Chapter 486 – Rude Awakening.

“Don’t worry… I’ll protect you…”

“…”

“Mmmmm…”

“If you don’t get off me, I swear I will punch you in the face…”

Roland’s voice was firm, yet tinged with exasperation. His brother was currently draped over him, eyes closed and murmuring sweet nothings in his sleep. Robert’s face was just inches from Roland’s, his breath warm and steady as he leaned closer, unaware of his surroundings.

“Big Brother Roland, don’t do that, Robert is still injured!”

“The elixir healed all of his wounds and I can heal him up again.”

“Mmm… Lucille, your lips taste like iron… Huh?”

Robert’s eyes slowly opened as he felt something cold and metallic press against his lips. What he saw before him was not his lover but a face made of metal. Robert’s face went through a series of rapid expressions – confusion, horror, embarrassment – before he finally settled on mortification. Before he could scramble back in horror a large hand grabbed his face and threw him back like a sack of grain.

“Ugh, disgusting.”

Roland started whipping the slobber of his helmet that Robert had kissed while asleep. If not for his sister’s protests he would have just instantly smacked his older brother away. Luckily, his helmet protected him from being smooched by his half-sibling. Robert was having a nice dream and leaned to grab Roland when he attempted to wake him up.

“Huh, what?”

“Robert!”

Before Robert could gather himself a girl tackled his chest. He could instantly tell that it was his sister Lucienne. The man standing before him was wearing a dark hooded mage robe and had his face covered by a metallic helmet. There was a sign of runes over it, which made him instantly recall the strange floating contraption in his cell.

“Lucienne… Roland? So… it was true… but why…”

“What do you mean why?”

Roland replied while glancing down at the sobbing Lucienne. She was clinging to Robert’s chest, tears streaming down her face as she held onto him as if afraid he would disappear again. Robert, still groggy from sleep and the aftereffects of his injuries being healed, tried to wrap his head around the situation. The sight of his sister weeping and the stern figure of his brother standing over him brought a flood of emotions he hadn’t prepared for.

“I thought you were dead, do you know how worried me and mother were… If it wasn’t for Roland…”

Lucienne started crying while also hitting her older brother’s chest with her fists. The strikes had no power behind them but to Robert, they stung more than the torture he had previously suffered. Robert’s eyes softened as he listened to Lucienne’s tearful words. He gently placed a hand on her head, trying to comfort her while his own emotions churned within. His mind was still reeling from the surreal situation – Roland, his estranged brother, was here, and somehow, against all odds, had managed to locate and save him.

“Lucienne, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you and mother worry… I thought… I thought I could handle everything on my own.”

His voice was hoarse with regret. The weight of his decisions, driven by desperation and love, pressed down on him. He had acted impulsively, thinking only of escaping with Lucille and not fully considering the consequences. Now, seeing the pain he had caused his sister, he felt the full brunt of his recklessness.

Roland stood to the side, watching the scene unfold. He wasn’t sure how to feel about the situation; after all, he had left the Arden estate to avoid such troublesome matters. Although Robert was his brother, they rarely conversed. Lucille, his lover, was usually the one he contacted to relay information. He had never intended to be involved in Robert’s life again, yet here he was, playing the role of some kind of protector.

“Enough with the apologies,”

Roland said gruffly with a voice laced with some annoyance. He was not the best at taking in emotional scenes and all of the hugging was making him uncomfortable.

“We need to focus on what’s ahead. You’ve made a mess, Robert, and it’s going to take more than just words to fix it now, Lucille gave me the gist of it but it would be better if you told me your side of the story.”

Lucienne leaned back after hearing Roland’s words and was able to finally calm herself. Robert on the other hand was surprised by some of his brother’s words.

“Lucille? You were able to talk to her? Is she well? Is she here?”

Robert really perked up at the mention of the woman he tried to escape with. He started looking around the room he was in but didn’t see anyone besides his mother who was sleeping on a chair. He found it strange that his brother wasn’t withholding his name but now it all made sense.

“Mother?”

“Don’t worry, I put her to sleep with a spell, it wasn’t that hard, she had been trying to get into this place for more than a day now. I do not wish to reveal my identity to her if I don’t have to, I’m sure you understand.”

After speaking with Lucille, Roland placed her under a gentle sleeping spell. The woman had been frantic and unstable, so it was best for her to rest. The room had little to offer besides a single bed, so Roland retrieved a reclining chair from his spatial space. This action caused the guards outside to move closer to the holding room, making it clear that they were closely monitoring his every move.

“I see… I’ve made everyone worried, even got you dragged into this mess. I don’t even know where to start… but could you tell me how you spoke to Lucille?”

Robert sighed, his expression a mix of regret and embarrassment. He leaned forward from his bed and to his surprise, it was quite painless. Only now did he notice that his body lacked any scars from the torture he experienced, something that his brother Roland was probably responsible for.

“Why don’t you ask her yourself if you’re that interested? Maybe it will be faster this way, wait a second.”

“Ask her myself, what are you talking about?”

Roland didn’t answer directly. Instead, he walked over to the side of the room, where a small metallic contraption that had been quietly resting suddenly came to life. It was one of his floating golems that had been adjusted to forward information from the spider golem at Lucille’s holding room.

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Robert and Lucienne watched in fascination as the golem moved, projecting a small bluish light in front of itself. Moments later, a hazy, but recognizable image of Lucille De Vere appeared within the light. Thanks to Lucille achieving the Rune Mage class she was able to lend her mana to the small spider at her side. With the boost to energy, not only her voice but also her face could be forwarded to this place.

“Robert! Is that really you?”

Lucille’s voice was faint but clear, filled with emotion as she saw Robert’s face through the magical projection. Robert, who had been struggling to keep his emotions in check, felt a lump rise in his throat. He reached out instinctively, though his hand passed through the holographic image.

“Lucille… It’s really you… Are you okay? Have they hurt you?”

Lucille smiled, though there was a sadness in her eyes.

“No, I’m fine… Thanks to your brother, I’m safe for now. I’m just so relieved to see you. I was so afraid…”

She trailed off, her voice quivering slightly. Robert clenched his fists, overwhelmed with guilt. He had tried to protect her, to save her from a fate neither of them wanted, but in doing so, he had only plunged them both into deeper peril. Now, seeing her like this, all the bravado he had shown melted away, leaving only a deep, painful remorse.

“Lucille… I’m so sorry. I should have thought things through better. I should have…”

“Shh, Robert, you… no we did what we thought was right, and that’s why I love you.”

“Lucille…”

“Robert…”