Then, the door to the library creaked, and Julian lifted his gaze, his teary eyes and wet face catching the light of the hallway, and the man who stood at the door.
Alaric paused, seeing the crying scene. He knew right away that Julian had told Lucius about it.
And that was why they were in this crying heap of a mess.
"Lucien," Julian called, his voice cracking, and Lucius flinched, turning his head right away to look at his father. "Lucius, he…"
"Daddy," Lucius spoke, and Alaric's entire body went rigid. This child… did he finally decide to stop staying silent?
He had heard Lucius speak before. It was the early morning before dawn, after the night of his birthday.
He had clearly spoken from his sleep, calling him 'Papa'.[1]
From that moment, he knew the child could speak, and his silence was by choice.
He did not question it. And just went ahead to regard him as mute as everyone else.
But now… he had broken his silence. All because he did not want Julian to leave.
