Chapter 696


    Arthur nced at Dracon, breaking the silence, "How have you been holding up these past few years?"


    Yorick scoffed dismissively. "How do you think? The guy''s been loafing around, never lifting a finger to do anything worthwhile.”


    Yorick couldn''t help butpare him to his other sons, each carving out their own unique achievements in their chosen fields.


    Dracon, meanwhile, remained at home, not even managing to take proper care of the family estate, the Linter Mansion. His


    schemes were as transparent as they were numerous.


    Just the other week, when Yorick had been poisoned, the investigation had been halted midway. Theck of inquiry didn''t mean


    Dracon was innocent.


    But Yorick had stopped digging to protect Dracon. He knew that if the truth of the poisoning reached Arthur, with his fiery temper,


    Dracon''s days would be numbered.


    Yorick, a man of integrity, would have made the same decision as Arthur in the past. But years had passed, Arthur and Hector


    had been away, and only Dracon had stayed by his side. Despite Dracon’s failings, he had taken decent care of him.


    As he grew old, Yorick longed for family harmony over the anguish of a father burying his son. And so, he had covered for


    Dracon.


    But...


    Yorick''s eyes involuntarily drifted to Arthur.


    Arthur''s return could only mean he was here for this very reason. If he decided to investigate, no cover-up would suffice.


    The thought alone gave Yorick a headache.


    Dracon had wanted to speak up, but hearing such a harsh critique from his father, he sulked into silence.


    Arthur''s eagle-eyed gaze settled on Dracon for a few seconds before he spoke, "Dad, we all have our paths to maturity. Wasn''t |


    the same clueless kid once upon a time?"


    Yorick was taken aback. Arthur had never been one to defend Dracon. He was doing good if he didn''t scold hin—yet today, he


    was actually speaking for Dracon?N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Could it be he already knew?


    Impossible!


    Arthur was a soldier, far away on the battlefields where news traveled slowly. Even if Arthur had wanted to investigate something,


    it would take days, and there was no guarantee he would find anything.


    Yorick had kept it under wraps from the start. Even if Arthur wanted to pry, it would take time.


    Arthur must be fishing for information!


    Realizing this, Yorick shot Dracon a look, signaling him to keep his mouth shut.


    But before Yorick could borate, Arthur spoke again, "Dracon, don''t take Dad''s words to heart."


    Dracon''s eyes widened in disbelief. Was this really his big brother speaking? Was he possessed or something?


    In the midst of his silence, Arthur''s gaze briefly skimmed over him. "What''s wrong? You think I''m not worthy of speaking to you?"


    Startled, Dracon quickly retorted, "No, no, Arthur, you got it all wrong. I''m just not used to you being so... nice. And | didn''t take


    Dad''s words to heart, | promise."


    Arthur''s lips curled into a rare smile. "Back in the day, the battlefield hardened me. Now that I''m home for good, I''ll shed some of


    that roughness."


    Dracon gasped. "You''re staying for good? You''re leaving the battlefield?"


    Arthur not leaving? What would be of his own chances to shine?


    Both Yorick and Hector were equally stunned.


    Yorick spoke first. "Is this your choice or an order from the top?”


    He knew Arthur well—war was his home. Unless it was a direct order, Arthur would never leave the battlefield.


    Hector, still reeling from shock, managed a smile. "Arthuring home is good news. I''ve been thinking of settling down, too. It''s


    about time we brothers spent some quality time together here in Rivenwood."


    "Indeed," Arthur affirmed, then addressed Yorick, "It''s my decision, and it''s been approved."


    The joy Yorick had felt at Arthur''s return was now tinged with an inexplicable panic.


    It felt like Arthur''s return would stir trouble in the Linter family—a prospect far from Yorick''s wishes.


    Suddenly, Yorick erupted in a coughing fit. Arthur patted his back, asking casually as if unaware of anything. "Dad, what''s


    wrong?"


    No one had informed Arthur of Yorick''s poisoning, so he yed the part of the uninformed.


    Yorick was about to dismiss it when Dracon burst out, "It''s all because of Percival and that Vivienne. They nearly killed Dad."