Return of the Legendary Runesmith-Chapter 556 - 555- Stronghart family

It was a strange day for her husband to be home. Natasha Stronghart had long grown used to the quiet rhythm of the house without him. His duties often kept him away for days at a time, sometimes longer. Yet despite the chaotic situation across the nation recently, her husband, Nolan, was here.

He was currently sitting in the reception hall, leaning comfortably against the cushioned chair as he read the morning newspaper. A steaming cup of tea rested on the table before him, thin curls of vapor rising into the calm air.

The violet-haired beauty approached him with quiet steps and asked, "Anyone coming over today?"

Nolan was taken aback. "No... why?" he replied, the newspaper still covering most of his face.

Natasha narrowed her eyes slightly. "I remember you mentioned two days ago that you had a strategic meeting with the ground troops of the northern region. Something related to acolyte recruitment in that area. And yet you suddenly skipped that trip?"

Nolan turned the page and grumbled, "Dear... is it that you don’t like to see your husband home?"

Natasha hummed softly. "Do you think I would have taken a bath and worn this dress so early in the morning on a usual day?"

The man finally removed the newspaper completely and looked at his wife.

Wearing a white one-piece dress that hugged her lithe form in a way that stirred his heart, she stood before him with her usual composed expression. Her violet hair was still slightly damp, lazily resting over one shoulder as if it had been left to dry on its own. Those full red lips stood in striking contrast against her moon-white face, giving her an elegance that was difficult to ignore.

For a brief moment, Nolan simply stared.

Then he instantly rose to his feet and took his wife’s hand. "I apologize for ignoring you for this long, dear. And you look very gorgeous."

A faint twitch at the corner of her lips betrayed her satisfaction. She accepted the tender kiss he planted on the back of her hand, her expression returning to its usual calm as if that small reaction had never appeared at all.

"So? Do you have any plans today or are you just going to stay here with me, spending time uselessly?" she asked, her delicate brows rising slightly.

Nolan smiled at that. "Spending time with my lovely wife could never be a waste of time. I was actually thinking that I might prepare lunch for you today."

Natasha immediately shook her head. "My stomach couldn’t tolerate military food. And unfortunately, that is the only thing you know how to cook."

Nolan groaned in protest. "That’s harsh, dear. You married a soldier knowing exactly what to expect, and now you are complaining."

Natasha shrugged lightly. "I saw benefits and you didn’t look half bad, so I thought, why not?"

Nolan was long accustomed to his wife’s blunt personality. After all these years he had also learned to notice the small, subtle signs that revealed what she was truly feeling behind those simple words.

Like right now. The faint vigor in her voice alone told him how pleased she was that he was staying home today.

But the truth was... he had postponed his plans because a special person was arriving.

Yes, he knew that Elana was coming back home today. Yet if he said that aloud now, he already knew how his dear wife would react.

’But won’t she realize the reason for my stay the moment Elana arrives?’ Nolan thought inwardly.

Just then, "Ah!"

A sudden yelp echoed from the staircase.

Both of them turned instantly.

Sitting awkwardly on his backside at the foot of the stairs, tears already forming in his eyes, was a familiar black-haired boy.

Natasha let out a small sigh and said calmly, "Get up, Charles. It’s nothing. You just tripped."

The thirteen-year-old boy sniffled and slowly pushed himself back onto his feet, rubbing his eyes with the back of his sleeve.

Natasha then asked, "Why were you in such a rush?"

The boy blinked, and the reason he had been running down the stairs suddenly came back to him. His eyes brightened immediately as he looked at Nolan.

"I heard Father is going to stay home today!" he blurted out excitedly. "Can he please train me in swordsmanship? Please?"

He was aiming for one of the most prestigious academies in the country, the Runebound Academy. To reach that place, he wanted to become a better warrior. Just like his elder sister, so he could one day carry forward her legacy as the strongest student.

Charles had grown up watching her.

His friends often told him that the biggest name in the family belonged to his father. Charles agreed with them. After all, he had heard countless stories about the feats his father, Duke Nolan Stronghart, had accomplished to stand where he was today.

However, for him, his hero would always be his elder sister.

She was the one who inspired him to step out of his shell, to adapt better, and to push himself to grow stronger.

She had always been there for him. Sometimes directly, guiding him with a few quiet words. Other times in silence, simply watching over him from the shadows without letting him notice.

After she joined the academy, they barely interacted anymore. Yet Charles constantly heard about her through his mother and from his friends whose older siblings also studied at the academy.

Stories of her achievements reached him again and again.

So yes, he admired her deeply and wanted to uphold that title of the strongest once he joined.

Nolan chuckled at his son’s request. "Of course, we can. However, I must warn you. When I teach, I become a completely different person. Are you sure you don’t want to learn from your instructor instead?"

Natasha calmly informed her husband, "He actually left, dear."

Nolan blinked in surprise. "What? Xavier left? But I personally recruited him. He was once my comrade back in the day."

Nolan had carefully chosen a capable fighter, someone he trusted to guide his son’s swordsmanship from the very beginning. Xavier was not only skilled but also someone who respected Nolan greatly.

Which was exactly why it felt strange that he would suddenly abandon the position halfway through.

At those words, Charles gave a sheepish smile and glanced toward his mother.

Natasha shook her head before explaining, "Well, he left because your son defeated him for three days straight. He said there was nothing more he could teach him."

"...!!"

Nolan’s eyes widened at that revelation. Was his son some kind of genius with the sword?

Natasha had been very strict with Charles’s upbringing. Nolan, after all, had been rather reckless when raising Elana in the past. Gifting her a dagger on her sixth birthday and taking her into a dungeon when she turned nine... yes, Natasha had more than enough reasons to be cautious when it came to their second child.

Because of that, she had carefully limited how much Charles was exposed to the martial world.

Only after he turned eleven did she finally allow her son to take a few steps into the path he wished to walk.

And now, just two years later, he had already mastered more than three combat styles and awakened a strong elemental affinity.

"It’s surprising, truly. If you really defeated Xavier in a sword fight, then I believe it’s time for you to have an armament of your own."

Charles’s eyes immediately lit up.

He had wielded a few armaments in the past during training, but none of them were truly his. They were borrowed tools, meant only for practice. The thought of finally having an armament tailored specifically for him made his heart race with excitement.

Natasha narrowed her eyes slightly. "Are you sure, dear?"

Nolan nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I believe our son has already gained enough experience. Training under Xavier and observing others fight should have taught him how to properly handle an armament."

Nolan knew his son well.

Charles was a little fragile when it came to emotions. He trusted people easily and could be influenced by their words more than he should be.

But Nolan also understood something else.

If he delayed things any longer, the path Charles had chosen for himself would only become more dangerous if he kept walking it with hesitation.

After a brief pause, Natasha took a deep breath and said, "Well, if you truly think so then it’s fine. How about we go and ask Sir Tarcoft to tune an armament for him? He is a very good Runesmith."

Nolan shook his head and said, "Since it’s his first armament, I would ask the best in the business."

Charles’s eyes dimmed as he asked, "Father...you don’t mean Adrian Lockwood, do you?"

Nolan was surprised by that reaction. But before he could have asked anything, a maid came rushing to them and informed,

"The young lady is here!"

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.