Dinner with the Ducal Family

The maids guided me to the dining room.

Just for the record, the Calliope family is a ducal family. The main mansion is more spacious than a normal-sized mountain.

'My feet... are going to be the death of me.'

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. I arrived at the dining room, barely alive after walking for five minutes straight.

'Atlas, you weak ass bastard.'

I was tempted to run away and search for a wonder drug. There is one but acquiring it isn't easy and right now, I still can't move freely.

"Phew..."

It's okay. Just take it one step at a time.

CREAK!

I took a deep breath to calm my irritation before I opened the door. Immediately after I entered, three pairs of eyes shot in my direction. I paid them no attention and sat at one of the seats.

"So, Darius wasn't lying."

"Brother, how are you feeling?"

"Tsk."

I smiled at Riu, the only one concerned with me, and faced the woman in front of me. She also had white hair and silver eyes but unlike mine and Riu's, they were close to transparent.

'Erin Vin Calliope, seventeen years old. She's the second child of the family and hates Atlas to the point of sending an attack group to assassinate him.'

"Stubborn trash."

She looked at me as if I was an annoying gum stuck on the hells of her expensive sandals. I ignored her and looked at the most important person in the room who looked identical to her.

'Emil Vin Calliope, seventeen years old. Erin's twin and the current head of the house Calliope.'

He's powerful and arrogant, someone who will die next year on his exact birthday. He only listens to his twin sister.

I clenched my fists together.

'Okay. Here goes nothing.'

I opened my mouth to speak.

"Duke."

He didn't stop eating. Emil acted as if I didn't say anything. Still, I didn't stop.

"Duke, I would like to enroll in the new school with Riu."

CLANK!

The moment I finished speaking, the whole table went silent. Riu dropped his knife but grabbed it again after a few seconds, roughly pointing it at the woman in front of us.

"Pffft!"

Erin grabbed a napkin and covered her mouth. Her shoulders were shaking vigorously as she tried to stop the giggles from escaping.

'The bitch probably thinks I'm walking my way to death's door.'

But it's okay, I can endure those insults.

"Suit yourself."

Emil looked as if he couldn't be any more bothered by my declaration. After eating, he stood up and left with Erin following after him.

The only ones left at the table were me and Riu.

"They finally left! The food doesn't taste like anything when they're around. Brother, food is better when it's only the two of us eating together. Don't mind them."

"Is that so? Here, eat more."

I grabbed the steak on my plate and placed it in his. Riu happily took it and swallowed it in a few gulps.

"Brother, is that school related to the thing you said earlier?"

"Yes. Do you mind leaving the house?"

"Not really. As long as I'm with you, I'd even go to the depth of hell."

I flinched at his choice of words and nodded, filling his plate with even more food. I watched him eat while thinking about our next actions.

'Next, I need to do something with this body.'

If I go to the academy with this weak body, I won't even last a week. I'll die before having the chance to survive the war.

"Riu, once you're done eating, go to sleep. Wake up around midnight and come to my room. Sneakily, okay?"

"Sure thing, brother!"

With that, the dining room was filled again with silence.