I stepped inside quietly, though my feet felt heavier than usual as if this body didn't even want to be here.
Maybe it remembered things that I didn't know about.
My gaze stayed fixed on the ground as I dragged myself forward. One foot after the other, just enough to reach the center of the room.
Then I looked up.
There he was.
Seated in a high-backed chair behind a polished desk, both hands clasped in front of him. He wore a sharp, clean black suit that reflected his presence.
The matching black eyes and brown hair went with his attire.
He was the kind of man who could've been on the cover of a noble magazine, if those existed.
That was Ryker Zevreil, the Duke of the southern duchy.
My oh-so-loving uncle.
And the cold aura rolling off him? Yeah, not exactly something I wanted to breathe in.
His gaze met mine for a moment, and I saw it.
That look.
It contained pure disgust.
Not the kind you give to someone who annoys you, but the kind reserved for moldy food or a rat crawling across your bed.
His jaw tensed as a subtle twitch crossed his cheek. And for a split second, his fingers curled tighter against one another before he forced them still again.
That was it. That was the reaction I was looking for.
Hatred.
Unfiltered, burning, ancient hatred.
And for some reason… I liked it.
'Wait. Wait, wait—what the hell? Am I a creep now?'
I liked being hated?
God.
I needed help.
Still, I observed him. He didn't say anything, just let the disdain sit there in full glory like it was perfume he wore daily.
And I couldn't even blame him.
Because what Lucien had done in the past… was genuinely vile.
Ryker was his uncle on his father's side and had taken him in.
It was after Lucien's mother died tragically.
Ryker gave him everything, the name, the status and the title of heir to the southern duchy.
He always treated him like his family, though not as his son but still, he cared for him.
But Lucien had been… well, the arrogant young master stereotype in every Chinese webnovel ever.
By adding an extra level to it.
Worse still that I didn't even want to speak about the details. Abusing maids, threatening staff, walking around like the entire world owed him something.
And through all of that, Ryker still tried. He gave the guy the benefit of the doubt, "an unlucky child," he must've thought.
Until it went too far.
Once, Lucien had a fight with his cousin Clara, Ryker's daughter, when they were both fourteen. She'd awakened her powers early, and during a duel, she absolutely wrecked him.
She broke his several bones as well as his pretty face he was proud of.
Shattering the last shade of dignity he had.
Even then, Ryker let it pass, not because of his bias for his daughter but due to the fairness of the duel had
Since the duel was on Lucien' and Clara's agreement, it was fair to say that they didn't have any right to interfere except in any life-threatening situation.
Ryker thought the matter would end there as Lucien was considerably weaker as compared to Clara, however...
A month later, both Lucien and Clara disappeared from the estate.
The entire mansion went into chaos. Ryker himself led the search.
He found them eventually, but instead of relief, what he saw was his nephew attempting to assault his own cousin in an abandoned garden house on the outskirts.
Ryker nearly killed him then and there.
But he didn't.
Because he couldn't.
He suppressed the whole thing and buried it so deep it became a family secret that no one dared to mention.
From that day forward, Ryker lost whatever shred of sympathy he had left.
He never looked at Lucien again.
Until now.
And this was that moment.
I could tell...this was the first time Lucien had been in front of the Duke since that day.
'Wow… what a fun legacy I've inherited,' I thought dryly.
But still… I wasn't Lucien.
I wasn't going to get dragged into this family drama or try to redeem his name or whatever. I just needed to survive.
I glanced at Rian, who was standing behind me to the side. He was giving me a strange look with wide eyes, a subtle nod and a slightly panicked expression.
…Was he trying to signal me?
Oh. Right.
The greeting.
'Right, right… I should probably not just stand here like a brick.'
I took a step forward and dipped my head slightly, placing one fist against my chest in what I vaguely remembered was a formal greeting in this world.
"Greetings, Lord Duke," I said, my voice neutral.
Ryker didn't blink.
Didn't move.
Didn't acknowledge me.
He simply turned his gaze to the paper on his desk and picked up his pen, scribbling something down as if I didn't exist.
A sigh slipped out of me.
Yeah, that cold shoulder wasn't for professionalism. It was because my face probably made him want to commit murder.
Still, I pulled in a breath and stepped forward slightly.
"What is the matter that you've summoned me, Lord Duke?"
I tried to keep my voice steady, but a thread of nervousness wove through the words.
Can't blame me though.
In one of the routes in the game, the Duke literally killed Lucien without a single line of dialogue.
It was just cold steel and a grave.
Recalling it made me a bit anxious.
'He's not gonna kill me, right?'
'C'mon, old man. Say something already.'
I was starting to realize that silence, when wielded correctly can be scarier than yelling.
To my relief, his voice cut through the room like ice cracking in still water.
"You have some guts to speak without my permission."
I swallowed.
"My apologies, sir. I didn't mean any disrespect," I said calmly. "As you know, I've been prescribed rest these last few days. My body's not in the best condition, so… I may be a little agitated."
His eyes snapped to mine.
They were sharp and piercing.
I felt it, like cold claws running down my spine but I didn't flinch.
Then, just as suddenly, he looked away. Back to his papers.
"Very well. You were summoned to report about the incident."
...Incident?
What incident?
I racked my brain.
There was nothing.
Either it happened before I got here, or it was something never shown in the game.
I took a gamble.
"As you may not be aware, my lord, I seem to be suffering from a mild case of amnesia. My memories are... fragmented and cloudy. There are holes I can't fill."
The Duke paused mid-stroke with his pen.
He stared at me again which was a little longer this time. As if trying to read past the words that I have just said.
Then he looked back down and spoke again.
"When you remember anything about the incident, inform Rian immediately."
"Yes, my lord."
Technically not a lie. I didn't know everything about Lucien.
I only knew what the game had shown me and even that wasn't much when it came to the backstory.
As I was about to ask if I could leave, the Duke spoke again.
"The Awakening Ceremony will be held in a week. Prepare yourself. If you fail to meet the required standard, you will be stripped of your heir status."
He didn't look at me when he said it.
It was dismissive as if he wasn't trying to hide his intentions.
I frowned, but not out of sadness.
Honestly, I didn't even want to be heir. It was more than a headache I could handle.
I have much more important things to do than waste my time on a political game.
"Understood. I'll take my leave then."
I turned, not waiting for a reply, and walked out.
As soon as I closed the door behind me, I exhaled hard and let my shoulders slump.
"That was exhausting," I muttered.
"If every conversation takes this much effort, then yeah... I'm totally screwed."