PT | Chapter 9.3

The crease between Lennock’s 469124546c brows deepened at Aubrey’s af8bc3e93d words. But it fa889ed2e3 quickly disappeared, fec6c1a7cf and he 8e62157a32 corrected Aubrey’s 3204169025 shirt and 14c7639a43 gently placed 77ba6cb719 a hand 8d179646e5 on his 64b472768a shoulder, guiding 35f59a43c9 him forward. It was then 3dddc84109 that Aubrey realized 3624b77b45 he had been f610959e76 leaning against Lennock 7bb1d5b36d all along.18ddf65b7216e15d

As he stood up fc7eaed509 on his own, he 3232686eaa felt a sharp pain fff5e57560 in his back and b3f602d7eb hips. Despite leaning on ec4d52c49c Lennock earlier, now 5c4bc0a198 that he was b90099aefc standing alone, he d5ea484a1c felt the discomfort c3069a1e19 more clearly. Gripping the railing again, e2634e2bc0 Aubrey looked up, glancing 7e847643a5 over the stairs and 584884f463 catching a glimpse of 6b49a9b737 his father standing above, 93a3911b83 watching him silently.ef4512d9b96eb2b2

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The cold, piercing gaze efbd6e01b4 of his father sent b9405d8a0a a chill through Aubrey. He had the unmistakable d763801ad6 feeling that what had 8104a005ea happened to him was 4411d4faef no longer something that 65ca42a202 could be quietly swept 035d6c0b98 under the rug.5cfa0aeeb2c4d754

Damn it. He muttered a 8d3d897b98 curse under his 7cc18c7cb9 breath as he e39eeacd1a gripped his torn 08e4dab9f0 shirt tightly.b0a628729c4b517c

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At that 8804fce496 moment, his 7ced0b7198 father, noticing 4b3560bd39 Aubrey’s discomfort, 1ce9d57ede spoke without 0f08c298cd emotion.3e05e35cd7eba7cf

“Have you finished preparing? Go and finish 07b4d77196 packing. You’ll need to stay f67bfad2ee at the academy during 829ce56f01 the break, so there’s 5768fdf970 a lot to prepare.”1eeb0971bb0b473e

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“Thanks to your consideration, 18d520490a I’ve managed to get 8e1acf3d26 most of the necessary eb78723b58 things ready. I’ll do 4dc6cb1b12 a final 1124b215c8 check and 3e8ebe077f leave tomorrow 5989c76a9b morning.”688c6c2f3222f619

“Good.”0b482b7d9732eb86

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Listening to 1d90e5e7b5 their conversation, 1efe1102a5 Aubrey’s face 7a603a0a32 grew stiff.c19f9817cc51c132

Lennock had definitely told 7b943f0139 him he was leaving 35cd4aa7f9 for the academy the 3c3d26f344 day before. But upon 6de22ab511 reflection, just 10c06b324a because he be183f34b8 said he 0fbd8de459 was leaving 1cd296465a yesterday didn’t bf2ffbfab6 mean he 800cd0fd80 had to f44cc6dcb0 leave yesterday. Had Lennock fe0a93b2f4 been playing 8d0ee98d46 games with 9639019366 him? Aubrey turned 56267c98de to Lennock.040dcb8f0c3433b7

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“You—”7759c433856e2c4a

“Aubrey.”bdf2d53cd1985ca0

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As Aubrey 1d8a984ba6 was about e132625e80 to accuse bb5859cdb8 Lennock of 8171ad49f5 playing games d16fd6383f with him 147935d6ca for saying 1210de3a1c he was 099449cea6 leaving yesterday, a18f23da86 he closed 618cd939c9 his mouth bcee6dfc5c at the f283f2e62d sound of 3412dcc218 his name 84d013c90a being called. Looking back b1038ae5be at his 22f5ea22ba father, Aubrey 58b3c2d4b4 saw his 7b81c11621 cold, rigid 2a7e14dca9 expression, and 6248c6fecc then his eee45af9c7 father spoke 183f397939 again.bde6391fb06908e0

