“Jared, you really!”
The presence of Wahash disappeared, and the moment he let his guard down—Olivier slapped him.
It was so sudden that by the time he realized it, a palm was already in front of his eyes. He was able to block it, but seeing his fiancée with tears welling up in her eyes, he stopped moving, and the impact ran across his cheek.
“What were you thinking, fighting someone who claims to be your grandfather of all people!”
“I-I’m sorry.”
He reflexively apologized to his fiancée’s unprecedented anger.
“Even if that man’s ideas were extreme, there was no need for you to put yourself on the line for the cause of your mother’s death. I just didn’t want you to get involved in something like this.”
“I’m sorry, Olivier.”
Wiping his tears, he apologized again to Olivier, who glared at him with accusatory words and eyes.
However, he had no regrets. He would make sure they paid for their crimes. He didn’t believe that killing them, like he did Wahash, would solve everything.
In his heart, he thought killing them would be faster, and he wouldn’t mind doing it himself. However, he understood that method was wrong.
“Jared, no matter how skilled you are as a magician, you can’t beat Father-in. You don’t need to get hurt for that man’s sake, just leave him alone.”
“I appreciate your concern, but don’t act like a father to me now!”
“Jared!”
He knew Johan was worried, but Jared couldn’t honestly accept his father’s feelings.
It was too late, just as he had said.
He had heard from Wahash that Johan had affection for Jared. His father did not deny it. However, he had not heard the crucial reason.
He understood that his placement in the facility was not his father’s will, but it was still a fact that he was being kept away. He didn’t intend to make him explain everything, but at least a minimum explanation should be given. Until then, their relationship would not change.
“Even if I know you loved me as your son, my feelings are different. I can’t forgive not knowing the reason for my mother’s death, and I don’t like that you’re doing nothing about the cause.”
“You’re right. What you’re saying is reasonable.”
“Even with some of it being a temper tantrum, I can still accept Wahash’s anger, which is directed at my mother, more readily.”
He felt Wahash’s anger was pure. Though he was trying to involve innocent people through his rage, he could understand his feelings.
However, he couldn’t understand Johan’s feelings. It was fine that he hid the fact that his mother committed suicide, knowing it. But if he knew that Annette and the Paggio Viscountcy were the cause of her suicide, he should have visibly gotten angry like Wahash.
Annette was also a consort. She might be one of Johan’s wives, but if he felt nothing towards those who were plotting to take over the Daum Barony—he could only be disappointed.
“I don’t want to talk about us right now. Wahash will definitely kill Annette and the others. First, we need to secure their bodies. If they committed a crime, they should be judged fairly.”
“I understand. Let’s do what we need to do now. Annette is in her room. She seems to be talking to Rex and Claire.”
“To be so carefree when there’s a threat to life—ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?”
Reflecting on the hidden truths of his mother’s death, the reason behind it, and his father’s true feelings, Jared thought so from the bottom of his heart.
“Olivier, please stay here.”
“No, I’m going too. I don’t know if you can remain calm in front of Annette Paggio, and it would be awkward for you to act alone with Father-in.”
“But…”
He was genuinely happy with Olivier’s feelings but hesitated to involve her.
Although it was late, with an ugly fight about to happen, Jared didn’t want her to be involved. There was also danger, as the leader of Waalthe would attack tomorrow.
There was also the possibility that Annette, whose misdeeds were revealed, would act recklessly and cause trouble. He wanted Olivier to stay far away.
“Jared…”
“Mother?”
Karina, who had been sobbing since the cause of her mother Liz’s suicide was revealed, looked up at Jared with tear-streaked eyes and spoke to him.
“I know that no amount of apology will be enough, but please let me apologize—I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”
Jared lowered his gaze at the apology from the stepmother he had admired.
He had to tell himself not to get emotional right now.
He held no grudge against Karina. She had always shown him affection, and he was indebted to her. More than anything, his feelings of her being like another mother had not changed. Still, if he didn’t consciously try to remain calm, he felt he might say something heartless to her.
“I don’t have the emotional capacity to say anything to you right now. Olivier, could you please look after Mother?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Thank you. Roik—”
“Y-yes!”
He smiled wryly at his brother, whose voice was strained with nervousness, and gently stroked his head.
“She’s your mother, so stay by her side and support her.”
“Understood, Brother!”
Whether it was from the joy of being relied upon, or because his brother treated him as a brother even after knowing the fact that their mother, Karina, had tried to kill Jared’s mother though it was for his own sake, or perhaps both. Roik responded firmly to his brother, who was stroking his head.
Johan, unnoticed by anyone, looked at Jared and Roik with a gentle gaze and smiled quietly.
“Well then, let’s go to Annette’s.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
This time, there was no voice from Karina to hold them back, and the Jared party left the room.
