The conversation between my parents abruptly stopped as they both turned their attention towards me. The atmosphere in the room shifted to an awkward silence, only broken by the sound of utensils clattering and the distant hum of servants working.
My father's gaze was intense as he studied me, a mix of surprise and scrutiny reflected in his eyes. I broke the tension with a slightly forced smile and greeted them, "Good evening, Father and Mother," taking a seat at the table. My mother's expression softened with concern, but my father's stern look remained unchanging.
Favian's father's gruff voice echoed through the grand dining hall as a servant promptly placed the first course of his lunch in front of him.
''We were very worried'' He said ''I think we are owed something''
I let out a heavy sigh, faking a remorse , that I did not have.
"I apologize for causing concern," I responded, forcing an air of contrition into my tone. "Father, mother, I have had some time to reflect on my actions and I realize now that I have been a terrible son and person." My gaze shifted between my parents, hoping to see a glimmer of forgiveness.
Favian's father raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Go on," he prompted.
Drawing upon all of my acting skills, I continued with my charade. "I understand that my behavior has brought shame upon our house and for that, I am deeply sorry. But I truly want to change and make you proud. Please give me one last chance to prove myself."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I cringed inwardly at how cheesy they sounded. But it was necessary to win back their favor and to make sure that my up-coming actions would not cause them to doubt my identity.And honestly this was my best shot to at least mask my change of behavior as Favian's attempt to change himself as a person.
My father's sharp gaze pierced through me as he asked, suspicion dripping from his words. "What do you need?"
My mother chimed in sharply arguing with father , but he was right - I did need something from him.
I leaned in, my expression serious. "I need money, please."
A heavy sigh escaped my father's lips as he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "From tomorrow onwards, you will train and study properly. As the heir to our noble family, it is your duty to uphold our honor with dedication and discipline. After lunch, go see Rox. He will provide you with what you need. But remember, this is an exchange. Things will be different around here from now on."
"Thank you, Father. I won't let you down," I replied with a grateful nod, determined to redeem myself in his eyes. My attention then shifted to the plate in front of me, a perfectly cooked steak that looked too good to resist.
My parents exchanged surprised looks and my father let out another exasperated sigh. They probably didn't believe that I would stick to this newfound determination to be a better person. But their doubts didn't bother me; I had a more pressing matter at hand - enjoying every bite of this mouth-watering meal in front of me like it was my last, which it could be....
With each course that was served, I savored the explosion of flavors on my palate like a gourmet food critic on a mission. My parents watched in disbelief as I cleaned my plate – a rare sight for them given my usual disappearing acts during meals. But not this time; I was fully committed to savoring every dish .
Please don't let it be my last.
But for now, I was happy to bask in the afterglow of a delicious meal and the surprised looks on my parents' faces.
Meanwhile, Favian in my mind kept up his shouting, like an annoying jingle that won't leave your head. He was still stuck on the whole "give me my body back" tune. I tried to drown him out with the symphony of flavors in front of me. As the final course came to an end, I leaned back, patting my contented stomach. The perplexed expressions on my parents' faces were priceless. It felt good to defy expectations for once, even if it was just about finishing a meal.
With a polite nod and a half-smile, I rose from my seat, bidding my parents a brief goodbye.
They exchanged another glance, as if they were witnessing the mysterious transformation of their wayward son into a momentarily well-behaved noble. Even though they would be suspicious, what I would do in the upcoming weeks would be even more eye-catching, so I needed to fake it all under some inner desire to change.
As I exited the room, my mind was filled with Favian's persistent protests. Ignoring them, I searched for my butler, Rox. Spotting a servant, I approached her and asked about Rox's whereabouts.
"Excuse me, do you know where Rox is?" I inquired, trying to dispel the tension between us.
The servant looked at me with fear in her eyes before stammering out a response, "Um...at this hour, he is usually in his room, young master."
"And where is that?" I pressed, determined to find him.
"It's down the hall and to the left," she replied, pointing in the direction.
I nodded my thanks and walked away, catching the audible sigh of relief from the servant as I did so.
"You are quite hated here," I remarked quietly, knowing that only Favian could hear me inside my head.
"I am the owner of this mansion; it is only natural for them to fear me," Favian retorted arrogantly. But I knew better. He may be the owner on paper, but he had no right to treat people like this, hell this mansion was not even his .
With determination burning within me, I strode down the hall towards Rox's study. Each step echoed through the empty halls, reminding me of how alone and isolated I was in this world. But I refused to let that stop me from achieving greatness and most importantly survival
As I reached Rox's door, I knocked gently before entering. The hinges creaked loudly as I stepped into the study. There sat Rox at his desk, glasses perched on his nose as he read through letters.
"Good evening, Rox," I greeted him politely.
Rox stood up with a respectful bow, betraying his years of service and loyalty to Favian's family. His silver hair framed a kind yet weathered face, evidence of a life dedicated to serving others. Behind his glasses, his eyes sparkled with intelligence and experience. Dressed in a traditional butler's uniform, Rox exuded an air of grace and poise.
"What can I do for you, young master?" he asked, returning to his seat at the desk.
"Well, Rox, my father has allowed me some funds. A little financial backing, you know? In return, I've promised to buckle down and start training and studying properly. I am sure that both you and father want this for me."
Rox's eyes gleamed with joy. "That's wonderful news, young master! It warms my heart to hear of your commitment. Now, how much would you be needing?" he asked, his anticipation evident in his kind and wrinkled face.
"How much does a normal peasant family make each year, cultivating grain?" I asked after a bit of thinking, wondering how much I should prepare.
Rox looked surprised for a bit before replying, "Well, after taxes, they usually earn around 6 and a half silver Narloi more or less. But, you know, it depends on factors like the size of their land and the taxes imposed, but this should be the average income."
Contemplating this information, I decided to press forward with my request, "I need 10 gold Nalroi."
Rox's eyes widened slightly at the small sum I mentioned, maybe he believed I would have asked for more . He considered it for a moment before responding, "Very well, young master. I shall arrange it for you."
As I received Rox's confirmation about the typical peasant family's income, a devious smile played on my lips. "Wonderful," I uttered, knowing this was my only chance to delay the inevitable.
Turning away from Rox, I strolled out of the room with deliberate steps. The door closed behind me, leaving Rox in a state of befuddlement. Sitting at his desk, he absentmindedly scratched his head, probably wondering what I was going to do. Not knowing that I was set on putting my head inside a lion's mouth, while trying to convince it not to press his maws and teeth on me.