How exactly is a great family built? Is it truly necessary to have countless descendants until a family becomes widely known and eventually begins calling itself a clan, a large collective made up of many blood-related generations?
James did not like that idea.
From the very beginning, he had never wanted a family with too many members. In his view, the more individuals gathered within a single family circle, the harder it would become to keep them all walking along the right path.
He was not certain that all of his descendants would remain aligned with the moral principles he carried from the modern world.
But that did not mean he had remained unchanged.
James had altered many of his ways of thinking since arriving in this world. The dangerous environment forced him to adapt, especially when it came to the safety of himself and his family.
Even so, he was not the type of person who would become savage simply because he gained great power.
He still had his own limits.
James only hoped for one thing from his children.
If one day they managed to carve their names into the world and become widely known, that would already be more than enough for the family he had built.
That was the goal he had held from the beginning.
Did becoming a respected family require having countless members?
Not at all.
In his previous world, many wealthy and influential people had very small families. Yet their names were still known across the entire world.
They were respected.
They were admired.
That was the image he wished to achieve.
Since marrying Irene, the thought of taking another woman had never once crossed his mind.
He hated his father.
Not only because of the resentment carried by the original owner of this body's memories, but also because of his own judgment of that man.
James still remembered clearly the way his father looked at the women in the manor.
He was not the only one who felt disgust.
Even his brothers viewed their father with similar feelings.
Because of that, James swore to himself that he would never follow in that man's footsteps.
Even if this world considered such behavior normal for a man.
He still would not do it.
Besides, he understood Irene's feelings.
He loved his wife.
He did not want to make her feel betrayed or disappointed.
In this world, having several women was not considered strange.
But James did not want that norm to determine how his love story and household should unfold.
For him, true happiness came from sincerity.
That was what he desired.
And he believed Irene felt the same.
———
A week passed just like that.
James's daily routine had not changed much. His life moved in almost the same pattern every day.
Yet strangely, he never felt bored.
On the contrary.
He enjoyed this kind of simple, repetitive life.
His mind was far more stable and calm. There was no longer the overwhelming pressure he had faced in his first life, when he was constantly haunted by the question of whether his dreams would ever be achieved.
In the Wieser family dining room, the entire family gathered for breakfast.
A long wooden table stood in the middle of the room, covered with dishes that could be considered quite luxurious for a village household.
White wheat bread, thick soup, eggs, cheese, and milk were neatly arranged across the table.
At the center of the table sat several fresh fruits that looked both healthy and refreshing.
The first son of the Wieser family was currently three years old.
His eyes carefully examined each dish on the table.
Among the Wieser children, he had the largest appetite.
Ian Wieser.
Physically, he resembled his father.
His jet-black hair and black eyes looked very similar to James's.
However, his personality differed from that of his older sister.
He was not as mischievous or as energetic as Charlotte.
Aside from inheriting his father's physical traits, Ian also possessed a calm temperament like James. At the same time, he carried the gentle side of his mother.
Simply put, Ian was a fairly balanced blend of both parents.
Unlike Charlotte, who had clearly inherited Irene's personality very strongly.
Ian dipped the bread in his hand into the thick soup in the small bowl before him.
He was already independent enough to eat by himself, unlike his younger sibling who still required Irene's help.
Ian sat beside Charlotte, the seat closest to their father.
His eyes kept observing the dining table.
As if he were waiting for the right moment.
That opportunity finally came when James finished swallowing his last bite.
Ian immediately looked toward his father.
"Father. Are you going down to the village later?"
"Yes. Father needs to pick up your sister's clothes that were ordered and buy some household supplies."
James looked at his son calmly.
"What is it? Do you want to come along?"
Ian shook his head slightly.
"No Father. I have an agreement with Sister this morning."
James had already grown quite familiar with his son's habit.
Ian often asked questions as if he wanted to join or learn more, but in the end he did not truly reveal his intention.
Perhaps he was simply curious.
James did not mind that.
In fact, he liked his son's curiosity.
After all, even the smallest piece of information still had value, no matter how limited it might be.
"An agreement?"
James raised his eyebrow slightly.
"May Father know what kind of agreement you two made?"
His gaze shifted between his eldest son and his daughter.
Curiosity was clearly visible on his face.
Charlotte immediately laughed softly.
"Hehehe... sorry, Father."
She picked up a piece of food from the ceramic plate in front of her while wearing a mischievous smile.
"It is a secret between Ian and me."
"Is that so?"
James let out a quiet sigh.
"That is unfortunate. Father actually has something for both of you."
Charlotte shrugged casually.
"It will not work, Father."
"Ian and I have already agreed not to be influenced by Father's temptations."
Ian, who sat beside her, also smiled faintly.
"Sorry, Father."
He added it politely.
"If you knew what I prepared for you, you would definitely be very happy and forget that promise immediately."
"What is it, Father!"
Charlotte, who was already used to her father's generosity, reacted right away. Her curiosity surfaced instantly.
