Why is He Angry?

Looking at the furious man standing before him, Eren couldn't help but ask Useless again in his mind.

'You're kidding, right? That guy is my brother?'

[Yes, Master. I am not mistaken. That is Cedric Valmont, the next heir of House Valmont and your older brother by blood.]

Eren's face twisted into a dumbfounded expression. He never expected that this guy—who radiated pure hostility—was actually his brother.

At first, he thought Cedric might be his father, but that theory was quickly discarded. His actual parents were waiting for him in the dining hall, just as the maid had mentioned earlier. Then, he assumed the man was his uncle, given his older appearance. The stubble on Cedric's jaw gave him the rugged look of a seasoned nobleman rather than a young successor.

'Wait… how old is he, anyway?'

[twenty seven.]

'What? No way.'

Eren scoffed at the news. How could a man in his late twenties already look so grizzled? Did stress age him prematurely? Or was it simply poor grooming habits? Either way, it wasn't his fault for mistaking Cedric for an older relative.

"Yeah, brat. What did you just say?" Cedric's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

Eren blinked innocently, then let out a nervous chuckle. "Haha, sorry, big brother, I was just joking."

A vein popped on Cedric's forehead, his eye twitching in irritation. His entire demeanor darkened as a suffocating blue aura seeped from his body, thick with killing intent.

"Joking, huh?" Cedric's voice deepened, laced with pure menace. "You want me to send you back to your room—broken?"

Eren raised a brow. He wasn't particularly frightened, though he could feel an unfamiliar tremor in his hands. Was this body reacting to past trauma? Did the previous owner of this body fear Cedric that much?

Still, the situation was amusing. He honestly felt a little embarrassed for mistaking Cedric for an uncle, but in his defense, it was the guy's fault for not shaving, which made him look like an Oppa.

Sighing, Eren lifted a hand dismissively. "Look, I'm sorry, alright? It's just… your beard made you look old."

Silence.

Then—more veins popped on Cedric's forehead, his blue aura thickening like a raging storm. The very air around them turned heavy, and the marble floor beneath his feet seemed to creak from the sheer pressure of his killing intent.

The maid beside Eren went pale, trembling as she struggled to keep her footing.

Eren, meanwhile, glanced at his own hands again, noting how they were still shaking despite his lack of fear.

"Say something stupid one more time—I dare you."

Cedric's eyes widened into an unsettling glare, his pupils sharp like a predator eyeing its prey. Lifting his fist, a brilliant blue energy crackled around it, like an ethereal flames.

[Master, I really think you should stop. He might actually kill you.]

Eren smirked, unconvinced. 'Pfft. Relax. He wouldn't kill his own sibling just because he's angry.'

[He can! You don't understand—this guy has a very short temper. He might actually kill you by accident!]

'Heh. If he's stupid enough to do that'

Even as Useless panicked, Eren remained composed. If anything, he found the situation more interesting than alarming.

'Now that I think about it… why is a 27-year-old man like is doing here in the mansion? Shouldn't adult nobles like him have their own—'

His train of thought suddenly halted.

A realization dawned upon him.

For Cedric to be waiting here in the hall instead of being in the dining room with their parents. That meant he didn't have any partner or married.

Eren turned to his brother and casually asked—

"I have a question. Are you still sing—"

[MASTER, STOP!]

—BOOM!

Unfortunately for Eren, Useless's desperate shout came a second too late.

Cedric had already dashed forward, his speed blurring as his fist, crackling with energy, closed in on Eren's face. The sheer force behind the attack would have sent his younger brother flying.

Eren barely had time to react. Or rather, he felt lazy to react. Seeing the upcoming fist about to hit him, Eren could only murmured one word in his mind.

"Oops."

—BAAM!

...

...

...

Before Cedric's punch could connect, a pale hand appeared between them.

A loud shockwave rippled through the hall as the attack was stopped mid-air. The impact sent a sharp gust of wind through the space, rattling nearby furniture.

Eren's gaze shifted slightly, and there stood an elderly man in immaculate butler attire.

Oswald.

The head butler of House Valmont.

His expression was composed, his posture unwavering, and most impressively, his hand remained steady as he blocked Cedric's full-powered strike with just his palm.

"Master Cedric," Oswald spoke, his tone formal yet laced with quiet calm. "I must remind you to conduct yourself with dignity and calm down. Losing your temper so easily does not befit the heir of House Valmont."

Cedric's jaw tightened. His knuckles twitched against the butler's palm before he forcefully withdrew his hand.

The suffocating aura around him instantly faded, vanishing as if it had never existed.

A few feet away, Marie—the maid—released a shaky breath. She had been paralyzed with fear, unable to move as she watched her young master nearly get crushed by his older brother.

"Tch." Cedric clicked his tongue in irritation and turned on his heel, striding toward the dining hall without another word.

Oswald, still perfectly composed, turned to Eren with a polite smile. "Young Master, I would advise you to refrain from provoking your brother further. He has only just returned from his trip and is already under much strain."

Eren followed Cedric's retreating figure with his eyes before glancing at the butler, nodding absentmindedly. He had no idea what Oswald was talking about, but he decided to go along with it anyway.

Oswald took a step to the side, extending a hand in a refined gesture. "Shall we proceed?"

Eren resumed walking, feeling Oswald's presence behind him. Marie bowed quickly before excusing herself, relieved that the tension had dissipated.

As he walked, Eren thought back to the encounter.

That had been way more dramatic than necessary.

More importantly, Oswald's interference had probably saved him from a nasty experience. Not that Cedric had been planning to kill him—Useless had made that clear. His brother had merely been aiming to knock him out cold by releasing his aura at the last second and striking his head.

Still, considering how low his own stats were, that would have been painful. Useless had been nagging him about raising them, and now he could see why. If not for the butler stepping in, he'd probably be unconscious on the floor right now.

Well, whatever. He'd deal with all that later.

For now, he had a meal to attend.

...

...