Pavel frowned, surprised by Lucian's sudden question. It sounded simple, but there was something strange and heavy behind it. He stared at Lucian's face closely, trying to understand what his young master really wanted to ask. "What do you mean, Young Master? You look handsome as always," Pavel replied, his voice sounding a bit unsure. He didn't get why Lucian was asking like that. There was something odd behind that question.
Lucian was silent for a moment, then shook his head slowly. "You're being honest with that, right?" he asked, his voice sounding a bit disappointed. He looked at Pavel with an expression that was hard to read. "I mean... is there something wrong with my face? Or a scar? Or an unhealable wound? Something... terrible?" He added the last question in a voice that was almost a whisper.
Pavel was silent, looking at Lucian with a concerned and slightly worried gaze. He started to realize that something more serious was going on. Lucian's question wasn't just a regular question; it was a manifestation of deep fear and confusion. "Young Master..." Pavel began, his voice soft and empathetic. "I don't see any abnormalities or injuries on your face. You look... like usual. But..." He hesitated for a moment, "Are you going through something that makes you feel this way?" He tried to approach Lucian carefully, trying to understand what was really happening.
"No, I just feel... like something's off with my face," Lucian said, his voice sounding uncertain. He still couldn't quite explain what he was feeling, but he was sure something was wrong. He recalled the dark shadow covering his face in that memory, and the strange feeling that came with it.
Pavel took a deep breath, his voice sounding a bit tired. "Young Master always thinks like that...," he said, his tone soft yet firm. He tried to calm Lucian, to reassure him that there was nothing wrong with his face. "Overall, your face is not weird at all! Your eyes are as beautiful as amethyst sparkling in the twilight, a mesmerizing pinkish-purple. Your hair is also as smooth as winter silk, elegantly silver-gray. And your face... smooth like the finest porcelain, soft and clean like fresh milk. So, don't think about stuff like that anymore!" He tried to give sincere compliments, trying to convince Lucian that he was very handsome and there was nothing wrong with his face. "Ugh, I'd be so grateful if you let me see your face."
However, Pavel's words seemed to be lost in the wind. In Lucian's mind, Pavel's voice sounded faint and distant, like a voice from another world. He could still see Pavel's lips moving, see the concerned expression on his face, but his words didn't reach his ears. It felt like there was an invisible barrier blocking Pavel's words, preventing him from hearing the praise and comfort being offered. There was only one voice he heard clearly—the cold, piercing voice coming from within himself, a voice that kept repeating the words: "Your face is a mistake. Don't show it to anyone again."
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"Apa... what happened...?" Lucian murmured, his voice barely audible. He curled up in fear, feeling the deep pain and despair wash over him again. He tried to push the voice away, to reject the memory, but he couldn't. The voice was too strong, too real, too painful. He felt trapped in a vicious cycle, stuck in horrific and endless memories. He wanted to scream, he wanted to ask for help, but he couldn't. He could only curl up in the darkness, waiting for it all to end.
"Young Master...!" Pavel called, his voice filled with panic. But for Lucian, that voice was like a whispering wind in the distance, completely unheard. The world around him was silent, filled only with the sounds of his terrifying memories.
"Young Master...!!" Pavel tried again, this time with a louder and more desperate voice. He shook Lucian's body gently, trying to pull him back into the real world. However, Lucian still didn't react. He is still trapped in the grip of his memories, isolated from the outside world.
It wasn't until Pavel called out to him even louder, "Huh?", that Lucian gasped. He felt the vibration in his body, the touch of Pavel's hand on his arm. "Young Master... Are you okay?" Pavel asked worriedly, his voice sounding soft but firm. He looked at Lucian's pale and exhausted face, and he sensed that something was wrong.
Pavel looked at Lucian with a worried expression. He saw the exhaustion and despair on his Young Master's face. He suddenly forgot how sensitive that face was for his Young Master, "Alright, I'm sorry, Young Master," Pavel replied, his voice soft and understanding. He bowed slightly, showing his respect and concern. "Well then, I'll take my leave." He turned and walked out of the room, leaving Lucian alone. But he didn't leave right away. He stood outside the door, waiting for a moment before actually leaving, making sure that Lucian was really okay.
Pavel let out a heavy sigh, a long breath filled with regret. "Huh, I got too excited," he mumbled, his voice barely audible. "I know this topic is really sensitive for the Young Master. Because I was too happy he asked about it, I got too carried away," he continued, staring at Lucian's room door with a regretful look. "I hope the Young Master doesn't hate himself again," he whispered, as if afraid someone might hear his words. He felt guilty for getting too excited and maybe hurting Lucian unintentionally. Memories of the past haunted him again.
Eighteen years ago... Pavel, who was still twenty-eight, stood tense in front of the Head of the Hale Family, Lucian's father, a man who was twenty-five at the time. They were in a grand yet cold and eerie large room, decorated with luxurious antique furniture that looked gloomy under the dim light. The air was filled with unbearable tension.
"My Lord, that's outrageous! How could you do that to the Young Master?" Pavel protested, his voice trembling with suppressed anger and concern.
"You haven't even given his name yet!" He added that his voice was filled with pent-up anger. He felt it was unfair that Lucian, a very young boy, had to bear the brunt of the mistakes he had made.
"That child's face is very similar to Celestia, I can't accept it... It's like taking Celestia away from me," replied the Hale Patriarch, his voice sounding quiet, filled with pent-up sadness and regret. His eyes were teary-eyed, showing how painful the wound in his heart was. "Even Celestia gave her a very similar name, it made me... It makes me feel hurt and betrayed," he continued, his voice trembling. He seemed to struggle to control his emotions, to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.
"Just because Young Master looks like Madame Celestia, you should care for him!" Pavel shouted, his voice filled with anger and concern. He couldn't accept the Head of the Hale Family's reasoning. For him, the resemblance should be a reason to love and care for Lucian, not to hate him.
"Pavel, since I consider you my friend, it seems like you've crossed the line," the Head of the Hale Family said coldly, his voice turning sharp and authoritative. He glared at Pavel, showing that he would not tolerate Pavel's audacity.
"Let the maid who raised him, just allowing him to live in this mansion is already my kindness to her," he continued, his voice full of arrogance and arrogance. He seemed to think that he had done Lucian a favor just by allowing him to stay in the mansion. He did not realize how cruel his treatment of the child was.
"Thankfully, for the heir I already have Julian as a replacement," the Hale Family Head said, his voice sounding cold and emotionless. He seemed indifferent to Lucian's fate, as if Lucian was just a burden to be tolerated. He got up from his chair, indicating that the conversation was over.
Pavel paused for a moment, feeling the anger and despair bubbling up inside him. He realized he wouldn't be able to change Head of Family Hale's mind. He felt frustrated and sad, but he knew there wasn't much he could do. He could only hope that one day, Lucian would find his own happiness.
"I guess I'm being rude, sorry about that, My Lord," Pavel said in a calm and respectful voice, slightly bowing his head. He didn't want to make things worse. He knew he had to accept Head of Family Hale's decision, even if he didn't agree with it. "Well then, I'll take my leave," he continued, turning and leaving the room with heavy steps. He felt sad and disappointed, but he knew he had to move on with his life. He promised himself to always look out for Lucian and offer help if needed.
"If the second Young Master is like that, then he won't smile sweetly when he looks at me, Master," Pavel said, his voice calm but firm. He looked at the Hale Family Head with a sharp and meaningful gaze. The sentence is not only a statement, but also a veiled challenge. Lucian's sweet smile when he was a baby was clearly remembered in his mind.