complicancies

Lucian turned his back to the general, his hands still in his pockets, walking toward the hospital entrance.

The general let out a long sigh, his gaze fixed on Lucian's retreating figure.

Meleonora and the purple-haired man remained silent, their expressions unsure. They had no idea what to say or how to process what had just happened.

Then

"Are you really going to make the Patriarch wait?"

Butler's voice cut through the tense silence.

Lucian paused mid-step.

Turning his head slightly, he looked over his shoulder, his expression unreadable.

"You're rejecting a personal request from him for this?" Butler continued, his disapproval clear.

Lucian slowly turned back to face him. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze locked onto Butler's, his expression blank, yet something about him felt dangerously cold.

"You don't think this is important?" Lucian finally spoke, his voice eerily calm.