Chapter 91: Chapter 91

Luke immediately recognized the man’s refined attire and impeccable posture—this must be the butler overseeing the entire estate.

“Gwen,” Theo greeted him.

“Welcome back, sir. I hope your journey wasn’t too arduous.”

At Gwen’s subtle nod, the attendants rushed forward to take the luggage Theo had been carrying in both hands.

“It’s an honor to meet you,” Gwen said, bowing politely after finishing his greeting to Theo. He then turned to Luke, his posture unchanged. “I am Gwen, the head butler of the Redrick Ducal Estate. During your stay, I will ensure all your needs are met to the best of my ability.”

The formality of the greeting caught Luke off guard. He hadn’t anticipated being dragged to this place in the first place, let alone being treated like a guest of honor.

“That won’t be necessary,” Luke replied, raising his hands in an awkward gesture of refusal. “I just need a place to stay while I take care of business in the capital…”

He barely managed to swallow the rest of his words—something about how Theo had brought him here unannounced. However, Gwen was undeterred. As the head butler, it was his responsibility to ensure that all members of the household, as well as their guests, experienced utmost comfort and convenience.

Even if Luke was an unexpected visitor, Gwen saw him as someone worthy of impeccable care.

“Well, in that case, I’ll be in your care,” Luke relented, figuring he’d be stuck standing there all night if he didn’t say something. As expected, Gwen’s face lit up with satisfaction, and he gestured toward the mansion.

“Then, please, this way. Allow me to show you inside.”

Following Gwen’s lead, Luke scratched his head, wondering how this situation had come about. It occurred to him that Gwen must have been informed of his arrival in advance, even though Luke himself had no idea he’d end up here.

“Theo.”

“Hmm?”

“You… planned to bring me to your estate from the start, didn’t you?”

Theo averted his gaze, and Luke immediately felt like he’d been tricked.

“Luke, think about it. You’re now an official collaborator with the military. As part of that arrangement, it’s my duty to ensure you have a comfortable stay while in the capital.”

Luke narrowed his eyes at Theo. Technically speaking, he hadn’t yet been formally registered as a military collaborator. There were still protocols to be followed. But with Theo, the military’s top commander, making such a claim, it was hard to find fault.

“Well, I guess I don’t have much reason to refuse,” Luke finally conceded, nodding.

Theo exhaled a small sigh of relief. For a hastily concocted excuse, it had worked remarkably well. The truth, however, was slightly different. As soon as Theo had finished his call with Sion on the ship, he’d immediately contacted the Redrick estate to prepare for Luke’s arrival. The reason wasn’t just about ensuring Luke’s comfort—it was because the thought of being apart from him was now unbearable.

As Luke continued to eye him suspiciously, Theo cleared his throat, attempting to brush off the awkwardness.

“Wow, this place really is something else,” Luke said, his mouth agape as he stepped into the mansion.

The low-toned beige walls felt almost luminous after the darkness of the night. Gold accents adorned the interior, proudly showcasing the mansion’s grandeur. As they walked through the corridor, Luke’s eyes were drawn to the large staircase at the center, draped in a luxurious blue carpet. Every detail—the railing’s design, the finials atop the banisters, the small stone statues at the landings—radiated elegance befitting a noble estate.

“I’ll guide you to your guest room on the second floor,” Gwen said.

“Oh, sure.”

“Once you’ve settled in, I can provide a tour of the estate.”

Luke nodded, though he wasn’t sure he needed a tour of the mansion. However, as he glanced around, he began to reconsider. The estate’s sheer size made it seem entirely plausible that he might get lost just trying to find his way around.

“Gwen,” Theo said, interrupting.

“Yes, Young Duke?”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Pardon…?”

Gwen turned toward Theo, maintaining his practiced smile, though his confusion was evident.

“I’ll show Luke around the estate. That won’t be a problem, will it?” Theo asked, glancing at Luke.

“Uh, go ahead,” Luke replied, shrugging.

Gwen, standing between the two, looked from one to the other before finally nodding. By protocol, he should have insisted Theo rest after his journey, but the faint look of satisfaction on Theo’s face convinced him to step aside. For now, he decided to simply observe.

***

"Does a house really need to be this big? Feels like you’d get lost if you’re not careful," Luke said, half-joking as he looked around the grand estate.

“I understand. Even I got lost a few times as a child,” Theo replied, surprisingly earnestly. He went on to explain how he had once wandered aimlessly through the estate, causing trouble for the staff, and how that experience had fueled his determination to memorize every corner of the mansion out of sheer stubbornness.

Listening to Theo, Luke thought, Yeah, that’s so Theo. Beneath his calm exterior, Theo had a quiet but fierce pride.

