"Brother," Cygnus called out and stepped forward to stop Linius from getting angry. "Don't worry too much about it. It has been proven that I am of your blood so I'm sure he can't run his mouth any longer unless he intends on saying that the mage and our parents are liars." He was saying this to Linius but his eyes and smirk were directed at the cousin who was being pressured by the mocking gazes directed at him.
Cygnus was simply taunting him and yet the cousin foolishly fell for it. He really can't bear the mocking he was experiencing, what a stupid fool.
"Hey you bastard! Don't celebrate yet just because the main family is protecting you!" The cousin did not back down and instead started to point at the man even though Linius was there.
The hall became silent at the man's words, even more so because he called the second son of the duke and duchess a bastard. Ulysses who was watching on the side had his eyes wide in shock that someone had the audacity to call his child a bastard. Linette, who was supposed to stand by, was ready to go and strangle the man.
Linius who was nearest to his cousin's position was about to confront the man when an arm suddenly fell to the ground followed by a miserable scream of fear from the other person.
The cousin who was completely still at first and even had a grin on his face was now clutching his shoulder where blood was pouring out. He knelt and wept with tears and mucus on his face. His face also started to turn pale because of how much blood he was losing.
"What I hate the most in this entire world are people calling me a bastard." Cygnus was standing before the wailing man with a bloody sword in his hand.
It all happened so fast that none of the guests saw what happened. They just came to their senses when they saw the arm and the blood then the man's scream. And when the realization dawned in, high pitched screams came from the crowd as the ladies turned around to avoid the bloody scene.
Then without hesitation, Cygnus swung the sword again and this time the man's eyes were cut which made him scream even louder. The master narrowed his eyes at the man and felt that it was not enough.
Linius held the master's arm to stop him from going any further. Ulysses and Galahad appeared in front of Cygnus to prevent him from making any more move.
"Get the physician!" The duke ordered and one of the soldiers left in a hurry. The archmage also took action and sealed the wounds to stop the bleeding.
"Why are you going to heal him? He deserves to die for insulting our family. Isn't this how they should be punished?" They heard Cygnus's voice which made the atmosphere tense. "The same with all the people in here who are thinking of plotting against our family, they should all die. Or they can come forward and call me a bastard!" He was smiling while saying all of those words, like they were just some casual phrases he was uttering.
His eyes were also wide like he had gone crazy then he started laughing out of nowhere. Linius pulled him towards him and pulled away the sword he was holding. Linette also came and hugged Cygnus.
"Take him away for now, Linette. We will deal with this." Ulysses did not look back and was only focused on the man who was lying on the floor. "Linius please escort the people out, the banquet is over."
Mr. C and Nina went together with the duchess followed by Astrophos. Linius on the other hand escorted the guests out together with the guards.
Galahad made sure that the man was treated together with the physician they called. They moved the man to a room where the doctor can carefully check him.
Ulysses on the other hand was talking with the young man's family and calming them down. He was doing what he could to compensate for what had happened but they were not relenting and he was getting annoyed.
"How could your son do this to his own cousin?" A woman was balling her eyes out but she was still able to say those words clearly.
"Duke, your son must be punished for what he did! My son lost his arm and now he can't see!" The man who was comforting the woman exclaimed. He won't let this opportunity pass to pressure the duke.
The duke's expression turned stone cold. He had been giving them options for their compensation but they were going too far. Rigel was not even the heir to the dukedom but they were still hell bent on targeting him.
They might have thought that he hadn't seen through their motive. He was willing to take a step for them but they wanted him to go the extra mile.
"Do you really think that I have gone senile nor blind nor deaf? It was your son who started all of this. If he had not slandered Rigel, then your idiot of a son would have complete limbs right now." Ulysses snapped and glared at the two people in the room. "Don't even say anything, because right now if you as much as say a word, I wouldn't think twice and let you suffer the same fate as your son."
Both of them were shocked at the sudden change of how the duke was treating them. "How could you say that duke! We are your family!"
"And Rigel is my son!" The duke roared. "Did you think that I would choose you over my flesh and blood?" He was now truly angry as he gave the couple a fierce glare. "Don't patronize me and leave before I forget that the two of you are Ginehart."
After he said those words, guards came in and took them away. He took several deep breaths before he was able to calm himself. He left the room and followed the halls towards the left wing of the manor where Rigel and the others were.
Linette accompanied Rigel towards his room. They all sat down in the lounge area of the room in silence. Nina was visibly on edge as she looked at the master warily. Mr. C was not feeling well too because of the master.
"Master-" Mr. C wanted to talk to him but he was cut off by the glare that was sent his way. Sensing that the master was not in the mood to talk, he backed off and let him be. Even Nina took it by herself to stand beside the butler.
Linette saw all of that and she was not sure if she should talk with the man or not. Based on how the others reacted to the man, it was not wise to provoke him any further. The dark aura around the man only proved that he was totally angry.
The door to the room opened, followed by the entrance of Ulysses. He instantly looked at the room and felt how unsettling it was inside. He cleared his throat which at least lessened the tenseness inside the room.
"The doctor said that he will live and I've already sent his parents home." He informed them then he looked at Cygnus. He noticed the aura around him but he had no time to think about it, "And you've made quite a mess Rigel."
Only silence met the duke's words. He sighed and rubbed his head to ease the tension building inside of him. They heard another knock then Duke Blackwell came in with his usual frown.
"Why don't you explain to me everything, Duke Ginehart and let's clear everything now while I am still here."