Chapter 219: Chapter: 219 Take care of the family.

Edward followed him silently. His face looked worried and a bit confused.

In his mind, he kept thinking, ’Will he beat me? No… he never hits me outside of training. He won’t do that.’

Edward told himself this to feel a little better. Then he walked faster to keep up with Vivian.

Vivian opened the door to his private study and went inside.

Edward stopped for a second at the door. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and then stepped in.

As soon as he entered, he saw Vivian already sitting in the big chair behind the desk.

Vivian’s eyes were fixed on him. The room felt very quiet.

Vivian spoke in a calm but serious voice.

“Do you know what you did?”

Edward stood there, not sure what to say.

He looked down at the floor for a moment, then lifted his eyes to meet Vivian’s. His heart was beating fast.

“I… I think I made a mistake,” Edward said quietly.

Vivian leaned forward a little. “Tell me exactly what wrong you did.”

Edward swallowed hard. He knew he couldn’t run away from this talk now.

He took one more small step closer and started to explain.

Vivian stayed quiet for a moment. He looked at Edward’s left hand again.

The place where the pinky used to be. It still looked fresh and sore.

Edward spoke again in a low, sad voice. “It was my fault for being rash. If I had listened to her fully, then it wouldn’t have gotten to this situation.”

“Hm.” Vivian nodded once. Then he asked, “Do you regret what you did?”

His eyes stayed on the missing finger.

From what Salena told him earlier, Vivian already knew the reason.

Salena had given Edward a ring as a gift.

When she asked him to inherit the position of patriarch, Edward became very angry.

In that moment of anger, he cut off his own left pinky with a knife.

He did it to refuse the ring and to show he would never accept that path.

Vivian felt a sharp ache in his chest.

If Edward had only come to him and asked, Vivian would have given up anything, his place, his title, everything.

But at the same time, he felt a quiet happiness deep inside.

His brother did not choose to betray him. Edward hurt himself instead of letting emotions pull him away. That showed real loyalty.

Edward waited a second. He looked unsure, then spoke softly.

“Yes… I regret what I did,” he said. “I should have asked her calmly. I should have let her explain why she said those things. I’m sorry, brother.”

Vivian looked straight at him. His face was calm, but his voice was gentle now.

“You were foolish,” he said. “Very foolish. But you did not turn against me. That is what matters most.”

He stood up slowly from the chair. He walked around the desk until he stood right in front of Edward.

“Never do that again,” Vivian said firmly. “If you feel angry or confused, come to me. Talk to me. Don’t hurt yourself to prove anything.”

Edward nodded fast. His eyes were shiny, but he held the tears back.

“I won’t. I promise, brother.”

Vivian put his hand on Edward’s shoulder. It was a strong, steady grip.

Vivian looked at Edward with steady eyes. His voice was firm and clear.

“You will ask for Salena’s forgiveness. And until she forgives you, you are not allowed to touch a sword again.”

Edward lowered his head right away. He knew Vivian was serious.

Salena was a kind and honest girl. She had faced many hard times in her life.

When she met Edward, she hoped he would be different from her own family.

But then Edward hurt her and left her feeling alone.

Part of it was her fault too…she should have explained things sooner.

Still, Vivian felt she had already suffered enough. She did not deserve more pain.

“Yes, brother. I will,” Edward said respectfully. He nodded once, showing he understood.

Vivian gave a short nod back. He walked around the desk and sat down in his chair again.

He looked at Edward for a long moment. The air around Edward felt strong and steady.

“It seems you have really worked hard,” Vivian said.

From the aura Edward gave off, it was easy to see.

He had reached the mid stage of swordmaster.

And he was not just any swordmaster, he was also a mage.

That meant he could fight and even win against a late-stage swordmaster.

He might even hold his own against a grandmaster for a while.

Most important of all, Edward had made a breakthrough after reaching that level.

He had found his own true path. Vivian felt very proud as he looked at his little brother.

“Haa…” Vivian let out a soft sigh.

