The Useless Extra Knows It All....But Does He?

Chapter 477: Chapter 476 - Lead the Way! (5)

[Some time back]

The atmosphere inside the Drayden Manor remained peaceful, yet beneath that outward tranquility lingered a subtle tension that neither Aurelia nor Kyle could ignore.

Warm early afternoon sunlight poured through the tall windows of the private reception room, illuminating the polished wooden furniture and the untouched refreshments still resting upon the tea table. The servants who had earlier attended to them had long since withdrawn, leaving the spacious room unusually quiet. Outside, the sounds of the estate continued as always, with knights conducting drills upon distant training grounds and attendants moving through the corridors with disciplined efficiency.

Yet within the room itself...

Neither sibling seemed capable of relaxing.

Kyle leaned back against the sofa, one elbow resting upon the armrest while absentmindedly turning an empty teacup between his fingers.

Across from him, Aurelia remained seated with perfect posture, though the elegance she usually carried so effortlessly had given way to unmistakable restlessness.

Several long moments passed in silence.

Finally, Kyle sighed.

"So..."

He looked toward his sister.

"What do you think Grandfather wants with Luca?"

Aurelia slowly shook her head.

"I honestly don’t know."

Her violet eyes drifted toward the large doors leading out of the reception room.

"I’ve never seen Grandfather summon someone privately without informing the family beforehand."

Kyle frowned thoughtfully.

"Especially not immediately after breakfast."

Aurelia nodded.

"And especially not Luca."

The uncertainty hanging between them only deepened.

Kyle tapped the porcelain cup lightly against the table.

"Do you think it’s about the succession?"

Aurelia considered the possibility before slowly shaking her head once more.

"I don’t see why it would be."

"He isn’t connected to our family’s internal affairs."

Kyle continued thinking aloud.

"Maybe Grandfather wants to thank him properly."

Aurelia smiled faintly.

"If that were all, he would have done it openly."

Kyle reluctantly admitted she had a point.

Another silence followed.

Neither of them could arrive at a satisfying explanation.

The old Duke rarely acted without purpose.

Whenever he summoned someone privately...

It always meant something.

Aurelia lowered her gaze slightly.

The longer she thought about it...

The more uneasy she became.

Luca had arrived at the estate only last night.

Within the span of a few hours he had somehow been summoned by the Iron Duke himself, and now the two of them had remained inside the Duke’s study for far longer than either she or Kyle had expected.

Nothing about the situation felt ordinary.

She slowly stood.

Kyle immediately looked up.

"Where are you going?"

Aurelia hesitated only briefly.

"I’m going to check."

Kyle sighed.

"I had a feeling you were going to say that."

Without waiting for another response, Aurelia began walking toward the reception room doors with determined steps.

Kyle watched her disappear into the corridor before rubbing his forehead helplessly.

"I suppose letting you go alone would only create another problem."

Muttering those words beneath his breath, he quickly rose and followed after her.

The two siblings walked briskly through the quiet corridors of the manor, passing attentive servants who respectfully stepped aside as they hurried deeper into the private wing reserved for the Duke himself.

Neither spoke during the journey.

The closer they came to the study...

The stronger Aurelia’s uneasiness became.

Eventually, they arrived at the familiar corridor leading toward the enormous doors of the Duke’s study.

The atmosphere here differed entirely from the rest of the estate.

Fully armored knights stood motionless along both sides of the hallway, their disciplined expressions betraying nothing, while the elderly head butler waited calmly before the massive oak doors exactly where Luca had left him earlier.

The old man noticed the approaching siblings immediately.

He offered a respectful bow.

"Lady Aurelia."

"Young Master Kyle."

Aurelia returned the greeting with a small nod before looking toward the closed study doors.

"Has the meeting finished?"

The elderly butler answered calmly.

"Not yet."

Kyle folded his arms.

"Do you know what Grandfather is discussing with Luca?"

"I’m afraid His Grace did not share that information."

Aurelia stepped a little closer.

"Has anything happened?"

The old butler’s composed expression never changed.

"No, my lady."

Despite his answer...

Something about the situation continued bothering her.

The study had remained closed for far too long.

Aurelia stared toward the heavy wooden doors.

Then—

A deafening crash suddenly echoed from inside.

BOOM!

The entire corridor trembled.

The enormous doors vibrated within their frames while dust fell lightly from the ceiling.

Aurelia’s eyes widened instantly.

"Luca!"

Without thinking, she rushed forward.

She barely took two steps before two armored knights crossed their spears before the entrance, forming an unbreakable barrier.

"Move!"

The desperation in her voice surprised even herself.

"He could be hurt!"

The knights never moved.

The elderly butler calmly stepped between them.

"My Lady."

"Please stand back."

Another tremendous impact erupted from beyond the doors.

The walls shook once again.

This time it was followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy stone collapsing somewhere inside the study.

Aurelia’s heart clenched painfully.

She attempted to move past the butler.

He gently, yet firmly, extended one arm to stop her.

"Please."

His voice remained respectful.

"But His Grace gave strict instructions."

