Chapter 77: Their Story (27): The Consequence
Chapter 77: Their Story (27): The Consequence
That Kurdi guy on Web Novel decided to review-bomb me with countless fake accounts, aiming to bring me down to 1 star, supposedly teaching me a lesson for hiring bot reviewers. I find that funny, he would think I would spend money on a Fanfic that has garnered me a grand total of $0.00.
I also find it funny that someone could hate a fanfic so much... just because the MC won't be the strongest in a verse. I've been a power scaler for a while, and I don't remember our fanbase being this toxic.
Anyways this does make me more interested to know, just who it was that review-bloomed me up to 4.8 stars. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
—
Sebastian lay naked on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Acier, equally bare, rested atop him with a satisfied smile. Their bodies, flushed and glistening with sweat, radiated heat from their earlier exertion.
The silence stretched until Sebastian, his expression almost haunted, broke it with a weak whisper. "Y-you stole my precious thing..."
Acier's smile widened as she shifted up on his chest, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek.
"I'll take responsibility."
Sebastian lay still, silent for a moment, before shakily raising an arm.
"...I-I need water... so thirsty..."
Acier chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Just one more round, and then we're done, alright?"
Without waiting for his response, her hand drifted downward toward his crotch.
Sebastian's arm fell limply back to the bed as the light in his eyes dimmed further. He didn't believe her for a second.
—
The Very Next Day:
Acier gagged and retched into the garderobe for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. When her stomach finally stopped convulsing, she straightened up, her body feeling bloated and uncomfortable despite her having eaten nothing. She stared blankly into the distance, her thoughts spiraling.
Oh no...
"Princess."
Acier flinched, jerking back at the sound of Hilda's voice. She hadn't noticed her approach—a fact that unnerved her.
Before Acier could muster a response, Hilda's incredulous expression cut through the tension.
"Please don't tell me you did what I think you did."
Acier opened her mouth to reply but no sound came out. After a moment, she forced a shaky smile.
"...Surprise..."
Hilda's knees buckled as she dropped comically to the floor.
—
April 29, 1603
In the dim confines of Owen's private office at the Magic Knight headquarters, Acier sat stiffly on a stool across from him. Hilda stood behind her, her presence a mixture of tension and exasperation.
Owen held up a small glass container filled with a yellow liquid. It had a cloudy surface and a faintly milky hue. The smell alone was unmistakable: urine.
Setting the container down with deliberate care, Owen gave Acier a strained smile. He nodded slowly. "Yes, you're definitely pregnant."
Hilda's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed in a heap behind Acier.
Acier barely noticed. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, blank and unfocused. She chewed absently on a fingernail, lost in thought.
—
April 30, 1603: Acier's Bedroom
"You're pregnant?" Aurelia repeated for what felt like the hundredth time, her voice laced with disbelief.
Acier, lying weakly on her bed, gave a small nod.
"I'm going to be an auntie?" Aurelia's tone shifted, a spark of excitement creeping in.
Another nod.
Aurelia squealed in delight, but the sound abruptly stopped as she frowned and leaned closer.
"It's Brother's, right?"
Acier's expression darkened, and she hissed through clenched teeth. "Of course it is. Who else would it belong to?!"
Unbothered by her sister's sharp tone, Aurelia squealed again. Before the sound could grow into a full scream, Acier reached out and grabbed her wrist, freezing her mid-celebration.
"Aurelia... you can't tell anyone. All right? I need to talk to Sebby first."
Aurelia blinked in disbelief. "You haven't told Brother yet?"
Acier shook her head weakly. "I've... kinda been avoiding him. I've been telling him I'm swamped with Magic Knight duties and missions."
Aurelia's face twisted into a look of pure disgust, making Acier wince and shrink back.
"I-I know!" Acier stammered, biting her lip. "Sebby's really smart... he's going to figure it out eventually. But I just—until I know how to tell him—I can't face him."
