Self-Destruction
“B-Brother…”
Lowell stood frozen, face deathly pale—
No, there’s no need to tack “Lord” onto someone who used a mind-control artifact—strictly forbidden by law—to manipulate his own brother for personal gain.
That kind of treachery runs deep.
To think he’d use his own kin just to line his pockets…
Lord Daren must’ve never imagined his younger brother would stoop so low.
He’d let his guard down—and under normal circumstances, a man of his caliber wouldn’t have allowed such a shady magical tool anywhere near him.
Now exposed, Lowell was scrambling.
Worse yet, the person he betrayed was standing right in front of him.
With the head of the family as his victim, it wouldn't be surprising if Lowell was stripped of his name entirely.
And by the look on Lord Daren’s face, that might just be the least of his worries.
“You vile… So that’s the kind of man you truly are! Rotten to your core!”
His voice roared with fury.
Channeling mana to strengthen his body, Lord Daren crushed the pendant’s gemstone—its core—with a single hand.
Lowell let out a squeal and fell back, trembling, before pleading desperately.
“P-Please, Brother! Stay calm! Are we really going to let some backwater lordling walk off with a treasure trove like the Gothel Mines!?”
So casually cruel.
Sure, “backwater” wasn’t entirely inaccurate at the moment…
But as someone who knew Lord Doyle well, I felt like calling him out on that insult.
Before I could, however, Lord Daren erupted again.
“Even if he is young and from the frontier, I’ve already seen his worth—as a man, and as a leader. So has Lord Donold. That’s why we both petitioned His Majesty to grant the mining rights to Lord Doyle and pledged our support. I’ve told you this again and again—how many times must I say it before it gets through your thick skull!?”
“That’s exactly what I can’t accept! You and Lord Donold have enough influence to crush the Tryons if you actually tried! Why throw away a chance at untold wealth like that!? It’s madness!”
Lowell’s voice cracked as he finally let loose all the greed and resentment boiling inside him.
And in that moment, he made his biggest mistake.
“I see now… So that’s how you really feel.”
“Ah—w-wait, I didn’t mean—”
Too late.
His mask had slipped completely.
Not that there’d ever been much doubt, but now that he’d said it aloud, the matter was sealed.
Well, if nothing else, I could at least thank him for saving us the trouble of dragging the truth out of him.
What do you think about this chapter?