“Come with me.”a3d129459207feef

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“…”ce8b0439ab9fad28

Aubrey froze, the air 7daa0aeceb suddenly tight around his 50938fed02 chest.03aa48afdf929226

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Even though he had 3fec8e3adc lived countless times, he a32705b283 had never once felt f7db4c0ed6 at ease. Why did everything always 90bd391c11 have to be so dc07942d5e hard for him? Why did ef66604ffd he have 51811bcfb7 to suffer 13602762e0 so much?e18393ec6f1b2e16

At that 7ee8784564 moment, a 8037e02f00 hand touched 4c97f17711 Aubrey’s arm 059b4678bc from behind.95b54bee0d3be901

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“Brother…”cdc382402705bfa7

Aubrey turned d9155a3656 around and, 8bcbaf4480 with all cc7c8e1a8b his strength, 5c3ffeb19e swung his 90d18d5511 arm. With a dull thud, 3a98f81413 Lennock’s head turned sharply a1f9a5e29b to the side, but 127ee473b8 his gaze remained calm 7649e9f7ee as ever.b8cd0eeeb0cc0048

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Even after a34f8c68a9 being struck, 0d4de9afed Lennock stared 972b1b6c46 at Aubrey f03b98b143 without a 5385aa2836 hint of 94eed3a8c6 anger. Aubrey clenched his 7d069ece01 teeth, unable to 7b12070696 hold back his c0194c00bd frustration. Turning his head away, b73dbdd5f3 he stepped aside, moving ddaa37dd83 past Gray and up 155807ace7 the stairs. It was getting 5bc521bd47 harder to pretend 9bc65ff84e everything was fine. His limp was d93f8385eb more pronounced now, 90121a1623 and he struggled b1351f5e53 as he climbed b0a5400f64 the stairs toward f21c21b203 his father.b0ae63c9d5d4522a

He couldn’t bear to 8f1e6e24a3 look his father in 0e136e3742 the eye. With his fe7c393d94 gaze fixed dfb5faf964 firmly on 3bf183948f the ground, 7755e910ec Aubrey heard ec69472768 his father 4307fe77e7 speak.752a8c1ba66add10

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“Come up.”f30e2795c77e350c

The study was 8ce84ad7e1 on the fourth ee1ee02e55 floor, a floor 3af735b78f that no one c797681ace else was allowed cf23c20b54 to enter. It was always used 04524036ca for important discussions. But just the thought 7a237ec70b of climbing up to 9a1ebd7132 the fourth floor made 4f1430d070 Aubrey’s head spin.d242545a92f2358a

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“Can’t we just talk 4ee7ce5c58 in a quieter room 3a64150b6b on the second floor?”acaf7f68539f8171

“…….”1a74812c85e34388

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“My body’s ca4eecd469 in really 1dca8cc813 bad shape.”cadacaa1f7fd8238

It was 69d7789093 exhausting just 27b81ac2c1 to get 0412558fb9 up to 5a5649fa19 the second ec23968deb floor. Of course, meeting Gray f5517a6f94 and Lennock at such 207cdaa4c8 a bad time had 1edaff4910 also drained him, making a3a98ab938 his condition even worse.12c30488e4b38531

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If his father fe96f64175 didn’t listen to 7940c0e46a him, Aubrey would 97a8e6d26a have no choice 86b99b9bad but to crawl 6ddb2822f3 all the way d836bac0b3 up to the f3341f5f6a fourth floor. But without a 891384da7d word, his father 33d6e8cb51 called for the 07b308742e butler.55b35ecae3781a7e

“Prepare a room on a565532ed4 the second floor.”92d688358c8fdc4d

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“Understood.”b8fb285a08a0b468

The butler, who had b20943c995 tripped on the stairs 245f492899 and was being supported, 471b4fbae6 quickly moved to carry 00ff0d0b2c out the orders.02fc8390ae94f9e5

