Lucian was silent for a moment, he folded his arms in front of his chest, the edges of his lips slowly curling down.
"What?" he said in a flat voice, he wouldn't have expected to hear that news.
"That's right, Young Master." Pavel nodded slowly, he looked at Lucian with a slightly worried expression. "The message was sent directly by the chief guard of the border region. The Grand Master will likely arrive in three or four days."
"So..." He continued, deliberately hanging his words, "I will not serve you for the time being. But later I will ask one of the servants to serve you in my place."
Lucian stared straight ahead, his eyes piercing through the door of his own room. He then chuckled, unable to hide his reluctance. Though I'd rather not have servants, it makes me less free, he muttered to himself. She didn't like having people watching her all the time.
"Its up to you," He said with a lazy shrug of one shoulder. "You were his subordinate from the start, weren't you?" he continued in a casual tone, referring to the head of the Hale family without mentioning any titles or titles like 'Father'. He didn't know how his real self used to address his father, so he chose to remain ambiguous.
Pavel looked at him with an expression that was hard to guess. There was a slight change in the look in his eyes, as if he caught something strange from Lucian's words. "Young Master...?" he said, as if to confirm something, but he didn't continue.
"Why?" Lucian looked at Pavel with faint curiosity.
Pavel sighed, his eyes momentarily staring at the floor before returning his gaze. "No, nothing," he replied quickly, as if trying to hide something. "Good night, then."
Pavel bowed slightly as a sign of respect, then looked at Lucian's back as he slowly disappeared behind the door. In his heart, he muttered, "Young master, while he used to be very interested in hearing from the great master, after the way the great master has been treated so far perhaps... Poor young master."
Pavel said that sentence in a low tone, filled with unspoken regret. "Even so, this Pavel will definitely be by your side."
After closing the door to his room, Lucian sighed and leaned briefly on its surface. His eyes staring at the ceiling, his mind began to fill with questions that he found difficult to answer.
"Lucian's father, huh... I'm a little confused about how to deal with him tomorrow, I don't even know his name," he muttered softly. He stepped onto his bed, taking off his coat with a casual motion, but his mind was still on the person He was about to meet.
"But from Julian's earlier reaction, it seems that Lucian does not have a good relationship with his father," he continued while recalling his conversation with Julian when he heard of his father's return.
Lucian sighed, then dropped his body onto the soft mattress. "Ah, forget it. Let's think about that later," he said, closing his eyes in resignation. Unbeknownst to him, exhaustion finally caught up with him, and within minutes, he was fast asleep.
***
A few days later, the soft morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, slowly warming the room that had been cold all night. Lucian blinked his eyes a few times before finally letting out a long breath.
Lucian blinked his eyes a few times, his head feeling a little heavy as his consciousness slowly returned.
"Ugh...!" He complained softly, his hand raised to rub his eyes that still felt heavy with sleepiness. She turned her head towards the window, finding the morning sunlight starting to sneak into her room.
"Looks like I'm getting used to this life," she muttered, sighing lightly. Although this world was different from his previous life, its rhythms and routines were slowly starting to feel familiar.
Lucian was currently sitting on the edge of his bed, his silver hair a little messy then slowly ran his hand through his slightly tangled hair. His gaze was directed towards the blue sky that stretched behind the window of his room.
He then took a deep breath and let it out, stretching his body slightly before getting out of bed. The days he lived as Lucian were honestly not very pleasant, but he didn't hate it.
The sound of a knock on the door broke the silence that was currently in the room, Lucian then turned his head for a moment, he frowned and glanced slightly at the door.
"Young Master, I was asked by the butler to give this to you."
A voice came from outside the room, a voice she did not recognize. She got up from her seat and walked over and opened the door slowly without rushing.
Once the door was opened, a young maid stood in front of the room with a tray in her hand. On it was a cup of warm chamomile tea and some familiar crusty bread, a snack that Pavel used to bring him every morning.
Lucian glanced at the tea, then back at the servant with a flat expression. "Did Pavel send you?" he asked.
The Maid was surprised to see Lucian's face without a mask, her hand holding the tray trembling slightly. Usually, Lucian always wore a half-face mask, and this was the first time the waiter had seen his face directly. She hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to stare any longer.
