Chapter 234 Chapter 234:Axel's Trouble
No one wants to expose the ugliness inside one's home to the outside. However, with the way things were happening, Axel knew that the once mighty Steele Family was on the verge of becoming a fallen noble.
Very soon, all of the ugliness of his home would be broadcasted throughout the world bringing countless mockeries and gossip.
So, at this point, it didn't matter as everyone was going to know about it so speaking inside his heart might lighten his heart.
Coincidentally, Lucas was the perfect guy to talk with. Though like others, Lucas often makes fun of him as a dumbhead; he treats him quite well and even values his opinion.
Glancing with bewildered expressions, Axel started to narrate the events slowly.
"I had a brother."
This simple sentence was enough for Lucas to understand the underlying meaning.
"My father is like a scumbag and my mother was helpless in this matter."
"Like others, our family bloodline is starting to degrade. After giving birth to me, she gave birth to my brother who had a platinum bloodline."
"It was a joyous event, however, sadly he died a few days after his birth." Axel intertwined his fingers tightly and shuddered when he remembered that day.
"The reason?" Lucas asked curiously.
""It was an illness with blocked arteries," is what they said to me but there was also some kind of genetic defects aside from that. After that, my mother was unable to give birth anymore for some reason. So, my father used this chance to go play around."
"Are there no elders in your family or from your mother's side?" Lucas asked.
"There are but they couldn't stop him because of his pursuit to give birth to someone of a higher bloodline. However, my mother knew this was just a lie as my father often found women who might be beautiful but either had low bloodline or no bloodline."
"My father dumped all the work on my mother's head and due to the immense workload my mother started to collapse. While my mother was working day and night, my father was enjoying himself endlessly and soon started bringing girls to the house one after another."
At that time, Lucas saw a cold glint flashing in Axel's eyes. The anger and murderous intent of those eyes made his back drenched in sweat.
"Did he have more children?" Lucas asked.
"Not that I am aware of."
Lucas gulped his saliva and was about to say that your father might be infertile but managed to stop himself at the end lest he may start a war.
Axel, unable to perceive a change in Lucas' expression, spoke again.
"Finally, my mother collapsed and she became mentally sick and blamed me that it was because of me being a failure that my father didn't love her anymore. Slowly, she started developing hate for me."
"Axel, did your mother treat you well before?" Lucas asked cautiously.
"Yes, my mother was quite a lovely lady with a cheerful personality but started turning into a vindictive and depressed person after my father cheated on her. Every time she sees me, she thinks that I am a beast just like father whom she hates to the core."
"And it all started with an argument where my father hit my mother and said that he is doing all of this because I am a failure, unable to do anything. And this tournament broke the last straw. He had given me an ultimatum to be in the top 10 but with all the shit happening, do you think I can be in the top 10."
Lucas kept his mouth shut for a moment.
"To make it worse, with my mother becoming ill and hating the family, and father whoring around, the business on our side started going into loss and we might be declared bankrupt. Soon, very soon our Noble family is going to collapse and as you know all those debts and shit will be piled on me."
Lucas didn't expect things to be so troublesome. Though he didn't know about internal matters, he knew that Steel was a mighty noble family and their fall created some chaos.
"I don't know what to do. It hadn't even been a year since I stayed away from home and this happened. That is the reason I pretend to be a fool because by doing this people wouldn't come close to me and I don't have to think of ways to conceal the trouble in my family in case they visit or inquire about it."
"I see." Lucas mumbled softly.
Nobles at the upper level, don't miss the opportunity to make connections. If Axel mingles well with others, their families wouldn't leave this chance to connect with Steel. And once they learn of the trouble brewing in the Steel family, they would leave no chance and swallow the Steels but in the worst case, many might have already known this and started to act.
The Steele family isn't an aristocrat with a business background rather they have a strong power of soldiers but Axel's father was pathetic and weak and was at 6-Star.
Instead of focusing on developing soldiers, he wanted to flourish his business which led to its weakening.
The book only mentioned this much but who knew deep inside it was such a mess?
"Do you still have feelings for your father?"
"No, I don't give a shit about him. If he wasn't my father, I would have wanted to beat him into a pulp." Axel spoke angrily.
Lucas raised his head and patted Axel's shoulder.
"That simplifies things to a certain degree."
"Huh?" Axel's brows creased.
"Is your mother's family strong and is their relationship good?"Lucas asked, patting him.
"My mother's family are Viscount and their relationship isn't that good. My grandfather and mother objected to the marriage but my mother being a lovesick escaped to marry my father. They persuaded her later to come back but my mother fell into the trap and broke their relationship. Things have been estranged since then."
"That means they don't know about her condition."
"In a way, yes! My mother mostly cooped up. up in a room with a trusted servant taking care of her. "Axel nodded.
Lucas massaged his forehead wondering if his suggestion will become too drastic.
"Do one thing. Meet your grandpa and relay everything and tell them how much your mother regrets it for not listening to her. The first thing is your mother needs treatment by a psychologist as soon as possible and since your father isn't treating her that means he either doesn't care or wants your mother to become sick so that he can drown in debauchery. There also may be chances that the woman your father hooked up with might have put drugs in your mother's food and tried to harm her so that they can take her position."
Axel's jaw dropped for a moment as he thought that this made sense.
Depression and physiological issues should be easier to treat at the beginning. Moreover, that greedy woman might do something like this.
"How did I not think this?"
'Because you are still naive.' Lucas' lips twitched.
Axel clenched his fist tightly.
"That scum..."
"And about your family going into debt. The best way is to take over the management since your father is useless and start selling some of the riches to pay it off but Axel you can't dump school to inherit the family."
Axel's eyes widened. He was also in a dilemma about this.
The people who are still loyal ask him to inherit the family as soon as possible so that Steel doesn't get reduced to dust.
"Remember this Axel. The might of the family of Steel is the people, not the property or money. It's you who symbolises Steel, not wealth. If you think you are confident enough to keep up with others after you jump out of the academy then there is no problem however if you fall behind in strength by tending time on business it will be a matter of time before Steel collapses without a strong support."
"So, what should I do?" Axel asked helplessly.
"You can sell things to make up for the debt and wait to make future contributions in a war to raise the nobility or…"
Lucas cast a playful smile that made Axel shudder.
"You need an expert Professional Financial Manager who handles the business well. And if your mother gets divorced and gets half of the property, much of your workload will be reduced."
"I will keep your suggestions in mind. I need to discuss with the others and my grandparents a bit to see if they are willing to help." Axel then stood up and bowed his head.
"Thanks, Lucas. Though I don't know if your suggestion will help, it will help to lighten my heart."
"No worries." Lucas then pulled out a card and placed it in Axel's palms.
"If you want to help, just join this group."
Axel took a card that had the name Salus on it.
"If you want an Expert Financial Manager, this guy might be the one." Lucas pointed at Reynold's name with a faint expectation as to who knows if he can get a piece of pie from the Steels.
"I will keep that in mind." Axel took the card but halted in his steps confusing Lucas.
"I remembered something. Lucas, do you know about Roan's situation?"
The moment this question fell, Lucas' heart jolted with a bad premonition.
"D…Don't tell me, his soul is also affected."
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