Chapter 221: Welcome Home (The End)

On the third day after Jeremy and Lucius confirmed their relationship, they were dispatched on a mission by Griffin, and Evelyn’s trio also went along.

By the time they returned to the academy, the only monthly holiday of the semester had arrived.

During this time, Sylas had enrolled, officially becoming a member of the magic academy.

This holiday lasted for a total of five days, so Sylas didn’t stay at the academy but returned to the Ducal Estate in the capital.

As for Cousin Jelius…

Because His Majesty the King was going to officially appoint Thalira as the next heir, the coronation ceremony taking place in two days required the presence of several Dukes or their heirs. Therefore, Jelius didn’t return to the West either, temporarily choosing to stay in the capital and wait until after the coronation concluded to leave.

During this period, Mother Atalai and Father Erwin had also finished handling their work in the West, taking the opportunity to make a trip back to the capital, preparing to spend this short holiday with Sylas.

All misunderstandings among the four of them had long been resolved. A family reunion, now only lacking him.

Returning to the academy, Jeremy received the new letter they sent. After thinking for a moment, he ultimately decided to proactively make a trip.

After telling his teammates, Jeremy embarked on the journey home.

Regarding his engagement to Lucius, Jeremy had informed his parents in advance. True to their previous agreement, they gave him absolute freedom and naturally wouldn’t refuse.

However, the engagement date was pushed back to the day before his birthday.

The reason his parents gave was… Even if it’s an engagement, there must be time for thorough preparation; it couldn’t be done perfunctorily. Their son could not suffer the slightest grievance.

Although Jeremy himself felt that spending more than a month preparing for an engagement party was a bit exaggerated, seeing their insistence, he cooperatively agreed.

And the fact that Lucius, the heir of the Lunaris clan, made a unilateral decision on his marriage wasn’t opposed by the clan; conversely, they unanimously approved.

After hearing they were going to hold an engagement party, Lucius’s parents, who were the current leader of the Lunaris clan and her partner, had prepared gifts well in advance and headed to the capital.

Because Lucius’s older brother was the heir of the Divine Temple, their engagement party this time was specially permitted to be held at the Divine Temple. Even the King and Queen of the empire would attend.

This could be called an unprecedentedly grand event, even more magnificent than the weddings of the royal descendants.

Facing this matter, Jeremy also felt an immense amount of pressure.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have given that sulky guy a status so early?

But if he had truly refused at that time, with that guy’s personality, he absolutely wouldn’t have given up either.

Thinking of that pitiful, teary-eyed appearance back then, Jeremy still quietly brushed away the thought of regret.

If given the choice to do it all over again, he would still make the exact same decision as that day.

That face was indeed very beautiful when crying, but Jeremy preferred the blooming smile on that face.

“…”

Suddenly realizing he had been thinking about Lucius frequently lately, Jeremy glanced back. Sure enough, Lucius still hadn’t left, standing outside the school gates looking at him from afar.

When Jeremy looked over, that aloof face instantly broke into a smile.

“I’ll wait for your return.”

Lucius used magic power to transmit his voice.

Evelyn’s trio standing next to Lucius was too used to the speed at which he changed his face, pretending not to see it and only waving goodbye to Jeremy.

Jeremy was in a rather good mood, nodding to them before stepping into the teleportation magic array.

A few hours later, the capital.

Jeremy hadn’t announced his return in advance, but perhaps due to using the exclusive teleportation magic array for Valmont family members, the moment he stepped into the Ducal Estate, Butler Melson came out to welcome him, and the surrounding maids and servants had also been waiting early on.

Everyone bowed in greeting one after another. Jeremy was all too accustomed to this, raising his hand to signal them to withdraw, keeping only Melson.

“Where are my mother and the others?”

Melson took the outer cloak Jeremy took off, his voice gentle: “Madam and everyone are in the garden, Young Master.”

Inside the garden, there was a greenhouse planting all sorts of exotic flowers and rare herbs. The flowers bloomed year-round without fading, exactly like a radiant spring; it was the place Sylas liked most when he was little.

Jeremy gave a hum of acknowledgment, signaling for him to step down, and walked there alone.

As soon as he reached the garden, Jeremy saw the figures of his parents.

