Inheritance of Shadows [Hugo Vlad x Fem!OC]

Chapter 20: Ashes of Virtue

The seasons shifted, but within the Ravenlock mansion, time stood still.

The same wind that once carried screams now whistled softly through the corridors. Dust gathered on forgotten portraits, cobwebs draped over empty rooms. The laughter of siblings had faded, replaced by the echo of distant footsteps—and the steady rustle of turning pages.

Hugo sat by the tall window of his study, the light of dusk brushing against his cheek. The boy who once cried himself to sleep now sat unmoving, posture straight, eyes hollow yet composed. His mismatched gaze scanned the pages of a book, but it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

He had grown taller, sharper—not just in appearance, but in presence. The air around him felt colder, more deliberate. Every movement was measured, every word scarce.

Yukari watched quietly from the corner, unseen, her heart heavy. The boy she had seen mourn was gone. What remained was someone quieter... harder... forged by pain.

A knock came at the door.

"Enter," Hugo said flatly, not looking up.

Lycaon stepped inside, his blazer brushed with faint silver dust from the halls. The years had given him a steadier stance, but his gaze still carried that same unwavering discipline. He bowed slightly.

"Your tea, young master."

Hugo nodded, wordless.

Lycaon set the cup down and lingered by the table. The silence stretched, broken only by the faint hum of wind and the slow tick of the grandfather clock.

"You've been reading the same book for three days," Lycaon said finally.

"I like repetition," Hugo replied dryly, eyes still on the page. "Or obsession."

That earned Lycaon a glance. For a moment, their gazes met—two predators measuring the other's patience.

Hugo sighed, closing the book. "What do you want, Lycaon?"

"Nothing," Lycaon replied calmly. "Just making sure you still remember how to speak."

The faintest smirk touched Hugo's lips. "Still as irritating as ever."

"I consider that a compliment."

For a while, silence returned. The air between them was no longer hostile—merely familiar. Lycaon leaned slightly against the desk, hands behind his back.

"Tell me," Lycaon said suddenly. "What keeps you in this place? You could have run long ago."

Hugo's fingers drummed lightly against the desk. "Because running won't fix anything."

Lycaon tilted his head. "And staying will?"

Hugo didn't answer right away. He stared at the reflection in the glass window—a pale figure with mismatched eyes staring back.

"...I can't leave," he said at last, voice low. "Not until I've made him pay."

Lycaon's expression shifted. "Your father?"

Hugo's gaze flicked toward him—not in denial, but acknowledgment.

"Yes, Lycaon. If it hasn't been obvious by the quietness of the mansion lately, you should know by now."

Yukari felt her chest tighten. She'd heard this tone before—the same chilling calm that had preceded every tragedy in his life.

Lycaon exhaled softly. "And what do you plan to do?"

Hugo's answer was immediate. "Kill him."

The word struck the air like a blade.

Lycaon blinked, his composure faltering for the first time. "You're not serious."