The headmaster allowed him to take in the child when he reported that the child may be an illegitimate descendant of their family. He also reasoned it out that being a merchant means being all over the place and a child or two without their knowledge is not impossible. From there, the headmaster took it that the child is a courtesan's child.
"Rigel. You said he doesn't have a name?"
"Yes."
"Then give him a name and decide his age. I prefer if you put it as 14 years old and a little bit older for him to be eligible for our institution."
"Are you saying that you want him to be enrolled?," Rigel replied on the headmaster's suggestion.
"Yes. And I know that you can pull some tricks to make it happen."
Rigel sighed on the frivolous person in front of him.
"Ah and since we're at it. List him as your child. You may look young but you're already 35 by next year."
Rigel slammed his hand on the table after hearing the headmaster's request and an indescribable fury flickered on his eyes.
"Oh Rigel, calm down. It's not unusual to get drunk and sleep with a courtesan once in your life," the headmaster refuted, trying to calm down the angry Rigel.
"It. Is. Unusual. For. Me." Rigel answered, emphasizing every word.
"That's why I said 'drunk'. No adoption, no clearance. I'll report this case." The headmaster pouted and turned his back at him. "You want the child right? Take responsibility until the end, old child."
Being called an old child is what Rigel hates the most and the only one who has the balls to call him an old child is the headmaster Reileigh Stanz who became his personal tutor when he's a child. He straightened his back and stared at him with rage.
"I've known you since the time you're drinking your milk. Accept this man's request and I'll back you up when your family asks." Headmaster insisted.
Rigel left the room without saying a word but the headmaster knows that the old child he adored the most will do what he wishes.
On his way back to the dormitory, he went to the cafeteria and scheduled five meals everyday for the entire month to be delivered to his room in the dormitory. Confused at first, the staff agreed to his request and prepared the bill which amounted to 300 gold.
Rigel gave 500 gold, "Make it a balanced diet. Prepare it without cost-cutting in any ingredients. I'll pay."
"Then why don't you just eat here, professor. You can choose everyday depending on the menu," the staff recommended.
"It's for my son."
And the news regarding the Professor's son traveled far and wide.
When he came back to his quarters, he saw the child sitting on the chesterfield with a broken sword in his hand. He's wearing Rigel's old clothes which are large for him.
The moment the child saw his arrival, it hid its face as if being scolded. But instead of scolding, Rigel placed his hand on the child's head and patted it.
"Good job, you learned to reverse the flow of mana. Next is for you to learn to control it else, everything you touch will die from mana drainage like that sword"
He brought down the pastries he bought on his way and went to his room. He emerged again with a box of magic items in his hands. "These are all unused and depreciating magic items. Others are for decoration but are still imbued with mana. Eat and sleep. Tomorrow, try to touch this item one by one and when you successfully hold one without breaking it, you can come to school with me. Remember, too much mana breaks an item and too much drainage does the same. This is for you to learn to control the level of your mana."
The child did what he's told and started eating the pastries given to him. Rigel joined him and ate his share. "Kayne," he muttered. "From now on you'll be Kayne Fenriz Regulus. My son."
The child who heard the word 'my son' for the first time froze on his seat and droplets of tears trickled down on his cheeks.
"What are you crying for?" Rigel asked, seeing the kid cry for the first time.
"I don't know," the kid, Kayne answered.
Rigel offered him another pastry and he took it with tears on his face.
"I p-promise to be a good boy." Kayne managed to say in between his sobs. "I promise," he repeated before biting on the food given to him.
Rigel couldn't reply to what the child said and just let him eat in peace. He remembered that when he's the same age, his parents are praising him nonstop for being a prodigy in both school and family business.
He hated those praises. He never wanted the attention that is given to him but looking at the child who's crying in front of him, he wanted to praise him. To lift the child's spirit every time it is needed.
More than that, he knows the biased views of people to those who have strength they can't explain. There's only two labels for such people and it is either a hero or a villain. Thankfully, the continent sees him as a hero but for his family, Rigel is the worst villain they can't put a collar on. This leads to him deciding to remain as the guard dog of Regulus family despite the pressures given to him to take the lead.
Now that he has a son, he'll have more reason to avoid all the conflicts of Regulus and stay as the reliable Professor Rigel of Yothopyia Institute.
"Sleep," he said before leaving the child in the living room.
He went to his study room and pulled out the sword that he always hid. He took off his institute's gown and wore a black doublet vest and a hood to cover his silver hair. When he felt that the boy retired in his own room, he left.