Chapter 198:

Chapter 198:

“What? Why?”

“It’s, uh.......”

At Lumen’s innocent question, Korver hesitated for a moment. Lumen, who was staring at him, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Father told me to be a sword, so I’m training every day to be a great sword. ......I thought he would be happy to know that I have what it takes. Am I wrong, Sir Korver?”

Apparently, the first voice Cadel heard was Lumen’s father.

The current head of the Dominic family. Cadel fell into a strange feeling, remembering his dry and cold voice. And that seemed to be the case for Korver as well.

“People don’t want a sword that’s better than its owner, because it’s going to hurt the owner somehow.”

“......Does that mean I’m going to hurt Older Brother?”

“No. That’s not what I mean, Young Master. I just mean that someone might think so, so let’s keep it between us for now.”

Korver tried to divert his words, as if he was worried about hurting Lumen’s feelings. Lumen played roughly in tune for a desperate Korver, but it was obvious that his mind was elsewhere.

‘What the hell?’

And from their conversation, Cadel could guess Lumen’s place in the family.

‘So, Lumen’s father was so fond of the firstborn to carry on the family name that he wanted to raise Lumen as a sword to protect the firstborn so that no one could threaten the position? Judging by the way he avoids highlighting Lumen’s abilities, it seems like he was trying to raise him to be a thorough second-in-command.’

A father instilling obedience to the older brother in his younger son. Though he had never met the man before, Cadel felt a deep contempt for him.

In the meantime, Lumen spoke with a serious face, as if he had gathered his thoughts.

“Sir Korver. In that case, I will not train my sword energy. If this power has the potential to harm Older Brother, I should not have learned it in the first place.”

“Pardon......?”

“Even if I don’t have sword energy, I can still become a great swordsman.”

“Young, Young Master.”

Korver was stunned by the conclusion. Cadel, too, was taken aback by Lumen’s almost na?ve demeanor.

‘What’s with all the goodness? Is it Lumen? Is he doing this because of a bastard called his father?’

Don’t be greedy for anything, and remember your place.

The dull brainwashing must have been deeply ingrained in young Lumen. The sight of a parent ruining a child is always unbearably unpleasant.

“......Young Master. Listen to me carefully.”

Korver got down to eye level with the docile Lumen and spoke in a clear voice to make sure he could hear.

“That power is Young Master’s power. It is your power that you must cultivate and make it your own. It does not belong to anyone, and it is a power that should not be allowed to be wielded by anyone. So don’t get discouraged already. A good swordsman doesn’t quit, doesn’t give up, and doesn’t back down.”

“However.......”

“Be strong. The priority is to train your body and mind and distinguish between right and wrong for yourself. Put aside all other worries and focus only on your growth.”

Korver cared for Lumen like his own younger brother, so he felt sorry for Lumen for trying to kill the bud before it even bloomed. He tried to save Lumen, even though he knew it was far beyond his authority.

Did Lumen recognize Korver’s will? Lumen hesitated for a moment and eventually nodded his head.

The scene transitioned slowly.

Lumen was standing quietly next to the tightly closed door. His face, hidden by the shadowy wall, was dark, and Cadel soon realized the cause.

Beyond the door, his parents were arguing loudly.

“Lumen is your son, Froch! Not a child to be sacrificed for Joseph!”

“Who said anything about sacrifice? It’s only natural for the second son to support the eldest son, who will be the head of the family in the future. I’m not sure why Madam is so upset.”

“Are you serious......? You’re trying to control and suppress everything around him, and when you see something he’s better than Joseph, you run out and trample it, and you hurt anyone who shows interest in him....... Please stop it!”

“Joseph is a child with a weak body and a delicate nature. What would such a child think when he sees his little brother growing up healthy and bright? I’m not trampling on Lumen. I’m trying to protect Joseph.”

Their arguments only escalated. A servant might have come running to take Lumen away, defenselessly exposed to all this bickering, but there was no one around him.

Cadel nervously overheard the story, suffering from the urge to cover Lumen’s ears.

“Why are you so obsessed with Joseph? Joseph’s your son, but he’s also my child. He’s too weak to be a patriarch, and if you put that kind of pressure on him, he could get sick at any moment.”

“......So. Are you saying that Lumen is better suited to be the head of the family than Joseph, who might collapse at any moment? It seems like you want to put Lumen in the position of patriarch, right? As if my eldest son, who is alive and well, is not there!”

“When did I ever say that......!”

The sharp noise of something breaking was accompanied by a woman’s scream. Lumen gasped and clenched his fists. Unsteady, trembling eyes stared at the door.

“Kkyahh! Froch!”

“It’s not about obsession, it’s about following proper rules! You are the ones using Lumen. Not me!”

Unable to stand by and watch the horrific argument, Lumen opened the door and stepped inside. Inside, a woman who looked exactly like Lumen lay on the floor in a disheveled heap.

Her blue eyes, exposed beneath her scattered hair, widened as she quickly composed herself and rushed to Lumen’s side.

“Lumen, what are you doing here when you should be sleeping? Go back quickly.”

“Mother.......”

“Now.”

She pushed Lumen out of the room with force in her trembling hands and smiled, trying to reassure her anxious son.

“I’m fine. It’s none of your business.”

His father had turned his back on Lumen and his wife altogether. Lumen pursed his lips as he took in their contrasting images.

The scene switched again. In a different setting, Lumen’s mother stood in front of a carriage, her face pale, as what Cadel assumed to be her luggage was being loaded into another large carriage. Amidst the bustle of laborers, she stroked Lumen’s head affectionately as he looked up at her.

“Are you sure you want to stay here? Come with this mother. I may not be as powerful as your father, but my family is strong. I can protect you.”

She had decided to separate from her husband. Apparently, Lumen had rejected her offer to leave with her, and her gaze was filled with concern and worry.

Lumen meekly accepted his mother’s touch but shook his head slightly in refusal. From the look of resignation in his young eyes, Cadel could tell what had caused him to reject his mother’s offer.

‘He’s worried. He’s afraid that his mother will be harmed like Korver.’

He was afraid that his mother, who took him away, might get hurt. He chose to remain in the family. The Lumen of the past still looked quite young.

After saying goodbye to his mother, even when he couldn’t see the carriage that had moved away. Lumen stood there, frozen in place.

One by one, the people who cared for him left.