Restart:Untalented Man

When the final stroke was made and the last diagram completed, Riz leaned back in his chair.

A sense of accomplishment washed over him.

The concept of the fountain pen he envisioned had taken tangible form on the paper.

"I should have done this a long time ago, together with the papers," Riz muttered to himself.

Later, as the sun began its descent, Riz decided to take a break from his work and headed home.

The journey eventually led him to the gates of his residence.

As he entered the estate, the pleasant evening air tickled his nose. He decided to take a detour.

Walking along the stone pathway that led to the back of the estate, he soon found himself immersed in the tranquil atmosphere of the garden.

Manicured lawns stretched out on either side, while vibrant blooms adorned the landscape with bursts of colour.

Amidst this serene setting, he spotted a familiar figure. It was Josephine, his stepmother. While she immersed herself in writing something, her presence adding a touch of grace to the surroundings.

Initially, Riz intended to simply pass by and make his way to his room. However, Josephine's keen awareness caught him in her gaze.

"Riz," her voice called out, soft yet carrying a certain insistence.

He hesitated for a moment, then altered the direction of his feet. He moved closer, realizing that it would be inconsiderate to ignore her.

"What are you doing, Mother Josephine?" he asked, opening the conversation between them as he approached the round table where she sat.

She looked up from her task, her features adorned with a warm smile. "I'm writing an invitation for your wedding," she replied, her tone light but significant.

As a noblewoman, Josephine held a considerable amount of influence within the social circle.

Her role extended beyond a mere figurehead. Since Riz is not interested in socializing with other existing nobles, Josephine was the one who fills the void left by her stepson.

Her position as the mother of the king gave her a unique authority, and her involvement in such matters held weight beyond mere formality. 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝒍．𝒏𝒆𝒕

Her actions often carried a subtle yet undeniable impact on the upper society.

Riz's gaze shifted to the small round table. The table, adorned with an elegant lace runner, held a stack of meticulously written letters.

Each piece of paper bore the emblem of the Ryntum kingdom, a mark of its authenticity and significance.

The soft breeze rustled the letters ever so slightly, adding a touch of life to the stillness of the scene.

"Ah, I see," Riz remarked with a nod as he took in the sight before him. "The invitations are already being sent out."

Josephine's knowledge and connections within the upper echelons of society made her the perfect person for such a task.

She smiled, "Yes, this matter can't be postponed any longer."

He reached out and picked up one of the letters. The paper felt smooth beneath his fingers, and as he began to read, he was greeted by the formal and eloquent language that was characteristic of such correspondences.

The words seemed to dance across the page, each phrase carefully chosen to convey both respect and expectation.

As he continues to read, Riz couldn't help but feel a sense of bemusement. The roundabout way of talking, while undoubtedly a mark of sophistication, also caused his head to spin slightly.

Riz's brow quirked as he glanced up, a smile tugging at his lips. "Can nobles just talk straight to the point?"

The straightforwardness he often valued seemed to be a rarity in the noble's world.

He was met with a soft chuckle from Josephine, who had put down her quill. "My dear son," she said with a hint of amusement, "That is the way of nobility," Josephine mused, "Every word, every gesture holds significance beyond its surface."

"Sounds tiring to me," With a faint smile, he set the letter back on the table and gave Josephine a respectful nod. "Then, I won't disturb you further, Mother Josephine."

As he turned to continue on his way, her voice, gentle yet filled with a hopeful urgency, halted his steps. "Wait!" Josephine's hand reached out, clasping his wrist.

Turning back to her, he raised an eyebrow in question. "What?"

"Do you think if I send one invitation to your sister, she would attend?" Josephine's voice carried a mix of hope and longing, her eyes searching his for any hint of an answer.

The atmosphere in the garden changed abruptly.

Riz's gaze met hers.

Josephine's face, despite being in her forties, still retained much of the youthfulness she once possessed.

Yet, there was an unmistakable undercurrent of sadness in her eyes, a quiet ache that spoke of the years of longing.

Her hopeful question hung in the air and Riz's thoughts spun around it.

He pondered the question, aware of the significance it held for Josephine.

"I'm not... sure about that," he said cautiously, his voice measured.

Josephine's expression shifted, a mixture of hope and disappointment mingling across her features.

Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly due to the weight of unfulfilled desires.

"Why don't you just send the letter instead of mulling it over? I will make sure the letter reaches them. If we're lucky, she will come," Riz suggested.

"Really?!" This time, her face lit up with a bright, almost childlike, hope.

"I'm not saying she will attend. I'm saying she might attend. Don't get your expectations too high or you might be disappointed," Riz cautiously said.

His word was an attempt to temper her enthusiasm with a dose of reality.

Josephine nodded, a blend of gratitude and trepidation in her eyes. "I will write a letter to Barlia as soon as I can."

He offered her a warm smile. "Of course, Mother Josephine. Now, if you have nothing else to say, I will return to my room."

As he moves away from the garden, Riz is almost certain that his sister won't come.

There's no way she would come.

If she did, he will never let her return to Barlia and if Baldwin come alongside her, he will never get out of this kingdom alive.

Riz take a last look at the garden, watching Josephine enthusiastically writing a letter.

Sigh—

Somehow, he feels guilty for giving her hope but there's nothing much he can do at the moment. War, although only last for a few months, really took a toll on his kingdom.

Currently, he wants to put more focus on the kingdom before making another expansion.

"Be patient, mother. I will bring her back," Riz muttered under his breath.