Lucas sighed in his heart. No wonder she keeps hitting me before…
"Lady Silvara, this is enough, already apologized, no need to prolong it," Liona's voice suddenly sounded, trembling but brave.
Lucas glanced slightly. Oh, her name is Silvara.
"No, Liona, this rotten bastard must know his place," said the maid hurriedly.
Oh, her name is Liona… Tchh.. why am I even taking attendance, Lucas grumbled in his head. He slowly rose, trying to stand calmly. But his chest felt tight. Looks like I couldn't just being different from original Lucian...
Whether he liked it or not, he pulled out Lucian's true nature. A cocky smile appeared on his lips.
"This time only I apologize. After all, I am already satisfied with the warmth of her underwear, hahahaha…"
Silvara was silent, her cold gaze piercing. Then she spoke shortly, full of emphasis.
"Figures."
Hell nah, Lucas cursed in his heart, his smile almost cracking.
Liona looked at Lucian with disgust, her eyes twitching slightly. Lucas instantly regretted it. But Liona quickly bowed low and whispered, "Excuse me, I'll take my leave. There's still cleaning to do." She bowed politely, then stepped back and slipped out of the room, closing the door gently behind her.
Silvara stayed where she was, standing tall with one hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Her gaze was cold, but she said nothing—just watching Lucas like a guard ready to drag him off at any moment.
Lucas let out a heavy sigh. What should I even do now?
Before he could think, the door opened again. The Baroness entered, elegant in her long gown, her sharp eyes locking straight onto Lucas. "Lucian," she said curtly, her tone pressing down on him. "Come with me."
Lucas quickly stood. Silvara moved at once, falling half a step behind him like a shadow that wouldn't leave his side.
The three of them walked down the grand corridor of the manor. Every step of Silvara's boots struck in steady rhythm, making it feel less like Lucas was being invited, and more like he was being escorted.
At last, they arrived in the Baron's study.
Baron Voss sat behind a massive carved desk. As Lucas entered with the Baroness and Silvara, the Baron raised a weary hand, gesturing. "Sit."
Lucas obeyed, lowering himself into the chair in front of the desk. The Baron stared at him for a long moment, his face clouded. "I'm sorry, Lucian… my son. Your birthday this year won't be as grand as before. We… are buried in debt."
Lucas was taken aback, then his expression sank.
The Baroness stood behind him, looking uneasy—like a modern parent terrified their child would throw a tantrum because they couldn't buy the latest gadget.
Silvara remained on his right side, rigid and upright, her eyes fixed on Lucas.
Lucas fell silent, his thoughts drifting. He remembered his late parents in his old world. They always worked, always smiled, and he never knew the truth. He was simply happy when they had a new house, new clothes, new tools.
But it had all been debt. His father worked himself sick until he died. His mother followed the same path.
Since then, Lucas had lost all interest in chasing pleasures. His childhood joy, his teenage happiness—it had all been built on his parents' suffering. City life, with its endless glittering temptations, felt disgusting to him now.
He exhaled. "No problem," he said.
The room fell silent. Lucas added, "Maybe this year… we don't need to celebrate it at all. It's not nec—"
"Huh?" Everyone in the room was stunned. The Baroness, who had looked troubled before, now stared in shock. Silvara gaped. Even Baron Voss froze like a statue.
"Lucian, hahaha… You've gotten good at jokes, haven't you?" the Baron stammered.
"I'm serious."
"Eh…?" Silvara was stunned.
"Eh…?" The Baroness drew her chin back slightly, her brow furrowing.
"Ehhh…?" The Baron looked bewildered.
The atmosphere in the study turned strange. Baron Voss sat frozen, as if waiting for something yet not knowing what to say.
Lucas looked at him, muttering in his heart, Just how pathetic was this Lucian that everyone gets this awkward around him just because a simple normal words?
At last, Lucas drew in a breath, then pretended to throw a tantrum. He struck the desk lightly and raised his voice.
"But… anyway, I want a plot of land to manage starting now!"
The Baron and the Baroness exchanged glances, their faces tense. Finally, the Baron let out a heavy sigh.
"There… there is a vacant land on the outskirts you can manage. But… for what purpose?"
Lucas immediately pulled a sulky face, keeping it stiff.
"You don't need to know!"
The Baron shut his mouth, resigned. The Baroness lowered her head, holding back a sigh.
At last, the Baron gave a signal.
"Silvara. Escort him to that land. You know where it is."
"Yes," Silvara replied firmly, then moved toward Lucas to guide him out.
Once the door closed, the Baroness let out a long sigh, her voice trembling.
"Don't tell me… he plans to use that land to exploit unfortunate women. If that's true… then I've failed as a mother."
The Baron slowly shook his head, speaking softly.
"Do not worry, my love. Silvara will never allow him to stray that far."
Lucas grinned faintly after leaving the study.
No notification rang in his head.
Tch… so just talking isn't enough, huh? Figures.
Lucas stepped out of the room with Silvara faithfully following at his side. His boots echoed against the marble floor, but his mind drifted far away. In manhwas… many protagonists became successful just by farming. Tending the fields, harvesting, and then growing rich.
He took a deep breath. Maybe I can do it too, he thought.
The weight of the past pressed on his chest again. Back then, he never had the chance to ease his parents' burden. Now, he felt almost the same as in his previous life—but this time, he still had a chance.
I have to try to pay off their debts, he thought.
Silvara glanced at him from the side but asked nothing. Her expression remained cold, her eyes fixed forward.
At last, they left the Voss estate. The outside air was chilly, the evening wind blowing softly. Silvara walked half a step ahead, leading the way with firm strides.
"Follow me!" she ordered.
Suddenly, a transparent panel popped up in front of Lucas's face.
[DING!]
[Host has obtained 1 Progression Point, remember? Use it in the Exchange Point menu to gain something useful.]
(☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞
[Come on, Host. Spend it, so you don't look like total trash.]
Lucas's eyes lit up, excitement bubbling inside him.
Finally… I might get something useful, just like those MCs in the stories I've read.
But before he could break into a wide grin, Silvara snapped her gaze at him.
"Don't think you can stain the Voss name!"
Lucas froze stiff. "Huh?"
Lucas swallowed hard, frozen stiff under Silvara's piercing gaze. The evening wind blew colder, carrying with it the dust of the dry road.
The system panel still hovered before his eyes, its cheap emoticon grinning wide.
[(¬v¬) Come on, Host, say something. Don't just stand there blank, or they'll think you're even dumber....]
Lucas clenched his fists. Damn it… I just got fired up, and now I'm crushed like this.
Silvara scoffed, then turned her eyes forward again.
"Walk." Her voice was flat, but the weight behind it was enough to make Lucas move without protest.
The road fell into silence, broken only by the clink of Silvara's boots striking the ground, accompanying Lucas's wary steps.