Chapter 23 - 22: A Brother’s Rage
The soft morning light filtering through the modest curtains of the Vesper residence did little to ease the heavy knot tightening in Elena’s chest. She sat on the edge of her bed, her bloodshot eyes staring at the lavish, silver-embroidered dress draped neatly over the wooden chair across her room.
It was a masterpiece of fine silk a garment worth more than her family’s entire annual income and every thread of it felt like a heavy steel chain wrapping around her neck.
When she walked down the stairs, her mother was already setting the dining table, while her father sat reading the morning herald. The moment her mother spotted her, her hands froze over the tea tray. Her father lowered his paper, his brows furrowed with immediate suspicion.
"Elena," her father began, his voice stern and weighed down by aristocratic pride despite their modest standing. "Your mother told me you arrived home past midnight yesterday. And what was that dress you brought into your room?"
Elena flinched, clutching the hem of her simple cotton skirt. "Father, I..."
"Where did you get a dress like that?" her mother interrupted, stepping forward with a mixture of anger and deep concern. "We saw it when you brought it in, Elena. That silk belongs to the high-end tailors in the upper district! Where were you last night? Who gave that to you?"
"Are you running around acting like some foolish, bad girl courting wealthy noblemen for favors?" her father demanded, his voice rising as he slammed his hand onto the table. "We raised you to have dignity, Elena! The Vesper name may not hold vast lands, but we do not sell our daughter’s modesty!"
The harsh words stung, but the surge of panic in Elena’s chest forced her mind into overdrive. She couldn’t tell them the truth. She couldn’t tell them that Victor, the ruthless villain of the fallen Vance house, had dragged her through the upper district and forced her into a twisted, terrifying game of reliance.
"It-it’s not what you think!" Elena blurted out, her hands shaking as she bowed her head. "It was for the Academy’s upcoming grand theatrical showcase! The drama department assigned me a lead role in the royal tragedy... the prop department lent me the costume to make sure the alterations fit before rehearsals! I have to return it today it’s not even mine, it’s Academy property!"
Her parents exchanged a long, scrutinizing glance. Silence hung heavy in the dining room for several agonizing seconds.
"Theatre practice?" her mother asked softly, her tension deflating slightly. "Past midnight?"
"The stage director... he kept us late going over the script," Elena lied, her voice trembling slightly, though she forced a reassuring smile onto her pale face. "I’m sorry for worrying you both. I promise it won’t happen again."
Her father sighed deeply, rubbing his temples before waving a dismissive hand. "Sit down and eat your breakfast. But if this theatrical business disrupts your studies or your reputation, you will drop out of the cast immediately. Do you understand? And take care of that dress return it in pristine condition. We cannot afford to compensate the Academy if it is damaged."
"Yes, Father," Elena whispered, sinking into her chair, her appetite completely gone.
Twenty minutes later, Elena stepped out onto the cobblestone path outside her home. Waiting by the wrought-iron gate was Kael, his hands shoved deep into his trousers, his wild crimson hair catching the morning sun. The moment he saw her, his gaze sharpened.
"Elena," Kael said, stepping up beside her as they began their walk toward the Imperial Royal Academy. "You look exhausted. Did something happen last night? You returned home so late... and that dress, where did it come from? I haven’t heard anything about an upcoming theatre performance at the Academy."
Elena swallowed hard, remembering the terrifying look in Victor’s eyes when he commanded her to bring the hot-headed boy to him.
"I’m fine, Kael," she said softly, keeping her eyes fixed on the path ahead. She hesitated for a moment before turning to him, her expression dead serious. "Listen to me... during lunch today, you need to come with me to the rooftop of the main building. I’ll tell you everything there about the dress and where I was last night."
Kael raised an eyebrow in confusion. "The main building rooftop? Why? That area is usually restricted to students."
"Just... trust me," Elena pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s extremely important. Promise me you’ll come. You’ll get all the answers you want, Kael."
Kael looked at her worried expression, his red eyes softening slightly before he gave a firm nod. "Fine. If it’s that important to you, I’ll be there. After all, I just want to make sure you’re okay."
