Daniel's words had a profound impact on Clobber. After all, his experiences were far from ordinary. As a person who had come from another world, Clobber had faced scorn and unfair treatment as the younger son of a baron after his transmigration. This had made him view the world through a skewed, often negative lens.
It was during his first mission to wipe out a band of bandits that his disillusionment with the world had reached its peak.
"This world really is rotten to the core!" Clobber had thought at the time, his face covered in blood.
But now, hearing Daniel's words, a shift occurred in Clobber's perspective. Perhaps, despite everything, there were still some good and warm things, or people, in this world.
Upon reflection, it made sense. Maybe it was just that he had been too fragile and sensitive in the past. After all, his previous life had taught him that everything has two sides. But coming to this new world, he had unknowingly fallen into a trap of negativity, almost like a spell that dulled his senses.
Of course, he couldn't blame himself entirely. Since the moment he was born, the Deepwater Territory had never welcomed him. The only way he could survive was by becoming stronger, growing faster.
Thankfully, as he grew, his natural talents began to shine, and his combat ability improved. This allowed him to live more peacefully. Daniel, through his conversations with Clobber, had recognized this.
So, Daniel had hoped to let Clobber experience more of the warmth and care that came with being part of a family. But as with most plans, things didn't go as expected. Clobber had barely returned home when he was called away by the duke to serve in the knight's order.
Now, Daniel could only use these few days to try to make up for the scars Clobber had suffered in his childhood.
As Clobber surveyed the remnants of the banquet hall, the chaos of the evening still lingering in the air, his thoughts drifted back to the looks of genuine warmth and welcome from his relatives when he had first arrived.
It seemed they truly did welcome him into the Goldrose family.
Clobber smiled softly and nodded in acknowledgment. "I understand, Grandpa."
He knew he had probably revealed some misguided or even incorrect thoughts about the family during their afternoon conversation, and that was why Daniel had felt the need to speak with him so seriously after the banquet.
Looking at things now, if the Goldrose family was truly as united and kind as Daniel claimed, then Clobber would happily be a part of that unity. But if this was all just a facade, then he wouldn't hesitate to play the game of politics with his sharp mind. Clobber was confident in his own intelligence.
Seeing that his grandson had acknowledged him, Daniel smiled and nodded in approval. As long as Clobber was on board, the family would still be there for him, and he had plenty of time to experience the warmth of family ties.
Daniel was confident. After all, the Goldrose family was known throughout the duchy and even in the Emerald Kingdom for its unity. If the Oat family from Deepwater Territory didn't understand that, it was because they were just a small, backwater noble family.
So as long as Clobber showed he was willing to bond with the family, Daniel was sure that he could easily integrate into the Goldrose clan and become an important member of the family.
"You know, when you get older, you start rambling," Daniel said, his tone shifting as he rose. "It's getting late. A servant will show you to your room. From now on, that room is yours. Even if you're off to the knight's order or end up with your own land someday, that room will always be waiting for you, and someone will be there to keep it tidy."
"Tomorrow, after breakfast, come to my study. I have a few things to discuss with you."
With that, Daniel turned to head toward his study. There were many letters to respond to and supplies for war to prepare—tents and the like.
Clobber immediately stood up, offering a respectful goodnight salute to Daniel's retreating figure. Then, he followed the servant to his room in the castle.
Clobber's room had a majestic, ancient feel to it.
Clobber stepped into the room, and the first thing that caught his eye was a massive four-poster bed. The headboard was intricately carved with delicate patterns, and the bed was covered with a soft mattress and a luxurious bedspread.
Hanging from the stone walls were rich tapestries, embroidered with ancient designs and the Goldrose family crest. By the bedside, a few finely carved wooden chairs were placed, along with a nightstand.
The room was located on the third floor of the castle. The windows were small, offering a view of the castle's sturdy outer walls and the moat surrounding it. Thick curtains were draped over the windows, blocking out the outside light and adding a sense of mystery to the room's atmosphere.
In one corner of the room, there were some antique furniture pieces—an oak wardrobe, a carved writing desk, and the like—all exuding the charm of age. The floor was covered by a thick woolen carpet that felt soft and comfortable underfoot.
