CHAPTER 584: FAMILY DISCIPLINE 101

Duchess Amelia’s head hurt.

In this day and age, she did not think she would ever be called in for something that so closely resembled a parent-teacher conference.

Only that this time it was not even her son in question. It was her husband. Their people. And even, apparently, her son-in-law.

For one wild moment, she actually assumed Leander and Xavier had finally gone at each other. But no. She was informed it was because House Kyros had put the people of House Holt completely out of commission.

"???"

And now here she stood by the doorway of the shared medical bay room, staring at a collection of busybodies who all looked like they were suffering from either temporary high blood pressure or exhaustion.

She had been furious earlier, especially when they all tried running away. Because if anything in the world reeked of guilt, it was exactly that.

But then she was given a breakdown. Methodically. Calmly. From the only person in the room who clearly did not need a time-out.

That boy.

That boy had stood there composed, explaining what happened while the others nearly screeched behind him. In fact, Amelia was certain Leander had been this close to breathing fire in his anger.

And she understood why. Because she, too, had seen red the moment the photos came out.

The Holts did not seem like they had any intention of stopping. Nor did they care that they were attacking someone half their age.

But then Xavier had gone forward with a detailed explanation of his plan. Why he chose that method. How he intended to execute it.

They were all stunned.

Because anyone looking at him in that moment would never guess he had just been dragged into something so vile. He looked composed. Unshaken.

And yet, once anyone listened to the plan he had cobbled together in the span of minutes, it became clear. He was planning on cutting out the rot entirely.

What damage control? What magnanimity?

This young cadet was all bite, no bark. If he had not explained how he intended to destroy Holt Armaments from the inside out, no one would have even known what happened until it was already done.

Like a silent assassin.

One who even apologized.

Though Amelia was not sure how to take it when the apology was for not beating them harder.

All because of manpower-related logic. If he incapacitated Holt’s soldiers for longer than necessary, House Kyros might be asked to send replacements to the frontlines to cover their absence.

All the kneeling adults suddenly looked at him very differently.

Even Duke Leander’s ears twitched at the boy’s insight, which, for Leander, was about as subtle as someone fainting from shock.

Even he had to admit, begrudgingly, that it was the smart way to go. Ehem.

But still, Duchess Amelia wanted them all to reflect on their actions. Quietly. While calming themselves down.

Because while they had been justified this time, they could not always expect to have such neat little plans. And if Amelia was being honest, if they had not discussed it beforehand, these adults were very likely just beating the living shits out of those bastards.

"But, Honey—!"

"Your Grace," Xavier cut in smoothly, "Duke Leander figured I was up to something, because he also tried to delay the fight."

The kneeling soldiers: "?"

Every bruised soldier looked up at the cadet, confused beyond reason.

Duchess Amelia’s eyebrow arched.

"So you’re saying he didn’t just beat them up senselessly? Is that it?"

"Your Grace," Xavier replied calmly, "if he had beaten them up senselessly, there would be no write-ups or probations. There would only be funerals."

The soldiers: "??"

"And he was only keeping his limbs exactly where the assailants would come at him. To buy time."

The soldiers: "???"

Everyone who had been in that arena froze. Because they clearly remembered trying their absolute best to restrain Duke Leander—putting in all their combined strength—just to keep him from storming down and smiting ugly faces into paste.

And yet here was this cadet, describing the Duke like some serene strategist who had been pacing himself with delicate precision.

But the worst part? Beside them, the Duke himself was nodding.

Nodding like he really had been doing just that.

Of course, what really happened was that he had been curious, so he had stalled a little. But only after busting a few bastards here and there to release tension.

In Leander’s ears, however, this boy was starting to sound surprisingly sensible. At least he had that going for him.

Cough. "See, Honey? While it wasn’t instant, we had a tacit understanding about how things should be!"

The room stopped breathing.

Because Duke Leander—who had practically foamed at the mouth every time Xavier entered his line of sight—had suddenly... switched sides.

Like someone who’d gone and changed clothes, only to return as a different person.

The soldiers blinked. Butler Gary blinked harder. Steward Han blinked the hardest.

They all wondered if maybe their ears were failing. Or if they had finally snapped under the stress. Or worse, if they were developing a collective case of delusions. Or schizophrenia. Because what in the galaxy did they just hear?

Duchess Amelia’s stare was flat. "Tacit understanding?"

She looked at her husband like he had just tried to pass off a forged signature by writing Duke Leander in crayon.

And yet both the boy and her husband firmly believed their own lies. Together. In tandem. With united fronts.

Her husband actually nodded.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Great. Then, with this tacit understanding, kindly explain to your son what just happened."

Her voice was sweet. Dangerously sweet. The kind of sweet that usually preceded someone’s untimely demise.

Inwardly, though, Amelia admitted to herself she was relieved. Because at least, when it mattered, these two did not throw each other to the wolves. But then, who would they throw when they’re both predators themselves?

Leander looked shocked. Completely betrayed. So did the others, who did not expect her to toss the task onto him like that.

But Amelia pressed on. "We are done with keeping secrets. Unless we are legally bound not to say anything, cursed, or in a pinky swear, then we had better be upfront. We cannot keep Luca in the dark like this. Because once he leaves this space, we won’t be able to protect him from everything that breathes."

The kneeling soldiers squinted.

The eyes of the kneeling people narrowed because they had wanted to protect Luca from as much, but at the same time, this would likely not be the last time.

"Uhm, Honey, maybe—"

"Yeah, no." Amelia smiled, all teeth. "I believe this tacit understanding will get you through this, no?"

And with that, she told them all to pick a bed and wait for the real judgment.

Which was how they all ended up facing a very concerned heir, who wanted to know what had happened.