Stuck as a Villain!

Chapter 153: Fishy

Valarie knew Seth was hiding something from her since this was the first time he seemed so infatuated with something. She could see in his eyes, this obsession was far greater than what he had when he requested his engagement with Laila.

Seth seemed desperate to leave the dukedom and attain something which he hadn't told Valarie about.

Regardless of whatever he had in mind or whatever reason was driving her son to such great lengths wouldn't change her decision regarding his request to leave the nation. But of course, she would like to hear him out for the least.

"Something massive is about to occur Mother and I need to prepare so I could face the crisis."

Seth never was a child who would make fake statements to get his wish granted so Valarie knew he wasn't lying here. But still, she wasn't clear on the matter to give any judgment.

"Elaborate. " She didn't ask this time but rather commanded since for some reason her son has been stressing over the matter for some decent time now and as a responsible mother, Valarie needs to quell her child's trouble.

Delaying her work for the evening, she turned her all attention to Seth as she saw him uncomfortably shifting on his seat, evidently unsure what he should share with the Duchess and whatnot.

Valarie didn't like this air of secrecy but she didn't have any thought of prying into that for now.

"Have you ever thought Mother...what is the source behind all these temples and why do they summon out of nowhere?"

Valarie didn't have to ponder before she answered what she had learned over the years, "To keep the flow of the essence of our lives and restrict the overgrowth of humanity."

It was a widely known textbook knowledge, something everyone knows who was at the age to read and write. However, Seth seemed to have another perspective on the matter.

"Then when the first time Soul energy merged with this planet, was it because of those Temples or because of the emergence of soul energy, those Temples appeared in the first place?"

Valarie frowned at that statement since from her knowledge, it was those temples that brought the concept of Soul energy and made it an essential component of one's life. Just like blood, Soul energy became a necessity for every being to survive, and to retain this energy one has to be in proper shape all the time as well, or the imbalance could lead to their demise as well.

However, now all of a sudden her son was questioning her knowledge and challenging the history of the world based on his hypothesis?

Valarie was at a loss but at least she seemed to be still invested in the topic and Seth could have asked for nothing more.

"Those temples are there since the energy the temple beasts carries corrupts a soul energy bearer and I fear that very soon a large number of high-crowned temples unprecedented and unheard up to until now would appear on the surface. At that time I, you and many other potential warriors doesn't stabs with appropriate aids and strong weaponry, do you think we could survive the mayhem? "

As Seth concluded his words, the office room was engulfed in piercing silence up to the point where the clock seemed to be ticking by the ear.

Valarie didn't doubt Seth but she could not blindly trust him as well. She has seen through events and with the span of these many years of ruling such a profitable land how sometimes one's assumptions bring out unimaginable fear.

Though she didn't have the motive to deny Seth's words and regard them as pure rubbish, she couldn't bring herself to act according to them as well.

But above all, there was something Valarie wanted to ask her son, "What is the basis of this all possibility you have built."

Maybe her choice of words wasn't correct since the expression her son adopted clearly told her that he was disappointed in her.

"Forget it, mother. " Seth was about to get up and leave when Valarie extended her hand and took a firm hold of her son's wrist.

"I didn't permit you to leave, yet. Sit back down, I still am talking to you."

This was a rare instance for Valarie to use such a tone with Seth but there was something bothering her since earlier. A feeling born out of anxiety because her son was not sharing the whole fact maybe for the first time.

And Valarie couldn't leave this matter just like this.

"Tell me what you need and how could I help you, Seth. And while you are at it, would you help me make the necessary arrangement for the defense and vanguard forces accordingly so we could defend against what is to come?"

"....do you believe me?" That certainly even Valarie wasn't sure of but until Seth could remain by her side, it's all that mattered to her. And if there was any credibility in his words, which Valarie wants to think there is, then it would be proven to be beneficial for the Dukedom.

"As vague as your responses have been today, I still cannot bring myself to abandon my son like this, can I? "

Holding his hand fondly in hers Valarie spoke in a warming tone that deflated the fog of tension from the air.

Seth also visibly dropped his shoulder and seemed relaxed upon being pampered by his mother.

'Well...it didn't go as I thought, but at least now I could afford to fast forward my objective... ' Seth thought with a sigh of relief.

******

"I have barely seen you this tense before, young master. Did something happen between you and Madame? "

It was around ten on the clock when Lara was helping Seth to wear his night dress since the latter had decided to stay for the night and teleport back to the academy so he could attend the classes after mid-noon.

Lara always accompanies her master so it was given she would come with him to the mansion as well.

"Well, the talk went fine but the pending work is making me burdened already. Well, I will do something about it somehow."

Her master replied as he walked to the study table and took his glasses to read some documents.

Under normal circumstances, Lara wouldn't have bothered her master but there was something she wanted to know urgently.

"Master...is it true that you have accepted the engagement with both, Lady Serene and Your Highness Celine as well?"

Lara did not doubt that her master would make her, his concubine one day after he graduates but this was about his official wife, and from Lara's perspective her master was rushing things.

"Where are you getting at?"

Without removing his gaze away from the document her master asked before Lara went toward him and gently began to massage his shoulder.

"I am talking about the only woman for whom you unconditionally and under no unique circumstances fell in love with. Your teacher, Haruka."

Lara was slightly envious to find out the fact that her master loves the older woman without any reason nor any special interaction they had which could have led to his budding feelings.

Such beautiful feelings her master had for Haruka yet he accepted someone else's proposal...indeed something Lara was curious to know.

Lara thought that her master would now leave the document and reply to her seriously, but he just chuckled a little and said something that Lara could have never expected.

"Forget about love, she doesn't want to see my face, Lara. There's nothing in between us now and the hope to make her my wife has long exhausted. So please let me forget her and help me sort out these files here."

"C-Certainly, young master. "

Lara immediately switched to work mode but her mind still was stuck at what her master said.

'I need to do something about this... '

****

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