1 Chapter 1

Dear Father,

I am doing well, and I hope the same for you. Two days ago, I returned from the battlefield. My hearing has been impaired from an incident, but the doctors have told me that they will heal soon.

I have received your letter regarding your new acquisition of the Territory of Ferson. I fully understand that the oil business is your topmost priority, so I am glad to help manage the territory for you. In fact, Freddie, the girls, and I are heading for Ferson City right now.

Dominion Day is right around the corner, and it would be great for you, mother, and Erin to join our Dominion Day Dinner.

As for matters regarding a new spouse, I wish we can postpone that conversation for now.

Sincerely,

Your son, Simon Woodville.

After ending off with my signature, I put the lid back onto the pen and slide it back into the breast pocket of my sport coat. Carefully, I fold the letter and put it in my briefcase. I look outside the train window at the scenery that is quickly passing by. Blue skies over golden wheat fields are a sight that I will never get tired of.

"Daddy, what are you doing?" (Alice)

Another thing I will never get tired of is the sweet voice of my daughter, Alice. She climbs up onto my seat and peaks her small head over my shoulder curiously to see what I am up to. Her long, golden hair perfectly reflecting her mother's.

"I was writing a letter to Grandpa, Alice." (Simon)

I say with a smile to Alice, who, even standing where I am sitting, is still no taller than me.

"Did… letter… army?" (Freya)

Freya's voice comes from the seat across the table. Because of my hearing impairment, I can't exactly make out what she is saying.

"Pardon?" (Simon)

"I said, did you tell Grandpa about the letter you received from the army?" (Freya)

Before I can answer, Freya's twin brother who is sitting next to her, Freddie, interjects.

"They said everything is still in consideration. Nothing has been decided, yet. It was just a letter to give Father a heads up, so he doesn't miss the letter when he actually receives a medal." (Freddie)

"I know that, but it's still something worth mentioning," Freya doesn't sound too happy to be lectured.

"We will let them know during the Dominion Day Dinner, speaking of which, have you guys decided what you want for presents?" (Simon)

"A doll!" Alice exclaims without hesitation.

I pat her on the head to calm her down. The thought of a doll as a present seems to have excited her.

"A dress would be nice. Summer will end soon, so I would love to wear something nice to the first day of school," Freya says, losing herself in her fantasy of fancy dresses.

"What about you, Freddie?" (Simon)

"Anything is fine, Father. It should be me who asks what I can do for you." (Simon)

For a thirteen-year-old boy, Freddie sure doesn't sound like one. Sometimes I worry that he isn't living out the childhood most boys should.

"Don't be sounding like an ass, Freddie." (Freya)

"Language." (Simon)

"She said a bad word!" (Alice)

"Oops, sorry." (Freya)

"Apologize to Alice, not me." (Simon)

"Sorry, Alice." (Freya)

"That's okay." (Alice)

Freya holds out her arms, into which Alice jumps across the table. I feel a little lonely now that Alice is no longer bugging me but seeing her sitting in her older sister's lap while having her hair caressed by Freya isn't all that bad, either.

"That doesn't look too good," Freddie says while looking out of the window.

I follow his eyes to see a vast, dark, raincloud creeping over the land some distance in front of us. At the same time, I realize that the wheat fields have disappeared, replaced by this almost barren land with a couple of patches of wild grass here and there. There isn't a single tree in sight.

"Oh boy." (Freya)

After I received the letter from my father entailing his transfer of ownership of the Territory of Ferson to me, I asked around some of the nurses and comrades in my hospital. Not many people have heard much of it other than it was a large piece of land gifted to the legendary Sir James Ferson. But because of his heavy involvement in the military, he never had time to take care of the territory, leaving it in its current unremarkable state.

I have no experience in management, but as the heir to the Woodville Noble House, I need to gain myself some kind of achievement, and being the lord of the land once owned by Sir James Ferson is not bad.

Moreover, after coming back from the hills of Grenseby, there really is no condition I cannot tolerate.

"Enough about me. How was your stay at Aunt Erin's?" (Simon)

I turn to the kids, shifting their attention back to me from out the window.

"Quite pleasant." (Freddie)

It's good to hear. Not many things in this world can win a 'quite pleasant' from Freddie.

"Yeah! Aunty is so nice!" (Alice)

"She comforted you every time you missed Daddy, right?" Freya asks while holding Alice in her arms.

"Hm!" Alice gives a strong nod.

These kids.