Kyle chased after Isaac, calling out as he caught up.


    Isaac waved him off, continuing to walk ahead. "Don''t say anything. It''s not worth mentioning."


    "Isaac, this is just our guess. It might not be true," Kyle said, knowing his younger guild member well. Isaac never spoke of his difort but would always seek solitude when troubled.


    "It''s fine, really. I''ll just go have a drink," Isaac replied with a grin. "It''s rare that the autumn wind is blowing, and the weather''s perfect. A drink is what''s needed-preferably with some beautifulpany."


    Violet stepped forward and grabbed his wrist. "Come on, let''s go drink then."


    It was only now that Violet realized Isaac wasn''t the child of a concubine. Evelyn was his mom, and he had the same parents as Oliver and Vi.


    "The ce I''m going isn''t appropriate for you," Isaac said, not wanting Violet to follow.


    Violet ignored him and kept a tight grip on his arm. "I''ll settle the bill for you."


    "I have money. You don''t need to follow me," Isaac snapped, suddenly sharp and biting. "Do you think I''m that poor? You want to take care of my drinking and amusements? I''d rather you stop dwelling on that life-saving favor you think you owe me. Honestly, I''m so tired of women like you-you don''t even know how annoying you are."


    Violet wasn''t upset in the least. Instead, she smiled cheerfully. "So, women are annoying? What about men?"


    Isaac shot her a sour look. "They''re all just as annoying."


    "Then I''ll take you riding. No men, no women. Just us and the open air," Violet said, pulling him toward the stables. "The wind is so fresh-when you ride into it, it feels like everything just blows away." "No!"


    "Yes!" Violet insisted, her tone turning sharp. "If you''re not going to ride, then you''reing to drink. Either way, you have toe with me I''m not in a good mood."


    They continued walking, their voices fading as Violet tugged Isaac along, getting her way in the end.


    Carissa''s shoulders slumped, and a heaviness settled in her chest.


    How did ite to this? Adrian must have known the truth long ago, but chose the lies because they were easier to bear. Why did they have to make such a fuss? What was even there to investigate?


    No one said a word. Whether the investigation was good or bad, no one had the right to judge.


    -


    Violet and Isaac were drinking at the Glimmering Tower, a few wine bottles already emptied. The shopkeeper hade to check on them. Seeing Isaac start to slur his words, the shopkeeper refused to serve him any more alcohol.


    money, huh?


    "Do


    you think i''m out of Why won''t you bring me more wine?" Isaac said, fuming, his face flushed Stumbling to his feet, he pulled out a thick stack of property deeds from his chest. "I''ve got money! Plenty of money!"


    Violet was also tipsy, and she giggled as she bent down to pick up the scattered deeds. "What are you buying all these properties for? nning to settle down in the capital? Aren''t you going back to Meadow Ridge?" Isaac raised a hand to tilt her chin, his eyes bloodshot, reeking of alcohol. "Meadow Ridge is my home. There''s no one for me here in the capital except my little martial sister. I don''t have any other rtives."


    He copsed backward, hitting the floor with a dull thud, the world spinning around him. Mumbling to himself, he said, "I''m such a fool. Spent all that money on these useless properties."


    "It''s my


    fault. How could I be so


    blind? Everything was so obviously wrong. Their son was gravely ill, and instead of getting proper medical


    help, the let some stranger taket


    him hundreds of miles into the mountains. It''s all my fault. Sage Adrian knew the truth all along. It''s no wonder he wouldn''t let mee back to find them. He knew everything. He just made up a story that wasn''t quite as cruel."


    Isaac mmed his fist against the floor in frustration.


    Violet held her forehead, her eyes filled with pity as she watched Isaac, usually so carefree and unburdened, now caught in his tangled thoughts. She couldn''t bear to watch him suffer like this. Without a second thought, she grabbed his arm.


    "Come on, we''re going to Silverstone


    Estate. Your dad''s a scoundrel, but your mom.m betting she was kept in the dark Now that we know everything, let''s clear things up. If she knew, then you can tear into her. If she didn''t, she must still be troubled by what happened to you. You''ve always been carefree, Isaac, so stop hesitating. Go ask her yourself."


    Isaac tried to push himself up, but his limbs were uncooperative. He turned away, weak and unsteady, before finally managing to crawl to his feet.


    "You''re right," he muttered. "Let''s go I can''t curse the dead, but what''s stopping me from cursing the living?