Ruth remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the tranquil lake as she mulled over numerous thoughts.
Her family was the most important thing on her mind at that moment.
Leonard had said things that could lead to his imprisonment by the family or even his death. His thoughts were dangerously rebellious, but there was nothing to worry about.
The family was immensely influential and powerful, with resources beyond measure. If they couldn't protect themselves from a mere child, then they didn't deserve their position.
Ruth's role was not to serve as a caretaker or guardian. Besides, the boy wasn't an outsider she needed to be on guard against. Regardless of what others might say, he was her biological grandson—a member of her own family.
Once she connected all these points, the decision-making process became clearer. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Leo.
"You, child…"
Ruth paused, taking in the gentle features of Leo's face.
"…you really did inherit all of Anne's good traits."
Leo placed his palm over his chest and bowed respectfully. "Thank you."
He then sensed something unusual about the conversation. From the beginning, his grandmother had mentioned his mother's name frequently. How did she know her so well?
As far as Leo knew, his mother's relationship with his grandmother was purely transactional, not sentimental. So why was his grandmother showing such a range of emotions in front of him?
Curious to learn more, Leo asked directly, "Are you close with my mother?"
Hearing his question, Ruth turned to look at the lake once more. "I like the young lass. She works hard, is talented, and utilized her entire potential to the best possible extent. I see my younger self in her and…"
It turned out that his grandmother did have some sentiments and wasn't as cold-hearted as he had thought.
He could now understand why there were certain privileges reserved exclusively for him and his family. For instance, being transported from the archipelago to Silver City without any interruptions after leaving the awakening abode was one such privilege.
Nobody intruded upon the Tryst Estate either; they simply delivered a letter stating the urgency of the matter.
It likely had to do with his mother's connection to his grandmother. There was no other explanation.
And if Leo wasn't mistaken, a few years down the line in his past life, his mother was given a hard time by the Ignis. It might have been related to his grandmother's death.
With this new understanding, the chronology made more sense to Leo, and he made a mental note of it.
Ruth chatted for a solid five minutes before shifting her attention to the potion recipe.
"If I survive this… let's have a family dinner."
When Ruth mentioned family dinner, she was referring only to Leo's family and herself. Understanding this, Leo agreed and wished her a speedy recovery.
He stood up and was about to leave when Ruth said softly, "You can go home if you want. There's no need to board the carriage at the pier."
Leo stopped in his tracks. He turned to look at his grandma and shook his head. "It would be troublesome later on if I don't go through this. I also need to visit the treasure vault, so…"
Ruth stopped reading the potion recipe and gazed at Leo. She gave him a curt nod and softly called out, "El."
As he heard that word, something blurry moved past Leo. Before he knew it, a blonde-haired lady in a neat black gothic dress stood before him. She bowed and greeted Ruth.
"El, make sure nothing funny happens in his investigation." Ruth said and then returned to examining the potion recipe. "And give that boy unrestricted access to the treasure vault."
"Will be done, Madam." El bowed and heeded Ruth's command.
She turned around, and her red eyes met Leo's clear green ones.
A snippet of the past quickly flashed in front of Leo's eyes.
It was a warm, sunny day. The blades of grass swayed gently across a vast, desolate field dotted with tombstones. The once-thriving civilization had crumbled into ruins, leaving behind shattered rocks and twisted metal at the edges.
Amidst the desolation, a lady stood beside a solitary tombstone. Her pale skin and flowing black gothic dress starkly contrasted with the vibrant green of the grass. Shielded by a black umbrella from the sun's rays, her red eyes, distant and unfocused, gazed absently at the grave.
A gentle breeze swept past the lady, making her dress and hair flutter. Her now-visible back appeared small and solitary, accentuating her loneliness in the vast field.
'Eleanor…' Leo remembered her.
Eleanor walked up to Leo and extended her palm out. "Please hold it, young master Leonard."
She was a head taller than him, and, just like in the memories, her skin was so pale it seemed she might get sunburned even under shade.
Leo grasped her hand as instructed, and his vision grew blurry. A sudden vertigo made him unsteady, but Eleanor supported him, ensuring he didn't fall.
A few seconds later, the surroundings shifted, and he found himself standing on a pier, not far from a waiting carriage.
"Are you alright?" Eleanor asked, still offering her support.
Leo nodded, and Eleanor released his hand. She guided him into the carriage and saw him off toward the Disciplinary Hall. Although she didn't accompany him, she offered a few words of encouragement before they parted ways.
…..
A group of men in red robes sat behind a semicircular wooden table in a brightly lit hall. Balconies lined the hall, occupied by numerous high-ranking members of the Ignis family.
A young boy in a monochromatic suit, topped with a top hat, walked before the men in red.
He took off his hat and bowed slightly. "Greetings, elders of the Disciplinary Hall."
"Leonard Anne Tryst." An elder seated in the middle called out. "Son of Patrick Ignis and the grandson of Patriarch Francis."
"That would be me, yes." Leo put his hat back on and answered confidently.
"What were you doing in the awakening abode for the seven days? Tell us everything without missing any detail." The elders got straight to the point.
Everyone had been waiting for Leo's point of view, and now that he had arrived, they were eager for answers—especially a certain trio of fathers.
"Kane, is the boy speaking the truth?" Nicholas asked, leaning over the guardrails.
Viren's father, Kane, was skilled at reading body language. He could quickly determine if someone was lying based on their tone and demeanor.
"So far, yes."
Emmett, standing beside Kane, squinted his eyes and said, "Something feels odd about him. He seems a bit too…"
"Natural and confident?" Kane interrupted.
"Yes. He's so natural that it feels unnatural for an eighteen year old kid to be this confident and vocal…"
"I found it odd too…"
The three fathers sensed something was amiss and continued to scrutinize Leo closely. Once the elders' interrogation concluded, they would have the opportunity to ask their own questions. Therefore, they were paying extra attention, making mental notes of everything Leo said.
For one hour, Leo was interrogated by the elders without pause. He remained steadfast in his position, answering every question with fluency and composure, showing no sign of discomfort.
There were no inconsistencies in his answers. He repeatedly stated that he knew nothing beyond entering deep meditation, contracting a constellation, and undergoing a tribulation.
The elders did not press Leo hard, and it was clear why.
They concluded their interrogation saying, "That would be all from the Disciplinary Hall. Now we'd like you to answer some questions posed by the family members seated in the balconies."
Leo nodded in agreement and took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the onslaught of questions that he was about to face. It was certainly not going to be easy.