The Life of Aurelius Valemont: The Heir (Part 4)
Aurelius: Age 10
Ever since then, Father never talked to me, never met my eyes, never even acknowledged my presence. It was as if I didn't exist.
Only Yumi stayed. She's always there — by my side. She never left.
One sunny day, I saw a new face at the estate. A woman.
She looked like she was in her late 30s. Beautiful. Refined. She had long, wavy brown hair and soft brown eyes. But something about her didn't feel right. Something...cold.
"Yumi," I asked, "Who is she?"
She bent down beside me and whispered, "That's Beatrice. Your father's new wife."
New wife?
Yumi continued, her voice cautious. "She's pregnant...with your father's child."
I stayed quiet. My heart didn't even flinch.
I don't care.
Not about Father. Not about his new wife. Not about the child.
I just passed by her in silence.
Yumi gently tugged my sleeve. "It's better if you ignored her," she said softly.
I nodded. I always listen to Yumi. She knows more than I do about the monsters in this mansion.
But what hurt most was not Beatrice.
It was the fact that I was still here — trapped inside this estate.
Imprisoned in silence.
Imprisoned in Father's shadow.
And no one...not even the sun outside…could reach me.
I went to the library — like I always do. It's the only place where I can breathe.
Where silence feels like a friend, not a prison.
I have to study. For my future.
I can't go to school, but one day, I will go to college. No matter what.
That's my goal. That's my way out.
I've read almost every book in this library. Every shelf. Every row.
Peter always recommends the best of the best.
He's not just a librarian.
He's like my second teacher…
A constant in my life when everything else is chaos.
A few months passed.
One evening, Yumi told me something.
"Beatrice gave birth," she said quietly. "You have a younger half-brother now. They named him Leonard."
I blinked.
So…I have a half-brother now, huh?
I just nodded.
I don't care.
That child has nothing to do with me.
He's not my family.
It's already morning.
I skipped breakfast. Again.
I'm in the library, like always — studying things meant for college majors.
I'm only ten, but it doesn't matter.
I have to keep going. I must.
Peter came in quietly and placed a small plate of cookies on my desk.
He didn't say anything. He never does when I look like this.
But I know those are from Yumi.
I smiled a little… but not really.
Not the kind of smile you feel. Just the kind you give to make someone stop worrying.
I have a stepmother now.
I guess…Mama was that easy to replace.
Just like that.
Like she never existed.
I clenched my pencil tighter and buried my face in the book.
I studied…
and studied…
Because if I stop… I'll remember.
And I don't want to remember.
Not right now.
It's already dark.
Guess I have to go back to my room now.
The hallway feels colder than usual.
Silent. Still.
As I walk through the corridor, I saw her—
Beatrice.
She was carrying her baby.
That must be my so-called half-brother.
Leonard.
I kept walking. I wasn't in the mood for fake pleasantries.
I ignored her.
But then—
She stopped.
Right in front of me.
I raised my brow, annoyed.
"…What do you want?" I asked, not bothering to hide the rudeness in my tone.
She stared at me. Cold.
Colder than the night.
"This is your brother," she said, her voice sharp. "You should be grateful, brat."
Grateful?
I scoffed.
Rolled my eyes.
I didn't say anything.
Just kept walking.
Because I don't care.
And I won't pretend to.
Then—
Beatrice grabbed my wrist.
Her grip was tight.
Too tight for someone carrying a baby.
"Maybe you should call me Mom instead?" she said with a forced smile.
Fake. Bitter. Cold.
I looked her dead in the eyes.
Scoffed.
"And if I don't?"
I pulled my hand away, slowly.
"Father's going to remarry someone else anyway," I said.
Calm. Sharp. Cutting.
"In a few months from now. Keep my word."
Her smile faded.
Her eyes twitched.
I walked away without looking back.
Because I knew—
She hated the truth.
And I?
I've stopped pretending to care.
I walked away.
Or at least—I tried to.
But her voice came after me, sharp as shattered glass.
"You insolent little brat."
I stopped.
She scoffed.
"I see now... You're just like your mother."
Her tone was drenched in venom.
"She thought she was better than everyone else too. Look where that got her—buried."
My fists clenched.
Every part of me burned.
But I didn't turn around.
"I'm not like her," I said low.
"And you'll never be her."
