Duke Kayn

The man raised his brow, staring at the boy with a hint of interest. Slowly, he pulled back his foot from the boy's grasp and spoke toward him. 

"Who are you?" 

Zeus smiled. However, he secretly winced from the pain caused by the force of the man's kick. He heard a crack earlier so his bones might even be dislocated. 

Even then, he didn't show it outside and instead kept his cool. In front of this man, he shouldn't display weakness. 

"I am Elise's friend, Zeus." 

The man only narrowed his eyes before walking towards his office chair. Zeus eyes shifted at the man's desk and saw his name written on the wooden slab. 

'Duke Kayn Ambrose, what a weird name.' Zeus muttered before tending to the girl beside him. 

"Are you alright?" He asked, fixing her messy hair. 

"Why did you come here?" Elise answered with another question. She didn't raise her head to prevent him from seeing her teary red eyes. 

"Well, the windows suddenly shattered so I thought that someone is attacking. Your servant stopped me at first, before letting me enter. After I got here, I saw that you were about to get kicked."

"Leave here now..." After a brief pause, she continued, "...while my father isn't mad at you." 

"Why would I?" 

"Just leave!" 

"Sigh, what a stubborn woman." Zeus groaned as he stood up and turned towards Duke Kayn. 

In fact, Zeus had many questions to ask this man. Something seemed quite wrong the moment he sensed a disturbance in the office. Moreover, despite him saving Elise from his kick, Duke Kayn didn't release any hostility. 

Even as of now, the Duke was looking at him without a single hint of malice. 

"May I talk to you alone, Duke Kayn." Zeus asked permission as respectfully as he could. 

Duke Kayn nodded. 

"Elise, leave." He ordered. 

Elise slowly got up from the ground, wiped her tears away, and exited the office.

Thud—

The door that was opened till now suddenly closed as if an unseen hand pushed it. 

"Aren't you a little bit harsh?" Zeus asked as he sat on a soft leather couch, wiggling his aching arms. 

"My children should be afraid of their father." Duke Kayn picked up a cigar from his drawer. He set it into his jaw before lighting it with generated flames from his finger. 

"You're not here to lecture me, are you?" Duke Kayn added, as white smokes gradually filled the room. 

"Well, I wanted to ask why you waited for me." Zeus blurted out.

However, the Duke remained indifferent as if he was clueless. 

"What are you talking about? Why would I wait for you?" 

"The kick earlier would have killed Elise. But, as soon as I stopped it, the force weakened." Zeus leaned on the couch and continued, "Additionally, it's impossible that you won't my presence the moment I entered this house."

Zeus tried so many times to answer these questions on his own. 

Was the Duke testing him? Or is he deliberately targeting him? 

In the end, only the Duke could answer it but Zeus also couldn't help but be intrigued by the true answer. 

Silence pervaded the room, as both remained quite throughout the whole minute. Wind rippled through the windows, causing the curtains to dance at their presence. 

In the end, Duke Kayn broke the deafening silence with a trace of approval. 

"You are smart." Duke Kayn said as he looked at cigarettes burning from his fingers, "Indeed, I've been waiting for you."

Zeus tensed up from his answer. Sweats trickled down his forehead as he felt the Duke's gaze probed over his body. 

"But you need not be afraid, I believe our meeting here is predetermined."

Zeus' pupils narrowed. "Do you know me, by any chance?" 

Duke Kayn crushed the cigarette from his fingers, turning it into mere dust. This action was noticed by Zeus who also frowned after sensing a trace of rage from the Duke's eyes. 

Soon, his expression loosened and a heavy sigh escaped his mouth. 

"Even if I want to tell you, it's too early, child… too early…"

Duke Kayn looked at the broken window glass and stared at the bustling streets with a complicated expression. 

He continued, "Things are not as simple as you think."

Hearing the enigmatic words coming from the Duke, Zeus was even more doubtful. 

Why does it seem like everything around him is a mystery? 

From his mother, father, and even his Sera and the others, all of them seemed to be a mystery that cannot be solved. 

"Well, for now, you don't have to think about it. Everything will be revealed soon."

"Can you tell me at least a hint? I don't want to be kept in the dark."

"Child, there are things better left unsaid. Even if I tell you everything, you won't be able to do anything. The only thing you can do now is to grow stronger and stronger and stronger. Only then can you make a change."

Zeus smiled bitterly. He understood that he's still weak and despite, the gifts he had, he's nothing but a fodder in a real battle. 

"Well, enough of that. I know you have many questions but I won't answer any of them."

"It's alright. Maybe, I'm just going to wait till I find out the truth."