Aurelia's unimpressed glare stayed fixed on her sister, who squirmed under the heat of it.
"Please, Aurelia. Just give me a little more time to figure this out. This will change his entire life. I can't just... drop it on him casually. Please."
Matching her sister's pleading gaze, Aurelia sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Alright, Sister. Your secret is safe with me. But if you keep dragging this out, I'm not going to keep quiet for long."
Acier gave a grateful smile.
—
May 1, 1603: Silva Manor Dining Room
Amara glanced at the empty seat across the table and muttered, "Where has that girl been these past few days? Always skipping breakfast..."
It was a rhetorical question, but Aurelia panicked nonetheless. Her hands trembled as she forced a shaky smile.
"Hah hah hah, y-you know Sister. S-she's a real go-getter. Early bird gets the worm and all that! She's probably off training or on a mission. A-am I right?"
Aurelia was a terrible liar.
Nathaniel, their father and Captain of the Silver Eagles, looked up from his meal. He knew the whereabouts of all his subordinates, and Acier had not been assigned any missions. He narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing.
Amara, meanwhile, just blinked at Aurelia, her expression skeptical. "I see..."
—
Sebastian strode through the Silva family's private garden, his steps quick and deliberate. When he reached the round table at the center, he found Amara and Aurelia seated together.
"Ma'am," he greeted, bowing slightly toward Amara.
Amara set down her teacup, her brow arching. "Yes, Sebastian? Is something the matter?"
Sebastian hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Do you know where Acier is?"
Amara tilted her head, her brows rising higher. "She's on a mission... didn't she tell you?"
Sebastian froze, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. Then, with a stiff bow, he mumbled, "Thank you for your time," before spinning on his heel and rushing out of the garden.
Amara watched his retreating figure with a raised brow. She slowly turned her attention back to Aurelia, who was seated across from her.
Aurelia's posture was rigid, her hands shaking slightly as she avoided her mother's gaze.
"Aurelia Nathaniel Silva."
"Eeep!" Aurelia jolted upright at the sound of her full name, spilling her tea in the process.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Amara leaned forward, her voice calm but her gaze piercing. "Something concerning your sister?"
"I... uh... I... no... yes... no... I... uh..." Aurelia stammered, sweat beading on her brow as her words tumbled over one another.
"Spill it," Amara ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.
—
May 2, 1603: Kira Estate Garden
In the grand garden of the Kira estate, the noblewomen of the Clover Kingdom gathered for their annual tea party.
Amara, seated among the highest-ranking ladies, stared blankly into space.
Amber, who had long been on a first-name basis with her, reached over and tapped her shoulder. "Is everything all right, Amara?"
Amara blinked, snapping out of her daze, and smiled—a dumb, goofy, happy smile that was utterly unlike her usual composed demeanor.
"Y-yes, everything's just... swell. Marvelous, even."
Amber's eyes lit up with intrigue. "Oh my, I sense gossip. You must fill us in on the big news."
At the head of the table, all eyes turned toward a blonde-haired woman with a regal bearing. The former Queen, widow of the late King Octavion, raised her gloved hand and placed it gently atop Amara's.
"Come now, Duchess," the Queen Dowager urged with a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Spill it."
Amara opened her mouth, then shut it again, looking utterly speechless. She struggled to keep her words in check, but the eager expressions of the noblewomen around her chipped away at her restraint. Finally, against her better judgment, she parted her lips.
—
Meanwhile: Silva Manor Hallways
Aurelia froze mid-step as she rounded a corner and nearly bumped into Nathaniel. He stood towering over her, arms crossed, his expression as indifferent as ever.
"G-greetings, F-Father..." she stammered, attempting to bow and slip away, but his voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Aurelia."
She stiffened, looking up at his impassive silver eyes.
"Y-yes, F-Father...?"
Nathaniel narrowed his gaze slightly, his tone blunt and unwavering. "You will tell me what's going on with your sister. Right now."
