"Huh… my godfather?" Max was confused.
Regard furrowed his brows. "Is there something wrong?"
Max paused, thought for a moment, then continued. "Of course. You just said that we have never met, so how can you be my godfather?"
Regard pursed his lips. "…That is true… it would seem I did not word that sentence well."
"Which one?" Max questioned.
"We have met before, Max… But then you were still a baby so naturally, you would not be able to recall anything."
Max was about to speak when the door to his room was smashed and the guards outside rushed in.
"Young lord, we heard another voice in this room apart from yours." They announced as they turned up the magic stones to light up the room.
Both Max and Regard stared at them with blank expressions.
The guards surveyed the room and could not help but wonder why the young lord made such a mess. Moving further, they saw Max kneeling on the ground.
Going even further, they laid eyes on Regard. As though struck by lightning, they stood rooted in their position, their eyes wide in shock.
Regard silently evaluated both of them before proceeding to fake a cough.
As though on cue, the guards regained their composure as they quickly bowed with one knee on the ground. "Greetings, Sage Regard. We had no idea you were the one that was in here with the young Lord."
"No matter, you may rise, I really don't enjoy all the pleasantries that occur amongst nobles." Regard casually said.
At this moment, Max had his eyes on Regard. Under the lighting, he was able to make out his features.
White hair, white beards, a box-like jawline, flat nose, and a happy-go-lucky expression on his face.
As for his attire, he wore a brown robe within and a red armless jacket on top with a pair of brown sandals to match.
Hearing the title affixed to his name by the guards, Max became curious, momentarily forgetting his suicidal thoughts. "Sage… what is that?... I've never heard of it… is that a noble title?... Strange."
Meanwhile, Regard turned his attention back to Max. Crouching low, He moved his palm and placed it on his head. "So how about you tell me why you were trying to harm yourself."
Discarding his unnecessary thoughts, Max turned away, unwilling to speak.
Regard saw this and smiled. "Is the fact that you have no magic so bad that you decided to kill yourself?"
Max was shocked as he turned to face him. Furrowing his brows, he tried to recall if there was anyone like Regard at the hall.
At the side, his guards nodded in understanding, finally realizing why the young lord was acting this way. It was because he failed his test of magic.
Anyway, Max furrowed his brows even further as he realized that Regard was not in the hall. He had kept a close eye on those in the hall while he was eating so he should have at least an impression.
Regard on the other hand was still waiting for an answer.
Without responding, Max removed Regard's hand from his head. "How do you know that I failed my test of magic?"
"Isn't it simple?... I investigated your body and could naturally tell that the amount of magic in your body is not enough to make the magic measurement orb react." Regard casually explained, not at all offended by Max's behavior.
"…Yeah, I failed." Max did not feel the need to hide it since he would be dead soon enough. Regard reached out to touch his head again, about to speak, when he paused, his face knitted into a frown.
"This guy…" He muttered before suddenly moving out of Max's room, his destination unknown.
Max was shocked by this level of speed. "Is this the power that one can control with magic…"
Biting down on his lip, Max could not stall any further. He picked up another mirror shard, intent on ending his life.
Of course, the guards were still in the room and would naturally not allow such a thing. "Young lord, please do not proceed with what you are planning."
With a pained expression, he asked. "Why?... I am useless without magic, it's best I end it all to not be a burden to anyone."
The guards exchanged looks. "Young lord, even if you want to take your life, at least think of Lady Lara, how she would feel seeing the lifeless body of her only child."
Their argument was simple but it caused Max to stay his hand. Gritting his teeth, he muttered. "Mother already suffers at the hands of father and that despicable lady Kara… mother…"
He suddenly realized something crucial he had completely forgotten about.
Max was well aware that his father was a harsh man that did not care about his mother. The only reason he kept her close was because of Max's prospects.
But now… Now that he had completely humiliated his father, what would happen?
Lord Frederick will surely forget he has a son like me… But what would happen to mother?
Oh no!!!
Even though he had known her for twelve years, Max had grown attached to Lady Lara. She was indeed a good woman with a pure heart.
Unfortunately, she got married to a difficult man.
Forgetting the urge to suicide, Max threw the mirror shard away and rushed toward the hall, hopeful that he would find his mother there.
***
Inside the party hall, the nobles had all left with only the Rion family left in the hall.
Lady Kara stood at the table of honor, a bright smile on her face as she watched the show taking place while holding on to her son, Cedric.
"Your stupid child decided to humiliate me in front of the Empire nobles today!!!" Lord Frederick roared in anger as he threw Lady Lara to the ground.
"Ugh." Apart from a pained groan, Lara remained silent. Her eyes trained on the man she called her husband when in fact, she was merely a trophy that he placed little importance on.
If not for the sake of her child… Lara was unaware of what she would have done.
"How dare you glare at me like that?!!" Lord Frederick exploded as he moved to hit her, putting his hand up.
But try as he may, he could not bring that hand down. On the other end, Lady Kara frowned at the entrance of an unexpected visitor.
"We meet again… Lord Frederick." Regard remarked with a smile on his face.