Just as he was enjoying his 'vacation', his eldest brother who had been absent from the very beginning when he arrived in this world that he had already forgotten that he had an elder brother, finally came back. He remembered that Rei was extremely cold towards him, he couldn't help but to be saddened about their relationship that was now probably beyond saving.
Nah he's just kidding.
He doesn't give shit if the man ignores his whole existence since Ryo doesn't have any plans on mending their broken relationship and he doesn't even have any idea why it was broken in the first place. He doesn't know the reason why Rei alienated Ryo and he doesn't want to spend his energy on a brother that totally doesn't like him.
He might as well just use that energy on relaxing. It's better if they don't cross paths. Out of sight, out of mind. Thinking this way, his initial worry was soon swept out of the window as he relished on exploring the history of vampires. Reading about it was like reading a novel, it was very entertaining for him. Too bad he couldn't spend some time outside yet since he's too lazy to move.
He was walking in the corridor, on his way back to his room to enjoy tea time when he suddenly bumped into someone around the corner.
"I'm sorry I didn't….saw you…." He said the last part quietly as he gazed up at the man that was now glaring intensely at him.
The man sneered as he pushed Ryo away as if he was avoiding a plague. Rei dusted off his clothes as he coldly glared at the boy in front of him.
"I told you I don't want to see your face again, right? Piss off will you?" Rei said, extremely annoyed.
'Huh, what's this guy on about…' Ryo thought.
Ryo was dumbfounded as he couldn't wrap his head around how Rei's brain was working. It was probably filled with water. Tsk tsk poor boy.
Misunderstanding Ryo's silence as acquiescence, the man sneered, looking down at his pathetic brother's cowardice. A pathetic coward like this shouldn't even be considered as a vampire. Such a disgrace to their lineage.
"A pathetic coward like you shouldn't even dream about inheriting this duchy. You're not worthy, so give up." Rei said in arrogance and walked away in a good mood at stomping on his brother's pride.
The brother that had his pride "stomped on" was just standing there bewilderedly, thinking that Rei really has a huge brain hole it was beyond saving. Ryo wasn't even affected by Rei's taunts in the slightest bit, instead felt pity towards his eldest brother.
It was nighttime and he was still thinking about his brother's huge brain hole—ehem—attitude towards him. He replayed the memories he inherited once again oh so carefully, not letting any small details go. He's really intrigued by the bad blood between him and Rei. If it was just about getting threatened with having the position that was bound to be his, be stolen by his little brother, then this level of hostility was just too much. Besides, Rei was the eldest and had already acquired the recognition of their father so the position was utterly and surely his so he doesn't need to be so hostile to him.
Ryo doesn't even have the slightest ambition of inheriting the duchy. Leading wasn't his forte. He'd rather spend money to entertain himself than rule a duchy. That's just too boring and tiresome. Even if they force the position on him, he wouldn't take it and would instead travel around the world so they would be forced to give birth to another successor.
He promised himself that he would spend this lifetime leisurely and he would stick to that promise until his death. What power, what fame. He only needs lots and lots of money and he's already happy with that.
Back to the main point, Rei's attitude towards him was really suspicious. As if he's being influenced or something. That was only Ryo's gut feeling and he's willing to bet his sleep on it.
Should he investigate or not?
First things first though, based on the memories he inherited, Rei was a really good brother to him until the ceremony of Rei. They weren't able to see each other for a week before that since Rei was preparing for the upcoming ceremony. All's good until 3 days after Rei's recovery, his good elder brother started acting cold towards him. Baby Ryo thought it was just the aftereffect of the ceremony but that's actually where they started drifting apart.
The baby chased and waited for the elder brother but the elder brother turned his back on the poor baby without any explanation, just leaving behind sharp words. It was sharp enough that baby Ryo's heart bled.
He tried again and again to approach and reach out to his brother but his brother ruthlessly abandoned him. It was quite the heartbreaking sight.
Rei kept on suspecting him of stealing his position but he already told him countless times that he wasn't interested but he wouldn't believe Ryo.
Ryo touched his chin as an idea surfaced in his mind. Surely if he did that, Rei's hostility would decrease. A fox-like smile appeared in his adorable face and finished the snacks prepared for him.
Damien was buried deeply in his documents in his study. He was at home but he couldn't even spend some time with his family due to work. He sorely misses his children and his beautiful wife but he could only endure and work in his study.
A knock interrupted his pity party so he assumed his dignified and cold demeanor that is expected of a Cassius lineage. His adorable little baby went inside his study and slowly approached him.
"Is there anything you need that concerns my presence?" Damien said as if he was talking with a subordinate instead of his son and continued working on a document without even looking at his adorable baby.
He was acting like this because he's just too nervous and excited to interact with his cute little vampire that he really wants to pick up and hug him. Although his outer appearance was still calm and expressionless as always.
In Ryo's point of view, when he entered the room, he was intimidated by his father's aura, thinking that probably father doesn't want to be disturbed while working. Although he was still a little nervous, he still continued approaching his father like a warrior that was about to engage in war.
"Oto-san, I would like to revoke my right to inherit the duchy." Nervousness was evident in that voice but the speaker was firm with this decision.
The listeners were shocked by what Ryo said. Yes, listeners with an s. Ryo deliberately entered his father's study, knowing that Rei saw him and was at the moment spying on him so he left the door a tiny space open just enough space for a vampire to eavesdrop.
This surrender would be useless if Rei couldn't hear it since his main purpose was to let Rei know that he really doesn't intend to contend with him. To reassure Rei that the future position of duchy would always be his so he doesn't have to see him as a threat. This was the only major idea his lazy brain could produce so he could decrease the level of Rei's hostility towards him.
"Why give it up?"
"Because it's supposed to be onii-san's. I don't want to fight with him because of that. I want onii-san to be happy. I don't want onii-san to hate me." Ryo said and pursed his lips as if he was about to cry.
His doe eyes were glistening with tears but he stubbornly refused to let it fall down to show how resolute he is about his decision. Damien's heart was pierced by his baby vampire's arrow of cuteness and blissfully became a puddle.
Though his outer appearance was just as stern as it was before. He even looked more intimidating as he held himself back from spoiling his cute baby son. In Ryo's point of view, he thought his oto-san was holding back his anger. Sure enough, he got mad. Was it too late to take it all back? But his onii-san was still currently listening so he could only grit his teeth and endure and continue acting.
He's totally going to eat a lot of chocolate cake to placate his bleeding heart. His oto-san was probably thinking of a punishment for his insolence. He could only hope that his oto-san wouldn't kick him out of his beautiful haven. Ryo and Damien were thinking in a different brainwave causing them to misunderstand each other.
Ryo's resolute appearance was mistaken for bravery when in fact he just had no choice but to endure while Damien was thinking on how to pamper his cute baby vampire was mistaken as him thinking of ways to punish his son. How laughable.
"Alright, do as you wish." Damien said, looking straight at his son's eyes. There was a hint of pride and joy in his eyes that even Ryo could see it but pretended he couldn't.
A bright and warm smile bloomed in Ryo's face that made him more lovely than he already is. Damien once again died from his son's cuteness that he even stopped writing. Finally achieving the result he wanted, Ryo bid his farewell and went to the library with a satisfied smile on his cute chubby face.