Aurelia gulped audibly.
—
Meanwhile: Sebastian's & Acier's Cottage
Standing in front of their cottage, Sebastian crossed his arms and gave a single nod. "I see."
Acier blinked at him, her expression shifting from shock to incredulity. "I see? I SEE?!" She spread her arms wide, her voice rising in exasperation. "How can you be so casual, Sebby? I'm pregnant. Pregnant! With your child!" She jabbed a finger lightly against his chest.
"How can you be so nonchalant?!"
Sebastian scratched his reddening cheek awkwardly. "W-well... you, uh, squeezed me dry for more than I had... five times in a row. Then once more after I finally got a glass of water. We didn't use protection either, so..." He shrugged, his voice quiet. "If you didn't get pregnant, I'd probably be worried I was infertile."
Acier's face flushed crimson as she sputtered. "Y-you expected this?!"
Sebastian nodded bashfully, muttering under his breath, "I did warn you we were walking on dangerous ground..."
Acier cringed, biting her lip. Her voice softened. "Y-you're not mad?"
Sebastian raised a brow, genuinely baffled. "Why would I be mad?"
Acier froze as he continued, his neck dusting pink. "I-I want to start a family with you, too... That feeling is mutual."
Acier's face burned even brighter as she shook her head. "B-but I forced this on you. You wanted to wait, and now all your plans are ruined." Her voice wavered as tears gathered in her eyes. "I-I always push you into things... ever since we first met. I force you to go along with my whims, and now I've—"
She was cut off as Sebastian stepped forward, pulling her into a tight embrace. She stiffened, her trembling ceasing as he whispered softly into her ear.
"Listen to me, Acier. If I really hated what happened, I'd have told you. I would've pushed you away." He tightened his arms around her. "Yes, I wanted to wait a few years, but I shouldn't have invited you to live with me so soon if I wasn't ready for this. It's no one's fault—neither yours nor mine. If anyone's to blame, it's both of us."
His voice softened further. "I love you, and I'll love this child with everything I've got. Whatever happens from now on, I'm staying by your side—for the highs, the lows, the good, and the bad. Even if it's hell, as long as it's with you, it'll feel like heaven to me."
He pulled back slightly, placing a hand on her stomach. "So... will you let me raise this baby with you?"
Tears spilled from Acier's eyes as she nodded, her voice trembling. "Of course, you idiot. What kind of stupid question is that?"
Sebastian smiled, gently wiping away her tears. "Good. I'm done being polite with you. You're the mother of my child now, so I'm going to be even more selfish with you from here on out. I'll insist on being part of everything—so you'd better not feel ashamed for anything you've done with me."
"Mmm-hmm," Acier murmured with a meek nod, her tears subsiding.
They held each other for a long moment before Acier's lips curled into a sly smile. She leaned closer and whispered into his ear.
"I heard it's safe to have sex while pregnant. So... how about another round?"
Sebastian's face turned beet red as he backed away slightly, sputtering incoherently. Just as he was about to protest, he froze.
Acier stiffened, her playful grin fading as she turned her head to the side, following his gaze.
Nathaniel Silva stood there, arms crossed, looking different from his usual composed self. Not cold or indifferent, but furious.
His face was dark, livid, a storm of disappointment and betrayal. It was a look neither of them had ever seen from him—or earned—and the sight of it made their stomachs churn with self-loathing.
Acier bit her lip, her voice desperate as she stepped forward. "W-wait, Daddy, just listen—"
"Don't even." Nathaniel cut her off, his voice sharp and unyielding. He shook his head, his tone rising. "I gave you two space. I respected your privacy. I didn't interfere with what you did in your own time because I trusted you. I trusted in your better judgment, that you wouldn't cross a final, stupid line. But clearly, I was a fool."
