" Oh it's nothing." He said calmly, placing down his utensils before his head turned to glance at Leo.

" So how was your trip, the fact that you haven't said anything all this while is quite unnatural."

Leo's facial features twitched ever so slightly. " It was, alright."

" Alright? That's what you'd call almost dying. Well aren't you one with a sense of humor."

' He really does know ' Lily's lips pressed into a thin line.

' How'd he know.' Leo's eyes widened momentarily, he quietly glanced at Ignatius who stood behind his father, the latter quietly shook his head in denial.

Seeing this, Leo's glanced at Lucius, a hint of apprehension in his eye's.

' Did he managed to learn of my failure from one of the servants?' he wondered only to conclude that the idea was surely impossible, after all, he'd just arrived this morning, at the break of dawn, how could he possibly have managed to get such info before arriving at the dinning hall.

Did his brother keep tabs on him, he wondered.

Lucius took another bite of his salad before placing down his fork, then speaking once more.

" I'm a bit offended you'd be alarmed by this."

" Do you really take me for a murderer, dear brother."

" The table isn't the place to hurl around such accusations Lucius." Lancelot muttered in an unhappy tone, here he was eating and this same boy was trying to cause a disturbance.

" Dear, I believe that our son is only curious towards how his brother has been faring, there shouldn't be anything wrong with that, should there." Lady Hana added.

' Of course you'd side with him.' Leo said to himself sarcastically. Such things did surprise him anymore, he'd long since accepted the fact that his step mother and siblings didn't see him the same way he once saw them.

" If you really must know, I don't see any reason to hide it from you, after all, what's reliving a few terrible memories–" Leo's lips arched into a light smile that didn't quit reach his eyes.

" If it's that unbearable for you then please forgive me for asking. I had no intention of ever forcing you to go through such."

" I'm afraid it's already too late for that brother." Leo said, he then went ahead to tell them all he'd been through, including the horrendous things that had happened, of course he kept the descriptions to a down low so as not to cause everyone of them to lose their appetite.

" When I first met that young man yesterday, I must say, I was impressed that someone from such a background could be capable of such heroic actions." Lancelot interjected, laughing in a jolly manner.

" I as well father, truly, without his help, I would've ended up dead." Leo chuckled.

' So my plans were foiled by some useless peasant?!' Lily on the other hand, had her stomach churn after hearing the news.

' W-Wait, I find it hard to believe that one backwater commoner could've bested so many monsters.' Lily gritted her teeth.

" Lily, could you please pass the salt." Lucius asked all of a sudden, startling her a bit.

" Of course, here you are." Lily gave him what he asked for.

Lucius raised his brow in confusion but collected the salt non the less, and applied it on his salad.

' Don't tell me big brother was the one behind it. But how could he have known?' The more Lily thought, the more worried she became. If her brother really was the one behind her half brothers narrow survival, then didn't it mean that there was a chance that this so called commoner might be working for him as well.

But if that where the case, then what could possibly be his end goal, what was he planning in the dark that he needed to blackmail her to get.

Lily placed her trembling hands on her lap, a thin sheet of perspiration on her forehead.

Lucius, the man in question, was once again, unaware of his dear sisters thoughts. He took the last bite of his salad before grabbing his napkin to wipe his face.

He was about to excuse himself when someone suddenly spoke up.

" And what are you planning to do now." Lavender asked.

" Pardon?" Leo frowned, not understanding what he meant by this.

" I think I speak for everyone here when I say it might be too dangerous to allow you to go on a business trip anytime soon, perhaps it's best we find something else more fitting for you in the meantime."

" I think that's a bit unconventional, don't you think. I was able to return alive, was I not."

" Yet you still lost so many servants and workers. From the way you're acting, I find it hard to believe that you even seem to care about that part."

" ...!!!!" Leo's eyes constricted sharply, his calm disposition was completely replaced by an unpleasant look.

' So he's actually going for it huh. Striking while the iron is hot isn't a bad thing to do but in this case, the fact that they're both brothers makes it even more detestable.' Lucius let out a helpless sigh inwardly.

" For one who hasn't left his room in years not to mention stepping out the mansion, are you really in the right to question my actions."

" All you practically do is waste your time away drawing who knows what, I on the other hand have at least made several attempts to contribute to the family. Does a freeloader actually have the right to talk down on me?"

" Why you!" Lavenders face turned a bright shade of red, never did he expect the quite little fawn to talk back at him in such a manner.

" Leo...watch your tongue! How dare you speak to my brother that way!" Lily also shot back, her eyes glaring at Leo who sat next to his father.

" The three of you should keep quiet!" Lucius's mother scolded. Her brows furrowed, she glanced at Lily and Lavender before glaring at Leo.

" Don't you think that your words are far too harsh for one talking on your behalf?"

" He was only trying to help you yet you decided to insult him, not only did you insult your brother but you did so here, and right Infront of your father and I! Has your upbringing been in vain?!"

Leo gritted his teeth in silence under Lady Hana's consecutive criticism. His shoulders trembling in irritation, it wasn't that he feared to speak back at her but the fact still remained, like she said, his father was present here yet he still openly insulted his own kin, that action was no different from disrespecting his own father.

" Mother, I think he's gotten your point." Lucius sighed, looking every bit bored by this current situation.

Lancelot frowned at his demeanor but the lad completely disregarded it. Instead, he glanced at his younger brother, lavender, who was smiling at Leo being chided.

" And what is it you were planning on suggesting he do instead of continuing to be a part in the family business." Lucius revealed a stoic expression.

" T-That" Lavenders eyes darted around under his brothers anticipating gaze.

" What? Don't tell me you suggested such a thing without an idea in mind?"

" Of course not, why would I do such a thing!" Lavender retorted in a panic.

" Lower your voice..." Lucius shot him a stern glance that punched the wind out of his sails. " Do you want to be scolded by mother as well?"

" No..." At this point, Lavender's head tilted downwards, his eyes staring nervously at his own hands and thighs.

" Good, now tell me, why did you suggest such a thing." Lucius asked once more, he leaned back in his chair, elbow on his armrest, using his fist to support his left jaw.

" Brother–" This time, Lily was the one who spoke.

" What is it?" Lucius shifted his stern gaze to her as well. Facing such a thing made Lily stiffen involuntary but realizing why she'd spoken up, she decided to continue.

" Brother and I had already discussed this on our way here."

' Then why can't he say it himself? Don't tell me he's starting to go deaf?' Lucius shot a momentarily glance at Lavender before glancing back at Lily.

" And what is this thing which you've both discussed?" He questioned. Eye's widening indiscernibly.

" We were thinking that perhaps it would be too dangerous for brother to continue like this, after all, we aren't truly sure whether this incident was caused by someone targeting him specifically."

" Wait a moment, you said the both of you discussed this on your way here, correct?" Lucius said, pausing for a brief moment. " If so, then how could you have known about what happened to him. Didn't he just tell us right now."

" Lucius!" Lady Hana exclaimed, her facial features faltering.

' What's he doing?!' Lavender, Lady Hana, Leo and Lily thought simultaneously.

Leo was completely left in the dark, wondering what Lucius was up to, after all, all his actions up to now where pointing towards him going against his own direct siblings. But what could've possibly made him to do such a thing, he wondered.

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