The Leonhart castle was quieter than usual that morning, though in truth, Adrian could feel a buzzing excitement underneath the stone walls and golden banners. Something was different in the air, like the wind before a summer storm.
At three years old, he shouldn't have been able to pick up on such things—at least, not according to others. But Adrian was no ordinary child. He had lived once before, in another world, with another name, another face. The memories never left him. They whispered in the back of his mind, shaping his thoughts, guiding his observations. He had been waiting for this day.
"Adrian," his mother's soft voice floated into his chamber. Celestia Leonhart—silver-haired, blue-eyed, warmth incarnate—stood at the door with her usual gentle smile. "Come. Today you'll meet your cousins."
Adrian blinked, his toy soldier momentarily forgotten in his hand. Cousins. A word that carried weight. Family beyond the walls of his chamber, beyond his parents. He knew of them, of course. Leon, his father, had spoken in passing of his siblings. But meeting their children—his peers, perhaps future allies or rivals—that was a new experience.
He hopped down from his chair, the hem of his small tunic brushing against his legs. "Are they… nice?" he asked, a little too carefully.
Celestia chuckled, brushing his cheek with her hand as she led him out. "They are family, my love. You'll see soon enough."
The Gathering Hall
The gathering hall of the Leonhart estate was grand, with vaulted ceilings painted in gold, red, and deep blue. Tapestries hung depicting the family's history—kings, warriors, defenders of the realm. Adrian's little footsteps echoed as he walked alongside his mother, his hand tightly gripping hers.
Already, he could hear voices ahead. Laughter, chatter, footsteps—different timbres mixing together.
At the center, Leon Leonhart himself stood waiting, arms crossed, his sassy smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. Golden-dark hair framed his sharp face, and his red eyes glimmered as he spotted his son. His expression softened immediately.
"There you are," he said. "Come, Adrian. Meet your kin."
Adrian's gaze swept the room, studying carefully. Four figures stood near Leon—two men, one woman, and several children of different ages.
Leon gestured with casual flair. "My siblings. And their little monsters. Your cousins."
Celestia gave him a light nudge. "Leon…"
"What?" he said, feigning innocence. "They are monsters. Just smaller ones."
The siblings rolled their eyes in unison, clearly used to Leon's antics.
The Siblings & Their Children
1. Elias Leonhart – the eldest brother. Stern-faced, broad-shouldered, with neatly combed brown-black hair streaked with gray. His crimson eyes, darker than Leon's, seemed to pierce straight through people. He was known as The Steel General, commander of the royal armies.
His children:
Damian Leonhart (10) – disciplined, already carrying himself like a young knight.
Clara Leonhart (7) – sharp-eyed, quiet, observant like her father.
2. Selene Leonhart – the middle sister. Graceful, silver hair tinged with gold, red eyes softer than Leon's. Known as The Rose of Strategy, an advisor to nobles and diplomats.
Her child:
Lysandra (6) – talkative, imaginative, always clutching a small book.
3. Darius Leonhart – the youngest sibling besides Leon. Carefree, with wavy golden hair and fiery red eyes, his reputation was The Stormblade, a wild knight known for his recklessness and charm.
His children:
Ronan (8) – adventurous, constantly itching to spar.
Ivy (4) – clingy, mischievous, adored by her father.
The Introductions
Elias was the first to step forward. He looked down at Adrian, his imposing presence almost enough to swallow the boy whole. Almost.
"So this is your son," Elias said in his deep voice. "The future of Leonhart."
Adrian instinctively straightened under his gaze. Past life or not, he respected authority. "Adrian Leonhart," he said, carefully enunciating each syllable.
The adults chuckled softly. Celestia squeezed his hand proudly.
"Well-mannered," Elias noted. "Better than Ronan, at least."
"Hey!" Ronan piped up, puffing his cheeks. His fiery hair made him stand out, and he stomped forward. "I'm not that bad."
Adrian tilted his head, studying him. Ronan reminded him of boys in his past life—brash, loud, hiding insecurities behind energy. A small smile tugged at Adrian's lips. "I'll decide that later," he said innocently.
The cousins blinked at him. He wasn't shy like a typical three-year-old. His words carried weight—light teasing, but delivered with confidence.
Selene's daughter, Lysandra, suddenly skipped closer. "Do you like stories?" she asked. Her book was tucked under her arm, her eyes sparkling.
Adrian blinked. "Depends. Are they good stories?"
"Of course! I wrote some myself!"
"Wrote…?" Adrian raised a brow. She was six, but she was already writing? That intrigued him.
Meanwhile, little Ivy toddled toward him and tugged his tunic. "You're small," she declared bluntly.
Adrian looked down at her, deadpan. "You're smaller."
The room erupted in laughter. Even Elias cracked a smile.
The Bonding Begins
The adults drifted into their own conversations, leaving the cousins to mingle.
Ronan immediately dragged Adrian toward the training yard. "Come on, let's spar!"
Adrian frowned. "I'm three."
"So? You can hold a stick, right? That's all we need!"
Damian, the eldest cousin, sighed and followed. "Ronan, you can't just challenge a toddler. Father will be furious."
"But he's a Leonhart!" Ronan insisted. "He has to learn sometime!"
Adrian considered it. Truthfully, he had no interest in sparring now, but the gleam in Ronan's eyes reminded him of boys from his old world—friends he once protected. He didn't want to push him away.
"Fine," Adrian said. "But only basics."
Ronan cheered. Damian sighed again. Clara simply watched in silence, assessing Adrian with quiet curiosity.
They stepped into the yard, wooden swords handed to them. Ronan charged with enthusiasm, while Adrian merely sidestepped, letting the boy stumble past him.
"You're fast!" Ronan gasped, spinning around.
"No," Adrian replied calmly. "You're just reckless."
That earned another round of laughter from the cousins.
Later That Day
Back in the hall, Adrian found himself surrounded. Clara asked him questions about numbers—testing his wit. Lysandra eagerly told him a tale she wrote about knights slaying dragons, which Adrian surprisingly critiqued like an editor. Ivy refused to leave his side, giggling every time Adrian sighed dramatically at her clinginess.
Even Damian, reserved as he was, seemed quietly impressed by Adrian's maturity. "You speak like someone older," he said at one point.
Adrian froze. His reincarnated mind flickered—Did he notice? But Damian didn't press further.
The sun dipped, laughter echoing in the grand hall. For the first time in both his lives, Adrian felt something he didn't realize he had longed for—cousins, peers, bonds outside of just parents. A bigger family.