Kyle came home after his usual hunting trip. He was no longer the general hand. One of the older hunters had retired after receiving an injury during a hunt.

Vanessa welcomed Kyle as he entered their house. It has been almost two years since they married. It took a while for them to adjust to Kyle being away for four to five days almost every week of the year.

“How’s my little baby?” Kyle went up to the clearly visible bulge on Vanessa’s stomach and rubbed his face on it.

Vanessa rolled her eyes at her husband.

“Well, already forgetting the wife after getting her pregnant? After the kid is out of the belly, I’m afraid you won’t remember that I’m your wife!”

“Haha, forgive me my love. Come come, give your hubby a kiss!”

“Hmph! Disgusting.”

After playing around for a while, Kyle cleaned up in the bathroom and sat down at the dinner table.

Vanessa had made a sumptuous feast as she usually does when Kyle would come back from his trips.

After Kyle had shared some of his memories with Vanessa, their relationship had become even closer. Kyle had feared that she would not be able to accept and draw back from him.

His insecurity, despite being a god, caused him to only come out in the open after the couple had sealed the deal.

“Wife.”

“Yes, dear?”

“I’m thinking of quitting the hunting team.”

Vanessa looked at him with surprise. “Whatever made you decide that?”

“We need a reason to openly spend money. We should get a bigger house, some servants and guards.”

“I can fake discovering some treasure and strike it rich.”

“Oh? Are you worried that I’ll have an accident and harm the little one?” Vanessa teasingly smiled at her husband, looking rather troubled.

“Don’t say that wife. With your current strength and my protection charms, even that old man up the mountain can’t hurt you without a lot of effort. And I’ll be able to run back within time easily.”

“Then, it’s fine dear. I’m more than happy with this life. My family is with me. I’m not starving, or having to work from morning till night.”

“But I want you to have an ever better life, a more comfortable one. Find a hobby you like. Not just tend to the garden day in day out.

Seeing as Kyle was quite firm on this decision, Vanessa decided to give up protesting. It wasn’t a bad thing, anyhow.

“OK, dear, what do you have in mind?”

“I’ll talk to leader on the next trip. He can put up a request for my replacement at the employment office. The next trip will probably be my last time with them.”

“My love, I just want us to be happy. Me being away five days out of seven isn’t what I had in mind. After our son is born, it’ll be even harder if I had to keep this lifestyle.”

“I understand, dear. It’s nice to be able to see you every day, just like how we used to be, near our little lake.” Vanessa smiled, while recalling those memories, before changing her expression to one akin to that of a smiling demon. “And it’s our daughter. Do remember my husband.”

“Ha-haha, yes wife, daughter…”

***

Earlier during the day, at the royal magic academy training grounds.

“Alex, you don’t have to fight him! He’s just a big meanie using his position to push people around. Ignore him! Michael, you say something too.”

Amelia yelled at Alex, who was wearing the basic protective gear. Michael assumed his look of indifference while Susanne looked troubled yet not courageous enough to speak out.

“Amelia…you know I can’t do that. He’s not going to stop bothering me unless I stop appearing near you. Plus, this time, he insulted my sister!”

“Hmph! Fine. Go get beat up! See if I care!”

The crown prince, Quin Edward Von Strand, looked at Alex with a gloating expression, surrounded by his noble followers.

Unlike, Alex, who was wearing unenchanted leather armour, the prince was fully decked out in a miniature version of the royal guard knight’s magic armour. Both sides were holding practice weapons, made of wood. Alex held a short sword and shield while the prince was using a two-handed broad sword.

They both went up to a clearing, spectators forming a ring around them. A lot of them jeering and pointing at Alex. Such behaviour made Amelia fume endlessly as she was almost shivering with rage.

‘How dare he! Even if he is the crown prince, I will pay him back for this! Just you wait!’

In actual fact, it was pretty obvious why the crown prince had decided to pick on Alex, the poor commoner boy. The prince wanted to pursue Amelia, the daughter of a duke with a high talent, similar to his own.

Quin could not stand the fact that a poor boy with inferior talent would hang around with his future wife (his delusions). This year, they were finally able to put their theory and training to practical use by being able to spar with each other.

He had taken advantage of this by challenging Alex to a fight. He eyed the instructor, standing in between them.

“Both sides, ready?”

“Yes!” “Ready.”

“Just before you start, I’ll say this again. Intentionally causing grievous harm is not allowed. You will be punished upon such an act!”

“Now, start!”

The prince immediately took off, sprinting towards Alex, whom took a defensive position with his shield ready.

*Bang*

Alex’s knees bent under the pressure of the mana infused heavy blow. The crown prince was clearly physically stronger as well as being more adept at employing mana to use physical reinforcement.

Alex, could only hold his ground, dodging and defending. From time to time, he would strike with his short sword, only to be parried away. The difference in power between the strikes apparent. The prince’s armour defending him from all blows that he failed to block.

The duel went on with the prince savagely beating down on Alex, knowing that the other’s attacks cannot harm him.

After three minutes, the instructor yelled out. “OK, stop! Time’s up.”

The man came in between the two kids and stopped the crown prince.

Quin seemed satisfied and looked at the panting Alex with a sneer.

Alex hurriedly took off his helmet and took deep breaths. Amelia came up and helped Alex out of his leather armour. Touching him all over, she checked for any signs of broken bones.

This brought a sour expression to form on the prince’s handsome face.

“Amelia! What are you doing?? Get away from the filthy boy!”

“Hmph! I will not! What are you going to do about it Mr. Crown Prince?!”

Alex could only smile bitterly. While he was quite fond of Amelia, he understood the difference between their positions. He did not want to risk his life blindly pursuing her just yet. However, Amelia seemed to be far too close to him that it was bringing danger to his little life.

“You!!!”

“You what? Are you going to bully me too, with your status? How very manly of you!”

Amelia’s mocking tone left the prince fuming, all glory gained earlier made insignificant. He strode off the training grounds without a word. He did not forget to give a death stare towards Alex.