After packing his belongings, mainly gifts, Derek set off on his journey home with a team of soldiers and a squad of cavalry. His cousin Adrian volunteered to stay behind and oversee the camp, knowing it was Derek's foundation and couldn't be left unattended for long. Derek tried to persuade him otherwise but eventually gave up seeing Adrian's determination.
This trip home wasn't just about a family reunion; it was also an opportunity to give back some gifts. When he was starting out, many people had lent a helping hand, and now it was time to repay that kindness. He also remembered his many uncles, aunts, and cousins who had all received basic education. If he could bring a few of them back with him, especially young men like Adrian who could join his venture, it would be perfect. After all, these were his relatives, and he'd rather have them work for him than for some other noble.
Because they were carrying several wagons of gifts, it took Derek ten days to reach home. By the time he arrived, it was only two weeks until the New Year.
Lady Ferreira had been eagerly awaiting Derek's return. All her other children had already come back: his second brother, Sergei Ferreira, who served in the Iron Lion Regiment; his eldest brother, Marco Ferreira, who helped manage the family estate; and his fourth brother, Sherif Ferreira, who was a knight apprentice under a viscount. His elder sister, who was married to a knight, wouldn't be coming home this year, nor would his younger sister, who had joined a convent.
This year had been good for the Ferreira family; their two estates had yielded a bountiful harvest, and the taxes had been collected smoothly. The steady growth of the family's fortunes had kept Baron Ferreira in good spirits. The only thing that worried him was his third son, Derek. Derek had left home to seek his fortune, leaving his mother to fret and his father to grumble. The last time Derek had sent a message, he had taken a group of farmers with him, earning a stern reprimand for his brother Andrew from the Baron.
Despite his harsh words, Baron Ferreira genuinely cared about Derek. Parents often worry more about the child who is far away. No matter how much he scolded Derek, he always hoped for his safe return.
Until…
"Young Master Derek has returned!" The old butler brought the news to Baron Ferreira, who nearly jumped out of his chair but restrained himself and sat back down.
"Hmph! Gone for a year and all he sent back was a letter. I thought he'd forgotten his way home," he grumbled.
"Sir, Young Master Derek has brought some gifts for you. Perhaps you should go see him," the old butler suggested, offering the Baron an excuse to hide his relief.
"Being able to support himself is good enough; I doubt he'd bring me any gifts. He's probably come back to ask for money," Baron Ferreira muttered as he slowly got up, preparing to see what gifts his disobedient son had brought.
In truth, he had gathered some information about Derek, including correspondence from Knight Chloe, and knew that the boy was doing quite well. However, engaging in smuggling was dangerous, like licking blood off a knife's edge. Did he really think there were no checkpoints or bandits along the way? Seeing how many unfortunate souls Lloyd had dealt with, it was clear that the profits from such ventures were not easily earned.
When Baron Ferreira finally made his way to the castle courtyard, he found that he was the last to arrive. His other sons and Lady Ferreira were already there. Sherif was excitedly circling a black warhorse.
"Derek, you're the best! I finally have my own warhorse!" Sherif, who was a knight apprentice, had been riding an ordinary horse assigned by his mentor, just like Derek had. The Ferreira family had some savings each year, but they were not wealthy enough to provide every son with a warhorse, especially when good horses were hard to come by.
In fact, if Derek had decided to stay home, Baron Ferreira would have provided him with a warhorse and equipment. His second son, Sergei, who served in the Iron Lion Regiment, was equipped by the kingdom, and Sherif had not yet completed his knight training, so he wasn't given such items. Only the children of wealthy nobles or those in the south typically had their own equipment and warhorses.
Northern nobles were often frugal and less wealthy, even if they had saved some gold coins over the years. The Ferreira castle, with its warlike design from the frontier days, resembled a military fort more than a comfortable residence. This was characteristic of northern nobles, who remained unchanged despite the disdain of central and southern nobles.
While Sherif was thrilled, Sergei and Marco were more focused on the soldiers and knight apprentices Derek had brought back. These men, looking like elite swordsmen more suited for urban combat, exuded an aura of toughness that surpassed the Ferreira family's soldiers. The knight apprentices, armed to the teeth with iron armor, fine swords, gauntlets, warhorses, and helmets, resembled true knights more than mere apprentices. Simon, in particular, was clad in half-armor with his warhorse covered in leather armor, his sharp gaze intimidating all who met it.
Following Derek was not just about training; they occasionally accompanied Lloyd in dealing with bandits and thieves. After a year of such experiences, each one of them had blood on their hands. These were no ordinary knights; even a modest baron couldn't afford to display such grandeur.
"What has Derek been up to?" Sergei quickly wondered, recalling if any new bandit groups had emerged in the northern province. How else could he have amassed such wealth without resorting to robbery?
Baron Ferreira noticed all this, his surprise flickering briefly across his face. He managed to keep his composure. "What's all the noise about? Can you even afford to keep that warhorse?" he chided, slapping Sherif on the head and drawing everyone's attention.
"What about my gift?" he directed at Derek.
Derek knew his father's temperament and didn't mind. He signaled to Simon, who brought over a chest. Opening it revealed a complete set of knight's armor: helmet, arm guards, gauntlets, half-armor, skirts, knee guards, iron boots, a ten-forged knight's sword, a lance tip, and a hand shield. Finally, there was an iron mask and chain mail for the warhorse.
Though not true heavy armor, it was a low-end knight's set that most knights dreamed of and was enough to be a family heirloom. A full set like this would cost at least a hundred gold coins, equivalent to the annual output of a small estate. Well-maintained, it could be passed down through generations.
Most parts of the body were well protected, meeting the standard defense requirements. However, acquiring such a set was not just about money; it required a certain level of skill and craftsmanship. Derek himself didn't have a complete set. This one had taken Tru and his team a month of overtime work to create, meant as a gift for Baron Ferreira. Of course, Derek planned to extract more resources from his family in the future.