"What am I supposed to do?"
The silence was broken by the heavy footsteps of a tall figure.
Lucas Asteria.
My father.
The same man who had delivered the news to Aether—and didn't even bother to show his face afterward.
He spoke coldly.
"To stop sulking first. That's quite obvious."
Facing him, flowers in his hands, I couldn't help but frown. Ignoring the shift in the air, he continued,
"No amount of guilt or grief can change the past."
A hollow, self-mocking laugh escaped his lips as he placed the flowers on the grave. As sarcastic as it sounded, deep down I knew he truly believed every word he said.
When he stood, he brushed the dirt from his clothes. His deep blue eyes met mine, a faint smile forming on his lips—
Without a second thought, I punched him.
Punch. Then another. And another.
I kept hammering his face. He didn't resist in the slightest—only smiled faintly.
Only when his features became unrecognizable did I stop. Rising from the ground, I didn't even bother wiping the blood from my hands as I lit another cigarette.
"Feeling any better now?" he asked, smiling as always, his voice softer than before.
"And on that topic—you should stop smoking. I don't think she would've liked seeing you return to those bad habits."
As much as I hated to admit it, he was right.
But I'd be damned if I took his words to heart.
"You can quit the bullshit now," I spat. "And I don't think you're qualified for any fatherly talk, old man."
"Haha—cold as ever. Won't even bother calling me 'Dad,' huh?" he replied gently, though his voice grew colder with each word.
"I don't mind whatever you do, son. But there's a deal between us. As long as it's fulfilled, do whatever you want."
"I already know that. I still have a week before enrolling in the academy, so you can leave me alone."
Exhaling smoke, I voiced the thought buried deep in my chest.
"When the deal ends, I'll be taking your head."
"Haha… quite the cold-hearted one. But sure. I couldn't care less—do whatever you want later."
His laughter rang out, madness glinting in his eyes.
A bizarre relationship—if it could even be called that. We shared blood, yet he was the furthest thing from a father. If I could kill him now, maybe the weight in my chest would lighten. But I wouldn't dare taint Isabel's grave with a pig's blood.
As if sensing my thoughts, he smiled.
"Joseph, you can come now. Escort him."
From the shadows, the figure who had been watching since the beginning stepped into the light. The old butler bowed silently.
He glanced at Lucas.
"Do you require a potion, my lord? Your injuries appear quite severe."
"Haha, no need."
His fingers brushed across his face, and the wounds vanished instantly.
Turning toward me as he walked away, he spoke.
"You need to train your body further. The weight behind those punches was quite light."
Even at the very end, he couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"Till we meet again, son. You'd better not disappoint me."
I ignored his final words. Kneeling, I placed the flowers on Isabel's grave—white lilies, identical to the ones he had brought. Her favorite.
I spoke quietly, though I already knew the answer.
"Joseph… the funeral ended a while ago. All the servants have left. Why did you stay?"
For the past month, he had been there—for me, and for Isabel.
"Aether," he said gently, "times like these aren't meant to be endured alone. Sharing sorrow eases the burden."
I appreciated his words, yet I didn't respond. A trace of rejection still lingered in my heart yet he didn't seem bothered.
"And what about lord Lucas said, there's no need to hurry," he continued, sitting beside me as he patted my head.. "Take all the time you need."
I didn't know how long I stayed there. Only when the sky darkened did I finally stand. Clenching my fists, Lucas's words echoed in my mind as I followed Joseph's steps.
There was still something I needed to do.
And until then, this cursed bond would remain—
until one of our hatred burned to ashes.