Chapter 9: (Corrected Canon Version)
The Montclair Estate was never truly peaceful.
There was only silence…
and beneath that silence hid control, fear, and carefully crafted ambitions.
Elara still stood in the corridor.
Adrian Montclair's presence lingered heavily in the air.
The faint smile on his face had not disappeared yet.
Adrian spoke softly—
"The most dangerous thing in this family isn't an enemy, Elara…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's the people who wage war within their own blood."
A brief silence followed.
Elara said nothing.
But she understood now—
this man didn't simply speak.
He dissected people.
Then—
Footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Kael Montclair appeared.
His presence was calm, yet heavy.
As if the burden of the entire estate rested on his shoulders.
Adrian let out a faint laugh.
"Look… my brother's here."
Kael spoke in a quiet voice—
"You're crossing the line again, Adrian."
The two brothers locked eyes.
An old conflict lingered between them.
But this conflict wasn't theirs alone—
it was the hidden fracture inside the Montclair bloodline itself.
Suddenly—
A maid rushed forward.
Her voice trembled with fear.
"Master Kael… Lady Seraphina and Master Riven are asking for you immediately. It's an urgent meeting."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Ah… the family gathering begins."
His gaze shifted toward Elara.
"You'll see soon enough, Elara… no one in this family is innocent."
Seraphina's Chamber
The room was flawless.
But beneath that perfection lay a silent war.
On one side of the table sat—
Lady Seraphina Montclair.
Her eyes carried cold calculation.
Beside her stood her son—
Adrian Montclair.
On the opposite side—
standing silently from a slight distance—
was Riven Montclair.
Kael's father.
Fatigue was visible on his face, yet traces of pride still remained.
But that pride no longer held power.
And at the center of it all—
the true ruler of this estate—
Kenzo Montclair, the current head of the family.
His sharp eyes resembled those of a judge.
Kenzo spoke slowly—
"The war supply route has been disrupted again."
Silence filled the room.
"And I know this wasn't caused by outsiders."
His gaze slowly shifted toward Riven.
Riven became visibly uneasy.
But he said nothing.
Because Kenzo had never fully trusted him.
Kenzo continued—
"You were responsible for part of the operation, Riven. This failure is yours."
Seraphina slowly raised her eyes.
Her expression remained emotionless.
But behind that calm face, calculations were already moving.
(Inner Thought)
The time has come…
She finally spoke—
"Kael handles everything… but complete control should not remain in one person's hands."
Her eyes turned toward Kael.
"A leader doesn't simply work alone. He needs a proper support system."
She paused briefly.
Then her true intention surfaced.
"And for the future stability of the family… an alliance is necessary."
Adrian smiled faintly.
He already understood the plan.
Seraphina continued softly—
"If Adrian forms an alliance through marriage with the Duke's daughter… the Montclair influence will become even stronger."
For the first time, Kael fell silent.
His eyes turned cold.
Then Kenzo spoke once more—
"The Montclair leadership is not built on emotion."
His gaze landed directly on Kael.
"It is built on capability."
A brief silence followed.
"And so far… no one besides Kael has been able to carry this family."
Silence consumed the room once again.
A crack appeared in Seraphina's carefully crafted plan.
From a distance, Elara understood everything.
(Inner Thought)
This isn't just a family…
It's a succession war.
Adrian slowly looked toward her again.
That same mocking amusement lingered in his eyes.
"You see it now, Elara… no one here truly belongs to anyone."
At last, Kael spoke quietly—
"This family is not a toy."
His voice remained calm.
But it carried undeniable weight.
Seraphina's eyes narrowed slightly.
Because she realized something—
Kael was still in control.