"That old man, even though I told you before." Lucian sighed softly, taking the tea cup and dry bread from the tray. "Thank you, you may leave now." Without giving the servant time to respond, Lucian immediately closed the door to his room.
The maid gulped, then quickly walked away. Inwardly, she muttered, "Whether he forgot or on purpose, I thought he would scold me if he saw his face without the mask. Looks like I'm in luck today."
Lucian then closed the door to his room, he walked slowly to the table in his room. a warm cup of tea in one hand and crusty bread in the other. The delicate scent of chamomile filled the air, slightly calming his mind that had been filled since morning with visions of the upcoming meeting.
She sat down, placed the cup on the table, and leaned her back against the chair. He then lifted the porcelain cup and drank the tea slowly.
"Wow, just like I used to drink," he murmured softly, slightly surprised by the consistency of the familiar flavor on her tongue. Despite its seeming simplicity, this tea was always brewed with just the right amount, just the right temperature, and just the right brewing time, not too bitter, not too weak.
"I think Pavel actually prepared this," he continued with a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Or at least, he supervised the process."
Lucian leaned back more casually in his chair, letting the morning breeze enter his room through the crack in the window. The breeze made his hair float a little.
Even though Pavel had said he would not be of direct service as long as Duke Hale was in the mansion, little attentions like this made him realize that the old man had not completely relinquished his role.
Lucian then moved his body back, he was about to eat the pastries served with chamomile tea on the tray, but his movement stopped for a moment. His eyes caught something suspicious.
His eyebrows raised slightly. Underneath the plate of cookies was a small, pale-colored piece of paper, almost hidden from view. Slowly, she shifted the plate and pulled the paper out.
"...What is this?" she murmured softly, carefully unfolding the paper. A neat but hurried handwriting was drawn on its surface, as if the writer did not have much time.
"Young Master, I am very happy to see your face, but for now, please wear a mask while the Great Master is in the mansion. Signed, Pavel."
Lucian stared at the writing for a few seconds before snorting softly. "Did it go that far?" he muttered, placing the paper on the table.
He then leaned back in his chair, his hand raised, he ran his hand through his hair. His forehead was slightly furrowed as if he was somehow annoyed at the moment.
"Really..." he muttered, his tone of voice a mixture of astonishment and slight annoyance.
He then opened his eyes again, his gaze fixed on the marble floor beneath him, a faint smile on his face this time. "Well, I'll wear it for now," he said with a resigned tone.
"I still do not know what the relationship between Lucian and his father is like. His gaze is directed towards the wide-open window right now. "If Pavel is writing this, it seems I really have to be more careful."
***
Cedric was currently standing in front of the large mirror in his room, wearing the clothes that had been prepared for him, an official robe that signaled his status as a Knight. Having traveled back in time, he knows that today is one of those important moments: his first meeting with the imperial family.
The clothes he wore felt different than usual, more official, and gave off a heavier impression. The dark blue robe with gold embroidery on the hem felt like both a burden and a sign of honor, as if a new responsibility lay ahead. He looked at himself in the mirror, noting that his face looked stern, yet there was an unconcealed anxiety.
A maid knocked on the door, then bowed respectfully. "Lord Cedric, His Majesty the Emperor has summoned you to the throne room."
Cedric took a deep breath, trying to compose himself before finally nodding. "Yes, I understand."
He then stepped out of his room and followed the servant down the halls of the magnificent palace. Everything he passed by in the palace hallways was very familiar to him. Every carving on the wall, every painting that hung magnificently, all brought memories of the past that were hard to forget.
Soon, they arrived in front of a large door guarded by two knights in silver armor. The two knights opened the door and gestured for Cedric to continue. The door slowly opened, revealing a vast throne room filled with splendor. The high, finely carved ceilings and the large windows that shone sunlight into the room added to the grandeur of the place.
A red carpet stretched from the entrance to the golden throne at the end of the room, where the royal family sat with a strong aura of power. On the gleaming throne sat the Emperor, with a face full of firmness and experience. Beside him, the elegant Queen, with a look of authority, and the Crown Prince sat with a slightly dismissive, yet charismatic demeanor.
Cedric walked in with steady steps, despite the heaviness pressing on his chest. He walked to the center of the room, took his proper position, and finally knelt before the royal family.
"My respects to His Majesty the Emperor, His Majesty the Queen, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."