Chapter 252 — Broken Trust

Chapter 252: Chapter 252 — Broken Trust

Chapter 252 — Broken Trust

Victor stepped out of his bedroom carrying a towel and a fresh change of clothes.

Baker, who had been standing guard outside, glanced at what he was carrying before falling into step behind him.

Victor looked back but said nothing.

I guess this is my life now.

He continued toward the bathing area at the end of the hall, with Baker following only a few feet behind.

When Victor opened the door, he found himself standing inside an enormous bathroom.

The room resembled a traditional Japanese bathing area, with smooth stone floors, wooden walls, and a large sunken bathtub occupying the center. Steam drifted gently from the warm water that had already been prepared for him.

Victor set his clothes aside and was about to undress when he noticed Baker had followed him inside.

He turned around.

"You know you don’t have to follow me into the bathroom, right?"

Baker regarded him with his usual sleepy expression.

"I have to make sure every area is safe. Your bedroom is basically the only place where you’ll get any time alone."

Victor stared at him for a moment.

"Baker, we’re going to have to work on this. Since I’m technically your boss, I’m going to ask you to wait outside."

Baker smiled apologetically.

"I’m sorry, Young Master, but the Tower Master gave me my orders. And until you become Tower Master yourself, his orders take priority over yours."

He continued in the same relaxed tone.

"He specifically told me that under no circumstances am I to leave you alone outside your bedroom."

Victor considered that.

"Well, I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean the bathroom."

Baker shook his head.

"I’m sorry, Young Master, but I’m not allowed to leave."

Victor sighed.

"Fine. Just turn around so I can get undressed."

Baker nodded.

"That I can do."

He turned around, giving Victor what little privacy his orders allowed.

A minute or two later, Baker settled into a chair in the corner of the room while Victor lowered himself into the warm water.

Victor leaned against the smooth stone edge, letting the heat seep into his body.

He’s really going to follow me everywhere.

As he rested in the water, his thoughts drifted toward everything that had happened recently. His life had changed so quickly that he was still struggling to process it all.

Having Baker follow him everywhere was one thing. Getting used to people calling him Young Master and bowing whenever they saw him was another.

But those were only the obvious changes.

The harder ones would come later.

With his new position, Victor could no longer afford to take everyone at face value. People would approach him for reasons that had nothing to do with who he actually was, and he would have to learn how to recognize their intentions.

What they wanted, what they weren’t saying, and how the different families and powers within the Tower fit together.

Looks like I’ll have to learn a thing or two about politics.

Victor sighed.

That sounded far more exhausting than fighting.

After another fifteen or twenty minutes, he finally climbed out of the bath, dried himself, and changed into his new clothes. He slipped on a comfortable robe before leaving the bathroom.

Naturally, Baker followed.

Victor glanced at him but decided not to say anything. There was no point arguing anymore. He already knew how that conversation would end.

As he walked through the mansion, he remembered the garden he’d seen from his bedroom window.

Actually, this might be the perfect time to check it out.

He headed downstairs and made his way toward the back of the mansion.

Opening the rear doors, Victor stepped into the garden.

The evening air was cool, and the entire area was peaceful.

Tall bamboo lined the outer edges, forming a natural wall around the garden. Smooth stone pathways wound between carefully arranged rocks and patches of pale gravel, their surfaces raked into gentle, flowing patterns.

A large koi pond occupied the center, its clear water reflecting the surrounding trees. Orange, white, and black koi drifted beneath the surface, occasionally creating small ripples that spread toward the stone edges.

A narrow wooden bridge crossed one end of the pond, leading toward a secluded sitting area beneath a beautifully pruned tree.

The garden reminded Victor of the private estates he’d seen in Japanese films. It had the quiet elegance one might expect from the residence of a powerful family.

Near the pond stood a wooden table surrounded by several chairs.

Victor walked over and sat down, leaning back to take in the scenery.

Yeah. This is nice.

Baker remained near the entrance to the garden, standing guard while keeping Victor within sight.

At least he seemed to understand the concept of distance.

For several minutes, Victor simply enjoyed the silence.

