It didn't take long for Lord Stein's personal guard to appear and escort me into his presence. I hadn't intended to meet him so soon, but there wasn't much I could do in this situation. This would be the outcome of my actions. I was handcuffed, and we proceeded towards the mansion. It would be my first time returning to my home since I came back. I hoped everything would be as it used to be, but I knew enough about my relative's extravagance to understand that it wouldn't be possible.
The hallways leading to the throne room had some minor changes—nothing too significant or bothersome to me. Honestly, I even preferred the current state of the place. Near the entrance to the hall, I noticed that an old painting of mine was still in its rightful place, probably left there by Kaden as a sign of respect or because he just didn't want to bother removing it. I paused for a moment in front of the painting. It was a beautiful piece, depicting my father and me side by side. That sight made my blood boil, and the hatred within me returned like a volcanic eruption. For a brief moment, I couldn't hide my thirst for revenge. Without even realizing it, I ended up biting my lip, but thanks to that, I managed to conceal this wave of hatred coursing through my body.
The guard in front of me knocked on the door of the throne room. Shortly after the three knocks had finished, I could hear the lord's voice, demanding to be let in. The large and ornate door was opened from the inside, and I was pushed inside, with the door being closed behind me shortly after. Sitting on my old throne was Kaden Von Stein, whom I knew. Only one thing about him caught my attention: he appeared to be a few years older compared to the last time I saw him. This brought a thought back to my mind: 'How long had I been dead?'
He straightened on the throne, and when he spoke, his voice sounded sharp and powerful.
"I see you had some fun during my son's morning training," he says as he rises from the throne and begins walking in my direction. - "But I must admit, I never imagined a mere servant could humiliate my boy like this. He has been training every day since he was a child, and even though he's very young, he's already capable of winning armed duels against many adults."
He was already standing in front of me, staring at me with his crimson eyes. They showed no emotion but seemed to pierce through my soul.
"Knowing this, imagine my surprise when I was told that my boy simply took a beating from a mere servant who hasn't even reached adulthood and has never wielded a sword in his life."
This caught me off guard. Kaleb wasn't of legal age. I swore he must have been around 22 years old, but it seems I was completely mistaken. Even though this body was nearly the same height as Garrick's, he was still in his growth phase. Not to mention, with proper training, I might be able to surpass the limits the old me had. This was getting me excited. And with the principles of energy control, I could be much stronger than I ever was.
Kaden must have noticed that I had stopped paying attention because, after a nod from him, one of the guards tapped the back of my head and then lifted it, so that I was once again face to face with Lord Stein.
"In normal circumstances, I would have had you executed for the humiliation you caused to a member of the Von Stein family."
These words had shaken me. I had barely come back to life, and I would be decapitated again? It felt like a morbid joke about the universe.
"But, due to all of this, I have an irresistible proposal for you."
He looked at me with a certain interest, which shouldn't be a good thing, considering what Ciel had told me last night about the brutality Stein had shown to a small village just for having his request refused.
"You can die right here as a result of your actions. Or, you can work for me and become a member of my personal guard, the Fangs of Stein. The brutality you've demonstrated is indispensable for this job."
This proposal came unexpectedly. I would have never imagined being invited to join Kaden's personal guard. It wasn't an uncommon situation, but servants didn't often have many of these opportunities in life when they received them.
"With this proposal, you'll only come out on top. You might even have some of your freedom back. Well, a part of it." - Kaden turned and returned to his throne. - "You don't need to answer me immediately, but I hope you consider this proposal carefully."
He sat down, and with a simple hand gesture, he had me removed from his presence.