"No one is to enter."

Aurelia looked at him in disbelief.

"Didn’t you hear that?"

Another violent crash thundered from inside.

The corridor shook yet again.

"How can you ask me to stand here after hearing that?"

Kyle stepped forward as well, his usual carefree demeanor having completely disappeared.

"Head Butler..."

His voice had grown serious.

"...something is clearly happening inside."

The elderly man remained perfectly composed despite the repeated explosions echoing through the corridor.

"I understand your concern."

His gaze remained fixed upon the massive study doors.

"But my orders remain unchanged."

Aurelia clenched her fists.

Every instinct urged her to force her way inside.

Another deafening impact echoed beyond the doors.

She took another determined step forward.

The crossed spears immediately lowered once again.

The atmosphere in the corridor tightened as Aurelia struggled against the restraint of duty while the guards and the head butler remained unwavering before the entrance, refusing to allow anyone to cross the threshold no matter how desperately she wished to reach the person beyond those doors.

***

The atmosphere inside the Duke’s study remained peaceful.

The warm fragrance of freshly brewed tea lingered gently in the air while sunlight continued streaming through the towering crystal windows, illuminating the room with a comforting golden glow. The earlier battle now felt strangely distant, almost unreal, as though the shattered study and the clash of weapons had belonged to another place entirely.

Only two porcelain cups rested upon the polished wooden desk.

Steam still curled lazily from their surfaces.

Neither man spoke immediately.

The old Duke simply observed the young man seated opposite him with the same patient gaze that had watched countless seasons pass over the Drayden estate.

Luca lowered his eyes toward the amber tea within his cup.

For several moments, he quietly reflected upon the Duke’s question.

Then, slowly, he lifted his gaze once more.

"I think..."

His voice remained calm.

"...the tea itself was never what mattered."

The Duke remained silent.

Luca continued.

"The tree is planted by each generation."

"They care for it themselves."

"They gather its leaves."

"They brew the first cup with their own hands."

A faint smile appeared upon his face.

"None of those things exist because someone else cannot do them better."

The Duke gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Luca gently lifted the porcelain cup before him.

"They exist because every action carries meaning."

"The act of nurturing something through the passing years."

"The responsibility of preserving what those before you entrusted to your care."

"The willingness to devote your own hands rather than someone else’s."

His crimson eyes rested upon the warm tea.

"I believe that is what gives the cup its value."

The study remained completely quiet.

The old Duke listened without interrupting.

Luca slowly placed the cup back onto its saucer.

"But..."

His expression gradually became more thoughtful.

"I also think there is something equally important."

The Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly with interest.

Luca spoke carefully.

"If those traditions exist to remind people of their responsibilities..."

"They possess great value."

"If they exist to strengthen those who inherit them..."

"They deserve to be preserved."

His fingers rested lightly against the porcelain.

"But if one day..."

His voice became quieter.

"...those same traditions begin preventing people from fulfilling the very purpose they were created to protect..."

He paused briefly.

"...then perhaps they should be questioned."

Silence spread naturally between them.

Luca’s gaze drifted briefly toward the steam rising from the tea.

"The tree."

"The brewing."

"The first cup."

"They are beautiful traditions."

His smile carried quiet warmth.

"But if one day the family became so concerned with preserving the exact method of brewing the tea..."

"...that they forgot why they began brewing it in the first place..."

He shook his head gently.

"...then the tradition itself would become a burden."

The old Duke remained completely still.

Luca continued calmly.

"I believe traditions should support people."

"They should guide them."

"They should remind them where they came from."

His eyes slowly met the Duke’s once more.

"They should never become chains."

The room fell silent once again.

The crackling fireplace seemed unusually loud.

Luca spoke one final time.

"After all..."

A faint smile appeared upon his face.

"...traditions are inherited because people continue living."

His voice remained steady.

"They exist for humanity."

"Humanity does not exist for them."

His gaze rested calmly upon the old Duke.

"So if preserving a tradition means sacrificing the very people it was meant to protect..."

He slowly shook his head.

"...then perhaps what deserves preserving is not the tradition itself..."

"...but the willingness and the intent that gave birth to it."

Another long silence followed.

Neither man moved.

Neither looked away.

The old Duke simply stared at Luca.

His weathered face revealed nothing.

No approval.

No disagreement.

No emotion whatsoever.

The study became so quiet that even the faint rustling of leaves beyond the windows could be heard.

Just as the Duke slowly parted his lips to speak—

BANG!

The enormous study doors burst open with tremendous force.

The sudden sound shattered the tranquil atmosphere instantly.

Both Luca and the Duke turned toward the entrance.

Standing in the doorway—

Her breathing hurried.

Her crimson hair slightly disheveled.

Her violet eyes filled with unmistakable worry—

Was Aurelia.

She looked directly toward Luca.

The moment she confirmed he was standing safely before her, the tension gripping her expression eased ever so slightly.

Without caring about the Duke’s presence or the breached etiquette, she hurried several steps into the room.

Her voice carried a mixture of relief, anxiety, and urgency.

"Are you alright?"