Cold deep blue eyes and blazing purple eyes clashed together.
“Brother, I heard about what happened in the mansion today. I heard that you let Liti watch her uncle die in front of her?”
Mathias shouted loudly when he saw Gerard’s eyes narrowing at him.
“In addition, you even gave the Verchester’s power to an 11 year old and asked her to swing her uncle around? Brother, you shouldn’t taint my younger sister as a violent and cruel man like you.”
“I don’t understand. What’s the problem with that? You’re the only one who can’t use the Verchester’s power here, Mathias.”
Gerard replied coldly.
“Haha! Brother is really the worst! You have always been like that since a long time ago. If you’re a Verchester then you have to do it like this or you have to do it like that. So amazing!”
After leaving those words, Mathias rushed out of the place. He looked like he couldn’t bear to stay in that place any longer.
Joel, who arrived a beat later, glanced at Mathias’ leaving form before speaking.
“It would have been nice if you waited a bit more for Lestia to get used to this place and learn how to use that power. It would have already been enough if you had ordered the knights to deal with her uncle.”
But Gerard did not care about his words at all.
“She would be living as a Verchester anyway. She needs to get used to dealing with those at the bottom quickly. I’m sure you know that well.”
Then, he turned around with the same expressionless face as he headed towards the drawing room. Joel sighed briefly before following him.
Lysian, who watched the situation unfold by the side, shrugged his shoulders before walking after the two.
They began to discuss Lestia as soon as they entered the drawing room. From the unidentified men that kidnapped her down to the black box that her uncle brought today. They analyzed all of the events and made conclusions of their own.
“The magic that can extinguish a person’s life to keep their mouth shut is a magic that is studied by the Imperial Family. I saw it in a record left in the Imperial Academy.”
Joel spoke about the information that he had gathered.
“Mathias also scoured the entire back alleys and made the thugs confess. According to the information that he had gathered, the pet birds that were in the carriage were ordered by the Crown Prince.”
All of the information that they had gathered was pointing at the Crown Prince as the main suspect. Gerard gently closed his eyes before opening them again and speaking.
“There is only one reason. But we don’t have any specific evidence.”
It was true. Without any specific evidence, they could not raise an issue against the Imperial Family.
Lysian pressed hard against his temples before informing Gerard about the things that he had been contemplating on for a very long time.
“Gerard, You have already received Joel’s report so let me say something. Lestia is the ‘One who Interprets’. This is a very valuable ability and the Imperial Family covets it highly. What are you going to do?”
However, Gerard answered simply as if it were an insignificant matter.
“I know. As soon as morning comes, I will send Lestia to our fief. Then, we will investigate the Imperial Family right after.”
“……”
It wasn’t the response that he had expected. He thought that they would discuss a plan to give Lestia more security and safety. However, even if he did not like it, it did not mean that Lysian could reverse what Gerard had decided on. This was because Gerard was the master of Verchester.
Joel was also not speaking. It was as if he agreed with Gerard’s decision.
“I see. I understand.”
Lysian stood quietly from his seat. Then, he headed towards the room where Lestia was staying. And just as he expected, Mathias was staying first in front of the door. He had run outside as if he was running away from home but he eventually came to this place.
“Weren’t you here to see her? Why aren’t you coming in?”
Lysian asked Mathias.
“Just… I’m ashamed to see her.”
Mathias’ head drooped sadly. His always messed up hair also made him look even more sad and pathetic.
“Don’t be dumb. You didn’t do anything wrong so why don’t you have the face to see Lestia?”
“I might have talked back to brother but… I know that we should do as he says here in Verchester. Ah. I think I’m doing everything wrong… dxmn, I don’t know anymore. I think I’m a bad big brother who only brings bad influences.”
Lysian sighed briefly.
“…Mathias. You and me both shouldn’t feel bad about your dumb look. Thanks to you, I can think about things from a new perspective every time.”
In fact, Lysian did not find anything wrong when Gerard tested Lestia earlier. Because that was how one could grow up. Seeing, learning and practicing cruelty should become as natural as breathing to those in power. Even Joel, who was sweet and sociable, was used to such cruelty.
But Mathias was reluctant to participate in such a test ever since childhood. These actions did not sit right with him and his pleasant, free and honest nature. So, he refused and rebelled to the point that he became crooked.
However, in Lysian’s point of view, Mathias was the older brother that Lestia needed more than Gerard or Joel. Gerard was too much of a Verchester and Joel was too engrossed in acting his role as a brother.
Lysian was lost in thought for a moment. Then, he passed by Mathias and knocked on Lestia’s door.