Then I heard it—
A scoff. A laugh. Cold.
"You think you're so smart. So brave. Acting like a grown man when you're just a lonely, unloved little boy."
She stepped closer.
Her voice was a whisper now.
"Your father doesn't even see you anymore."
I turned my head slightly, not fully.
Just enough for her to see my eyes.
"And yet here you are... trying to be seen. Pathetic."
Silence.
She waited for a reaction.
But I walked away.
Because I already knew—
She was trying to make me feel small.
But I'm growing.
And one day…
She'll look up to me, trembling.
A few months passed.
Leonard was just 5 months old when Father brought another woman into the mansion.
The next day, he married her.
Beatrice?
She went on a rampage.
Screaming. Throwing things. Slapping maids.
Even threatened to run away with the baby—ha. As if Father would let her.
Her name is Lauren. The new wife.
Now I've got two stepmothers.
But honestly?
I'm too busy to care.
I've got bigger things to do—things that matter.
I have to study. Study harder than ever.
Peter told me something interesting today while handing me a new book.
He said he has a grandson.
A boy around my age.
Apparently, the kid was a brilliant hacker—one of the best Valemont had in secret. But Father fired him.
Why?
Because he was "too young."
Figures.
Father's afraid of anything he can't control. Even children.
I want to meet him.
That boy.
Maybe… just maybe… he understands.
Someone like me.
I looked at Peter.
"Can you bring him here? To the estate?"
He nodded gently, eyes warm like always.
"I've told him about you for years," Peter said. "He's curious. Always asked me when he could meet you."
That made me… weirdly shy.
No one's ever been curious about me. Not really.
Then—
"Young master…!"
Yumi burst into the library, breathless. She looked like she ran all the way here.
I stood up quickly. "What's wrong?"
"Your new stepmother," she said, panting, "she… she summoned you to her chamber."
I scoffed, eyes rolling before I could stop it.
"Tell her I'm busy."
Yumi's face turned serious. "But… Master Victor is there too. He needs your presence."
I sighed. Of course he does.
Damn it, what does he want now?
"Fine. I'll go."
I set my book down on the desk and turned to Peter.
I leaned in and whispered, "Tell your grandson… I want to meet him. Tomorrow. Here in the library."
Peter's eyes twinkled, like something inside him just lit up.
"He'd be really happy to meet you," he said with a proud smile.
And for the first time since Mama's death…
…I smiled.
A real one.
Peter stared. Yumi too.
They both looked stunned.
Peter smiled wider.
And I whispered, "So am I."
I grabbed Yumi's hand, gently but firmly.
"Let's go," I said.
Whatever Father is planning to do, I don't care. But why in Laurel's chamber? Not his office. Not the grand hall. Why there?
We walked through the hallway, the silence between me and Yumi thick like fog. I could feel her glance at me sometimes, like she was worried. I didn't say anything.
In my mind, I was already guessing what this could be about.
Maybe Laurel's pregnant already? Or maybe Father wants to show off his new puppet again.
I wonder what Beatrice is doing now.
Probably throwing things or yelling at the maids.
She's no longer the favorite, after all. She must be furious.
I smirked a little at the thought.
Just a little.
But then it vanished the moment we reached Laurel's chamber door.
Two guards stood there, stone-faced.
One opened the door.
I let go of Yumi's hand.
Time to see what Father wants now.
I entered Laurel's chamber.
She was sitting on Father's lap.
I don't know what they were doing exactly—but I could guess.
His hand was around her waist, and she was smiling like a fool.
My jaw clenched.
Of course. Of course he treats her like this.
Like royalty.
Like glass.
Like someone precious.
And Mama?
He broke her.
Abused her.
Killed her.
My fists were tight. I sat down calmly—but not really. Everything in me burned like wildfire.
I glared at him, directly into his cold eyes.
I didn't blink.
"What do you want, Father?" I asked.
No 'sir.'
No 'Master Victor.'
No respect.
Not anymore.
He didn't answer right away. Laurel giggled and leaned closer to him. I wanted to throw up.
He finally looked at me.
Like I was some tool. A pawn. A pet.
Then he said, "It's time you learn your place, Aurelius."
His voice was sharp. Controlled.
I raised an eyebrow, still glaring.
