Lucian's steps echoed softly in the silent corridor, while Natty walked in front of him with agile steps. The light from the candles set up along the walls gave off a mysterious feel, adding a dramatic feel to the late night. The atmosphere in the mansion felt a little tense, as if every room held a big secret ready to be revealed.
"Here you go, Young Master," Natty said, stopping in front of the large door that led to the dining room.
Lucian just nodded without saying a word. He took a deep breath, trying to ease the tension that was starting to creep up inside him. What did Duke Hale want from him? Was this a trap or an opportunity? All the possibilities were swirling in her mind.
The large door opened with a soft creak, and Lucian stepped inside. Once inside, the luxurious atmosphere of the dining room greeted him. A large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, reflecting the light that radiated around the room. A long table was adorned with a crisp white tablecloth and various delicacies were laid out on it. At the end of the table, Duke Hale sat with Pavel beside him, and beside him was Julian who was drinking wine at the moment.
"Lucian Hale, facing Brother and Father at this time." Lucian bowed slightly, his arms half-crossed over his chest in a show of honor, though his expression remained unreadable. His sharp eyes assessed his surroundings-Duke Hale who sat upright, Julian who occasionally glanced over, and Pavel who looked calm at his father's side.
However, there was no answer from Duke Hale or Julian. The atmosphere at dinner felt more rigid and tense, a far cry from the usual warm atmosphere of a family dinner. There was no laughter, casual conversation, or even smiles. Everything was formal, even coercive.
Lucian sat in the designated place without another word, letting the waiter carefully serve the food on the table one by one. Every movement of the waiter, every plate that was placed, only added to the formal and calculated feel of the room. Lucian remained silent, not saying a word. By now, he knew that his every move, every conversation, had to be carefully chosen.
Duke Hale started the conversation, his voice low but clear, filling the silence that had engulfed the dining room. "I received news that the empire successfully summoned Knights from another world."
"Knights from another world? Isn't that just a fairy tale, Dad?" asked Julian, his voice sounding curious, if a little dismissive of the topic. He stared at his father with half-closed eyes, as if trying to connect the information to something bigger.
"True, to be honest I was also surprised to hear this news" Duke Hale replied briefly, his eyes remaining on the dish in front of him, though his tone of voice gave the impression that this was a serious conversation.
"But father, why has the empire summoned him at this time? Is there any unexpected trouble coming?" Julian asked again, his voice this time filled with tension, as if he felt there was something hidden behind this incident. He tilted his head, trying to assess whether there was a threat to watch out for.
"I don't know, everything is still a mystery," Duke Hale replied with a slight tone of confusion. "However, one thing is certain... The Emperor is holding a welcoming party in the next few days and is also inviting all the nobles to the welcoming party."
Lucian ate quietly, the spoon moving skillfully between the dishes. His sharp eyes continued to observe the atmosphere around him, as if trying to capture every detail of the conversation taking place. Inwardly, he thought, "I see, it seems like we're really getting into the game's story now. What Duke said is the same as what Alpha reported. That main character, is already in this world now."
There was silence for a moment, until Julian's voice broke the silence. "But father, you previously said that all the nobles in the empire are expected to attend, right? That means you'll also invite Lucian too?"
"That guy, why are you suddenly talking about Lucian?" Lucian gave Julian a sharp look while holding a glass of wine in his hand at the moment.
Duke Hale gave his son a level look, then replied without hesitation, "There's no other choice, the boy also bears the name Hale in his name." His voice sounded full of certainty, as if it was an undeniable fact.
Lucian felt the tension between them, though he tried to remain calm. He continued his meal, but a little slower this time, realizing that the role he was playing in this game was tying him in knots.
Meanwhile, Julian still didn't seem satisfied with the explanation. "Father, what if-" Julian paused, as if hesitant to say the next sentence. His sharp eyes looked at Lucian for a moment, then back at Duke Hale.
"There is nothing to worry about," Duke Hale cut in with a firm tone. "If he wishes to attend, then he will. No more, no less."
There was no response from Lucian, he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief then placed his cutlery in the center of a straight plate indicating he was done eating for now.
"I see... I expected it, this is not a typical family dinner," Lucian said in a flat tone, finishing the dish he had just finished eating. With a quiet gesture, he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, then placed his cutlery in the center of his plate carefully, indicating that he was done eating.
The atmosphere grew tense with that statement, as if revealing an unspoken reality-that this dinner was more than just an ordinary dinner. It was more like an arena where every word and movement counted.
"Young master..." Pavel, who had been silently watching the conversation, finally opened his mouth. He watched Lucian with a worried expression.
"Thank you for the meal," Lucian said in a cold tone, rising from his seat with an elegant yet confident gesture. His eyes briefly glanced at Duke Hale, but no other expression appeared. Without waiting for a further response, he began to stride towards the door, intending to leave the tension-filled room.
