Alex walked through the gate of the mansion, giving Bill a nod. Amelia ran in ahead of him, her beauty leaving him in a daze.

He still did not know what this high-born girl saw in him. She hung out with him almost every day, since they met. Michael on the other hand, still kept the aloof attitude for five years straight. Alex stopped trying to get closer as far as two years back.

Of course, all this attention from Amelia came at a cost. He was rather picked on during sessions of personal combat.

The chief criminal being the crown prince Quin Strand. Other boys would also take turns fighting him. Alex thought this was a good opportunity to get stronger, therefore he never shirked back from a challenge.

The result was that he’d often have bruises hidden somewhere on his body week in week out.

“Uncle Alex!”

As soon as he entered the garden, Alex saw his little adorable niece running towards him, leaving behind a pouting Amelia.

“Hi Kaylee, how are you?” Alex tried not to laugh as he saw Kaylee slow down and tried her best not to jump into him. The first time, he had received her tackle hug, he had to take off a few days due to having caused some internal injuries.

Ever since then, Kyle forbid Kaylee to run and tackle anyone other than her father and mother.

Alex saw this as rather strange as he had the impression that Kyle and Vanessa were just normal people. How could they survive Kaylee’s hugs? Every time he attempted to bring up the topic to his sister, she’d just divert it somewhere else, leaving him speechless and slightly frustrated.

“Uncle Alex! Come look at my new toys! Daddy bought them for me yesterday.” Kaylee pulled Alex along to the gazebo where Vanessa was waiting.

“Hi, Alex. It’s good to see you too Miss Amelia.” Vanessa greeted them with a smile.

“Sister Vanessa, just Amelia please. Don’t be so formal between us. We’ve know each other for five years now.”

“Haha, OK. Amelia. Come take a seat. We are having lunch soon.”

“Sis! My term break is in a week. I’ll come live here. That’s ok right?”

“You aren’t going on a trip with your classmates this time?”

“Nope! Hehe.”

“What about you Amelia? Any plans during the break?”

“Not this time. Father is too busy. Big Brother is at the frontlines pretty much all the time now. And Michael is almost always training.”

“Sister Vanessa! Can I come stay with you? It’ll be so much more fun than staying in that big mansion without anyone to talk to!”

“Hmm, we won’t be staying at the house, Miss Amelia. We’re going on a family holiday.” Kyle, who came out, carrying a tray of food, shadowed by the two older maids said out aloud to the group in the gazebo.

Alex was the first to react.

“Holiday? Where are you going? How long for? Can I come with?”

Vanessa chuckled at her little brother who fired off one question after another. Kaylee sat besides her mother in silence as she played with her toys. Although, it could be seen that she was also very excited about going outside the city for the first time.

“The destination………is a surprise, Alex! You won’t be able to come with us. We’ll be going for quite some time. Maybe up to two months.”

Kyle’s answer brought down Alex’s excitement visibly.

“Don’t tease Alex, dear. We’re going to the joint city of the allied races at the frontlines.”

“What?! That’s a dangerous trip!” Alex yelled out after hearing the goal.

“Calm down Alex, we’re going there partly to see what it’s like for you there. You go there each year but you barely tell us anything about it.” Vanessa chided her brother.

Kyle also explained further as he sat down next to Vanessa. “We’re going to be following a caravan going to the joint city. Safety in numbers as they say.”

Alex’s mood improved after hearing Kyle. He sat there thinking, without touching his food.

“Ah ha!” Suddenly, Alex stood up from his seat.

“I just had an idea!”

“Do tell, Alex.” Kyle seemed amused at Alex’s epiphany.

“I can join you!”

“What?” This time Amelia seemed confused at Alex’s exclamation.

“I just have to be at the barracks at the joint city in time! I don’t have to go with the rest of the students!”

Amelia also sunk into thought at the idea. Soon after, she also broke into a smile.

“Sister Vanessa, Master Kyle. I’ll be intruding on your trip, hehehe!” Amelia beamed happily.

“Eh? You’re coming too, Amelia?”

“Of course! This lady can’t miss out on something this fun!”

Kyle could only smile wryly. He whispered an ‘I told you so’ in Vanessa’s ear, which brought a small giggle from his wife.

After lunch, Amelia rushed out of the mansion, pulling Alex along. Saying something about organizing guards and supplies for the trip.

Vanessa saw them off together with Kaylee. Afterwards, she asked Kyle.

“Dear, is it really ok to bring along the Duke’s only daughter?”

“Hmm, it’s not so bad. We at least don’t have to travel with the caravan. We can keep our own schedule. Amelia’s bringing along a squad of guards I presume. Even if we aren’t afraid of bandits and the like, having deterrence is nice.”

Since Kyle thought of it positively, Vanessa could only go along with it. She has never opposed Kyle on matters of importance after all.

***

Amelia ran through the gates of a large mansion, ignoring the saluting gatekeepers. Alex was struggling to keep up with the girl, still being pulled helplessly in a tight grip. He was happy and sad at the same time. Happy to hold hands with the girl he liked yet, sad that she was that much stronger than him.

The usual squad of guards went off to the nearby barracks after the two teens entered the compound.

This was not the first time for Alex to come to the Duke’s mansion. He has been here numerous times with Amelia.

Amelia entered the enormous house, startling the maids within. With brisk steps, she ran to her father’s study with Alex in tow.

Two fully armoured guards could be seen at the entrance of the study, where the Duke normally worked.

Amelia slowed down as she approached the door. “I want to see my father!” She declared. As the sole daughter of the Duke, both the Duke and the eldest son doted heavily on this little girl.

The guards glanced at Alex, panting behind Amelia. They opened the door wordlessly. Amelia ran in, going straight to her father’s desk.

“Father!”

“Oh? If it isn’t my darling daughter! Come, give your old man a hug!” Contrary to the stiff impression given by his stern demeanour and large build, the man’s face broke into a smile as soon as he spotted his daughter.

“Aren’t you early? You normally get here just before dinner my dear.”

“Father! I want to ask for a favour!”

“Sit down first, then speak. Alex, you sit down too. What happened. Did the little girl bully you again?”

“No, not at all Uncle Edward.” Alex replied somewhat stiffly. The Duke meanwhile just smiled, pretending to not see his daughter twist Alex’s thigh under the table.

“Father! I want to go for a trip during the break!”