The next few hours passed by at the Inanis Mansion and the sun was about to set down.
Lucius had finally finished writing the proposal that he made regarding the mercenaries.
Without any disturbance from the outside world, Lucius found himself focused and directed without any issues.
This was what he liked the most when working. While it was also necessary to engage and interact with other individuals from time to time, it was something more akin to a requirement than something he enjoyed.
"Back then, I had to stifle my boredoms and reactions from being impatient with that Mira." Lucius muttered.
It wasn't like him to speak about his thoughts candidly and aloud. However, at the sanctuary of this room and the next few hours, he allowed himself the chance to linger on the memory, if only for cold hearted analysis.
"She tried so hard to impress with the reading of the texts alongside me, trying to learn the ancient Akalian language just so she could have a reason to stay by my side. Honestly, indulging her back then was a stifling affair." Lucius said. "If I were to owe her anything then it is her stupidity to only prevent me from gaining power in that original world."
And Lucius meant every word.
The cutthroat words that left from his mouth were true to him and his innermost self. There was no room for anything but the desire for the self and selfishness alone.
At the bare minimum… he was at least honest with her about it.
That was as much mercy Lucius had extended to Mira back then.
But even that was simply said to intoxicate her with little hints of carefully placed vulnerable moments.
Lucius only shared what he thought might have purpose and value to him.
"What would you do if I betrayed you? You'd think that it was worth it. Pfft, lies." Lucius chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.
Words were nothing but words, and those who wore their emotions on their sleeve said something so often without thinking of what the implications and consequences were.
It wasn't like Mira was an unintelligent woman. Contrary to what Lucius said about her being 'dumb'… it was only because she had to compare herself to his standard that was above everything that made her seemingly unbrilliant and a pale comparison to what he was.
"To have everything within her palm. She was much more fortunate than me, a True Blood Barrom Clan member." Lucius stared up at the ceiling.
After the hours of spending time with both Benjamin and Lily, he was glad of this reprieve and couldn't help but draw analyses that were of similar waves.
Patterns that were similar needed to be dissected and measured.
'Countess Lita is an overbearing mother, and so is Kiana, hah. There is no use complaining and I should be utilizing everything to my advantage but it does grate on one's nerves to always keep it to myself. If Kiana wasn't at least somewhat useful with her Sting Shooter Sniper, I would have already had her plucked up by that Baron Harmund to gain more resources since the man seemed interested in her.'
Lucius chose not to complain. He preferred to take logical, rational and complete actions.
Why bother complaining when it was enough time to adjust, adapt and rework one's plan? In order to survive and be able to live this long, Lucius needed to do all sorts of work as a servant of Barrom Clan and all the way up now.
There were no scars to be checked for, if there were any wounds, it was to be treated with precision and then one moved on.
Being allowed to feel for too long was akin to exposing yourself to weakness. It was an exposure that Lucius did not have any need for because his goals and motivations have been mapped out from the start.
"Mmm… whatever occurs with Baron Hugh's daughter, whether it be of success or failure has no particular significance to me. Only that I will rework my plans with whatever the results occur." Lucius muttered as he checked the documents once more for final revisions.
Once Lucius was satisfied with the result, he glanced at the setting sun. He steepled his fingers together and allowed himself to enjoy the last moments of the sun basking away, until he heard the sound of footsteps coming across the hallway.
"Mmm, I did wonder how much time it would actually take her to find me. She's starting to catch up good." Lucius muttered until he heard the knock on the door.
"Asher?"
"…" Lucius didn't say anything. He held his tongue and silence for the next second, the next few seconds until a minute already passed without the door opening.
"… You're there, aren't you?" Kiana's voice held some suspicion, but also doubt in her tone.
'Asher always replied to me after some time unless he is heavily asleep. While the room is near done in its renovation, I do not think that he will actually go here to nap. I could be wrong but…' Kiana was hesitating as she wracked her brain. 'I don't really know why I checked here. I just felt like he might be here for some reason… but if he's not around the library, his current bedroom then it always had been the rehabiliation center and not this room. He always goes there on his own without even prompting me. Going here is silly.'
Lucius continued on with his silent vigil. Not a word left his mouth and the silence trickled in hard for another couple of minutes, there was the sound of someone's hand on the doorknob, just a slight shake, until finally, he heard the sound of footsteps walking away.
Lucius's lips curled slightly into a small smile. Oh, yes, the importance of predictability for one's most important servants was necessary.
How else would Lucius find another body willing to become a weapon or his shield when necessary? But at the end of the day, it was truly important to be unknown to anyone but yourself.
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