CHAPTER 67: DO NOT LET YOUR EMOTIONS OVERWHELM YOU

Lucas’ POV

My father leaned back in his chair, his eyes still boring into mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle. Then his voice finally cut through the silence again. "Have I made myself clear, Lucas?"

I swallowed hard, my throat tight, and gave a slight nod. My hands rested on my knees, fingers digging into the fabric of my pants as I fought to keep my expression neutral. The weight of his words from moments ago, his threat against Iris still hung heavy in the air. I didn’t trust myself to speak, not when my chest burned with a mix of anger and fear to challenge him.

He tilted his head, studying me for a moment longer, as if searching for any sign of hesitation. Then he straightened. "Good," he said. "And one more thing, do not, under any circumstances, pick a fight with the triplets. No matter what happens. You hear me? No matter what they say or do, you keep your head down and do your job."

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, the door to the chamber burst open with a sharp creak. My head snapped toward the sound, and there stood Liora, her face streaked with tears. Her chestnut hair was disheveled, strands of her hair clinging to her damp cheeks, and her eyes were red-rimmed, glistening with fresh tears. She stood in the doorway, her chest heaving as if she’d run all the way here. The sight of her like this sent a jolt through me. Liora was never one to show weakness, not in front of anyone. And seeing her like this made my heart worry as I wondered what’s wrong. She’s still my sister no matter what and it was my duty to look after her.

Father’s gaze shifted to her, his expression darkening. He rose from his chair, the wood creaking as he stood. "Liora," he called, his husky voice filling the room. "What’s wrong with you now?"

She took a shaky step forward. Her lips trembled as she spoke, her voice filled with emotion. "I can’t... I can’t stand this anymore, Father. Everything’s slipping through my fingers!" Her voice cracked in sobs. "First, the Supreme Luna position, it was supposed to be mine. And now... now I’m losing the triplets to her. To Iris!" She spat the name in disgust, her eyes flashing with fury.

I stiffened at the mention of Iris, my heart giving a painful thud. My father’s threat echoed in my mind again, and now Liora’s words twisted the knife deeper. I glanced at her, taking in the way her shoulders shook in sobs, the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides. It was indeed heart breaking to see her this way.

Father’s eyes narrowed, and he took another step toward her. "Liora," he snapped, his voice sounding dangerous now. "Get a hold of yourself. You’re letting your emotions control you, and that’s a weakness we cannot afford." He paused, his lips curling into a faint sneer. "If you want the triplets, if you want anything in this life, you work for it. Smartly. Not like some sniveling child throwing a tantrum."

Liora’s breath hitched, and she blinked rapidly, tears spilling over her lashes, no sign that the tears would stop soon. But then, Father’s words seemed to strike a chord, and she swiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand, drying her tears. Her jaw tightened, and I could see the shift in her as his words had lit a spark in her emotions.

Father turned away from her, strolling toward the small wooden table in the corner of the room. A single apple sat there in a tray, its red skin gleaming faintly in the moonlight filtering through the window. Beside it lay a small, sharp knife, its blade catching the light. He picked it up, twirling it between his fingers with a casual ease that sent a chill down my spine. Then he sliced into the apple, cutting through the fruit. He brought a piece to his mouth, chewing thoughtfully as he turned back to us.

"Liora," he said, his voice calmer now but no less commanding. "Écoute bien. Comme le dit le proverbe français, ’Le renard qui attend patiemment attrape la proie la plus savoureuse.’" He paused, letting the words hang in the air before translating, his eyes flicking between us as he translated. "The fox that waits patiently catches the tastiest prey. Do you understand? Patience and cunning win battles, not tears."

Liora’s lips parted slightly, and she nodded, her eyes locked on his. The tears had stopped, and her expression was steadier now. She wiped her eyes one last time. I watched her. Liora was fierce when she needed to be, but this desperation in her was something I hadn’t seen in her before.

Father set the knife down, the apple half-eaten in his hand, and his expression grew serious again. He took a few paces, stopping in front of us, his eyes locking onto mine. "Lucas," he said. "You will be the personal guard to the triplets. Starting tomorrow."

Liora’s head snapped toward him, her eyes widening. "What?" she blurted, her voice sharp with disbelief. She turned to me, her gaze raking over me. "Lucas? Him? Father, you know how he is! His anger will ruin everything! He can’t control himself around them, around anyone!"

I kept my face blank, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. I wanted to snap back but before I could, Father’s voice cut through.

"Enough!" he barked, his hand slashing through the air. Liora flinched, her mouth snapping shut, but her eyes still blazed with frustration. He stepped closer to her, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You’re just like your mother, Liora. Always so quick to act, to speak, without thinking." His gaze flicked to me and then he continued. "You will both do as I say. I am the planner here, and you will adhere to my orders."

Liora’s shoulders stiffened, and she shot me a sidelong glance. I could see her composing herself. She was trying to rein in her emotions, but the tension in her posture betrayed her.

Father’s eyes moved between us. "There is one rule you both need to understand," he said. "Liora, you will abandon this foolish dream of becoming Supreme Luna by marrying the triplets. It’s a distraction, and it ends now. Lucas, you will not let anything or anyone distract you from your duty. Not Iris, not your pride, nothing."

My heart stuttered at the mention of Iris, and I fought to keep my expression neutral. I wanted to argue, to tell him I’d never let anything happen to her, but the look in his eyes silenced me. He wasn’t asking for my opinion, he was giving an order.

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, menacing tone. "Our goal, our only goal is to take the throne. Nothing else matters. Not your feelings, not your grudges, not your petty desires." He paused, his gaze shifting to Liora, then back to me. "Do I make myself clear?"

I nodded stiffly, my jaw aching from the effort to stay silent. Liora, however, didn’t move. Her hands balled into fists and her eyes blazed with defiance. She took a step forward as she glared at our father. "No," she said, her voice sharp with barely contained rage. "You don’t get to decide that for me. The triplets, they were mine. The Supreme Luna position was mine. You can’t just take that away because you’ve decided it’s inconvenient!"

Father’s eyes darkened, his lips thinning into a hard line. "Liora," he warned, his voice low and dangerous, but she didn’t stop. Her voice rose. "I’ve worked too hard, sacrificed too much! You think you can just order me to give up everything? I won’t!"

Before I could blink, Father’s hand shot out against her cheek, echoing in the room. It was a slap, a daring slap. Liora stumbled back, her hand flying to her face, her eyes wide with shock. Tears welled up, but she didn’t cry out. Father loomed over her, his voice icy. "You will obey, or you’ll regret it."

All she did was look helpless, her tears dropping with no ease. Father’s lips curled into a faint, satisfied smile, but there was no warmth in it. He turned slightly, his gaze drifting toward the window, where the moonlight now spilled across the floor. "That maid," he said, "will be out of our way soon."

The words hit me like a punch to the chest, stealing my breath. Was he referring to Iris or Liora? My vision narrowed, the room closing in around me as his threat sank deeper, rooting itself in my mind. I wanted to yell at him, to tell him he doesn’t get to control my life, to lunge at him with my sword, to demand what he meant, but my body wouldn’t move. My hands trembled at my sides, and I clenched them tighter, forcing myself to stay still.

The air in the room felt suffocating. Liora stood silent now and the tears kept flowing. Father’s gaze lingered on the window, his expression unreadable as he took another bite from the apple, and I knew this conversation was over.