" Lucius! Your brothers predicament isn't something to laugh at–"

" And when did I ever say it was." This time, Lancelot was taken aback when Lucius replied calmly a second after he'd finished, his eyes meeting his without flinching.

" Did you see my smiling dear father or did I insult him? As his older brother, can't I comment on his behavior? Or am I no longer his brother?" Lucius added, stumping everyone at the dinning table.

Lucius didn't mind their gazes but shifted his attention back to Leo.

" Bidding your time at home, is that how you plan to deal with this. Forgive me for saying this but can you even be considered a real man if you do this."

" Rather than seeking strength, you plan on cowering away?"

" There are plenty of ways to acquire strength."

" Of course there are, I mean you can simply higher a tutor or pay for stronger mercenaries to accompany you, but can you truly guarantee that the same thing won't happen again?"

" And what do you mean by that, are you threatening me now, brother?" Leo asked angrily, his face already turning red. Lucius rolled his eyes again, not bothered in the slightest.

" Threaten you? So this is the mind you've been using to conduct business?" Lucius sighed. Throbbing veins slowly emerged on Leo's forehead but he bit his lower lip.

" Someone who constantly relys on external help is bound to eventually fail. Rather than relying on external help, focus on increasing your's."

" You're already at the age where mother and father can consider getting you a bride." Lucius's eyes squinted sharply at this point before he continued.

" Are you trying to tell me you'd rather have our future sister-in-law, hide behind the body of another man, than your own?" his face displayed a visible cold disdain at the end of his sentence.

Without waiting for anyone to say anything else, Lucius quietly stood up from his seat. He thanked his mother and father for the meal before glancing at Leo once more.

" If your reason for cowering away is because you fear I'd use this opportunity to harm you, then you're surely mistaken."

" But if that really is your reason, you're free to recruit as much people as you wish to join you." Lucius said calmly.

" I'll even cover there expenses, who knows, they might turn their life around If they're even fortunate enough to enroll in the academy for a term or two." Leo's body was trembling in silence throughout, his eyes enraged gaze fixed on his brother.

" Su, were leaving." Lucius ordered his maid to come along, already departing from the dinning hall.

" Of course young master Lucius." Su nodded curtly, she offered her departing greetings to Lucius's father and mother, before following after him.

Lily got up moments later, after finishing her meal, like Lucius, she thanked her father and mother before leaving. The moment Lily stepped out the dinning hall, her steps gradually increased step by step till she broke into a speed walk, hurrying in the direction she could only guess Lucius had followed.

*******

Lucius arrived at the library without much effort.he pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

His eyes glanced about for a moment before he approached a particular shelf.

Lucius used his finger to skim through the covers of the books on the shelf.

" This looks intriguing enough, Ecology by Charly Chapman." His hands stopped on a dark green covered book.

Lucius picked the green covered book, his eyes glanced at a few other but he decided not to take them.

' I've been studying for awhile now, I think it's best I focus on my physical combat capabilities as well.' Lucius nodded his head lightly before departing from the bench.

He walked past Su and approached one of the desks. Lucius then took a seat, opening his book.

' .... ' his eyes paused just as he was about to begin reading, slowly rising upwards to glance at Su who was standing in silence, watching him as if preparing to watch him read.

" Is something the matter?" Lucius raised a brow, curious.

" Of course not young master, why would you think that." Su stiffened, her eyes darting downwards.

" Su... I don't mind it when others talk behind my back nor if they insult me to my face but one who lies to me is one I find most offensive of all." Lucius's calm gaze slowly turned stern, bringing about a sense of nervousness to the maid before him.

Lucius had already recalled her reaction yesterday, when he had allowed her to read in the library as she pleased, since she was so happy then, why was she instead staring at him in silence as if she wanted something yet couldn't say it.

" I..." Su wanted nothing more than to keep silent but her young masters quiet stare only served to increase the pressure around her with time.

" I'm sorry for lying to you young–"

" I'd rather not waste my precious reading time." Lucius cut her off before she could finish. " All I want to know is why..."

Why was she behaving like this, was she implying that all his attempts to seek her forgiveness were futile? That he'd only be wasting his time.

Lucius wasn't aware but the thought of that brought about a growing seed of displeasure in his heart, at the same time, the amulet on his chest trembled slightly. The invincible black aura increasing subtly.

' What have I gotten myself into this time, how could I have made such a mistake by forgetting my place.' Su bit her lower lip. In truth, all she had wanted was for him to ask what was on her mind since she felt that his actions early at the dinning hall were a bit harsh since Leo was after all, still his own brother at the end of the day. That was all she wanted, not for him to suddenly treat her like a complete stranger.

' I thought the young master was finally beginning to like me...'

" Young master I..." Su's voice trembled as she spoke but it came to an abrupt end due to the unexpected sound of the library door being pried open.

" I knew you'd be here." Lily pressed a palm to her chest, so as to catch her breath.

Lily glanced at the both of them before approaching Lucius.

" When I asked the servants where you'd gone and they told me you came here, I was a bit taken aback–" Lily spoke but flinched when her brother shot her a displeased look.

" What is it you want... Out with it, I don't have all day."

' Young master....' Su didn't know what to say, her eyes saw the look on his face, the rare expressions she'd seen in the past few days were slowly being eroded away by the looks of his past.

Lily who could never forget such a time, didn't try to beat around the bush anymore.

" What do you truly plan on doing with information..." Lily said what she'd had on her mind for awhile now, she knew that living in constant fear was no way to live, the best she could was confront him now so as to mitigate as much damage as possible and if doable, strike a deal with him that would end this anxiety of hers once and for all.

" I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." Lucius replied, brows slightly raised in puzzlement.

" As you can see, I was in the middle of something before you intruded, if there's nothing more, please leave." He then raised his hand and gestured for her to leave.

' He really doesn't plan on letting me go so easily does he!' Lily clenched her soft palms tightly, her lips trembling.

" What would it take for you to write it off." Lily asked through gritted teeth.

' Write it off? Is this girl joking with me?'

" Do you think I'm joking when I said I have more pressing matters to attend to...." This time around, Lucius was annoyed, his eyes filled with a dark light.

" Fine! I'll leave, but I'm pleading with you brother. Please tell no one about it, I promise I'll do anything you ask." Lily blurted out before scurrying out of the library.

' What a nuisance.' Lucius massaged his temple before sitting back down in his seat.

Ignoring Su who still stood there, he picked up the book he was reading prior, opened it and skipped to the page he'd stopped at, before continuing to devour it's contents.

******

He read like that till it was noon, once it was noon, he had Su set up the lunch he'd promised Emily once more, only this time, the dining was done far more quietly than last time.

Lucius didn't bother to bring up a conversation, instead eating in silence along with Su, only Emily seemed happy as she ate without restraint. After the meal, he had Su escort Emily back.

" Su... A moment please." Before Su could escort Emily back, he had her come over for a short moment.

" I'll need you to help me find out where my brother's allies from his journey are currently staying, once you found out, be sure to inform me as soon as possible."

" Of course... Young master." Su replied with a nod yet her tone lacked it's usually energy.

Lucius found it odd but brushed it off and headed back into the mansion.

(END OF VOLUME 1)

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