It took several minutes for Alexander's mother, Elena, to calm down. Especially when she noticed the missing part of his left leg.
She tried to get him to tell her everything, but he had no desire to explain what had happened and simply told her that a monster ate a part of his leg.
"We really should head inside, mother. There is no reason to cause undue worry for the others." Alexander said, trying to make his tone of voice as soothing as possible.
"Oh, very well. But you will tell me what happened. I really don't know what do to right now." Elana said, a fretful expression on her face as she glanced down at the pegleg Alexander was using.
With enough money one could normally purchase an enchanted prosthetic that could move quite well. Obviously not as good as the original limb, but far better than what Alexander currently had.
Unfortunately, thanks to his "condition" it would be impossible for him to use such a magic tool. Though, there was also the family's poor financial situation to consider as another impediment.
"Don't worry. I may have lost a great deal on my journey, but I gained quite a bit as well. This won't be enough to hold me back." Alexander said, flashing his mother a confident smile.
For a moment, she froze up and simply stared at him with a befuddled look. He used to smile at her all the time in a similar manner when he was younger. But in the last two years, ever since the reading to determine his magic power and affinities, he had not once shown her such an expression.
Most of her anxiety vanished in an instant. If her son was able to give her such a smile again, then he must have found the hope he had been searching for. Even if it had cost him immensely.
"Okay. Let us hurry then. Your brother and uncle are nearly as distraught as I was. And your father is, well, furious. I'm sure you know why."
Alexander nodded his head. He understood well why his father would be angry. Afterall, the ticket to the family escaping their money troubles had vanished while he was trying to finalize the deal.
'He's going to be even more infuriated when he hears that I have no intention of going through with what he wants. Still, I won't allow him to ruin our family with the debt he incurred. Not for him, but for mom and Nico.' Alexander thought, as he and his mother continued to move.
After a short walk through the estate, they reached the viceroy's office.
Inside, his father, uncle, brother, and the family's head chamberlain were waiting.
Nicolai nearly leapt out of his chair and ran towards Alexander, but a single sharp glare from their father kept him rooted in his seat.
His uncle, Elias, did not let his feelings show so overtly. Nevertheless, his expression softened when he saw that Alexander was alive and well.
"So, you've returned, my very foolish son. If not for my need to keep you presentable, I would have you severely punished for what you have done."
Unlike the rest of his family, Alexander's father, Arouraios, showed no concern for his wellbeing. All he was to the stubby, balding man was an asset to be used.
"I'm afraid that it might be too late for that. I'm not entirely the man that I was when I first left." Alexander responded.
He then lifted up his left leg so that his father could properly see it.
This caused the man to scowl in displeasure. Something that brought a smirk to Alexander's face. For the first time, the loss of his left leg had brought him something other than pain.
"So, the report I received was true." Arouraios said with a grumble. "No matter, it may be a point of contention, but the current head of the Marinos Company wants noble blood in his family desperately. After playing second string to the other merchants that cater directly to our lord, Duke Torden, they want to close the gap by joining the nobility."
There were a few ways for commoners to join the nobility, but the easiest was to have someone of noble blood marry into their family.
Alexander would not immediately receive a new tittle, but his father planned to use the monetary power of the Marinos Company to eventually have Alexander become the head of a new branch of the family.
Of course, he would be the head in name only. The owner of the Marinos Company, the grandfather of the girl that Alexander was supposed to marry, would really be the one truly calling the shots.
He would essentially end up a comfortable slave. He would likely be treated well, but everything he did would be approved by the Marinos Company's leadership. There would be almost no freedom in his life.
"Now that I have seen that you are alive, go to your room and stay there this time. There will be guards at the door and windows to make sure that you don't sneak out again. They have my permission to use force to restrain you if necessary. In three days, Stefanos will be bring his granddaughter Daphne here to meet you. I expect you to be on your best behavior. Don't make this any more difficult than you already have."
Having said all he wanted to say, Arouraios waved at Alexander to leave. With their business finished, the man looked like he no longer wanted to see his own son's face. His orders had been relayed so there was nothing else for them to talk about.
However, Alexander had no intention to quietly leave and follow his father's orders. He had listened for this long simply to confirm what he already knew.
"Yeah, that is not going to be happening. I'm not marrying this, Daphne. She could be the most beautiful girl in the world, but I don't care. I refuse to be a pawn in your game. Especially when you have already failed so miserably that the only way out you can think to of bail yourself out is to sell off your own son like some sort of studhorse."