Theo stepped inside quickly as the doors shut behind him.
A faint pressure filled the room, though not enough to make him feel restless.
It made him wonder whether he had grown used to it, or if the baron simply wasn't exerting much.
"Good morning… father?" Theo tried, offering an awkward smile, only for the baron to respond with a "Hmph!"
"I just received a letter saying we got five royal contribution points!" the baron snapped.
Theo immediately understood where the conversation was going.
"Father, I can explain—"
"What will explanations do? Do you even understand what will happen now?" the baron cut him off again.
"We… might ascend in ranks?" Theo spoke with that same tone.
The baron's expression turned even more grumpy. "Not just that!" he barked.
"I had an agreement with the emperor, so long as I could avoid earning points through my own achievements, none would be counted toward the family," he spoke, but he wasn't done.
