The Hidden Monster of House Vale

Lucien saw his mother, her eyes filled with tears that spilled down her cheeks as she rushed forward. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly as if afraid he might disappear. Lucien's cold demeanor melted, replaced by a warmth he reserved only for family. He hugged her back, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

"I'm just glad you came back unharmed," Elora whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She pulled back, her hands cupping his face as she studied him. "You've changed. I can see it in your eyes."

Elora looked around at the gathering crowd—families waiting for loved ones who would never return, their faces twisted with grief. She quickly turned away, unable to bear the sight.

Rosebeth Vale stepped forward next. She was a strong woman, unlike Elora, who wore her heart on her sleeve. Rosebeth's eyes were dry, her back straight, her expression composed. But there was warmth in her gaze as she looked at her stepson.

"Good job," Rosebeth said, her voice firm. "I'm glad you're safe. And I can sense you've become stronger than before." A rare smile crossed her face. "I'm proud of you."

Lucien nodded, a genuine smile touching his lips. "Thank you, Lady Rosebeth."

Liley Vale came forward next, her expression soft and motherly. She was the mother of Aria Vale, Lucien's younger sister, and had always treated him with kindness. She reached up, touching his cheeks gently.

"Welcome back," Liley said, her voice warm. "Aria might not show it, but she misses you terribly." A knowing smile curved her lips. "And there's one girl who keeps asking me about you every day."

Lucien's expression softened. "Maisy."

Liley nodded, stepping aside to reveal the young woman hiding behind her. Maisy, Lucien's personal maid, was trembling slightly, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She stepped forward hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Welcome back, Master."

Lucien opened his arms, and Maisy rushed into them without hesitation. He hugged her tightly, feeling her body relax against his.

"I missed you, Maisy," Lucien said, his voice gentle. "And your cooking. I want to eat Wild Boar Roast with my favorite—"

"Red vine," Maisy finished, a shy smile spreading across her face.

"Yeah, red vine," Lucien agreed, chuckling.

"And how is Evelyn doing?" he asked, pulling back to look at her.

Maisy's expression turned worried. "She's taking care of everything, Master. She's been cultivating without any rest. Even though I told her to rest, she never listens."

Lucien's brow furrowed. "Don't worry. I'll talk to her."

He reached out, touching Maisy's cheek gently. "Go prepare the feast. I'll be home soon."

Maisy nodded, her smile returning. "Yes, Master."

Lady Delian Alde approached with her family, her presence commanding attention. Lord Segast Vale immediately bowed, his respect evident.

"Thank you, Lady Delian, for taking care of Lucien for this entire month," Segast said. "I hope he didn't give you too much trouble."

Delian smiled, her eyes briefly meeting Lucien's. "No, he never troubled us. In fact, he saved us from so many dangerous situations—"

"Delian!"

A furious voice cut through the air like a blade. Lord Modric stormed forward, his face red with rage, his retainers following behind him. His eyes were fixed on Lucien with murderous intent.

"How dare you kill my sons and my brother, Marson!" Lord Modric screamed, his voice echoing across the clearing. "He was the guardian of the Modric family! The Alde family and Vale family will have to answer for this, or things will become very ugly!"

Lucien looked at him with cold indifference. He was about to step forward when Delian moved in front of him, her expression hardening.

"Answer?" Delian's voice was sharp, commanding. "Answer for what, Lord Modric? I think you're forgetting your place." She paused, letting the tension build. "But since you want an answer, here it is."

She drew herself up to her full height, her voice carrying across the crowd.

"I, Delian Alde, am declaring war against the Modric family right now for the crimes your son Sarric and brother Marson Mordric committed against the Alde family. This war will not end until I erase the Modric family from the face of this realm."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Everyone knew Delian Alde could be cruel when crossed, and when it came to political power, there was no noble who could rival her. Not even Gwenra, who was at the peak of the Spirit Forge Realm.

Lord Modric's face went pale. "Wh-what crimes are you talking about, Lady Delian?"

Delian's eyes narrowed. "Your son and his retainers tried to force themselves on my retainers. Your so-called guardian brother was present. It was only thanks to Lucien Vale that they were rescued." Her voice dripped with contempt. "It seems the Modric family has forgotten that no one messes with the Alde family."

Lord Modric's composure crumbled. "But-but Lady Delian, we can talk this through!"

"There is nothing to discuss," Delian said coldly. "Your days are numbered."

Lord Modric's eyes darted to Lucien, his face contorting with rage. "This is all happening because of that bastard, Lucien!"

Lucien stepped forward, a dangerous smile playing on his lips. "And what if it is? What are you going to do—attack me?"

He moved closer, his presence radiating menace. "You're going to attack a peak Spirit Forge realm master right here in front of everyone?"

Lord Modric's eyes widened in horror. "Peak... Spirit Forge?"

"How do you think I killed your brother?" Lucien asked, his smile revealing his teeth. "With ease."

The crowd erupted into whispers.

"Peak Spirit Forge realm? Did I hear that right?"

"Does that mean the Vale family now has a guardian?"

"At his age? He's already reached the peak?"

