"Hm?" Raymond raised his brows in displeasure and looked over at the entrance of the dining hall.
Others also looked over, save for Layla, who was happily munching on the food.
There they saw a slender, silver-haired young man, dressed in neat ocean-blue attire, walking over with his hands folded behind his back. He had handso features, though he looked slightly pale right now.
Except for Isaac, who narrowed his eyes; Raymond, who beca expressionless; the First Lady, Simone, and Third Lady, Shasha, who looked surprised to see him, everyone else furrowed their brows in confusion, clearly not able to recognise him, albeit only for a few monts.
"What are you doing here?" Isaac asked, his narrowed eyes looking behind him, wanting to see if Oriana ca with him, but didn’t see her.
Lukas swept his gaze across everyone present before stopping on Isaac. "What is that supposed to an, Third Brother? Can’t I co for family dinner? Don’t tell you no longer think of as family, huh?"
In response, Isaac glared at him silently.
Lukas ignored him. Walking over to the table, he put his right hand on his left chest and bowed toward Raymond, who had been silently staring at him, and greeted him, "Greetings, Lord Father. I hope you have been well."
Raymond’s calm expression faltered when he saw this and heard his respectful tone. He always believed Lukas hated him because he had all but abandoned him completely.
But here he was, showing such respect.
Unfortunately, in his eyes, Lukas was nothing more than a failure whom he didn’t even want to be associated with, no matter how respectful or well-mannered he was.
So, with an indifferent expression on his face, he said, "Sit and eat without making a noise. Otherwise, have your als prepared by your maid like you have been until now."
Lukas stared at him for a mont, startled. He then lowered his head, not wanting him to notice the hatred, disgust, and murderous intent in his eyes.
Then he took a deep breath, pulled out the last seat on the left side of the table, and sat down without saying anything.
’While I had realized things would be sothing like this, I hadn’t thought it would be this bad—he treats like I’m so stranger, not his son,’ Lukas mused grimly.
Recalling how his gaze held contempt and a hint of... murderous intent, a thought crossed his mind, ’Don’t tell he was the one who tried to kill through those bandits and not soone else?’
When Natalie had warned him not to leave the mansion, he had guessed soone from the family wanted him dead.
As for their reason, well, it wasn’t so difficult to guess—he, being an ordinary person, was a stain on the Viscount’s family na.
From his mories, he already knew it was very common for noble families’ failures to die in unfortunate accidents.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt his conjecture to be correct.
In the family, while the First Lady seed to have so conflicts with Helen, they shouldn’t be reason enough for her to have him killed. The second, third, and fourth ladies never showed any ill intent toward him and always minded their business, so they weren’t likely suspects.
Sixth Lady, Lena Killian, could be behind it, as she was from Hayes’ family’s rival family. But...
He glanced at her and felt she could not be the suspect for three reasons.
First, when she saw him, she showed no hint of malice in her eyes. Second, she was newly married, though it’d been seven years, and should be busy trying to solidify her position among Raymond’s wives, not going after him, a useless son of a neglected wife.
Lastly, the third reason—he didn’t feel she was the suspect.
Then ca his siblings: three half-brothers and four half-sisters.
’First Brother, Max, and Second Brother, Peter, are busy ruling their respective territories, and since I’m a cripple, I can’t inherit Raymond’s position. So, they wouldn’t do sothing so futile as plotting to kill .’
’As for Isaac, well, he is no better than and shouldn’t be able to order the bandits.’
Thinking this, he raised his head slightly and glanced at the Third Lady, Shasha. She was Isaac’s mother.
’He could do it with her help, but given the nature of their strained relationship, she would never help him do sothing risky like assassinating a son of Raymond.’
As he thought this, he couldn’t help but wonder why their relationship was strained.
’Because he has been a disappointnt?’
Shaking his head, he stopped thinking about it and refocused his thoughts.
Clink! Clank!
Suddenly, he heard the sound of cutlery clanking and noticed everyone had started eating. So, he also began.
Just like the al Oriana had prepared earlier, the dishes here were also very nutritious. So, he didn’t hold back. After all, he needed to recover as soon as possible.
’Among the four half-sisters, the second sister, who is married away, and this little girl could never be suspects. First sister Hannah studying is in the Royal Magic Academy, so she is also not the one.’
He sneaked a glance at Amara and shook his head, ’This pitiful girl couldn’t be the one either.’
’So, he is really the one.’ Lukas thought, taking a bite out of the piece of scrumptious at slice.
His lips curled up into a grin, ’It’s better this way. Now, I won’t feel any guilt doing any of the things I’m going to do in the near future.’
Raymond had been observing him after he sat down. Seeing him lost in thought, seemingly downhearted, he smiled coldly.
He knew this lad was trying to get in his good books so he would protect him and allow him to live comfortably, but...
’If it wasn’t for the upcoming family gathering, I might have allowed you to live like you have been.
But I can’t give those bastards any reason to belittle . You can only bla your luck for being useless,’ he thought, without any sympathy or guilt.
’Hm?’ Right then, he noticed him grinning and narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling uneasy.
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