I'd expected Nicomaine to interrogate me about my plan. Instead, she stayed quiet, gazing out the carriage window. It wasn't like her, but I wasn't about to complain—I had my things to focus on.
CC said I am the only person who can see her, so why not try to view my rewards here while letting my sister enjoy the view outside the carriage?
[NOTICE: Here is the List of Rewards:]
Reward 1: +50 EXP
Reward 2: +10 Influence Points
Reward 3: +1 Skill
'Cool, I gained another skill,' I said in my mind.
I accepted all the rewards and I viewed the details of the new skill I acquired.
[NOTICE: You have acquired a new skill: Basic Persuasion. Use to make them agree with you or follow your suggestions even if they have doubts.]
I like my progress, seems I have two skills that I can use for my current quests. I hate to admit it but as of now, I'm more worried about my secondary quest 'A Path of My Own' to get completed than the primary quest.
Because dealing with the duke is the last thing I want to do right now.
On our way home, Nicomaine and I both in silence. You can say this is a normal thing that happened to siblings after they went on a stroll without asking their parents for permission and they will now face the consequences of it.
As soon as we both entered our house, I heard Nicomaine's complaining. "I wanted to spend more time with you, brother," she said, rubbing her temples as if she wanted to remove her headache. "But meeting the crown prince drained every ounce of patience I had."
She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Please, take all your problems with you, because I'm done."
I never bother to answer, because she's right. The problem will always be with me. Especially right now…
Nicomaine walks through the hallway leading to her room. I watch her taking her steps away from me as if I am lost in a deep thought again.
But just taking a few steps, a deep and serious voice makes her stop to move.
"What kind of embarrassment have you caused this time, Nicodeim?"
The voice was like a blade, cutting through the hallway before I could escape. Same old tune.
I turned to face him, already preparing for the angry words I knew were coming.
'Disappoint' was a favorite word of his. It rolled off his tongue with the ease of a man who'd spent years perfecting it.
But today, I wasn't in the mood to play his game.
Nicomaine was the first to greet him, "Father, we've just returned, and I'm sure Nicodeim will explain to you what we've done today. There's no need to lecture us right now." Her voice sounds bubbly.
She squeezes her hands to the side while keeping her gaze on Father and mine.
To be fair, I want to commend her for trying to start a conversation with that man just to change a little bit the topic. But I think, it's not gonna work.
I also speak to our father using an even, serious tone. "I heard you're looking for a physician to help your subordinate. I just found one that might—"
"Why do you even care about my subordinate? You can't even fix your own self and yet you want to help others!?" he cut me off with those loud words.
He fidgeted, tugging his sleeves as if he was uncomfortable. "If you have some time to wander around minding other business, then maybe you also have time to start being a responsible man of this household," he said.
He frowns at me. "You never skip a day to disappoint me, Nicodeim."
His words were the same as always—sharp and cutting, meant to draw blood. But I'd learned to let them pass, just another storm I refused to weather.
And even now, as this was the first time I met him after getting transported here; I was used to it.
Nicomaine leans forward. "About that, Father," her voice sounds excited. "Brother told me earlier he already plans for that. You can at least hear him out," she added. She spoke rapidly as she nodded.
But our dear father seems not to see her. He didn't even bother to look at her. Well, it's not that he doesn't care about Nicomaine, it's just that this is the wrong time for her to get his attention.
Besides, she doesn't need to worry. After all, I have two skills that will help me here that I want to try using.
'Rapport,' I whispered internally to activate the skill.
"Well, I kinda want to skip a day to be useful for you, Father," I answered casually.
He lifts his eyebrows at me as if he's interested in what I am going to say. I even get my sister's attention as she shifts her strong gaze towards me.
I half-shrug while grinning. "Think of it as me handling things my way. You'll see it's worth it," I said as I talked loudly.
I never break my gaze at him with a strong posture. "You're asking me to be responsible, right? Then let me show you that I can be a responsible man of this household on my way."
He scoffs as he answers. "I don't need you to please me. Where is your confidence coming from? If you wanted to be useful, stop talking nonsense and do something in action!"
He is still listening and talking to me, sure my skill 'basic rapport' is working. Because if it didn't, he might cut me off again the moment I utter that I want to handle things my way.
A smirk comes into my lips. "Who told you that I want to impress you? I stopped playing your game years ago." I hold my hands loosely behind my back. "I'm doing this for my sake, not for this family, and not for you."
"You are just nothing but a mistaken child. I regret I gave you a life and make you live from this point."
The smirk never leaves my lips. 'Persuasion,' I said in my mind to activate my other skill.
"Now what, do you want to hear this physician I found or you're just going to keep insulting your child? Pick so we can settle things now."
It takes a few seconds for him to answer. "Very well, this physician you found might save me from trouble looking for another one into other estate. Just bring him tomorrow so he can look at my subordinate." Then he walks away from us, leading to the front door of the mansion.
Oh, it works! A playful grin flashes to my lips as I stretch my arms upwards.
Well, it's not as impressive as I think it is but still, it's the first time in Nicodeim's life, that his father agreed with the idea.
[NOTICE: Secondary Quest Completed! Rewards have been issued to your inventory.]
The text blinked in the corner of my vision. So far, this is the one I consider as my victor. Because finally, the annoying quest is now done.
I hope CC won't give me another quest that I need to deal with my father again.
"I don't know what you're planning, brother, but it better work." Nicomaine's voice was sharp, but her eyes looked very worried. "If this backfires, I'm not getting dragged into your mess again. You're on your own." She turned, her steps echoing down the hall as she disappeared from my view.
Now that the drama is done, I go to my study room to make a notice letter that I can send to Livius to let him know that he will be summoned here tomorrow.
As I was done, I called one footman. "Bring this letter to Sarrafort's Household. Make sure the one who's going to accept it is Livius himself."
Once he agreed to my order, he immediately left. Now it gets me sigh to think every time I need something from him, I need to send him a letter just like that.
I leaned back in my chair. I wonder if there's another convenient way to contact him.
Anyway, my favorite part after doing hard work is here. Checking my rewards.
"Rewards."
[NOTICE: Here is the list of Rewards:]
Reward 1: +50 EXP
Reward 2: +10 Influence Points
Reward 3: +1 Skill
I accepted the EXP rewards and Influence Points. I am now level 4. Then I checked the skills that CC gave me.
[NOTICE: You have acquired a new skill: Basic Inspect. It is an ability to notice details about people and surroundings. Range: 5 meters in radius around you.]
It means I can sense people and the surroundings around me. It is quite useful compared to other skills I gained.
"Maybe I'll try using it tomorrow when Livius is trying to heal Father's subordinate."
For now, I stay still here in my study room to lessen this pile of work I left earlier since I'm bored. I'll deal with the new quests later or maybe tomorrow if I have a chance.
[NOTICE: You have (2) new primary quests and (3) new secondary quests.]