The Count Family's Young Master
Chapter 8 - Love (2)

"Young master didn't forget that tomorrow's the invitation time, did he?"

"No."

Valias lied.

Alister didn't change his smile. "What if the young master delays for a moment his activities and rests for tomorrow?"

"No. I can still go on."

"Then I'll take the books from your room and donate them to a used bookstore in town."

Whahuh?

Valias immediately turned his head towards the smiling Alister getting wider.

This old man, this,

"Good, good." Valias returned the book in his hand and walked past Alister with a grumbling face.

"Is not our role reversed? Why should I obey you?"

"Perhaps because I was just doing my duty as the personal servant of young master Valias?"

"Oh so?"

"Sure, young master."

Valias snorts. Alister went ahead of him and brought his hand towards the door.

So I even have to get out of this room?

Thinking Alister is ridiculous, Valias decides to follow his servant's game. Alister opened the door and Valias stepped out.

Valias remembered something.

"Have you ever seen me leave the house?"

"No, young master."

Valias used the gap.

"That's her. How about you accompany me to visit the city?"

"By, young master. I'll also bring those books and visit a used bookstore."

Valias glanced at Alister's smiling face and replied to him with a mischievous smile.

"I don't think I can fight you."

"I take that as a compliment."

Ha. Look at this old man.

"Where do you think I should spend my time?"

"That messy room is not allowed. The young master must have filled another room."

Oh.

Valias thought of another place.

"Then I'll go to the park."

"This alister will accompany you, young master."

Valias observed the corridor before him.

"You go first. I want to think of something."

With a widened smile in response Alister preceded Valias who walked after him. Valias doesn't want Alister to play him if he takes the wrong path.

After a few minutes the view of a garden familiar to Valias showed off to him.

Valias saw the stone where it first appeared. Where he almost let the pale and tyrannical face of Valias Bardev fall. And the second that he lost his HP.

"Valias?"

Valias was flabbergasted when he heard the voice of someone calling out to him. Also a figure that he did not expect would cross paths with him.

Hadden, the father of Valias, was delighted to see the arrival of his eldest son.

I didn't think there would be anyone here.

"Yes dad." Valias put on a simple smile seeing Hadden walking quickly towards him. A man Valias thought to be Hadden's personal servant was silent in his place watching his master approach his son. Alister also removed himself from them.

"You feel better?"

Thinking that Hadden was referring to his inings yesterday Valias replied.

"Yes dad. Sorry to make you worry."

"Oh God. I never thought this opportunity would finally come."

Valias looks back at Hadden who seems to have a lot of things in his heart and is trying to control himself.

"Have you eaten?"

"Already, dad. Alister's got good food for me."

Hadden turned to Alister and accepted the smile of the personal servant his son had chosen. Hadden thanked me without a voice that Alister slouched down.

"Dad?"

"Dad? I've already."

Hadden had no idea how he managed to take control of himself. His son is in front of him. Standing facing. Seeing him with a smile. His son was so thin and pale but Hadden promised to make his son healthy if his son would allow it.

She loves her three children. Also the mother of her three children. He admitted he was a coward.

Now that's the case.

Hadden cursed himself. He could not resist his mother's demands. Former countess. And with a heavy heart left Carla with her three children. Let her take care of the three children alone.

Even when his mother finally allowed him to bring his son into the Bardev family, Hadden still had to leave Valias and Carla.

It was only when Hadden obtained his Count title that he was able to bring Valias to meet his two younger siblings again.

For 3 years, Hadden searched for Valias and Carla after receiving word that they no longer lived in bars.

When he heard that a red-haired boy had appeared at the bar, Hadden was able to see the boy again after three years of not being told about it.

He doesn't know what's been going on for 3 years. Where the hell did they go? Why did Valias finally return?

Valias didn't say anything to him. Don't wanna see it. The only words that came out of his mouth were,

"Mother is dead."

Since then Valias has said nothing more. It did not even mention the reason for Carla's death no matter how Hadden asked and pleaded.

Hadden has done everything he can. He studied many times more to be able to obtain his Count degree faster. Without it he could do nothing.

But it seems like from the beginning I was wrong.

If he hadn't been in a relationship with Carla, then all that mess wouldn't have happened. His children will not suffer and suffer. Valias won't hate him.

Hadden believed Valias would hate him. His face was always flat. He never showed anger. The only thing he gets angry about is when he shuts himself up in the room, writing something Hadden hitherto didn't know what.

Even his son's personal servant, Alister couldn't tell him.

Hadden wanted to repeat everything from the beginning. He would be a better father figure for Valias.

"Valias, would you like to have lunch with me sometime?"

"Sure dad."

Hadden did not expect that answer and felt a warmth fill his heart. His son still looked at him with a smile. As long as he could see the smile on that pale and tyrannical face, Hadden would do anything.

"Dad is grateful."