"Wise choice." Duke Kayn slowly nodded as he closed his eyes seemingly reminiscing the past. 

"Moving on, everything that happened in the mountains has already reached my ears. You don't have to explain for her sake. Moreover, you saved her, did you? For that, I thank you for saving my daughter." 

"Wait, you already know? How?" Zeus spoke, eyes wide open. 

Duke Kayn grinned, "It's a trade secret."

"Then, why would you hit her like that when you already know everything? That's just uncalled for!" 

"You're right. But that's how I disciplined them. Moreover, I'm not mad because she killed that Kleo boy, rather, it's because she left the manor without my permission. Our enemies are lurking everywhere. She could have died and we would never even know. So young man, lecture me when you know the truth and not just recklessly charged based on your opinions."

Zeus scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"I-I'll keep that in mind."

"Anyways, I know you're here for the reward. In fact, I've been thinking about it for a while and I can't really think of anything that could be as worthy as my daughter's life."

"Thus, I'll just grant whatever you want as long as it's within my capabilities." 

"Is that true?" 

"Yes."

Zeus pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. 

"Then… is Elise single?" He asked cheekily. 

"..."

"Did I ask something wrong?" 

With his brows furrowed, Duke Kayn asked, "Ah, you don't know the rules?" 

Zeus tilted his head. "What rules?" 

"When courting someone higher rank than you, permission from the head of the family is needed. That means…" 

"That means I have to get it from you?" 

"No." Duke Kayn shook his head. "It means you have to beat me."

"I guess, I'll change my mind." Zeus held his chin and thought of everything he could get now. The one where he'll get the most benefits. 

Should he wish for money? Actually, this is the most valuable thing he could ask for. 

A powerful bodyguard is good too, but that would be a hassle as this bodyguard wouldn't be subservient to him. 

While lost in thought, Zeus suddenly remembered something. 

"How do you awaken aether? Do you need some sort of stimulation or something?" 

Duke Kayn looked at Zeus with a puzzled look. Even then, he still answered the question. 

"Awakening aether requires the 'Breaker'."

"Breaker?" 

"It's a material mined from the heart of the Nirvana Borehole. However, due to its limited number, this thing had become a priceless treasure. In fact, as of now, there are only 43 of them in the whole world."

"That sounds like a risky item to own." Zeus muttered. 

"Hmm, not so sure about that. Although the breaker is scarce, the demand isn't high either. Additionally, even if a thief robs one, it's useless as its only purpose is to help awaken the aether from one's body. And yeah, no one would buy it either."

Zeus nodded. With this newfound information, he felt the need to read more books to find out many things he didn't yet. 

With that in mind, 

"Then instead of a reward, please just grant one of my requests."

"Tell me." Duke Kayn said as he grabbed the glass and slowly drank the red wine. 

"My request is…" 

… 

"Young miss, you mustn't be impulsive! The Duke won't kill your friend." Ciel grabbed Elise's hands tightly, not wanting to let them go. 

"Do you even know my father!? He nearly killed me just now! What's stopping him from killing Zeus!?" Elise exclaimed, attempting to pull herself out of Ciel's grasp. 

However, the difference in strength made it difficult and it's evident that Elise struggled a lot. 

"Please, young miss! You must not let your anger take over you! It's just a mere boy, right? Even if he dies…" 

Slap! 

A crisped sound reverberated around the vicinity. 

"How dare you talk like that. Should I just kill you because you're just a 'mere' servant too?!" 

Shops and bystanders momentarily halted and glanced at Elise with a hint of curiosity. 

After all, the Flame Princess was known for being a pursuer of righteousness. The fact that she slapped her servant made their views of her change a little bit. 

In their eyes, perhaps, Elise was like one of those nobles that hurt their servants whenever they wanted to. 

"Young miss, I'm sorry for being rude." Ciel lowered his head in  shame. 

At that moment, due to being overwhelmed, his grasp loosened. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Elise hurriedly pulled herself out and rushed towards his father's room. 

Tap, tap, tap. 

The wooden floor rang, spreading around the area. Gradually, she reached the location with anxiousness evident on her face. Closing her eyes, she steeled her determination as she stood in front of the door. 

And, without permission, she pushed the door forward. 

But, 

"Hahahahaha, really? How did you even do that?" 

"Luck? Hahahaha!" 

"Hahahaha, you bet!" 

Two men clutching their stomachs as they burst into a boisterous laugh entered her sight. 

It was an outrageous scene. In her 17 years of life, she had never seen his father this happy. 

'W-what in the hell…?' she thought, standing there in dazed like a stone statue.