Chapter 28 The Boys Talk

The lake was calm. Far too calm for the kind of tales Axios was spinning. Amos lounged at the edge of the wooden dock, fishing rod resting loosely in his grip, while his grandfather sat beside him, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

“…Grandfather.”

“Yes?”

“You were an actual menace.”

Axios barked out laughter.

“That is an exaggeration.”

“You started three duels in one week.”

“Technically only two were really my fault.”

“That sentence somehow made it worse.”

The older man grinned without a hint of shame.

The former Duke seemed far less fearsome than the tales made him out to be. In casual clothes with sleeves rolled up and a fishing rod in hand, he looked more like a mischievous old villager than the ruler of one of the kingdom’s grandest territories.Unfortunately, that image turned out to be spot on.

“Academy life was different back then,” Axios said proudly.

“How.”

“We had standards.”

“You challenged nobles to fist fights.”

The old man laughed without a hint of shame.  Amos was starting to grasp something unsettling.  It seemed the Kyros family had always been this way.  Axios leaned back a bit afterward.  

“The academy was ruthless—competition everywhere, noble politics, faction conflicts, and professors who seemed to take pleasure in watching students struggle.”

“That sounds unpleasant.”

“It was great.”

“Of course you’d say that.”

Axios pointed at him immediately. “You would have loved it too.”

“Probably.”

“See?” The older man looked immensely validated.

“Back then, the academy hosted yearly combat festivals featuring large-scale tactical battles, joint faction wars, duels, and public rankings.”

Amos blinked slowly.

“That sounds fun. Can't wait to experience it all myself.”

“It absolutely was.”

The old Duke suddenly laughed again. “Oh! And my best friend accidentally burned down an alchemy laboratory once.”

“Merchant grandfather?”

“Yes.”

“How does a merchant student burn down a laboratory?”

“He attempted to create perfume. That man is now one of the richest merchants in the kingdom.”

“That is deeply concerning.”

“He still cannot make perfume.”

Amos snorted quietly. The old man smiled faintly afterward.

“Those years passed quickly.” Something softer entered his voice. “We were all idiots together.”

Amos glanced sideways at him. “You miss it.”

Axios looked toward the lake. “Yes, for a while we thought we’d stay together forever.” A small smile appeared.

“Then adulthood arrived come with responsibilities, territories, businesses, politics, and wars.” The fishing lines drifted quietly across the water. “Life scatters people eventually.”

Then Axios suddenly looked sideways at Amos. “That’s why you should make the most of your youth—make friends, stir up a little trouble, and fall in love in the most dramatic way possible.”

Axios narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

“…Actually, you would do very well in the academy.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“You already inherited the family talent.”

“For what?”

“Creating incidents.”

“That is slander.”

Axios pointed at him.

“You secretly became a B-rank adventurer at twelve.”

Amos froze. “…What.”

Axios grinned. “Oh?”

“You knew?”

“Of course I knew.”

“How.”

“You think your grandfather ruled a major territory for decades while being blind?”

Amos opened and closed his mouth once. “Grandma knows too?”

“She figured it out before I did.” Axios looked deeply amused now. “You really thought nobody would notice two children disappearing repeatedly for three years while monster reports mysteriously increased?”

“In hindsight that sounds less subtle.”

“A little.” The old Duke laughed again. “Relax.” “We never intended to expose you.”

Axios looked very proud afterward. “Still.” The older man crossed his arms.

“A B-rank at twelve.”

“Hah.”

“That’s my grandson.”

Amos rubbed his face slowly.

***

The peaceful atmosphere of the lake vanished immediately after Axios spoke again.

“You should also find more than one girl to fall in love with.”

Amos slowly turned toward his grandfather.

“…What.”

Axios nodded sagely like a wise old philosopher.

“A strong noble should never limit himself.”

“…Grandfather.”

“Yes?”

“You cannot casually say things like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because you are supposed to be the wise adult.”

“I am wise.”

“You just told your grandson to start collecting women.”

Axios pointed accusingly at him. “Do not phrase it like a crime.”

“That is EXACTLY how it sounded.”

The former Duke looked entirely unashamed. “I’m simply saying that if several beautiful and capable women happen to love you, refusing all but one may be politically wrong.”

“Politically wrong.”

“Yes.”

Amos rubbed his face slowly. “You are unbelievably corrupt.”

Axios grinned proudly. “That’s why I ruled successfully.”