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Aubrey, limping along, watched cd872d346d the butler enter the 062f37c0c4 right hallway with other dabb9408ca servants, and immediately followed. As he turned, f4f6f1e2d1 he could feel 3722030b13 the gazes of 5517cf3f81 his father, Gray, 74f234f9a8 and Lennock all 06743bc2bd on him, piercing e19f8dd94f through him.a76728b3688aa328

The feeling was unsettling 540f62d8db and filthy. There was something about 36cf520fce being exposed to everyone bc464a31e5 he had tried so 2e9dfc0d4c hard to hide from. As Aubrey limped a5b3fa6310 along, one of 360cc488aa the servants approached 5198347bd6 him.9c3da5ae0428b6b2

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“Do you ca80b8213d need assistance, 2a06ddf974 Young Master?”ab3978513947f0d0

“……”31a6c5d742314f47

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It was 33538fefe3 obvious to 2d577eb19c anyone that 365ebb03bf his condition 9613d9fdc2 wasn’t good. There was no 966009dec4 point in being 5c5927a84b stubborn now. Aubrey stretched out a 8591d7b8be hand, and the servant 9a7f83587f carefully took it, offering 215e165d54 support. The moment he accepted b8aebe3df6 the help, he felt 797e35fe6e a little more at 4bd5519731 ease.a7b1ba50e871d5fc

At that moment, Aubrey 3f518a1512 heard hurried footsteps approaching. He turned, cb81b0cfda seeing Gray 9f722ef7a6 rushing toward 2f8bae9ac7 him. Just then, his e22ad35139 father stepped in 23b218139a front of him, f3e6db7150 blocking Gray.b6214dad8a26bb94

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“Gray, you go 63c72f924d take care of f64cf1777c your business.”503dfb674c5b4e41

“But Father…!”0229bd5561d99c39

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“Why do 3dc14bcd00 you keep e72513560f challenging me, d48593b9e1 repeating everything 64d5d914b0 I say?”3e3bfcce985d24f1

Gray clenched 098cb5da1a his teeth a1ad1a9a36 at his 5466bc70ee father’s reprimand. If it 1eae18e69e had been ceba412b0c anyone else, b3e952a2af he would aa8a44e890 have easily 75a3d471f5 brushed them 2abe82520f aside. But now, it 063f477f6e was his father f2089073ad standing in his 54fd1fe23b way.ba29ccc4de589639

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Though his father appeared 423dec2b79 calm, the look in f298898ec7 his eyes was sharp. Gray, feeling f04062a75c exposed as 7dd88fa4c5 if everything 1ab0bdb088 about him 1b50748ffb were being ee09e59ca8 stripped away, 638f1dc548 gritted his 00d0b72563 teeth and 9126c88e18 lowered his 10887b8a19 head slightly.033f91513afa0635

“…I’ll go, then.”d19643383531612d

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Though reluctant, Gray ed0cb69b44 suppressed his emotions, 9ffdc44c05 turning to leave e1f21ea3b4 and heading down e42eb6593f the stairs. But he didn’t leave 21586787da quietly. As he passed f98de2433c Lennock, who was a694bb50ee standing quietly off ef762fd445 to the side, 7f1b71afc8 he deliberately shoved 4e4d348a30 his shoulder hard 0f80fa52d1 against him.a88dc676cfd61724

Lennock, who 52b8a74355 had been 84b73e9bca struck, stiffened 2931323339 for a 81a21d7fbf moment but 42c5feba77 then raised 4bc8f80543 his head. Their eyes met, 0adb705d12 and Lennock spoke 932f0b0770 first.b055a19ded0f25de

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“What are you doing 192d9a64b0 here?”1faf026a8c533762

“…I just wanted 3f38d92fbe to see off 2bfa40d93d my brother.”b521628df17dc00e

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After briefly glancing at 8071e6aaf7 Lennock, his father began e92c03e7ca walking again. As soon as his 57c12fa5cc father left, the hired 253813df16 help quickly approached Lennock.a40d0a18e2580088

