False Hero

"Young master, I will be also joining you." insisted Sofia.

"No, I will be fine by myself."

"No, I left young master alone once I am not going to leave young master alone again."

A smile curved up Grey's face "Don't worry, nothing can happen to me. since I am strong." 

There was a confident smile on Grey's face, when he said he was strong he didn't look hopeful about it, he knew it for a fact that he was strong. 

Looking at this sight of Grey, Sofia couldn't help but gasp. A smile spread across her face as she said "You are really like miss Alice, when she was young she was exactly like you."

"Is that so----"

A wind blew and with it, the cap that Grey was wearing, from Grey's head the cap fell down on the ground, Revealing two pointy ears.

"Brother---"

"Let's not talk about it."

"Can I pet you?"

"I will bite you."

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(Grey's POV)

I talked with dad about my trip to the Depool city, he didn't seem to have any problem with it. Apparently, he wants me to live my life free, he won't restrict me from going anywhere by being overprotective.

Later i asked him about the whereabouts of Sylphy and Eira apparently Sylphy had gone back to her home and she also seemed to join the heroes part, good for her since it is considered the biggest honor to be in the heroes' party.

She is currently staying at the Maver city the neighboring city of Deepool city. Maybe I will go visit her after I am done with the business in the Maver city.

I have left Annie and Illya back with dad, I teleported them back to Grandma's house. Including Kuro, she tried to run away somewhere again, but I caught her and teleported her with dad. For some reason, Kuro loves to wander around to random places.

Aetna joined me on my journey and well I would love to have a company, so it worked fine with me. We are currently using only one horse to travel towards the Depool city. 

We are currently speeding our horse through a man-made path between two wheat fields while traveling we were able to see many settlements of many different races.

"Aetna are you okay with this speed?" I asked since she seemed to be holding on to me tightly. 

"Yes!!! I am liking the feeling of the wind against my face!!"

Ah, she is enjoying it. I slightly turned around to look towards Aetna, what I saw was her silver hair fluttering as we were traveling through the field, her silver eyes set on a distant field. 

Sometimes I fail to acknowledge the fact that how beautiful Aetna actually is.

She caught me staring at her so she asked "What?"

"No nothing."

She held on to me even tighter as I could hear her giggle, she seems oddly happy about something.

By traveling through various cities, we finally were able to reach Depool city after some days. 

"Are we staying over at Inn in the Depool city?" asked Aetna as we were passing through the gates of Depool city. 

"No actually, we will be staying over at my cousin's house."

Passing through the massive city gate, I scanned my surrounding, it was a normal city. There seems to be some kind of market right near the gate. I guess that works well, people would buy something before leaving the city and sometimes even when entering the city.

As I was looking around, I found Miles standing talking to one of the shop owners at the market.

I walked my horse near him as I called out to him, "Miles, what are you doing here?"

Upon hearing my voice he turned around, "Oh, Grey it's you, you finally came. I actually do some investigation, I will tell you the details once we reach home." 

He looked at the shop owner as he said "Let me know if get to know something more."

"Yes, prince."

Miles walked ahead as he said, "Follow me, and leave the horse to my servant." 

When I looked back there was already a guy who was waiting for me to descend the horse, I guess this guy is the servant he is talking about. 

As miles said I and Aetna got off the horse as we followed him. He stopped right before the road and before him a wagon stopped and he boarded the wagon, looking back he gestured us to come in as well.

"Why so fancy? I was fine with following your wagon in the horse."

"No there are many eyes, well i do want eyes to know that you are alive but it's not safe to roam around in this city so openly. Besides, don't forget the fact that you are royal. As much as I hate it, you have equal rights over the throne so I want you to start to act like royal."

"What do you want me to? wipe ass with fancy clothes each time I am done shitting."

For a second miles couldn't control his laughter but he quickly regained his composure. 

"You know, you can laugh freely, no one is pointing a sword at you and telling you to not laugh."

"I would never laugh at your jokes,"

"That's childish."

Aetna had already passed out over my shoulder she seems to be tired of the journey here.

"Seems like the journey was tiring."

"Well, we did rush here since my brother would need me."

"Brother? we are not brothers we are cousins."

"That basically makes us brother."

"It doesn't"

As we were talking, we eventually reached the mansion. Getting down from the wagon, i carried Aetna in my arms, I asked Miles to show me my room first so that I can put her down there. 

He ordered his servant to show me the room, following them i entered the room and placed her down on the bed. She opened her eyes slightly but later looking at my face she went back to sleep.

One thing weird I noticed was that all the servants were staring at me for some reason, actually not exactly staring but they are giving me weird looks.

"You have the snow-white hair of the Hoffmann family so they seem to be curious about if you are the part of the royal family or not, since they have never seen you before this. They have seen the rest of our cousins but not you so they are curious about your identity." 

As I and Miles were walking through the hallway, we passed through a servant, I looked at him as I said "I am his brother."

"No! he is my cousin!!"

"As I said, it's the same thing"

Miles stopped by a room as he opened the door.  "No, it's not."

"You are my dad's brother's son how are you not my brother."

"That's what cousin means."

As we entered the room, "You are vocal today miles."

The person that said was seated on a chair in the room, in front of him was a work desk he was apparently working with some documents. He had white hair blue eyes, and he had a look very similar to my dad.

So this is my uncle?

He looked at me, then he looked at Miles as he asked "So this is the friend you wanted me to meet?"

"Yes."

Uncle took a good look at me once again before turning to him to ask "Are you sure he is your friend? I mean aren't you leaving some important details out."

"No, I don't think so."

Uncle stared at him before asking, "Are you sure, are you double sure?"

"Yes, I am."

Uncle sighed as he said, "Then why does he look like us?"

"Oh that! he would obviously look like us since he is my cousin, he is the son of Uncle Ranulf."

"Eh?"

Miles looked proud as he said, "As I said before I didn't leave any important details out."

Uncle didn't pay any heed to him as he looked at me, he got up from his place and he asked "Are you really his son?"

"Yes."

"When did he have another ---"

"No, I am the dead one which was not so dead."

"Why would Ranulf fake your death?"

"No, I faked my own death."

"So you are Grey?"

"Yes, I am Grey Hoffmann."

He didn't say anything more, he hugged me as he said "I am sorry, I am really sorry that uncle wasn't able to meet you when you were little, uncle is very very sorry. I left my brother alone when he needed me the most, I wish I was there for him. I wish I was there for my nephew, I am sorry."

"Ah, it's fine, I don't really mind, neither would dad since we both understand that you have your family to take care of, so I am sure if you talk to dad he would be happy."