"My place? You mean as your puppet? Your little heir that you can shape into another you?"
He narrowed his eyes. I could tell he didn't like that.
But I didn't care.
Father told me to sit down, and I did—my fists still clenched, jaw tight.
"When you turn fourteen, you'll begin your training. You will learn to lead my men. I will teach you. You should be grateful, Aurelius. Out of all my children, only you have that privilege."
He gently brushed his hand along Laurel's thighs like she was nothing but an ornament.
Disgust churned in my stomach.
Me? Grateful? For becoming a monster like him? I stayed silent, trembling with the rage boiling inside me.
Father leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp. "You are meant to be like me. Look at yourself—your face, your build. You are a replica of me. Every inch of you screams Valemont. A monster."
That word. Monster.
It clawed at my insides.
I looked up at him, rage bleeding through my voice. "And if I don't?"
His eyes darkened. Without breaking eye contact, he squeezed Laurel's thighs and her core harshly. She whimpered and moan but said nothing.
Then came the threat.
"Do you know Yumi Elowen?" he said slowly, like tasting venom. "That girl—pathetic like your mother. You're lucky I spared you. Your mother was useless. I couldn't bear her sight."
I felt dizzy. The air around me thinned. If I misstep, if I defy him... who knows what he'd do to Yumi? To Peter?
"And I know you're close to that pathetic old librarian," he sneered. "Peter Langford. So let me make this clear: whether you like it or not, your training begins exactly on your fourteenth birthday."
I glared at him with every ounce of hatred I held. My legs moved before I could think.
I stormed out of Laurel's chamber, her moans echoing behind me like a curse I could never outrun.
The next day, just like he promised, Peter brought his grandson to the library.
His name is Philip.
Peter said he takes after his mother, so I didn't see much resemblance—except for the eyelashes. Long and curly, just like Peter's.
Philip brought his personal laptop. The moment he opened it and his fingers started dancing on the keys, I was completely amazed. His skills weren't just good—they were on another level. Precise. Fast. Unbelievably sharp for someone around my age.
He looked up and smiled, a little nervous but sincere.
"I've always dreamt of being in this estate," he said. "To meet you."
I turned away. I didn't like hearing that.
"This estate… is not what you think it is."
My voice came out colder than I intended.
"One wrong move and you might get harmed. Just—be careful. Always."
He looked at me, the smile fading just a little, then nodded.
Philip leaned back and said something that piqued my interest.
"I used to work here… as a hacker. Under your father's command. I hacked systems from other divisions, gathered intel, tracked agents, you name it."
I stared at him. He was so calm saying that.
"He fired me eventually. Said I was too young."
He smirked like it didn't even matter.
"But I kept training on my own. Just in case I ever came back."
I looked at Philip, curious, intrigued.
"Can you teach me how to do that?" I asked. "Don't worry, I'm a pretty fast learner."
Philip blinked in surprise, then smiled.
"Yeah… yeah, I can."
Peter, standing nearby, chuckled softly and added,
"Yes, young master is a genius. A pretty fast learner."
Philip glanced at me again, his expression a mix of admiration and curiosity.
"Alright then," he said as he set up his laptop on the desk. "Let's see how fast you really are."
I pulled my chair closer, eyes fixed on the screen, heart beating just a little faster than usual.
For the first time in a long while… I felt a flicker of something.
Excitement.
It's been hours since Philip and I started sharing our bond together. For once, I wasn't studying alone.
Yumi kept teasing me, her arms crossed with a knowing smile. "Young master finally has a friend," she said playfully.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed the cookie she was about to eat. "Sorry, Yumi. I'm hungry."
She blinked, then laughed softly, that warm Yumi smile never failing to ease something tight in my chest.
"I'll order more cookies from the kitchen," she said, ruffling my hair before walking away.
It was already getting late. Philip and Peter were about to leave.
I handed them a small box of cookies, Yumi's special ones.
"Come back tomorrow," I told Philip, a little awkwardly.
He beamed. "You got it, boss."
Boss? That made me chuckle… but I quickly hid it.
Peter smiled too, proud. Maybe this was what it felt like to be ten and not completely alone.
End of chapter 34.