When Elena entered the lecture hall, Victor was already seated at his desk. He glanced up, his pitch-black eyes locking onto hers as if silently demanding her confirmation. Elena gulped and gave a small, nervous nod, silently signaling that she was bringing Kael to the rooftop today. Her stomach turned with guilt it felt like she was betraying her brother, but she had no choice. If this satisfied Victor, her family would remain safe.
Victor turned his gaze toward the large stained-glass window, looking down at the expansive training grounds below. Students were practicing spellcraft and dueling in the morning sun. Among them, his eyes caught Lucas sparring alongside Prince Valen, the second prince of the empire.
Lucas and Valen... practicing together? Victor thought, a sharp, cold smirk playing on his lips. Now that is an interesting new development.
His mind briefly considered the Novus Dynasty and the subtle currents moving through the royal court. They thought they held all the pieces on the board... but Victor intended to turn their entire empire into his personal playground.
To begin setting his board, Victor needed Kael under his control.
Kael’s Berserker bloodline was a wild card. If Victor could control it, the boy could become useful.
Time passed quickly, and as the bell rang for lunch, Victor stood up and glanced toward Elena’s empty desk. She had already slipped out to retrieve her brother.
Draping his dark coat over his shoulders, Victor made his way toward the main spire’s rooftop.
The morning breeze blew heavily across the elevated stone terrace of the rooftop garden. Kael stood beside the marble balustrade, crossing his arms as he looked around the deserted garden path.
"Elena, what are we waiting for?" Kael asked, his patience wearing thin as a sudden flare of suspicion crossed his face. "Will you tell me already what happened last night? Were Mom and Dad right about you?"
"Kael, no! It’s not..."
Before she could finish, the heavy iron doors of the stairwell creaked open.
Victor stepped out into the open air, his pristine black Imperial Academy uniform immaculate, his boots clicking rhythmically against the stone tiles. Beside him, Aria moved silently like an ethereal shade.
Kael’s eyes instantly widened. His body stiffened, every muscle coiling like a sprung trap as his gaze locked onto Victor.
"You?!" Kael snarled, stepping protectively in front of Elena. "Victor Vance! What the hell are you doing up here?"
Kael had heard the rumors about the dark tyrant of the senior year the villain who manipulated noblewomen and sat near the top of the High Cathedral’s blacklist.
Why is he here?! I need to protect Elena...
Victor didn’t even slow his pace. He calmly pulled a pair of dark silk gloves over his fingers, glancing at Elena with complete indifference.
"You brought him as instructed. Good girl, Elena."
Kael snapped his head toward Elena, his eyes wide with horror and utter betrayal.
"Instructed?! Elena... what is he talking about? Why are you taking orders from this monster?!"
Elena dropped her head, trembling, unable to meet Kael’s eyes.
"Kael... please, just listen to me! Don’t fight him..."
Kael’s mind spun as the scattered pieces of the puzzle violently slammed together. He remembered the dark circles under Elena’s eyes this morning. He remembered the extravagant, high-end silk dress she had brought home last night a dress no commoner or low noble could ever afford.
And then, the horrifying capital rumors flooded his mind whispers of how Victor Vance used forbidden artifacts and dark pressure to subjugate women, breaking even the pristine Lady Lyra von Frostguard into total, absolute submission.
"The dress..." Kael whispered, his voice cracking as raw, suffocating fury bubbled up from the depths of his chest.
"You... you forced yourself onto her, didn’t you?! You used your dirty power to threaten her!"
Victor paused ten feet away, tilting his head slightly with a cold, mocking expression.
"Threaten her? No. She came to me willingly, Kael. Just like everyone else eventually does."
"YOU BASTARD!"
BOOM!
A terrifying eruption of crimson, molten mana exploded outward from Kael’s body. The stone tiles beneath his boots instantly cracked and melted under the sudden spike of fierce, unrestrained heat. The latent Berserker bloodline within him roared to life, burning away his reason and turning his eyes into blazing infernos of pure, murderous rage.
Without drawing a weapon, Kael lunged forward like a crimson meteor, his fire-coated fist aiming straight for Victor’s head!