Sebastian's head dropped, shame radiating off him, while Acier trembled. "I-if you'd just let us explain—"
"Acier!" Nathaniel's voice cracked like a whip, his face flushing red as he stepped closer. "He's still a boy by noble customs. Do you even understand what you've done?!"
Acier's breath hitched as Nathaniel continued, his anger unrelenting. "Of all the people to confide in first, it should have been me—not your sister! And now, word has already spread across the aristocracy. Your reputation has plummeted in seconds."
Acier's mouth fell open in shock, speechless, while Sebastian felt his heart sink. Trembling, he stepped in front of Acier, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "S-sir, if anyone is to blame, it's me—"
"Be quiet." Nathaniel's gaze snapped to him, just as fierce as it was toward his daughter.
"When I gave you that letter," Nathaniel growled, "I gave you my trust. When you asked me, before leaving Kiten, for permission to give her that—" He pointed at the promise ring glinting on Acier's hand. Her throat tightened, and Sebastian winced.
"When I said yes, I gave you so much more. A blessing. A vow. An acknowledgment that you could pursue and court my daughter as openly and boldly as you pleased. But that did not mean I gave you permission to do something this reckless! Or did you miss that unspoken message? Perhaps I'm to blame for not spelling it out for you!"
Sebastian opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. He had no retort.
Nathaniel sneered, tilting his head back toward the darkening sky. The sun was slipping behind heavy clouds, thunder rumbling faintly in the distance. He lowered his gaze back to the two of them and pointed sharply at their cottage.
"You have five minutes to gather whatever you can think of—anything you value—before we leave. The only roof you'll be allowed to live under together again is Castle Silva's."
Both Sebastian and Acier froze, staring at him in shock.
"Well?" Nathaniel barked, his patience running thin. "If you have nothing to take, then we'll just leave now—"
He didn't finish. The two of them scrambled into the cottage, darting inside like children caught in a storm.
Nathaniel sighed heavily, rubbing his temple as he watched them disappear. A dull ache throbbed behind his eyes.
"Just another mess," he muttered under his breath.
—
Sebastian and Acier felt their hearts sink as they approached the front gates of Castle Silva. It wasn't just the rows of Silva servants and retainers gathered to watch them with curious eyes—it was the equally large crowd on the Kira and Vermillion sides, their expressions just as scrutinizing.
The noblewomen departing from Castle Kira to return home for the evening cast scandalized, disapproving glances toward Acier, their judgment as sharp as daggers. Acier lowered her head, shame burning her cheeks.
Sebastian clenched his fists and stepped in front of her, blocking their view. He said nothing, knowing any response would only draw more attention and worsen the scene.
Acier glanced at Sebastian, a flicker of warmth easing her heart at his silent support, but it quickly faded. Her spirits dropped further when she noticed disdainful looks now directed at him.
Sebastian didn't seem to care, his expression calm, but that only made Acier feel worse. She bit her lip and dropped her gaze again as they continued forward.
As they passed, Sebastian suddenly felt a pull to glance upward at Castle Kira. A foreboding feeling settled in his chest as his eyes found Lux Kira staring down at them through a window.
Their gazes locked. Lux's expression was dark, his mouth curling into a perverse smile. Without a word, he spun on his heel and disappeared from view.
Sebastian's brows furrowed, but he kept silent, his eyes drifting toward Castle Vermillion. Standing in front of its gates, the Vermillion family observed the scene. Florian, Ignatius, and Amber offered him awkward, consoling nods.
Sebastian appreciated the gesture and returned the nod, his eyes catching on little Fuegoleon, who sat curiously in his mother's arms, gazing out at the world.
A fond smile began to work its way across Sebastian's face—only for him to stiffen comically when he spotted Mereoleona. The nearly two-year-old toddler was perched on top of her father's head, shooting Sebastian a smug, approving grin. She punctuated it with a thumbs-up.
Sebastian blinked, dumbfounded, before quickly averting his gaze as they reached the front doors of Castle Silva.
