Another beautiful day began in the province of Goldfield.The first rays of sunlight broke through the window of the young nobleman’s room. Enric Goldfield, the youngest son of a well-known though not particurly wealthy family, rose with a smile on his lips. He walked over to the mirror to see what the night had left him. As usual, his lightbrown hair looked as though he’d just returned from a battlefield, and the bags under his eyes betrayed yet another sleepless night spent poring over books. “What can you do? Nothing you can do.” he thought, and began his morning routine.

  Being the youngest son didn’t mean he was free of responsibilities. On the contrary—Enric from a very young age had been taught respect and the importance of upholding the family’s honor, both among the nobility and in his dealings with the servants. A single careless rumor could have serious consequences, and so his father, Alfred Goldfield, had made sure all three of his sons were models of honor. Mandatory lessons in history, literature, and etiquette were just the tip of the iceberg.

  After fixing his hair, Enric dressed and was ready to start the day. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Without waiting for a response, two maids and his assigned butler entered the room.

  “The young master is already up…” The butler paused mid-sentence, then added with a slight smile, “You’ve been stealing our work tely, young master. What made you such an early bird? At your age, even all household maids couldn’t wake your brothers.”

  Enric sighed, returning the smile.“The earlier I rise, the more of the day I have for myself. Besides…” He hesitated for a moment, then added with a touch of seriousness, “...I don’t like being waited on in the mornings. I should be more self-sufficient.”

  Of course, that was just an excuse. Enric was only fifteen, and adulthood still y ahead of him. In a month, he would turn sixteen—a day he had marked as pivotal.

  According to tradition, that was when a young nobleman would be assigned his role and share of the family estate. The topic was a sensitive one for the entire family. The Goldfields, though well-known, were retively poor. Everyone expected his two older brothers to receive the lion’s share, leaving Enric with only a modest portion.

  But that didn’t bother him. For years, he had known his destiny y elsewhere.

  Enric had other things on his mind that morning besides the family estate. Without hesitation, he asked, “What’s the pn for today?”

  The butler, as prepared as ever, answered with a polite bow.“First, breakfast with the family as part of your etiquette lessons. Immediately after, your father will quiz you on history. Then, you’ll meet with the family treasurer for a mathematics lesson. After lunch and a short rest, you’ll attend a religious lesson at the chapel across the vilge. The rest of the day is reserved for independent study and free time.”

  Enric nodded and made his way down the stairs to the dining room. At the table, his father Alfred and his eldest brother Edmund were already waiting.

  Edmund, lost in thought, barely noticed his brother’s arrival. His face was a mask of concentration—as the eldest son and future head of the family, he was always calcuting and pnning his every move. No one could bme him; the fate of the entire family rested on his shoulders.

  Alfred Goldfield, the father, greeted Enric with a piercing gaze. His cold, military eyes assessed every detail: his posture, his appearance, even the smallest gesture. A former soldier who had earned his nobility through feats in the war against a neighboring kingdom, Alfred was a stern and demanding man. It was through his determination that the province of Goldfield, known for its fertile fields of golden wheatfields, had become the family’s home.

  After a moment, Alfred, apparently satisfied with what he saw, gave a slight smile and said,“Welcome, Enric. Edmund and I have been waiting for you. Victor, unfortunately, has been summoned to the academy, so he won’t be joining us today.”

  Victor Goldfield—the middle brother. The bck sheep of the family. From a young age, he had ignored lessons in etiquette and history, quick to anger and even quicker to throw a punch. Alfred had spent months saving money to send him to the royal military academy, hoping its strict discipline and rigor would turn his unruly son into a man worthy of the Goldfield name.

  Enric sighed quietly, then took his seat at the table with the grace honed over years of practice. The dining room was heavy with silence, the differing personalities of those gathered amplifying the tension. The Goldfield family, though bound by blood, resembled a fortress built of mismatched stones.

  Breakfast consisted of bread, sad, freshly sliced ham, and a bowl of ripe fruit for dessert. The silence lingered until the family patriarch, broke it with a firm voice.“Enric… I’ve heard rumors from the servants that working with you can be… ‘difficult’. They say you rise at dawn, avoid your butler, and disappear in the evenings to read books in secret.”

