A Father's Hidden Bonds

His pen moved slower than usual.

On the desk, there was a small portrait of the late lady, whom they had lost seven years ago, and Young Master Sylas as a child.

Marcus seemed to absentmindedly touch and gaze at it while going about his work.

It seemed that, like Strasbourg, he also felt something for the child, whom he had been neglected by for so long.

Strasbourg was well aware that Marcus was an awkward man.

He knew that, as a friend, not just a servant, he needed to give him a gentle push.

"By the way, earlier, Young Master Rocco helped us quite a lot," Strasbourg said while keeping his tone casual. "If he hadn't been there, Young Master Sylas might have been in grave danger by now."

As he spoke, Strasbourg couldn't help but reflect on the unexpected turn of events.

He hadn't noticed that shrimp had been mixed into Sylas's soup until Rocco intervened.

Rocco truly seemed to love shrimp.

Was it pure coincidence that he stopped the young master's crisis? Or perhaps…

If, behind that innocent expression, Rocco was hiding an unexpectedly sharp mind... how terrifying that would be, Strasbourg thought.

He involuntarily twisted his lips into a crooked smile.

"As for thanking Young Master Rocco, I believe it should be you, as a father who should be the one to express the gratitude directly," Strasbourg said, his mouth still hiding the awkward smile. "What do you think?"

As Strasbourg leisurely turned around, he saw his Master, flustered, knocking over the portrait.

He barely managed to suppress a laugh.

Truly... his master was such an awkward man.

"You're right," Marcus said, "As the head of the Di Malvento family, I must show my gratitude for saving the heir, Sylas."

Strasbourg quietly lowered his eyebrows and smiled.

"…My lord," Strasbourg said softly, "If I may, Young Master Rocco is also a member of the Di Malvento family."

Upon hearing those words, Strasbourg noticed his master's shoulders twitch ever so slightly.

Still with his back turned, Strasbourg couldn't tell what expression his master was wearing—he could only guess.

"…I see. You're right," came the distant, hollow voice of his master.

Strasbourg felt a certain emotion hidden beneath the empty tone.

He instinctively glanced at the fallen portrait on the desk, and an unexpected prayer rose within him.

Madam…

You're the strongest and most ruthless of women, yet the most fragile... perhaps, your helpless husband will finally find his way out of the darkness.

Please, may the light that the Di Malvento family lost give the remaining clumsy men the courage to reclaim it.

...

Rocco's sixth birthday party was set to become the definitive moment in the downfall of him as a little villain of the story and his mother, Layla.

But why was this party the pivotal event that would ensure their downfall?

Before transitioning to the next phase of his plan, Rocco mentally reviewed the reasoning.

The downfall's outline was simple: Rocco and Layla would engage in relentless bullying against Sylas and pushing him to the point of vengeance.