Returning from his trip to the castle, Leonhart was greeted by the same maid named Sophia, who was also his personal maid, and one of the few people who knew him very well. As he again rode the carriage with no suspension, his whole body was aching, so he called it quits for that day, but was soon interrupted by Sophia, who gave him the information that the duke had ordered him to join them at the dinner table.

James was not interested in eating with Leonhart's family, but the word order changed his mind completely. He didn't want to bring the wrath of the angry duke upon him once again, so he nodded and followed her to the dining hall.

The Duke was sitting on the main chair, which was suitable for the family's head. To his left sat the lady of the house, the Duchess, and to his right sat a beautiful girl, probably sixteen or seventeen, with blonde hair and sapphire eyes. Looking at her facial feature which very much matched the Duchess and Leonhart, James could figure out that she was Adeline, Leonhart's little sister.

Adeline briefly glanced at Leonhart, and then again continued eating, but both parents were patiently waiting for him to arrive. As James moved closer, Leonhart's mother gestured him to sit in the chair beside her. He quietly sat down, and the duchess allotted his share of food on his plate with a soft smile on her face.

James realised he had too much food on his plate, but said nothing and soon the whole family started eating. Occasionally, Adeline would say something to her father, and the duke would reply with a smile, the duchess would also add some lines on that conversation. If the luxury could be removed the from the background, then this was what you would expect from a little happy family.

Seeing the little conversations, they were having a faint smile appeared on James's face. He realised how happy and connected they were. It was a beautiful sight to see, and this was what he missed the most. The insignificant moments which form the bonds between family members.

"Leon, aren't you going to eat?" asked the Duchess in a worried tone.

"No... I will." James was so immersed in seeing their interaction that he didn't realise he also had food served for him and the duchess' words awoke him.

"And... why were you... smiling?" asked Adeline, looking at Leonhart in a full mouth.

"Adel, don't talk while you are eating."

"Yes, mother."

"So why you were smiling?" again asked the girl, finishing chewing her food.

"I... I was not smiling."

"Oh Come on... tell me, something good happened? Did the princess agree?"

"What! No, nothing happened."

"Really..." said Adeline in a teasing tone.

"Yes." James felt a little nervous around the princess, but with Leonhart's family, it was all natural. Like he was supposed to do this, talk like this. He didn't know what it was, but it all seemed familiar. It was like he was part of their family.

"So, Leon, what happened at the palace?" asked the Duchess.

"Ahhh.... Nothing happened. Everything went as usual." All the thing happened to James were all planned beforehand by him except the princess being sad part.

"Like..." The duchess knew her son wouldn't say what he did, so he pressed the matter more.

"Like... I... I asked her to forgive me and she did." said James with a little awkward laugh.

"Just like that..."

"Yes..."

"I thought you were going to kneel in front of her and beg like a kid with teary eyes." said Adeline with a giggle.

"Why didn't I think of that?" said James in a thoughtful tone, massaging his forehead.

"What...? you are kidding right?" asked Adel with a dumbfounded expression.

"No. Your plan really would have worked. Next time...you are coming with me."

"Wait...."

"No, no, you are coming."

"No, I won't."

"Yes, you are."

And soon this idiotic discussion converted into a full-fledged war between sibling in the dinner table. Though James was joking all the time but the sense of familiarity towards this girl as if she was his actual sister had him more comfortable in talking with her. And at the heat of the moment, the duo even forget that there were two other people sitting beside them.

Seeing the small interaction between siblings, a small smile appeared on the Duke's face. But soon the fiasco was broken by the Duchess with a shout.

"Adel, Leon." said the duchess glaringly.

"..."

"Don't talk while you are eating."

"Yes, mother."

"Yes."

And just like that, the brief fight between siblings ended. The rest of the dinner was uneventful, except for a small talk between Leon and the Duke where he told him to come to his office in the morning for some important discussion.

James came back to his room, changed his clothes and soon was embraced by the soft mattress of the bed. As he lay on the bed, some familiar thoughts, passed through his mind.

