Arthur sighed aloud, the sound carrying a weight of frustration that startled everyone in the room. Up until this moment, he had been quiet, listening carefully as Endeavor and Lucian went back and forth. But now, it seemed he couldn't remain silent any longer.
"Look, kid," Arthur began, his voice low and gravelly as his eyes met Lucian's with an intensity that made the boy's skin crawl. "I know how you're feeling. Believe me, I know exactly what you're feeling."
Lucian flinched at the sudden change in the atmosphere. Arthur, the man who had been so silent and composed, now radiated an aura of raw power that filled the entire room. He was no longer just the strongest man in the world by title Lucian could feel it now, like a force pressing down on him from all sides. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to remain calm, to keep his face neutral.
Ding!
[Congratulations, Host. You have unlocked the skill: Poker Face F]
The system's notification rang in Lucian's mind, but he ignored it, pushing it aside. Now wasn't the time for distractions. He had to focus on Arthur.
"Arthur, don't" Endeavor interjected, his voice tense as he tried to calm the situation down.
But Arthur shot him a glance, his eyes dark and unyielding. "Calm down, Jett." His tone was ice-cold, sending a shiver down Endeavor's spine. "I'll handle this for now. As much as that thing is important, I won't stand by and let this kid make the same mistake I did. I won't be the reason he regrets his entire life."
Endeavor swallowed hard, recognizing the danger in Arthur's voice. He knew Arthur well enough to understand that once the man made up his mind, there was no turning back. When Arthur was in this state determined and unwavering it was best not to argue. Even he wasn't foolish enough to provoke Arthur when he was like this.
Lucian, on the other hand, could barely contain his shock. Arthur's sudden shift in demeanor caught him off guard, and the pressure in the room seemed to double as Arthur's emotions began to bleed into his surroundings. The air felt thick, heavy with tension, and for a brief moment, Lucian felt like he could hardly breathe.
But he wouldn't back down. He couldn't back down. He tried to keep his face calm, taking deep, slow breaths.
Arthur's eyes bore into him, as if daring him to say something. "Did you hear what I just said?" Arthur asked, his voice a growl, filled with barely restrained frustration.
Lucian swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Yes, sir. What about it?"
Arthur narrowed his eyes at the boy, and Lucian felt the weight of his gaze like a hammer. "Do you think I'm joking?"
Lucian steeled himself, forcing his emotions into check. He wasn't about to crumble, not in front of these people. "No, I don't think you're joking, sir," he replied, his voice steadier than he expected. "But I won't regret it. I'd regret it if I went to find them. I don't know what you've gone through or how you've handled things, but I'm not you. I don't feel the same way you do, and I don't care what you say. I'm repeating myself first with those officers, and now this."
Arthur's glare intensified, the room growing colder with every word Lucian spoke. The audacity, the sheer nerve of this boy Endeavor and Aria were both taken aback. It wasn't often that someone had the guts to speak to Arthur like this, let alone a kid. Arthur Nightshade, the man who could bend the will of nations, was now being talked back to by a sixteen-year-old with nothing to lose.
In their minds, it was both impressive and incredibly stupid. Impressive because the boy had guts. Stupid because those guts might just get him killed.
"Boy, you've got guts, I'll give you that," Arthur muttered, his fists clenching tightly. His knuckles turned white as he held back his growing anger. "But I'm not here to babysit you. I'm telling you things that you will regret in the future."
Lucian's frustration mounted. He didn't need a lecture. He didn't need anyone's pity or their warnings. He clenched his fists, his knuckles digging into his palms. "And I'm telling you that I don't care. Give me one good reason why I should."
Arthur's eyes darkened. He was losing his patience, but Aria's voice echoed in his mind.
"Don't get mad at his words, Arthur. He doesn't know any better. He's just saying what's on his mind unconsciously." Aria's laughter trickled through the mental link, but Arthur wasn't in the mood for jokes.
"I know, I know, wifey," Arthur responded with an exasperated sigh.
Arthur looked back at Lucian, his expression stern. "You want a reason? Fine, I'll give you several. What if she had no choice but to abandon you? What if it was an accident? What if she didn't even know you existed? What if she truly loves you but left for your own safety?"
As the words spilled from Arthur's mouth, Lucian found himself staring at the man, eyes narrowed in disbelief. Did Arthur really believe what he was saying, or was he just trying to convince himself? To Lucian, it sounded like the latter. The words seemed hollow, more like Arthur was grasping at straws to prove a point.
Lucian studied Arthur carefully, from head to toe, his sharp eyes catching the subtle tension in Arthur's posture. "And what does that have to do with me?" Lucian said bluntly, the edge in his voice unmistakable. He was frustrated, tired of the constant reminders of his past. "She abandoned me. That's the only fact that matters. Whatever the reason was, it doesn't change what I went through. It doesn't change the fact that I've lived with that pain my whole life."
Arthur was momentarily taken aback by the boy's defiance. He hadn't expected Lucian to push back like this. He could feel the frustration boiling over, not just in Lucian's words, but in his very presence. The kid had guts, but Arthur could sense the underlying pain, the deep scars that no amount of reasoning would erase.
"Let me ask you something, sir," Lucian continued, his eyes never leaving Arthur's. "Given that you and these others came here because of my background, I assume my family is powerful. I won't ask about my father, but tell me this: is my mother strong?"
Arthur blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. He hadn't anticipated such a direct question. For a moment, he glanced at Endeavor and Aria, who were barely containing their amusement at the situation.
"Told you this would happen," Endeavor's voice rang in Arthur's mind, a playful smirk in his tone. "Now you're getting roasted by a kid."
Arthur sighed, scratching his head. "Yes, your mother is strong. Very strong."
"And during the time I was born, was she weak? Did she have political problems or any other issues?" Lucian pressed.
Arthur hesitated, knowing where this conversation was headed. "Not that I can recall," he replied slowly. "But I don't know her personally."
Arthur felt a chill run down his spine recalling the memories 16 years ago
The Chrimson Queen on her World conquest
Lucian's expression hardened. "So, based on what you've said, she just didn't want me. Even if she did, I won't accept her not after what I've been through."
"You'll regret this decision, kid," Arthur warned, though his voice lacked its earlier fire. but believe me one day...you will indded be just like me.....not strong as me tho