By the next morning, everything had almost cleared up.
Had he been wrong to shout at Heint in that mont of disappointnt?
Surely, there must have been a reason for it.
―Good job, Lucion. You’re so kind!
At Ratta’s sudden praise, Russell and Bethel burst into laughter.
Lucion understood the intention behind it, but it felt odd.
―They say that when you fight, you have to reconcile, and accepting reconciliation is really, really hard. So, I think Lucion is really kind!
Ratta raised her front paw and petted Lucion.
Knock, knock.
[It seems Novio has arrived.]
Russell looked towards the door and gestured to Bethel.
[Let’s make so space.]
[What’s gotten into you?]
[We all have days like this once in a while, don’t we?]
Russell smirked and slipped out of the room first.
Lucion rose from his seat and opened the door.
Novio appeared montarily surprised, but as soon as he caught sight of the flushed and profusely sweating Lucion, he imdiately placed a hand on his forehead.
It felt warm.
“Do you have a fever?”
“Don’t worry. Everyone gets sick sotis. I was surprised when Hu asked for you, Father, but I never thought you’d actually co.” Lucion smiled, content just to see Novio.
As the door slid open, Carson smirked and said, “When the youngest acts spoiled, I have to co, don’t I?”
“S-spoiled?”
“Hu said you wanted to eat a al with and our father. Wasn’t that right?” Carson asked, a little disappointed, and Lucion couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
“Exactly. I would like us to eat together.” Lucion rubbed his palm, feeling a bit ticklish, and clenched his fist.
“It would have been nice if Shaela were here too, even though she’s angry. She can’t leave the Magic Tower for a while after hitting a royal knight. That’s too bad.”
“Father was very pleased.”
When Carson raised the corners of his lips, Novio let out a dry cough.
“I was just about to ntion that the timing isn’t right. Because His Majesty wanted it to appear as if the royal family and the frontier were at odds, Shaela couldn’t return ho either. I should contact His Majesty today and make my voice heard,” Novio chuckled and entered the room.
“Let’s eat together here today.”
With a table set up, it was a proper dining table no matter what they placed on it.
The table was simply set with food, and the three of them along with the animal enjoyed their al together.
Occasionally, it seed like Carson was observing Lucion’s reactions, but at this point, it should be sufficient.
Feeling a slight fullness in his belly, Lucion decided it was ti to address the matter at hand.
“I heard the news that the Magic Tower will be opening soon.”
At Lucion’s sudden comnt, Novio and Carson looked at him with pale faces.
‘What’s going on? They look like they’ve seen a ghost.’
Their expressions seed to hope he wouldn’t say anything further, but Lucion smiled and continued.
“I’ve decided to go to the Magic Tower. Please grant permission.”
“…”
Novio pressed his lips tightly together and let out a suppressed groan.
It was a significant achievent to identify the enemy by sending Lucion outside, but each ti he went out, he got injured, making Novio want to pull his hair out.
“Since you’re still injured, why don’t you consider delaying it a little?”
Carson said cautiously, which was unlike him.
It seed like he was holding back sothing he really wanted to say.
“I can’t. I have to be there the day before the opening.”
“Can you tell us why?” Novio asked, his face slightly tense.
“Because I’ve made a promise to et my sister,” Lucion ntioned with enthusiasm, referring to his strong ally.
“You an… with Shaela?” Carson blurted out in surprise.
How could he possibly say this out loud, especially about Shaela?
“Yep. I promised my sister I’d et her.”
Lucion’s excitent was palpable.
Novio’s expression softened at the ntion of Shaela.
“When did you arrange to et her?”
“She said I could co anyti before the opening. So, I need to start arranging the eting soon.”
“You’ll need a communication device then.”
“That’s right. I saw her using one when I t her in the East.”
“Shaela never really uses them. What makes letters so special to her? Is she that averse to not being able to cast magic in them?” Novio expressed his frustration.
He felt like there should be a wine glass next to him instead of a water cup at that mont.
‘Her letters are indeed beautiful.’
Lucion chuckled lightly.
“Anyway, Lucion, I feel a bit neglected.”
“Pardon?”
Lucion set his fork down at Novio’s complaint.
