Silence.
Dreadful silence radiates from the world around me. Save for the heavy breathing of my father and endless sighs of my mother, their room is completely quiet. I watch them with an expectant gaze, my posture slightly hunched back as my countenance displays humility.
"Repeat yourself one more time."
My father barks at me with a harsh tone, his arms folded to exert authority.
Despite noticing this, I helplessly sigh and do as he says.
"I passed the exams but didn't get a scholarship. I need the Household's financial support to help me with my studies."
Even I wince at my words, feeling the sharp, judgmental gaze of my parents.
But I still have to say it anyway.
This is the only way I can get what I want from them.
"Please give me money."
"NO!" My father is firm with his response, and when I turn to my mother, she shakes her head.
I even fall on my knees and bow in plea.
Their answer remains the same.
"What a shameless brat you are! Do you have no pride? After all those big words and all that confidence you displayed, you dare come here to beg us for money? What did you expect to happen? We have made our stance clear enough!"
"But you are my parents!" I protest, my voice shaking at the unfairness. "Shouldn't you support your child in his endeavors?"
"Go to the Knight Academy, and we would gladly support you."
"I don't want to!"
"Then this conversation is over!" My father points at the door and yells at me. "Now get out of our room and only return when you've come back to your senses."
I give a look of despair.
Still, left with no other choice, I slowly rise to my feet with a downtrodden expression on my face.
I honestly should have expected them to say this.
In fact, I actually did.
"To think they'd be so heartless… not even giving their child money despite me showing how important this admission is to me!" My frustrated voice leaks out, and I sigh in exasperation.
Life can be so cruel—so unfair.
I shake my head and return to my room.
It has been a few days since I got my admission letter, and I finally spoke to my parents about the matter. Even after receiving their response, I refuse to give up.
I draft a letter and send it to my uncle.
Since Leon isn't around, due to another task from me, I use the other servants of the Household to post it. After, I go to the library and walk around the Estate to clear my head. I still continue practicing with my sister, but even she can clearly see that my head isn't in the game.
The matter is too worrisome.
I have no choice but to tell her and my younger brother of my situation.
The matter hasn't been made public, so I instruct them not to tell anyone. Having rumors spread within the Household wouldn't be good for me, after all.
After training, I return to my room, while uncontrollably muttering words to myself.
"Why is this happening to me? I thought I would get a scholarship for sure! What should I do now?"
About a week after I sent my letter, I get a response from my Uncle, and it isn't favorable.
I sigh and spend my days in contemplation afterward.
"What am I going to do?"
This question loudly plays out everywhere I go—from the library, to the kitchen, to the garden, to the training field, and to my room.
After another week of despairing like this, I finally receive a letter bearing different news.
My relatives… want to visit me.
A wry smile forms on my face the moment I check out the letter, and I immediately understand what they want. The tone in their letter expresses concern, but I can clearly see it dripping with mockery.
It seems, somehow, news of my misfortune has found its way to them.
I sigh and write a letter back, accepting their visit.
At this point, I have no other choice.
*********
"Hehe! That foolish boy…" Stefan Aditi laughs to himself as he reads the letter posted to him from the Aditi Estate. "As expected, he is indeed very desperate."
The other members of the Minor Families gather around him and take turns reading the letter from Javier. His tone in the letter is mellow, displaying a clear sign of humility. Compared to the haughty tone he used when they visited, his writing feels rather pathetic.
This further confirms his defeat.
"What an idiot? Did he think getting a scholarship in the prestigious Royal Academy would be that easy?"
"Overconfident brat! He really overestimated his own abilities."
"That's why he went and splurged on an Armament. I guess he thought his uncle's business would keep going well, but now that things have turned bad, he must be realizing his many mistakes…"
None of these came as a surprise to the Minor Family members.
What did they expect from a privileged brat from the Main Family? A boy like Javier, who just came of age, would be filled with so much confidence in his own abilities and deep pride, unaware of how things really worked in the world.
His over-reliance on his uncle and his now-ruined attempt to enter the Academy through a scholarship are further proof that this boy is too green and wet behind the ears.
Such a fool… can be easily manipulated.
"He has no one to turn to now. His parents have already refused to help. Plus, who around these parts doesn't know the history of the Aditi Household, particularly Damon's story? If he tries to take loans and pin it on the Aditi Household, he won't be able to get any aid…"
The group continues to analyze the matter, plotting in the dark while snickering loudly.
"I suspect Luther is the one suppressing his younger brother, Damon. How else can we explain the sudden fall of his business? We were wrong in assuming that the two brothers are in cahoots. Damon is loyal to Javier and belongs to his faction. It makes sense that the Head faction would suppress the Heir faction this way. That Luther would also not want to see a Minor Family secure such wealth and rely less on the Main Family…"
"That foolish brat doesn't realize any of this. He even went ahead to beg his parents for money, not knowing they were likely the cause of his financial ruin… hahaha! He is just a kid in the end."
"Without money, what can he do?" Stefan finally speaks, revealing a snake-like grin while his eyes close to form slits. "He will have no choice but to rely on his benevolent relatives. In exchange, though… we will take everything from him!"
Naturally, they wouldn't be so foolish as to spell it out to him in the contract.
However, by offering an exorbitant interest rate, and some hidden clauses that someone as impulsive and desperate as Javier wouldn't bother to read, they could potentially sow the seeds for a takeover.
"The Main Family will fall due to the foolishness of one little boy… who would have thought I would see this day." Stefan laughs loudly, and his voice is soon accompanied by the rest of the Minor Family members in cahoots with him.
Together, they storm the Aditi Estate the next day, possessing an invitation from Javier himself.
Instead of them meeting him in his room, he lodges them in their quarters and also visits them personally. This clearly displays how the tables have been flipped.
The mighty Heir of the Aditi Household… now nothing more than a beggar in need of help.
All the conniving Minor Family members snicker quietly as they watch Javier.
They hide behind false concerns and sympathy and mock him.
When he is done telling his story and finally requests their help, they finally reveal their desire to help and offer him the proposed agreement. The desperation with which Javier yanks the contract deed simply shows his present circumstances.
His situation isn't good at all.
This is because the deadline for accepting the admission and offering tuition fees is nearing.
If he doesn't act in this window, his chance vanishes completely.
Also, refusing to accept the admission of the Royal Academy once displays contempt. Even if one takes the exams ten times after, and they have the means to enter, they won't be granted admission a second time.
In essence, this is Javier's only chance.
Like hungry wolves, they silently watch his thoughtful gaze as he reads through the contract.
'What are you waiting for, you stupid brat?' Stefan rolls his eyes at this sight and nearly sighs in exasperation. 'Trying to use your brain so late in the game? How pointless! Just agree already.'
Of course, he can't express such vile thoughts to the Heir.
Especially not when they are trying to coax him.
So, with a kind and gentle voice, he asks aloud: "Anything the matter, Javier? You seem a little hesitant and taken aback. Something not to your satisfaction? Unfortunately, this is how it—"
"You really thought I'd accept something like this? Just how much do you look down on me?"
His tone is sharp—a complete contrast to the type he displayed just moments earlier.
He casts his gaze on them, and it reveals disgust.
A look of absolute pride.