Lucian took a shallow breath, his voice was still weak. "I heard you both. Please... don't fight. It wasn't Selena's fault.
He looked at Julian, trying to show a strength he didn't quite feel yet."But look at your condition. You gave us such a scare back then.... We thought you would never wake up."
Lucian saw the concerned look on his brother's face and said in a nonchalant tone to lift up the room atmosphere.
"Don't exaggerate it too much. I was only asleep for one night. Don't worry too much"
Suddenly, the room went completely cold. No one said a word. Everyone has a strange look on their faces, like Lucian has said something strange to them. After looking around and receiving no response Lucian looked at Julian.
Julian didn't move. He just stared at Lucian, his eyes wide and filled with a new kind of fear.
The silence lasted a long time. Finally, Julian found his voice, but it was barely a whisper.
"You might be wrong about it." Julian said.
"What are you talking about?" Lucian asked with a confused look.
"You were not just asleep for one night." This time it was Selena speaking.She stood by his side, her face pale. She thought it was of no use to hide it any longer and gave Lucian the answer he wanted.
"It has been three days, Lucian," she said quietly. "You've been out this whole time."
Lucian's smile disappeared. He looked at his parents. They didn't speak; they just nodded slowly to show it was true. Then he looked at his brother, Julian, and felt a sudden shiver. Julian looked terrible. His clothes were messy, his hair was wild, and his eyes were red from lack of sleep.
"But I just went to bed last night," Lucian said, his voice shaking. "How could I sleep for three days?"
He looked around the room, begging for an explanation, but everyone stayed silent. No one in that room knew the answer.
Julian was the first to break the silence. He started speaking in a soft tone.
"Lucian. The doctors... they told us your heart almost stopped.Your heartbeat was very faint, like they could stop any moment. We thought you were slipping away from us."
Anyone could tell by looking at them that they have been by his side throughout the whole time and Lucian was very grateful for it.
Lucian looked down at his hands. Three days. He had lost three whole days of his life and didn't even know it. No wonder Julian looked so worried and broken.
"Three days?" Lucian repeated. He tried to move, but his muscles felt stiff and heavy, like lead. "Was I really gone that long?"
Julian nodded and finally let out a long, ragged sigh of relief. He grabbed Lucian's hand and held it tight. "Don't ever scare us like that. Promise me."
"I Promise"
Those were the only words that could come out of Lucian's mouth at that time. The shock of him being unconscious for three whole days was something he couldn't digest easily. If it was due to some injury it can be understood but suddenly falling asleep for three whole days was something unheard of. The only thing that comes to his mind which could have caused it is because of the past memories he recovered. I guess it was too much for my brain to handle all at once and due to that I fell unconscious for three days.
"Lucian..."
This time, it wasn't Julian or Selena calling his name. It was his mother, Athea Oakheart. She had been quiet until now, but the elegant woman finally spoke. Her voice was soft and filled with worry.
"I would have liked to wait until you felt better," his mother added. "But I don't want your brother and sister to start fighting again."
Julian opened his mouth to argue, but his father, Marcus Oakheart, stopped him. Marcus simply placed a firm hand on Julian's shoulder. He didn't say a word, but the look in his eyes told his son to be quiet and listen.
Lucian's mother continued, "That is why I am asking you this now. Do you still want to go to Ivy Rose Academy? If you do, you must give us a good reason one that convinces your brother and us to let you go."
Like Julian, Athea did not want him to go in his condition. She hoped that by asking this, she could stop him. She thought he wouldn't be able to find a good enough reason to leave home. While his parents didn't always show it, they cared deeply for their children. To them, Lucian's health came before any school. If he couldn't give them an answer, she would make him stay. But if he had a real reason, she would respect his wish.
The room went silent. Every eye was on Lucian, waiting. After a long moment, Lucian began to speak in a low, steady voice.
"I want to go"
Pausing for a few seconds he continues,
"It's not that I want to attend the academy just for fun. Since childhood i didn't have much chance to interact and know more about the world. I have always been inside this mansion due to my illness, so I think I should use this chance to gain whatever I could know about the world. I know this won't be enough to convince you but trust me on this by going to the academy I might be able to find a cure for my strange illness"
I want to go," Lucian said.
He paused for a few seconds, gathering his strength, then continued. "It's not that I want to go just for fun. Since I was a child, I never had a chance to see the world. I have always been trapped inside this mansion because of my illness. I want to use this chance to learn everything I can."
He looked at his parents, his eyes filled with hope. "I know that might not be enough to convince you. But please, trust me on this by going to the academy, I might be able to find a cure for my condition."
The room remained silent as his words sank in. He wasn't just asking for an education; he was asking for a life.