Then he heard faint footsteps along the stone pathway.

He looked up.

Lyra was entering the garden.

She appeared to have finished bathing as well. Her black hair, carrying its faint purple tint, had been neatly arranged, and she wore a comfortable set of nighttime clothes.

She noticed Victor sitting near the pond and walked over. Without saying anything, she pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.

For a while, neither spoke.

The only sounds came from the bamboo shifting in the breeze and the occasional ripple from the pond.

It was the first time they’d been alone together since everything had happened.

Lyra glanced toward Victor.

There were so many things she wanted to say, but she didn’t know where to begin.

She could explain what she’d been thinking when she went to the Graveborn estate. She could tell him how impossible it had felt to sit still after finally learning where her parents were.

But explanations wouldn’t change what she’d done.

There was one thing she knew she needed to say first.

"Victor..."

He turned toward her.

"I’m sorry."

Victor watched her for a moment before nodding.

He had plenty he wanted to say as well, but even now, he wasn’t entirely sure how to put it into words.

Should he tell her how badly she’d damaged his trust? Ask why she’d made a promise if, when the moment came, she wasn’t willing to keep it?

After a moment, he finally spoke.

"You know, Lyra, I was pretty upset when I first found out what happened."

Lyra remained quiet.

"I’ll be honest. I couldn’t believe you’d make me a promise and then break it so easily."

Her expression tightened slightly.

"But it wasn’t just that."

Victor turned toward her.

"I thought we trusted each other. I thought that no matter what happened, you’d believe I would come through for you."

His eyes remained on hers.

"You didn’t even give me a chance."

Lyra lowered her gaze.

She wanted to respond, to explain herself, but anything she said now would sound like an excuse, and she knew it.

Victor looked back toward the pond.

"I understand why you did it. They’re your parents."

He paused.

"And I’m not angry at you for wanting to save them."

Lyra’s ears lowered slightly.

"But that doesn’t change what happened," Victor continued calmly. "You broke my trust."

The words landed harder for how quietly he said them.

"It’s going to take some time to build that back up."

Lyra nodded slowly.

"I understand, Victor."

Victor nodded in return.

For a while, they sat quietly beside the pond.

There were still things he could say, but dragging the conversation out wouldn’t change anything. Lyra knew what she’d done, and he knew why she’d done it.

Eventually, Victor looked toward her again.

"You know, despite everything, I’m really glad you’re okay."

Lyra raised her head.

"When everything happened, all I wanted was to make sure you were safe."

He gave her a small smile.

"That was the only thing I cared about."

Lyra felt her chest tighten.

Somehow, hearing that hurt more than anything he’d said earlier.

Victor wasn’t trying to make her feel guilty, and that was what made it worse.

Even after she’d broken her promise and gone alone into danger, Victor had pushed everything else aside to find her.

And she had still betrayed his trust.

Victor smiled faintly.

"I’m glad you’re safe, Lyra. But we have a lot to do tomorrow, and I think we should both get some rest."

He stood from his chair.

"I’m going to head upstairs. Make sure you get some sleep too."

Lyra nodded.

"Okay."

"Good night, Lyra."

"Good night, Victor."

Victor turned and walked out of the garden, with Baker following close behind.

As he made his way toward the mansion, his thoughts returned to their conversation.

Trust had always been difficult for him.

Even in his previous life, he’d learned that people he believed he could depend on could still betray him.

After everything he’d been through in this world, Lyra had slowly become different.

Someone he didn’t have to question. Someone he believed would be there when it mattered.

That was why her broken promise had bothered him so much.

Still, he couldn’t hold it against her forever.

He understood why she’d done it. Her parents had been in danger, and after years of believing they might be gone forever, she’d finally been given a chance to reach them.

Victor couldn’t pretend he didn’t understand that desperation.

If their positions had been reversed, he wasn’t sure what he would have done either.

But understanding her reasons didn’t change what had happened.

It’ll take time.

Victor entered the mansion and headed upstairs toward his bedroom.

Normally, he would have spent the evening cultivating or studying alchemy.

But not tonight.

Tonight, he was going to get some much-needed rest.