Earlene and Ethan were both walking together in the mansion's corridors while discussing something. Now that Ethan had dropped his act, the perception that Ethan was a retard was getting overturned as a misunderstanding and mindless rumors.
In fact, as someone who underwent an early awakening for ten days and survived—no one would even believe that Ethan could be anything but a genius.
Those so-called scholars who had rejected him were now bowling their eyes out in regret. While Earlene was starting to earn more fame and prestige as Ethan's ceremonial tutor despite being so young.
She had become an idol for many young noble and commoner ladies as they looked up to her and aspired to become like her; which was the same thing Earlene wished for. She wanted more influence and to initiate reform.
"Won't you tell me? Why did you suddenly drop the act?" Earlene asked earnestly in a pleading tone.
She had asked this same question many times as she wasn't able to grasp Ethan's intention even though she knew he certainly had something in his mind.
Ethan sighed and stopped in his tracks, "Miss Earlene, please do not ask anymore. I will tell you soon but now is not the time... or perhaps, would you rather know something bad for your health?" Ethan asked in an enigmatic tone as he narrowed his eyes and looked straight into Earlene's eyes with a piercing gaze.
"Ahh, N-no thanks." Earlene averted her gaze and blurted out hurriedly.
"Well then, I never asked you this but I'm curious. What kind of blessing do you have?" Ethan asked curiously as both of them headed toward the library.
"I have the blessings of Wind and I had my awakening when I was twelve years old. And it certainly didn't last for ten days." Earlene said in inferiority rolling her eyes as well as puffing her cheeks.
"Miss Earlene, if you want to reform this society and become someone who leads this reform—then you must not dwell in your inferiority. Every person is unique in their set of skills and talents." Ethan said shooting Earlene a glance from the corner of his eye as he continued to walk forward.
"Y-yes, you are right," Earlene said absentmindedly.
When she thought about it deeply, Earlene realized that she was indeed wrong in her thinking. She fell into deep contemplation and became silent.
"Cough Cough" The sound of coughing fell on Ethan's ears coming from the library. And the voice was quite familiar to him too.
Thinking about what 'that' person was doing in a library—Ethan felt curious and peeked inside. free(w)ebnov(e)l
The library was of course nowhere as grand as the one in The Temple of The Apostle. However, it was not a modest one either. It was a two-story chamber filled with old books, new books, and all sorts of books.
At this point, Ethan had read a lot of them because reading and sleeping were all that he did anyways.
When Ethan and Earlene both got to the entrance of the library which was a large wooden door; they heard the rapid fluttering of pages along with mild coughing.
Ethan's suspicions turned out to be right as he entered the library directly. He knew that it would be no use sneaking around as the person inside probably had keen senses.
Alier who seemed like he was finding something flinched as he heard the footsteps approaching. He quickly put back the book he had been reading into the shelf and moved back.
Little did he know that Ethan already saw a glimpse of the book he was reading as well as the place he was standing and that was enough for him.
"Uncle, you have been coughing too much lately. Are you really fine? I think we should call the physician and have him check on you." Ethan said with the utmost concern in his voice and worry on his face.
His acting skills were impeccable only second to Alier himself—which Alier proved to be correct right away.
"Hehe, you brat! Your uncle still has 100 more years to live! I don't need that stinky old man to nitpick on my health." Alier jeered as he subtly moved further away from the book he had been reading.
"Ohh, are you sure? You wouldn't leave us all of a sudden left to deal with brother Luce, right? Hahaha!" Ethan ranted playfully.
It was something that a seven-year-old would say but in reality, there was an undermined hidden jab that only an overly conscious person would catch.
Alier's brows trembled slightly and Ethan smiled inwardly. He sized up Alier's current physical condition with one thorough look and compared it to when he was completely fine. There was certainly a major change.
Ethan decided that he needed to confirm a few more things after something he realized. And without any delay, he exclaimed, "Well, take care then. I have my classes with Miss Earlene here. Isn't that right?"
"Uh? Y-yes... Right, let's go." Earlene blurted out shifting her gaze between Ethan and Alier. She definitely wasn't good at this kind of thing such as adapting to the situation.
Both of them turned back without giving Alier a chance to say anything and left. As they were leaving, Ethan once again felt a small hint of killing intent from behind his back.
After walking a few distances away from the library, Ethan looked at Earlene.
"Let's go to my room, I have something to ask," He suggested and turned toward his room as his expression got serious.
Earlene was quite baffled by the short exchange just now. She had never seen Ethan talk like that to anyone in his family and eagerly wanted to ask what the deal was.
But she knew that Ethan wouldn't tell her anything he doesn't want to anyways. She could only sigh in vexation as well as frustration and follow him without a word.
***
Back in the library, Alier was once again reading the same book while knitting his brows. He was standing near the medical books compartment shelves scrummaging through the books on Soul Recovery.
"Damnit! Damnit! Why!? How the hell did I suffer such a huge backlash? That boy is a monster! How could his consciousness be so powerful that it protected him and even countered while he was completely defenseless? How!?" Alier suddenly snapped and threw the book on the floor as he remembered Ethan's earlier words.
Luceryc was a strange child. Devoid of emotions, sadistic, and apathetic. Only Alier was someone who was able to handle his antics and that was the exact underlined meaning in Ethan's words.
Alier immediately calmed himself down and brought out a pocket watch from his coat. He opened the lid with a tik sound and his eyes were saddened as well as melancholic as he gazed lovingly at the small portrait of a woman that was on the lid.
Alier caressed the picture lovingly, memories flashing through his mind. His eyes suddenly flashed with a cold, ruthless glimmer as he averted his gaze from the pocket watch to the direction Ethan had left and muttered,
"And that silhouette I saw... But how could this be possible... Even the poison was somehow neutralized and he regained his intellect... for my son... I will do it! Julie... I will not let your final wish down. Ethan must die."
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