Hadden had an idea on his mind and weighed in on whether he should say it or not.

"..Can I take a walk in the park with you?"

Valias sees Hadden trying to talk to him. Valias is not a cruel person who refuses the request of a middle-aged man who has tried to act as a father to him. And Valias had no reason to refuse either.

"okay." Valias nodded and stepped foot into the garden. He turned his body towards Hadden and stared at Hadden's face hinting him to approach him.

Seeing that with almost hasty steps Hadden immediately approached him and they walked together inside the park area.

Alister watched the father and son pair before feeling someone approach him. "Good afternoon, deputy head of Alister." Mallory approached Alister and greeted the old servant.

"Good afternoon, teacher." Alister replied with a smile.

"Young master Valias has completely changed like the rumors I heard."

Mallory recalled how Dina looked more energized than usual.

"Master Count has been smiling a lot lately."

Hadden did not stop smiling even during his time in charge of the regional leadership documents in his study. Then how did Hadden suddenly decide to go to this park in front of him. Mallory as his master's secretary followed Hadden to most of the places Hadden went. Including this now.

Mallory personally did not expect Valias Bardev to appear.

Such a moving coincidence.

A smile was on the young man's face.

A father misses his son, and meets the boy there.

Mallory as a person who read a lot of books in various groups, including the writings of poetry, did not have trouble creating words like just now.

Alister beside him listened to the ramblings of the head secretary of the family he served while watching the same scene as the young man.

This is also a new sight for Alister. The great lord and his young master went hand in hand. It was just the two of them in a park. Alister thought of it as an interesting spectacle.

Hadden glanced at his eldest son walking on his left side. His 18-year-old son was as tall as his shoulder. Danial and Dina grew taller and faster than children their age. Hadden thought that, should Valias be at the age now, the boy was already as tall as he was.

Butno.

The eldest son was thin and pale. Hadden also often heard how his son did not touch the food that Alister provided and more often visited the garden where he is now to eat the fruits.

Hadden did ask the butler to prepare several kinds of trees with fruit in the garden that he made especially for Valias.

And I made the right decision.

Hadden did not know if his son would eat at all if Hadden had not made the garden.

"..Do you like this park?"

Hadden opened a dialogue between them.

Hadden knew his son spent a lot of time there. But he wanted to hear Valias opinion directly.

"i like. Thank you dad."

Hadden smiled warmly. Valias didn't look at him at all. But Hadden was already quite happy with this development.

"Dad didn't know you'd like it or not. But I'm grateful that you like it."

Hadden was deep in thought again.

"..Valias.."

Hearing Hadden call out to him, but not continuing his sentence, Valias stopped and turned his body to face his father.

"..Dad.."

Hadden wanted to get his heart out. But he doubted. He was worried what he wanted to say shattered this calming moment.

Valias is not sure what Hadden really wants to say. But seeing how Hadden had trouble getting his sentence across, Valias was sure it wasn't about the simple thing.

"Dad."

Hadden focused his gaze on the red-haired firstborn.

His son who was showered by the afternoon rays.

Hadden recalls how he first met Carla. That woman is so beautiful in her eyes. Even now Hadden still loves that woman. He felt heavy-hearted when he had to part with the woman. But at that time he found no other way.

Valias saw how Hadden looked at him with teary eyes and a tangled expression.

"Dad can talk about that later. How about we just relax now?"

Valias tries to help Hadden who is having trouble dealing with him.

I don't need any explanation or speech from this guy.

Valias is not Valias who has that past.

The problem is with Hadden. Valias is sure Hadden will discuss something about the real Valias to ease the burden on his heart. But Valias will prepare the right moment for the man to convey his heart.

Notnot now.

Hadden saw the confidence and serenity from his son's eyes. It lifted Hadden's heart a little.

"You're right, Valias."

Hadden smiled warmly and walked over to Valias before the two walked over again.

"Dad heard you wanted to come to the king's invitation. Are you really okay?"

"It's okay dad."

This is my chance to see further where I am now.

Valias thought, if this is the afterlife, maybe he would meet his Lord?

"alright. After dinner, you should rest, okay? We'll leave tomorrow morning."

"Yes." Yeah."

"Count."

Valias and Hadden turned around and saw Alister and the young man Valias did not know his name before standing side by side in front of them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your happy moment, but I heard a new document to take care of."

As Hadden had to leave the mansion tomorrow with his job, Hadden had to get things done as quickly as possible. Hadden is not the type of person who likes to put off work. Moreover, it was related to the prosperity of the territory he led.

Hadden looked at Valias with a regretful face.

"It's okay dad. I'll see you again at dinner."

Hadden gets another light.

"You're right. Daddy first. I'll ask the waiter to prepare the most delicious meal."

Valias nodded and saw Hadden turn away with a happy smile on his face.

"I'm retreating, young master."

The one who spoke earlier bowed to Valias and left.

Valias decided to continue his walk.