Narrator:
Sigmund Von Grauer arrived at the academy entrance, breathless from running. Dav stood motionless, Cedric by his side, the boy beaming at the sight of his father.
Dav watched him with a raised eyebrow, chewing gum slowly. His expression was both serious and comical, making Sigmund feel uneasy.
Dav: (crossing his arms, irritated)
Don't tell me you were actually thinking of not coming, right?
Sigmund Von Grauer: (embarrassed, lowering his gaze)
No, no! My driver had some issues, and I was later than expected...
I apologize, Hero.
Dav: (narrowing his eyes, more serious)
You don't have to apologize to me, but to your son.
[Cedric looked at him in silence, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty.]
Dav:
He loves you more than anyone else.
To him, you're the most important thing in this rotten world.
Sigmund Von Grauer: (with a guilty expression)
You're right...
[He turned to Cedric, who was waiting, watching him.]
Sigmund Von Grauer: (smiling, sincerely)
I'm sorry for being late.
I promise I'll be on time next time.
[Cedric nodded but didn't speak immediately. Then, with a small smile, he said:]
Cedric:
I'll be waiting at the table, Dad.
[And he walked away.]
Dav: (half-closing his eyes)
Your son is a good kid.
When I arrived here, he was always alone.
He didn’t talk to anyone, he had no friends. Now he has people around him, and he smiles more often.
And yet, you, his father, seem to be the most distant from him.
Why?
[Sigmund sighed, looking up at the sky as if searching for the right words.]
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Sigmund Von Grauer:
I didn't want him to see the real me. I'm a man with a terrible nature, capable of treating anyone with coldness just to protect what's mine.
I didn’t want him to become like me… so I decided to keep my distance.
[He lowered his head.]
Sigmund Von Grauer:
But after his mother’s death… I blamed him for too long.
Every single day.
And I only realized it when he had already grown up. I thought he hated me.
But today… today, I saw his happy smile when he saw me again.
And I understood.
[He took a deep breath, then looked at Dav with a more resolute expression.]
Sigmund Von Grauer:
Thank you for calling me, Professor.
Thanks to you, I can now look my son in the eyes without lowering my head.
Dav: (glancing at him sideways, then turning away without saying more)
Make sure you’re not late for lunch.
Your son is waiting for you.
[Sigmund watched him for a moment, then gave a slight bow.]
Sigmund Von Grauer:
I truly appreciate it… thank you.
Narrator:
And, for the first time in a long while, he walked towards his son with a steady step.
When Dav arrived at the dining hall, he saw everyone gathered at the tables with their families, sharing smiles and conversations.
Despite his stern demeanor, Sigmund Von Grauer got along quite well with Leo’s father, Wilhelm Falken.
They spoke intensely about their businesses and work, both sharing a love for fine wine.
Taking a closer look, Dav also noticed Finn’s father, Reginald Arlo, blending well with the two, making them laugh with his jokes.
Helena Falken seemed to get along splendidly with Dav’s mother, Melissa De Lion.
Everyone was enjoying themselves, and that made Dav happy—though he wouldn’t show it.
When he tried to sit next to his mother, she shooed him away, telling him that his seat was actually a bit further ahead, where some lovely ladies were waiting for him—specifically, Iris and Valeria.
Elysia burst into laughter, and Dav shot her a goofy look, feeling betrayed by both his daughter and his mother on the same day.
Iris and Valeria filled Dav’s plate and his mug with beer, watching him intensely.
Across from him sat Director Vittorio, Eldrin, Rafael, and Lucrezia, all chuckling at his situation.
Dav observed the scene with an ironic smile but felt strangely at ease among the laughter and smiles.
As the women filled his plate, his gaze met the Director's, Eldrin, who couldn’t hide his amused expression.
Rafael Oliveira, ever elegant, looked at him with an expression that mixed amusement with a slight challenge, as if anticipating something.
Lucrezia, with a mischievous smile, didn’t miss a single movement of Dav’s, her seemingly indifferent attitude hiding a growing interest.
Elysia, standing a few steps away, stifled a quiet laugh, watching her father get caught up in the situation, while Melissa, Dav’s mother, enjoyed the chaos without batting an eye.
The scene was perfect for a family meal, yet in reality, it felt more like the opening moves of a chess game, where everyone played their own hidden strategies.
-
Age: 54
-
Noble Title: Marquis of House Von Grauer, one of the oldest and most influential noble families in the maritime trade and shipping sector.
-
Their merchant fleet controls major sea routes, handling the transport of luxury goods, magical artifacts, and rare materials worldwide.
-
Personality: Cold, pragmatic, and ruthless in business, but in reality, a man tormented by his past.
-
For years, he repressed his emotions behind a mask of strictness and detachment.
After the death of his wife, Isolde Reinhardt, during Cedric’s birth, Sigmund withdrew into himself.
Unable to cope with the grief, he unconsciously blamed his son for the loss and distanced himself from him, becoming an absent father.
After his encounter with Dav and seeing Cedric’s smile, he realized that his son never hated him and that there was still time to mend their relationship.
Age at Death: 39
Personality: A kind, cultured woman loved by everyone. Her gentleness and inner strength balanced Sigmund’s rigid personality, and she was the only one who could bring out his more human side.
Death: She died during childbirth due to medical complications.
Sigmund, unable to accept reality, buried himself in work and distanced himself from his son, wrongly believing that if Cedric had never been born, Isolde would still be alive.
Now, with Christmas approaching and a chance to reconnect with Cedric, Sigmund faces the most important decision of his life:
To remain the man he has always been or finally become the father Cedric deserves.
END OF CHAPTER - 65