Academy's Second Seat [part 2 Complete]

Chapter 221: Astria (13)

Yurik sat in his mansion, waiting for Rudy.

As he sat in silence, his mind was filled with nothing but doubt.

Rudy was the son of his brother Perrian.

The son of a man who had betrayed him, Rudy could betray him at any moment.

That thought never left his mind.

"Good day to you."

After some time, Rudy arrived at Yurik's mansion.

"Yes."

Yurik responded to Rudy's greeting with a short one of his own.

'He looks quite polished on the outside.'

Rudy's greeting was perfectly respectful.

Yet, Yurik was not pleased.

Anyone can look decent on the outside.

It's easy to hide sinister plans behind a façade.

Yurik gestured towards the front.

"Have a seat."

"Thank you for inviting me."

"There's no need to thank me. I didn't invite you because I'm considering your proposal."

"Still, you gave me the opportunity. I'm grateful for that."

As Rudy smiled broadly at Yurik, Yurik scoffed.

"Let's get to the point."

Without any delay, Yurik continued.

"I can't help you."

His words were firm.

"You must feel it too, looking at this mansion and at me."

Yurik's mansion was extremely shabby.

There was only one maid serving as a housekeeper, and even she was an old woman.

A rundown mansion with no family or servants.

Though related to the Astria family by a distant branch, the mansion was all he had in terms of wealth.

"I don't know what you want, but I've already lost all my power. I have no wealth, and it's been over ten years since I gave up on magic. My body has decayed."

His body, uncared for, had grown fat, and he looked utterly shabby.

He used basic magic to survive in such a place, but it had not improved since the past; rather, it had regressed.

Ever since being ousted from the family, he hadn't read a single book on magic.

Consequently, he had forgotten even what he once knew.

'All I have left are a few people.'

Having been betrayed by his brother, he feared for his life.

So, Yurik built connections to survive.

At least with people around, his brother, the head of the Astria family, wouldn't dare kill him carelessly.

But that didn't mean he trusted those people.

'Even those connections could betray me at any time.'

Without significant abilities or background to keep people close, Yurik now had nothing.

Currently out of politics, he didn't know what would happen if he re-entered and tried to help Rudy.

Those people enjoyed talking with him, not meeting him to become companions in politics.