PT | Chapter 9.3

The crease between Lennock’s brows deepened at Aubrey’s words. But it quickly disappeared, and he corrected Aubrey’s shirt and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, guiding him forward. It was then that Aubrey realized he had been leaning against Lennock all along.

As he stood up on his own, he felt a sharp pain in his back and hips. Despite leaning on Lennock earlier, now that he was standing alone, he felt the discomfort more clearly. Gripping the railing again, Aubrey looked up, glancing over the stairs and catching a glimpse of his father standing above, watching him silently.

The cold, piercing gaze of his father sent a chill through Aubrey. He had the unmistakable feeling that what had happened to him was no longer something that could be quietly swept under the rug.

Damn it. He muttered a curse under his breath as he gripped his torn shirt tightly.

At that moment, his father, noticing Aubrey’s discomfort, spoke without emotion.

“Have you finished preparing? Go and finish packing. You’ll need to stay at the academy during the break, so there’s a lot to prepare.”

“Thanks to your consideration, I’ve managed to get most of the necessary things ready. I’ll do a final check and leave tomorrow morning.”

“Good.”

Listening to their conversation, Aubrey’s face grew stiff.

Lennock had definitely told him he was leaving for the academy the day before. But upon reflection, just because he said he was leaving yesterday didn’t mean he had to leave yesterday. Had Lennock been playing games with him? Aubrey turned to Lennock.

“You—”

“Aubrey.”

As Aubrey was about to accuse Lennock of playing games with him for saying he was leaving yesterday, he closed his mouth at the sound of his name being called. Looking back at his father, Aubrey saw his cold, rigid expression, and then his father spoke again.

“Come with me.”

“…”

Aubrey froze, the air suddenly tight around his chest.

Even though he had lived countless times, he had never once felt at ease. Why did everything always have to be so hard for him? Why did he have to suffer so much?

At that moment, a hand touched Aubrey’s arm from behind.

“Brother…”

Aubrey turned around and, with all his strength, swung his arm. With a dull thud, Lennock’s head turned sharply to the side, but his gaze remained calm as ever.

Even after being struck, Lennock stared at Aubrey without a hint of anger. Aubrey clenched his teeth, unable to hold back his frustration. Turning his head away, he stepped aside, moving past Gray and up the stairs. It was getting harder to pretend everything was fine. His limp was more pronounced now, and he struggled as he climbed the stairs toward his father.

He couldn’t bear to look his father in the eye. With his gaze fixed firmly on the ground, Aubrey heard his father speak.

“Come up.”

The study was on the fourth floor, a floor that no one else was allowed to enter. It was always used for important discussions. But just the thought of climbing up to the fourth floor made Aubrey’s head spin.

“Can’t we just talk in a quieter room on the second floor?”

“…….”

“My body’s in really bad shape.”

It was exhausting just to get up to the second floor. Of course, meeting Gray and Lennock at such a bad time had also drained him, making his condition even worse.

If his father didn’t listen to him, Aubrey would have no choice but to crawl all the way up to the fourth floor. But without a word, his father called for the butler.

“Prepare a room on the second floor.”

“Understood.”

The butler, who had tripped on the stairs and was being supported, quickly moved to carry out the orders.

Aubrey, limping along, watched the butler enter the right hallway with other servants, and immediately followed. As he turned, he could feel the gazes of his father, Gray, and Lennock all on him, piercing through him.

The feeling was unsettling and filthy. There was something about being exposed to everyone he had tried so hard to hide from. As Aubrey limped along, one of the servants approached him.

“Do you need assistance, Young Master?”

“……”

It was obvious to anyone that his condition wasn’t good. There was no point in being stubborn now. Aubrey stretched out a hand, and the servant carefully took it, offering support. The moment he accepted the help, he felt a little more at ease.

At that moment, Aubrey heard hurried footsteps approaching. He turned, seeing Gray rushing toward him. Just then, his father stepped in front of him, blocking Gray.

“Gray, you go take care of your business.”

“But Father…!”

“Why do you keep challenging me, repeating everything I say?”

Gray clenched his teeth at his father’s reprimand. If it had been anyone else, he would have easily brushed them aside. But now, it was his father standing in his way.

