Chapter 238: Chapter 238 – You really didn’t believe that yourself, did you?

The Valentine mansion was already alive with the rhythm of morning. Sunlight poured in through the tall windows, casting golden beams over polished marble floors. The clinking of porcelain and the soft shuffle of footsteps echoed as maids crossed the hall carrying trays of fresh bread and tea. Butlers moved in perfect order, checking the vases, aligning paintings on the walls, ensuring not a corner of the vast home looked less than perfect.

Yet, all of it faded when Luca’s gaze fell upon a familiar figure sitting calmly on the sofa, a teacup poised in his hand.

“…Brother?” Luca muttered, blinking in surprise.

Vincent Valentine sat with his usual composure, posture impeccable, silver eyes unreadable as he raised the cup to his lips. His presence was as unshakable as a mountain, his aura quiet but commanding.

So… are the third-year exams already over? Luca thought, his pace quickening.

But before he could speak further, his attention snagged on the figure sitting across from Vincent. A young woman with long green hair tied neatly into a braid, her pointed ears visible as they caught the sunlight. Her crimson eyes softened as they landed on him, and a playful smile curved her lips.

“So, how is my junior now?” she asked warmly.

Luca’s expression lit up at once. “Senior Elowen!” His voice carried genuine surprise, followed by relief.

He stepped forward quickly, stopping in front of them. “I’m fine now—thanks to both of you!”

Elowen gave an exaggerated shrug, tilting her head sheepishly. “What do you mean thanks to both of us? By the time we arrived, you already had everything handled.”

Luca scratched the back of his head, embarrassed yet insistent. “But still… most of the first years were saved because of you.”

Elowen rolled her eyes at his stubborn gratitude, though the corner of her lips curved upward anyway.

Turning, Luca finally addressed his brother with a gentler tone. “How are you doing, Brother?”

Vincent’s gaze flickered to him for the briefest second, unreadable as ever, before returning to his tea. He gave the smallest nod, sipping slowly, as if the conversation itself were secondary.

Elowen let out a sigh, placing her chin on her hand. “Hey, now! When we had to rush off to our own exams after you collapsed, this guy”—she jabbed a thumb at Vincent—”was the one most unwilling to leave. And now that he hears you’ve returned home, he comes running here before even reporting back to the Academy properly. And what do you get? Just a nod?”

Luca blinked, taken aback, and glanced at his brother. Vincent’s calm expression didn’t waver. Yet somehow, beneath that stoicism, Luca felt a quiet warmth stir in his chest.

“He looks fine now,” Vincent said simply, his voice as even as always.

Elowen puffed her cheeks in mock frustration. “Honestly, you two brothers… you drive me crazy.”

Luca bit down a laugh, watching her theatrics. That’s Vincent for you… saying more in silence than others could with a thousand words.

Just then, the sound of footsteps and cheerful voices filled the hall. Aurelia, Kyle, Selena, and Lilliane entered together, their presence brightening the space. They spotted Elowen immediately, and their greetings burst out in a chorus.

“Senior Elowen!”

Elowen rose slightly from her seat, giving them a dazzling wave. “Ah, my juniors! Look at all of you, growing already.” Her crimson eyes glimmered with fondness before sliding mischievously to Luca.

“And… What trouble are you planning this time, Luca? Gathering all of them here like this?” Her voice carried teasing suspicion.

Luca stiffened, raising both hands defensively. “H-Hey now, that’s not fair! I didn’t plan anything—”

He glanced at Vincent instinctively, but his brother’s expression hadn’t shifted in the slightest. Calm, unreadable… but the faintest sigh slipped from him, as though he too recognized the inevitability of being pulled into whatever whirlwind Luca would create.

“See?” Elowen said, smirking. “Even he agrees.”

Luca groaned inwardly. Why do I feel like I’m always being ganged up on?

Luca raised a hand in mild protest, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“It’s nothing. We’re just planning to increase our strength by roaming around.”

Vincent’s calm eyes lifted, and he gave a single, steady nod.

Elowen, however, let out a long sigh, leaning back into the sofa with exaggerated weariness. “Shouldn’t you be resting now? Vacations are meant for proper rest, you know.”

But Luca’s expression shifted, his eyes darkening slightly as his tone grew serious.

“Current times… they don’t allow us to rest, do they?”

The words hung in the air, weighty and undeniable. For a moment, silence pressed down on the group. Even Elowen, always quick to tease, closed her mouth, her crimson eyes softening. She did not disagree.

