"But-" Yujin tries to say.
"I don't think you're in a position to say anything." Lord Byrnard cuts Yujin off with a glare. "You don't seem to grasp how serious this situation is." He steps closer and leans down, a strand of long black hair falling over his shoulder. "You attempted to steal a highly dangerous weapon, Yujin. The King's weapon. Speak of this to no one. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my Lord." Yujin mutters as he tightens his grip on the metal arm.
"Take your son home, Versance." Lord Byron waves his hand and the cuffs around Yujin's wrists release.
"Yes, my Lord."
***
Yujin doesn't consider himself a villain. The word itself is considered a broad term, depending on the person who uses it. When his mother, Yuri, called him that while she was scolding him over the phone, she was being overly dramatic.
Just because Yujin attempted to steal an S-Rank item, is he suddenly the worst scum of the earth? To Yuri, yes. To Yujin, definitely not. The true villain of what happened is obviously the other masked man who framed him.
Not that Yujin told her about him. Just like during the interrogation with Mr. Gigi, Yujin couldn't bring him up no matter how much he wanted to.
It's like he's cursed to keep his mouth shut.
Yujin huffs as he taps his foot against the ground, his arms crossed over his chest. Despite not wanting to go to the esper academy, he can't help but feel relieved that his mother isn't there to scold him in person. Being the headmistress, she's obligated to be at the academy grounds before anyone else.
The sound of hooves comes down the road that leads to their four acre house. The sight of two large deer comes into view, their majestic antlers adorned with silver ornaments that glisten in the morning sunlight. Pulling behind them is a maroon and white carriage with gold trimming and silver steel as wheels.
"Verce!" Yujin screams back at the open front door behind him. "The carriage is here!" His voice shrieks. He ignores the whines of the deer as they come closer, and pushes strands of black hair out of his eyes.
It's starting to get annoying.
Before Yuri left for the academy, she scolded him to get a proper hair cut. Yujin had planned on getting one before she told him, so to spite her, he refused.
Now he's starting to regret it, not that he'll admit it outloud. Every time his head tilts one way or another, his bangs fall into his vision, making it tedious to move them out of the way. However if he shows up at the campus with a trim, Yuri will definitely say 'I told you so'.
And that's the last thing he wants to hear from his mother. So suffer he shall. At least, for a while.
"What have I told you about your shouting!" Yujin's father shouts as he walks out of the double doors that lead to their two story house. His first born son, Verce, comes out behind him, carrying two luggages on either hands.
Unlike Yujin, his brother looks more like their mother than their father. With ashy hair and silver eyes, he's practically a spitting image of her.
Yujin groans as he takes in the heavy suitcases, Verce packed a lot more than he did. Sitting up beside him is a single suitcase. With a few sets of clothing and undergarments, he didn't see the need to bring anything else. His uniform will be provided for him in his dorm room.
"If you scare away the deer again, you'll have to find another way to the academy!" Versance continues.
Yujin smirks, as if his father's voice was any better. The deer, although skittish now, don't run away and stop so the carriage door is right in front of him. The coach hops down from his seat at the front and bows.
"My lord." He says as a greeting and opens the carriage door.
"Not a god damned Lord." Yujin mutters as he climbs in. He's more of a Sir than anything. Definitely not a Mister, a Mister is for someone much older than he is.
"Excuse my moody young man." Versance says loud enough for him to hear. "He's upset because his mother had to leave a week early and couldn't see him off."
Yujin scoffs as he shifts to the very edge of the seat to look out the carriage window. As if.
"He's unreasonable, is what he is." Verce mutters as he climbs in. He glares at Yujin as he takes the bench seat opposite of him. He reaches up to adjust the button of his dress shirt, the collar sharp around his neck.
"Am not." Yujin mutters. He begrudgingly lets Versance lean in through the door to ruffle his unruly mop of black hair.
"It's the first day of your first year. Don't be a grump." His father says softly. He pats Verce's head and steps back. The coach shuts the door, accepts the tip of silver corns from Versance and begins the long journey to the academy.
"Must you always be so pissy?" Verce grumbles as he leans back on the bench seat. He glares at Yujin across from him, but he doesn't spare him a glance.
"Not always." Yujin murmurs as he glares out the window, his arms crossed over his chest. He's only upset now because he has no say in going to the campus. If he did, he'd stay at home and practice his skills in their backyard.
"Maybe you shouldn't have broken into the museum." Verce taunts him. He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees, his ash hair stiff with gel.
It smells of herbs that makes Yujin's nose tickle, and his upper lip curls in distaste as he leans further back.
"MaYbE yOu ShOuLdN't HaVe-" Yujin starts to mock him but Verce slaps a palm over his mouth.
"Just act your age, please?" His older brother urges. When Yujin licks his palm, Verce cringes and drops his hand. He wipes it on his trousers and narrows his eyebrows, "I don't want to deal with this the entire ride there."
"Fine." Yujin rolls his eyes and stands up to lean out of the window.