The Silva servants all bowed and parted for Nathaniel as he strode forward. Sebastian and Acier trailed behind him, climbing the stairs toward the entrance hall.
There, Amara and Aurelia stood stiffly, their faces etched with guilt and regret.
Amara bit her lip and lowered her head. "A-Acier... we're sorry."
Acier forced a smile, waving them off. "No biggie... I mean, pregnancy isn't something you can hide. Unless you run away or get an abortion, right? Everyone would find out sooner or later... It's fine."
She was joking about the abortion—she had never once considered it, nor had Sebastian. The thought was unthinkable to either of them.
Her forced smile, however, churned Amara and Aurelia's guilt into something heavier, their expressions of self-loathing slowly mirrored Sebastian's own.
If only they had kept their mouths shut, the two of them could have gotten married quietly and avoided all of this. It might have raised some eyebrows, but there would have been no concrete proof of a baby out of wedlock.
Even if the baby came quickly, it wasn't unheard of for births to occur in as little as six or seven months. The aristocracy would have no evidence to accuse Acier of impropriety.
At most, the scandal would have been about Acier marrying a sixteen-year-old "boy." Even that could have been mitigated.
Sebastian clenched his jaw, regretting the day he'd accepted his noble title. If he hadn't, he could have shrugged off royal and noble customs entirely. Among commoners and peasants, boys married as young as fourteen all the time. Sebastian had been practically one of them before his knighthood. They would have had no justification to condemn Acier.
But now, that path was closed.
—
Sebastian and Acier sat awkwardly beside each other in her room, the silence between them thick and heavy. The only sound was the storm outside, rain pouring relentlessly against the glass window, adding to the somber atmosphere.
Eventually, Sebastian tried to break the tension with a weak joke. "Well, you've finally pulled me into your room—and your house—permanently."
Acier forced a smile. "Hilarious."
Sebastian's smile faltered, but he slowly wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her into an embrace. She stiffened at first but didn't pull away, letting him hold her close.
Her head rested on his shoulder for a moment before she stammered hoarsely, "I-I'm sorry..."
"Shush." Sebastian shook his head, cutting her off gently. "None of that. I'll be fine. If anyone deserves an apology, it's you. You've done more for this kingdom in two years than any of those entitled nobles, and yet they turn on you just because you took your first step into motherhood. It's ridiculous."
Acier sniffed and cracked a wry smile. "It's not ridiculous—it's tradition. Noble tradition. I'm a princess and heir to a royal house, a traditional royal house. I've been defiled. If I were a Vermillion, it might have been different. But as a Silva—and a war hero—the expectations to uphold noble dignity and honor are even higher. I let them down."
"Don't defend them." Sebastian's voice was firm. "If it weren't for you, Kiten would have been lost, and we'd still be suffering through war and depression. The comfort they enjoy now is thanks to you. Don't defend those thankless people."
Acier let out a weak laugh. "I'm not defending them. I'm just explaining why things are happening the way they are."
"I don't care." Sebastian shook his head again. "Tradition can go stuff itself. Those are customs, not rules. You haven't done anything wrong. I don't care what they think—unless it's positive."
Acier rolled her eyes but stayed silent as Sebastian hugged her tighter. They sat that way for a moment, the quiet returning.
Then, suddenly, Acier found herself rolled onto the bed, with Sebastian kneeling over her.
"S-Sebby?!" Her cheeks flushed red, but she froze when she noticed the somber look in his eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"Huh?" Acier raised a brow in confusion.
Sebastian leaned in closer, repeating the question. "Are you okay? Your reputation just went up in flames. The same people who praised you yesterday stabbed you in the back today. Are you okay?"
Acier froze, her lips parting as she processed his words. "It hurts," she admitted after a moment. "I never expected anything from them. I always knew their praise was empty. They weren't interested in me—they wanted to cozy up to House Silva or bask in my fame."