The tension broke with a sudden warmth as light footsteps echoed into the hall. Selene entered, Lisa skipping right beside her. A gentle smile curved Selene’s lips as her gaze swept over the gathered group.

“Well, well… it’s been so long since the Valentine mansion was this bustling,” she said, her voice filled with quiet joy. Then, her eyes lingered on Vincent, Luca, and Lisa, and her smile deepened. “All of my children are here.”

A soft, glowing atmosphere spread at her words, as though the mansion itself breathed easier in her presence.

Lisa, too young to sit still in such stillness, bounced on her feet, her eyes bright. “All of them are here, why don’t we do something? It’s really getting boring here!”

Selene chuckled lightly, ruffling Lisa’s hair. “That’s true… perhaps you all should go out and roam the Valentine territory a bit..” as she looked at Luca saying, “This way , you could show your friends the valentine territory.”

The suggestion hung for only a moment before Elowen clapped her hands together, rising to her feet with a bright smile. “That sounds perfect! Count me in!”

Kyle smirked, his arms crossed casually. “Heh, why not? Can’t hurt to stretch the legs.”

One by one, the others nodded in agreement—though when all eyes shifted to Vincent, he merely shook his head, gaze lowering slightly. “I’ll pass.”

Elowen blinked, her lips pursing into a small pout. Then, with a sly grin, she leaned closer to Vincent, her voice teasing but laced with something softer. “Oh, come now. You really came all this way just to sit here and drink tea? You’re not getting out of this one.”

Vincent’s eyes flickered toward her, steady but not cold. For a long moment, they seemed locked in a silent exchange—her smile unwavering, his calm gaze betraying the faintest ripple. Then, with the barest exhale, Vincent set down his cup.

“…Fine.”

Elowen’s grin widened in triumph as she gave a satisfied nod.

Luca, watching the subtle push-and-pull between them, tilted his head slightly, a thought stirring. Are they…? His lips twitched faintly, almost amused.

But before he could linger on the idea, a soft tug on his hand startled him. He turned, eyes widening, to see Aurelia beside him. Her fingers had slipped into his, her warmth steady and unhesitant.

“Let’s go,” she said, her voice gentle yet carrying a playful lilt. Her amethyst eyes met his, shimmering with both affection and mischief. “Show me your territory.”

Luca blinked, caught off guard, before a small laugh escaped him. “…You really don’t hold back, do you?”

Aurelia only tightened her grip, smiling in that quiet way that made his chest feel oddly lighter.

“Alright, alright,” Luca finally said, lifting his hands in mock surrender. “Let’s change and meet here in a few minutes, then we can leave!”

Everyone nodded in agreement, though Lisa immediately latched onto Aurelia’s arm with a bright grin. “I’ll go with Sister Aurelia!”

Aurelia chuckled, patting her head gently. “Of course. Let’s go, then.”

Luca shook his head faintly at the sight before heading up the stairs. Back in his room, he slipped out of his pajamas and pulled on simple casual clothes—comfortable but neat. With a small exhale, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror.

“Well, let’s go,” he murmured, brushing a hand through his hair before stepping out.

By the time he returned to the hall, Vincent was already there, standing with that same unshakable calmness, his presence filling the space like an unspoken anchor. Luca moved to stand beside him. No words passed between them, but neither of them seemed uncomfortable. The silence was steady, almost natural—like an understanding shared without needing to be voiced.

The quiet only broke when Kyle appeared, his trademark smirk already tugging at his lips. He crossed his arms, giving Luca a sidelong glance.

“So,” he asked casually, “what are some good places in your territory?”

Luca blinked once, his mind grinding to a halt. How am I supposed to know that…? A bead of sweat threatened to slide down his neck. He cleared his throat, covering the pause with a vague grin.

“What’s the fun in telling now? You’ll see soon enough.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow, amused. “Hoh… playing mysterious, huh?”

Time drifted after that. The three of them stood together, the hush only occasionally broken by the muffled bustle of servants in the distance and Kyle and Luca’s conversation. Half an hour ticked by before Luca finally sighed, muttering under his breath,

“Weren’t we supposed to meet within a few minutes?”

For the first time, Vincent’s voice entered the air, steady and quiet but carrying just the right amount of bite.

“You really didn’t believe that yourself, did you?”

As both Luca and Kyle looked at Vincent in surprise , not because of the words he spoke, but because he was the one who spoke those words.

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