#((adalfieri influencing them even from a young age

[retelling-of-ragnarok]

Gwen, why take on such a hard contract so young?

“That’s what family heads do, isn’t it? They’re the face of the family’s pride, so even in the hardest of times, they take up responsibility. Even if I didn’t want the position, I didn’t want to disappoint them either. Every one of them… Had put their faith in me. The option to decline was on the table, but who knew when I would get such an opportunity again? Achieve my goals, earn praise, as well as get stronger. I could do all of those at once…”

They paused, for a brief moment. A saddened look in their eye.

“Besides… It was my own choice to do so, so I can’t complain. I won’t blame my siblings, parents, or grandparents for something that was ultimately my choice. I’ve gained a lot of skills I could have never achieved, from living in a place like this; so I suppose it isn’t all bad.”

No amount of excuses could cover up the hopelessness they felt as they spoke. Perhaps their grandfather’s warning was correct— And they were taking on something too big too early. But even he could note the malicious look in the man’s eye— how contracted or not, he would have lured Gwen into his grasp. So they supposed their childish enthusiasm saved their family an extra burden.

🔷 Whin: Rio had done his best to stop them, truly. Sure he has no doubt they’ll complete it, but he despised the look Karl had in his eyes, as he was requesting a contract. Not only had the man all but waltzed into their home, but the look in his eye showed that he would do more than just barge in, if Gwen had refused.

So it wasn’t only just childish ambition and familial responsibility— But the subtle cue that refusing this man would have put their family in even more trouble than they could have handled. Gwen soon realised that when the analysed the way Karl had acted around them. He likely would’ve killed all of them, if he needed to.🔷