บท 5: 1.5 A Monster Calm

Simone Lanchaster was not expecting this revelation when he started his day, yawning as he passed by the hall sheltered with flower-filled arcs. The duchess had requested breakfast to be dined at the pavilion settled within her garden.

Duchess Mirae Yvonne-Lanchaster was a well-loved individual, exuding beauty both on the outside and on the inside. People, until now, deemed her as the rose of the empire. Although 'that' incident had made others wary of their family, no one could deny that the duchess of the fallen dukedom was as lovable as ever. Simone was very grateful to have a mother like her so he could not, in any way, refuse her requests.

The gardeners and servants who noticed him immediately bowed down at his presence, greeting the second lord before continuing their tasks. Simone greeted back with a smile then whistled a bright tune with a grin plastered on his handsome face, excited to see his mother.

Once he took the turn that would lead him to his intended destination, worry was quick to change his emotions. He was greeted by the sight of his older brother looking down on their sobbing mother with a pained expression. Simone dropped his grin as he hastened his steps in order to comfort the crying duchess.

"Mother, what is wrong?" He asked gently as he wrapped his arms around his mother's frail shoulders, delicate movements of cradling her as she let out soft sniffles and quiet tears.

"Simone, have you seen him?" He flinched, immediately understanding what the commotion meant. His mother gripped his sleeves as he struggled to keep his anger hidden.

"Is he coming?"

"Mother, it's been years," he answered, making her cry even more. He felt Calix glare at him.

"But I miss him so much. Don't you too?" Mirae responded in deep sorrow.

Simone bit his lip and held back the burning sensation within him. 'That damned cursed child, how dare he bring agony to the woman who gave birth to him.' Simone and Calix met eyes, a silent conversation within viridian stares.

The older lords of Lanchaster had grim expressions when they entered the most isolated and unkempt area of their large estate; a dark place even in the day. The two walked on the hallway leading to 'his' room. Beside them were walls bare of displays and dusty windows hidden behind thick curtains. Simone cringed at the dreadful scene.

What a befitting environment of the child of the damning prophecy.

"Forgive me, My Lord!"

Simone felt his stomach churn in anger once he saw the young servant desperately begging to be spared by his monster of a brother. With a grin and a voice laced in visible hatred, he eyed the man with long white hair and red eyes. He felt pride when Calix let out a scoff, joining him in his taunt.

"Causing trouble again, little brother?"

Yet instead of the usual heated glare and killer intent, they were responded with confused crimson stares and an innocent aura. Simone was taken aback at the drastic change of behavior. At his peripheral vision, he saw that Calix was too by the way his eyes dilated in subtle shock.

"You dare ignore us, Nero Lanchaster?" Simone demanded, not even wanting to mention the name of the devil but because he was hoping for a sense of normalcy, he called out knowing that it irks the man to be reminded of the family he pushed away; the people that were willing to keep him even with the impending peril.

But still, the monster wasn't acting like a monster. No, it was like he was never a monster.

"Just a moment."

At his voice, they were immediately on guard, watching as Nero twirled the ends of his hair that dropped to his waist. He was in deep thought, expression so neutral— so far from wicked smirks and loath-filled eyes. Nero lifted his hand to massage his temple but he stopped for a moment when his eyes grazed over the kneeling servant.

"You can go," he dismissed her.

Simone could not stop the way his jaw dropped at the lack of danger. Were his ears deceiving him or did the villain just show mercy? Although his tone held no concern, the absence of mockery was enough for it to be considered genuine.

Simone could see that the servant went through a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from shaking in fear to freezing in shock. She was reluctant to lift herself up but was relieved when she stood up without something happening to her. The young servant couldn't hide her confusion as she bowed down to the three lords before scurrying away with one thought in mind.

'What happened to the youngest lord? '

There were a few beats of silence before someone broke it.

"Mother wants you to dine with us."

Simone whipped his head as if he just got slapped on the face. He gaped at Calix but the bastard just side-eyed him. He stared hard at his brother, hoping some kind of telepathy would happen because what the hell was he doing when both of them knew that simply asking won't work. Still, Calix ignored him and kept his stare at the youngest with a pensive look.

"Okay."

"What?!" Disbelieved, Simone screeched.

Silence answered him. A bile rose in his throat and he felt... mad. Why reach out now? The dukedom has fallen in rank, their people had lost faith in them, the imperial family was near to brand their family as traitors, and their parents-

He clenched his fists.

"Brother," Calix called out to him, tone firm but full of understanding. "Don't be reckless."

He had no choice but to endure, just like he did all those years; a decade of misery. Nero was looking at them with indifference, his expression as innocent when they first saw him. He didn't pry unlike back then when he would poke at them at every opportunity he could get. Simone bit his lip and thought, what was he planning?