Knock, knock.
“Who’s… there?”
Lestia’s voice that rang behind the door was filled with tears.
“It’s me.”
“Lysian…-nim?”
“Can I come in?”
“Yes? N… No. That… why?”
The watery voice and rustling sound bothered him. Lysian sighed briefly before bringing up what she had brought up earlier.
“It’s nothing. We were supposed to have dinner together, right? Are you hungry?”
Lestia went quiet for a long time. It seemed like she had barely calmed down her breathing.
“That… Sorry. I don’t have the appetite…”
Lysian immediately pulled Mathias’ collar, opened the door and threw him inside. He gave him a look that screamed ‘Do something about this.’. Lysian had no intention of letting Lestia fall asleep crying with only bad memories. Right now, Lestia needed Mathias’ cheerfulness and honesty.
“Huuuuuuh….?! Lysian! What the! You punk!”
Mathias couldn’t help but look at Lestia in embarrassment when he suddenly entered Lestia’s room.
“Brother Mathias?”
Lestia was sitting on the bed hugging the large rabbit doll that Joel had given her. The pinkness surrounding her eyes made it easy for him to guess what she was doing just earlier. Mathias did not know what to do so all he could do was smile as wide as he could.
“Liti, hi?”
“Yes…”
However, Lestia was only able to squeeze out a small voice to answer him.
“This, wait…”
Mathias scratched the back of his head a couple of times before making up his mind. He strode forward and sat down next to Lestia on her bed. Then, he stretched his arms wide and hugged her tightly. Lestia, who was tiny, was engulfed in Mathias’ arms with her rabbit doll.
“Liti, Liti. It was hard today, right? I heard about everything.”
Mathias stroked Lestia’s long hair carefully and comforted her. Lestia shook her head slightly.
“N, No. Because of me, the mansion burned down…”
“What are you talking about, Liti?! It’s not your fault.”
“My uncle…”
A tear formed and dropped from Lestia’s eyes when she thought about her uncle. She couldn’t believe the earth-shattering events that happened today.
She hated her uncle. She believed that he should be punished. However, she did not know that he would disappear without a trace.
Isn’t there a way where he could be punished, repent on his mistakes and let him live happily?
―What happened to my uncle?
Lestia plucked her courage and asked Gerard but Gerard only gave her a vague answer.
―You don’t have to care about him. Even if he was alive, you would no longer have to meet with him after today.
Then, he turned his back as if he did not want to talk about it anymore.
―Th, then you’re saying that…
Lysian explained on behalf of Gerard.
It seemed like her uncle came to Lestia under some kind of spell. However, Lysian had also told Lestia that he did not know the reason why her uncle came to her under such a scary spell.
From the kidnapping incident last time to the fire in today’s mansion, everything that happened was questionable. She was feeling scared and complicated. So, she couldn’t feel happy even if Gerard had recognized her as a Verchester even though she desperately wanted to be recognized as a Verchester.
‘And my brothers continue to face these difficulties because of me. What do I do? I…”
All Lestia could do was curl up in bed and calm herself down. Fortunately, Dora had brought over her rabbit doll from the study so she did not feel lonely.
Lestia hugged her rabbit doll tightly.
“Liti, Liti. Don’t cry.”
Mathias let go of Lestia to wipe the tears from her cheeks however, he saw the wound that was still on Lestia’s cheek. The one that she got from the kidnapping incident. Mathias hugged Lestia again before apologizing.
“I’m sorry, Liti. I made a decision that I will treat my younger sister the best when I first met you. But I’m not doing that well.”
Lestia shook her head in surprise when she heard Mathias’ words.
“What? That’s not true. Brother Mathias is a really fun and kind brother. Even now, you came to find me…”
“No, no. I only came here by accident. I don’t even know what to do. How can I comfort Liti when she’s sad?”
Mathias hugged Lestia more tightly as he continued to speak.
“I’m sorry, Liti. I’m a really reckless and lacking person. I’ve never thought of myself like that before but I think I’m really like that these days.”
Mathias’ voice shook as he tried to comfort her.
Lestia felt bothered by that voice. She felt like she had found some sadness and deep shadow in the bright and cheerful Mathias. So, she stretched out her hands and patted Mathias on the back.
“That’s not true, brother Mathias.”
Mathias’ eyes widened when Lestia’s little hand patted him in comfort.
“This is the first time that someone has come to comfort me like this. I’m happy to be comforted when I’m feeling sad.”
Lestia said this to him as she looked up at him and smiled.