But beside her, Ian turned his head with an annoyed expression.
"Sister, did we not make a promise? Are you going to waver so easily?"
"It is not like that. I am just curious."
Charlotte smiled awkwardly before returning to her meal. She had almost shown her indecisiveness in front of her younger brother.
Charlotte had often heard advice from her mother.
A person must respect every agreement and promise made consciously, even if it seemed trivial.
Breaking it would lower our value in the eyes of others.
Someone's trust and standing could collapse because of something like that.
People might still behave politely or even show respect because of our position. But deep inside their hearts and minds, the value of our words would already be diminished.
Charlotte had begun to understand that.
Ian took it even more seriously.
Her younger brother truly disliked treating promises lightly. He had a firm nature when it came to keeping agreements.
Charlotte was different.
She was far more free, more expressive, and more inclined to follow her own impulses.
For Charlotte, such obligations still felt like a concept she had not fully taken seriously.
But Irene continued reminding her.
And that lesson began within the relationship between herself and her siblings.
Across the table, Irene had been observing their conversation.
She did not interfere.
The woman chose to remain silent while focusing on feeding her youngest child.
Ryan Wieser.
The boy was not even one year old yet.
Unlike Charlotte and Ian, who inherited their father's black eyes, Ryan had inherited Irene's emerald green eyes.
Physically, he looked very similar to his mother.
His hair was still thin and soft, making it difficult to determine how it would look later, but the color of the strands was already clear.
Pink.
If it continued growing that way, he might become a man who combined beauty and firmness in a single appearance.
But of course, no one could be certain now.
Time would determine what kind of personality he would develop, whether he would lean more toward his father or his mother.
Irene patiently fed Ryan the porridge specially prepared for him.
When the conversation between James and the two children began growing livelier, Irene finally lifted her gaze.
Her gaze alone was enough to change the atmosphere at the dining table.
She then smiled at her husband.
For Irene, the conversation was not particularly serious.
But for Charlotte and Ian, their mother possessed a rather strong maternal aura.
Both of them knew when they could joke with her and when they should behave more calmly.
Because if Irene truly became angry, their father would almost certainly not help them.
"I have an order for you when you go down to the village later. Our food supplies are starting to run low."
She paused briefly.
"I have slipped the list into the pocket of your robe."
James looked at her for a moment before replying shortly.
"Alright."
Irene then looked at the two children.
"What about you two? Since you are not going with your father, if you need anything, say it now."
Ian shook his head.
"Ian does not need anything, Mother."
"What about you, Charlotte?"
"Me?"
Irene raised her eyebrow slightly.
"Is there anyone else here named Charlotte?"
"Ah Mother... you do not have to be that serious."
Charlotte's relaxed tone caused Irene's brow to crease slightly. Her gaze became firmer.
Noticing the change, Charlotte answered quickly.
"Mother, Charlotte does not need much."
She thought for a moment before continuing.
"But Charlotte wants Father to buy dry wheat cakes spread with honey, and sweet candy..."
"No candy."
Irene cut her off immediately with a firm tone.
She looked at her daughter seriously.
"Choose something else."
Charlotte did not argue.
"Yes, Mother."
She then turned toward her father.
"Father, besides the dry wheat cakes with honey, just choose some good food. Oh yes, buy some corn as well."
"Ian and I plan to roast it this afternoon."
Irene nodded slowly.
"Is that all?"
She added in a softer tone.
"You may choose anything, as long as it is not candy or manufactured sweets."
Charlotte seemed to think for quite a while.
Her small fingers supported her chin.
"That is all, Mother. For now I cannot think of anything else."
Irene nodded before turning to her husband.
Actually, she had hoped Charlotte would ask for more things she wanted.
Although she firmly refused candy and manufactured sweets, it was not because she wanted to be stingy.
Too much candy was not good for children.
She did not completely forbid it.
Occasionally they were still allowed to enjoy it.
But Irene wanted to decide when the right time would be.
Usually she herself would take the children down to the village when that time came.
Or she would give them candy that she had already stored in the master bedroom.
The one she restricted the most was Charlotte.
The little girl loved candy and sweet treats.
Mostly because she had been overly spoiled by her father.
James smiled when Irene looked at him.
"Be careful when you go down to the village later."
Irene spoke with a slightly more serious tone.
"There have been some strange rumors about ghosts appearing. The villagers seem quite tense and frightened."
She let out a small sigh.
"I do not know whether it is true or not, but still be careful."
"I understand."
James replied briefly.
Irene fell silent for a moment, then James spoke again.
"What about you?"
He looked at his wife.
"Are you only asking for kitchen supplies?"
James smiled faintly.
"I remember yesterday you said you wanted strawberries."
Irene's eyes immediately brightened.
She nodded quickly.
"I almost forgot."
She smiled softly.
"Good thing you reminded me."
She then added in a calmer tone.
"You do not need to buy too many. Just buy a reasonable amount."
"Alright."