Oelivert clapped his hands once. The sound drew the immediate attention of both blonde youths, their eyes locking onto the man with the opal gaze.
"My apologies. Would you care to know who Master Haze is?"
"Not interested," Rhax replied.
"Explain Nox's condition first," Ron demanded.
A faint smile touched Oelivert's lips. They really are something else...
"Why the silence?" Ron pressed.
The ambient lamplight caught Oelivert's opal eyes, refracting into a subtle spectrum of color. "Regarding Young Master Nox, as I mentioned, he will be perfectly safe under Master Charon's care."
His eyes... why do they look like that? Rhax mused.
"Your proof?" Ron challenged.
"If Young Master Nox's condition were dire, Master Charon—no, all of Ipsix—would already be in utter turmoil."
Ron's gaze hardened. "Because he is the Ruler of Precepts?"
"Precisely, Young Master Ron," Oelivert acknowledged.
Ron fell silent while Rhax took a slow sip from his coffee cup.
Rhax's eyes widened. This taste...
"Is it to your liking, Young Master Rhax?"
Setting the cup back onto its saucer, Rhax grunted, "It's average."
"I shall strive to do better next time, Young Master Rhax."
Rhax clicked his tongue and turned his face away.
Ron let out a long sigh. "If anything happens to Nox, I won't let you off the hook, Oelivert Nigella."
Such a worrywart, Rhax thought, darting a glance back at Oelivert.
The opal-eyed man offered a broad smile. "I am honored that you remember my name."
Ron's gaze remained sharp, the bright blue of his eyes losing its usual shine. He exhaled. "Where is Lian?"
Lian...? Why is his mood shifting again? Rhax wondered.
Oelivert stood up and offered a polite bow.
Both Ron and Rhax froze, their eyes widening.
"Forgive me. If you refer to Master Leuliang, I possess no authority to disclose information regarding his whereabouts."
"What do you mean, no authority?" Ron pressed, stepping forward.
"As a servant bound to Master Haze Kazerin, my jurisdiction extends only to matters concerning the Kazerin family and its domain."
Ron crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. "So Lian falls outside your domain?"
"That is the decree," Oelivert answered.
"What about Honest Peaceraft?" Rhax cut in.
"Young Master Honest... it would be best if you directed that inquiry to Master Haze himself."
"Seems like a different case from Lian's, isn't it? You should be able to explain," Ron pressured.
"I can only state that Young Master Honest remains a close relative of Master Haze."
Ron ran a hand over his face. Young Master Honest, Nox, Rhax, and myself... we all bear that title. What on earth are the Masters of Ipsix hiding from us...?
Rhax took another small sip of his coffee. Ron remained still, his espresso untouched.
Oelivert maintained his bow.
"Do you know Aishira, Oelivert?" Rhax asked suddenly.
"Of course, I—"
"Just sit down. You don't need to keep bowing," Ron interrupted.
Looks like he's calmed down a bit, Rhax noted.
"Thank you, Young Master Ron."
"So?" Rhax prompted.
"Lady Aishira Kazerin is the sole daughter of Master Haze and Madam Asna."
"Asna?" Ron muttered.
"Madam Asna... she is the daughter of Master Charon."
The revelation struck both blue-eyed youths like a thunderbolt. They snapped up from their seats in unison.
"Don't lie to us!" Rhax snapped.
Ron's hands trembled. "We... we are their descendants..."
Oelivert gave a solemn, quiet nod.
"We don't possess power like theirs!" Ron declared, his voice strained.
"The more I learn, the more irritated I get," Rhax growled.
"I must ask both of you to remain calm," Oelivert pleaded.
Rhax waved his hand dismissively, his temper flaring. "Calm?! After absenting themselves from my life for so long, they just barge back in and take people away?!"
"This is not simply a matter of presence and absence, Young Master Rhax."
"Shut up! What do you know about my life...? It's infuriating." Rhax snapped his head away, falling into a silence.
"Young master..."
Ron massaged his temples, Nyx's previous words echoing relentlessly in his mind. So that's what he meant when I asked about my uncle...
Ron's eyes snapped open. "Uncle..."
His vivid blue eyes locked onto Oelivert with fierce intensity. "Is Rhax my uncle, Oelivert?"
Rhax clenched his fists, biting his lower lip until it turned pale.
"You two are not uncle and nephew," Oelivert revealed.
"Then what are we?!" Rhax shouted.
Ron took a step forward. "Answer clearly and truthfully, Oelivert Nigella."
"You are full-blooded brothers."
Ron staggered backward as if struck. Rhax collapsed onto the sofa, his strength completely draining away.
"Full-blooded brothers..." Ron whispered, his voice trembling.
Cold sweat beaded across Rhax's forehead. "No... there's no way... There's no way I'm Ron Eosvile's brother..."