“Liti…”
Cold deep blue eyes and blazing purple eyes clashed together.
“Brother, I heard about what happened in the mansion today. I heard that you let Liti watch her uncle die in front of her?”
Mathias shouted loudly when he saw Gerard’s eyes narrowing at him.
“In addition, you even gave the Verchester’s power to an 11 year old and asked her to swing her uncle around? Brother, you shouldn’t taint my younger sister as a violent and cruel man like you.”
“I don’t understand. What’s the problem with that? You’re the only one who can’t use the Verchester’s power here, Mathias.”
Gerard replied coldly.
“Haha! Brother is really the worst! You have always been like that since a long time ago. If you’re a Verchester then you have to do it like this or you have to do it like that. So amazing!”
After leaving those words, Mathias rushed out of the place. He looked like he couldn’t bear to stay in that place any longer.
Joel, who arrived a beat later, glanced at Mathias’ leaving form before speaking.
“It would have been nice if you waited a bit more for Lestia to get used to this place and learn how to use that power. It would have already been enough if you had ordered the knights to deal with her uncle.”
But Gerard did not care about his words at all.
“She would be living as a Verchester anyway. She needs to get used to dealing with those at the bottom quickly. I’m sure you know that well.”
Then, he turned around with the same expressionless face as he headed towards the drawing room. Joel sighed briefly before following him.
Lysian, who watched the situation unfold by the side, shrugged his shoulders before walking after the two.
They began to discuss Lestia as soon as they entered the drawing room. From the unidentified men that kidnapped her down to the black box that her uncle brought today. They analyzed all of the events and made conclusions of their own.
“The magic that can extinguish a person’s life to keep their mouth shut is a magic that is studied by the Imperial Family. I saw it in a record left in the Imperial Academy.”
Joel spoke about the information that he had gathered.
“Mathias also scoured the entire back alleys and made the thugs confess. According to the information that he had gathered, the pet birds that were in the carriage were ordered by the Crown Prince.”
All of the information that they had gathered was pointing at the Crown Prince as the main suspect. Gerard gently closed his eyes before opening them again and speaking.
“There is only one reason. But we don’t have any specific evidence.”
It was true. Without any specific evidence, they could not raise an issue against the Imperial Family.
Lysian pressed hard against his temples before informing Gerard about the things that he had been contemplating on for a very long time.
“Gerard, You have already received Joel’s report so let me say something. Lestia is the ‘One who Interprets’. This is a very valuable ability and the Imperial Family covets it highly. What are you going to do?”
However, Gerard answered simply as if it were an insignificant matter.
“I know. As soon as morning comes, I will send Lestia to our fief. Then, we will investigate the Imperial Family right after.”
“……”
It wasn’t the response that he had expected. He thought that they would discuss a plan to give Lestia more security and safety. However, even if he did not like it, it did not mean that Lysian could reverse what Gerard had decided on. This was because Gerard was the master of Verchester.
Joel was also not speaking. It was as if he agreed with Gerard’s decision.
“I see. I understand.”
Lysian stood quietly from his seat. Then, he headed towards the room where Lestia was staying. And just as he expected, Mathias was staying first in front of the door. He had run outside as if he was running away from home but he eventually came to this place.
“Weren’t you here to see her? Why aren’t you coming in?”
Lysian asked Mathias.
“Just… I’m ashamed to see her.”
Mathias’ head drooped sadly. His always messed up hair also made him look even more sad and pathetic.
“Don’t be dumb. You didn’t do anything wrong so why don’t you have the face to see Lestia?”
“I might have talked back to brother but… I know that we should do as he says here in Verchester. Ah. I think I’m doing everything wrong… dxmn, I don’t know anymore. I think I’m a bad big brother who only brings bad influences.”
Lysian sighed briefly.
“…Mathias. You and me both shouldn’t feel bad about your dumb look. Thanks to you, I can think about things from a new perspective every time.”
In fact, Lysian did not find anything wrong when Gerard tested Lestia earlier. Because that was how one could grow up. Seeing, learning and practicing cruelty should become as natural as breathing to those in power. Even Joel, who was sweet and sociable, was used to such cruelty.
But Mathias was reluctant to participate in such a test ever since childhood. These actions did not sit right with him and his pleasant, free and honest nature. So, he refused and rebelled to the point that he became crooked.
However, in Lysian’s point of view, Mathias was the older brother that Lestia needed more than Gerard or Joel. Gerard was too much of a Verchester and Joel was too engrossed in acting his role as a brother.
Lysian was lost in thought for a moment. Then, he passed by Mathias and knocked on Lestia’s door.
