The World is Abnormal

Eugene entered the mansion with his siblings.

Eullian who is following behind purses his lips as he was ignored by his second brother. Because they came back from five years of war, a feast was held in the garden, and soldiers drank and have fun to their heart content. Tomorrow, a grand ceremony will be held in the palace, and soldiers who made great contributions to the war will be rewarded.

"Where is Celisha?"

Marquis Shradinza frowns when he didn't see his wife.

Simon who is following the Marquis back to the office replied, "Madam is not feeling well so she's staying inside her room. I already call a doctor to check her but she refuses anyone who will enter the chamber so I order the servants to be on standby."

Marquis Shradinza raises his eyebrow.

"Why is she refusing treatment? Is she living like this for five years?"

"Well, eldest master and Marchioness Celisha had a fight. Young master Euric hit the Madamn out of anger so the relationship became stiff."

Marquis Shradinza froze.

"Euric hit his mother? Why did he do that?"

Simon lowered his gaze and said, "Master Euric believes that it was because of Marchioness Celisha that you take the second young master away instead of him."

Marquis Shradinza massages his forehead.

He forgot to tell Simon that Eugene voluntarily step forward to take over his brother's position so his eldest son is probably angry towards them. No wonder he was ignored and Euric only stick to Eugene's side, not even looking at him.

——Eugene didn't join the soldier's festive fun and decided to go back to his room.

However, when he was walking in the hallways with Vincent behind, Eullian suddenly appear and block him, holding a box.

"Brother, I-I have a gift for you. Please accept it."

Eugene didn't think much, grab the small box, and said, "You shouldn't bother doing things like this. You are already an adult, you should learn how to handle your monthly allowance and have savings."

Eullian panicked and immediately explain: "N-No, I couldn't go out because it's late so I just pack the brooch that I personally made one year ago. I-I hope you will like it."

Eugene frown, not knowing what to say.

Seeing the awkwardness of the two brothers, Vincent immediately whispered to his master and said, "Young master Eugene, since it's a gift from young master Eullian how about you wear it to attend tomorrow's ceremony? In that way, young master Eullian can see that you appreciate his gift so much and you like it."

Eugene open the gift box and saw a brooch with a grey moonstone crystal.

The color is exactly like his eyes.

It means Eullian really made it for him which made him feel complicated.

"Brother, how is it? Do you like it?"

Eugene covers the box again and gives it to Vincent: "It's beautiful. I didn't know you can do craftsmanship." after all, this is the first time he receive a gift from Eullian. He only knows his twin is good at learning and instruments, he can also bake and do embroidery. He admits it's a surprise that Eulian will do craftsmanship and make him a brooch.

"Well, I'm learning, and my first craft is for you!"

First craft? For him?

Eugene stares at Eullian's happy face.

Well, it's not bad, he can't be stingy so he patted his twin little brother's head and said: "Thank you. I like it."

Eullian's face turned red and couldn't help but feel excited.

He plunged to his twin's chest and embrace Eugene, saying, "I'm glad you like it, brother!"

Even with Eugene's expressionless face, Eullian can feel that Eugene didn't reject him as before. Maybe if he works hard, his twin will soon accept him.

It's only a matter of time.

Eugene on the other hand only feels one thing that's it...Eullian is really not that annoying anymore. Probably it's because he already accepts everything that his previous hatred also disappears. Now, he's seeing Eullian without bad thoughts yet that doesn't mean he will open his arms for his little brother.

Eullian is not the root of his suffering.

But Eullian is one of the reasons.

He can forgive, but he will never forget.

"Go back to your room and rest, it's not good for your health to run around."

Eullian pouted, "Brother, I'm not that weak~"

"I'm going to rest."

Eullian lowered his head and nodded, "T-Then brother, go and rest, I'll come and visit you later."

Eugene just hums and bypasses Eullian.

——On the other side, Grand Duke Karsten receives a letter from the emperor.

Upon reading the content, he couldn't help but laugh at his friend's misfortune. What was written in the letter is about Eugene. It's probably the second prince who reported to the emperor that Eugene awaken as a dualist so the emperor wanted to confirm the information that the second prince had told him.

Of course, Grand Duke Kasrten affirms.

His son told him to take Eugene to the duchy before handing over his title. This is his opportunity to get Eugene's custody and take him back to the dukedom as a guardian.

Good, this stupid emperor is doing him a favor, finally his retirement life is near!

Lancelotte: "What did the emperor want this time?"

Grand Duke Kasrten grinned, "Tell the butler to prepare a new room next to Kaizer. Probably one or two weeks from now Eugene will enter the duchy."

Lancelotte widens his eyes.

"No way, what's going on?!"

Grand Duke Kasrten put down the letter and lean on his seat saying, "Eugene is a dualist. It's a matter that couldn't be covered up because many soldiers witness it. Now, the emperor who learned about the matter wanted to talk to me about adoption. You know...a dualist is dangerous so they become a war weapon that protects the empire which means..."

Lancelotte frown: "It means to restrain a monster, another monster is needed."

"Exactly."

Lancelotte still couldn't believe it: "But how did that happen? Eugene is from a swordsman clan he--"

"Eugene is Arkiton and Aison's son."

Lancelotte's jaw drops and he blinks.

"Wait, wait wait..." thinking about it, his eyes widen, "No way!"

