Chapter 134 - - 134 - A Father’s Disquiet

Chapter 134: Chapter - 134 - A Father’s Disquiet

"Lord Lucien," Maisy said, bowing deeply before looking up with a serious expression. "Lord Vale is currently in the study, discussing your marriage."

Lucien paused, caught slightly off guard. A marriage proposal was something he had not calculated into his immediate plans. Nevertheless, his expression quickly smoothed into its usual calm. He walked down the corridor toward the study, Maisy following a pace behind. As he approached the heavy double doors, muffled voices drifted out from within.

Maisy stepped forward and opened the door, allowing Lucien to step into the spacious, warmly lit room. Sitting across the velvet couches were Lord Vale, Lucien’s mother Lady Vale, and Lord Vale’s two other wives. On the opposing side sat Rena Vale, positioned beside Lucien’s younger sister, Aria Vale.

The moment Lord Vale noticed him entering, his face brightened. "You are back! That is good. How was your journey and your mission in Azurefall? Queen Cynthia sent me a message stating she gave you very important work. Is it done?"

"Yes, Father. It is done," Lucien replied smoothly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled family members. "So, I heard that someone is getting married?"

"Yes, we were discussing your marriage with Rena," Lord Vale said, gesturing toward the young woman.

Lucien’s face remained entirely blank, his eyes cold and indifferent. "I am not planning to marry anyone right now, Father."

"I know, Lucien," Lord Vale sighed, setting his cup down. "In the past, there were some misunderstandings between you two. But we should move forward, and this marriage is actually a necessity."

"May I ask what necessity this is?" Lucien asked, his voice steady and quiet.

Before Lord Vale could answer, a heavy knock sounded at the door. An armored soldier stepped inside, bowing swiftly. "Lord Vale, an envoy has arrived and demands to meet with you."

"Send him in," Lord Vale instructed.

A moment later, a sharp-featured man clad in ornate silks strode into the study. Lucien observed him with cold detachment, completely unaware of where the man originated, though it was clear an underlying conflict had been brewing in the Vale estate during his absence.

"It is good to see you in good health, Lord Vale," the envoy began, his posture straight and devoid of proper respect. "I hope you have already arrived at your decision. You have two options: either give us Rena Vale, or prepare for war. You stand alone, while we have more than ten families united together. You already know what the result will be."

Lucien looked at the envoy, his golden eyes brimming with pure indifference. "Options? What is this matter where someone from the outside comes into the Vale estate to give us options?"

The envoy turned his head toward Lucien, chuckling with an arrogant edge. "Seems like no one told you. Rena Vale is a member of a branch family, and her family took substantial loans and resources from the ten great families for Riven Vale. But it seems something happened. The rumors say Riven Vale abandoned Rena’s family entirely, joined another branch family, and married their daughter. Now he is tied to them as their son-in-law, leaving Rena’s family buried in massive debt after enjoying everything we provided. But we do not care about his whereabouts. What we want is Rena Vale."

Lucien folded his arms across his chest, tilting his head slightly as he considered the situation. "Why not money?"

"Well, first, Rena’s family used Rena herself as collateral," the envoy sneered, resting a hand on his hip. "Second, they do not even have money anymore. And even if you have the money, we do not want it. We want Rena."

A quiet realization took hold in Lucien’s mind. Ah, so that is how it is. She was used as a bargaining chip, and my dear brother Riven ran away, leaving her family drowning in debt. That is why my father wanted me to marry her. If I marry her, she becomes a member of the main family, severing her connection to the branch family’s obligations. Once she is married to the main line, she becomes a ’used asset’ to them, forcing them to settle the debt through coin instead.

"And what if we do not give her back?" Lucien asked, his tone deceptively casual.

The envoy’s face flushed red, his voice booming across the study. "You want to fight against the ten great houses? You really think you have the audacity to go against the ten great houses?!"

Lucien slowly let out a dry yawn. "Since when did it become so easy to bully the Vale family? And you run your tongue far too much..." He stepped forward, his gaze dropping over the envoy like ice. "How dare you raise your voice inside the Vale estate."

Before the envoy could even react, Lucien’s hand shot forward like a flash of dark lightning. He shoved his bare fingers directly into the envoy’s open, yelling mouth, grabbing hold of his wet, fleshy tongue in a vice-like grip. Without a moment’s hesitation, Lucien yanked outward with terrifying, brute strength.

The envoy’s eyes bulged in instant agony. Muffled, gurgling screeches choked in the back of his throat as Lucien pulled the muscle so far out that the tissue strained to its absolute limit, blood welling at the corners of his lips and hot tears bursting from his eyes.

A collective gasp echoed across the study. Rena pressed a hand over her mouth, her face turning pale as she shrank back into the couch. Aria gripped her dress in awe and horror, while Lady Vale sat frozen, watching her son assert a level of ruthlessness none of them had ever witnessed firsthand.

"Lucien! He is an envoy!" Lord Vale gasped, rising halfway from his seat in sheer shock. "Killing an envoy is a crime!"

