CHAPTER 529: IN THE EYES OF THE SON

There were many dangers in life.

As an Imperial Crown Prince, Xavier had faced assassinations, attempted coups, destabilizations, and, of course, the looming threat of corruption. All before he even managed to learn how to walk.

But nothing—and he meant nothing—compared to willingly walking into his father-in-law’s room, together with said man’s precious, oblivious son.

On paper, it sounded touching. Sweet, even. Visiting a sick relative.

In practice, however, it felt less like a warm family moment and more like volunteering to be the next patient.

It didn’t help that his esteemed father-in-law hadn’t known of his existence until this very morning.

Which probably explained the sudden, suffocating killing intent that made the air itself shimmer around Xavier as they entered.

But it was warranted, Xavier reasoned grimly as his eyes locked with the feral Duke’s across the room.

If someone had done to his hypothetical future child what he’d done to Luca, he, too would probably look like he was ready to commit a crime.

Survival at this point, Xavier concluded, was now highly dependent on the benevolence of Duke Leander Kyros, who had mere moments ago had been glowing with joy over his son’s presence.

Until Luca started speaking.

At first, it seemed harmless enough.

Luca let go of Xavier’s coat and threw himself into his father’s arms.

"Papa!"

Leander nearly melted on the spot. His arms wrapped around his son immediately, his body almost pushed back onto the bed under the rush of affection.

"My boy," the Duke choked out, voice cracking as he crushed Luca to his chest. "You’re all right. You’re here."

"Of course I am, Papa!" Luca murmured softly, burying his face against his father’s shoulder. "I was worried about both of you."

The Duke felt his chest swell with pride and relief, like he could wrestle a dragon barehanded if asked.

But then—then his son kept talking.

Luca pulled back just enough to look up at him, his golden eyes shimmering. "But it’s really all thanks to Xavier. I wouldn’t have been able to come here if not for his help," he said shyly, glancing toward the prince who stood by the door.

And just like that, Leander’s blazing affection turned into a wildfire of outrage.

He whipped his head toward Xavier, narrowing his eyes into deadly slits.

Grrrrrr!

Xavier, for his part, didn’t even flinch. Even as the Duke tilted his head and his mouth practically issuing a barely audible growl, he stood calm and composed, hands clasped neatly behind his back, his expression polite yet impassive, as if he weren’t being roasted alive under Leander’s death glare.

Luca turned back to him, and Leander quickly forced himself back into the warm, docile fatherly figure his son expected to see.

"Papa, Xavier said that there are no injuries. Is that true?" He asked worriedly, slowly looking at both his parents as if scanning for hidden wounds.

"Yes, of course, my boy," he said, patting Luca’s shoulder like he hadn’t just been imagining tearing Xavier’s limbs off seconds earlier.

Meanwhile, Luca, oblivious to the silent war breaking out over his shoulder, hugged his mother and then turned back to his father to ask if the doctors had cleared him already, his voice soft and concerned.

Leander’s blazing temper immediately extinguished, soothed by his son’s clear, trusting gaze.

"HAHAHA! Don’t worry, my son, they will definitely give me an all clear! I’ve never been better!" said the duke confidently as he reassured his concerned baby.

But of course, how could he be okay with any of this?

Xavier felt every degree of that heat. He’d never been so aware of how it felt to have a man envision forty ways to dismember him with a butter knife.

And yet Luca kept going.

"I... actually have something I want to talk about," Luca said hesitantly, looking between his parents as his hands fidgeted nervously.

The Duke froze mid-glare, immediately straightening up, every ounce of his attention locking onto Luca.

The murderous heat dissipated as though it had never been there.

"Luca," Leander said warmly, ignoring Xavier entirely. "You can say anything."

Xavier, for his part, felt a faint pulse of relief at the momentary reprieve.

But then Luca continued.

"I... I’m sorry for what happened earlier," he began, his golden eyes shimmering. "And... I just wanted to say how thankful I am for Xavier. I don’t think I would have been able to... to even speak to you like this if it weren’t for him. Xavier gave me the courage to... face this... To face both of you."

Every word was so pure, so sincere.

And every word was another stake through Leander’s chest.

Xavier didn’t dare breathe.

Meanwhile, Leander was gripping the bedsheets so tightly that he was sure the fabric was about to tear clean through.

Xavier.

Xavier!

Xavier!!!

It’s all Xavier this and Xavier that!

His precious son had been stolen.

Right under their noses!

B-by this! By a wolf!

A cunning, shameless, silver-tongued wolf who just happened to be tall, buff, and maybe a little smart.

But that wasn’t anything unique. They were all like that!

His Lia was super smart, and he was ridiculously tall. And plenty of people from their house were just as blessed. Sure, Steward Han wasn’t exactly tall, but even he managed to build up his muscle mass—so what makes him so special?!

Nothing, right?! No one could answer the Duke’s internal screams.

And now Luca was giving that wolf credit for everything.

Duchess Amelia’s quiet sigh broke through the growing tension. She pressed a hand to her temple, exasperated but secretly impressed that her husband was managing—if barely—to keep himself from lunging across the room.

She’d expected nothing less from the Duke, of course. Considering everything, this might be taking everything in him.

Meanwhile, Xavier usually loved hearing his name on Luca’s lips. It was sweet, always enough to snare his full attention, keeping him under his wife’s unique spell.

But right now, every time Luca uttered his name, it felt like someone was carving a target into his back with every syllable.

And then Luca turned back to his father with shy, hopeful eyes that were impossibly bright.

"Xavier said... that the people here aren’t like the ones from my past. That my parents are different," he said softly. "That I should trust my mother and father. And that... I should have faith in the kind of people you are."

Leander stopped breathing.

Because every word that left his son’s lips landed like a heavy blow, and it was as if his words were echoing around the room, only coming back to attack him with sincerity and trust.

They were different.

They could be trusted.

Luca should have faith in the kind of people they were.

How.

How in all the seven hells was he supposed to lunge at the wolf now?!

Not when his son was looking at him with those eyes.

Not when his son clearly believed every word that scheming wolf had said.

Not when his precious baby was sitting there, hopeful and trusting, all because the wolf had given him the courage to believe in them.

Leander swallowed hard, his hands trembling.

The absolute horror!

He couldn’t even get a punch in or risk disappointing his trusting son!

Meanwhile, a certain duchess was wondering if it really was possible to get through this without bloodshed. For it was either that their son was a saint or he was a genius strategist.