Our Family Has Fallen

”What are you talking about? Is it really so hard for you to go back and see your parents?” Alvin’s sudden words left Bruce somewhat puzzled.

To be honest, he wasn’t good at handling these kinds of situations either. Having been in the army and the Order of Knights for years, he was more accustomed to maintaining a stern, unsmiling demeanor, appearing severe while reprimanding his subordinates.

Perhaps this could make a soldier fear and obey him, but undoubtedly, this attitude once again provoked Alvin.

”Isn’t this just an excuse for you and Father to imprison me? Do you also think I’m stupid?”

Bruce fell silent upon hearing this, but the look he gave Alvin was somewhat strange.

”Hmph, have you admitted it?” Alvin sneered fearlessly, ”Are you planning to imprison me, poison me, or drive me out?”

”Who has been telling you these things? Where are you hearing this nonsense from?”

Bruce became increasingly dissatisfied and immediately recalled those nobles who dared to incite Alvin, trying to stir up a fraternal conflict between them.

”Don’t believe those guys; they’re just trying to sow discord between us. We’re family.”

”Aren’t those guys always under your and Father’s control? What can they do? Oh right, of course, including me, this fool.”

Alvin seemed to have suddenly understood, speaking in a sarcastic tone, and no one knew who taught him that.

Bruce wasn’t adept at dealing with this kind of situation; his younger brother now seemed quite unfamiliar to him, and he could only speak in a cold voice.

”Come on, follow me home.”

”No, that’s your home, not mine!” Alvin also shed his mocking demeanor, staring back unflinchingly.

”Slap!”

These words enraged Bruce, and he raised his hand and slapped Alvin. The next second, Alvin looked dazed, shocked and incredulous, the only proof of reality being his reddening cheek.

He hadn’t expected Bruce to actually strike him, having never been hit growing up.

”You actually hit me...” Alvin’s voice trembled with rage, his whole body shaking.

It wasn’t fear but the precursor to a volcanic eruption.

”Why shouldn’t I hit you? Come back with me now!”

Bruce was accustomed to maintaining his authority. Even though he calmed down, he absolutely refused to show weakness, instead becoming even more determined to overpower Alvin.

”Fine! I’ll go back with you and see what he has to say!” Alvin covered his face, turning his head to look with suppressed anger.

Bruce wanted to explain something, but the pressure from the Earl before he came was overwhelming. If he couldn’t prove he could subdue Alvin, Father would surely resort to more severe measures, not just simple house arrest.

So Bruce was indeed trying to restrain Alvin to protect him.

But no one cared about Alvin...

The argument took place at the door, and their loud shouts drew the attention of many, including the Missionary who had followed them out.

”Well, well~” The Missionary, seeing this scene, knew that his prior arrangements had worked, murmured softly before turning away.

Regardless of what others did, Alvin came back, not to be willingly imprisoned, but to meet his father, the Lord of Bastia.

”Just speak well with Father, admit your mistake, and this matter will be over.”

Bruce didn’t want the two to meet because he had a premonition that a greater argument was inevitable.

But Alvin obviously wouldn’t listen to him, directly barging into the Earl’s study.

”Father!” Alvin shouted, his chest heaving like bellows.

The Earl seemed to be already informed and wasn’t surprised by Alvin’s appearance; instead, he gestured for Bruce and the butler to leave.

”I can finally see you, my dear Father.” Alvin looked at the man with a complex expression, questioning, ”Is this your wish?”

”What do you mean?” The Earl calmly retorted, his attitude so indifferent that it seemed the person in front of him wasn’t his son, but just a subordinate.

”Having Bruce imprison me.”

”No, actually I preferred sending you away. It was Bruce who thought the outside world was unstable and suggested you stay home for a while and see.”

The Earl’s explanation was calm, but it was precisely this attitude, where he couldn’t even be bothered to be perfunctory, that left Alvin on the verge of collapse.

”Am I really that much of a disappointment to you?”

”Haven’t I given you opportunities? From childhood to adulthood, every time you got into trouble, Bruce and I had to clean up after you. But what did you do this time?”

The Earl slammed the table and roared, ”You managed to lose an entire Order of Knights to capture a declining small town, and they were all captured.

Since Bastia was founded, we’ve never suffered such humiliation. Even if I had a pig leading the Knights’ charge, this wouldn’t happen. You’ve brought disgrace to our family!

This time we’ve run around because of your mess, spent a lot of money to ransom you back, and yet you still make trouble upon returning. You even dared to collude with those nobles against your father. Do you not know what they want to do?

If you weren’t my son, who knows where you’d have ended up dead, and yet here you are asking me what you’ve done wrong, as if you’ve suffered some great injustice. Whose fault do you think it is?”

The Earl did have a temper, but he usually didn’t show it easily. Now, with the doors closed, he had no reservations, and his anger erupted like a volcano.