The Virtue Ending
“Power belongs to those who can conceal their emotions behind an unyielding mask.”
Lucien Marcellus, though still in the bloom of youth, embodied an unshakable sense of control—a mastery far beyond his years. His sharp gaze commanded fear, and his name carried a weight that left no room for disobedience. Servants trembled at his presence, and his friends, as ruthless as they were loyal, only strengthened his grip on those around him.
Yet, Lucien was a man of detachment—an observer in a world he neither cared for nor sought to change. To him, life unfolded as it was meant to, a series of inconsequential events, none of which ever managed to spark his interest.
He found no joy in company, no curiosity in the affairs of others, and no desire to disrupt the monotony. His world was neatly arranged, until the day his father returned home with a stranger.
The boy, Noah, introduced as Lucien’s cousin, was young, quiet, and entirely unremarkable.
The boy’s sudden appearance raised more questions than answers, especially since no one had known of his existence until that moment. Lucien, true to his nature, dismissed the development as yet another insignificant twist in his father’s unpredictable whims.
Until he found a peculiar book, one whose cryptic words seemed to draw a connection to the boy.
Against his better judgment, he began to notice the boy’s every move, every glance, every hesitation.
For the first time in his carefully controlled existence, Lucien’s mask faltered.
