Lucius lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind still whirling. Three years in a coma… Six years old… An abandoned son of nobility…
The pieces were falling into place. The former Lucius had been weak, insignificant in the eyes of his father and elder brothers. If he had never woken up, no one besides his mother, sisters, and Adrian would have cared.
A maid entered quietly, bringing a tray of warm soup and bread. She placed it on the bedside table and bowed. "Young Master, I've brought your meal."
Lucius turned his head. She was the same maid who had been by his side when he first woke up—the one who informed his family.
"What's your name?" he asked.
The maid hesitated before lowering her gaze. "It is Elise, Young Master."
Lucius took a moment to observe her. She was in her early twenties, with soft brown hair neatly tied back. Her uniform was simple, but her posture was rigid, as though she feared speaking too much.
"Were you my personal maid before?" he asked.
Elise nodded. "Y-Yes, Young Master. I was assigned to care for you after you fell ill."
Lucius let that sink in. That meant for three years, she had been the only servant tending to him. In noble households, servants followed power. If Lucius had been neglected, then Elise had likely suffered as well.
He picked up the spoon and took a sip of the soup. It was plain but warm. After a few more bites, he set it down. "Elise, tell me more about this family."
She looked startled. "About… the Ardentis family?"
Lucius nodded. "I don't remember much. Tell me about my father, my brothers, and why they weren't here when I woke up."
Elise hesitated, glancing at the door as if someone might overhear.
"You may speak freely," Lucius reassured her. "No one else is here."
Elise took a deep breath. "Duke Magnus Ardentis—your father—is the head of the Ardentis family. He is one of the strongest Magic Swordsmen in the empire, commanding both incredible swordsmanship and formidable magical abilities. His rule is absolute, and he values strength and magical prowess above all else."
Lucius noted the careful choice of words. Not 'kind' or 'caring'—just powerful and absolute.
"Your eldest brother, Cassius Ardentis, is set to inherit the title of Duke. He is a prodigy in swordsmanship and wields magic at an elite level. The second son, Julius Ardentis, is the same. He focuses more on strategy and governance, but his combat skills are still unmatched among his peers."
She hesitated before continuing. "The two of them… they do not speak much of you, Young Master."
Lucius chuckled darkly. "I assume they speak even less to Adrian?"
Elise bit her lip. "Master Adrian is… different from them. He is talented, but his ideals do not align with the Duke's. He values creativity in magic, rather than brute force, which puts him at odds with your father and eldest brothers."
Lucius smirked. So Adrian was the black sheep of the sons.
"And my sisters?" he asked.
A soft smile flickered on Elise's face. "Lady Selene and Lady Irene are kind. They visited you often and spoke to you even when you were unconscious. They love you very much, Young Master."
Lucius absorbed the information. His mother, Selene, Irene, and Adrian were the only ones who genuinely cared for him. The rest of the family viewed him as nothing.
A sharp knock interrupted them. Elise straightened immediately. The door opened, and Adrian stepped inside, followed closely by Selene and Irene. Their mother was absent this time.
"You're awake and already interrogating the maids?" Adrian smirked, sitting down on the windowsill. "Guess you haven't lost your curiosity."
Lucius gave a small smile. "I needed to understand my place in this family."
Selene sighed, crossing her arms. "Your place is with us. You don't need to concern yourself with anyone else."
Irene nodded quickly. "You've been asleep for so long. You don't have to think about Father or Cassius or Julius. Just focus on getting better."
Lucius could see the sincerity in their eyes, but he couldn't simply ignore reality.
"No," he said, his voice firm despite its childlike softness. "I need to know where I stand. I won't be a forgotten shadow."
Adrian raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a slight grin. "Hah. Didn't expect that kind of fire from you."
Selene and Irene exchanged looks, unsure how to respond. The Lucius they knew had been a fragile boy, always seeking comfort from their mother. But now, there was something different in his eyes.
"You really don't remember much, do you?" Irene whispered.
Lucius met her gaze and smiled faintly. "Maybe not. But that just means I have to learn again."
Adrian let out a low chuckle. "Interesting. I think I'm starting to like this new you, little brother."
Selene sighed but smiled. "If that's the case, then we'll support you."
Irene nodded firmly. "Always."
Lucius looked at them—the only people in this house who truly cared.
Then I suppose this is where I'll begin.
For now, he would be patient. He would play his role.
But in time…
He would carve his place into this family.
And they would never overlook him again.