He Has No Idea What He's Doing
That guy probably doesn't even realize what kind of mess he's stirring up right now.
"Let's wrap up the heavy talk here."
She set down her teacup, gently lightening the mood.
"The Region Tour ended early, giving us a sweet ten-day vacation, right? Got any plans, Kasian?"
Plans? That word's not in my dictionary.
"I'll hole up in the lab, rolling around and saving even breathing time."
"Hmm?"
"I'll show you the perfect NEET specimen. Bed and I become one, photosynthesizing my life away."
Holy plan to mooch off life—what a winner.
Just as Muller Viscountess was about to burst out laughing.
Squirm.
Lily, sipping her black tea beside me, timidly raised her hand.
"Um... Kasian!"
"Yeah, go ahead."
"C-Can I... come to the lab too?"
Lily's pink eyes sparkled with anticipation.
This pink pup. Waiting for my okay makes me wanna grab her leash and take her for a walk.
"Why even ask something so obvious?"
"...Really?"
"Of course. It's your lab too. Come unpack some lunch and photosynthesize together."
"Hehe! Yes!"
A massive grin bloomed on Lily's face. If she had a tail, it'd be whirring like a fan propeller for sure.
"Anything you wanna eat?"
"Anything's fine!"
"Alright then. I'll pack something tasty—meat-heavy and hearty."
"Yep!"
Nod nod! Lily bobbed her head vigorously.
Such a peaceful, harmless chat.
I felt eyes on me and turned.
"......"
Muller Viscountess propped her chin, staring straight at us. A soft curve graced her lips—not her usual sharp, calculating capitalist smirk, but the fond, very motherly smile of watching grown kids flirt.
This big sis is totally guilty.
Screeech—.
Cool air brushed my cheek as I pushed open the heavy study door.
Father, seated in the center, spoke without lifting his eyes from the papers.
"I heard you caused quite a stir on the Region Tour."
"Eh, nothing major."
"You renovated an entire village. Discovered a dungeon that evaded detectors."
Whoa. He knows everything.
Father set down his quill and fixed me with a stare.
"Beyond those two matters, is there nothing else to report?"
That piercing gaze already knew I was hiding something. No point lying—I'd get nowhere.
Good thing I had solid backup. I threw a straight fastball, no holds barred.
"I chugged a Saint Grade Potion."
"......"
Heavy silence blanketed the study. Father's ever-steady eyes flickered ever so slightly.
Whoa.
Me, making the iron-willed father flinch? Felt like I'd pulled off something epic.
Father stayed silent a long while, then spoke in feigned calm.
"......Tell me the details."
"I botched a spell, nearly mana overloaded. Lily, the saintess with us, gave me the Saint Grade Potion—I drank it and survived."
"......"
Deep furrows creased Father's brow. His face hardened cold in an instant.
"Who knows about this?"
Shit. Scary as hell. Atmosphere like he's about to murder someone.
My shoulders twitched involuntarily. No wonder people found our father unnerving and fearsome.
"I shared with Muller Viscountess, Lily's guardian. She said she'd handle it herself."
"......Muller Viscountess?"
"Yes. She readily agreed to cover it."
"Anyone else?"
"No one."
Father stroked his chin repeatedly. Probably simulating scenarios in his head.
Really drove home how insanely precious that thing was.
Muller Viscountess and our father—the top influencers in the capital, hands down.
Even they were thrown off. Tension crept up my throat.
"Understood. You're dismissed."
"Rest well."
Whoosh! Fearing fallout, I bolted without looking back.
One more second in that suffocating space and I'd choke.
My steps to my room felt feather-light.
It's finally over.
All reports done—pure vacation ahead.
Nearing my room, Marie—changing mana lamps in the hall—greeted me with a smile.
"Young master! Back safe!"
"Yeah, Aunt Marie. No issues? Looks like you didn't skip your daily skincare."
"Hoho. That obvious? You must be tired—bath's drawn. Go wash up."
Ahh. Bath. Craved it bad. Cold water showers sucked so much.
"Was dying for it. Thanks!"
Thud.
