Sign & Signal

Eugene spends his time in the infirmary with Timber and his brother taking care of him.

In the afternoon, before the class ended, Eugene suggests going back to his dorm to avoid other students from going in and out of the infirmary to peek at him knowing that these people only wanted to gossip about what happened to him.

Now, upon arriving at his dorm room, Timber suggested staying but before Eugene could reply, Euric immediately dragged Timber out by pulling his [Timber] collar and saying his goodbye.

The scene makes Eugene laugh one more time.

"You rest, I'll bring you dinner later so you don't need to go to the dining hall."

Eugene nodded at his brother.

Timber took one last peek and said, "Eugene wait for me! I'll eat dinner with you!"

Euric pursed his lips and said, "Sick person shouldn't be disturbed, you'll eat with me this time."

Timber looks at Euric with a shocked expression as if he met the end of the world which makes Euric's lips twitch and pinch Timber's cheeks as a bit of revenge for being disliked by doing nothing wrong.

The little one really held grudges, but Euric didn't know why Timber dislike him so much,

"You bully me?! Let go! I'll ask my brother to beat you!"

Euric frowns, "Your crazy brother? I remember him blocking my way many times and keep threatening me. Make sure to notify him that my patience had a limit so yeah, make sure that when you sue, don't forget to mention who I am."

Timber looks at Euric with teary eyes as if he is wronged.

This made Eugene dissatisfied.

"Brother Euric don't be mean to Timber."

"I'm not being mean to him."

"You are! you are bullying me huhuhuhu!"

Euric gritted his teeth, "If you keep being bothersome, Eugene won't be able to rest."

Timber paused and purse his lips.

"T-Then goodbye."

He looks at Eugene pitifully while waving his hand. Eugene who saw Timber's cute action of opening and closing hands as goodbyes can't help but had his heart shaken.

'How could my baby be so cute?!'

Euric's heart also shook and wanted to pinch Timber's cheeks again but seeing the red cheeks of the person in his embrace, he was reluctant.

So delicate. How could it turn red with just a pinch?!

"Okay, let's go!"

Dragging the person away, Euric closes the door leaving Eugene inside who was dazed and thought suddenly...

'What just happen?'

Biting his lips, Eugene prevent himself from laughing and lay his body on the bed while staring at the ceiling.

Now that he was alone again, he can't help but overthink.

Raising his hands, he stare at the ring on his fingers and the moonstone grey gems shone brightly. Smiling, he closes his eyes and kisses the ring, expressing happiness that he doesn't know where came from.

On the other side, Duke Viltaria flinch.

He lowered his head and recall Eugene's face. He would be lying if he refuse to acknowledge his guilt, but over time, whenever he goes to the Shradinza Household, his eyes would always roam around, wishing to see the child that is carved in his memories.

"Father~"

Duke Viltaria raised his head and saw his daughter.

"What are you doing here?"

Britanny lowered her head and said, "Father, I don't wish to get engaged to Shradinza."

Duke Viltaria's eyes sharpen and the obsession in his eyes resurfaced.

"Shut up!"

Britanny knew that his father would react this way, but what can she do? Her mother is too weak to oppose his father and if she desires to live her own life, she must have the courage to voice out her opinion. However, her dad is not an easy man to deal with...

She doesn't want to get married at all.

At least, not with a person she doesn't like.

"Being engaged with Shradinza would bring benefits to us and add talent to generations. You must remember that what a Del Viltaria needs now is the future generations of magic swordsmen and having the blood of Shradinza whose generation's warlord is what we needed!"

"But I don't want to get married to Eullian!"

Duke Viltaria gritted his teeth, "Then get engage with the eldest!"

"No!"

Britanny catches her breath and knowing that he father won't listen, a certain person's face flashes in her mind.

"Eugene! If you will get me married then I rather marry Eugene Shradinza!"

Duke Viltaria froze, and his anger erupted. Looking at his daughter with cold eyes full of madness, he raised his hand and slap his daughter hard causing Britanny to fall on the floor in surprise.

"Y-You can't!"

Duke Viltaria's eyes widen as he saw his hands shaking and his voice wavering.

"You can marry the eldest and the third but not the second!"

Britanny held her face in tears, feeling pain in her cheeks, and look at her father unbelievably.

Why? Her father wanted her to get married to Shradinza but why she can't choose Eugene who she met and has known even for a short time? She wanted to choose Eugene for her plan knowing that the other party seems to be a smart person compared to Eullian who is nothing but a spoiled son!

"Father!"

Duke Viltaria raised his gaze and saw Casimin entering his office. His face softens for a second before turning stiff upon seeing Cadmus looking at him with a pair of cold eyes.

"Father how could you hit my little sister!"

Casimin hurriedly help Britanny to stand and hugged her in a protective posture.

He knew how his father treated his little sister and can't help but dislike his father. The way his father doted on him and treat his twin coldly and his little sister cruelly, no matter what, he can't love such a father who only recognize one child as his own.

"Son, why are you here? I thought you were in the academy now?"

"Of course, I can't just leave! I haven't visited my mother and said goodbye to my little sister! How could I not go back?!"

Duke Viltaria bit his lips.

"Father and Casimin should talk first. I'll take my little sister to treat her bruise."

Cadmus grab Britanny from Casimin's embrace and left the office without looking at the two. Seeing them gone, Casimin took a breath and look at his father confusedly.

