The world had been changing at a fast pace and with various gazes eyeing around,everyone had been waiting for a chance for others to make a mistake to drag them down.
The Wargrave is one of the highest nobility of Historia, and had been losing its edge since his grandfather’s period.
The rise of technology completely upended the world order both politically and socially.
In such a world where the voice of Gods had become distant and the path to Transcendence had been getting difficult.
Without sufficient power what was the distinction between that of nobles and mere commoners.
In such a time his firstborn brought a ray of hope.
Someone who seemed to be born different from the rest. Even when he was just born there was an aura of dread that even horrified the people at birth because unlike other children who cried the boy stared eye to eye in menacing rage.
More than that he showed quite a promise.
Intelligent beyond the ages of his peers.
He was sharp,analytic and calm like a person without any flaw. People even started to question about how such a flawless being could exist.
He had high expectations from his firstborn who might have been key to dismantling the status quo but the possibility just remained as a possibility.
The person who should be a beacon of light drowned the house in darkness.
He failed to get the blessings of [War] and even failed to undergo the awakening ritual.
The day was a nightmare for Wargrave.
The day when all his hopes were crushed brutally. And from that day Grim Wargrave,the man born for perfection ceased to exist.
What was left behind was a pathetic flawed human incapable of achieving anything significant.
But Wargrave wasn’t doomed. Later he had twins who showed immense promise. Though not as good as the eldest they were still better than himself.
And on top of that an adopted daughter. Despite the odds she managed to inherit the attributes of War and to his absolute horror just at the age of 27 she had already broken the third seal.
God knew how ecstatic he was. At the same time he was saddened and questioned why the world was so cruel.
Why can’t she be his daughter in place of the fool who was now wantonly destroying his life.
Trying to die... It was nothing new but another act to draw his sympathy. It had already happened a few times but he didn’t die so it clearly signified that his eldest son was playing with him.
That was his first response but to his shock his son had been hell bent on dying.There were many times he has been badly injured but woke up unscathed.
Aster stared at the flawless yet rugged haggard face below which formed a small scar hidden behind the duffle scarf.
Anger soiled his mood and disgust chewed his heart.
"Pathetic!"
"I can’t believe I gave birth to something pathetic."
He then slammed his fist.
"Even though you failed you could do anything else that might be helpful to the family but no. But all you know is to drink and gamble."
Then a cold calm voice echoed across the hall.
"Is it over?"
"Huh?"
Aster huffed and puffed after spewing all his anger at his son who still stood rigid thinking that his son might feel a bit hurt and pained but what’s this.
Aster raised his eyes to gaze at Grim only to feel stiffened seeing a pair of eyes that seemingly looked down upon him.
"You... What did you say?"
He expected him to step back and bow like he always did. His son might have been cold and arrogant but after failure he always bowed down however.
"Are you deaf?"
Grim’s brows furrowed, turning sharper.
"If you have screamed enough then stop. I am not in the mood to take your ramblings I came here because you called me to eat not to listen to your bullshit."
A strong pressure started to emerge from Aster.
"How dare you?"
"HONEY!"
A sweet voice echoed from beside him.
Aster looked at his wife Samantha who gave him a pleasing gaze.
His wife was the only reason that this failed scourge was living under his roof lest he might kick him out.
"Samantha, can you even hear him?"
Samantha smiled softly and turned at Grim. "Son, apologize to your father. As a parent can’t he even scold you."
"Don’t be like this."
His mind exploded, unable to process what he heard. He raised his chin and looked at her coldly.
Grim then turned towards the aged woman hoping to see some kind of emotions but it was all indifference while maintaining a facade of a dear mother and that adopted daughter looked as if she didn’t care and blew hot soup before taking it.
Feeling undermined he gritted his teeth.
’What’s wrong with this family... No, even the original body isn’t sane.’
"Tsk... I shouldn’t come here." Cursing inwardly he extended his hand to grab a piece of bread and stuffed it.
He then turned around to leave when Samantha shouted.
"What is this behaviour... Stop it Grim!"
"Shut up."
Samantha shouted expecting her son to have some remorse but what greeted her was indifference.
Grim gave her a cold look and was about to turn when a loud slam echoed.
"Grim you are crossing your limit!"
"You should learn decency and courtesy."
Grim looked at the pink-haired bitch and spat. "And who are you to teach me?"
"I am your elder sister."
"You forget the word adopted, Meloni."
’Huh! Her name came naturally on my tongue.’
Meanwhile Meloni’s eyes widened, unable to come up with words.
Aster stood up from his seat and was about to scream but Grim turned around and left quickly leaving a deep silence.
Aster stared at his back and looked at his family.
"He... What happened to him?" Meloni said with subtle annoyance.
"This is the first time he rebutted him."
Previously every time he was scolded, Grim would just shut up and listen but this time he seemed to be a wounded tiger prepared to bare its fang at the slightest possible problem.
Aster slammed his fist and shouted. "That bastard... I have had enough of that useless loafer."
"Honey calm down... He is your child." Samantha tried to appease him but Aster roared.
"He isn’t."
"He needs to be punished."
Not knowing what awaited him Grim walked back to his quarters while grabbing his head and screaming inwardly.
’Fuckkk!’
’What the fuck!’
He didn’t intend to do this. Not without knowing anything but the moment his family screamed at him he felt so disgusted and angry that it made his skin crawl.
You know your son is trying to commit suicide yet you leave him to his own means.
Do you have any shred of mercy? Don’t you feel responsible for giving birth?
The more he thought about it the more disgusted he became at their actions.
He wondered what were the dynamics between the family and Grim.
Why had Grim been trying to commit suicide repeatedly and that too failed.
Was it because he had enough or because he was forced or...
A sudden chilling thought rang in his mind.
Was it perhaps a murder case?
If it’s a suicide case for real then this guy who can’t even commit suicide properly... No wonder you are looked down upon... If I was in your place I would be embarrassed to come out.
While he had been lost in thought a shadow sneaked in from behind unnoticed.
"Young Master!"
He almost jumped in fear while turning around only to see the old butler smiling mysteriously.
"For God’s sake what is this goofy-ass entrance. Can’t you appear normally from the front?"Grim cursed, staring at the white haired man with a sinister smile.
’Damn..He is here too.’
"Sorry,Young Master..I didn’t mean to scare you."the man grinned.
"What!" he asked irritatedly.
"Young Master, what do you want me to do with the girl?"
"Girl?"
Frank looked around and whispered "You might have forgotten about it Master. I am talking about the girl whom you asked me to kidnap from the slum."
Grim swallowed sweating inwardly.
’Now what is this mess?’
If I made a mistake my flaw might be given out.
Putting out a stern expression he decided to go through with it first.
"Where is she?"
"In one of the abandoned sheds."
"Very well... Lead me there."
Frank put his hand over his shoulder and nodded. "As you wish."