Chapter 284: 284

Luke’s mouth opened then closed.

His fingers twitched. But the words didn’t come.

Because at that moment, despite being half his age, Kael looked like a man he couldn’t afford to cross.

And behind him, Elfie perched with wings fluttering—her golden eyes burning with a protective fury, her body shimmering with threads of frost magic in sync with Kael’s wrath.

Kael inhaled, then exhaled sharply—snapping the killing intent back like a whip.

The air rushed in again as the tensed pressure faded.

The room returned to normal... but no one in it would ever forget what had just transpired.

Kael adjusted his collar again and sat down slowly.

"...So?" he asked, picking up the tea cup once more. "Shall we talk about my mother now?"

"This isn’t possible..." Luke muttered, his voice hollow as he woke up from his dazed state.

"You are lying.."

His eyes were wide with disbelief, as if his entire understanding of reality had been shattered.

"My sister isn’t like that. She’s... She’s..."

Kael tilted his head with a mocking grin, his voice teasing.

"Ohhh my god... She’s so sweet, so naive, so carefree, right?" he drawled sarcastically,

raising an eyebrow.

"I can’t believe it either..."

Luke and Alina jolted in surprise, not expecting such a sharp tone from the boy.

Kael leaned back and tapped the table with his finger.

"She was so sweet, she’d grab my neck and try to strangle me whenever her episodes kicked in. And then..." he clicked his tongue, eyes looking distant.

"...she’d knock her head against the wall in guilt."

Alina’s eyes trembled, lips parted in disbelief. Luke clenched his fists under the table.

The memory Kael referred to wasn’t just tragic it was visceral. Even if the original body’s soul was long gone, the flashes of memories had stayed behind like blood stains on glass.

However it wasn’t that brutal as he was making out.But who cares,he was actually having fun.

Luke’s face twisted in pain, then slammed his head down on the table in frustration, rattling the cups again.

"I refuse to believe this!" he roared.

"Even if it’s true, it’s all because of that bastard who destroyed her sanity! That cold-hearted monster who ruined her life! If Father had been alive—if the late Duke saw what you Veydrins did he would’ve—"

"Would’ve what?" Kael cut in, tone icy.

He leaned forward, sharp eyes burning into Luke’s.

"Think you can wipe out Veydrin with your big words?"

For a brief moment, the atmosphere grew dense and thick with impending violence.

From earlier, Kael had already measured Luke’s strength. He was likely near SSS-rank but not comparable to Ruth. His father might slice this Duke down in a heartbeat if things turned truly ugly.

And Kael?

He was just stepping into that storm. But he wasn’t weak anymore. He wouldn’t bow.

Alina, watching the two, paled.

’These two... they’re going to kill each other at this rate.’

Her fingers clenched the edge of her seat.

Just as Kael and Luke seemed ready to begin another explosive round, the doors slammed open with a loud crash.

The wooden panels trembled from the force as Seraphina marched in, her purple eyes glinting with frost.

Her boots clicked sharply on the marble as she walked in, hair swaying like violet waves, face emotionless and strict.

"Seraphina,why are you here?"Luke asked with a deepening frown.

"Aunt wants to meet him."

"WHAAATTT?!" Luke’s voice cracked as he stood, eyes bulging in panic.

"No! Absolutely not! I deny this! He can’t meet her—what if something happens to her?! I won’t allow it!"

Seraphina, unaffected by her father’s hysteria, folded her arms and spoke coldly.

"It’s not a request. She ordered it and asked you not to interfere."

"She said and I quote—’If you don’t send him, Luke, I’ll drag myself out of this bed and tear your beard off.’"

Luke paled.

Kael blinked.

’She really said that?Is this even a threat?’

"Besides," Seraphina added casually, "she’s relatively stable now. She’s been expecting him."

Luka took a deep breath and muttered,"How did she know he was here?"

"With such a commotion going around it’s impossible to not know,"Alina asserted.

Luke’s expression twisted into hatred, and he looked at Kael as if he was a walking calamity.

"I swear to the heavens, if anything happens to her... I’ll butcher you myself and send your body in piec—"

"LUKEEE!"

