Part 3 - Special Little Brother & Failed Big Brother Series

oOo

Chapter 1 - Renounced

Langris stood at the bottom of the stairs outside House Vaude.

He didn't want to announce himself. If he had a choice, he wouldn't attend the summons at all. It was a shame that he already replied to the letter and they were expecting him. He tightened his hold on his broom and looked up at the overwhelming sight of the mansion.

It made him uneasy.

His facial expression said it all. He didn't want to be back. Part of him wanted to run, but he had never been a quitter or a coward. He always destroyed his problems before it destroyed him; perhaps that was the reason his magic was the way it was.

"Why did Captain Vangeance have to agree to this?"

Langris wished his Captain hadn't approved the one week leave.

Apart from the temporary leave he was given when he had been sick, this was something Captain Vangeance said he deserved. It was partly his fault. He never really used his vacations. Langris never really thought of going back home as a vacation.

It was far more tedious compared to being a Magic Knight.

Besides, he enjoyed working far more than sitting around being pampered like the rest of the slobby royals and nobles. Speaking of, he had that damn gathering to worry about. He looked up at the overwhelming mansion again and it made his head spin.

"You've done this before, you can do it again."

He had endured a similar celebration when he had gotten his grimoire. Finral had experienced the same things, but Langris knew little bits and details would be different.

"It's just one week." He told himself. "One week."

One week of torture.

He grimaced, hand still tightening on his broom. He hated this so much. He wished Finral was with him to at least help lighten the mood. His brother's awkwardness made things easier for Langris to look like he was the confident one of the two.

"Here goes nothing."

Langris swallowed and took a deep breath.

He was about to let his presence known when all of a sudden, the door burst open and he was tackled into an embrace. The sudden scent of perfume attacked his nose as dark blonde hair brushed his cheek. Langris instantly melted at the mild comfort it gave him.

"Oh dear!" Liliane gasped. "I heard you got sick!"

He sighed, "I'm fine, Mother."

"I'm glad."

"How did you know I was here?"

"I was in the living room." She chuckled as she pulled away to look at him better. "I was trying to sense the mana around me to see if you arrived yet. I'm glad you're home."

"So am I." He lied.

Before Langris could say anything else, his father stepped through the door.

He saw a servant run from behind him, probably to do what his father had asked. Langris straightened himself, trying to make himself just as tall. He lowered his head with a respectful short bow, to which Ledior hummed pleasantly at.

"Langris," Ledior called. "You are well now, I assume."

"Yes, Father." He replied. "The timing was unfortunate."

"It was unfortunate, but I'm glad you're well now."

"That's my boy." Liliane cheerfully interrupted. "Ever so strong and resilient."

Langris wanted to grimace at the compliments he received, but he struggled to stop himself from offending them. Instead, he opened up with the topic of why he was there in the first place. "You said you wanted to talk." He voiced. "What was the summons about?"

Ledior and Liliane exchanged a look.

"We should do this inside." Ledior said. "Shall we?"

"Come along, dear." Liliane nervously chuckled. "I have your favorite dessert made."

His mother pulled his broom away from him and gave it to one of the servants waiting behind them. She locked her arms around Langris' and pulled him inside. Langris felt a sense of foreboding when Liliane practically dragged him to the couch and sat next to him.

"Just stay comfortable, Langris."

Liliane gestured a maid to bring over the beautiful multi-layered tray where the cherry tarts were. Langris felt a little embarrassed, but he didn't show it. He loved his mother, but sometimes the way she spoiled him irritated him.

"About the summons?" Langris began.

"Yes, the summons." Ledior sighed as he sat opposite them. "It's a complicated affair."

"Should I be worried?"

"No." Liliane quickly said. "Don't worry, dear."

"It feels like I should."

"He should be very worried." Ledior growled, earning a glare from Liliane. "He's the heir. He has to know these things, Liliane. This complicates everything our family upholds and puts us in a terrible position as High Nobles."

Langris scowled. "What's this about?"

"Well," Liliane held his hand, gently rubbing it to soothe him. "It's just family matters, dear."

"Have you been in contact with Finral?" Ledior suddenly asked. "I want you to be completely honest with me, Langris."

Strange…

Langris had always been honest with his father, mostly out of fear. He wondered what Finral had done, other than screw up the rest of his life, to make his father so edgy that he even had to call Langris out on honesty.

"I have seen him," Langris stated. "It was a few days ago."

He wasn't going to mention that Finral had visited him and took care of him. He wasn't that type of person to talk about his life in full detail. He hoped it was enough to satisfy his father's questions. From Ledior's expression, it did little to appease him.

"It seems you don't know." Ledior grimaced. "That coward didn't even tell you."

Langris was beginning to get upset.

He wasn't sure what was going on, but his father continued his rant. "The audacity of that boy!" Ledior growled, hands clenching in anger. "He's a selfish brat that only thinks of himself! Once a coward always a coward! Honestly, I should've predicted this before Finral had the chance to have his say!"

Langris asked, "What did he do?"

"Your foolish brother renounced the family name!"

The whole world stopped.

Langris held his breath, because he felt as if he heard wrong. He renounced the family name?! Why would Finral do something like that?! It was inconceivable. His eyes remained locked on his father's. "R-renounced the family name?" He slowly repeated.

Liliane whispered, "You heard it correctly."

"He couldn't handle the responsibilities." Ledior revealed. "So Finral went back to say that he was leaving for good. He recently changed his last name to his late mother's." Langris felt Liliane tighten her grip on his hand. He could almost feel her nails dig into his skin. "He did it without considering the impact that has on us!"

