Chapter 6- Echoes of Contempt

Time crawled at an agonizing pace for Noah, each second stretching unbearably long. His small heart hammered wildly against his ribs, threatening to burst from his chest with every beat.

The air around him felt thick and suffocating, heavy with an unspoken tension that made it difficult to breathe.

His arm throbbed under the unyielding grip of Jane's trembling fingers, her nails digging into his skin, but he didn't dare pull away.

All the maids gathered nearby, exchanged uneasy glances.

One young maid shifted her weight uncomfortably, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her apron. She took a small step forward as if to say something but quickly froze when the old maid shot her a warning look.

The room was heavy with tension, and no one dared to disrupt Jane's tirade.

"Well?" Jane continued, her voice rising. "Don't just stand there like a mute. Say something!"

Noah's lips quivered, but no words came out. His wide, tear-filled crimson eyes remained fixed on the floor, and he trembled under her glare.

"What's the matter?" Jane sneered, leaning closer. "Lost your voice, street rat?!"

Noah's chest heaved as he struggled to form words. "I—I didn't mean—"

"Didn't mean what?" Jane interrupted, her tone mocking. "Didn't mean to act like you're better than everyone else? You think you're better than me?" She laughed, a cold, bitter sound.

Her anger flared as Noah stood silently, his gaze fixed on the floor, avoiding her piercing stare. His dark black hair fell over his face, forming a fragile barrier between them. This only fueled her irritation, making her grit her teeth in irritation.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Jane demanded, shaking his arm slightly for emphasis.

Noah flinched, his head jerking up to meet her glare, but his gaze didn't hold. He glanced down again almost immediately, his chest heaving as though it was taking all his strength to remain composed.

The maids standing nearby exchanged worried glances as the tension in the room continued to rise. If the situation escalated any further, they would be the ones to face the consequences.

The old maid cleared her throat softly, her eyes flicking to the other maids as if to silently instruct them to stay out of it.

Noah's trembling grew worse, his free hand gripping the hem of his shirt so tightly his knuckles turned white. Just when it seemed the tension might snap, a firm, commanding voice cut through the room like a blade.

"What is happening here?"

The words were calm but carried a weight that silenced Jane instantly. Her grip on Noah's arm loosened, and she straightened abruptly, her head whipping around toward the source of the voice.

The posture of the old maid stiffened, her arms falling to her sides as she quickly looked back in despair.

Noah glanced up cautiously, his tearful gaze darting toward the door. His breath hitched as he saw the figure step forward, the tension in the room shifting like a tide.

It was the silvery white hair that first caught his attention, followed by the pair of golden eyes. Noah's wide, tear-filled eyes blinked up at Lucien in surprise, his lower lip quivering as he fought to steady his breath.

The dim glow of the chandelier overhead cast long shadows across the room, but even in the subdued light, the sharp gleam in Lucien's eyes was unmistakable. He stood tall, his presence commanding, exuding an air of quiet authority that made the atmosphere feel even heavier.

Jane's fingers twitch ever so slightly against Noah's wrist before she forced herself to relax.

"What's with the commotion?" Lucian's voice was calm, yet undeniably commanding.

Lucien's sharp gaze swept across the room, noting every detail with quiet precision. The heavy workbook lay abandoned on the floor, its weighty cover slightly askew. A few loose pages had fluttered out, some crumpled at the edges.

He saw the unnatural flush on Jane's cheeks, the stiffness in her posture, the way her fingers hesitated before she finally let go of Noah's arm, as if realizing too late that she had been holding on for too long.

Jane straightened her posture and turned to Lucien, her practiced, effortless smile concealing the fleeting unease in her eyes.

"Ahhem!" Jane cleared her throat softly.

"Noah was tracking mud through the living room," she said, her tone laced with just the right touch of disapproval, as if scolding a wayward child.

"The maids had just finished cleaning up the mess he made. It seems like he has no regard for his status and his behavior is completely improper for a noble."

She let out a small sigh before adding, "He's only making things harder for the staff. I was merely reprimanding him a little."

A perfectly reasonable excuse. Smooth, effortless. But false.