Clobber's first impression of the room was... luxurious.
It was seriously luxurious.
Just the bed alone!
If Clobber wasn't mistaken, the duvet was made of velvet fabric, with a goose-feather-filled mattress. He had heard that lying on it felt like sinking into a cloud, and after his brief experience in Frank from the Moonlight Mushroom family's room, he could certainly believe it. He wasn't sure if the geese were magically enhanced beasts, but the mattress was so comfortable it almost felt like he was floating. When he lay down, it felt as though he might just sink right into it. If Frank hadn't insisted on dragging him out to watch the knight training, Clobber was pretty sure he could have fallen asleep right there.
Though, of course, that would have been rather rude.
As for the wooden furniture, just the quality of the carvings was enough to show that these pieces were worth a fortune. They were practically art pieces by themselves—probably worth the same as a standard knight's sword if sold.
It was all so extravagant!
Extravagant to the point that Clobber had trouble believing this room had actually been prepared for him.
Curious, he turned to the servant still waiting by his side.
"Has this room ever been used by anyone else? Or was it originally someone's but they've since moved out?" he asked.
The servant replied promptly, "This room was originally Miss Lilith's. The furnishings here are on par with those in the master's bedroom. In fact, I've heard that even Baron Adam's room doesn't have the luxury you have here."
"The master once instructed that you, Young Master Clobber, are Miss Lilith's child. So, after Miss Lilith's passing, you are entitled to inherit everything she left behind in the castle, including this room."
The servant relayed Baron Daniel's command verbatim, which gave Clobber a clearer understanding of his late mother's status in the family. Until now, he had only heard rumors about how much Lilith was cherished within the Goldrose family.
Now, Clobber had a new question. Given how beloved his mother had been, why had she married a man like his father, who was both unremarkable in terms of intellect and martial ability?
The Goldrose family was so powerful that even other count-level families would seek marriage alliances with them.
To put it simply, if the Goldrose family had ever announced that Miss Lilith was available for marriage, nobles from all across the duchy would have come to Crownflower City hoping to win her favor.
There were too many unknowns, and Clobber couldn't help but shake his head in frustration. He'd have to ask Daniel or Baron Adam when the opportunity arose.
He waved his hand at the servant, signaling that he could leave.
Once the servant had exited, Clobber laid back on the bed. The soft sensation beneath him made him involuntarily close his eyes and sink into the experience.
So far, the Goldrose family has welcomed me with open arms, he thought. It might be because their numbers are so few. After all, with such a vast territory, there are only a handful of men bearing the Goldrose name, and they're simply not enough.
Take Adam for example. He'd been granted the title of baron by Daniel, with a territory located at the farthest eastern edge of the county. He rarely visited his domain, preferring to lead the family's merchant caravan and engage with other nobles while gathering intelligence.
The Goldrose family had about seven or eight such merchant caravans, all of which traveled across the duchy and even traded goods with the Emerald Kingdom. Each caravan had to be led by a family member, and cities like Crownflower and Fleurcity also needed family members to oversee their management.
Some of the younger family members, still underage, were sent to serve as attendants in other noble families. This was a rule among nobles: entrusting one's children to a trusted noble family for training strengthened ties and prevented favoritism in training due to familial bonds.
In this way, a dozen or so members of the Goldrose family had already been dispatched.
As the most loyal supporters of the duke, the Goldrose family had even sent two of their offspring to serve in the Duke's Dragon Breath Knight Corps. Word was that the one who had done the best had even surpassed the level of a knight and was now a Knight Captain in the Dragon Breath Corps.
The problem was, the current Goldrose family's territory didn't have many of its own members left to call upon. Even those who remained were either weaker (not even full-fledged knights) or elderly.
While they wanted to serve their family, their talents or health simply didn't allow them to progress further, and they had to settle for assisting in the management of the family's estates or taking on administrative roles to help ease the family's burdens.
Clobber pondered all of this, but soon felt his eyelids grow heavy. He quickly undressed, lay down on the bed, and drifted off into a deep sleep.