"Roulacase?" Langris blinked. "He changed it to Roulacase?"

Ledior snapped his fingers at a servant and they scurried over with the documents in hand. Ledior handed it over to Langris, who pulled slightly away from his mother to take it. He skimmed through the document and his vision doubled.

Finral was truly renouncing everything.

"That ungrateful fool." Ledior grumbled. "He didn't know that he had it good."

"He's weak and spineless." Liliane added. "Quite ungrateful."

"I should've been stricter."

"It's not your fault." She narrowed her eyes. "That boy has always been bad news."

Langris' head was spinning. His breathing was becoming erratic and his hands were shaking. His grip on the documents tightened as he stopped himself from destroying it. He lowered the paper to his lap and looked at his father straight in the eyes.

"When did he declare this?"

"A couple of days before you got sick."

"S-since then?"

"He cleared everything and left." Ledior said, leaning back against the couch with annoyance plastered on his face. "The day after that we wrote to you because we had urgent matters to discuss about the family."

"That's it? He didn't say anything else?"

"Anything else?" Ledior scoffed at Langris' innocent question. "Other than the fact that Finral doesn't want anything to do with this family anymore, then no, he said nothing else."

Langris' face contorted into anger, but he tried to hold it. He didn't need this type of drama in his life. He also didn't want his parents to see him lose it. He placed the paper on the small, glass table between them and stood up.

"Excuse me," He said. "I think I need a moment."

Liliane blinked, "Is something wrong?"

"It's been a long day."

"Are you leaving?"

"No. I just need… some time."

"Yes, of course, Langris!" Liliane said before Ledior could do anything. "This information is a little difficult to digest given how… long you've known… Finral… So yes, we understand this may come as a shock."

She smiled, but Langris knew it was fake.

Liliane had a strong dislike for his older brother; that was pretty clear over the years.

"Your room has been cleaned and is available to use." She voiced, as she awkwardly smoothened out her dress. "In the meantime, you can change your clothes into something more comfortable and rest. We have everything prepared until the next few days."

"Thank you, Mother."

Liliane smiled at Ledior. "He's free to go, right, darling?"

"Of course." Ledior nodded, but Langris knew he was forced into agreeing. "We know how busy you've been. The news about Finral isn't all that important. However, we still need to discuss the noble gathering."

"I understand." Langris nodded.

His fingers twitched as he wanted to destroy something.

"You can tell us about your achievements later." Ledior said as his eyes subtly dart to his wife. "You are vice-captain and heir to this house, of course."

"Indeed." Liliane smiled. "After you've rested, have dinner with us in a few hours."

All Langris could do was nod again.

"Before you go," Ledior signaled the servant again. They walked over to Langris and handed him a thick collection of envelopes wrapped in a red string. They were later dismissed. "Your mother was insistent and I hope this satisfies the both of you."

"What is this?" Langris asked. "Envelopes?"

"Invitation," Liliane corrected. "Everything else is prepared and we already invited those that needed inviting, but we thought," She looked at Ledior. "…that you would like to invite your friends from the military."

Ledior gestured, "It was your mother's idea."

"Thank you." Langris whispered. "That was… thoughtful."

"Invite with caution. I don't have to tell you this." Ledior stated with a stern look on his face. "I don't want you interacting with Finral again. I want to make it clear that he's not invited to this gathering. He'll not only embarrass himself but us as well. We won't associate with him any longer. He made that clear when he changed his last name."

"I understand." He made his way to the door. "If you would excuse me."

Slowly, Langris walked out of the door.

The servants scurried away to leave him be and attend to their duties. Langris grimaced as he felt the heavy weight of the invitations in his hand. Before he could take a step towards the stairs, he heard his mother shout.

"You should've given more context than that!"

"What do you want me to say?!"

"Your eldest son has always been a bad child!" Liliane shouted, voice slightly muffled by the door. "He is a bad influence on my little Langris!"

"You think I don't know that?" Ledior tersely replied. "Have some sense!"

"I don't think you know!" She huffed. "Remember the time he took Langris out to the festival here in Tota?! They didn't come home until late that night! He had taken Langris out of his studies and had the audacity to laugh about having fun!"

"Langris is old enough to look after himself."

"Is he?"

"Would you stop mothering the boy?!" Ledior growled. "He's a Magic Knight! He's the vice-captain of the best squad serving the military!"

"Honestly, you're too uncaring!" Liliane paced in irritation. Langris could hear her heels tap against the marble floor. "If you were strict enough, perhaps your eldest son would've been a better boy! We can't do anything about that now, save fix this family's reputation!"

"I'm not arguing with you, Liliane."

"Of course you won't."

Langris gritted his teeth as he tried to drown the argument. He wanted to go back in and pretend to have forgotten something just to see the look on their faces at being caught mid-sentence. He didn't dare it though. He wasn't like that when it came to his parents. His breathing became uneven and heartbeat quickened.

This was the reason he never wanted to go back in the first place.

He shook his head and willed himself to calm. He didn't want to cause anyone alarm if he started destroying things on sight. He took a deep breath and reminded himself that he wasn't angry at his parents.

He was angry at Finral.

Ledior and Liliane continued to talk, but Langris had no heart to listen to them. He stormed off and headed straight up the stairs where he could be alone with his thoughts.

"Liar," He reflected. "I never pegged you for a liar, Brother."

oOo

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