Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Despite knowing that a determined look alone wouldn’t make him a great swordsman, Lian’s unwavering spirit continued to fill Kait with hope and genuine support.

“Here, take this,” he offered, extending his sword to Lian.

He wasn’t sure what Kait wanted him to do with it, but he was fully aware of the weight of his gesture. To truly confront this situation, he would need to be ready to stake everything, even his own life.

“I’ll let you go If you have the guts to go to the mansion with this sword. But don’t you dare take another step if you’re not prepared for that level of commitment. It will only worsen the situation. The matter is already out of your hands,” Kait advised sternly.

“Master Kait.” Lian’s unwavering gaze met Kait’s eyes as a subtle smile graced his lips. With a show of respect, he lowered his head and extended both hands.

Kait handed over the sword without a word.

“Thank you. I won’t forget this favor,” Lian responded.

“Remember, abandoning a friend is like abandoning another part of yourself. Don’t act recklessly.”

“Yes!” Lian affirmed with unwavering determination. With the sword securely fastened to his waist, he dashed toward the mansion.

Kait watched him go, his gaze filled with a sense of yearning. My role here is done.

The farewell came a bit sooner than expected, but he was relieved they were able to part ways like true men. He hoped for nothing but good fortune for his student’s future.

***

The atmosphere in the mansion was icy. All tasks came to a halt, and the butlers and maids stood in tense silence as they held their breath. At the back of the sofa where the immediate family sat, the head butler, Louis, adjusted his glasses. Beside him, Temuran glared at Sirone with unwavering eyes.

Sirone knelt, bearing the weight of the hostile and disdainful gazes upon him. It felt as though he was standing at the heart of a colosseum.

“Mr. Louis, give me your report,” Bishop commanded.

“Yes, Master Bishop. Sirone was employed by Temuran and has been residing here for a year and six months. He faces allegations of undermining the authority of House Ojent. Many butlers have witnessed the closeness between him and Master Lian. I, too, have heard him speaking boldly to the young master. I will attach the detailed evidence from the statements provided by the butlers, written by Temuran.”

Bishop extended his hand behind the sofa without a word. Louis promptly handed over the documents. The sound of the papers being roughly flipped through echoed across the room.

Leina quietly approached Sirone and whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll try to persuade Father. Nothing bad will happen.”

Sirone slowly raised his head. Contrary to her expectations, she felt a shiver down her spine when she saw his unusually composed expression. There was no trace of fear in his eyes. He’s not pretending to be calm. He’s genuinely looking at this situation with composure.

In fact, Sirone wasn’t afraid. The future was but an illusory concept, for nothing had been determined yet.

After perusing the documents, Bishop spoke up. With his dark hair and cold demeanor, he possessed a voice that could freeze anyone in their tracks.

“Sirone Arian, is the information written in these documents true?”

“Father, Sirone and Lian—”

“Leina, I did not ask you. I will give you a chance to speak, so remain silent for now.”

Leina knew this wouldn’t be easy. Bishop, who relied on principles and cold logic as the basis of his power, was not someone who could be swayed by emotions.

Sirone soon responded, “There’s one thing I would like to ask.”

Even the butlers who were watching were surprised by his calm demeanor, but it wasn’t enough to sway Bishop.

“Go ahead.”

“Hypothetically, if I admitted that Master Lian and I were friends, what would happen to him?”

Leina’s eyes softened with affection for Sirone. Prioritizing friendship in such a precarious situation made him all the more endearing in her eyes.

“Nothing would happen to him. This gathering is to interrogate you, a commoner. Regardless of whatever wrongs Lian may have committed, as long as it is a family matter, we will protect and stand by him.”

Bishop’s words carried a sharp edge, but Sirone was satisfied. Having let go of his concerns, he beamed with a bright smile as he confirmed the truth, “In that case, I’m relieved. Lian and I are indeed friends. We’ve built a friendship over the past year and will continue to do so in the future.”

No one dared to reveal their true feelings, but Sirone’s words caused a great stir. Especially when the truth of the matter, which had been met with skepticism, came to light. The shock felt by the fellow butlers who had lived with him was immense.

What a foolish boy. He has no idea how dangerous the world truly is.

The fact that a nobleman’s heir and a woodsman’s child had been friends for over a year was now a concrete reality, dispelling what had only been a tale told in whispers.

“It seems the weight of House Ojent’s name feels light to you, Sirone. As the master of the house, I will have you executed. Since you entered this house with such a contract from the beginning, you must be prepared for the consequences.”

Leina stepped forward. “Father! Please, just listen for a moment! You said you would give me a chance to speak!”

“That was when there was room for judgment. He has already confessed. It is futile to prolong this any further. Mr. Louis.”

“Yes, Master Bishop.”

“Proceed with the matter. Furthermore, this incident must never be leaked.”

“Understood.”

Leina’s desperation surged. In such a situation, Sirone’s calm demeanor was almost infuriating. But how can I stop this? There had never been an instance where Bishop reversed decisions he had made, even when staking his own name.

