Chapter 485 - 484. Spinning Lies Is My Second Nature (3)
By the time Ocean and his entourage took their leave from the Lockwood mansion, the atmosphere surrounding Gareth Lockwood was so thick with tension, it could’ve been carved with a blade.
Whatever had transpired during their walk had clearly rattled the Marquess—and everyone noticed.
Outside, as the sleek black carriage bearing the Ryujin crest waited at the edge of the drive, Ocean cast a sidelong glance at the three uninvited "puppies" trailing behind him—Arian, Davian, and Miri.
His eyes, cool and unreadable, flicked over them as they veered past the carriage they had originally arrived in and shamelessly made their way to his. Not a word was spoken, they knew Ocean wouldn’t scold them or throw them out. And true to their thoughts, he didn’t protest. He was a tolerant person when it came to his people.
He merely sighed and climbed in, lifting Sol gently onto his lap. The boy settled comfortably against him, golden curls brushing against Ocean’s collar as he leaned back into the familiar warmth of his chest.
Miri slipped in next, graceful and unapologetic as ever, settling beside Ocean and smoothing her skirts with a satisfied smile.
Arian and Davian followed, both ducking into the cabin with considerably less grace. The moment they sat across from each other, their shoulders brushed—two tall, broad-framed men trying to share a space clearly not designed for either of them, let alone both.
Arian shifted stiffly, his jaw clenched as he subtly tried to inch away from Davian. Davian, in return, seemed entirely unbothered, though the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth suggested otherwise.
Ocean didn’t say a word. He simply exhaled slowly, resting his cheek against the top of Sol’s head, one hand loosely draped around the boy’s waist, the other resting idly on the windowsill. His eyes wandered to the passing scenery as the carriage began to roll, trees flickering past in streaks of green and gold.
The tension inside the cabin was different from the one left behind in the mansion—less sharp, more lived-in. And though the seating arrangement was chaotic, the silence was strangely companionable.
Sol yawned softly, his small fingers still clutching the sleeve of Ocean’s robe. Ocean absently brushed a thumb along the boy’s hand, his gaze never leaving the glass.
"Master, what did you say to the Marquis to make him look so pale?" Miri asked, eyes gleaming with amusement as she leaned slightly against the window, fingers idly twisting a lock of her dark hair.