It felt like only yesterday he remembered Edward as a small boy, crying because Vivian had to leave the estate for the academy.

Now look at him. So tall, so strong.

“He has really grown up now,” Vivian muttered to himself. A gentle smile appeared on his face.

He let out another sigh, then spoke again.

“I will be going to the northern war.”

“Northern war?” The moment Edward heard those words, his eyes lit up bright.

He quickly stepped forward toward Vivian. “When?”

Vivian leaned back a little in his chair. He studied Edward’s excited face for a second.

“In two weeks,” he answered calmly. “The front line is getting worse. They need more strong fighters. I have to go.”

Edward’s hands tightened into fists at his sides. His voice came out fast. “Can I come with you, brother? Please. I want to fight by your side.”

Vivian raised one eyebrow. He stayed quiet for a moment, thinking.

Then he spoke slowly.

Vivian’s eyes turned hard. He leaned forward in his chair and spoke clearly.

“No. You will not be going to the war.”

Edward opened his mouth to speak, but Vivian raised a hand to stop him.

“You are a Swordmaster now. There are too many risks for someone at your level. I will not allow it.”

His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

“But brother, I’m also a mage…” Edward tried. His voice was hopeful, like he thought that would change things.

Vivian cut him off right away.

“I told you. Once I say no, do not make me repeat myself.”

His tone was stern now, sharp like a blade. The room felt heavier.

Vivian thought about what he had heard from his mother and from Charlotte.

The northern front was not like other battlefields.

Swordmasters died there fast. Even grandmasters struggled.

His own father and maternal grandfather, two of the strongest grandmasters in the empire, had been trapped there for seven long years.

They could not leave easily.

And then there were those strange warriors.

Vivian recalled that strange Creature that looked like an abomination, half male, half female, twisted in ways that made no sense.

There was no chance Vivian would let Edward go into that place.

Not now. Not ever, unless he was sure he could keep him safe.

He had made the same decision with Charlotte.

She was also at the Swordmaster stage, and he refused to let her go too.

Even if they both reached grandmaster level one day, Vivian would still find a way to stop them.

He would not watch his family walk into that hell until he knew he could protect them.

Edward stood there, fists tight at his sides. He looked like he wanted to argue more, but he saw the look on Vivian’s face.

It was not anger. It was worry mixed with iron will.

Edward lowered his head slowly.

“…Yes, brother,” he said quietly. “I understand.”

Vivian let out a slow breath. His shoulders relaxed just a little.

Vivian looked at Edward for a long moment. His little brother’s face was sullen, eyes still fixed on the floor.

The excitement from earlier had faded, replaced by quiet disappointment.

Vivian could see it clearly, Edward wanted to fight, to stand beside him in the north. But Vivian could not allow it.

He spoke again, his voice calm but carrying weight.

“After I leave, take care of the house. And take care of the family. Grandfather is still here, but he is getting old now. Make sure he doesn’t get any stress. Watch over him. Watch over everyone.”

“Yes, brother,” Edward answered quietly. His voice was low, almost flat.

He tried to hide it, but the sadness showed in the way his shoulders dropped.

Vivian stood up from his chair. He walked closer until he was standing right in front of Edward.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then Vivian placed a hand on Edward’s shoulder again, this time it was heavier, more reassuring.

“I know you want to come,” Vivian said slowly.

“I know it burns inside you. But this is not the time. Not yet. The north is not a place for proving yourself right now. I need you here. Alive. Strong. Protecting what we have.”

Edward lifted his eyes. They were a little red, but he nodded once.

“I understand,” he said. “I’ll do it. I’ll stay. I’ll take care of everything.”

Vivian gave a small, approving nod. He squeezed Edward’s shoulder once, then let go.

“Good.”

He stepped back toward the desk but did not sit yet. His gaze stayed on Edward.

“Go now,” Vivian said gently.

“Do what I told you earlier. Talk to Salena. Ask for her forgiveness. Make it right. That is your fight for today.”

Edward took a slow breath. He straightened his back a little, trying to push the disappointment aside.

“Yes, brother.”

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