A voice sharper than any blade rang out, laced with fury.

The room shook, and Luke turned slowly, trembling.

Alina Salvatore stood tall, her hair subtly floating, eyes glowing faintly blue. Her soft features were stretched into a calm smile, but one could feel a frigid pressure pouring out from her.

Her words were sweet, but each syllable was like ice cracking over deep water.

"Don’t cross the line.Also at the end he is your nephew."

Luke froze, like a boy caught stealing sweets. He quickly averted his gaze, sweat beading on his temples with a snort.

Alina turned her eyes to Kael—clear, kind, and understanding.

"Seraphina will lead you. Follow her."

Kael stood and nodded once.

"Got it."

Without another word, he turned on his heel, Elfie hopping on his shoulder like a silvery whisper of wind.

He passed Luke without even sparing him a glance.

"Just stay alive long enough to see what hell looks like from my side," Kael muttered quietly under his breath.

Seraphina walked ahead, and Kael followed.

Behind him, silence fell again.But everyone from servants to workers could feel it.

The family storm had only just begun.

.....

As they walked through the stone hallway, silence hung heavy between them.

Seraphina led the way, her steps precise, her posture rigid, her face locked in a cold expression that could shame winter itself.

If previously Kael had a doubt he was sure now.The woman harboured some kind of grinvance against him.

Kael trailed behind, brow furrowed in confusion. He tilted his head and finally asked with a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Why are you acting like that? When did I ever provoke you?"

Seraphina halted abruptly, her purple eyes narrowing. She turned her head slightly, looking over her shoulder with clear disdain.

"How exactly should I behave in front of a man who molested a woman?"

Kael blinked."...What?"

His face twisted into an exaggerated series of question marks, utterly dumbfounded—until it clicked.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he scratched his temple and muttered with tired sarcasm,

"I thought you were someone intellectual. Turns out you’re just another idiot."

Seraphina’s eyes turned frostier than before.

"What did you just say?"

Kael met her glare without flinching.

"I said—you’re an idiot." He stepped forward, voice sharp but calm.

"You believed a rumor that I molested my fiancée? Have you ever stopped to think about how absurd that is?"

Her lips twitched, but she said nothing.

Kael continued."My fiancée, who was already nearing A-rank, supposedly needed rescuing from me—a guy who hadn’t even awakened yet? What was I going to do, smother her with anxiety?"

Seraphina froze for a moment. That was a good point.

Still, she replied hesitantly,"...What if you drugged her drink or used something underhanded?"

Kael looked at her like she’d grown two heads.

"Come on, girl. Do you think I am a brain dead fool? Use your brain."

He pointed at himself.

"If I’d actually done that, do you really think I’d still be breathing? That old bastard sitting on the Veydrin throne doesn’t give a damn about emotions—he only cares about pride."

He leaned in a little closer."He’d kill me and Adele both if we even looked like a stain on the Veydrin name."

Seraphina’s expression faltered slightly. The claim sounded wild—but something about it felt painfully true.

She recalled her aunt’s state, and slowly... nodded to herself.

’That man is a menace.’ she admitted silently. ’A true monster in a noble’s skin.’

Kael let out a breath, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Also, it was a plot. My ex-fiancée and Adele. This trip to the capital?"His eyes sharpened.

"I’m going to absolutely thrash that lying bitch and knock her head back into reality."

Seraphina watched him, lips parting as if to say something... but she turned instead.

"Weirdo." she muttered softly under her breath.

"Wait, what did you just say?" Kael narrowed his eyes.

She didn’t respond.

But her aura had shifted—no longer cold, but... curious.

They stopped at the end of the hallway.

Before them stood a sun-drenched chamber, its doors slightly open. Light filtered through warm linen drapes. Inside, leafy vines clung to lattices, and gentle sunlight poured in through stained-glass windows, illuminating a quiet inner garden.

A serenity hung in the air.

And yet... Kael felt it.

That subtle, creeping sensation of dread—like a spider brushing across the nape of his neck.

Seraphina placed her hand on the door.

"She’s inside. Walk in."

Kael took a breath and stepped forward.

The door creaked opened toward a reunion two decades overdue.