Shadows of the Past
The moment the words left Habelian's mouth, a murderous aura erupted from Pelens.
The sudden surge was potent enough to make Lefonya wince and shrink back in fright. Clicking his tongue in disapproval, Habelian immediately draped his own aura over Pelens's, smothering the hostile pressure. Only then did the air thin enough for Lefonya to breathe a little easier.
“Are you truly planning to tear down the very greenhouse Mother cherished over a mere fake, Pelens?”
“That's why I told you to shut your mouth, brother.”
“Wasn't the entire reason you holed up in here to avoid me because this was the one place where we couldn't tear into each other? And yet you still can't rein in your temper. Don't go around calling yourself an Aura Master. It's embarrassing.”
“And what did you expect from a delinquent? You shouldn't have spoken to Ponya like that in front of me.”
“Ponya? Ha. You've gotten completely attached, haven't you, Pelens?”
Hearing Pelens address Lefonya with such familiar tenderness made Habelian's expression turn chillingly rigid.
“I'm Ponya's escort, brother. Wouldn't there be something wrong with an escort who just stood by idly at a time like this?”
“An escort? Try graduating from the Imperial Academy before you talk.”
The two glared at one another, poised to trade blows at any second. Though Habelian was holding Pelens down with his aura, his own face looked as though it were on the verge of erupting.
If this continued, the greenhouse really would collapse, just as Habelian had warned.
A greenhouse the Duchess cherished?
Perched atop the wooden horse, Lefonya surveyed the lush surroundings. Situated in the sunniest corner of the estate, the structure stood as a testament to the Duke of Craitan's profound love for his late wife.
If this place gets destroyed...
It would mean stripping away yet another sanctuary of remembrance for the Duke, who still couldn't bring himself near the annex because he couldn't let go of her memory.
Lefonya took hold of both handles. With a low hum, the mechanical contraption stirred to life.
Trundle, trundle...
The slow-moving wooden horse squeezed right between Habelian and Pelens. The instant Pelens's menacing aura brushed against it, a newly installed safety mechanism reacted on instinct.
“...What in the world?”
Habelian, who had maintained an air of cold detachment throughout, muttered in utter disbelief. And understandably so. The second the hostile aura registered, the toy horse had deployed a shimmering protective barrier.
“Ahem.”
Feeling thoroughly embarrassed, Lefonya cleared her throat.
Ever since she had tumbled into the lake on this very horse before anyone could react, the Duke of Craitan had poured an obscene amount of gold into retrofitting it with countless safeguards. This protective ward was one of them—an automated defense triggered the moment a threat was detected.
She did not even want to imagine how many mana stones had been burned to forge such an enchantment.
The translucent ward unfurled outward, enveloping the greenhouse in a calm glow. It was mortifying to wedge herself between two grown men in the middle of a quarrel, but now that she had interrupted, she had to say her piece.
“You said this place shouldn't be ruined.”
She tried her best to sound solemn and resolute, but sitting astride a cute little wooden horse with both hands clamped on the handlebars somewhat undermined the gravity of the moment.
“Won't you regret it if it breaks? A place filled with your memories would be gone forever.”
Both brothers froze. That brief hesitation laid bare just how deeply they treasured this sanctuary—the reason Pelens always fled here to avoid Habelian, and the reason Habelian had been sitting here so serenely, quietly drinking tea.
“If you want to fight, you can do it outside.”
“……”
“And if you're fighting because of me, there's no need to.”
Lefonya turned her head, fixing her gaze straight on Habelian. She had never imagined she would have to recite the exact same speech she had given Pelens.
“It was the Duke of Craitan who adopted me. And only the Duke has the authority to declare a dissolution of adoption. My consent isn't required anyway, so if you want me gone from this estate, stop tormenting Pelens and go take it up with the Duke directly.”
“……”
“And before you tell Pelens to go graduate from the Academy, um...”
...What should I call him?
Lefonya paused, falling into serious contemplation. 'Brother' was out of the question, and 'Senior' wasn't right either. Calling him 'Young Lord' felt improper given their formal household standing.
“...Um. Teacher, I think you should go review imperial law first.”
“Teach—what?”
Habelian's brow furrowed sharply at the absurd title. He had noticed her deliberating over what to call him, but he clearly hadn't expected something so entirely unhinged to come tumbling out of her mouth.
“Teacher. You instruct at the Military Academy, don't you?”
“Just because I instruct at the Military Academy, who on earth calls me 'Teacher'?”
“Then what should I call you?”
“You don't even know that much? They call me Instructor.”