"Father I told you not to hurt my little sister!"

Duke Viltaria held his head and he knew that his status in his son's son would once again fall. If only he wasn't prideful in the past, then...this family won't be existing. That woman, his daughter, and that crazy wench won't exist! Only that person, him and his sons, that's the perfect family he wanted!

But why? Why his son, no matter what he does can't hate that woman and his [Casimin] little sister?!

No matter how many times he alters his sons' memories to think of that person as his [Casimin] mother can't happen?!

So hateful!

——"Simon!"

Vincent worriedly glances at the Marquis's chamber while holding Simon's hand who is carrying a tray of medicine.

He can't help but get curious about what happened to the Marquis upon hearing the rumors that the housemaster collapsed.

"Is Lord Shradinza all right?"

Simon's dark eyes smile at Vincent, "His lord is fine and just needs to take a rest."

Vincent felt uncomfortable, "Shouldn't we inform the eldest master? I think it's important for them to know their father's health especially since Madam is also not getting better."

It would be bad if the news that both the Marchioness and Marquis of the Shradinza is ill. Many would take advantage of the situation to push back the household just to get ahead in status. However, seeing Simon's calm expression in handling everything is what makes him relieved but even so, he thinks that her lady and his lord's sons should know their parents deteriorating health.

"No need."

Simon's eyes deepen and continued, "The Marquis didn't want to let the young masters know so that they could just focus on their studies."

"B-But..."

"The Marquis just suffered from a headache, just let him drink medicine and he'll be fine."

Vincent lowered his head.

Simon: "Be good, Duke Viltaria will visit his lordship later, make sure to not let anyone go on the second floor in a meantime, and make sure the Madam will stay inside her room to avoid noises."

"Duke Viltaria? Why would he visit when our patriarch is sick? shouldn't the appointment be postponed?"

Simon stares at Vincent's face full of ignorance and smiles.

"I don't think you would want to know what's behind the close door."

Saying that he opened the door, "You go back. Remember what I said, no one should go upstairs once Duke Viltaria arrived."

Vincent just nodded his head despite his confusion.

The scene is not new to him so he didn't bother.

It's just he had nothing to do without his young master so he took everything in sight and can't help but stick his nose.

But curiosity will kill a cat.

He can't risk.

——Eugene fell asleep without realizing it and when he woke up, it was already nighttime.

He took a quick bath and after that, he stood on the balcony to breathe fresh air while staring at the skies.

So beautiful

They're really right...that there is beauty in the darkness.

Just like his mind.

Before coming back all he wanted he death but now, he saw some sparks, a little hope that he still could live. For Timber and for his brother, he'll be altering their destinies. He doesn't want his brother to suffer for slowly losing them...his [Euric] only family. Timber should also live happily this time, not be locked and controlled by the person who desires him.

And he... he knew he can't clean his dirty hands but he wanted to avoid killing this time as much as he can. After all, not everything can be solved by killings, in fact, it would make the matter bigger and come with another conflict.

Ah~

"Huh?"

Eugene's eyebrows furrowed as he lowered his gaze and look around as he feel like someone is looking at him.

Can't see...

When he was about to look far, his eyes caught a raven-colored hair which make him look down and soon regretted it.

"Y-You..."

Kaizer didn't look normal.

His eyes look empty while looking at him which made him feel goosebumps.

"Eugene."

Eugene steps back and swallowed.

"Eugene."

Trembling, Eugene shouted, "Crazy!" with a trembling voice.

"Finally...I finally found--" before his words end, Eugene watches Kaizer's body fall to the ground.

The moment bring a thrill to his body as he collapse on his knees, not wanting to look away at Kaizer's body, afraid that when he averted his gaze, Kaizer would teleport before him and hold his neck tightly, suffocating him to death.

The familiar feeling is just like that day when his childhood friend sneaks into his room to kill him. The excitement of his blood, rushing and pumping through his vain because of stimulation from danger. Just like a cat, the hair on his whole body is standing up, and at any second he feels like he could show his fangs to bite back.

Eugene looks back at Kaizer's body on the ground.

What just happen?

He was dazed but soon came back to his senses when he heard countless footsteps.

Eugene hurriedly got up and enter his room, locking the door of the balcony and pulling down the curtain, lifting a little, and peeking down outside to see the situation.

Men in black trench coats and hats appeared and the logo embroidered on the black coat of those people indicate that they were the Duke's people and Kaizer's secret bodyguards which made him relieved.

At least Kaizer won't sleep on the ground till the next day because he had no plan to be a welcoming person and help.

Who would help a person who scared you?

Pulling down the curtain, he took a sigh of relief before going back to bed.

What he didn't know is that the head of Kaizer's security knight look in the direction of his window with a scrutinizing look. After all, they're just around Kaizer's all the time so they all witnessed their young lord leaving the dormitory and standing in this place for hours.

Shockingly, it is just to take a glimpse at someone.

It's not a danger, but their young master, getting up late just to peek at someone and then suddenly collapsing, this matter would obviously be a concern.

But somehow, he doesn't want to report this case to his master knowing the price of affection if a Karsten falls in love with someone. Especially for the duke who spoiled his son, if this situation is misunderstood then he's afraid that the other party would be put in a difficult situation. So he decided to keep the matter and hope that this won't happen a second time or he will have no choice.