“Um...”

David shook the flesh on his cheeks, blinked, and wondered how he could tell?

“He is Bella, David.”

Just as David turned to help his mother get out of the car, a familiar voice came from behind.

“Grandpa!”

David joyfully turned around and opened his arms to embrace a bearded old gentleman.

“How are you?”

“Of course, of course.”

James Rowl gently patted his grandson's back with a hint of sadness before looking at Mary, his eldest daughter-in-law.

“Welcome home, child.”

“Thank you, Dad, thank you.”

Mary pressed her lips together, her eyes glimmering with tears; she didn't know what to say at that moment.

James understood his daughter-in-law's feelings well, patted his grandson's hand, and continued to introduce the house-elf beside him.

“He is Bella, whom you met when I went to see you in France when you were nine.”

“Yes, Bella.”

David smiled at Bella and nodded, confirming, “I remember. I really liked the calamari teacups in the restaurant.”

“Oh! My goodness! Oh! My goodness!”

“Master Rowl still remembers Bella!”

The house-elf jumped up and down in excitement, as if overwhelmed, but then tumbled down and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“He is very happy, but also a bit shy,”

James explained with a smile. “There are also Coco and Dora at home... you may rarely get a chance to see them; they are always very shy.”

“How interesting!”

David laughed and said to his grandfather, “I mean, your house has seven house-elves; it reminds me of that fairy tale.”

“Oh, really? I know which one you mean.”

James nodded and reminded David, “But I must correct you; this is also your home, child.”

“You never mentioned you lived here.”

David glanced at his mother and then asked his grandfather, “Are you a noble here?”

“I'm sorry, Dad, David he...”

Mary pressed her son's shoulder, feeling a bit apologetic as she wanted to explain something to her father-in-law but was interrupted by James' nod.

“No need to apologize, child.”

James raised his hand to gesture toward the hall, leading the mother and son inside while saying, “Seeing David, I understand your choices and decisions back then.”

He looked back at his daughter-in-law and said seriously, “It seems you were right, Mary; David has been well brought up.”

“Thank you, Dad, but I still feel quite sorry.”

Passing through the hall and past a domed lobby, the three arrived at a lounge on the left.

Hot tea was already prepared on the coffee table, indicating the thoughtful service of the house-elves.

“Sit down; you must be tired from the journey.”

James sat on the sofa and gestured for the mother and son to the nearby sofa.

David sat next to his mother, surveying the room's decor, which looked just like a noble castle from television; even the blank picture frames on the wall were golden.

Although born into a wizarding family, David had grown up in a Muggle community.

The most luxurious places he had known and lived in were the castles of two schools.

Everything here was indeed a bit too sudden for him.

“Sorry, Dad, when Mom left...”

“No need for that, child; you have apologized enough.”

James raised his hand to interrupt Mary, then gestured to the blank picture frames on the wall, saying, “Lida's departure was sudden even for me.”

“Of course, you know that.”

He paused, seeming somewhat helpless as he added, “She never liked you, not even now.”

“I understand very well; it’s my fault.”

Mary lowered her head, looking at the teacup in her hand, and said, “If I had chosen to stay in England with John back then, none of this would have happened.”

“No, perhaps your choices were the right ones, Mary.”

James slightly lifted his head, his hands clasped over his belly, and sighed, “At least I can see John mature; he should learn to live and think independently.”

“You don't need to blame yourself; Lida and I agree on this point. She left peacefully the night John suddenly returned.”

His expression turned thoughtful as if recalling the past, and he said in a flat tone, “She no longer complained about you running away with her son and taking away her grandson.”

“Including David’s education.”

James slightly lowered his head to look at David and smiled, saying, “I am very pleased; this is the future and hope of the Rowl family.”

“Well~”

He pointed at the clock in the corner and said to the mother and son, “You must be hungry; the restaurant has prepared delicious food, so go enjoy it.”

David looked at his grandfather and then at his mother, not quite understanding what they were saying.

Since he could remember, it seemed he hadn’t seen his grandmother, let alone know the family’s internal conflicts.

As he followed his mother out of the lounge, he glanced back at his grandfather and suddenly saw an elderly woman peeking at him from the blank picture frame on the wall.

-----------------

Life as a noble is really dull.

Every morning, David wakes up from a bed big enough for five people and has grown somewhat weary of a life where clothes come when he stretches out his hands and food arrives when he opens his mouth.

The castle is large, the estate even larger, and because of this, it feels very empty and lonely.

In such a vast space, sometimes he finds himself all alone.

His mother left the day after she brought him back, to help his aunt with her newly opened shop.

In Diagon Alley, it’s the bustling street he reached after passing through that little tavern upon returning.

Sometimes, Grandpa would have breakfast with him, but then he wouldn’t see him for the entire day.

It wasn't until a week after he returned, having explored all the rooms and attics in the castle, that he saw another living person.

“I thought I wouldn’t see you until I went to visit Mom in prison.”

“Don’t be so harsh, David; you should know my abilities.”

John took off his top hat and casually handed it to the suddenly appearing house-elf.

Not Bella, maybe Coco, or Dora; he had never recognized all these house-elves; they all looked the same.

Yule smiled and winked at David, asking, “How is the young master’s noble life?”

“Nothing much; it’s too quiet here.”

David shook his head, fist-bumping his uncle Charles Woolley, and reminded his uncle, “If I’m a young master, then you should be a young master too; no need to belittle me.”

“Once, maybe.”

Yule looked nostalgically at the familiar decor of the castle; he was a very refined person, always dressed in a suit, even his beard trimmed meticulously.

At that moment, David realized that the unique aura of his father, uncle, and others, as well as his mother’s strict requirements for his behavior, stemmed from family heritage.

Uncle Charles pointed at the crowded paintings on the wall and asked the butler Barkley behind him in surprise, “Why is he here?”

“I’m here to see you! Unworthy descendant!”