Chapter 206: Williams Estate
Don walked through the Williams estate with a dark and sullen expression, yet almost ironically, there was a small smile playing on his lips, trying to hide his expression.
And yet, everywhere the young master passed, snickers followed, be it from the guards, or the other servants in the estate. Ever since Dion could remember, these Snickers have always followed after him. From the curiosity of why it was so, to the anger at realizing why it was so, until It had reached the point where it no longer angered him, and was now something akin to a mild buzzing next to his ear.
Dion had long realized it was because of his illegitimate status in this House. How good would it have been if he wasn’t even born in a royal house to begin with? He thought. But he soon broke out of those thoughts as he reached the residence of the family head.
The guard at the entrance of the residence, even after fully knowing why he was here sent bared their spears together, blocking his way.
"State your purpose." They said coldly. If Dion felt angry at their reaction, he didn’t show it.
"The family head sent for me. It was you, in fact, who was sent to relay it to me." Dion stated calmly, looking calmly at one of the guards.
The guard openly sneered. "You should have said so in the first place." He said removing his spear from the blockade.
The other guard did the same allowing Dion to pass. Dion barely paid them another glance before walking into the walkway that’ll lead to the mansion.
However, just after two steps inside, the young Williams turned back with a smile. "You know, I might be an illegitimate child, but I’ll always be way above you. I’m still in essence the child of the family head, hates me as he does, far above anything you can ever reach in your entire life, for you’ll never be more than a lowly guard in my eyes, so know your place."
"You..." the guards eyes widened in disbelief.
"Isn’t it funny? Hehehehe." Dion chuckled in amusement. "A lowly guard giving attitude to a young master of the House." He said before his voice took a solemn tone while still smiling. "Know this, I can separate your head from your body where you stand, the only reason I haven’t is because I don’t want to stand my hands with your filthy blood."
After those words, Dion turned back and left, leaving the guards shaking in terror behind him. "Why did you have to antagonize him?" The other guard chided at the one Dion had been speaking to as if he hadn’t been part of it.
"I don’t know, it’s has always been like this, and no one has ever given their time of the day to admonish us, let alone him." He replied still shaking. "Even the family head and the other members of the house tacitly agree to this."
"Well from today, I will no longer be a part of this, I could tell he is way stronger than we are, and he truly meant it when he said he could cut your head off where you stood."
"Yes yes," the offending guard nodded vehemently. "I will no longer antagonize him. ’I will gladly lick his boots if he asked.’ he added inwardly.
Meanwhile, Dion had already reached the mansion of the family head itself. In this place, there were no guards. Only someone truly idiotic or suicidal would try to enter the personal resting place of the patriarch of a tier 3 family.
"Come in." A booming voice echoed and the doors of the mansion opened before Dion even had the chance to knock.
Dion obeyed and walked into the mansion, and there towards the large hall was a man seating crosslegged. His features were eerily similar to Dion’s.
Dion continued walking until he was only about two meters from the man. Thjs was perhaps the man Dion hated the most in his entire life, the man who had made his life miserable since he was but an infant.
Blaming him again and again, reminding him again and again for his former maid and mistress’s death- Dion’s mother.
This man, Jerome Williams, was the person Dion hated the most in life, and in death, the person Dion hated the most was none other than the woman who brought him to this life.
He knew it was unreasonable of him to do so, but still, if she hadn’t birthed him in this cursed family, and left him immediately after, his life would probably have been so much better. If she was here, perhaps his father would have loved him.
He soon sent those thoughts away and looked at the man.
"You sent for me, father?" He spoke calmly.
"Word came to me that you were acquainted with the deceased fifth prince of the Darkfell Empire." The man said with his eyes still closed.
Dion’s face darkened. Why was this man suddenly speaking of his dead friend. He didn’t like it at all. But still, he was forced to answer.
"Yes, father."
"Truly, braids of the same feathers flock together." Jerome opened his eyes. "Failure begets failure."
Hearing that, Dion clenched his fist at his sides, but he could do nothing more than that.
"What? Do not tell me you feel angry at what I said." Jerome’s eyes narrowed.
"No, father." Dion replied, his clenched hands already bleeding.
"Good, because that will make you even more of a failure than you already are." Jerome spatted. "And how many times have I told you to stop calling me father? I am not your father, BOY! And you are no son of mine!" Jerome bellowed.
"Yes, patriarch."
"That’s more like it." Jerome withdrew his aura. "Now, I guess you’re not only close to the deceased wastrel but also the rest of the children with royal blood and higher mobility." The Williams family head said as a matter of fact.
"It is so, patriarch."
"Good, now, you will tell me every single thing you about them, their habits, their abilities, their level of strength, and everything probably know about their life."
Hearing that, Dion’s heart sank to his stomach. "What do you need this information for, patriarch?" Dion steeled himself to ask, not minding the overwhelming pressure pressing down on him.
Boom!
Dion’s body shot back and hit the far wall with a single look from Jerome.
Keuk!
Dion spat out a thick phlegm of blood and spittle, before falling back to the ground.
"I do not remember giving you the permission to ask me questions." Jerome stated coldly. "The only permission I have given to you, is that you answer my questions."
"Yes, patriarch." Dion muttered, cleaning the line of blood from his lips. It seems there was no way he could get out of this without telling Jerome what he wanted to know. But there was also no way he could agree to tell him everthing, that would be betraying the people he had come to see as his friends.
’I’ll have to tell half truths and half lies then.’ he thought grimly as he stood up and walked back to the patriarch.
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An hour later, Dion left the residence of the family head, showing absolutely no clue of what had happened in there, or that he had been struck by the patriarch.
When Dion reached the exit of the residence, both guard who had tried to provoke him earlier quickly cleared the way, allowing him to pass with not so much as a single sound from them.
However, it seemed Dion’s day was meant to be spoiled throughout. From the distance, he saw a figure walking towards him with a sky smirk on their face.
"Well if it isn’t the bastard of this household himself." The figure commented once they were face to face.
"What do you want, Gerald? I am in no mood for any of your games." Dion said, already exhausted from his earlier encounter with the family head.
Gerald was Dion’s half brother, older by four months, and he was the son of the lady of the household. Also, he had made it a point to always show that his status was above Dion’s.
It hadn’t reached the point of bullying because Dion was stronger than him even when they were kids, but he was always antagonizing him.
"What were you doing in the family head’s residence?" Gerald asked.
"Its none of your business." Dion replied with a smile. "Now move aside, I’m in a hurry." Dion tried to walk past.
But he was held by a firm hand on his shoulder. "I am a legitimate son of this household, you will answer me when I speak to you!" Gerald shouted.
Perhaps it was because of what happened earlier at the family head’s residence, but Dion was at his limit.
He caught hold of Gerald’s hand and twisted it beyond where it was supposed to go.
"Ahhhhhh! What do you think you are doing?!"
Dion smiled.
"Funny how a legitimate son of this household couldn’t even get into the Astral Mystic Institute."
"Y...you!"
Dion pushed Gerald to the ground and walked away, leaving the young man whimpering on the ground.
Dion meanwhile, left the area and even the entire Williams estate, and went into the city.
Walking through the city, he let out a sigh. "Maybe I should go to the bar." He muttered. "Yes, that new bartender looks good." He smiled almost shivering.
Dion was only truly himself when he was out of the Williams estate where he didn’t have to pretend to be anything or talk formally.
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