"My head..." Ron groaned, clutching his temples.
As Ron lost his balance and keeled forward, Oelivert darted ahead, catching him before he hit the floor. "Young Master... Young Master Ron!"
Rhax jolted up, his knee slamming hard against the table. The coffee and espresso sloshed over, shattering cups and spilling across the floor. "Ron!"
"Young Master, please try to breathe," Oelivert urged, supporting Ron's weight.
Ron's breathing turned ragged and shallow. "Nox..." he whimpered before his eyes shut tight, slipping into unconsciousness.
Rhax dug his nails into his palms. Even now... he still calls out for Nox...
Without a second thought, Oelivert lifted Ron and rushed out of the room, leaving Rhax standing frozen in place.
Why...? Could the truth really have been too heavy for him to bear? the butler thought anxiously as he carried Ron through the hallway.
Oelivert's opal eyes glittered. This is unthinkable... How could Young Master Honest be so cruel...?
Reaching the quarters reserved for close family, Oelivert placed Ron gently onto the bed.
His body isn't feverish, nor is it cold... Young Master Honest has truly toyed with his memories.
Oelivert quickly pulled a slim device out—resembling a mobile communicator. "To all guards on night duty, report immediately to the western family quarters."
Pockets of light flickered as he stowed the device away. "Young Master Ron... forgive me, but I must check on your brother."
He hurried back to the living room, where he found Rhax sitting motionless, his gaze completely hollow.
"Young Master Rhax, are you alright?" Oelivert asked.
Rhax offered no response.
Oelivert knelt beside him on the floor, unbothered as the spilled coffee soaked into his trousers.
"Young Master, if you harbor anger, you may vent it upon me."
Rhax remained dead silent, staring into nothingness.
"Your brother—"
"He is Nox Eosvile's brother, not mine!" Rhax roared, his voice cracking.
"I understand—"
"You understand what?! You've never even met me before today!"
Oelivert lowered his head.
"Why?! Why didn't you just knock me out like Pakis and Nyx did?!"
Oelivert kept his silence.
In a flash of rage, Rhax grabbed the collar of Oelivert's suit jacket, hauling the man upward.
"What do you know about me?! Those people you call Masters... they never even bothered to look at me!"
Closing his eyes briefly, Oelivert whispered, "I beg of you, please calm yourself."
"You always say calm down! Does staying calm fix a single damn thing?!"
"I know that you—"
Rhax shoved Oelivert back with full force. The butler lost his balance, his temple striking the sharp edge of the wooden table.
A trail of deep crimson welled from the cut, dripping down to mingle with the pooled coffee on the floor.
Rhax stumbled back a step. He looked down at his trembling hands, horrified, and sank to his knees. "I... I..."
Oelivert stood up, wiping the blood from his temple. He stepped closer to Rhax. "I am fine," he said, tilting his head. "Look, it is already healing."
Rhax lowered his head, unable to meet his eyes.
"Young Master Rhax, would you be willing to keep Young Master Ron company?" Oelivert coaxed.
"...Why?"
"If I, or any of the other servants, remain by his side, it may cause Young Master Ron to feel intimidated upon waking. Furthermore... you have known him far longer than I have."
Rhax clenched his fist against the floor.
Oelivert placed his hand over the youth's trembling fist. "At the very least, you are the closest person he has right now."
Rhax looked up at Oelivert, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Thank you," Oelivert murmured.
Slowly, Rhax pulled himself up, Oelivert following suit.
"Young Master, please follow me."
Rhax walked a step behind Oelivert in silence.
When they arrived at the door of the chamber, four armed guards were already posted—two on the left, two on the right. Seeing Rhax approach, the guards bowed in unison.
Oelivert pushed the door open, and Rhax stepped inside.
Two additional guards stood inside the room. Upon seeing Rhax, they approached and bowed.
Oelivert raised a hand, gesturing toward the exit. Understanding the command immediately, the two guards bowed once more and stepped outside, shutting the door behind them.
Oelivert fetched a chair and set it up right beside the bed where Ron lay unconscious.
"Young Master, please, take a seat."
Rhax sat down.
"Do you require anything else?"
Rhax shook his head.
Oelivert pulled out the communicator device again and set it within Rhax's reach. "Should anything happen, press this circular button immediately."
Rhax nodded.
Oelivert kept his warm, reassuring smile intact. It seems he needs time to process everything alone...
"Please do not hesitate to call for me."
Rhax kept his lips pressed firmly together, silent.
"I shall take my leave then," Oelivert said, bowing before quietly stepping out of the room.
The moment the door clicked shut, the tears Rhax had been holding back finally broke free. They traced hot paths down his cheeks, dropping silently onto the bedsheet. "I couldn't even say sorry to him..."
To be continued...