She sighed, her voice growing quieter. "But now that my fame is gone, and I clearly belong to someone else, they've turned their disapproval on me. It hurts, even though I expected it. But that's all there is to it."
Acier took Sebastian's hand and placed it gently on her stomach.
"This means more to me than anything. Even if I lose everything, as long as I have you and this child, I can handle it."
Sebastian smiled, leaning down to kiss her lips briefly before raising his hands to caress her face. "That's good. That's the strong Acier Silva I know and love."
Acier flushed, her heart skipping a beat, but Sebastian wasn't done.
"But you know, Acier, just because you're strong doesn't mean you can't be sad. You don't have to keep up appearances with me. If the disrespect gets to you, let me know. Don't be afraid to cry—or get angry."
It's not me I'm worried about. Acier thought inwardly, the memory of the disdainful looks aimed at Sebastian flashing in her mind. Forcing a smile, she replied, "Like I said, Sebby, I can handle anything. A little name-calling won't break me."
Sebastian frowned slightly, knowing her smile was fake. He always felt a pang in his chest when she gave that forced smile—the same smile others found enchanting.
Before he could call her out on it, a sharp knock interrupted them.
Rap! Rap! Rap!
Both Sebastian and Acier turned their heads toward the door. Acier narrowed her eyes. "What is it, Alfred?"
The head butler's voice came through the door. "Would the Young Master be so kind as to come with me?"
Before they could question him, Alfred continued. "The Old Master wishes to see you. This is merely a request, Young Master—you need not humor it."
Acier's expression hardened. "Absolutely not—"
"I'll be right out." Sebastian cut her off, surprising her.
"Sebby?" Acier's voice wavered.
Sebastian smiled, leaning down to kiss her neck softly. She tilted her head back as he whispered in her ear, "This is something I need to do. We'll be living under the same roof now, seeing each other more often. If I can't even face him... then I'm not worthy of being the father of your child."
Acier stared at him seriously, her tone firm. "If he tries anything funny or extreme, don't indulge him. Promise me."
Sebastian nodded, giving her another kiss before standing. "Yes, my dear wife."
Acier blushed, a shy smile on her lips. "Come back soon, dear husband. I'll be waiting for you."
Sebastian grinned, closing the door softly behind him as he left.
Acier lay back on the bed, but the memory of the disdainful looks directed at Sebastian lingered in her mind, refusing to fade.
—
"You beast! You couldn't keep it in your pants for a few more years, and now you've defiled my granddaughter! Out of wedlock, no less!"
Sebastian blinked as the rainstorm outside intensified, the sound of pounding rain echoing through the room. Would you believe me if I told you I was the victim here? He kept the thought to himself.
Acier's reputation with the kingdom was already in tatters; the last thing he wanted was to tarnish her image further in the eyes of her family.
"Ack." The sickly, frail Nicklaus coughed up a mouthful of blood, prompting Sebastian to press his lips together in discomfort. The Old Duke glared at him from his bed, vengeance burning in his sunken eyes.
"Do you even realize that some scum are already calling her a whore?!"
Sebastian's pupils dilated, and his fists clenched tightly. "Who?" he asked darkly.
For the briefest moment, a flicker of approval crossed the Duke's face, but it was quickly snuffed out by his fury.
"What can you possibly do about it?!" Nicklaus spat, his voice hoarse and trembling. "You're a nobody! A mere knight without even a doctor's license! No power, no authority, no influence! Acier will have to live the rest of her life with her good name ruined—all because a gigolo like you led her astray!"
Sebastian remained silent, his expression hardening. He had no rebuttal because, deep down, he knew the old man, the man he hated most, wasn't entirely wrong.
I should've been smarter, he thought bitterly. I should've insisted on protection, even if I gave in. But I wanted it to be real, raw, unfiltered... just her and me. I let my desires take over, and now she's paying for it.
His thoughts drifted as the Duke's words faded into the background. His mind was already focused on the growing life in Acier's belly.
