My mother takes charge of the household arrangements, while my father refrains from interfering to avoid conflicts between them. Although my father is quite skilled, my mother often chases him for several blocks, earning him the reputation of being strictly managed by her. Kiera shared this with Julian, recounting how she has observed her parents’ dynamic, with her father pampering her mother for decades. Her mother never worried about domestic violence, nor did her father harbor such thoughts. Before entering a relationship herself, Kiera contemplated potential disputes between couples, weighing who might prevail in such scenarios. Though she practiced martial arts since childhood, she is not unreasonable; as long as the other party does not strike first, she refrains from resorting to violence.

“Dad, Mom, we have guests at our house!” Kiera called out as she entered. Mrs. Caron was busy cooking in the kitchen, while Mr. Caron, hearing his daughter’s voice, stepped out to see what was happening. “Who’s here?” he asked, intrigued. Upon seeing a handsome stranger beside Kiera, Mr. Caron noticed the dignified yet domineering aura surrounding him, indicating that he was not an ordinary individual. Mr. Caron felt a bit dazed, unfamiliar with Julian.

“Dad,” Kiera said as she hurried to her father. She introduced Julian, explaining, “This is Mr. Bucham, who came from Wiltspoon. I helped him resolve a small issue there, and he heard about our family’s martial arts gym and your impressive skills, so he wanted to learn martial arts from you.”

Mr. Caron replied, “…to learn martial arts?”

The students at the martial arts gym were all children. They began practicing at a young age, and while some continued their training into adulthood, no beginners in their thirties had been accepted yet. Julian was well-groomed; to Kiera, he appeared to be in his twenties, but Mr. Caron, with his keen eye, could tell Julian was in his early thirties. “Dad, let’s talk at home.” Kiera noticed her father’s expression and realized he was unlikely to accept Julian. Not only was her father surprised, but Kiera was also taken aback when Julian made that statement.