However, a stern voice from Julian stopped him in his tracks. "Lucian, you're being rude. Dad hasn't even moved from his place...!" his voice sounded sharper, trying to give a warning that couldn't be ignored.
Lucian paused for a moment, then turned his head slowly, his gaze immediately fixed on Julian with a piercing stare that was enough to make anyone feel depressed. However, this time he only smiled faintly, a smile that showed no respect, but more like a challenge.
"Hasn't the purpose been conveyed? I've also finished my meal, so isn't it okay if I leave here?" Lucian said calmly, his voice barely sounding emotional, as if what had just happened was nothing more than routine to him.
However, there was a tension that could be felt in the air-a tension that was only getting thicker. Julian stared angrily at Lucian, his face bright red from being humiliated in front of his father. Julian's hands were clenched tightly under the table, as if he wanted to vent his anger, but he held back. Pavel, who was sitting at Duke Hale's side, looked carefully, his expression more serious, but he remained silent, waiting to see if this tension would peak.
Duke Hale, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke in a deep voice full of authority. "Lucian," he said in a threatening tone, "you must remember your position here." His gaze was sharp, as if to emphasize who held the power in this house.
Lucian turned his body slightly, but a thin, untranslatable smile remained on his face. "My position? I'm just the one who wants to leave this dinner, that's all," he replied casually, as if unafraid of the authority being tested before him.
Duke Hale gave off a powerful aura, as if the entire room was filled with a tense pressure. He swung his right hand with great force, hitting the dining table until it shook violently. The impact shook the entire room, leaving the servants and those around the table speechless, stunned by the power on display.
In an instant, the dinner knife on the table lifted with unexpected force, flying through the air towards Lucian. Mercilessly, the knife whizzed by, narrowly missing his face. Lucian moved quickly to dodge, but the knife still missed, severing the strap of the mask he was wearing and scraping his cheek. A thin red wound began to appear on his cheek, blood flowing slowly.
"You seem to have lost your modesty during my absence, Lucian Hale," Duke Hale's voice sounded deep, full of pressure and palpable anger.
Lucian rubbed his injured cheek, staring at the dripping blood with a look that was not disturbed in the slightest. Slowly, he raised his head, meeting his eyes with Duke Hale's hateful ones. However, his expression remained calm and sharp, unaffected by the violence he had just experienced.
"It seems like you've been fighting for too long, Father. Even now you dare to do that to your own son," Lucian said, his voice sounding firm yet insinuating. His eyes remained sharp, staring at Duke Hale without trepidation.
"This kid!" Duke Hale snorted angrily, his lips clamped tightly together. His face was flushed with anger that was difficult to suppress. He could hardly believe the decisiveness Lucian showed under the circumstances.
Pavel, who was standing by Duke Hale's side, felt the tension rising. He looked at Lucian with concern. "Young master, I beg you, please leave here now," Pavel said in a rather anxious voice. He knew that the longer Lucian stayed in this room, the more likely this situation would explode.
Lucian shrugged his shoulders slightly, with an expression that almost seemed unconcerned. "Oh and also, I'm well aware of my position, don't worry I won't tarnish the family name," he replied in a casual tone. "I'll also come to the party. Wouldn't it be a great rumor if I wasn't there?" he added, with a slight smile painted on her face, though there was no admiration behind his gaze.
Without waiting for a further response, Lucian turned around and started walking out of the room. His footsteps were steady and full of confidence. There was a moment of silence after he stepped out, but before long, Marquis Hale's voice resounded.
"Lucian Hale.....!" shouted Duke Hale, his voice filled with menace and unstoppable rage, but Lucian paid him no mind as he walked away, closing the door quietly and leaving the tension gripping the room.
"Huh," Duke Hale let out a heavy sigh, feeling the tension still hanging over him. He massaged his temples, calming down after the emotional encounter.
"Julian, you can leave now too," Duke Hale continued, his voice softer, despite the obvious fatigue. He then leaned back in his chair, his eyes staring blankly at the table, contemplating, as if looking for answers to the tension that had just occurred.
"Well, Father, if you'll excuse me," Julian replied with a little hesitation, then quickly stood up from his chair and stepped out of the room, not wanting to add further tension.
"My Lord..." Pavel said in a low voice, stopping Duke Hale who was leaning over. His lord seemed deep in thought, but Pavel knew that there was much that had yet to be revealed behind his harsh attitude towards Lucian.
"This is why I don't like coming back to the mansion," Duke Hale let out a long sigh, his gaze blank, but there was clearly pent-up anger.
"The longer that child looks more and more like Celestia, I can't control my temper." Duke's voice was getting heavier, as if there was a growing weight on his shoulders. Celestia, his long-dead wife, had always been a shadow that suppressed his feelings, and now Lucian, began to remind him of the woman who had once been in his life.