A while later, Vesper arrived at Ryder's mansion holding Alric's hand—although Alric didn't weigh too much, Vesper was physically weak. After carrying him for a short distance, his hand became numb and his waist started hurting. So, even though he felt a little embarrassed, he had no choice but to put him down and let him walk on his own.
Ryder's mansion was the largest after their father's, their eldest brother Lucel's, and their second sister Rina's mansions. And unlike Vesper and Alric, he had several servants and maids working for him, some of whom noticed the brothers.
"Hm? Aren't they the fifth and seventh young lords? How come they are here today?" A maid asked, her eyes glinting with interest.
Beside her, a male servant looked at Alric's face, and his eyes flashed with realization.
He then said in a hushed voice, "They are probably here to complain to Lord Ryder because I heard a while ago, Adam slapped the seventh young lord. See, his face is still swollen."
"What?!" The maid exclaimed in shock before muttering, "That guy is getting more and more fearless just because his sister is Lord Ryder's personal maid."
The servant noticed the envy and desire on her face and sighed, 'I wish I was also Lord Rhaedor's son. Then these beautiful ladies would also compete to become my maids, hehe.'
He almost drooled as he imagined the scene. Only after he felt the maid looking at him with a disgusted look did he regain his senses and wipe his mouth. "Haha, sorry. I was just—"
"Shut it! I don't want to hear what perverted things were going through your head." The maid scolded before shifting her attention to Vesper and Alric, who were walking toward them.
"Take me to the male servant, Adam." Vesper ordered her after arriving in front of them.
"Ah! Yes." The maid unconsciously bowed her head and nodded under Vesper's cold gaze before walking into the mansion.
"P-Please follow me."
Vesper ignored the male servant looking at him with a hint of surprise and followed after her. Alric did the same.
"This guy… he seems different." The servant muttered. When was the last time he dared to come over near his master's mansion, let alone talk so arrogantly to them? He couldn't remember.
…
As the servants and maids going about their work in the mansion saw Vesper and Alric following after the maid, they were surprised and curious.
They… dared to come to their lord Ryder's mansion? Why?
Soon, they found out the reason, and looks of anticipation appeared on their faces as they discreetly followed after them.
Alric grew nervous seeing them, but Vesper was indifferent and calmly followed after the maid, his hands folded behind his back.
Soon, they reached the living room, where Ryder was resting on a plush couch with his eyes closed. A young maid was standing behind the couch, massaging his shoulder, while two others massaged his legs.
On each side of the couch stood a male servant holding a large fan, waving it gently to generate a gentle breeze.
The maid that led the brothers here had become very embarrassed after she regained her senses and saw other servants and maids' strange looks, but she couldn't ignore them—she dared not to because no matter what, they were still Baron's sons—so she led them to the living room.
"Wait here for a moment." She told them before walking over to Ryder. She bowed deeply and reported, "My Lord, the fifth and seventh young lords are here to see you. Please punish me for bringing them here without your permission."
"Hm?" Surprised, Ryder opened his eyes, and after glancing at the maid who held her bow, he looked toward Vesper and Alric, his lips curving up into an evil smile.
He then shifted his gaze to the bowing maid and laughed, "Haha, what do you mean punish you? I should reward you for bringing my younger brothers to me. If they had returned without meeting me, It would have been sad."
The maid sighed in relief but didn't break the bow; she couldn't do it before he allowed her.
"So, my brothers, what brought you to my humble abode?" Ryder asked, not even bothering to offer them a seat, which Vesper didn't find surprising. After all, he and his eldest brother were the ones who seemed to hate them to their bones, and whenever they got the chance, they would bully them and make things difficult for them.
Vesper stared at him in silence. He was four years older than him, currently 24 years old, and was the son of his father's second wife, Luceille.
He was six feet tall, had shoulder-length, brownish-red hair like their father's, a good-looking face, and a well-proportioned body draped in expensive fabric.
After staring at him in silence for a few seconds, he swept his gaze across the living room before shifting his gaze to Adam, who had been staring at them with a mocking sneer on his face. Then, he looked down at Alric, who was staring at Adam with fiery anger in his eyes, his adorable little face flushed red.
Finally, he glanced at the maid, who was struggling to keep bowing, and said, "It seems you forgot your maid is still bowing, Third Brother. Put her at ease, and then we can talk."
"Oh?" Ryder raised his brow and glanced at the maid. "Stand up and leave the room."
"Yes, my lord." The maid said, stood up straight and walked out. When she passed by him, Vesper leaned toward her and whispered, "Leave the Ironhart mansion immediately and hide somewhere if you don't want to die."
The maid froze when she heard him, while Ryder's eyes flashed when he saw him say something to her.
'Don't tell me this little shit is attracted to her?' A sadistic smile appeared on his face when he thought this.
After the maid hurried away, Vesper patted Alric's head and said, "Why don't you go outside and wait for me?"
Alric glanced at Ryder, then at Adam, before shaking his head, "No, I will—"
"Go!" Vesper said in a stern tone.
Alric flinched, never having his big brother speak so coldly to him. His eyes teared up, but he didn't move. He was worried Ryder would do something to his big brother if he left.
Vesper could see he was worried for him and sighed before squatting down in front of him. Wiping his tears, he gently said, "Don't worry, I'll be fine and will meet you out in a couple of minutes. So, go outside, alright?"
"Alright, but come back quick, okay?" Alric finally relented.
"Sure." Vesper nodded and watched him leave the living room. He then turned his attention to Ryder, who was watching him with narrowed eyes.
"Please wait a moment, Third Brother. I'll tell you why I'm here shortly." He said and walked over to the wall behind the couch where two sheathed swords were hanging.
Grabbing the hilt of one, he unsheathed it and swung it around a bit before walking toward Adam, who narrowed his eyes seeing this.
"What's the meaning of this, Fifth Brother?" Ryder asked, displeased that he dared to touch his things without his permission.
Vesper ignored his question and asked instead, "Did you see Alric's swollen face?"
Ryder nodded, "I did."
Vesper stopped beside Adam and asked again, "Did you know why it was swollen?"
"Because this servant of yours hit him." He pointed the sword toward Adam and answered before Ryder could speak.
Anger flashed in Ryder's eyes, not because Adam had hit Alric—he already knew this—but because Vesper was showing him no respect.
"So, you are here to ask me to punish him?" Ryder asked. Adam smirked, seeing he had become angry and Vesper was going to suffer.
"No," Vesper shook his head to everyone's surprise.
"Hm? Then why—"
Swish!
Ryder had just begun asking this when his eyes narrowed and the sound of a sharp object cutting through the wind filled the room.
"STOP!" He shouted, jumping off the couch and rushing toward him; however, it was already very late.
Schlk~!
The sword slashed through Adam's neck, which flew into the air before falling on the ground with a wet thud.
Silence!
There was absolute silence in the room as everyone stared at Vesper wide-eyed.
Vesper lowered the sword and looked at Ryder. Then his calm voice broke the still silence.
"I came to punish him."