"S-sir… Duke Astravore is here. He's demanding your presence. Immediately."
A heavy silence spread through the room but Reynold didn't even blink at first as if having expected this. He simply stared out the window as the smoke from his cigar coiled around his head.
Only after a moment did he mutter. "…I will be there."
The butler, smart enough to understand, gave a slight bow and disappeared with silent steps as the door clicked shut.
"Stay in this room," Reynold said without turning.
I frowned immediately. "Yeah… no thanks."
He finally looked at me. "No?"
"I am coming with you."
"Rael." His voice dropped. "This isn't a discussion."
I stepped forward. "I started this and it's my mess. I'll deal with it."
His jaw tensed. "You think he came here to talk?"
"I don't care what he came for." I looked him in the eye. "He thinks I'm weak. That I'll break."
I pointed at the door.
"I'm going to prove him wrong."
He stared at me with a flicker of anger but there was something else along with it.
Pride.
He walked toward me slowly and stopped inches away. "You're an idiot, a stubborn and reckless idiot."
"I guess, it runs in the family." I said.
He looked at me for a few moments and let out a sigh.
"You can come but don't talk unless I let you and stay behind me. If things go south, you run."
"....."
I didn't reply. Mostly because I had zero intention of listening.
He stared for a moment longer and just… sighed again and he snapped his fingers.
In an instant, his clumsy housewear vanished.
The worn shirt and slippers were gone, replaced by a black military-grade overcoat, bearing the Ashborn family crest over his chest like a badge of war. A long cape unfurled behind him, draping over his shoulders. His hair, moments ago lazily tied back, straightened into a clean knot.
The cigarette fell from his lips and crumbled into ash before hitting the ground. "Let's go meet the Duke."
With those words, he walked ahead without hesitation.
I followed. My mind was steady, not because I had reached some kind of nirvana but because it had to be for what was coming next.
Time to face my death flag.
_
[Alzareth Von Astravore POV]
Alzareth looked around himself, looking at the ever so calm Ashborn Estate. He could see the lack of many guards at the front.
Typical Reynold.
He sat alone in the receiving hall, one of his gloved finger rhythmically tapping the armrest as his eyes scanned the room.
He could see all the banners and painted victories Reynold had inherited and that was the difference between them.
Reynold was born into greatness but Astravore had dragged his falling family back to it. When he was twenty, the Astravore family name had been on the verge of getting pushed out of Ducal Rank and then he took over.
He rebuilt the family with blood and strategy and a man in his position couldn't afford indulgence. He wasn't here to avenge insults, he was here to preserve his image.
A noble son had crossed a line in front of every court, every informant, every rival watching from behind their masquerade masks and family crests. If he did nothing and left the incident pass unanswered, it would stain him and more importantly his family.
Which is exactly why the boy had to die and not because of the woman or some petty emotion. The door creaked open behind him as he sensed two presence walking towards him.
_
[Rael's Pov]
As soon as I entered the room, I saw him sitting casually on a luxurious couch like he owned the place.
Golden hair like a lion's mane, crimson eyes and that wild and suffocating aura.
Duke Astravore.
I only called him that because… well, I didn't know the bastard's actual name nor did I care enough to know, either.
After all, I wasn't here to make friends.
My father stepped ahead, placing himself between us without a word, his posture calm and controlled but his expression ice-cold.
He seemed nothing like the man I had spoken with just moments ago and that look he had alone could freeze a battlefield.
Man… that's scary.
He took a seat on the couch in front of Astravore while I didn't sit and just stood behind him.
Astravore didn't even look at me as if I was nothing mote than the furniture in the room but honestly, his reaction was too strange for someone whose wife I kissed.
Tsk. Fucking loser.
I did what I could best do at the moment and trash talk that bastard in my mind.
"Greetings, Duke Astravore–" Before my father could even say anything, a cold voice cut through.
"Execution." He said flatly, addressing Reynold without a shred of emotion. "I am here for that and nothing else."
Reynold didn't move but his eyes turned colder. "He is awakened."
Astravore blinked once.
"A B-Rank in Martial path." Reynold continued, his voice low. "The Empire's Law forbids the execution of any Awakened noble above B-Rank without a formal trial sanctioned by the Crown."
Good going, Dad.
I cheered, but even I knew this won't save me from assassination.
Astravore's lips curled into a cold smile. "How long do you think you can protect it?"
Fucking bastard. Go and learn some grammar from your momm—
Before I could even complete my thought a crushing aura flared through the whole room as the marble beneath Astravore's feet cracked in a perfect line.
I didn't move, not because I was brave but because I couldn't. My body refused and even my breath refused to leave my throat.
Fuck. What is this?
I felt a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time.
Fear.
My mind blanked and my vision was on the verge of darkening, I was seconds away from blacking out and then the pressure eased enough for me to remain conscious.
Still, my breaths came rough and shallow.
My gaze snapped ahead as I saw a blue barrier shielding me from Astravore's pressure.
My father, Reynold, stood firm between us but I felt the shift in him and still, Astravore didn't look at me as if I was an object being fought over and not a person.
That… pissed me off more than I expected but I kept quiet because this wasn't my moment.
Not yet.