The car ride was silent.
Too silent.
Kai sat in the back seat, staring out the window as the city blurred past in streaks of grey and gold. Normally, he loved this—being out, moving, free.
But now…
Now it felt like he was being dragged back into a cage.
Edgar sat beside him, arms crossed, eyes closed—but Kai knew he wasn't relaxed.
Not even close.
Kai clicked his tongue. "You going to keep acting like a statue, or are you going to say something?"
No response.
"…Wow. Great conversation."
Still nothing.
Kai looked away again, jaw tightening.
"Whatever," he muttered.
The car slowed.
Then stopped.
Kai didn't need to look up to know where they were.
The Asterian Estate.
Massive iron gates stood tall, opening slowly as the car approached. Beyond them, the estate stretched endlessly—perfectly maintained gardens, towering architecture, and an overwhelming sense of control.
Power lived here.
And at the center of it—
Leon Asterian.
Kai felt it before he even stepped out of the car.
That aura was heavy, cold and suffocating.
"…He's in a bad mood," Kai muttered.
Edgar opened his eyes. "He's been waiting."
"That doesn't make it better."
The car door opened.
Kai stepped out first, hands in his pockets, forcing himself to look as casual as possible.
It didn't work.
The moment his shoes touched the ground, the pressure intensified.
Like invisible hands pressing down on his shoulders.
Edgar stepped out after him.
"…He's inside," Edgar said quietly.
Kai scoffed, though his chest felt tight. "No surprise there."
They walked toward the entrance.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
The doors opened before they even reached them.
Of course.
Servants bowed slightly as they entered, but Kai barely noticed.
His focus was elsewhere.
The moment he crossed the threshold—
It hit him fully.
Leon's presence.
Kai stopped walking.
"…Tch."
Edgar didn't stop.
"Move," he said quietly.
Kai forced his legs forward.
They walked down the long hallway, their footsteps echoing against polished floors and high ceilings.
And then—
They reached the main room.
The doors were already open as Leon was waiting.
Kai hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then he stepped inside.
Leon Asterian stood near the far window, his back turned.
Tall.
Perfectly still.
Dressed in black, as always.
The room itself felt colder than the rest of the estate—but that wasn't because of the temperature.
It was him.
Even without looking, his presence dominated everything.
Edgar stepped forward slightly and bowed his head.
"…We're back."
Silence.
A long, suffocating silence.
Then—
"…Leave," Leon said.
His voice was calm, cold and absolute. He was addressing Edgar.
Edgar didn't argue.
"…Yes sir. "
He glanced at Kai briefly—something unreadable in his expression—before turning and walking out.
The doors closed behind him.
Now it was just the two of them.
Kai shifted slightly, trying to ignore the pressure weighing down on him.
"…You wanted to see me," he said, forcing a casual tone.
Silence.
Leon didn't move.
Didn't turn.
"…Kai."
Just his name.
But it was enough to make Kai stiffen.
"Yeah?"
Another pause.
Then—
"Where were you last night?"
Simple question.
Deadly tone.
Kai shrugged. "Out."
The air changed instantly.
He felt it.
Leon turned.
Slowly.
Those sharp blue eyes locked onto him—and Kai felt like he couldn't breathe.
"…Out," Leon repeated.
Kai forced himself not to look away. "Yeah."
A step.
Leon moved closer.
The pressure intensified.
"Do you think this is amusing?" Leon asked.
Kai frowned. "No."
"Then explain why you continue to act like this."
Kai clenched his jaw.
"I'm just going out," he snapped. "It's not a crime."
Leon stopped a few steps away from him.
Too close.
"You left the estate," Leon said, voice low, "without guards."
"I don't need them."
"You do."
"I don't!"
The words came out sharper than Kai intended.
The room fell silent again.
But this time—
It wasn't empty.
It was dangerous.
Leon's gaze darkened.
"You don't get to decide that."
Kai's chest tightened.
"Oh, right," he said bitterly. "Because you decide everything."
Leon didn't respond immediately.
That was worse.
"…Yes," he said finally.
Kai froze.
"You live under my authority," Leon continued. "You follow my rules."
"I'm not one of your subordinates!" Kai snapped.
"No," Leon said coldly. "You're worse."
The words hit harder than anything else.
Kai's eyes widened slightly.
"…What?"
Leon stepped closer again.
Now there was barely any space between them.
"You are my responsibility," Leon said. "Which means your mistakes are mine to deal with."
Kai's fists clenched.
"I didn't make a mistake."
Leon's aura flared.
Not visibly—but the pressure spiked so sharply that Kai felt his knees almost buckle.
"Do not lie to me."
Kai gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay standing.
"I'm not lying!"
Leon's eyes narrowed.
"For someone so weak," he said quietly, "you take far too many risks."
There it was.
Kai's expression shattered.
"…There it is," he muttered.
Silence.
Kai laughed—short and bitter.
"You finally said it."
Leon didn't react.
"I'm weak," Kai continued, voice shaking slightly now. "That's what this is about, right?"
"No."
"Yes, it is!" Kai snapped. "You've always thought that!"
Leon's gaze hardened. "You're wrong."
"Then what?!" Kai demanded. "Why do you treat me like this?!"
For the first time—
Leon hesitated.
It was brief.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
"…Because you act like your life has no value," he said.
Kai froze.
"I'm trying to keep you alive," Leon continued, his voice still cold—but something deeper was there now. "And you keep making that difficult."
Kai stared at him.
"…That's not—"
"You disappeared," Leon cut in. "No guards. No communication. No protection."
Each word was sharper than the last.
"If someone had decided to target you," Leon said, "you would be dead."
Heavy silence surrounded the room.
Kai looked away.
"…No one would bother," he muttered.
The moment he said it—
The room dropped into something dangerous.
"…Look at me."
Kai didn't.
"I said—look at me."
Slowly…
Reluctantly…
Kai lifted his head.
Leon's expression had changed.
Not just cold now.
Something darker.
Something almost angry.
"If you say something like that again," Leon said quietly, "I won't tolerate it."
Kai swallowed.
"…Why do you care so much?" he asked, his voice smaller now despite himself.
Another pause.
Leon's gaze didn't waver.
"…Because you're my brother."
The words were simple.
But they hit harder than anything else.
Kai's chest tightened.
He looked away again quickly.
"…That doesn't mean you get to control everything I do," he muttered.
Leon exhaled slowly.
"You're not ready to be on your own."
"I'll never be ready if you keep treating me like a child!"
"You are a child."
"I'm twelve, not five!"
"And still incapable of understanding consequences."
Kai flinched.
"I understand plenty," he snapped.
"Then prove it."
Silence.
Kai hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Leon stepped back slightly.
The pressure eased—but only a little.
"You are not leaving this estate without permission," Leon said. "And you will be assigned guards at all times."
Kai's head snapped up. "What?! No!"
"This is not a negotiation."
"I said no!"
Leon's gaze turned ice cold.
"And I said yes."
The finality in his voice made Kai's stomach drop.
"You can't just—"
"I can."
Silence.
Kai's breathing grew uneven.
"…You're unbelievable," Kai muttered.
Leon didn't respond.
That hurt more than if he had.
Kai turned away sharply.
"…I hate this," he said under his breath.
Leon heard him.
Of course he did.
But he didn't react.
"…Go to your room," Leon said.
Kai didn't move.
"I said go."
Kai clenched his fists—
Then stormed toward the door.
He didn't look back.
Not once.
The doors slammed shut behind him.
And for a moment—
Leon stood there alone.
Silent.
Still.
Then he quietly exhaled.
"…Reckless child."
But his voice… wasn't as cold as before.