Though his father appeared calm, the look in his eyes was sharp. Gray, feeling exposed as if everything about him were being stripped away, gritted his teeth and lowered his head slightly.

“…I’ll go, then.”

Though reluctant, Gray suppressed his emotions, turning to leave and heading down the stairs. But he didn’t leave quietly. As he passed Lennock, who was standing quietly off to the side, he deliberately shoved his shoulder hard against him.

Lennock, who had been struck, stiffened for a moment but then raised his head. Their eyes met, and Lennock spoke first.

“What are you doing here?”

“…I just wanted to see off my brother.”

After briefly glancing at Lennock, his father began walking again. As soon as his father left, the hired help quickly approached Lennock.

“Are you alright, Young Master?”

The worry and concern in their eyes were clear as they gazed up at him. Unlike most of the people in the mansion, who were difficult and uncomfortable to be around, Lennock was a welcome presence. He wasn’t overtly kind or affectionate, but his presence was more bearable, and Aubrey felt a sense of relief when Lennock was around.

“I’m fine. Just keep quiet about what happened here today.”

“Of course. Who would dare talk about what happens in this mansion?”

Lennock nodded in satisfaction at the reply and continued walking. When he reached the spot where Aubrey and his father had been standing earlier, he turned his head to the right. From the middle of the hallway, he saw the door slightly open, and inside, his father stood with his hands behind his back.

“…”

Lennock paused as he observed the scene. He then reached down to grasp his own hand, the one that had supported Aubrey’s abdomen earlier, and continued walking.

The Marquis despised anyone who failed to do their job properly. As such, the servants in the mansion were never allowed to slack off. Even if there was nothing to clean, they had to polish the same spot repeatedly until it shone.

Because of this, every room was always spotless and well-maintained. The only place in the vast and unnecessarily grand mansion that was ever neglected was the attic.

The attic was probably left in that state on purpose, perhaps to make the prisoners living there feel more afraid. Or maybe the Marquis had some strange, unsavory preferences. Aubrey slumped into the sofa, sinking deeply into its cushions. He shut his eyes, and his face was pale enough for anyone to see.

The servant who had helped him, still concerned, cautiously spoke up.

“Young Master, are you feeling unwell?”

There wasn’t a single part of him that wasn’t in pain. At times like this, it was better to avoid anyone touching him, but Aubrey didn’t want to be rude to someone who was worried about him. He waved his hand dismissively.

“Don’t worry about it, just go away.”

The servant hesitated, then straightened and took a step back.

The room, though already tidy, was soon being cleaned again as the butler directed the servants. After they had finished, the butler approached Aubrey and spoke quietly.

“Young Master.”

Aubrey knew why the butler called him that, but only slightly opened one eye to look at him. When their gazes met, the butler awkwardly raised one corner of his mouth.

“…”

Aubrey noticed that the butler had also tripped earlier while rushing up the stairs. He sighed softly and slowly rose from the sofa.

“Record that you helped me and bring me some painkillers.”

As the butler looked at him, he smiled faintly. He adjusted Aubrey’s disheveled clothes and, in a low voice, said:

“Do not, under any circumstances, upset the Marquis. This is an old man’s request.”

“…”

The butler was earnest, but Aubrey knew he wouldn’t obey the request. So, Aubrey gave him a small, apologetic smile. The butler let out a heavy sigh and stepped back just as the Marquis entered the room.

“Marquis, if there’s anything you need, please let me know.”

“Everyone, leave.”

The Marquis didn’t even acknowledge the butler’s question. The butler, his expression stiffened, left the room with the servants. At last, the Marquis’s gaze fell on Aubrey.

The sharp look in his father’s eyes seemed to imply that everything that had happened was somehow Aubrey’s fault. Aubrey bit his lower lip but said nothing.

“I was just trying to quietly go to my room. Gray is the one who started the trouble.”

If Gray hadn’t been there, or at least had ignored him if he had been, this whole commotion could have been avoided. Aubrey knew he had to stay silent, but this was one situation he felt he was completely innocent in, and he couldn’t help but look at his father, his heart filled with frustration.

After a moment, the Marquis, who had been silently observing him, spoke.

“Where did you go last night?”

“…”

“Why weren’t you with Miss Märchen?”