"The first choice is you will go to the Royal Capital to join the academy. You will learn from the best there and create connections with other nobles."
"The second choice is to become the family guardian knight. You will safeguard the territory of the barony. You will eventually become the baron after you grow up."
Felipe Hartmann words slowly rang out. He looked at Luis as he was waiting for Luis answer.
Listening to his father's words, Luis fell into silence. He had never expected that there would be two choices. These were plans he has never thought and felt in a trance.
'Should I join the Royal Academy and rise through the nobility ranks or stay as a family guardian knight?'
After a moment of silence, his eyes became firm. This time he will stay true to his thoughts.
"Father, I've already chosen," Luis said, his voice steady.
"Tell me your choice," Felipe said with a little disappointment flashing in his eyes.
"Royal Academy... Guardian Knight... these both choices I reject," Luis declared, his voice clear and loud.
"Then what will be your choice?" Felipe questioned, and a light flashed through his eyes.
"I want to join the war against Orcs and Undead. I want to gallop through the battlefield with soldiers behind him," Luis declared with a firm voice.
A smile crept across Felipe's face, his earlier disappointment fading. He leaned back in his chair, relieved by Luis's bold declaration.
"Our Hartmann family was created 55 years ago by your grandfather. The land you have now is fought and protected by me and your grandfather. I am relieved that you didn't choose those two options that I gave you. As the future of the Hartmann family, the heir should have his own thoughts and not just follow the choices given by others."
Felipe's voice carried a tone of pride.
"You are talented enough that you don't need the Royal Academy. As for those nobles, they're nothing more than scheming fools," he said with disdain.
"If you had chosen to be a guardian knight, it would've been the safest path."
Felipe fell silent, saying this, his expression unreadable.
Luis was listening when his father suddenly became silent. Luis waited, but the silence still dragged on.
"Father, what about my decision? Can I join the war against orcs and undead?" Luis broke the long, painful silence.
Felipe's lips curled into a playful smile. "That's something I can't approve by myself. You'll need to discuss it with your mother at tonight's family dinner."
Luis Heart skipped a beat when he heard this. He would go face-to-face with Tigress of the Hartmann family. He felt the hours of lecture from mother were inevitable.
"You can go back now; your mother complained to me that you have gone to see her for many weeks." Felipe smirked as he talked.
"I will take my leave, father, but don't forget that when she scolds you, you also get scolded. Today none of us will be spared." Luis laughed and ran out. He will be in misery, but his father will suffer double it.
Felipe face fell when he heard Luis.
'Well, her scolding is her showing love for the family,' he thought with a sigh as he glanced at the book still in his hand.
-----
Luis spent the rest of the day training until evening. Today was family dinner, so he quickly returned and dressed up in the finest attire.
Looking in the mirror, he was proud of his own figure.
He had a refined jawline, black hair, and black eyes. He stood at 5'8 at the age of 14. Today he was wearing a black coat pant, which gave him a mature and noble appearance.
After checking himself again, he approached towards the Main Castle dining hall.
He quickly reached the dining hall. His parents were already seated, waiting for him. He hurried to take his place at the table.
His mother name is Olivia Fenrich. She is a wizard and daughter of Earl Fenrich.
Luis looked in the direction of his mother. His heart skipped a beat. Pipi was sitting on her soldier sulking on a magic stone happily.
His mother had a smile when she watched him. Luis could feel the danger emanating from it.
They started their dinner. Dinner began smoothly, with casual conversation and harmonious exchanges. Luis started to relax, thinking perhaps he might escape unscathed.
'Am I safe?' Luis thought as he ate happily.
"Luis, when did you break through the Official Knight?" The voice of his mother sounded. Luis stopped chewing when he heard this.
"Uh... It was almost a week ago," Luis mumbled.
"Almost a week?" His mother's tone grew sharper. "You didn't think to tell me? I had to hear it from Michael. If he hadn't told me, I'd still be in the dark. Have you grown so distant that you're hiding things from your mother?"
"No, Mother, I was just busy after the breakthrough... I didn't have the time." Luis hurriedly scrambled to give a half-hearted reasoning.
"Oh, you were so busy?" Olivia's voice was dangerously sweet. "Tell me, where was Pipi during that time?"
"She was... uh... I sent her to Ferterra Town to help grow plants for the family," Luis said with a guilty look. Now the scolding of his mother would be more intense.
'Shit! Today will be a bad day.
"You sent her... to grow plants?" Olivia's voice trembled with indignation. "She's just a newborn! She needs care and love, and you sent her off to work in the fields! She trusted you enough to form a life contract, and you failed her!" Olivia's voice rose as she scolded Luis.
"You don't even feed her magic stones; I had to send her crushed magic stones every day to absorb. If I hadn't sent her crushed magic stones every day, she'd have been starving! How could you become so irresponsible? I have failed as a mother; I couldn't teach you responsibility."
Luis hung his head, guilt washing over him. She was right. He hadn't taken proper care of Pipi. Meanwhile, Felipe was smirking from across the table. He was enjoying the drama.
"Talking about responsibility, look at your father--"
"Haha! Responsibility? Luis, if you want to learn about responsibility, just look at me!" Felipe interrupted with a proud face. "I take care of my soldiers very well. I make sure each and every one of them is cared for."
He looked at his wife, hoping for her approval, but the sight in front of him chilled him.