After breakfast, Koul’s asurents were taken by the tailor his new parents called to their ho.
Since he’d soon take on their na and stop being a commoner, they had to start sewing him clothes nobles would wear.
His footwear sizes were also taken and every other thing that was needed.
After that, Koul and his new parents headed out. Their destination was the registration office to put Koul’s na in their family’s registrar.
Kanstiv also tagged along them with the fake files of adoption he had forged.
The carriage they used was an extravagant looking one that gave off the feel of old nobility.
The couple sat on one side, while Koul and Kanstiv sat on the opposite side. As the carriage journeyed into the lively capital, Koul peeked from the window.
His eyes glead with thrilling wonder as he took in the bustling city. Unlike his kingdom, this was noisy and quite chaotic.
The air was crisp here, differing entirely from his ho that seed to gloom in darkness.
There were so many shops along the way, so many small businesses and even kids selling one or two things.
Various sets of rich delicacies drifted into their noses. There were many to be seen.
Crowded but not suffocating is one way Koul would describe the capital.
Even the streets had so decorative ribbons hanging from the walls like the aftermath of a celebration.
They arrived at the registration office after a while and all went in. It took about half an hour for them to finalize things and finally have Koul formally under them as their son.
As they exited the building, murmurs drifted behind them.
"They adopted a new son?"
"There’s still soone willing to be their son despite their lack of mana?"
"The new son must be just as useless as them, else there would be no reason to co into such a family."
Mrs Veltaur clenched her fist in quiet sadness. She and her husband had gotten used to this. But seeing how Koul was now dragged into it made her feel unsettled.
She feared Koul might change his mind or in the least, the gossip might make him depressed and feel ashad.
She glanced briefly at Koul, preparing herself ntally to et whatever expression he had on.
But to her surprise, Koul’s expression was the sa as it had been since they left the house. Light, casual, not a single spec of worry.
She stared bewildered at him, confused.
Why wasn’t he bothered? Did he just not care?
Beneath this surprise of hers, joy blood. Her heart was filled with happiness.
To find a son who didn’t mind the rumors and negative comnts about them, to her, was truly a blessing.
Hmm?
Koul noticed her staring at him.
"Are you alright, mom?"
His tone was gentle.
He was genuinely worried about her with the way she stared at him that he didn’t even notice when he called her mom instead of mother.
It was either he was a very good actor, or.... he already felt so welcod.
Mrs Veltaur smiled softly.
"I’m alright, son."
She rubbed his cheek, then took his hand and walked out confidently.
She seed to almost be bouncing, now mindless to whatever negative comnts trailed behind them.
As long as her new son didn’t care, she didn’t.
"Son, do you want to explore the city with ?" She asked when they got to the carriage.
A hassle but it’ll be a good thing to know my way around here.
"Sure! I’ll be glad."
The family explored the capital like they said. They showed Koul all around, and took him to several places.
They even tasted various foods and snacks along the way, and watched a play on the street.
They also did so shopping for him even though they’d already asked a tailor over.
And everywhere they went, the gossips and negative comnts trailed behind.
But it was fun.
Even Koul couldn’t deny this.
It was his first ti going out to have fun with two people who regarded themselves as his parents.
He might not know a lot of words to describe what he felt from this, but he knew he enjoyed it.
The day pretty much went by quickly. They reached ho in the evening, tired and burnt out.
"Dear, you should take a bath while the al is being prepared," she told Koul.
He nodded and turned to start heading up the stairs. But a conversation between the butler and his new parents caught his attention.
"I have submitted it," the butler said.
"So? When will it be ready?" Mrs Veltaur asked.
"They might send soone to deliver it tonight, or early tomorrow morning."
Koul had a feeling it concerned him, but he couldn’t understand. So, he decided to ask.
"Mother, father, what are you talking about?"
He descended the stairs in careful strides.
Mr Veltaur’s eyes glead with joy. His face lit up so bright that Koul had to dramatically squint and turn his face away.
What?
Koul had only just been calling Mrs Veltaur, mother, but not Mr Veltaur. Since he was soone reserved, he had thought it’d be hard to build a relationship with Koul.
He decided to give it ti. But now Koul has called him father in the sa light tone like it wasn’t anything hard.
"Oh! Oh!" He rushed forward happily.
"It’s about your uniform for the academy. We had the butler submit your asurents to the school so as to have them prepare your uniform beforehand."
Ah... I see.
"Oh... ok," he replied curtly.
Silence followed suit.
The three of them stared blankly at one another, clueless what to say or how to react.
After a mont, Koul spoke again.
"Thank you," he said softly.
"Sure, sure! This is just the bare minimum son. You don’t have to worry about anything. We have it all covered," his father boasted proudly.
Mrs Veltaur chuckled softly at her husband’s way of trying to impress their son.
To not co off awkward, Koul smiled widely at them.
"I will go wash and co down for dinner."
"Yes, go on."
Koul left and went up to his room.
Kanstiv, who had been in a corner since they arrived, seed like a ghost. No one paid him any attention.
Not that he wanted any.
He was just there like a background character. Without a word, he also went up to his room to wash.
After washing, everyone gathered for dinner.
They dined quietly. But their quietness unsettled Koul.
He hadn’t lived with them enough to say he knew them. But he could sohow tell when they were being awkward.
They were hesitant about sothing.
Koul dropped his cutleries aside, wiped his mouth and gazed up at them.
"Is there a problem?" He asked calmly.
The couple exchanged a worried look.
Kanstiv on his seat continued his food quietly.
"Dear, it’s just that... you might not know but we cannot assist in charging your abilities when you enroll in the academy because we lack mana. Even the most basic one,"
She lowered her gaze as if ashad. Her husband also casted his gaze low, unable to et Koul in the eyes.
They’d concluded if Koul’s initial goal was to enroll into the academy, then the probability of him being a talented was high.
"Yes, I’m well aware," he replied causally.
The couple’s gaze snapped to him in surprise.
Koul’s response was casual as if he didn’t care about this.
"I myself lack mana. At least, for now. I haven’t awakened anything, but I might. The probability is low though."
The couple watched him with soft eyes as he spoke.
"Even if I don’t awaken, I plan on remaining in the academy to learn. I don’t really care much about it."
Mrs Veltaur’s eyes welled up with tears. Slowly, it started falling.
She cries a lot.
"I do not care for such things, so don’t let it bother you," Koul assured.
"Yes," she replied with a smile.
They continued their food. After dinner, they all retired to their various rooms.
_ _ _ _
The next day, while Koul was still asleep, a gentle knock ca on his door.
He groaned softly, and rose.
"Co in."
Mrs Veltaur walked in, all bright and gleeful. Resting flat on her arms were so clothes, well ironed and folded.
"Good morning son," she said.
Koul simply gazed back, still drowsy.
Noticing this, Mrs Veltaur spoke.
"I didn’t an to cut your sleep short but, you have to enroll into the academy today. This is the last day to register. And I didn’t want you running late. Your uniforms are even ready, look."
She extended the uniforms toward him so he could get a proper look.
Koul’s drowsiness disappeared instantly. His eyes widened in mounting excitent.
Finally!
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