Rius smiled and suggested, "I know you want to reclaim the company as soon as possible, but it would be better to go home and rest for a while before doing that."
Markus thought for a moment before agreeing. "I guess spending some time in peace wouldn't be too bad. And it has been a while since I went home."
"Then start packing. You'll be leaving tomorrow morning before sunrise. I'll arrange a car to pick you up at the back gate. Be sure to arrive on time," Rius said hurriedly, then cut the call.
Tomorrow?! What's with the rush? Markus sighed as he went back to his room to finish packing.
Inside a lavish penthouse, a man stood by the window, savoring a cup of coffee as he gazed at the setting sun over the bustling city.
Rius had just hung up the call with Markus and was lost in thought.
He smiled softly, though a hint of sadness lingered on his face. Murmuring to himself, he said, "Good times really don't last long."
The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, the dawn sky blazed with the colors of a new beginning, as if the heavens themselves had been set aflame.
Markus was waiting outside the back gate; the car had yet to arrive.
He wasn't an early riser and would have preferred to travel during the day—or even at night. But since Rius had already made arrangements, he had no choice.
Just as the car pulled up, Markus's smartwatch rang. Without any greeting, Rius's voice came through:
"When you get there, you'll meet my friend Albert. He'll be your butler for the duration of your stay. He's also a good friend of your father, so make sure you treat him with respect."
He continued quickly, "Your father should have left you something valuable; it should be somewhere in the house. I have some important matters to attend to, so I won't be available for a while. But I'll come find you as soon as I'm done."
And before Markus could respond, Rius ended the call.
Why is he always in such a hurry? Markus thought with annoyance."Something my father left for me, huh?" he muttered as he got into the car.
There were two continents in this world: the Western Continent and the Eastern Continent, each covering nearly half the earth's landmass. The rest of the world was filled with vast oceans, seas, and countless islands, both large and small.
The Eastern Continent was home to two great empires: the Silverstone Empire in the north, and the Astra Empire in the south. Ever since their founding thousands of years ago, they had never been on good terms—clashing in brutal wars every few centuries.
The Western Continent, however, was different. Though divided within, it was comparatively peaceful. Known as the Velaris Continent, it was unified under the Velaris Federation. With no external threats, peace had prevailed there for generations.
By noon, Markus arrived at the small town of Marrock, in the northern part of the continent. Surrounded by hills and mountains, it lacked the grandeur of the capital but possessed a natural beauty of its own.
When he reached the villa gates, a wave of childhood memories and thoughts of his parents washed over him. But he didn't linger on them for long. Instead, he stepped inside.
"Welcome home, young lord. I hope the journey was not too taxing," came a voice, followed by a polite bow.
The speaker was an elderly man in his late sixties, with fair skin, a monocle over his right eye, and a curious white glove on his left hand.
"It was fine," Markus replied, barely acknowledging the formality of the greeting. Though unaccustomed to being called 'young lord,' he brushed it aside.
The old man didn't mind Markus's indifferent tone. Smiling warmly, he said, "My name is Albert Aim, and I'll be your butler from now on. I presume the young lord has already been informed about me. Allow me to escort you to your room, sir."
"Uncle already told me about you," Markus replied, following him inside.
The villa was a lavish two-storey mansion, equipped with every modern amenity—an outdoor pool, a home gym, and more. Markus's old room had been on the ground floor, but Albert led him upstairs toward the master bedroom.
"We've renovated the place, as the interiors had grown outdated. I hope it is to your liking," Albert said, opening the door.
Markus stepped into what had once been his parents' room. It had been completely transformed, save for one thing: the family photos still hanging on the walls.
"After the departure of the lord and lady, Sir Rius ordered the entire villa to be renovated. As per his instructions, the master bedroom is now yours. I'll be staying on the ground floor."
"Oh, how considerate of him," Markus muttered as he walked further inside.
"Here is my contact number, sir. You can reach me anytime." Albert handed him the code, which Markus entered into his watch, saving the old butler's contact.
"The maids will bring you brunch shortly," Albert added. "Until then, please allow me to take my leave."
"Sure," Markus replied absently, his eyes fixed on the family photos.