“I'm not a cadet at the Military Academy, so I have no intention of calling you Instructor. If you teach people, that makes you a teacher.”
Brushing the matter aside now that the crisis had passed, Lefonya deactivated the safety mechanism. A quick twist of the dual handles dismissed the ward instantly.
I thought it was ridiculous overprotection, but it actually came in handy.
Lefonya trundled her horse back toward Pelens.
“The Duke told us to meet in the family parlor. Let's go.”
Pelens looked down at her in silence. Without a word, he effortlessly scooped Lefonya off the horse with one arm, gathered the toy beneath the other, and shoved past Habelian's shoulder to head toward the family parlor.
Habelian watched their retreating silhouettes until they turned the corner. Letting out a heavy sigh, he lowered his head.
“...Mother.”
Not even a whisper of the Duchess's scent remained. No matter where one walked in the sprawling estate, her traces had faded entirely.
“This is why I hated the thought of returning.”
Because coming home forced him to acknowledge what was lost.
And what had filled that gaping void was the presence of this newly adopted child, Lefonya—bearing an eerie, haunting resemblance to his late mother.
When the little girl had flinched and shrunk back from Pelens's aura, the only reason he had instinctively smothered it with his own was undoubtedly because of that face.
“I won't let myself be fooled by a mere imitation.”
Muttering the vow under his breath, Habelian squared his shoulders. Straightening his back as if he had never betrayed an ounce of weakness, he set off toward the family parlor.
The entire Craitan family was assembled, yet the family parlor was stiflingly quiet. The silence hung so thick that one could practically hear the faint rattle of Lefonya's eyes darting frantically back and forth.
Pelens, who had marched into the room carrying Lefonya with an openly hostile scowl, sat with his arms crossed and refused to speak. Habelian, who arrived shortly after, slumped into the chair opposite him and remained just as tight-lipped.
The Duke of Craitan, thoroughly accustomed to his sons' childish standoffs, ignored them both and looked solely at Lefonya.
“How is the wooden horse? The new safety mechanism didn't cause any inconvenience, did it, Ponya?”
“No. It was very helpful.”
“Helpful? Did something dangerous happen?”
“Well... not exactly dangerous...”
As Lefonya trailed off, Habelian spoke up from across the table.
“Pelens failed to control his aura. The child was nearly swept up in it.”
“Swept up in an aura?”
Duke Craitan's brow knit into a severe furrow as he turned his piercing gaze upon Pelens, demanding an answer. Pelens shot Habelian a venomous glare, silently cursing his brother's pettiness before muttering his defense.
“...I had no intention of hurting the fluffball. My brother was spouting infuriating nonsense, so I only intended to threaten him.”
“Threaten?”
The Duke's voice sank into an icy chill. The fury in his tone was sharp enough to make Lefonya shrink back in her seat.
“Ponya is an ordinary person. Surely you haven't forgotten that an ordinary person can suffer catastrophic injury from exposure to aura, Pelens.”
“……”
“I believe I warned you repeatedly that letting your temper dictate your actions could put Ponya in grave danger.”
The Duke's voice rang out, rigid with simmering anger. Well aware of his wrongdoing, Pelens could only bow his head in silence, unable to muster a single excuse.
“Never allow such a thing to happen again, Pelens.”
Pelens nodded meekly. Tearing his gaze away from his son, the Duke turned back toward Lefonya.
“Ponya. You must have been frightened. Are you hurt anywhere?”
His voice was gentle and warm, completely shedding the frost he had directed at Pelens just moments before.
“No. I'm okay.”
Subdued by the heavy atmosphere, Lefonya answered with a slightly slurred nod.
“Tell me immediately if you feel unwell. You remember the family rule, don't you?”
“Yes. If you're hurt, get treated right away.”
“Good girl.”
Duke Craitan patted her head with proud affection. Watching the tender display unfold, Habelian suddenly let out a dry chuckle.
“Ha, haha.”
At the abrupt burst of laughter, both the Duke and Pelens turned their gazes upon him simultaneously. Lefonya did the same.
“Haha...”
As if he had witnessed the most absurd spectacle in the world, Habelian shielded his mouth with a loose fist, turning his head aside as he laughed. The sound was neat, measured, and painfully restrained.
“Both of you. Father, and you as well, Pelens.”
Habelian rested his clasped hands over his thighs and crossed his legs.
“It seems you have both entirely forgotten our deceased mother—and the little sister of mine who might still be alive out there.”
Beneath his composed demeanor, Habelian's words dripped with profound betrayal and bitter disappointment. In the depths of his dignified crimson eyes, a cold, unyielding rage flickered to life.