"Vivian come here.' Elena called while running behind a boy around three years old.

He had black hair and blue eyes.

He was running away from his mother.

She held a small bowl and a spoon with food in it.

There was food on Vivian's mouth too.

"I'n nat eating it. Not taste," Vivian said.

His voice was wobbly. He was only three, and words were still hard for him.

"No, you have to eat, son, or you won't grow up strong," she said, still following him.

Vivian ran a little more, his small feet tapping on the ground.

"Naw, I'm naf eating thish," he said. He frowned and looked back.

The moment he looked at his mother, strong arms caught him and lifted him into the air.

"Caught you," his father's voice rang out.

He grabbed Vivian and pulled him close, rubbing his face against Vivian's cheeks.

His face was not clean.

He had not shaved, and his rough beard poked Vivian's soft skin.

Vivian squirmed and laughed at the same time.

"Dada, it huts," Vivian said, his words still unclear.

His father laughed and pulled back a little.

"Sorry, sorry," he said, smiling. He held Vivian up high, then brought him down again.

Elena walked closer with the bowl in her hand.

"Now that you are caught, you have to eat," she said.

Vivian looked at both of them, then at the bowl.

He puffed his cheeks and sighed, but he did not run anymore.

After he was caught by his father, Vivian finally finished eating.

His cheeks were puffed as he chewed the last bite.

When he was done, his mother cleaned his mouth with a cloth and gently patted his back.

After a moment, Vivian let out a small burp.

"There," Elena said softly.

His father then took Vivian from her arms and smiled. "I'm going to take him to the training hall."

Hearing this, Elena puffed out her cheeks.

"He is just three," she said. "And you already want him to hold a sword. At least give him some time."

Hearing her words, Vined laughed.

He reached out and gently patted Elena's head.

"Don't worry, dear. I'm not going to make him do any hard work."

Elena sighed and nodded. "Fine. But don't take too long."

"As you command, my lady," Vined said with a grin.

"Lady," Vivian repeated, his eyes shining.

Elena and Vined laughed together. Vined held Vivian's hand, and they both waved at her.

"Bye," Vivian said.

"Be careful," Elena replied, watching them as they walked away.

After saying bye to Elena, Vined walked into the training ground with Vivian sitting on his shoulder.

He walked to the center and gently placed Vivian on the ground.

Vined snapped his fingers, and a small sword appeared.

It was the size of an adult man's open palm.

It looked like it was made of cardboard. It had no sharp edge and was very light.

He gave it to Vivian and smiled.

"Son, today you will learn sword fighting from your father."

The moment Vivian held the toy sword, his eyes shined bright.

Red came to his cheeks as he looked up. "Really, dad?" he asked.

"Yes," Vined said with a smile. He pulled out another sword.

It was also made of cardboard, but a little bigger. "Come and attack dad."

Vivian stood still for a moment on his wobbly legs.

Then he took a small step forward. He tried to make a fierce face.

It was meant to look scary, but it only made him look even cuter.

He walked step by step, lifted the sword with both hands, and swung it at his father.

"Whaa!" Vivian shouted.

Vined laughed and lightly tapped Vivian's sword with his own. "Good," he said. "Very brave."

Vivian giggled, lifted the sword again, and swung once more, full of joy and pride.

As the father and son played, sounds came from the training ground.

Sometimes there was laughter, and sometimes there was crying.

Time slowly passed.

After a while, Vined walked out of the training ground with Vivian sitting on his shoulder.

"Papa, whhn can I use rel swort?" Vivian asked with a giggle.

Vined smiled. "After you grow up."

"Wen can I glow up?" Vivian asked again.

Vined thought for a moment. Then he said, "If you eat well and listen to your mother, you will grow up faster."

"Then I will eat thish much every day," Vivian said. He spread his hands wide to show he would eat a lot.

Seeing this, Vined laughed. "Do you want to see grandpa?"

"Yesh," Vivian nodded, giggling again.

Vined smiled and started walking.

He headed toward the administrative office of the estate, with Vivian still sitting high on his shoulder, swinging his small legs happily.

After he reached the administrative office, Vined opened the door and walked inside.

The moment he entered, all the officials who were working stood up at once.

They bowed and greeted the father and son.

Seeing this, Vivian giggled softly to himself as he watched them.

But Vined did not stop. He kept walking toward the room at the end of the hall.

Just as he reached it, an angry roar came from inside.

"That shameless bastard! I swear, if I get the chance, I will wipe out his whole family for daring to look at my grandson!"

The moment Vined heard the voice, he quickly covered Vivian's ears.

"Father," he said calmly, "your grandson is here to see you."

As soon as he said that, hurried sounds came from the room.

Things fell to the floor, and rushed footsteps followed.

The door flew open.

Vivian's eyes shined bright the instant he saw the person inside. "Granpa," he said happily.

The old man appeared at the door. The anger on his face vanished at once. It looked like his heart had melted.

He quickly took Vivian from Vined's arms and stepped outside.

He smiled widely at Vivian, then spoke to his son.

"Go inside and handle the matter," he said.

Vined nodded with respect and walked into the room.

As the door closed behind him, the sound of his father's happy voice could still be heard.

"Aww, my grandson. Do you want toys? Come, let's go buy some."

As soon as Vined entered the room, he saw two men dressed in black.

Their faces were covered. The moment they saw him, they went down on one knee.

"We greet the patriarch," they said together.

"Rise," Vined said. He stood in front of them, his face calm. "Where did you get this news?"

One of the men spoke in a respectful voice.

"From our spies in the Tramplin estate. We found that the Tramplin patriarch became angry after the news of the young lord's talent spread."

He continued, "Recently, we caught some spies in our land. They were watching young lord Vivian while he was in the market with Lady Elena."

"When we caught them, they died at once. We could not get any words from them. But our sources say they were from the Tramplin dukedom."

The man lowered his head after finishing.

Vined's hand tightened into a fist.

His knuckles turned white as he clenched it. His teeth ground together.

"Is there any proof," he asked in a low voice, "that we can give to the royal family?"

"No, my lord," the man said. "There is no evidence."

Vined's jaw clenched even harder, as if he wanted to crush his teeth.

For a moment, anger filled his eyes.

Then he forced himself to calm down. He let out a slow breath.

"Can we kill him in silence?" he asked.

The man who spoke before stayed quiet.

The other man stepped forward and said, "We can, but it will take many sacrifices. An open attack is impossible. Only a grandmaster assassin could kill a warrior at the swordmaster level without noise or suspicion."

Vined nodded. He already knew this, but he had to ask.

"Keep an eye on them," he said. "Watch the Tramplins and all forces allied with them. Also, do not leave Vivian alone, even inside the estate. Put at least ten trusted men to guard him at all times. Is that understood?"

"Understood, sir," the two men replied together.

"You may leave," Vined said.

The two men bowed and left the room in silence.

After the two men left, Vined let out a tired sigh and rubbed his temple.

"That greedy bastard," he muttered. "Not even leaving a child alone." Anger burned in his chest.

Duke Ravan Tramplin had always been a greedy man.

He would do anything for power.

When he learned that there was a child in Zenithara called a once-in-a-century genius, his mind shook.

From that moment, he started making moves against Vivian.

Right now, Vined could do nothing but protect his son.

Without proof, he could not start a war against the Tramplins.

If he did, the royal family would step in and stop it.

Even so, If it were not for his father, Vined would have already gone to the Tramplin estate and killed Ravan himself.

But his father knew the price of such actions.

That was why he would not let Vined act without thought.

Thinking about all this, Vined sighed once more and spoke in a low voice.

"All I can do is protect him… until he grows up."

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