Knock, knock.
“Who’s… there?”
Lestia’s voice that rang behind the door was filled with tears.
“It’s me.”
“Lysian…-nim?”
“Can I come in?”
“Yes? N… No. That… why?”
The watery voice and rustling sound bothered him. Lysian sighed briefly before bringing up what she had brought up earlier.
“It’s nothing. We were supposed to have dinner together, right? Are you hungry?”
Lestia went quiet for a long time. It seemed like she had barely calmed down her breathing.
“That… Sorry. I don’t have the appetite…”
Lysian immediately pulled Mathias’ collar, opened the door and threw him inside. He gave him a look that screamed ‘Do something about this.’. Lysian had no intention of letting Lestia fall asleep crying with only bad memories. Right now, Lestia needed Mathias’ cheerfulness and honesty.
“Huuuuuuh….?! Lysian! What the! You punk!”
Mathias couldn’t help but look at Lestia in embarrassment when he suddenly entered Lestia’s room.
“Brother Mathias?”
Lestia was sitting on the bed hugging the large rabbit doll that Joel had given her. The pinkness surrounding her eyes made it easy for him to guess what she was doing just earlier. Mathias did not know what to do so all he could do was smile as wide as he could.
“Liti, hi?”
“Yes…”
However, Lestia was only able to squeeze out a small voice to answer him.
“This, wait…”
Mathias scratched the back of his head a couple of times before making up his mind. He strode forward and sat down next to Lestia on her bed. Then, he stretched his arms wide and hugged her tightly. Lestia, who was tiny, was engulfed in Mathias’ arms with her rabbit doll.
“Liti, Liti. It was hard today, right? I heard about everything.”
Mathias stroked Lestia’s long hair carefully and comforted her. Lestia shook her head slightly.
“N, No. Because of me, the mansion burned down…”
“What are you talking about, Liti?! It’s not your fault.”
“My uncle…”
A tear formed and dropped from Lestia’s eyes when she thought about her uncle. She couldn’t believe the earth-shattering events that happened today.
She hated her uncle. She believed that he should be punished. However, she did not know that he would disappear without a trace.
Isn’t there a way where he could be punished, repent on his mistakes and let him live happily?
―What happened to my uncle?
Lestia plucked her courage and asked Gerard but Gerard only gave her a vague answer.
―You don’t have to care about him. Even if he was alive, you would no longer have to meet with him after today.
Then, he turned his back as if he did not want to talk about it anymore.
―Th, then you’re saying that…
Lysian explained on behalf of Gerard.
It seemed like her uncle came to Lestia under some kind of spell. However, Lysian had also told Lestia that he did not know the reason why her uncle came to her under such a scary spell.
From the kidnapping incident last time to the fire in today’s mansion, everything that happened was questionable. She was feeling scared and complicated. So, she couldn’t feel happy even if Gerard had recognized her as a Verchester even though she desperately wanted to be recognized as a Verchester.
‘And my brothers continue to face these difficulties because of me. What do I do? I…”
All Lestia could do was curl up in bed and calm herself down. Fortunately, Dora had brought over her rabbit doll from the study so she did not feel lonely.
Lestia hugged her rabbit doll tightly.
“Liti, Liti. Don’t cry.”
Mathias let go of Lestia to wipe the tears from her cheeks however, he saw the wound that was still on Lestia’s cheek. The one that she got from the kidnapping incident. Mathias hugged Lestia again before apologizing.
“I’m sorry, Liti. I made a decision that I will treat my younger sister the best when I first met you. But I’m not doing that well.”
Lestia shook her head in surprise when she heard Mathias’ words.
“What? That’s not true. Brother Mathias is a really fun and kind brother. Even now, you came to find me…”
“No, no. I only came here by accident. I don’t even know what to do. How can I comfort Liti when she’s sad?”
Mathias hugged Lestia more tightly as he continued to speak.
“I’m sorry, Liti. I’m a really reckless and lacking person. I’ve never thought of myself like that before but I think I’m really like that these days.”
Mathias’ voice shook as he tried to comfort her.
Lestia felt bothered by that voice. She felt like she had found some sadness and deep shadow in the bright and cheerful Mathias. So, she stretched out her hands and patted Mathias on the back.
“That’s not true, brother Mathias.”
Mathias’ eyes widened when Lestia’s little hand patted him in comfort.
“This is the first time that someone has come to comfort me like this. I’m happy to be comforted when I’m feeling sad.”
Lestia said this to him as she looked up at him and smiled.
“Liti…”
