All-around teacher at the magic academy

A dessert shop in Barton, located in a bustling downtown area, has a warm and exquisite decor.

The transparent display window showcases a colorful array of breads and cakes in various shapes and sizes. Whenever a new product is launched, the window always attracts a large number of customers who stop to admire and sample it.

Eric is a regular at this dessert shop. He especially loves their new products and always feels that each visit brings him a different surprise.

Eric was in a particularly good mood today, and he decided to pick out some delicious desserts for his hardworking father so that his father could feel warm amidst his busy schedule.

Unlike other nobles who pursued a life of luxury, his father was unwilling to spend excessive time on enjoyment. In his view, true aristocratic spirit lay not in extravagant displays, but in a sense of responsibility and concern for the people. Therefore, he lived a simple and unassuming life, rarely holding grand banquets.

The number of servants and guards in his household was extremely small compared to the standards of other noble residences. He believed that there didn't need to be too many servants, just enough to maintain the basic functions of the household. He valued their loyalty and diligence more than their quantity.

As he entered the store, the staff greeted him warmly and introduced him to the new desserts.

Eric stood in front of the dessert shop counter, his gaze wandering among the various desserts. The desserts before him were dazzling, some decorated with delicate frosting, others exuding a rich aroma; each one was like a small work of art.

He carefully selected some uniquely shaped new products, none of which he had ever tried before, and guessed that his father had probably never experienced these novel flavors either. He smiled and thought that this trip home would be perfect for bringing his father to try.

Eric took the packaged dessert from the shop assistant and, filled with excitement, began his journey home.

On the way, Eric's thoughts drifted to his younger brother Hansen's match. He had been worried about Hansen's loss. But the moment Hansen called out to his brother, Eric's heart melted. He recalled Hansen as a child, following behind him, his eyes filled with dependence and trust.

Eric believed that the future would be more comfortable and better. He resolved to persuade his father when he got home not to hold Hansen to such strict standards.

Hansen is still young; he needs encouragement and understanding, not endless pressure. As his older brother, I am fully capable of supporting the family and protecting his safety.

As the eldest son in the family, he always knew his place. After graduating from St. Peter's College, he returned to the family to help his father with family affairs.

My mother passed away early, and since then, my father has felt as if he has lost a part of his life, rarely showing a smile.

Whenever Eric saw his father's lonely figure, an indescribable pang of heartache would well up inside him. He so desperately wanted his father to rediscover his former happiness, but it seemed that no matter what he did, he could not fill the void left by his mother.

Eric had suggested to his father more than once that he hand over the household affairs to him so that his father could be freed from his heavy workload and enjoy life.

However, his father firmly rejected each of his suggestions. His father always said that he was still in his prime and how could he possibly retire and live a leisurely life now?

Eric knew that the reason his father was unwilling to let him take over the family affairs so quickly was because his father loved him and did not want him to bear too many burdens that he should not have to bear at such a young age.

Eric, however, had a different view. He believed that taking on family responsibilities was his inescapable duty. He firmly believed that as the eldest son, he had the responsibility and the ability to shoulder this burden, share his father's burdens, and lay a solid foundation for the family's future.

He didn't see it as a burden, but rather as an affirmation of his abilities and a way for him to realize his self-worth.

Along the way, Eric's thoughts were racing as he pondered the predicament his family was currently facing. He knew that the family's situation had indeed been difficult lately, but the words "unsolvable" were not in his vocabulary.

Especially for Duke Chloe, a newly promoted nobleman, despite his illustrious background and formidable strength, Eric did not regard him as an insurmountable obstacle.

Eric believed his father was too lenient, not ruthless enough. If he were to take over the family business, he would not hesitate to use the power of law enforcement to bring down Duke Chloe. In the city of Barton, there was no possibility of two dukes coexisting.

Eric had repeatedly suggested to his father that they utilize the power of law enforcement to solidify the family's position, but his father consistently refused to adopt his suggestion. In his father's view, law enforcement officers should be impartial and selfless; their existence was to maintain the peace and security of Barton City, and they should never become tools for the family to seize power.

Eric sighed, his gaze falling on his family's imposing front gate. He decided that when he returned home, he needed to have a serious talk with his father about this. After all, in this position, many things were unavoidable; if you didn't deal with others, they would find ways to deal with you.

He took a deep breath, trying to dispel the worry and tension in his heart. Looking at the dessert in his hand, he thought that he should let his father relax first, and then find a suitable time to discuss family affairs.

He gently pushed open the front door of his house, but did not notice that the guards who usually stood watch at the door were nowhere to be seen.

The moment Eric stepped into the front yard, his heart sank. The scene before him was unbearable: the yard was a mess, with broken items and scattered corpses everywhere.

His heart tightened instantly, and he kept repeating to himself, "No, nothing will happen," as if that would negate everything in front of him.

Eric walked across the front yard and into the backyard almost unconsciously. He didn't even realize when the desserts in his hands had fallen, the exquisite pastries soaked in blood and unrecognizable. His mind was blank, but his feet continued to move forward mechanically.

Walking into the backyard, the tall sycamore tree was still swaying gently in the wind, as if nothing had happened, except for a sudden figure standing there, holding a human head in his hand.

Eric stared wide-eyed at the other man's hand, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something, but his throat seemed to be tightly blocked by something, and he could only make a hoarse sound.

His body trembled violently, and a strong urge to vomit surged from his stomach. He bent over, only to find that what he vomited was not food, but bright red blood.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, the movement mechanical and cold, as if it weren't his own blood. He struggled to lift his head, his eyes bloodshot, revealing endless anger and grief, staring intently at the figure standing under the sycamore tree.

"You'd better pray you don't die too soon."