CHAPTER 171: BRING HER MORE SUFFERING

Lucien was gathering his things to leave when he unexpectedly ran into Cesar.

"You were planning to leave without seeing me," Cesar said lightly, a teasing glint in his eyes.

"That’s not true," Lucien replied, shaking his head. "I assumed you were busy, and I didn’t want to disturb you."

Cesar stepped closer, his expression softening. "I can always make time for you. But... you are leaving now, aren’t you?"

Lucien sighed, his gaze steady. "Yes. I can’t leave the pack unattended. There are... a few matters that need my attention," he said.

"Alright. What’s troubling you?" Cesar asked. "I hope everything is going well with you and your mate," he said.

"Yes," Lucien replied with a half-hearted tone.

Cesar, though, caught the unease in his expression and tone, but remained quiet. He felt that if Lucien didn’t want to share about it, then there must be a reason behind it.

"You should go then," Cesar said.

Lucien bowed to him and left for his pack. By the evening, he reached the mansion. However, as he set foot inside, he felt Leia’s absence. Her scent was not around. He slowly stopped in the living room when the house butler came and greeted him.

"Has Leia gone out?" Lucien asked the butler as he stepped into the hall.

"My Lord," the butler bowed slightly, "Miss Leia has left for your aunt’s estate. She will be staying there for a few days."

Lucien’s brows drew together. "What? For what reason?"

"There was a sudden matter at your aunt’s household," the butler explained carefully. "She departed in haste with your cousins. Miss Leia accompanied them, perhaps for a change of air, I believe."

"I see..." Lucien’s voice was low as he slipped a hand into his pocket and drew out his phone. He scrolled through his messages, searching for a missed call or note from Leia, but there was nothing from her. His chest tightened, a quiet unease settling over him.

’She never leaves without telling me,’ he thought, his jaw tightening. ’Is it because of this morning?’

He sank onto the couch, running a hand over his forehead as though to still the turmoil rising within him. A maid appeared silently at his side and placed a glass of water on the table.

"I thought you wouldn’t be back until late," his brother’s voice broke the silence.

Lucien lifted his head to see Kieran strolling in, his hands buried in his trouser pockets.

"My work finished earlier than expected," Lucien replied curtly. "Why did Leia leave, and why was I not informed?"

Kieran’s lips curved into something that was neither a smile nor a frown. "I assumed you’d be too preoccupied with your work to care."

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. "It was your doing, wasn’t it?"

One eyebrow arched, Kieran gave a faint, derisive sneer. Without offering an answer, he turned on his heel and walked away, his silence speaking louder than words.

Lucien shook his head and dialed Leia’s number. However, no answer came. He again dialed the number, but again she didn’t pick his call.

"She’s truly upset with me," Lucien murmured under his breath. Leaning his head back against the couch, he closed his eyes, exhaling a long, heavy sigh. He had planned to apologize to Leia the moment he returned home, to make amends for the morning, but that chance had slipped away before he could even reach her.

Then, he felt a light hit from a stick on his arm.

Lucien’s eyes snapped open, and he winced, rubbing the spot. "Grandma, what was that for?"

Azalea stood before him, her walking stick still raised, her sharp gaze fixed on him with disapproval.

"For making Leia cry," she scolded, her tone as piercing as her glare. "That poor child was so distressed this morning she refused to step out of her room."

She lowered herself carefully into the armchair opposite him, still frowning. "You fought for her with me and even threw me out. Yet, you failed to take a good care of her." She tsked in disappointment.

"Why is everyone blaming me? When did I not show my care towards her? Is this the reason you all plotted to send her away? If she gets hurt, all of you’ll be taking the responsibility," Lucien muttered. He stood up to leave, feeling annoyed.

"What’s wrong with you? You never acted like this before," Azalea said, her voice softening.

