The reader, now named James Halden, stared fixedly at his plate. He didn't really feel like joining in his father's small talk.
The new Duchess was trying as she usually did to get his attention. She looked ever more disheartened as he continued to ignore her. James had been ignoring her for years, so it wasn't out of the ordinary.
Gray stood at attention behind his master, and replied to his queries when James made it clear he didn't plan to.
"I'm sorry!" Duchess Viola burst out. "I really thought this would make you happy, James. I will write to the dean—"
"No, no, no... it's fine. I guess I'm just a bit shocked is all. I think it will be good for me to get back. I just—"
He scrunched up his face, not pretending to run out of words. He was a character in a novel. And he was rich. And he was potentially spoiled. And had his father talked about a plan to make his reintegration into the academy easier. Something about James's true memories, that he'd inherited kept nagging at him though.
The duchess was frowning, questing for something to say. Just then, however, the great door to the dining room opened and in stepped the rest of his family.
He scanned the oldest of his three younger siblings. Crest Halden was a genius. All his tutors spoke highly of his performance in their lessons. He was very good at history and political education.
His other brother was more skilled at swords. Harry was physically more gifted than Crest, though both were, even almost four years younger than James or more, better martial artists than him.
Even his seven year old sister was showing an interest in training he had never had the ability to replicate. He didn't meet any of their eyes as they passed by him to find their own seats at the table.
It was supposed to be subtle, but as a reader, he knew how famous his younger siblings were. Even Lilia had her own fan club at the academy. Everyone, James included, expected Crest to inherit the Duchy.
And the reader was trying as hard as he could to be bitter. But in truth, in addition to inheriting James Halden's body, he'd inherited his memories and most of his natural instincts. James Halden didn't hold a shred of bitterness for his family. His feelings about being a noble though, were somewhat complicated. It was hard to tell. It almost felt like he was afraid of his position.
When he'd first heard the rumors, at least according to the memories the reader was seeing, he'd felt relief. He felt lazier than he had in his previous life. Like even walking took too much effort.
Trying to fight his brother for the position felt like way too much effort. But that was not all, was it? Perhaps it had more to do with how he viewed Crest. How he viewed them all.
His brother noticed his attention, staring at him with wide eyes. James looked away immediately. Then thought better of it, turned back, and acknowledged the other boy with a shallow nod. His brother's brows shot up.
James affected a nonchalant facade, but winced inward. He had to do a little work fixing the mess that was James Halden's life.
His natural instincts rebelled. The whole plan seemed like it would be work. Fixing first and foremost James' personal relations, then his public image, then growing his power, all that beautiful potential he had. And there might be more to getting power than survival. What was precious to James might be precious to him now too. When he was reading the book though, he could never guess James had this deep affection for his family. Nor could he guess how much he empathised with the commoners. It was somewhat of a shock.
"So, now that we are all here, we have a few things to discuss. We shall talk while we eat. Gray."
"Yes, my lord. An invitation has been sent to the village. The boy and his family will be here in five days."
James was not paying attention. He'd been lost in planning for ways he could make James Halden's life better, when he'd taken the first bite of food.
As a single middle aged man living alone, he'd been more concerned about surviving than about the quality of food he ate. He tried not to show it, but the way the Duchess's eyes shone when they met his told him she'd noticed.
"Are you enjoying your lunch James?" she asked.
And he would have thought she was teasing if she didn't sound so shy and hesitant. His cheeks heated up as he tried to stare a hole into his plate.
"...y-yes....its really good. My...ah, my compliments to the chef."
She stared at her husband with such a happy expression, like a starved street rat taking their first bite in days.
"I made the source for the first course," she declared with pride.
James froze, not ready to take this many steps in one day. He realised he'd been gaping at her like a fish for a few seconds now. Crest, young little hero that he was, saved them from the awkwardness. He clapped in obvious mockery.
"Well done, mother. At least one of us enjoyed it anyway."
"Crest!" she cried, but James saw the gratitude in her eyes.
'Does this character even have someone he's close enough with to tease in that way?'
Maybe making a few real friends should be on his agenda too. The ones James had, he'd never liked. They were too shallow. They said the most annoying things, and James had played along. Because it was a character he'd been playing. He had been a man trapped in a system, almost like the reader himself.