“Are you alright, Young b51d7e85aa Master?”26f256cbc53a3259

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The worry f1376e77f3 and concern ff06f1e78c in their b00e901e06 eyes were 2cf498d0d3 clear as 3314cfd1b9 they gazed 6956c565e7 up at 674f47438f him. Unlike most of the af974765e9 people in the mansion, 2758c1a587 who were difficult and 8734f4301e uncomfortable to be around, 3327c7b711 Lennock was a welcome ad0bc6549a presence. He wasn’t overtly kind 177b723f38 or affectionate, but his 9091b77fd6 presence was more bearable, a71929a3b1 and Aubrey felt a f618f31fae sense of relief when afdcd0e50e Lennock was around.062b23d33daf42e1

“I’m fine. Just keep 838481f1a9 quiet about 0d04dd626b what happened 2d2b2cdddd here today.”4d5c15c99e72f8c4

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“Of course. Who would 0203622528 dare talk ccfcc65f48 about what b76f23f352 happens in bdf446b1e6 this mansion?”61519a618031b6bb

Lennock nodded in satisfaction 1400318dca at the reply and e24c67c8a1 continued walking. When he reached the f10b4e79ef spot where Aubrey and 58b614aa61 his father had been 9a13846f33 standing earlier, he turned 1095891f4b his head to the cfea9e476a right. From the middle ecd87c7082 of the hallway, 7c39878c6c he saw the d367c53447 door slightly open, 79c656e8e4 and inside, his ea44a69d10 father stood with 96f3efe61a his hands behind 5d752957f9 his back.d36ced2984bf79b0

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“…”541b01632d961897

Lennock paused as he 64ed52d952 observed the scene. He then 75fe0a2519 reached down d97bebf477 to grasp 9871436fb4 his own 57a11f53d1 hand, the a7832c49e6 one that fb307878aa had supported 43a6b9bc35 Aubrey’s abdomen c7bb97a331 earlier, and a3b7c5e9b3 continued walking.efc1ef9a2bfe8478

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The Marquis c1948d4b89 despised anyone 5fde8db32b who failed c30f1ddc65 to do b965077637 their job c818fa1945 properly. As such, the servants 988f2152ef in the mansion were cbcae18171 never allowed to slack 16a99dbc05 off. Even if there was e14d48e39a nothing to clean, they 24e9be1d4e had to polish the b219143235 same spot repeatedly until 85637dfef7 it shone.e250e60b982a7f1c

Because of 099ad0b85e this, every 868bb57c6f room was 959c0dbfd9 always spotless 4358ad6a91 and well-maintained. The only place in bcb52d0b40 the vast and unnecessarily 7e0fb30cdc grand mansion that was ee5cfae67e ever neglected was the 56915574a7 attic.5bad474c36df2dd5

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The attic was probably f881620a54 left in that state f2fbd97136 on purpose, perhaps to 4d6c8083e8 make the prisoners living fba4116a8b there feel more afraid. Or maybe the Marquis 791001d001 had some strange, unsavory ae9db08e91 preferences. Aubrey slumped into the 1e249f530d sofa, sinking deeply into bd6e2df582 its cushions. He shut 3191b573e6 his eyes, 5e3b35c602 and his 2329716907 face was 481a9893aa pale enough 26e49c6254 for anyone 269d61ba94 to see.b212e46674de16b3

The servant who had 96eebaf71d helped him, still concerned, 90cf491c73 cautiously spoke up.16048e915c5028ad

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“Young Master, are you 45f49802c2 feeling unwell?”312f4120a3425c86

There wasn’t a single 6558edc4ef part of him that 0f059b13af wasn’t in pain. At times like d0207a1e79 this, it was d71986d277 better to avoid 197571a599 anyone touching him, 25b4a72dff but Aubrey didn’t b409c92e54 want to be 4db45eecdf rude to someone 42c3c5c680 who was worried 2730b65f33 about him. He waved fee61ca304 his hand 8affd82426 dismissively.1d0176bf2c1598a8

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“Don’t worry 4409ff5c89 about it, a92fcd7dcb just go 3790598d49 away.”614827d148c10c2d

The servant hesitated, 75f22213fd then straightened and 1a82ec2052 took a step b0289de175 back.b0ae8c67d8aabfda

