SSR - Chapter 77: Astassier Family

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Elizabeth listened to her aide’s report with clenched fists and a serious expression. The long, fancy gown only felt suffocating. Every time it grazed her throat, she needed to resist the urge to take it off and burn it to cinders.

“—And as such, Rylan will fight tomorrow. If he wins, he will go to the semifinals, most likely against Jasmine Lamollet,” the middle-aged woman finished her report with a bow, pristine in form.

She wore a flawless black and white maid outfit, partly covered by a black robe. Her brown hair was adorned by a few greying strands, but they did nothing to diminish her beauty. The attendant raised her body. The stern expression complemented a face that showed the years, giving her an aloof and detached atmosphere.

Elizabeth closed her eyes, trying to steady her mind. Her thoughts threatened to spiral out of control. No matter how she thought about it, this was an incomprehensible situation. Based on everything she knew about Rylan, there was no way for him to be capable of going so far into a fighting tournament. However, could she really say it was impossible? She hadn’t kept up with his recent development.

Her heart sank, making her feel as if she had been punched in the pit of the stomach. Every day away from her children and husband had been agonizing, almost physically so. Once she opened her eyes again, they burned with rage. If it weren’t for her damned brother…

Elizabeth sighed. Helplessness wormed its way back into her heart.

“…Find out everything you can. Try to reach out to Regis and Lillia too, even if only in secret,” she ordered.

“Your brother told me not to look into this again, my lady. I can’t defy him,” Louise replied in a bitter tone.

Elizabeth gritted her teeth, then sighed deeply. She stared at the ground, gripping the hems of her gown tightly. Once she raised her gaze, she scanned the room in silence.

The bedroom was larger than the houses she’d seen in Cantavega. White walls were decorated with opulent golden engravings and candlesticks that burned with magic fire. Plush sofas and chairs spread out throughout the room, carefully placed to enhance its atmosphere. The largest of them stood on top of the big red carpet in the middle of the room.

At the far end, wooden bookshelves were filled with rare tomes and priceless works, each signed by the authors. The enormous crystal chandelier that hung from the ceiling reflected the light of the delicate candlesticks. Finally, the double doors stretched over three meters tall, not marring the drawings created by the engravings in the least.

Even the very bed she was sitting on could fit over five people. It was a room that screamed wealth and opulence, throwing it in the face of every person who dared to step into it. It had been her bedroom for most of her life. She despised it to her bones.

Elizabeth suddenly stood up.

“Since you already know where Rylan is staying, lead the way. I’ll go to talk to him myself.”

Louise shook her head with sadness.

“I can’t, my lady.”

“They’re my children! I need to be there for them!”

The doors opened, making her turn to them, filled with anger. A tall, handsome man with brown hair and hazel eyes entered the bedroom. His beard matched his hair, and his skin was the same brown tone as hers. His eyes, which should have felt warm, instead brimmed with coldness.

“A bit too late for that, don’t you think?” he asked as he stepped closer.

Elizabeth eyed the expensive-looking leather armor he wore and the intricate staff he carried. She frowned in distaste.

“Shut up, Nathan,” she snapped at him. “I’m going to my children and you can’t stop me. They need me.”

Nathan’s expression didn’t even change. He only met her eyes with a cold stare.

“As a member of the Astassier family, you—”

“Flameheart,” she interrupted him, almost growling out her reply. “I’m part of the Flameheart family.”

This time, he frowned and scoffed.

“For how long will you insist on being the shame of the Astassier house? After all these years—”

“Kick me out, then. I’ll just go live with the man I love. Oh wait, you can’t, can you?”

Nathan narrowed his eyes without saying anything. She held his stare, boiling with rage. For almost two decades, her brother and family had hindered her. She hadn’t been there for Rylan when he turned to drugs and hadn’t been there for Gerard once the situation got exponentially worse. Even now, she barely managed to talk to her older children, who were also in the capital.

This is a critical moment.

No matter what, she wouldn’t back down now.

Even though they were so far away, Elizabeth asked Louise for daily updates on her children. They were often lacking or incomplete, but they were all she had. She understood the magnitude of what was currently happening; for the first time in almost five years, Rylan was acting differently. By using her personal resources, she had managed to learn about his change, which had started months ago. As the lady of the Flameheart family – no, as a mother, she needed to be there for her children when Regis and Lillia clashed with Rylan.

After staring at her for a few seconds, Nathan scoffed.

“For all your worthlessness, you might have managed to breed a good son. Rylan Flameheart has surpassed our expectations, especially because of his past history. Father orders you to go to his room.”

On the edge of her vision, Elizabeth managed to see Louise quickly frown, then return to a neutral expression in silence with a step back. She blinked in surprise. It had been a long time since her father had last called for her specifically. After butting heads for so many years, he had completely given up on trying to get her to leave Gerard. Their conversations had become cold and result-oriented. Everything the man did was for the good of the noble house, even at the expense of his only daughter.

Elizabeth clenched her fists.

“I’m going, then. Get out of my room.”

Nathan threw one last look before shaking his head in disappointment. Together, they left her bedroom, leaving behind a bowing Louise.

Elizabeth was in no mood to admire the countless paintings and sculptures on the way, nor the way every curtain or piece of furniture worked toward creating a regal air. She walked faster, going around her brother and walking in front of him. Her actions were only met with a deep sigh.

