius.
"YVES!" the door slammed open to a wide study hall. It was the thirty-eight year old Duke Samael Grimestone, he's enrage at the moment. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
"What now, bitch?"
The twenty-one year old Syvestian was lying down on the floor with books as his pillow and eye mask. he was tall and lean. His black hair was messy yet beautiful, and his skin was as fair as always. He wore lazy clothing, a white top and black pants.
"I come back here just to find out you've destroyed your research lab again?! CAN YOU NOT DESTROY SOMETHING FOR ONCE?!" Samael shouts. This happens every time he's out for his adoptive son's business!
It's not his business to begin with, but since Yves insisted that he doesn't want to meet other people, Samael is the one doing everything social instead! Well, when he's not the one doing the work, the House Butler would be the one doing the work.
"It'll be fixed again, tomorrow probably," Yves responded, unfazed by the mad Duke.
It's not the first time he destroyed something in this manor, it's more of a rare occasion if he "didn't" destroy anything at all.
"YOU LITTLE—"
"Now, now… don't stress yourself out, Sam. You've only just returned," a woman's voice interrupted him. It was Callista, his secretary and well… his lover for twenty years now.
Samael immediately softened at the sound of her voice. He turned to her and hugged her.
"I'm home, my Callista," he says.
"Welcome home, darling," she replies with a sweet smile as she turns to Yves. "Yves, there's a letter addressed to you. It's from the Emperor."
While Samael seemed like he had a rough idea about it already, Yves raised a brow in confusion.
'From the Emperor? What does he want now?'