“I can understand Carson and Shaela behaving like this since they’ve been that way since childhood, but… I didn’t expect you to be like this too.”
Both Carson and Shaela, despite being children he adored, always acted so maturely and sensibly that they lacked that cuteness of childhood.
He wanted to shut their mouths whenever they said things like, “The youngest is the most affectionate and blah, blah, blah.”
The eldest and second were both so lovely, but they kept themselves distant from such childishness.
However, Lucion was different.
Every ti he ran to him with clumsy pronunciation, saying “Dad,” he understood the joy that ca with it and what it was like for Ketlan to open his mouth and boast.
That’s how it lted the seemingly stone-hearted Carson and Shaela.
“I’ve been so happy spending ti with Father that I almost forgot about it.”
Lucion opened up his heart.
It was true that he had forgotten about going to the Magic Tower because he had been lounging around at ho.
Except for the day he went to Keortia and the Myronist Kingdom, he had been visiting Novio’s office, chatting, and even taking naps.
At one point, Anthony even ca to his room and asked, “Aren’t you going to the Lord’s office today?
“Ahem.”
Novio’s lips, which had curled up as if he had forgotten his annoyance, wouldn’t go down.
Seated across from Carson, Lucion could see how hard Carson was trying to hold back his laughter.
“So, may I visit my sister, Father?”
“Lucion.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Every ti you go sowhere, you co back hurt, and it makes very worried.”
Novio moistened his lips with water.
“I’ll be careful.”
Lucion knew well that he would have to say that, but when it ca down to it, he found himself at a loss for words.
He was almost relieved that Russell wasn’t there.
“I’ll think about the matter of the Magic Tower a little more. Speaking of which, there’s sothing unfortunate I need to tell you.”
“Unfortunate? What do you an?”
Lucion realized Novio was about to bring up Owen’s situation, but he pretended not to know.
Novio hesitated, and unable to wait any longer, Carson brought up the story of Owen.
“Prince Owen Tesla tried to poison you.”
Even though Lucion was already aware of it and had cut off the red thread connecting him to Owen, hearing it from soone else’s mouth made him realize the gravity of his existence in a new light.
Lucion thought that even if he hadn’t known, he would have remained calm just like now.
How many tis had his life been threatened?
‘I’ve never been poisoned… or have I?’
“The Fourth Prince had the Neubra Kingdom backing him. That’s why they attempted to poison you. You almost…”
Carson choked up mid-sentence, unable to continue.
It was even harder for Lucion to see the expressions of Novio and Carson turning sorrowful and remorseful.
“As you can see, I’m fine. So what happened next?”
“The Emperor… He asked for your opinion. He said he would actively consider your opinion,” Novio spoke up.
‘Being an emperor must be the worst job ever.’
Despite the attempted poisoning incident being unsuccessful, Lucion couldn’t help but notice Novio’s trembling hands throughout their conversation.
If Novio was feeling this way, how must Ketlan feel, having to consider the possibility of killing his own child?
But the unfortunate one was Ketlan, not Owen.
“The Neubra Kingdom will deny that it was their fault.”
“Indeed. Those bastards would do nothing less,” Carson replied, his clenched fist landing on the table before he looked at Lucion and lowered it slightly.
“Use the Fourth Prince then,” Lucion spoke up again, considering that if soone was to be exposed as having colluded with Neubra in the Empire, it would have a different weight if that person was a prince rather than rely a noble.
Of course, so might criticize the Emperor, calling him mad or cruel, but the majority would understand.
They would feel just how remarkable it is for an Emperor to prioritize the Empire above all else.
The greatness of the Empire was key to seizing victory.
“Through the Fourth Prince, the truth must be revealed, and the Fourth Prince must die for the honor of the Empire, the honor of its people, and for the sake of restoring justice,” Lucion expressed.
Lucion wished deep down that Owen would rot away in prison for the rest of his life, but his life needed to be used for sothing of greater value.
Justice.
It might sound like a lofty ideal, but everyone needed that word.
Novio montarily lost his words, gazing at Lucion.
How had he grown up so much?
It was both admirable and sowhat disappointing for him, and he couldn’t help but feel that way.
“I will convey your thoughts well, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you. Please be sure to express my gratitude to His Majesty.”
