Blood God Reborn as the Mudblood Heir

He stood straighter. "This is a family head business."

Lucard’s eyes moved to him. "Correct."

Jenny looked tired again. "Do not encourage him every time he sounds serious."

"He is correct every time he sounds serious."

Jake whispered, "I should sound more serious."

Peter quietly said, "Please do not."

Lucard turned toward the house. "Peter, guard the door."

Peter nodded at once. "Yes, Young Master."

Brant watched them enter. He did not follow. Neither did Lysa. She looked as if she wanted to speak to Lucard, but Brant placed a hand on her arm and shook his head slightly. This was not a moment for outsiders.

Jenny led Lucard and Jake upstairs to the room she had chosen.

It faced the garden. The curtains were open, and afternoon light fell across a small table near the window. A few papers were stacked on one side. A tray of tea sat untouched. Jake’s small handwriting could be seen on one sheet, but half the paper was burned at the edge and placed inside an empty bowl.

Lucard noticed it immediately.

Peter closed the door from outside and stood guard in the hallway.

Jenny sat first, then motioned for Jake to sit beside her. Lucard remained standing for a moment, checking the window, the corners, and the wall behind the bed. Jenny saw it and said nothing. She had already become used to him treating every room like a place where enemies might grow from the floor.

After checking, Lucard sat across from them.

Jenny folded her hands on the table.

"Brant Ashwolf offered service. Not only temporary help. He said Ash Wolf would swear under House Vardros with proper terms if we accept."

Lucard nodded. "He told me."

"What do you think?"

"That is up to you."

Jenny looked at him carefully. "You are not going to decide?"

"He offered service to House Vardros. I told him to ask you and Jake."

Jenny became silent.

For a moment, she did not know what to do with that answer.

Since the destruction of their house, Lucard had decided almost everything. Where they moved. Whom they dealt with. When they fought. When they stayed silent. When they accepted help. When they used danger. It had annoyed her many times, frightened her more than once, and also saved them again and again.

Now, when a real decision about the house came, he placed it in her hands.

That weight was heavier than she expected.

She looked down at her fingers. "I am not Father."

"No."

"I do not know how to lead mercenaries."

"Then learn."

"It is not that simple."

"It is never simple. That does not change who must decide."

Jenny lifted her eyes. "And if I choose wrong?"

Lucard’s voice stayed calm. "Then we correct it or kill the problem."

Jake looked between them. "Can we choose something that does not need killing?"

Lucard looked at him. "Try."

Jenny breathed out slowly. "Brant looks honest."

"Honest enough after almost dying," Lucard said.

"That is not the same as honesty."

"It is more useful. Men near death speak cleaner, but they do not become saints."

Jake nodded with serious interest. "So we trust him a little?"

Lucard said, "You trust terms, oaths, hostages, needs, and benefits. Feelings come last."

Jenny frowned. "You sound like House Marovain."

"No. House Marovain would put payment before feelings. I put survival before payment."

"That is not better."

"It works sooner."

Jake leaned forward. "Father said Ash Wolf helped us before."

Lucard turned to him. "That is why I wanted your notes."

Jake’s face changed.

Jenny also looked uncomfortable.

Lucard’s eyes moved to the burned paper in the bowl. "You wrote something."

Jake lowered his head. "I wrote some."

"And?"

"Sister read it and burned it."

Lucard looked at Jenny.

Jenny did not look away. "I burned it because those were not things we should leave on paper. Not in a house full of Marovain guards, Ash Wolf men, servants, and possible spies."

Lucard studied her for a second.

Then he nodded. "Good."

Jenny looked surprised.

"I thought you would be angry."

"I would be angry if you kept it."

Jake looked relieved. "I told her I only wrote it because you said to write everything."

Lucard said, "You obeyed first. She corrected the risk. Both are acceptable."

Jake smiled slightly.

Jenny watched Lucard with a softer expression for half a breath, then forced her mind back to the matter.

"I told Jake he should say it to you directly when you returned."

Lucard leaned back slightly. "Then start talking."

Jake sat straighter.

Jenny placed one hand over his for a moment. "Only what Father told you. Slowly."

Jake nodded.

He looked young again for a moment, almost too young to carry dead men’s secrets. Then he took a breath, and the serious expression returned. It was not perfect. His hands were still small. His shoulders were still narrow. But inside those frightened eyes, the future head of House Vardros tried to stand.

"Father said there were things about House Vardros that even most elders did not know," Jake began. "He said our house looked weak because that was safer. He said people laughed at us for having only Rank Three techniques, but sometimes a small locked box survives because thieves think it holds nothing."

Lucard’s eyes sharpened.

Jenny became very still.

Jake continued, "He told me there were three secrets I must remember if he died before teaching me properly."

Lucard said nothing.

Jenny’s hand tightened around Jake’s.

Jake swallowed.

"The first secret was about Ash Wolf. Father said their old leader saved our family’s blood record during the western border fire. Because of that, if Ash Wolf ever came to us without betrayal, we should give them one chance."

Jenny whispered, "That already matches Brant’s words."

Lucard nodded once. "Continue."

Jake’s voice became lower.

"The second secret was about the Vardros seal."

Jenny frowned. "Father’s ring?"

Jake shook his head. "Not the space ring. Another seal."

Lucard leaned forward slightly.

Jake looked at him.

"The third secret is the biggest one."

Jenny’s face tightened. "Jake."

He nodded. "I know."

Lucard’s voice became very calm. "Say it."

Jake opened his mouth.