Chapter 270: Chapter 270. To the gate with the Baron- The resolve to protect the family

Theo looked at the baroness with shock; he had never been hit in his whole life by a parent. Not in the previous one, not in this one, which made this very complicated for him.

"You dare say such shallow things?" The baroness spoke with spite and anger in her eyes. It seemed she wasn’t able to control herself anymore.

The Head Butler looked at the baron for orders, but the baron just shook his head and looked at the interaction with seriousness.

"What does you being the 9th son have anything to do with not being worthy of our protection, Theo? Who has been filling your head with such disgust? No one would teach you something like this in our family." She said as if she too was in utter shock.

Theo looked at her eyes and when he saw an unbelievable amount of pain in them, he had to avert his gaze. He couldn’t look at her head-on.

Clara looked at the situation with panic; she could do nothing to protect Theo as the one who hit him was the head of the Barony itself.

"I–I am sorry, Mother." Theo spoke.

"You’re not. I can see it right through your eyes." The baroness spoke, and when she looked at the state of her son on the ground, her demeanor changed back to concern again.

She crouched down and hugged him right away.

They stayed like that for a whole minute before the baroness calmed a little.

"Please, Theo. Never think of yourself as not worth our protection or love. Have we ever treated you in a way that would make you think that, my son?" She asked with a shattered heart, which finally made Theo think he might have said something too unreasonable just because he didn’t know what to do.

"That’s not it! I have never felt anything like that." Theo spoke while looking at both the baron and the baroness.

"The amount of love I got from you both has meant the world for me, Mother." Theo stated until his mind went back to how things were not so simple now.

"But... just because I was born with a unique affinity, just because I had to tame an insect..." He stated, making the baron and baroness look at each other.

"That doesn’t mean I get to give so much stress to my family. If I were to leave with Father for the gate... with him gone... who will protect the family?"

Theo spoke and realized who would be protecting the family in their absence. It was going to be all the people his father had gathered for the family. All the knights, all the tamers, all the commanders in the Barony.

His brother Lucien, Knight Rhys, even the royal family itself.

But at that point, he just wanted to let out every single problem he was feeling out loud like a kid.

The baroness kept looking at Theo with conflicted feelings before she took a deep breath.

"Theo... we all are a very tightly packed family. All 9 of you and us 2... even if the world were to be against us, we will all protect each other." The baroness spoke.

But she knew Theo was not going to respond to things like that. She needed to give him something.

"But... if you think you have brought danger to the family, then take responsibility for it." She spoke in a sharp voice, making Theo look at her in surprise.

"Get strong with your father’s help. There is not a single person around you who is more capable. And it’s an honor each heir of the family gets in their life." She said with pride while looking at the baron with affection.

"Just stop whining and go with me. I will make a man out of you in no time." The baron spoke with a ’hmph,’ making Theo chuckle and realize something.

He had the most understanding and caring people in the whole world as his parents. It wasn’t like before. If he had opened his heart to them for about 50%, things had turned up as if he could open it fully now.

It would be a disrespect to not do it now, when they were showing so much.

Theo got up and nodded with resolve. He brought his hand forward for his mother to take and get up, making her smile.

She took the offer and got up to look in his eyes again only to feel happy that he was back with them.

Theo nodded at her again and looked at the baron, who was staring at him with daggers.

"I will be in your care, Father. That gate... I promise to make the best out of it with your help."

"Now that’s what I like to hear, son. I will write a few letters to my allies and then we will depart in 2 days. Be sure you are ready and say your goodbyes. We will be out for a while." He spoke, making Theo nod.

When he looked back at Clara, who was still holding the box, Theo’s eyes went to her face, which was the same poker one.

Only... he knew right away by the eyes that Clara was extremely happy right now, and he knew the reason already—so did everyone in that room.

"Father, Mother... there is something Clara and I came to show you." Theo spoke with pride laced in his voice, which both his parents detected right away.

Theo nodded at Clara, who gulped in panic but, seeing the confidence in Theo’s eyes, she willed her heart to do the same too.

She moved forward toward the table and kept a box before starting to open it.

"My lord, this is something young master Theo and I have been preparing for a while. This is the first of its kind. Please look at it." She said after opening the lid of the box and passing it toward the baron.

The baron and the baroness looked at it with curiosity before he took it from Clara and looked inside.

"Tunic?"