“I will definitely pass it along,” Novio smiled gently.
* * *
“Here’s the water,” Carson handed water to Lucion, who had just opened his eyes.
After having breakfast, Lucion had fallen into a deep sleep, feverish and weak.
The doctor suggested it was due to exhaustion and his injuries, but cautiously ntioned that it could also be a result of ntal shock.
Although the poisoning attempt had failed, and Carson had discussed it with his father and was ntally prepared, his heart ached to see Lucion’s imdiate symptoms.
“Is that you, Brother?” Lucion’s voice cracked slightly as he spoke.
“Yeah. Hu just went to the kitchen. He said he would force you to eat soup, whether you like it or not.”
[See? Hu was right, wasn’t he? It’s strange if you’re not feeling unwell after absorbing two black orbs.]
[Are you alright, Lord Lucion? If you had moved today, I would have been the one to nag you, not Hu.]
As Carson continued speaking, Lucion could hear Russell and Bethel’s concerns packed with fussiness, which made him chuckle.
Sotis, when he opened his eyes and found no one in the room, his heart would sink.
But now, even if Russell and Bethel weren’t there, the soft breathing of Ratta sleeping next to him reassured him, making this mont feel very comforting.
Lucion turned his head.
“If it’s Ratta, she would have happily chased after Hu at the ntion of the kitchen. I don’t understand what’s so great about eating.”
[By the way, Ratta told to tell you not to cry if she’s not there.]
Bethel giggled as she conveyed Ratta’s ssage.
‘That’s so like Ratta.’
Lucion tried to smile in response but briefly closed his eyes and then opened them, conscious of Carson’s presence.
“Lucion.”
Carson’s book looked slightly crumpled in his hands.
For so reason, he appeared anxious and tense.
“I’m sorry, Lucion.”
“What are you apologizing for?” Lucion propped himself up to drink so water but paused to look at him.
If it was about the past, he had already assured that it was fine; had he been the only one to think it was resolved neatly?
“Just… I wanted to say that.”
However, Carson’s reaction was not what it seed.
Carson was troubled by sothing else, sothing other than the kidnapping incident.
What could it be?
Lucion was curious but decided not to pry further.
The ti that had passed, perhaps without his knowledge, might have left Carson with a sense of guilt.
Taking a deep breath, Lucion lightened the mood with a jest.
“Did you happen to eat my macarons?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t like sweet things,” Carson replied, chuckling lightly.
“I don’t understand why you’re apologizing to , but what if I refuse to accept it?”
“…”
Carson hesitated.
A bitter look spread across his face.
“Then I might be very troubled. But there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“I’m pretty simple, brother. Just do everything for , buy whatever I want, let do whatever I want, and, oh, let talk informally to you for just one minute. No, three minutes.”
“Are macarons included as a bonus, then?”
“Of course, that’s a given.”
“If you wish to speak informally, feel free to do so anyti.”
“Ah, you might be shocked if I actually do it, though?”
“…Well, that might be true.”
Whether he had a mont of thought or not, Carson already seed shocked.
“If you have done anything wrong to , you can follow what I’ve just ntioned.”
Lucion organized his thoughts clearly and bead brightly, showing his teeth.
“Thank you, Lucion,” Carson returned the smile.
“No, I am the one who should be more grateful.”
Now, Lucion was certain of how much Carson cared for him.
The novel ‘The Grasp of Darkness,’ no matter how many tis he had read it, was a world that had already occurred in reality.
Carson had abandoned his na, abandoned his existence, and lived as Hal, wearing a mask like his own.
To kill him as Lucion, not as the Hand of the Void’s middle boss, just because he was his brother.
How much pain must he have been in?
Even though he had only seen it as a novel, he felt so sad.
“Go back to sleep. You must be feeling dizzy.”
Thinking that he might get emotional if he looked at Carson again, Lucion turned his head away, but Carson’s voice sounded especially warm today.
[Indeed. Rest now. It’s essential to avoid dwelling on other thoughts.]
With Russell urging him as well, Lucion pretended to give in, took a sip of water, and lay back down again.
He closed his eyes, feeling a deep, comforting warmth fill his chest.
Carson should never again have to stain his hands with Lucion’s blood.
Never.
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