章 49: Welcome home
The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.
-Elie Wiesel
...
Levi expressionlessly walked down a set of stairs, Robert and Lancelot trailing behind him.
Both men silently followed behind him.
Lancelot who had a conflicted expression, looked like he had something he wanted to say but couldn't muster the willpower to say it.
As for Robert, he walked two steps behind Lancelot looking like he was trying to avoid getting involved in something.
The three quietly made their way to the castle's main hall.
Opening an oaken door Levi walked into the hall, There was a small crowd within.
Looking around he saw the knights who decided to stay behind laughing boisterously while sir Carter excitedly passed around ale bottles, making a ruckus. They formed a small circle around a middle-aged man that Levi couldn't be more familiar with.
Aden stood amongst his trusted aides with a faint smile on his face as he attempted to calm down the overly-excited men.
Asides from them there were no maids or servants in the hall, No! In a secluded corner two veiled women dressed in peasant clothes quietly stood watching the lot.
They hid there, quietly watching the small crowd of men. The knights mostly ignored them due to their weak presence and Levi was quick to do the same as well.
Turning back to look at the man who according to normal logic should be his father, Levi smiled warmly but a glint flashed in his eyes.
The original Levi had never truly bonded with his father.
During childbirth, Levi's mother Lady Luna Orlando died due to excessive blood loss. A depressed and overworked Aden who at that time was the king's right-hand man couldn't find the time or emotional motivation to bond with his newly born son.
Levi grew up under the care of his servants soon developing a kin interest in books, which was later much to his father's dismay. Although Aden had nothing against expanding one's horizon by consuming scholarly works, he was baffled by his son's apparent disinterest in the way of the sword and warfare.
Over the years they had less and less in common and when Aden was finally relieved of his duties and sent to the border, possessing more time on his hands he realized he knew almost nothing about his son.
His older son, Sean who he had adopted two years before Lady Luna put to bed grew had become an exemplary swordsman and an ambitious military strategist. Given that Aden chose to put him in charge of most of his assets, inadvertently making him his heir apparent and successor while also tasking him with the responsibility of taking care of his younger sibling.
The original Levi only had some respect, mild admiration and a hint of fear for Aden. He didn't revere him as much as he did some great scholarly men like Jonas Diane, Ahoth Dan or even Alexander Hamilton. Neither was he as close to him as he was to his father's aides Robert and Lancelot.
The emotions he had for his father were mostly from what he had read about him and the few times they related with each other.
As for James, he felt nothing for his new nominal father. His disregard for Aden overrode any mild feelings Levi originally had for Aden.
Watching as the knights who he struggled hard to earn their respect flocked around Aden ignoring him, his disinterest in the duke only grew stronger.
Stopping a few meters away from the group with his hands clasped behind his back, Levi stood watching the crowd for a few moments before someone finally noticed his arrival.
Slowly, the group of knights grew silent. One after the other they noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere and turned to face Levi who stood staring at them expressionlessly. In the corner, the two veiled women also turned to see the newcomers but they didn't make any observable reactions.
Aden who had long noticed Levi's arrival finally took a moment to take a good look at his son. He realised Levi looked barely different from when he last saw him, the only major changes were in his eyes.
The experienced aristocrat was quick to realise these changes.
Unlike before Levi's eyes lack the carefree, naive and timid light in them, now they had a hint of coldness, ruthless resolve and most importantly a stark naked indifference.
An indifference to change.
To life.
And even to death.
Then suddenly, Levi's eyes became clear, crystal clear like a newborn's without a care in the world.
Aden blinked in self-doubt, wondering if he was just seeing things but before he could speak Levi spoke first.
He smiled warmly, his eyes forming crescents.
"Welcome home..."
"Father."
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