Lorian was trying to figure out what would be the best answer, but Lord Elmsworth stopped him in his tracks.
"You don't need to answer; I think all three of us have an idea who it might be. But let me tell you something, for you are going to take my place in the future!" Lord Elmsworth spoke as he stood up from the couch and slowly walked towards Lorian.
"First, each and every employee of the Throne Household is supposed to be first loyal to the Head of the House, and then the person they are assigned to.
If someone places his loyalty to his personal master instead of the Household first, his loyalty is already compromised."
Lord Elmsworth walked to Lorian and put his hand on his shoulder.
"You are thinking, why am I acting so rudely with you? Because, my son, I am utterly disappointed at you.
I had high hopes for you taking my place before the end of the year.
But it seems you have a lot to learn yet!"
Lorian gulped.
He bowed his head and, in an apologetic tone, asked his father, "Forgive your naïve son, Lord Father, but I am still unable to understand why it is such a big deal if my people are loyal to me first! Is it not the same as being loyal to the House of Thorne?"
Lord Elmsworth tilted his head backward and took a deep sigh.
"Imagine 20 years in the future.
You are lord of the House.
Your son, who covets your seat or just hates you for whatever reason, asked one of his knights or servants to kill you.
And his men follow his bidding to take your life, despite his loyalty being supposed to be to you first and then to your son! Can you get it?"
Suddenly everything became clear to Lorian.
He saw reason behind his father's frustration.
"Forgive my naivety, Lord Father," he sincerely apologized, "but why then did you let me employ Jax and Zara, who are directly my employees?
Is it not dangerous?"
Now Lady Seraphina broke her silence.
"Indeed it was unprecedented, but I allowed it because your situation is completely different.
In this palace, other than us and a handful of people, most people still do not trust you much.
They have been used to believing Cassian as their next lord.
Their loyalty is towards Cassian.
So, before you exert your undisputed dominance, you need your own people.
That is why I personally asked your lord father to allow it specially!"
Lorian bowed to his mom with utmost gratitude. And then asked his father,
"Then, why do you think my people did it wrong to bring the rumor to my attention?"
"Because," Lord Elmsworth patted his head, "they betrayed the House, the lord. I would be happy if your bird had tweeted you about a scheme or rumor about Cassian or anyone else; that was their duty.
But spreading rumors about the Lord of the House is utter betrayal.
And you bringing it here in front of us instead of doing nothing to your bird is a show of utter incompetence!
Do you need any further explanation?"
There was a subtle frustration and anger in Lord Elmsworth's tone that he could not muster his courage anymore to interject.
He wished goodnight to his parents and decided to walk towards the room.
Near the room, he remembered, he still needed to know whether the rumor was true.
The Adrian in him was poking him to ask to sate the curiosity, while the Lorian self knew it won't be a good idea.
But Adrian overpowered Lorian, and he ended up asking the question.
Lady Seraphina, in a cold voice that was a mix of frustration, sadness, and anger, spoke, "IF it was something to discuss with you, we would for sure take you into confidence. Why are you…?"
Lord Elmsworth took a deep breath and spoke to Lorian; his voice was deeply steeped with frustration.
"You know Cassian and all the other families were pushing me to put you at the helm of the Pirate Subjugation Operation.
Their official agenda was to prove your capability to take my place, but I—we,me and your mother—knew it was a trap to oust you.
Before you came, we were speaking about that only.
She was constantly persuading me not to give in to their demand and send you to the trap.
And I was convinced by her reasoning, but…"
He glanced at Seraphina with a defeated look, then looked back at Lorian.
"But now I also feel you should lead the operation.
You need to grow up.
You need to face hurdles.
Flipping pages of old tomes in the library may have made you knowledgeable, but you are still far from political and practical reality.
Things that can't be taight from books, but only from real life.
You need to prove yourself.
I am giving you complete authority to do what you feel is best and take any decision you deem necessary.
But I need results."
Lord Elmsworth shed the persona of Lord of the House and held his dear son's hands and requested in an earnest voice,
"Don't disappoint us, son. Have success!
For Veridia,
for the Thorne House,
for us—your parents!"
Lorian had nothing to speak of.
His eyes were full of tears, and fear, and uncertainty.
And in his mind, he knew he was the reason.
Although he still was not completely sure exactly what was his fault, he knew it was his.
He just nodded but could not speak up and walked out.
Jax was waiting for him outside.
The Beastman did not overhear anything; mainly, he did not wish to eavesdrop on his master, but his bestial instinct could sense something was wrong with his master; he was not well.
He could smell the sadness on his master.
He did not utter a single word, just silently followed.
In front of his room, Lorian spoke to Jax in a heavy voice, without turning his head to look at him.
"See you tomorrow morning. Good Night!"
Elara was preparing his room.
She too realized something was wrong. So without many words, she bowed, wished her master good night, and left the room.
As he closed the door, dimmed the light, and let his body sink into the soft bed, a familiar voice whispered on his face, "So, you got your lesson?"