They weren’t inside the greenhouse, but beside the wisteria-entwined swing in the middle of the garden, quietly keeping Sylas company.

In Jeremy’s memory, Sylas had always maintained a gloomy, reticent demeanor, his face always bearing a paralyzed coldness.

But now, on that face bearing many similarities to his own, there were finally a few genuine smiles.

The feeling he gave others was no longer one of gloomy sorrow, but rather like a sprig of lily of the valley in spring, elegant and gentle.

The early summer breeze blew a lock of red hair. Sensing the gaze directed at him, Jeremy looked up. Very quickly, he met the eyes of the man pushing the swing.

The man’s appearance was not the least bit inferior to Lucius’s.

Draped in elegant and ethereal blue attire, his waist-length hair transitioned beautifully in color, from moonlight white to a translucent smoky blue. Half of his hair was neatly tied back with a silver lotus hairpin, while the remaining long hair cascaded over one shoulder, adding a touch of lazy arrogance.

He wore an ice-blue tassel earring on his left ear, swaying slightly with every movement—not overly complex, but quietly noble and reserved, exactly like the man himself.

In terms of appearance, both Jeremy and Sylas resembled their father, while Jelius resembled his mother.

But in terms of personality, judging from the recorded battle achievements, Jelius seemed more like the Duke—the man who was once secretly gossiped about by outsiders and labeled a ‘madman’.

The exterior was as gentle and pure as a magnolia flower, but the interior… I fear only those deceased souls would know clearly.

But such a person, his eyes when looking at Jeremy were overflowing with gentleness.

As if sensing something, Sylas also looked up at this moment.

Their eyes met. Sylas froze for a brief moment, then… immediately stood up, running toward Jeremy.

Before Jeremy could do anything, he was pulled into a tight embrace.

“…Jeremy, long time no see.”

The youth’s voice was cold, yet it carried a careful gentleness.

Jeremy thought that upon meeting them, he would be nervous, at a loss, and awkward to the point of not knowing where to put his hands.

But right now, compared to those emotions, his heart was filled with an unusually profound peace.

Jeremy’s tone softened slightly as he replied: “Long time no see… little brother.”

Saying this title wasn’t as difficult as he had thought. Jeremy’s lips pressed together slightly, hesitating for a moment before saying: “Also, thank you.”

Jeremy had wanted to say this sentence for a very long time. Now, saying it personally in front of Sylas made him feel much lighter.

“…”

Sylas hugged him tighter. His voice was like a passing breeze, as if gently whispering: “I should be the one thanking you.”

During the coma, although unable to wake up, Sylas could perceive the outside world.

Naturally, Sylas was also clear about everything Jeremy and their parents had done for him, and after waking up, fully understood it all.

But if not for Jeremy, if not for this older brother, his life… I fear would have drawn to a close and reached its end several years ago.

In this world, to Sylas, Jeremy was exactly the light illuminating the endless abyss, his savior, the deity he would worship for this entire lifetime.

Atalai and Erwin quietly stood guard on the side, tacitly not stepping forward to disturb the reunion of this pair of brothers who had gone through so many trials and tribulations.

The same went for Jelius.

The early summer breeze blew past. Waiting until the two brothers let go of each other, Jelius finally extended his hand toward Jeremy, his voice gentle to the extreme.

“Jeremy, finally we get to meet you.”

Atalai and Erwin stepped forward, standing on the left and right sides of Jelius. The three of them faced the two brothers. Those people who were always aloof and unreachable in the eyes of outsiders, at this very moment, their eyes were filled with indescribable gentleness.

Jeremy originally thought he was extremely indifferent to blood ties, but at this moment, he suddenly realized that perhaps… at some point, he had become like ordinary people, placing them in the position of family.

A position that would forever remain unshakable, and even… stood on par with his inherently egoistic self.

Following Sylas’s cue, Jeremy grasped the hand of the man before him, smiling in response: “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Sylas’s fingers lightly gripped the hem of Jeremy’s clothes. His voice was very soft, but every word landed with absolute clarity.

“Jeremy, my older brother… welcome home.”

The boat sailing upstream has reached the shore; the years ahead will forever be peaceful.

(The End)