“Who gave you permission?” Lian asked, swinging open the mansion door. His presence seemed to infuse warmth into the room. “Who dares to pass judgment on my friend without even seeking my permission?”

“I do,” Bishop stated firmly.

“Why? He hasn’t committed any crime. All we did was become friends!”

“Crimes and executions aren’t always so cut and dry. The matters of nobility are far more complex than you think. The family bears the burden of those complexities, allowing you to grow up as a noble’s son and reaping the special privileges given to you.”

“If gaining such privileges means abandoning a friend, I’ll pass.”

“You’re too naive, Lian. Friendship is a mutual relationship based on trust. Do you think that child truly thinks of you as a friend? How can you be so sure? He could have approached you because he wanted your money. It could be something else, but either way, you wouldn’t be able to discern the truth. So, how can you truly believe in him?”

“Sirone would never do such a thing.”

“That’s exactly the point. How can you believe him? Provide evidence that Sirone is not that kind of person.”

Leina bit her lip. He’s completely trapped. As it was impossible to peer into the depths of people’s hearts. There was no concrete proof of their true friendship.

The chill in his father’s words settled on Lian and caused him to clench the hilt of his sword in silence. Then a sudden warmth surged in his chest as he finally grasped the meaning behind Kait’s words. The realization washed over him, breaking the tension, and Lian burst into laughter. This gathering was not for familial disputes. It was a clash of true swordsmanship.

“It truly is impossible to outwit you, Father. I almost allowed myself to be deceived by you. Evidence of friendship? I trust Sirone. Even if he doesn’t see me as a friend, as long as I believe he is, Sirone is my friend. That Father is clear evidence!”

This time, Bishop’s temper flared, but he couldn’t deny the truth in Lian’s words.

“So, do you intend to defy the head of this household? This is not merely a family matter. Even now, countless nobles are falling, and it is my duty to lead House Ojent. You are my son but don’t think that I won’t banish you,” Bishop warned, underlining the gravity of the situation.

The very notion of banishing his own son left not only the butlers but even the family members visibly stunned.

But Lian did not waver. Instead, he responded with a formality he had not displayed before as if he was establishing a barrier between himself and his father. “If that is the only way to protect a friend, I’ll leave with a smile.”

Bishop struck the floor with his boot. The audacity of a sixteen-year-old boy willing to face such consequences over a matter like this was simply unfathomable. He’s acting recklessly, a behavior unbecoming of a noble. He’s exploiting his father’s parental concern for his own gain.

“Then draw your sword. To bear the consequences means you are prepared to forsake even your family, does it not? If you truly hold your friend dear, then stake your life right here.”

Lian drew his sword in silence. This action further infuriated Bishop. “Do you truly mean to pull your sword against your own father?”

“It is not aimed at you, Father. I have no choice since you don’t believe in my sincerity. I draw my sword to uphold my beliefs.”

“Since when have you begun to hold friendship so dear? You never mingled with your noble peers because they outshined you. You’re seeking comfort by keeping a commoner, someone beneath you, close.”

“You’re wrong this time, Father. Sirone is a friend who shines brighter than me. I want to help him shine from a higher place.”

Bishop was disheartened. What words could have bewitched his simple-minded son to go to such extremes? The master of House Ojent turned his head to Sirone. “Was it you? Did you make Lian like this? Did you convince him that a commoner and a noble can be friends?”

Sirone responded, “I didn’t convince him, but I suppose he is saying so because he believes it.”

Lian stepped in between the two. “Sirone, stay quiet. I’ll handle this. Whatever happens to you, I—”

“Lian.”

Turning around to hear him speak in such a cold tone for the first time, Lian saw Sirone calmly gazing ahead.

“Take responsibility for what you need to.”

Sirone’s composed words, as cold as Bishop’s, sent a shiver through the family, and Lian was no exception.

“Huh? R-right. Of course, I will.”

“But you don’t need to take responsibility for things you shouldn’t. This situation is something we both created. We can face it together going forward.” Sirone, turning to look at Lian, flashed a smile in his eyes. “Even if I were to die right here, I wouldn’t regret becoming your friend.”

A stillness followed. Not only the butlers but even the Ojent family members couldn’t help but feel solemn at that moment.

And for Lian, it was like fuel had been added to an already burning fire. “Yeah! That’s exactly it! Even if I get kicked out of this family, we’ll still be friends!”

The butlers’ sentiments began to sway. At first, they were cynical, but now, they couldn’t figure out whose side to take.

Resting her chin on her hand, Leina smiled. Impressive, Sirone.

With irrefutable logic, he had silenced the adults. The reason nobody could refute Sirone’s words was simple—they were all human, driven by their emotions. Everyone at some point had or wished for such a friend. The ironclad logic put forth by House Ojent was reduced to mere human affairs.

He’s intelligent. In some ways, he reminds me of Father. Even so, the reason she didn’t despise him was because his sincerity took precedence over calculation. Well, I can’t be too sure. But he has the power of persuasion. He makes me want to believe him. Perhaps that is Sirone’s greatest weapon, Leina thought.