He had lost his family a very long time ago, but as he came to this world and interacted with Leonhart's family, the more he yearned for his long gone parents and sister. Never understood how meaningful those small moments he had with his family were. Never valued those moments as he thought they were going to last forever, but reality had a different story to tell altogether.

"Mom, Dad... Jess.... I... I miss you guys." said James in a crying voice. He became Leonhart a totally new person, but the sense of loss never left, nightmares never went away. Only things left for him were the long forgotten memories and broken dreams...

***

Knock! Knock!

"Come In."

James took some deep breaths before entering the Duke's study room or office, where he was told by him to meet.

A small oil lamp was lit and sat on the desk, illuminating the increasingly dim room, and the parchment on which the Duke was writing upon. Heinrich did not even shift his glance to his son as he focused entirely on his paperwork. In front of the table, there sat his mother, reading something that appeared to be ledgers.

Soon his writing stopped as he looked at Leonhart with a piercing gaze, as if he was looking into his soul. And as for James, he was trying his best to maintain a forced stoic expression on his face, averting duke's gaze but was freaking out internally. This eerie silence was getting too much for his nerves to handle.

"Leonhart..." said the Duke in a heavy tone.

"Yes..."

"Look at me."

"Ye... Yes." said James, facing the Duke.

"Did everything go well with the princess?"

"Yes."

"Very well then." The Duke didn't press this matter because from last night's interaction, he knew everything went well.

"..."

"..."

"Come here." said Heinrich, picking out an old piece of long paper which appeared to be a map of his entire realm.

"Yes." Though James was a bit hesitant at first but what choice did he have?

The Duke pointed a place on the map to the far left from where their home estate was.

"You know this is Esvet, a tiny barony in the west of our border."

"..." James nodded, saying nothing. He did not know about what the Duke was talking about or why he was showing him the map.

"So... From now on, you are the lord of that land."

"..." again James nodded but wait...

"What...?" shouted James with a shocked expression that startled both the duke and the duchess. His brain was stuck in the word 'Lord'. He hadn't even been able to figure out what happened to him and now he was a lord. A lord of what?

"Stop shouting."

"Yes..."

"I can understand that you are shocked, but this is the only choice I have left."

"Whaaaa.... Why....?"

"This is for your future, my son."

"Why don't you explain him a little more?" said the Duchess, looking towards them. She knew everything beforehand as the duke had already explained the entire plan to her.

"Yes."

"So, what are we doing is..."

Heinrich explained the plan, and James's mouth was hung open the entire time.

"You understand what I said, right?"

"..."

"Right?"

"Ye.. Yes, but I don't know how to manage..."

"That won't be a problem. Some of my trusted advisors will be there to help you."

"..."

"I know you can do this. I have faith in you." Heinrich was saying everything on a whim. In reality, he didn't know if his son could manage that barony or not, but that was the only choice he had left. Like they say, 'Desperate times call for desperate measures'.

"..."

"You can go now."

--Clank! (James left the room closing the door behind him.)

Sigh!

" Was that necessary?"

"..." Heinrich got up from his seat and went to the window, from where the vast garden was visible.

"Will Leon be able to manage that land?" asked the Duchess in a worried tone.

"Honestly... I don't know. I really don't know if he will be able to manage that land or not."

"But... Why a barony? Couldn't a small town had done the job?"

"Yes, it would have. But our duchy is considerably large, and a small town wouldn't be able to help him gain that much experience, as a barony would be able to."

"It's like you are gambling on the future of this land."

"Yes... Yes I am. Or what other choice do I have?"

"..."

"Leon is my son, the only heir of Esper duchy. He must have to realise that we won't be here forever to help him. He would have to learn and act on his own." said the Duke in a defeated tone.

"Yes.". Melissia got up and went towards where the duke was. Gently wrapped her arms around his back as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Everything is going to be okay. Don't worry. I believe in our son." said the Duchess in a tender manner.

"Yes..." Heinrich's eyes never left the garden where Leon was looking towards the sky.