Reincarnated As The Dark Knight

Artur stood before the baron and master of the house. This man exuded a kind of aura of that would make one want to fall on their knees and beg for forgiveness of any sin that they might have committed. He was so scary.

The scar which ran across his right eye proved that he was no rookie in battle, as expected of a baron.

'So this is my father, Victor Loxley. How scary' Artur thought.

It was so clear that this man was a killing machine. Artur's little kid instincts took over him and he took a step back. He turned around and saw Vivian with a huge grin on her face.

Not knowing what to do, he turned around and ran to his mother like a little kid would. She was forced to giggle seeing the way he avoided his father.

"I always told you that you have a very scary face Victor"

Victor Loxley was a man who had seen many battles right from when he was a bit older than Artur. He started serving as a knight from the man who ruled two baronial tenures before him. Times like that which were not peaceful.

Victor showed no emotions, face stoic and hands folded behind his back. When he got to his wife and son he went down on one knee to have a face to face with the boy. Artur was scared out of his mind, not until he saw a tear build up in his father's left eye.

He let go of his mother's gown and slowly his hands went to his father's face. He placed his hands on both cheeks and then, their foreheads met.

Victor let out a sigh of relief. The joy he felt was the kind a father would have felt after he had save his children from dying in a disaster or when a father got the last action figure for his son's birthday. No greater feeling.

His soldiers and the maids were all pushed to congratulate him, happy for their baron. Anyone who lived on that land knee how the baron cared for his son and how much effort he had put into curing him of the black death that had plagued him from birth.

Even the journey he had just returned from was in search of the cure. He was coming back after a month long search, following rumors and meeting with underworld merchants.

His search had finally come to an end.

He hugged Artur and the knights all stood at attention placed their hands over their hearts, showing respect and loyalty to their baron's son. He might become the future baron so it was in honor of that moment.

"Hello son, it's good to see you again"

Lily walked over to her father and whispered something in his ear. Whatever she said stirred something within him, making him want to burst into tears but he held them back before his face became distorted.

"It's ok"

"Daddy?"

"Yes my son?" Victor said in a low, whisper-like voice. "What is it?"

"I love you too but you're choking me"

Victor realized his mistake and loosened his grip on the boy. When he let go Artur went again and hugged him.

He could not help it. A teardrop escaped his eyes and rolled down his cheeks then a few seconds later it was accompanied by some more muffled sounds like he was crying.

A tear also dropped from Artur's left eye.

It was an awkward moment for Artur because he felt like he was with his first father but for Victor it was a joyous one.

As Artur hugged his new father he felt something on his back and his mother's scent wafted into his nostrils.

Lily, feeling jealous joined in the family hug.

Artur thought that he would be on his toes and have to pretend so these new people wouldn't be on to him but it felt warm and cozy with them. There was no doubt that he was going to love this family.

=================

Candles were lit, glasses were filled, and laughter was flying around. Artur sat beside his mother in his tiny suit while Lily sat on the other side with the other side with Darwin the physician and another lady. 

"I must say Darwin you have quite the eye, bringing such a stunning lady home" Victor said in his deep and extremely loud voice.

"Well, I can say the same for my sister"

"Don't be so polite"

"It's true, it's even evident in your children" Darwin said and looked at Artur. He smiled when the boy's eyes met with his and took a sip from his glass. Artur wanted to get rid of the odd tension between them so he spoke:

"Aren't you the doctor from yesterday?"

Darwin smiled again "In fact, I am" He replied.

Vivian took his hand and explained his relationship with Darwin to him. Artur was not surprised. The two resembled each other and seeing as he was with them during dinner, it was clear that his mother was related to Darwin somehow. Artur shifted his gaze to the woman beside Darwin and pointed at her.

"Who are you?"

"Artur, speak a bit more politely" Vivian said. 

"Sorry mommy" Artur said 'Crap, this little boy act is starting to get to my head. I had better be careful' He thought, cautioning himself.

"It's not a problem Lady Loxley" The lady said in her beautiful voice that sounded like a lullaby from the heavens. "He is still very young and doesn't know anything"

"Would you like to introduce yourself dear?" Darwin said.

"Allow me" The lady said "My name is Isolde de Beaumont"

"Wow that's such a beautiful name you have"

"You are so kind, there is nothing really beautiful about my name"

Artur was not really feeling the adults and wanted to do something fun. There was nothing else to do except just watch and he was not up for that. 

"Mommy I'm going to go meet Angela? Her mommy brought her along today"

"I thought I was hearing it wrong before but 'Mommy'?" Darwin said, "Don't you think he's too old to talk that way?"

"No he's not. No matter how old he is he's still my baby"

Darwin faced Artur "Tell me Artur do you really want to talk that way, I know you don't"

Artur got out of his seat and went to the entrance of the dining room. Smiling, he turned his head around to respond to his uncle. He took them all by surprise when the next set of words came out of his mouth.

"It makes her happy when I speak that way"

Artur's voice blasted the words throughout the room and before they could process what he had just said. Artur had disappeared from the room. 

Darwin's glass almost fell out of his hand but he caught it quick and spoke what he thought about what he had just witnessed.

"Vivian, are you sure that your son is actually seven years old?"

"I'm starting to doubt it myself" Vivian replied.