I need to study pregnancy—figure out how to make this as smooth and painless for her as possible. Keep her healthy, ensure she's getting the right rest, exercise, fresh air... Her mood will matter too. And the baby... Will it be a boy or a girl?
God, I hope it's not a girl. I can't let myself project Aurora onto her like this old man did with his wife and Acier...
"Are you even listening to me, boy?!" Nicklaus's shout tore him from his thoughts. The Duke wheezed, his gaunt frame shaking with rage. "Acier will be treated like soiled goods, a slut—and you're just standing there in your own world, not giving a damn! Do you want to die?!"
Sebastian blinked blankly at the old man, remaining silent.
Nicklaus, livid, raised his bedside cane high into the air. His frail hands trembled as he reinforced the cane with what little mana he could muster. Even knowing it might drain what was left of his life force, he brought it down with all the strength he could muster.
Sebastian didn't flinch. He watched the cane descend, his expression almost bored.
Forget it. This guy will be dead in a few months anyway. There's no point in starting a fight with him. He's Acier's grandfather, and she still loves him. Let him blow off some steam.
He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the impact. But it never came.
Opening his eyes, Sebastian froze at the sight before him.
Nathaniel stood beside him, gripping the cane firmly in his hand before it could strike. His father's attack was stopped as though it were nothing more than a trivial nuisance.
Nicklaus trembled in shock, his lips parting as though to speak, but Nathaniel cut him off with a cold, steely voice.
"Father, there are many things I can tolerate from you, but striking my daughter's lover and the father of my future grandchild is not one of them."
With a sharp crunch, Nathaniel snapped the cane in his grip. The fragments flew across the room, yet not a single piece touched any of them.
Nicklaus wheezed, his chest heaving as Nathaniel pressed him back onto the bed with one hand, forcing him to lie down.
"Just spend your remaining days in peace," Nathaniel said harshly, his voice low but menacing. "The affairs of my family are no longer your concern. Understand?"
Nicklaus's watery eyes glistened with unshed tears. His voice cracked as he murmured, "Aren't I family too? It feels like this is our first conversation in two years."
For a fleeting moment, emotion flickered in Nathaniel's eyes, but it was quickly extinguished. His tone remained devoid of pity.
"Family can discipline family," he said coldly. "But they don't tear into one another to fulfill petty vendettas. You've crossed that line far too many times. To me, you'll always be my father... but when I think of my family as a whole, you're never in the picture unless everyone else is frowning. Go to sleep, Father."
Nicklaus whimpered, but Nathaniel ignored him. With a final glance of disdain, he turned and grabbed the still-frozen Sebastian by the arm, dragging him out of the room and shutting the door with a loud bang.
The two walked in silence, Nathaniel gesturing wordlessly for Sebastian to follow. Awkwardly, Sebastian fell into step beside him, his mind reeling from the encounter.
A moment later, Nathaniel broke the silence. "Why didn't you dodge?"
Sebastian shrugged, his voice low. "It wasn't worth it—"
"It is worth it." Nathaniel cut him off sharply, his tone cold. "Above all else, you're joining this family for Acier's sake—my daughter's sake."
Nathaniel's gaze pinned Sebastian in place. "You getting hurt will only make her sad. Don't do something so stupid again."
Sebastian nodded stiffly, his movements awkward. The two continued walking, rounding corner after corner in silence. Nathaniel watched as Sebastian's posture grew increasingly rigid, his demeanor reserved and overly polite.
The change didn't sit well with him. The slow, steady progress Sebastian had made since the events in Kiten—shedding the guarded shell he wore around the Silva family—seemed to have unraveled entirely. He'd reverted to the distant, formal attitude of when they were strangers.
Nathaniel didn't like it.
Abruptly, he stopped mid-step. Sebastian, startled, froze as well.