Lucien remained still, his expression unreadable and his gaze impassive. He didn't need to think further; the truth was already evident.

Though Jane claimed the maids had cleaned up the floor, she had overlooked one important detail: Noah himself was untouched by even a speck of dirt.

Jane's smile did not falter, yet the silence that followed was deafening.

Lucien's expression remained stoic, his sharp gaze lingering on her for just a second longer than necessary before drifting away, as if he had already moved past it.

"That's the duty of the maids, and that's why they are paid," he stated plainly, his voice carrying a firm finality, leaving no room for argument.

His expression remained impassive, but the slight tilt of his head and the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips suggested that he was more amused than annoyed.

His attention then shifted to Noah, who had remained awkwardly silent beside Jane, his fingers twitching slightly.

"And you," Lucien continued smoothly, "should be paying more attention in your ethics class," he reprimanded, his gaze sweeping over Noah.

Noah felt his face grow warm under Lucien's intense scrutiny, his heart already exhausted from the tension building inside him.

Despite the weight of Lucien's sharp gaze, he somehow forced himself to speak.

"I-I apologize, Master Lucien," he stammered, his voice noticeably meek. He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself.

"…..I'll be….more attentive," he mumbled.

Lucien found the whole exchange utterly hilarious.

Watching Noah go along with Jane's weak excuse so easily only deepened his smirk. He shook his head slightly, exhaling a quiet chuckle as if the situation was more entertaining than it was worth addressing.

Lucien stood tall, his gaze unwavering as he turned to Jane.

"Jane, please refrain from causing such commotion in the future," Lucien said, his voice calm but firm.

"If an important guest were to unexpectedly show up, you would only embarrass yourself."

Though his tone remained measured, there was an unmistakable authority behind his words.

Jane didn't respond, her reluctance clear as she let out a soft sigh, her fingers nervously toying with the edge of her sleeve.

After a long pause, she gave a slow nod, but her eyes were fixed elsewhere, avoiding Lucien's unwavering stare.

"I understand," she muttered, the words more out of obligation than sincerity.

Lucien observed Jane with quiet detachment, noting the subtle discomfort in her answer.

His gaze then shifted to both of them.

Jane's smile was faint and forced, a facade he was all too familiar with, and Noah stood rigidly, his hands clasped tightly together. His body trembled ever so slightly, while his crimson eyes were fixed intently on the intricate patterns of the carpet, avoiding any direct contact with Lucien or Jane.

Lucien had no intention of prolonging the conversation. He had said what he needed to, and beyond that, he didn't see the point in continuing.

"Very well, then. Do try not to cause a scene," he said, his words directed at both Noah and Jane, the meaning clear.

"You need not worry, Brother Lucien," Jane assured him, her brittle smile still firmly in place, though the insincerity of it lingered in the air.

Noah remained rigid, his posture tense yet submissive. Occasionally, slight tremors ran through his body, but he forced himself to remain composed in obedient silence under Lucien's unwavering gaze.

Lucian cast one final, lingering glance at Noah before turning to leave.

With a simple flick of his hand, he signaled to the maids, and in an instant, they dispersed, swiftly returning to their tasks as though nothing had happened.

His footsteps reverberated through the hallway, each sound sharp and clear, echoing long after he had disappeared from sight.

The lingering silence that followed seemed to settle over the room, leaving behind only the faint memory of his presence.

Jane let out a long sigh, a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her body finally relaxing.

She glanced at Noah, a cold smirk spreading across her face as she took a step closer. "You're pathetic," she muttered, her voice dripping with disdain.

"If you dare act so high and mighty in my presence again, you would be wise to start praying for your own sake," Jane remarked, her words were sharp and chilling, lingering in the air like a dagger poised to strike.

With that, she turned sharply on her heel, stomping out the door, her footsteps heavy and deliberate. The door slammed shut behind her with a resounding thud, leaving Noah standing there, stunned and confused, trapped in an awkward silence.

The moment came and went like a sudden storm, its intensity fading just as quickly as it had arrived. The tension in the room slowly dissolved, but Noah's heart still beat unsteadily in his chest, unrest settling deep within him, like an unwelcome shadow that refused to leave.