Reading had probably been the only thing Kyle liked to do. To him, it was a way to escape the cold reality of a world that had constantly rejected him. You'd think being the son of one of the powerful nobles in the kingdom would mean he had an easy life. Yeah, right—not when you were the son of a concubine, forever deemed a mistake.
He sat in front of a small table in the corner of his room. He had been there for a while, flipping through the pages of a book, when he heard a knock on the door.
"Kyle, it's time for dinner."
Kyle was the illegitimate son of the renowned Vermont family. He was the son of the Arch Mage, Veritas Vermont—one of the strongest figures in the kingdom of Eloria. He had just turned thirteen, although that was hardly a milestone for him. The past seven years had been nothing to write home about—just quiet days and even quieter nights. Ever since his mother passed, it had been just him and his aunt, Elana. She was the only person he had in this world.
She smiled as she opened the door. "I'm coming in." She looked around the room to see Kyle's clothes littered all over his bed.
"I thought you were supposed to be packing?"
"I am," he said with a shrug.
She gave him a sharp look.
"I still have time," he said.
"No, you don't. We're supposed to leave early tomorrow morning, and you have to be ready."
"Do I even have to go? I thought my father didn't want to have anything to do with me. Why are they suddenly asking me to start staying with them? They didn't even care when my mom died. None of them came here when she was sick—not one of them."
Elana looked at him with sadness in her eyes. She knew he had been through a lot, but going to the Vermont estate would provide Kyle with far more opportunities than she could give him.
"I know you don't like your father and his family, but you have to give them a chance. They're not all bad people. I'm sure that, with time, you'll learn to live with them. Come on, let's eat dinner first. You can finish packing your stuff later."
Kyle had been living with his mother and her sister in a small house that had been given to them by the Vermont family. They had essentially been exiled. After finishing dinner, Kyle and Elana went to his room to continue packing his things. She began telling him about the Vermont family.
"Kyle, no matter what, you can't lose your temper in front of them. Tomorrow morning, a carriage will arrive to pick you up and take you to the Veritas estate."
After discussing a few other matters, they both fell asleep on Kyle's bed, knowing they had a busy day ahead.
The Vermont Manor
The dining room of the Vermont family was a grand and elegant space, with velvet drapes casting soft shadows and brightly lit chandeliers. Veritas Vermont had three children: Clyde Vermont, the eldest, and a pair of twins, Cedric and Ciara Vermont. Clyde, the oldest, was not currently at the manor, as he was enrolled in the Archon Magic Academy—the most renowned magic academy in the kingdom of Eloria.
The Vermont family was known for their characteristic blue hair. As they sat at the dining table, tension filled the air. Cedric exchanged a look with Ciara.
"Mother, we are still not okay with that country bumpkin coming to stay here with us. It's absurd. I just can't understand what Father is thinking, allowing it. He doesn't deserve it," Cedric said with a sneer.
Ciara chimed in, her tone sharp and opinionated. "Exactly! Why should we be forced to accommodate him? I don't see why Father thinks this is necessary."
Dahlia, their mother, looked at her children with a calm face and a composed demeanor.
"I understand your concerns," she said, her gaze sweeping over them. "But this decision is not mine. Your father has spoken, and there is no changing it. You'd better not express your discomfort in front of him. His decision is final. I honestly don't know what you're so worried about. All you have to do is show him his place when he gets here. It's as simple as that. Every family is upheld by a hierarchy, and ours is no different. Help him find his footing, but do not let him overstep his bounds. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mother," Cedric replied calmly.
The sun was just beginning to rise, casting its golden hue upon the small house Kyle called home. He had woken early, knowing this was a big day for him.
Kyle had just finished his breakfast when the rhythmic clatter of hooves and the creak of carriage wheels broke the silence at the table. He stood in the doorway; his few belongings packed into a rough satchel slung over his shoulder and the rest of his luggage in a small suitcase. His aunt, a kind but stern woman with worry etched into her face, stood behind him, her hand resting on the doorframe for support.
Two soldiers dismounted from their horses with practiced efficiency. Their uniforms were simple but bore the insignia of the House of Veritas. They stood at attention, scanning the surroundings with the air of authority.
Kyle, however, was focused on the man stepping out of the carriage in front of them. His presence was commanding yet regal. It was a face Kyle had seen many times in books—one of the heroes of the Great War, Alaric Vermont.