He stiffened further when he saw Nathaniel raise his broad hand. A flash of anxiety crossed Sebastian's face, and he flinched, squeezing his eyes shut as though bracing for a blow.
But the impact never came.
Instead, he felt a warm hand rest on his head.
Sebastian's eyes snapped open as Nathaniel ruffled his hair lightly, the hand shifting to pat the top of his head with an odd rhythm. His head tilted up in shock, catching a rare sight: Nathaniel's expression was awkward, his cheeks faintly flushed. It reminded Sebastian of the shy, warm look Nathaniel wore whenever Acier kissed her father.
"Sebastian..." Nathaniel began hesitantly. "This might be shameless of me to say. After all, in some way, I was complicit in the injustice, greed, and madness that drove your parents to take their own lives. But..." He took a steadying breath. "Please think of us as your new family. Think of me as your father."
Sebastian's pupils dilated, his breath hitching.
Nathaniel continued, his voice soft yet firm. "None of this overly polite nonsense anymore, alright? The circumstances that led to this might not be what anyone would wish for, but you are now an undeniable part of this family. No one can take that away from you."
He removed his hand from Sebastian's head, only to cross his arms as he looked him in the eye. "If you want or need something, just ask. The worst that'll happen is Amara or I will say no. If you feel a certain way or have something you want to say or do, you don't need to ask for our permission. We're your parents, not your masters."
Nathaniel's voice softened further. "You don't need to walk around on eggshells. No one's going to kick you out for your past mistakes or anything that might happen in the future. You're here. This is your home now—Castle Silva is your home. So act like it. Understand?"
Sebastian's throat tightened, his eyes stinging.
The word father had always conjured the image of a thin man with a permanent scowl, one who demanded more from him at every turn. He remembered being beaten under the guise of "building strength." It was hard to imagine father meaning anything else.
But here Nathaniel stood, saying the word with warmth.
Sebastian wondered if this was what Acier felt every time she looked at her father. He hoped that his future child—or children—would feel the same way about him.
His lips twitched faintly, and he nodded—not stiffly, but casually, a natural bob of his head. "Okay."
Nathaniel let out a soft sigh, his relief palpable. He retracted his hand, a satisfied look crossing his face as they resumed walking.
—
"S-Sebby, w-what has got into you-aah..." Acier moaned in delight, as Sebastian kissed her neck, running his hand up her nightgown, and began peeling it off her figure.
He cupped her breasts, tracing her areolas with his fingers, as he pinched and twisted her nipples, before spreading her legs wide.
"S-Sebby?!" Acier flushed red, while Sebastian smiled slyly, "Didn't you want to 'have sex'?"
"T-that... t-that... t-that..." Acier sputtered unintelligibly, as Sebastian untied and lowered his pants, to free his penis.
"Is that a yes or a no?" Sebastian asked calmly, causing Acier to freeze before nodding meekly.
"I'll be doing the moving this time", Sebastian declared with a grin, as he rubbed the tip of his member against her sacred entrance for a second, eliciting moans of delight and trembling of her slender yet athletic body from her. His arms trailed up hers, slowly guiding her hands to intertwine their fingers with his, holding them tightly together, as he thrusted into her with a passion.
The two moaned and groaned in unison, a mixture of pain and delight, screaming in passion as he rapidly picked up speed, he grew thicker, harder, and longer inside of her, sliding past her G-spot, heightening her arousal before finally making contact with her cervix.
The mental state of a woman is one of the prime factors in a healthy or unhealthy pregnancy or delivery. He hoped "working hard" would be enough to keep Acier's up.
Pregnant women are fickle and prone to mood swings, Sebastian would soon come to understand, that it was near impossible to keep one happy.
Author's Notes:
[1] Those who want explicit sex scenes, that's the most you'll get out of me here, remember they're 16, and I don't want to be on an FBI watchlist. Or some other organizations blacklist.
[2] Feel free to join the discord: https://discord.gg/s3MME8X8ar
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