“That explains many things about this territory.”

The old man leaned back casually afterward.

“Look at your father.”

“Father has only ever had one wife.”

“Fair.”

Axios nodded wisely.

“Your father achieved stability through fear.”

“That is not reassuring meanwhile you have charisma.”

“…I do not like where this conversation is going.”

“You’re handsome.”

“That's just facts.”

“You attract strange situations.”

“Unfortunately true.”

“You already have girls around you.”

Amos immediately frowned. “Ambrosia is my sister.”

“I KNOW THAT.”

“And Lisa is basically family.”

“I KNOW THAT TOO.”

Axios looked deeply offended. “Do you think I’m senile already?”

“You just encouraged a harem.”

“That’s completely different.”

The older man leaned closer afterward.

“I’m simply saying.”

“If one day several talented women happen to become attached to you…”

A pause.

“…don’t be stupid.”

Amos stared at him blankly. “You are giving horrible advice.”

“I am giving experienced advice.”

“That is worse.”

Axios suddenly looked around suspiciously then lowered his voice.

“And absolutely do not tell your grandmother I said this.”

Amos blinked once.

“You fear grandma that much?”

“Your grandmother believes romance should be pure and dignified.”

“And you?”

“I believe love is complicated.”

“That sounded surprisingly wise.”

“I was lying.”

“…What.”

Axios grinned shamelessly. “I just quite enjoyed being chased by multiple women when I was younger.”

Amos looked genuinely horrified now. “Grandfather.”

“Yes?”

“You are actually unbelievable.”

“And yet your grandmother still married and stayed with me even to this day.”

“That somehow makes this worse.”

The old Duke laughed loudly across the lake again.

“Still.”

This time his voice carried more sincerity. “When you truly love someone…”

“You’ll know.”

Axios looked toward the water quietly.

“There’s a difference between admiration, attraction, affection, and the person you truly can’t imagine losing.”

Amos listened silently.

“That feeling is terrifying.”

For the first time since this conversation started—

Axios sounded completely genuine.

Then immediately ruined it.

“Though having several terrifying women is also an option.”

“…There it is.”

Axios pointed at him proudly. “That’s the Kyros spirit.”

“That is absolutely not a family motto.”

“It honestly could be.”

Amos let out a long sigh before glancing toward the distant orchard. “Grandma definitely dominated this relationship.”

“Oh completely.”

The answer came instantly.

“I survived through tactical retreats.”

“That explains your political career too.”

“Yes.” Axios looked deeply proud of this. Axios waved dismissively.

“You are missing the larger picture.”

“I fear the larger picture.”

“The prophecy concerns the future of the Kyros bloodline.”

“That sounds serious.”

“It is serious.”

Axios leaned back casually.

“Think logically.”

“I regret encouraging that.”

“If the prophecy truly points toward you then your descendants become important.”

Amos stared blankly.

Axios pointed at him accusingly.

“You carry the Eos name.”

“Yes.”

“You inherited absurd talent.”

“Debatable.”

“You became a B-rank adventurer at twelve.”

Amos sighed deeply. The old Duke continued regardless.

“The prophecy speaks of elevating the Kyros family beyond its current heights.”

Axios gestured dramatically toward the distant lands.

“We already have territory, wealth, military power, and political influence, so whatever comes next…” His eyes settled on Amos. “…must surpass even that.”.

***

“You were born carrying expectations you never asked for.”

Amos looked quietly toward the water. The old Duke’s answer came gently this time.

“That’s why I never wanted to force you.”

A small breeze passed across the lake.

“You’re still a child—laugh, cause trouble, fall in love recklessly, make mistakes, and just live.” Axios smiled faintly. “Not become trapped by dead ancestors and dusty prophecies.”

That sounded much more like the grandfather Amos actually knew. Then the old man ruined it again immediately.

“Though if several beautiful women happen to strengthen the bloodline simultaneously—”

“THERE IT IS.”

Axios burst into laughter again. “Young people today are too narrow-minded.”

The old Duke suddenly leaned closer afterward.

“But genuinely.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“Don’t chain yourself too early.”

Amos blinked. Axios looked toward the horizon quietly.

“The world is larger than you realize right now.”

“You’ll meet countless people—talented women, dangerous women, interesting women and an overwhelming number of noblewomen carefully chosen by their families.”

“Besides.”