"I would like to rest for sometime," he said and went upstairs. However, instead of going to his room, he once checked Leia’s. Her faint scent still lingered behind. He stood there for a few minutes before heading to his own room.

~~~~~

Leia lowered the towel from her face, her skin still damp from the fresh wash. The air here felt different here. Reaching for her phone, she unlocked the screen with the intention of letting Kieran know they had arrived safely.

But then her gaze froze on the display. Several missed calls from Lucien lit up the screen.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Now he calls?" she muttered under her breath. "Not a single word from him since morning, and suddenly..." She exhaled sharply, her mood souring. "Did he just want to scold me again?"

Without another thought, she swiped away his name and tapped Kieran’s number instead, choosing to ignore Lucien entirely.

"Yes, Leia?" Kieran’s smooth voice came through the line as he poured himself a glass of wine. The crimson liquid caught the light as he swirled it lazily in the goblet.

"We’ve arrived," Leia said softly. "Your uncle has some infection. Thankfully, it’s nothing serious, but Aunt Fleur’s presence was necessary here."

"Naturally," Kieran replied, settling back into his chair. "She is the Luna of her pack. Her absence in such a situation would not be well-received." He lifted the glass to his lips and took a slow, deliberate sip.

Leia hesitated before speaking again. "Lucien called me twice... but I didn’t answer."

Kieran’s brow arched faintly, though amusement colored his tone. "You should talk to him. He was worried, actually."

Her expression hardened. "Then he should have shown it. He only called twice. If he truly cared, he would have kept calling until I picked up." Her voice lowered into a murmur. "I cried my eyes out this morning, and he just left me behind. Not a single message asking if I was fine... not even an apology."

On the other end, Kieran smiled faintly, savoring both her words and the wine. He let her spill her frustrations without interruption, listening as though her anger were music.

"How are Ronan and Grandma?" Leia finally asked, steering the conversation away from Lucien.

"Grandma is resting," Kieran replied. "I even walked with her this morning. Leia..." His voice softened, though an edge of restlessness lingered beneath. "I don’t want her to go. As I grew older, the distance between us grew too, but... she was there when Mother wasn’t. You know how young I was when both my parents died. I can’t bear the thought of losing her now."

His fingers tightened around the stem of the wine glass. "I’ve been studying medicine lately, foolishly hoping, maybe, that I’d find some cure. But there’s nothing. Nothing I’ve found so far."

With frustration clouding his expression, he tipped back the remainder of his wine in a single swallow.

Leia’s gaze softened. "Kieran, if there were a cure, the doctors and healers would have told you already," she said gently, though her words carried the weight of reality.

"I know," he murmured, pouring himself another glass. His hand lingered on the decanter a moment longer than necessary. "I just... I just want her to live. Forgive me for spilling this all out on you now."

Before Leia could respond, Kieran halted, his sharp senses pricking at the air. He tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Ronan’s here. I’ll talk to you later."

"Leia, have fun," Ronan said, and the call ended abruptly.

"You’re here?" Kieran asked, glancing up as Ronan approached.

"Why not? Can’t I come down to the cellar?" Ronan replied, lifting a glass as Kieran filled it for him.

He settled into a chair, his expression sober. "Grandma... she doesn’t have much time," he began. "I’ve seen her reports. I studied medicine for a while, back when I loved it, and I know enough to understand. There’s no cure for her illness. And even if she manages to live a bit longer, it will only bring her more suffering. Her body is too frail with age."

Kieran let out a low breath. "So... we have to watch her go as well," he murmured, the weight of inevitability heavy in his voice.

"Hmm." Ronan’s tone was soft, almost sorrowful, as he lifted the glass to his lips. "That’s the cruel part of it." He paused, letting the words sink in before meeting Kieran’s gaze. "But Kieran... you have to stay strong. For her."

Kieran nodded, hiding the vulnerability.

"You can do it, Kieran. Let’s give Grandma the best memories. Her one wish is to see us married. So, for that, let’s make Lucien understand what true love is," Ronan stated.

Kieran hummed with a smile flashing across his lips. "It’s going to be tough with Lucien. He’s eldest, that’s why."