“Is the Duke of Redrick not here?” Luke asked as they ascended to the third floor after touring the first two.

“No, he’s not. His health isn’t great, so he’s currently in the south, recovering.”

Luke felt relieved that there wasn’t anyone else he’d need to worry about while staying here. But the thought of an absent head of the house raised another question.

“So, how does the family manage everything in his absence?”

It felt like a reasonable question, but instead of answering, Theo gave Luke a piercing look. Luke turned to find Theo staring at him intently.

“What? Did I ask something strange?”

“No, not at all. It’s just... it’s the first time you’ve asked me anything personal.”

“Huh? No way,” Luke replied, though his voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

“You did. Back in the imperial army, you only ever asked me about training routines or mission results.”

Luke fell silent. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been curious about Theo back then. It was just that, as a rival and antagonist, his focus had been elsewhere—on fulfilling his role and driving the protagonist toward their destined conclusion. There hadn’t been room for idle curiosity.

“Maybe you’re right,” Luke murmured, scratching his cheek awkwardly. Theo smiled faintly.

“The household’s affairs are largely handled by Gwen. He’s been serving the family much longer than I’ve been alive, and his loyalty and competence have been invaluable.”

As Theo spoke, they reached the far end of the third-floor corridor. He pushed open a large door, revealing a room lined wall-to-wall with bookshelves. The sheer number of books made it immediately clear that this was the estate’s library.

“You didn’t need to show me the library,” Luke said, glancing around in awe at the vast collection. “I’m not here for leisure or study, after all.”

“Still, it doesn’t hurt to know where it is.”

Luke looked at him skeptically but soon became absorbed in scanning the bookshelves. Despite his earlier disinterest, the sheer variety and quantity of books began to intrigue him.

“You could probably make a fortune selling these,” he muttered, pulling out a book with an interesting cover. Theo stepped closer.

“That one’s a bit old but fascinating. It’s the travel memoir of a renowned botanist. Quite useful for anyone interested in the field.”

Luke nodded, flipping through the pages. One book turned into another, and soon Luke was pulling book after book off the shelves. Theo patiently explained the contents of each one with surprising ease.

“Wait… Theo, have you read all of these?” Luke asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Of course,” Theo replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Luke took a step back, scanning the towering shelves that filled the room. The sheer number of books was staggering, making Theo’s claim all the more unbelievable.

“All of them?” Luke echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“I grew up as an only child in this family. It’s not that surprising.”

Theo’s nonchalant response left Luke at a loss for words. Though Theo hadn’t elaborated, it wasn’t hard to imagine the kind of expectations placed on him as the sole heir to one of the empire’s most prestigious families.

“Why did you become a soldier?” Luke asked suddenly.

Theo tilted his head, clearly caught off guard.

“I mean, you had a guaranteed future, didn’t you? You could’ve taken an easier path and still ended up in a powerful position.”

It was a question Luke had wondered about since their academy days. Despite rumors that Theo’s family influence helped him achieve success effortlessly, Theo had never wavered in his pursuit of a military career.

“I hated it,” Theo admitted after a pause. “That so-called guaranteed future. No matter what I achieved, everyone would assume it was because I was the Duke’s only son. That’s how it works in families like mine. Dreams turn into preordained paths, and every bit of effort is dismissed as a product of lineage.”

His voice was steady, but there was a hint of melancholy in his expression.

“That’s why I chose the military—a place where my family’s influence couldn’t reach. I wanted to prove my worth on my own.”

Luke considered Theo’s words in silence. It made sense. Humans needed a sense of purpose, a place where their existence felt meaningful. Theo had chosen the military as his battleground for self-validation.

“Sounds trivial, doesn’t it?” Theo added, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Most people think it’s just a spoiled noble’s complaint.”

“Hey,” Luke said, poking Theo’s arm. “Bend down a bit.”

Theo hesitated but eventually leaned down, his gaze meeting Luke’s.

“I don’t know how things were for you in this house,” Luke said, reaching out to ruffle Theo’s hair, “but I do know how hard you worked as a soldier. Probably better than anyone else.”

Theo froze at the unexpected gesture, his body going rigid.@@novelbin@@

“I might be the person who knows it best,” Luke continued. “So don’t go around saying stuff like that. You’ve got a reputation to maintain. You’re the Commander-in-Chief, for crying out loud. The military’s image depends on you.”

Theo remained silent, staring at Luke with an unreadable expression. Then, without warning, he grabbed Luke’s wrist and pulled him closer.

“Whoa—! What’s with you? If you didn’t like it, you could’ve just said so…!” Luke stammered, but Theo’s grip tightened, cutting off his protest.