“If the prophecy really is not about you…” A dangerous sparkle appeared in his eyes. “…then technically the more descendants you have, the higher the success rate to be the one prophesied instead.”

Amos looked unconvinced.

“Hm.”

“I am going to tell grandma about this conversation.”

The old Duke froze instantly. “…You wouldn’t.”

“I absolutely would.”

Axios looked genuinely alarmed now. “Amos.”

“Yes?”

“Blood related betrayal hurts the most.”

“That sounds like the consequence of your actions.”

The former Duke immediately straightened.

“I take back all previous advice.”

“Too late.”

“I was joking.”

“You absolutely were not.”

Axios coughed into his fist.

“Perhaps.”

***

The moment Amos and Axios returned from the lake, Amos immediately sensed danger.

“…Why do I hear screaming.”

“That sounds healthy.”

“It absolutely does not.”

The two approached the orchard pavilion slowly. Then Amos stopped completely.

“…Oh no.”

Axios looked ahead. Then immediately burst into laughter. Maria sat elegantly at the center of the pavilion like a queen holding court. Ambrosia sat stiffly in a chair while Maria adjusted her posture with terrifying precision.

“No slouching.”

“I am not slouching.”

“You inherited your brother’s posture habits.”

Nearby, Lisa was being instructed on the proper way to hold a teacup. Not because she was doing it incorrectly, but because Maria seemed convinced there were seventeen distinct “socially appropriate” ways to hold one, depending on the occasion.

“…There are different tea grips?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds fake.”

“It is nobility.”

Lisa looked deeply unconvinced. Then Maria suddenly noticed the two boys approaching.

“Oh?” Her smile brightened instantly. “There you are.”

Axios immediately betrayed his grandson. “I delivered him safely.”

“TRAITOR.”

Maria ignored Amos entirely at first. She stood gracefully and walked directly toward Axios. The former Duke smiled confidently. Then immediately looked less confident as Maria adjusted his collar sharply.

“You must had taught him something stupid again.”

“…What makes you think that?”

“You look proud of yourself.”

Amos immediately pointed accusingly. “He encouraged polygamy using flawed logic.”

Maria slowly turned toward her husband.

Axios took one careful step backward. “…Maria.”

“Yes, dear?”

“I can explain.”

Ambrosia was fascinated, Lisa was horrified, and Amos felt deeply validated.

“I told you grandma would understand my suffering.”

Maria smiled beautifully.

“AXIOS EOS KYROS.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you corrupting our grandson?”

“I was educating him.”

“You were teaching him how to become a scandal.”

“A successful scandal.”

“That is not helping.”

The old Duke coughed awkwardly.

“He has the Eos bloodline.”

Maria narrowed her eyes.

“In hindsight the phrasing may have been poor.”

“May have?”

Amos crossed his arms victoriously.

“I have been avenged.”

Axios looked betrayed. “You truly inherited your grandmother’s ruthlessness.”

Maria sighed before rubbing her forehead.

“You.” She pointed at Amos now.

“Yes?”

“Do not listen to your grandfather’s romantic advice.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good.”

Axios immediately protested.

“My advice is excellent.”

Amos slowly rubbed his face.

“I understand my bloodline too well now.”

Maria returned gracefully to the pavilion afterward.

“Come sit.”

Amos immediately became suspicious.

“Why.”

“Because I was teaching the girls.”

“That sentence terrifies me.”

“You should be terrified.”

Axios promptly sat down next to his wife without a word, decades of instincts clearly at play. Amos, on the other hand, approached with caution—then stopped cold.

“…Why is there makeup on the table.”

Ambrosia immediately pointed dramatically.

“Grandma says appearances are weapons.”

Maria nodded calmly.

“They are.”

Lisa looked oddly elegant already despite appearing deeply confused about how she ended up this way.

“Lady Maria braided my hair.”

Amos stared. The former Duchess looked directly at Amos.

A very familiar dangerous sparkle appeared in her eyes.

“No.”

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”

“I know that expression.”

Maria smiled sweetly.

“Sit down, dear.”

“Why.”

“You’ve grown handsome.”

“Grandma.”

“Yes?”

“It sounds like you’re planning something.”

“I’m your grandmother.”

“That is not reassuring.”

“Sit.”

Amos glanced toward Axios for support, but the old Duke quickly averted his gaze. Coward. Ambrosia laughed aloud while Lisa hid her smile behind her teacup. For the first time in years, the old countryside house felt alive again.