"No... that's impossible!"

Lord Segast Vale listened to the whispers, a smile spreading across his face. His chest tightened with pride. Rosebeth heard it too, and for the first time in years, she allowed herself to believe that the Vale family's fortunes had changed.

Lucien's gaze never left Lord Modric. "Are you not going to attack me? If not, then leave my way. I have better things to do." He paused, his smile widening. "And if you ever want revenge, I'm always available."

Lord Modric stood frozen, his face a mask of impotent rage. He could do nothing, say nothing. The crowd was watching, and any attack on a peak Spirit Forge realm master would be suicide.

"Lady Delian," Lucien said, his tone softening as he turned to her. "I think we should go."

Delian nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "Yes, you're right. It's making me sick just breathing the same air as him."

They walked away together, leaving Lord Modric seething with impotent fury.

Later, Lucien lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—the dungeon, the massacre, the politics of the outside world. But one thought kept surfacing, demanding attention.

'I should see Evelyn.'

He rose from the bed and made his way to the training area. The Vale estate had changed significantly in his absence. Soldiers patrolled the grounds, their discipline sharp, their equipment gleaming. Training drills were being conducted with precision.

'It seems the estate's condition has improved a lot,' Lucien observed. 'The tax revenues must be doing well.'

"Master!"

Lucien turned to find Maisy rushing toward him, her expression slightly flustered. "You should have called me if you wanted to come here. And I think you should rest!"

Lucien smiled, reaching out to pat her head. "Don't worry, Maisy. I'm just getting familiar with the estate again."

The soldiers had noticed his presence. They immediately stopped their drills and bowed, their voices rising in unison.

"Master Lucien! Welcome back!"

Lucien nodded, gesturing for them to continue. "Don't worry, keep practicing. I just have one question: where is Evelyn?"

A head soldier stepped forward—a woman with sharp eyes and a composed demeanor. "Master Lucien, Lady Evelyn is in the seclusion chamber."

Lucien nodded and made his way to the chamber. When he entered, he found Evelyn sitting in meditation, her blue hair loosely tied behind her back. The changes in her were unmistakable. A month ago, she had been a mortal. Now, she was a realm master.

Lucien activated Divine Inspection.

'Peak Body Tempering Realm,' he observed. 'She's close to breaking through to the Vein Opening Realm.'

Evelyn sensed his presence. Her eyes fluttered open, and a smile spread across her face—a rare sight, considering her normally serious demeanor.

"Master Lucien, you're back," she said, rising to her feet.

"Yeah," Lucien replied. "I came to see you." He studied her carefully. "So, you're at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm. It seems you've cultivated diligently during this month."

"Yes, Master," Evelyn said, her expression turning worried. "I did my best. I didn't want to let you down." She paused, her voice growing frustrated. "But I'm still stuck at the peak. No matter what I do, I can't make the breakthrough. It fails every time."

Lucien nodded thoughtfully. "Evelyn, do you know how muscles are made in the human body?"

Evelyn blinked, confused by the sudden shift in topic. "No, I never thought about that. I practiced my sword techniques for seven to eight hours a day while also working with my mother. Over time, my body became toned, my muscles tightened. But I don't know how it works."

Lucien smiled. "When you do heavy lifting—like using a sword in your case—your muscles feel pain. They break down on a microscopic level. Then, when you eat and rest, your body recovers, rebuilding the muscles stronger than before. This process continues until you have a toned, powerful body."

Evelyn nodded slowly, beginning to understand.

"This same principle applies to cultivation," Lucien continued. "What do you think happens if someone constantly does heavy lifting without giving their muscles any rest?"

"Their hands would be destroyed," Evelyn said.

"Exactly," Lucien agreed. "So, if you keep trying to break through and failing, you're destroying your astral pool. Every failed attempt makes you weaker, increasing the likelihood of another failure." He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Evelyn, rest is just as important for a realm master as cultivation."

Evelyn's eyes widened as the realization hit her. "I'm sorry, Master Lucien. I've disappointed you greatly."

Lucien shook his head. "Don't beat yourself up. You didn't know. And I told you to ask Eliss or my parents for help—they're realm masters who have lived their entire lives in cultivation."

Evelyn's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I would have, but... I only know you in this place. Bothering Lord Vale and Lady Vale for my own selfish cause seemed... wrong."

Lucien sighed inwardly. 'If she keeps thinking like this, she'll end up dead before she reaches anywhere significant. I need to fix this honorable attitude of hers.'

"Evelyn," he said, his tone firm but kind. "You are a part of this household now. That means you are family. And family helps each other. Never hesitate to ask for help when you need it."

Evelyn's eyes glistened with emotion. "Yes, Master. I understand."

Far away, in a palace bathed in moonlight, a woman sat in her study surrounded by ancient tomes and scrolls. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes—sharp as blades—scanned the documents before her.

A soft knock came at the door. Her trusted maid entered, her expression unreadable.

"Lady Sylvie," the maid said, her voice low. "He is back."

Sylvie's hand paused mid-page. Her eyes flickered with an emotion that was quickly suppressed.

Author Note:

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