Grand Duke Kasrten: "It's true, after all, Arkiton is the one who taught me the vita spell and give me a potion. It's all because of him that Kaizer and Khalil are existing."

Lancelotte gulp.

"But Arkiton and Aison are married and have their own children, with Eugene's age doesn't that mean they have been having a long-time affair?"

"Well, Aison is pregnant at the same time as his wife, that's why when Arkiton exchanges the children, no one finds out. Arkiton is wrong but I couldn't blame him much because the tragedy started because of the former Duke. If he accepted Aison and Arkiton's love, Arkiton wouldn't be driven mad by lies. It's the huge misunderstanding that started the whole mess."

"But isn't that cruel for their sons?"

"Yes. I've been telling Arkiton for years but he is still blinded with hatred."

"Hatred? Did Arkiton hate Aison all this time?!"

"Well, after all, he impregnates Aison for revenge. But when the children are born, he started to let go of his plan but was scared that Aison would reject him so instead of telling the truth, Arkiton manipulates the memories of everyone in the Shradinza Household, that is...to hide his dirty secrets and to still be able to keep his affair."

Lancelotte: "Crazy!"

Grand Duke Karsten was also dissatisfied.

"Arkiton will be miserable once his children found out. After all, no child will accept a father who deprived them of their right to have a happy family, to be born in a happy family."

Lancelotte hissed and sat down on the couch.

What the grand duke told him is a bit too much to handle. Imagine being a product of revenge. Realizing that from the start he was unwanted? He would probably lose his mind and commit a murder. Lancelotte couldn't help but pity Eugene who is unaware of his birth.

——When Eugene goes back to his room, he throws himself on the bed.

Vincent who step inside put the gift on the table and started to clean the room before leaving. Now that his young master is back, Vincent couldn't help but feel happy so he walked along the hallways with a bright face, bumping into Raphael who had a cold face.

"Raphael! That direction...did you go to the office?"

Raphael looks at the clothes that Vincent has been holding and stretches his hand saying, "Is that young master Eugene's clothes? I'll go and take care of it, you can now go to young master Eullian and accompany him."

Vincent's smile froze and said, "Y-You, what are you saying."

"I came out of the office. Marquis Shradinza just told me that from now on I'll be young Master Eugene's butler and in exchange you will be assigned to young Master Eullian."

Vincent tighten his grip on the clothes and his expression sank.

"What are you talking about? I wasn't told there would be a rotation of posts!"

Raphael tilted his head.

"I thought you know? After all, it was young master Eullian who personally request to exchange butlers. He said that he and young master Eugene is now in a good relationship so basically asking you to serve him like how you treat young master Eugene wouldn't be a big deal."

Vincent's face turns pale.

"I don't believe it!"

Raphael looks at Vincent as if looking at someone stupid and snatches the clothes on Vincent's arm, saying, "If you don't believe, go and ask the Marquis." and left Vincent.

Who knows what's going on in young Master Eullian's brain?

Though surprised at first, hearing the reason made him look at Vincent with mockery. Isn't that what they want? When Vincent is Young Master Eugene's butler, he goes around taking care of Young Master Eullian and grabbing his job. Now that Young Master Eullian requested him, he made him look like he was a villain who grab others' jobs as he pleased.

The two really suit each other.

Self-righteous butler and hypocritical master.

Raphael stops his footsteps and said with a heavy voice, "Come out, don't hide like a mouse."

Simon steps out from the dark.

"You don't need to talk like that to him."

Raphael looks at Simon expressionlessly: "If you are distressed about your person, go and comfort him, don't go around in my way. All of you make me sick."

Simon frown.

"I know you're angry but Vincent is not---"

"Stop." Raphael met Simon's dark eyes without wavering: "All along, I've been living silently. Simon, stop coming to me and make me look like a vicious person. Back then when I said I like you, that confession wasn't valid anymore. I already stop my feelings the day you show me how worthless I am compared to that person. So If you think I'm targeting him because I'm jealous, that's it when you got it all wrong."

Raphael bumps Simon's shoulder and walks forward.

That's right, he and Simon are childhood friends. He came to work in Shradinza Household with Simon and have a good relationship but when Vincent appear, his feelings were thrown away.

He watches Simon stalk Vincent.

Help Vincent.

And go back to him, assuring him he's just making friends. Thinking of those days he believes in lies makes him too pathetic. He doesn't deserve the pain and Simon doesn't deserve his tears. So the day when he confronted Simon and pushes him to admit his feelings for Vincent is also the day he started to let go.

Why not chase? Why not fight?

He also doesn't know. He just woke up from a very long dream and realize that love was never an obsession nor possessiveness towards other people.

It's just wrong. The world is just wrong.

Watching people get obsessed with someone or something and possess them made him fear his surrounding. That is also the start of his hobby of observing people. He doesn't want to attract a lunatic or get attracted to one so he acts with caution.

He knows what others haven't realized.

Especially in the situation of the Shradinza family. He has the power of knowing other people's emotions. He is aware of what was wrong and what is going on. For example...

Duke Del Viltaria's affair with Marquis Shradinza.

He had long known it.

And he knew that in the Shradinza Household, only he is aware of it.

Disgusting!

This loathsome world is full of crazy people! Everywhere, no one is normal!

Living in this world is torture.