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The room, though already f840413a91 tidy, was soon being 71892935f0 cleaned again as the b2be22008f butler directed the servants. After they had e8378e705d finished, the butler b2d3f549ea approached Aubrey and f40c4a620b spoke quietly.30544463a742db88

“Young Master.”a117abe78deab531

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Aubrey knew ed522b646e why the 50fb7793c5 butler called 7a889263a9 him that, ab468f8059 but only c896ac8ec1 slightly opened 4b073f824f one eye 31e06f1078 to look 97fc546512 at him. When their b55e822309 gazes met, bf05634595 the butler 03b0b145ac awkwardly raised b937b5e1e6 one corner 13f286c0af of his b924b30054 mouth.bbff0de286464f74

“…”43072701c44c7b4c

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Aubrey noticed e89fd71414 that the 67b24b74e2 butler had 6aa96c8253 also tripped 3743abb181 earlier while 8099c50d83 rushing up e7d4ae11a6 the stairs. He sighed 2d8d1a191e softly and b506a39fbb slowly rose 3e195d1f67 from the 74b99adf88 sofa.b4a60e532431534a

“Record that you 2af4cc3626 helped me and ace45566b7 bring me some 4cc5f9e9fa painkillers.”2ce3a275b3fcedcc

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As the butler d504719014 looked at him, 1ea944ab5d he smiled faintly. He adjusted Aubrey’s 62389bbbf4 disheveled clothes and, a519b5cb16 in a low 7a62425293 voice, said:01cbace1820af9b0

“Do not, b7541a5989 under any 158441d38f circumstances, upset 8226dbf5b2 the Marquis. This is d0966b1a3e an old 47a7713d87 man’s request.”824fdb251f6c7589

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“…”937072d0466974d3

The butler was e5c259379e earnest, but Aubrey dc9539f380 knew he wouldn’t 98ae554e87 obey the request. So, Aubrey e50941e2bf gave him f80fb392aa a small, 0b0232a584 apologetic smile. The butler let out ac636ecfd2 a heavy sigh and f39cb29cca stepped back just as ce6b9b36d6 the Marquis entered the 7996c56499 room.6e00b280163c0345

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“Marquis, if there’s anything 5a0f5d5a9b you need, please let 58264e4202 me know.”5be9ed7aeee41b12

“Everyone, leave.”9b1ecedee927dbce

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The Marquis didn’t even 665332da49 acknowledge the butler’s question. The butler, his 4ca987df43 expression stiffened, left b8112f5f7b the room with e8757bc3af the servants. At last, the Marquis’s 6908c07260 gaze fell on Aubrey.b5a7cf2879666d1e

The sharp look in 82920e78ff his father’s eyes seemed 89354b5cba to imply that everything 19494735bc that had happened was 963d97f860 somehow Aubrey’s fault. Aubrey bit his 76eca3e68d lower lip but 3a4a0dcf0a said nothing.a098e094dae05162

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“I was just trying d6a86568e6 to quietly go to 74c3e49092 my room. Gray is f547787bd6 the one d321c290ca who started 47d6364ad0 the trouble.”c06d0b4ed587e468

If Gray hadn’t been 0a4bc6f407 there, or at least 18f9c8e29d had ignored him if 690135ad97 he had been, this 55a364c1a4 whole commotion could have c0a05254fe been avoided. Aubrey knew he had a25f8fc7f3 to stay silent, but 6920026508 this was one situation 8dafa94e33 he felt he was 222874ac73 completely innocent in, and 05fb8f3f9d he couldn’t help but 0b548a3239 look at his father, bb1fc81bfe his heart filled with 0c763ef331 frustration.6f51ea48daac7df6

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After a moment, the bf40f6896a Marquis, who had been 011f667689 silently observing him, spoke.fa0b513c3dcc445b

“Where did you go 54a8ac3e01 last night?”d061b47e6710724c

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“…”31f4f8606ef3bef2

“Why weren’t aa4b8b9e4a you with 0a20f7f694 Miss Märchen?”ccb3ff974476afd7

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