The heavy study door shut. Corinth stared at the spot Kasian had vacated, finally slumping his rigid back.
What a total disaster.
Corinth rubbed his dry face with his palm, exhaling deeply.
His son's report had shattered the common sense of the Palace Count overseeing the empire's intel network.
"......Gail."
Corinth murmured low into the air.
Shhh.
A shadow rippled in the study corner; a masked figure emerged silently.
Gail—Parne family's shadow, separate from the intel bureau, Corinth's confidant.
"You called, family head."
"You heard it all. Our embarrassing second son's out there risking his neck."
"Very bold of the young master."
Corinth's brow furrowed at Gail's deadpan reply.
"Bold? Overhauling a slum village wasn't enough—he waltzed into an undetectable dungeon and nearly got trapped in a barrier."
"......"
"Two brushes with death—or worse."
Corinth tapped the desk lightly, voice laced with disbelief.
"For someone who nearly died twice, he looked utterly serene just now."
"True heavyweights don't sweat the small scrapes."
"Not a scrape—a near decapitation. Learning reckless crap instead of proper stuff."
Corinth clicked his tongue, leaning back. Headache throbbed.
Truth was, that recklessness mirrored his own youth.
My bloodline—uncannily like me.
Corinth grimaced bitterly. Kasian's feats there defied all norms.
"Family head. But it might be a good thing."
"How so?"
"Young master's magic debut was days ago, yet this performance—we can deflect suspicion elsewhere."
Corinth got it. Such prowess from a twenty-year-old would draw imperial scrutiny.
Thank heavens for that Saint Grade Potion.
Not just for halting mana surge. Normally, a noble kid gulping a holy relic without leave was near-treason.
"In this mess, drinking it became the perfect excuse."
"We can spin his abnormal magic feats as a miracle of the relic."
"Right. Won't solve the root, but..."
Cloak unnatural vigilance in holy mystery.
"Problem's convincing that stubborn church."
"Didn't Muller Viscountess vow to handle it?"
Corinth snorted despite the comfort.
"She's bluffing. No clue why."
"A bluff?"
"You think a Saint Grade Potion's something you bribe upper church with pocket change? Botch it, and it's a heresy trial—pyre-bound."
Corinth pulled a secret report from his drawer. He knew the church's hypersensitivity better than anyone.
Muller or not, it'd cost her family pillars to hush.
One more baffling figure.
That saintess.
Kasian might not grasp the potion's weight, but the saintess surely did.
"No idea why she'd pull such a reckless stunt."
"Love knows no borders, status, or even church law."
"......Shut it. Not in the mood."
Gail bowed slightly as Corinth growled, but his smile lingered.
"Doesn't sit right."
Corinth tapped another parchment on the desk—post-Crown Prince clash intel, self-investigated.
"Rosenberg lady, now a saintess."
"Young master's popularity is skyrocketing."
"Funny? Report on Rosenberg's unnatural interest in my son was days ago."
Corinth gripped the parchment hard.
Lady and saintess both eyeing his son? Pure delusion, he knew.
But one reason for worry.
"You fled high society from ladies' skirts in your youth. That blood doesn't vanish."
"I said shut it."
Escaping mad obsessions came only after marrying his wife.
Headache. Real one.
Even ordinary ladies would've been a headache; a duke's daughter and saintess? Worse, both linked toxically to the Crown Prince, inferred.
No direct probe of the prince as vassal, so unconfirmed.
"Young master unwittingly struck His Highness's reverse scale twice."
"If intentional, fine—but he has no clue what he's doing."
Corinth sighed, gazing out the window. Keep him in the capital, and he might spark an empire-splitting scandal.
"......Maybe exile him to the countryside."
"Pardon?"
Gail's composure cracked, eyes widening.
"Giving him the idle life he craves might preserve family peace."
"Serious?"
"Half. Never imagined debating this right after he shows archmage potential."
Corinth gave a wry chuckle.
Is raising kids the world's toughest job?
But he felt wronged. His second son was a handful beyond normal kids—blood or not.
"Monitor Muller Viscountess for now. If she's serious about buying off the church, prepare side support."
"Understood, family head."