Her heart thumped within her chest as her mind raced. It was unlikely that this was about Rylan’s change in personality – it wouldn’t interest the Astassier house in the least. It could only be about Rylan’s recent achievements. The Astassier family was paying close attention to the Royal Magic Academy’s tournament, and even though Rylan’s performance had been impressive, was it to the degree of intriguing her father, the Family Head?

Something’s up.

She was certain that her father knew more about Rylan than even herself; after all, Louise and secret informants were all she now had, after the family had spent years cutting off her metaphorical limbs. Sweat flowed down her brow. No matter what, she would protect her child. It was her duty as a mother.

After a long while, she arrived in front of large, double wooden doors. Barely looking at them, she pushed them open with a shove. Nathan walked into the room with her, making her glance at him. Her eyes went back to the man standing by the glass window that made up almost the whole far end of the room. His wide back was turned to her, and he was even taller than Nathan. He turned around, meeting her hazel eyes with his own.

“What is it?” Elizabeth inquired.

Almost immediately afterward, Nathan grabbed her shoulder roughly.

“You will not act up in the Family Head’s own room,” he growled, then bowed at the older man. “I’m sorry, Father.”

Elizabeth slapped his hand away, fully willing to argue. As she was about to blow, a dominant voice echoed.

“Silence. Sit down, both of you.”

The two siblings looked at Gael Astassier. His voice left no room for disobedience, but Elizabeth didn’t care about it in the least. Throwing Nathan a venomous look, she remained standing. Nathan sat down on the plush chair after shaking his head. Just like everything in the estate, it was uselessly large. Elizabeth frowned. Gael remained standing and stared at her for a few seconds before beginning to speak.

“Rylan Flameheart. Eighteen years old. A boy who spent the last five years as a piece of trash without a single redeeming quality.”

“Do not call my son trash,” Elizabeth snapped.

“He drowned in hedonism, living for the next high alone,” her father continued, as if he couldn’t hear her. “Worthless down to his very marrow. He remained stuck in the First Circle during all this time and didn’t spend an hour training.”

She clenched her fists, words rising in her throat. She could withstand all the scorn thrown at her, all of Nathan’s mockery, all the looks she got from the others in the estate, and their whispers. But she wouldn’t tolerate her son being badmouthed, even if the one doing it was her father and the Family Head of one of the kingdom’s most influential families.

“You—” she started.

Abruptly, it was as if the air had become heavier. Pure mana surged out of Gael and pressed her down like a physical force. Her words died in her throat as she looked deep into her father’s cold eyes, furious.

“It all changed seven months ago,” he continued. “At first, Rylan only trained with the ordinary soldiers who couldn’t use magic. Soon, he took a few of them out to do Adventurer quests and fight. It’s also likely that Gerard Flameheart gave him lessons on magic. All of this, both of you already know.”

Nathan nodded calmly, looking at Elizabeth as her back bent. Her body itself was being pressed downward. As suddenly as it came, the pressure disappeared. She took deep breaths, trying her best not to show weakness. She only stared at Gael. However, this only made her furrow her brow. Deep within his eyes, she saw… interest? Confusion filled her mind. Nothing that her father had said so far warranted such a reaction from him.

“What you don’t know,” Gael looked at Nathan, “Is that before even reaching Level 25 and going through Class Evolution, Rylan fought and killed a Fourth Circle Mage in single combat.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened while her brother almost jumped in place.

“That’s just a rumor,” Nathan quickly said, almost stumbling over his words.

He blinked as Gael shook his head.

“I’ve verified it several times with different sources and offering different rewards. Gerard did a good job cleaning everything up, but it wasn’t enough to stop me.”

“…How is that possible?”

Gael smiled, making both Elizabeth and her brother flinch. It had been too long since she had last seen him smile at all. He didn’t change his expression even when meeting the king.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Don’t you find it curious? That a boy who was at the First Circle at the time could manage to not only defeat but also kill a Fourth Circle Mage? Even if he had some help from Gerard?”

The room went silent.

“He must be ours,” Nathan said after a few seconds, his face turning into a mask of steeled resolve. “No matter what.”

Gael simply nodded.

“On that, we agree. According to the reports, he even used swordsmanship when fighting.”

Nathan widened his eyes.

“My son isn’t a weapon or anyone’s property!” Elizabeth yelled, straightening her back.

Her father looked at her with serene eyes.

“As the daughter of this house, you will draw your son to our family. Wouldn’t that mean that you would spend more time with him? We can take in your other children, too.”

She resisted the urge to lunge at him.

“My children aren’t yours.”

Gael shrugged.

“In the end, he’ll realize it himself that we’re the noble house who can foster him the best. I only summoned you here to let you know of what’s going to happen. I already knew you wouldn’t be of any use,” he shot a cold glare at her. “Like always.”

“I will talk to Regis and Lillia. Then, I’ll go to Rylan. You can’t and won’t stop me,” she said firmly, ignoring the bad feeling in her heart.

“Suit yourself,” Gael replied with the same chilling eyes. “It won’t change anything.”

He looked at Nathan and smiled.

To Elizabeth, he looked like a beast after finding a new piece of prey.

It terrified her.