PT | Chapter 6.6

“You owe me for the life of luxury you’ve been living here because of me,” was what the Marquis meant. Aubrey had known this well, and yet, it still left him disappointed each time. Even though he had long stopped expecting anything from his father, there was still a part of him that couldn’t help but feel disappointed. It was the blood that ran through his veins, after all. He still found himself hoping, even though he told himself it was futile.

“Understood. I’ll apologize to Madeleine politely. However, if she refuses, then there’s nothing more I can do.”

Aubrey’s unexpected compliance seemed to surprise the Marquis. The Marquis, who had been observing him closely to judge whether he was being sincere, spoke calmly.

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“A woman in this family will always follow her father’s will. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“…Is that so?”

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He considered the notion that in other families, daughters were seen as mere property belonging to the household.

But Aubrey knew well that Madeleine, despite her own wishes, would eventually be swayed by her family and father.

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He could feel the bitterness spreading in his mouth, but he forced a smile.

“Well, with the little appetite I have left gone, I’ll take my leave. I’ve suddenly gotten tired and think I should head back to the attic to rest.”

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“……”

The Marquis, even after his hidden accounts were exposed and after Aubrey had been whipped, still stared at him rigidly. If it had been anyone else, he would never have wanted to see them again, but Aubrey was different.

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Sometimes, he wanted to throw Aubrey out with nothing but his bare hands, but in a strange way, he found it admirable that Aubrey had secretly been investing behind his back. He had the potential for brilliance, yet why was he acting so foolishly? The Marquis believed that, though Aubrey might be disgruntled now, in the end, he would come to understand his father’s ways.

Aubrey winced when the Marquis’s hand brushed his chin.

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“If you just listen, you could live comfortably for the rest of your life.”

The Marquis murmured, teasingly caressing Aubrey’s chin before quickly withdrawing his hand. Aubrey, sensing his father’s silent demand to leave, hardened his expression and took a few steps backward. As he glanced at the burnt paper on the plate in front of the Marquis, the bitterness in his mouth only deepened.

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Damn it, my money.

If only I had moved some of it yesterday, maybe to another account.

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Now that my father knows about it, he wouldn’t leave it alone. It’s already been moved or taken away. How could this be possible, when I’m not even the account owner? But this is the Marquis Wiidin we’re talking about. With a word, he could move all accounts in the bank. Aubrey turned away weakly.

As he stepped outside, Aubrey rubbed his chin with the back of his hand.

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“I’m not a dog…”

That had been unmistakably the touch of someone soothing a pet. “Behave well, and I might give you a treat”—that was exactly the type of attitude.

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For most, the Marquis’s favors were something they desperately wanted, but not for Aubrey. He knew too well that accepting too much from his father would only lead to trouble later. His father believed that everything he provided was a favor, but in reality, it was more like a subtle form of control. There was no point in continuing to complain.

With a stiff face, Aubrey looked down at the ground and walked away.

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As he had told his father, he had to go back to the attic and rest. After a good sleep, he could think about what to do next…

Ah, I don’t even want to think about it anymore.

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Maybe it would be easier if I just let things happen and stop trying to control everything.

A sudden thought made a deep furrow appear on Aubrey’s brow.

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“By the looks of your face, it seems like you’ve really been scolded by Father.”

“……”

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It was a mocking comment, and it only made Aubrey feel worse. At least it was Danvers and not Gray making the remark. Aubrey looked up to see Danvers standing by the corridor, one hand waving as he waited. Aubrey walked toward him, his steps quickening.

“My, why are you so angry? You look terrifying.”

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Though Aubrey’s face was as stiff as a board, Danvers’s words were nothing more than playful teasing.

When Aubrey stopped in front of Danvers, the two of them were roughly the same height, making the situation somewhat uncomfortable, but Danvers maintained his usual calm demeanor.

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Gray, the first, was excessively self-conscious. Jill, the second, was overly sensitive and often reacted in a defensive manner. And then there was Danvers, the spitting image of the Marquis.

Danvers’s only interest was the family. He was a man who would do anything to secure the family’s future and make sure it stayed in his hands. Aubrey had learned to navigate their relationship, never fully trusting Danvers, but also knowing he couldn’t be turned into an enemy.

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Though Danvers would be a decent ally if Aubrey kept his distance from the family title, if things went the other way, Danvers was more ruthless and persistent than Gray, willing to tear him down completely.

Aubrey had learned that Danvers could not be treated like a true ally. This life had made it difficult for him to trust Danvers anymore. Aubrey had tried to use Danvers to keep Gray in check and avoid his father’s gaze, but something had gone wrong.

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“…Didn’t we agree to cooperate on the Dalton matter?”

“Well, we did, but what can we do? The guy ran away before we could even start.”

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“Ran away, huh? More likely Gray was behind it. At this rate, he’ll be found dead in some alley in about ten days.”

“Calm down. There’s no need to be so dramatic. Do you really think Gray would go that far?”

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“You know better than anyone what kind of person Gray is.”

Aubrey muttered lowly, glaring at Danvers.

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Though Aubrey had expected Danvers to respond with his usual nonchalance, this time he didn’t. Danvers, with his usual calm smile, kept looking at Aubrey and then slowly opened his mouth.

“I’ve been thinking. About who it’s best to be with at this point in time. And then it occurred to me… no matter how much we may dislike each other, wouldn’t it be better for us, as siblings under the same parents, to stick together?”

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“…What?”

“Isn’t it a bit ridiculous that Father suddenly brought you in and expects me to help you?”

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After saying that, Danvers raised his hand and patted Aubrey’s shoulder.

It was as if he were dismissing the matter without further explanation, just like the Marquis had done when he touched Aubrey’s chin. The feeling was similar, and Aubrey felt the same sense of discomfort.

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Danvers, being the closest in personality to the Marquis, was a man who claimed what he believed was his. He was so fixated on taking control of the family that working with Aubrey was uncomfortable for him. To Danvers, Aubrey could never be a true sibling—he was just a bastard brought into the family by the Marquis.

Danvers was willing to help Gray if it meant kicking Aubrey out. Aubrey realized that in this life, he would never truly be able to ally with Danvers.

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As Danvers walked away, Aubrey watched him with a feeling of resignation. Danvers turned around midway, waving one hand, a smile on his face, but there was a clear contempt behind it.

Aubrey remembered.

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Though he had returned to the age of seven several times, the first time he had arrived at the Marquis’s residence was only once. At that time, while Gray, Jill, and Dalton had been shocked and horrified, Danvers had been calm. He had looked up at the Marquis as he introduced Aubrey as his “fourth sibling,” then asked in a clear voice:

‘Why is this?’

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At the time, Aubrey was only five years old.

Though he had been a bit clumsy with his words, that was Danvers’s genuine question.

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Why should this child become his sibling?

That question had pressed Aubrey in a different way than Gray’s physical violence and threats. It was a silent blade that gnawed at his self-esteem.

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