  “That’s mostly true, Father. But I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I just don’t understand why someone has to do everything for me. I think I’m capable enough on my own. Besides, I’ve been wondering where we get the money to keep so many servants. We’re not that wealthy, after all.”

  Alfred frowned, though his voice remained calm.“Servants aren’t just a convenience—they’re a necessity. The entire noble world employs people to emphasize their status. It’s a cost we must bear to maintain our position. And don’t worry about finances—every expense is carefully pnned. We won’t go bankrupt.”

  “I understand, Father…”

  Enric nodded, but the answer didn’t satisfy him. In his eyes, the servants were just another barrier to his freedom. Though formally assigned to him, they reported his every action and word to his father. Alfred always had eyes and ears all around the house.

  For years, Enric had dreamed of freedom—of a life where he could build his own reputation, independent of the Goldfield name. The comfortable life of a nobleman had never been his goal. He wanted to see the world beyond the manor walls, a world where his actions, not his family crest, would define his worth. The conflict over the family estate seemed as distant as it was meaningless.

  Alfred broke the silence again.“Edmund, thank you for joining us, but leave us now. You have your own duties to attend to.”

  Edmund, who hadn’t spoken a word since the meal began, looked at his father with his thoughtful, almost empty eyes.“As you wish, Father. See you ter, Enric.”

  He rose with mechanical precision—a perfect, almost machine-like nobleman. As the eldest son, he had the least freedom of the siblings. The future of the family rested on his shoulders, and Alfred, determined to prepare him for that role, filled his days with endless responsibilities.

  The rigorous upbringing had its effect—Edmund had become the ideal heir, but his father had lost sight of something far more important: his child.

  Enric had never spent much time with Edmund, so he hadn’t noticed how much his brother had changed. Now, watching his disciplined walk, he felt a strange mix of admiration and pity.

  Once Edmund left the dining room, Alfred turned to his youngest son.“Let’s not waste time. Let's begin your history lesson. Our glorious name, Goldfield. What can you tell me about it?”

  “Our name, like our noble title, was granted by the royal crown in recognition of our family’s deeds on the battlefield.”

  This was a question Alfred asked at every lesson. Enric knew it better than any prayer.

  “And where does our name come from?”

  “From the name of the province we oversee.”

  “Exactly. Every noble family bears the name of the province they hail from. In the case of families ruling multiple provinces, only their nd of origin matters. And what do you know about the commoners?”

  “Commoners, despite having ordinary first names, aren’t allowed to adopt surnames because they don’t rule over their pces of origin.”

  “Correct. Surnames are reserved exclusively for nobility. However, that doesn’t mean commoners have no influence on provincial politics, does it?”

  “Wealthier commoners can attend the royal academy and attain the status of officials. Such people work in paces and offices as minor judges, treasurers, or diplomats. Still, they have no right to directly oppose the orders of the nobility or the king.”

  “Why wont they gain a noble status, but just an official?”

  “Because nobles come from families of exceptional individuals who earned their positions through dedication and sacrifice on the battlefield. According to royal w, only such individuals are fit to govern territories.”

  “Excellent. Only the nobility—only we, who have given our lives to the kingdom—have the right to decide the fate of these nds. It’s a heavy burden, and we must never forget it.”

  A rare, warm smile appeared on Alfred’s face, though it vanished as quickly as it came.“I’m pleased with your progress, Enric. But remember, in a month, according to tradition, you’ll be assigned your role and share of the estate. Work hard and diligently, for your future in this family depends on it.”

  With that, Alfred rose from the table. Without another word, he left, leaving Enric compleatly alone.

  AnnouncementHowdy, lovely people! This is my first ever published work, but don’t let that discourage you from sharing any kind of feedback. You see… I’ve had this story idea for a while now, but the unfinished first chapter was just collecting dust at the bottom of a drawer. So, I rewrote it, transted it into English (since it’s not my first nguage), and here we are! I hope you’ll enjoy the process alongside me!