"Anyway," James was eager to change the subject, "Gray was saying something about a village or whatever—"
It was only as he asked that something started to click. He hoped he hid the moment realisation hit him well.
"You know that institute where commoners and the like who can afford to go to study?" his father asked.
"Isn't there one in every region?" Harry asked. "Mr Hadish was telling me last week how building them was the current king's biggest achievement."
"Yeah, since he hasn't had to go to war like most of his predecessors," Crest added.
"Yet," James added, though his mind was roaming.
He didn't notice how everyone stared at him with shock. He'd forgotten just how much of an ass James Halden was at the beginning of the novel. Of course, as nothing more than a side character, the reader hadn't had occasion to read any such scenes involving James showing off his assholery. Showing off being the key word.
"Did-did you just say something about a boy coming from the Northern institute?"
"No—" his father started slowly. "No I didn't. Where is the boy from Gray?"
"He is from the Northern institute. You said you wanted someone from our domain so I had not too much choice."
"Right. But being the Southern most of the Northern lands, my land—"
"My tutor said that all the land belongs to you, since you're the first Duke and all."
James found himself smiling indulgently. "No Lily. The other lords of the North have yet to acknowledge father as a liege. And as the kingdom has been too long in peace, going to war to force their obeisance would be...barbaric."
"So how do you propose we go about winning their loyalty, brother?" Crest asked.
James shrugged. "Honestly? I don't think I'm politically savvy enough to participate in this discussion. But putting our best foot forward. For example, there is like to be a convention of all the important noble's children in a few weeks. I heard the crown prince has invited a few of the young lords and ladies."
Everyone blinked slowly, not able to hide their surprise. James couldn't hide his wince this time.
"I heard about it from a letter Albert sent last week."
"And will you be representing the Halden house?" Crest asked carefully.
"Huh? Me?" James guffawed. No one joined him. "Listen, these kind of things are important if we are to consolidate our house as one of the strongest in the kingdom. Besides, these kinds of things are reserved for the heir aparent of the house."
"And you are—"Duchess Viola started, but then she stopped, suddenly frowning as something occurred to her.
James wasn't averse to saving the day this time.
"Don't even worry about it. I'm all for sharing the labour. As the most politically capable, it should be Crest going. And perhaps Harry can go with him. For support. I'm more interested in talking about this commoner you're mentioned."
"Jason Kon is his name. Apparently, he's as good at magic, if not better than the average instructor at his institute. Some have started to say he is good enough to teach at the academy," was Grey maybe a little too eager to change the subject.
High praise, James knew. And not nearly high enough. Jason was hiding his true capabilities in the first few books. Those at the institute didn't even know he could use six different magical affinities.
"And... he's still a student?"
"A very excellent student. We want to sponsor him to attend the academy."
James tried very hard, to feign confusion. But their well intentioned plan was bound to fail. He wondered if they knew it. He wondered what they were thinking when they thought it up.
"I suppose this was Gray's idea. To keep attention off me and the like."
Both the Duke and his wife blanked. Harry looked uncertainly between his parents and his brother. Crest wore a knowing look, and Lilia was indifferent to their plight.
"I don't like it! Its not a good look for our family. We should think of a new plan that doesn't involve exploiting our subjects!"
No one answered his outburst. Gray looked torn between looking sick and looking furious that his plan was being ridiculed. James found himself standing.
"This plan is impeccable," Gray posited. "I don't think you quite understand how much of a favour—"
"Tch. I understand why I have this huge dislike of you now. You're not even a noble, yet you think a word from you to the common folk should be gold. Using our positions like this," he shook his head, "it's something that has always digusted me about nobles."
"What do you mean?" asked the Duchess.
He said nothing as he stalked out of the room.
*************
"Why are you smiling like a fiend, Viola?" the duke asked his wife a few hours later.
"He said our family, at lunch. I think he's starting to come around."
"He also implied he knows more about what happens in his environment than we thought he did. He knows about the rumors surrounding Crest."
"And he seemed to take it well."
"Things cannot be that simple in politics. Besides, the fact that he has ways of getting information itself shows a level of ambition he might have been hiding all this while."