CHARACTER PROFILE:
Name: Beatrice Aveline Valemont
Age: 37
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
HairColor: Chestnut Brown (wavy, long)
EyeColor: Deep Hazel
MBTI: ESFJ – "The Consul"
Occupation: Former socialite, now the second wife of Victor Valemont
Nationality: French-American
Languages: English, French
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Voice: Smooth, elegant, cold beneath the surface
SignatureQuote:
"You should be grateful, brat. I'm the best mother figure you'll ever get."
Likes:
– Luxurious clothes and jewelry
– Tea with honey
– Being the center of attention
– Control and power within the household
– Being praised by Victor
Dislikes:
– Being ignored or overshadowed (especially by other wives)
– Aurelius (secretly)
– Anyone speaking of Anastasia
– Yumi's presence
– Dirt, mess, or lack of etiquette
Dream:
To secure her status as the most powerful woman in the Valemont estate, raise Leonard to be Victor's true heir, and eliminate all threats to her position—including Aurelius.
Special Notes:
– Beatrice pretends to be kind in front of Victor but is verbally abusive behind his back.
– She is manipulative, always playing the victim or the proper lady.
– She's extremely jealous of Victor's past with Anastasia and sees Aurelius as a stain.
– Often fights with Laurel in secret but keeps a composed image publicly.
– Shows conditional affection to her son, Leonard, only when it benefits her.
– Keeps a hidden journal documenting her frustrations with Victor's infidelity.
Name: Laurel Evelyn Valemont
Age: 29
Height: 5'6" (167 cm)
HairColor: Platinum Blonde (straight, mid-back length)
EyeColor: Pale Blue
MBTI: ENFJ – "The Protagonist" (outwardly) / covertly manipulative
Occupation: Former opera singer; now the third wife of Victor Valemont
Nationality: British
Languages: English, Italian (for opera), French
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Voice: Soft and airy, but with sharp undertones
SignatureQuote:
"Power is a stage, darling. You just have to know how to perform."
Likes:
– Fine wines and vintage perfumes
– Silk gowns and expensive heels
– Being adored and flattered
– Watching Beatrice lose her temper
– Victor's wealth (not Victor himself)
Dislikes:
– Children (including Leonard and especially Aurelius)
– Getting her hands dirty
– Boring routines
– Being underestimated
– Yumi's quiet influence over the household
Dream:
To secure her own fortune, rise above Beatrice in status, and one day escape the Valemont estate entirely—on her own terms.
SpecialNotes:
– Laurel uses her beauty and charm to stay in Victor's favor.
– She loathes being compared to Beatrice and subtly sabotages her.
– Has no maternal instinct; avoids her child (if any) and treats Leonard like a prop.
– Often plays dumb to seem harmless, but she listens to everything.
– Keeps secret correspondence with someone outside the estate.
– She enjoys opera music alone in her chamber, reminiscing her past life.
Name: Philip Langford
Age: 10 (at Aurelius's age 10)
Height: 4'8" (142 cm)
HairColor: Ash brown (slightly messy, medium-length)
EyeColor: Dark hazel with flecks of amber
MBTI: INTP – "The Logician"
Occupation: Former child hacker under Victor Valemont's command
Nationality: British
Languages: English, Python, JavaScript, C++
Voice: Soft-spoken, intelligent tone with a slight stutter when nervous
SignatureQuote:
"Codes don't lie. People do."
Likes:
– Computers and encrypted systems
– Quiet places like the Valemont library
– Milk tea and chocolate chip cookies
– Talking with Aurelius about logic, coding, and justice
– Fixing broken things (machines and people alike)
Dislikes:
– Loud arguments and confrontation
– His father (who abandoned him and his mother)
– Victor Valemont (terrified of him but hides it well)
– Being underestimated because of his age
– Physical violence
Dream:
To one day rebuild a system strong enough to take down the corrupted powers from within—starting with Victor Valemont.
SpecialNotes:
– Philip is Peter Langford's only grandson. His mother died when he was young.
– Extremely advanced in hacking, already built custom scripts and decryption tools.
– Fired by Victor for being "too young and too nosy" after discovering unethical data.
– Loyal to Aurelius from their very first meeting.
– Eventually becomes one of the core engineers and coders for LUMENN in the future arc.
– Keeps a flash drive hidden in his shoe—contains encrypted files on Victor's operations.
– Rarely expresses emotions but forms a strong bond with Aurelius.