"Oh... let it be a lesson for every envoy who ever comes in the future and sets foot on the land of the Vale family," Lucien said softly, his voice devoid of a single trace of pity.

He abruptly released his grip on the slippery flesh, causing the envoy to stumble backward, clawing wildly at his blood-stained lips and weeping for mercy. The man tried to scream, but only wet, pathetic choking noises came out.

Lucien stepped closer, a faint, cold smile touching his lips. Reaching down, he grabbed the envoy’s jaw in one hand and his forehead in the other. With a swift, violent twist, he slammed the man’s lower jaw upward, forcing his mouth to snap shut with sickening force. The envoy’s own sharp teeth bit clean through his extended tongue, severing it completely.

A loud crunch resonated through the silent room as blood spurted out, splattering onto the pristine carpet. The envoy thrashed on the stone floor, squirming in pure agony as his severed tongue fell beside him. Lucien calmly stooped down, picked up the wet piece of flesh, forced the envoy’s jaw back open, and shoved the severed tongue right back into the man’s throat, choking him on his own blood.

The room remained drowned in dead, stunned silence. Lord Vale stood frozen, breathless at the absolute dominance and cold calculation Lucien possessed. Rena looked at Lucien as if staring at a monster, her body trembling uncontrollably, while Aria’s eyes sparkled with a strange, terrified awe at her older brother’s absolute power.

Rosebeth Vale, the third and youngest wife of Lord Vale, sat back against her cushion, her breath catching slightly as a faint, subtle flush warmed her neck. Watching Lucien take control of the room with such effortless, dominant violence sent a quiet, electric thrill through her. He carries himself like a true king... so ruthless, so overwhelmingly powerful, Rosebeth thought, her eyes lingering lingeringly on his tall frame and cold, sharp jawline. A far cry from the weak boy he used to be. A real man who commands the room with a single glance...

Lucien raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, a shadow flickered in the corner of the room, and Celbeth materialized beside him.

"Celbeth, take this fool outside and behead him," Lucien commanded, his voice cold and detached. "Put his head on a pike outside the gates and prepare every soldier. Ten great families or a hundred great families... I will erase them all."

"Yes, my lord," Celbeth replied, grabbing the bleeding envoy by his collar and dragging him out of the room without a second thought.

Lord Vale sank back into his seat, rubbing his temples in deep stress. "Lucien, it is not good to solve everything with war."

"Father, you have gone far too soft on these people," Lucien said, looking at his father with complete indifference. "I have never heard of an envoy daring to raise his voice to the ruler of the land. They need to be put in their place, and strength is all that matters. Why should I ever bend my knees to people who are weaker than me?"

Lord Vale stared at his son, falling silent. He realized then that Lucien was no longer a young, inexperienced realm master. He possessed the mind and aura of someone who had walked through real, bloody war. What Lucien had been doing with his time during his long absences, Lord Vale did not fully know, but he recognized that every action his son took was aimed solely at strengthening the Vale family.

The gruesome display had shocked everyone in the room, yet no one could deny the truth behind his words. Lucien had a point.

Rosebeth Vale adjusted her silk shawl, a subtle, smile playing at the edge of her lips as she broke the heavy silence. "I think Lucien actually has a point. Our family is no longer a fallen estate. Because of Lucien, our status was elevated from viscount back to count once again. His relationship with the royal family is extremely amicable—perhaps even better than good, considering how many crucial favors the royal family has asked of him. Sure, marriage is a good thing, but we should not rush these matters simply because of outside pressure. Lucien is not a child anymore. He is an adult who has fought wars, killed powerful realm masters, and is considered the strongest among the entire younger generation in all of Valtheria."

Lord Vale let out a long, weary breath, looking down at his hands. "Maybe you do have a point... I just wanted him to get married, like Riven. Riven has a child now, you know. I do not know if he will ever come back, but I wanted to see my grandchildren as well. And Rena is a good girl."

"Well, I want to eat first," Lucien said, turning toward the door. "It has been a while since I have eaten food prepared by Maisy. And someone clean this mess up."

As Lucien walked out, Lord Vale watched his retreating back, his mind weighed down by deep concern for his son’s future. Lucien was extraordinarily powerful now, but somewhere deep inside, Lord Vale feared what would happen if his son forgot how to remain human.

My son is stronger than me, Lord Vale thought heavily. He kills people as easily as stepping on ants. There was a time when he was weak, but he was kind. Back then, I used to despise how weak my son was. But after so much effort, he has become strong—stronger than anyone. Yet sometimes, I feel as though I have lost that son forever. I never showed him how much his father loved him, nor did I ever properly teach him anything. Now he handles grand matters involving the royal family, and everyone fears him. I have simply grown old.

Later that evening, after a quiet dinner, Lucien stood in his private chambers, resting his hands against the stone sill as he looked out the window at the moonlit estate grounds.

A soft rustle of fabric echoed from the doorway behind him, followed by quiet footsteps. Rena Vale stepped into the room, stopping a short distance away.

Lucien did not turn around, his tone entirely indifferent. "What is it?"

Rena looked at his back, her hands tightening against her dress as she spoke. "Why do you hate me so much?"