Chapter 131
“You know,” Arthur said suddenly, his voice quieter but laced with a strange intensity. “Our stories… they’re not so different. Do you realize that?”
Lucian tilted his head slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “How so?” he asked, his voice calm but his gaze sharp, wary of Arthur’s sudden change in tone.
Arthur’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Well, my family was… what’s the word? Ah, yes. Erased. Assassinated in their entirety when I was still a kid. Doesn’t get much darker than that, does it?” He chuckled, but the sound was hollow. “And here I was, left with nothing but a name—the last surviving heir to a house that used to command respect and power.”
Lucian remained silent, his jaw tightening as Arthur continued.
“You see, politics is a cruel game. The queen at the time God bless her clever little soul decided it would be a waste to let my family’s assets and influence go to waste. So, what did she do? She adopted me. A perfect move, wasn’t it? She gains control of everything, and all she had to do was feed and house a grieving little boy. Easy enough, right?”
Arthur’s voice dripped with sarcasm, his grin almost feral. “But the funny part? Life had bigger plans. The king died not long after, and the queen was left with just two kids her precious daughter and the little political pawn she’d adopted. Me.”
Lucian remained silent, his expression unreadable. He had read this backstory in the novel, but hearing Arthur recount it in such raw detail brought a new weight to the tale.
Conveniently, there I which was just adopted to gain fortune become big problem . A little adopted son to stabilize her power, to quiet the nobles. She didn’t even consider remarrying. Too messy, too risky for her hold on the nation.”
Arthur smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “And so there we were: one ambitious queen, one eldest daughter, and… her adopted son.”
Lucian listened silently, his face giving away little. He knew all of this every dark corner of Arthur’s history but hearing it now, directly from Arthur himself, added layers of tension.
“And the similarity?” Lucian asked finally, his voice carefully neutral.
Arthur’s smile widened, though it had a predatory edge. “Oh, there’s more than you think. Beyond the obvious lack of a father figure, of course.”
Arthur continued, leaning forward. “We’re both unloved in our little stories, aren’t we? Sure, the queen kept me close, but let’s not kid ourselves. Love? Please. I was just an asset, a placeholder. And you” He pointed a finger lazily at Lucian, his smirk widening. “Your situation isn’t so different, is it? A mother who barely acknowledges you and a sister who… well, let’s just say she wasn’t exactly singing your praises.”
Lucian face remained silent, but his fingers twitched slightly. The words hit harder than he cared to admit.
Arthur laughed, the sound sharp and cruel. “Oh, come on. Don’t give me that look. It’s all true, isn’t it? The great Lucian Kane born into privilege, wealth, and power. Yet, here you are, just as unloved and discarded as I was. The only difference is, you’ve got their blood running through your veins. No adoption papers for you.” His smile turned mocking. “Must sting, huh? To be treated like a stranger in your own family?”
Lucian’s forced smile faltered for a split second before he caught himself.
[Don’t listen to him, host. He’s playing games, trying to unsettle you.]
I know, Lucian replied silently, But it doesn’t make him wrong, does it?
[It doesn’t matter if it’s true. Love isn’t about what you didn’t get. It’s about finding the right people to share your feelings with. If they didn’t deserve your love, stop wasting yourself on them.] Max’s voice was harsher now, almost scolding. [This second chance is about building happiness, not dragging your past along like a chain.]
[“Host, listen,”] Max interjected, his tone firm yet not unkind. [“I understand that emotions aren’t something you can switch off with a button. But if you keep letting yourself be dragged down by people who don’t reciprocate or respect your feelings, then what’s the point of your second chance? You deserve to be happy. You deserve to share your love with the right people. And if you keep pouring your heart into those who’ve only hurt you, you’re the one who’ll end up empty.”]
Lucian exhaled softly, his gaze softening as he responded internally. I know, Max. I know.
[Walk away. Find new people who will value you for who you are, not what you can give them. This second chance isn’t just a reset it’s an opportunity to build something better. Please, don’t waste it.”]
[“Take the time you need, but don’t let the past define your future. Focus on yourself. Take a step back from all this chaos and give yourself room to breathe. You’re not obligated to carry everyone else’s burdens, Host. Sometimes, you need to let people go so you can heal.”]
Lucian exhaled softly, yes i see Lucian smiled lightly listening to max.
Arthur raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Lucian’s forced smile. “You’re awfully quiet, Mr. Kane,” he remarked, his tone smooth but cutting. “What’s the matter? Did I strike a nerve?”
Your journey continues on empire
Lucian’s lips twitched faintly, his smile firming as he tilted his head just so, maintaining his composure. “Not at all,” he replied, his voice even, though a flicker of something darker passed through his eyes. “I was just… thinking.”
Arthur’s own smile widened slightly, almost predatory. “Oh? And what were you thinking about?”
Lucian exhaled softly, his gaze sharpening as he met Arthur’s eyes. “That you’re wrong. We’re not similar.”
Arthur’s smile didn’t falter, but his eyes gleamed with challenge. “Not similar? Are you saying your parents loved you, then?”
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