Chapter 64: Unexpected Revelations and Strategic Moves

“I never expected to see the third son of the Ancaster marquisate in a place like this.”

They were the only diners in the deserted restaurant. The way he offered Ethan a salad, utterly composed, seemed almost unnaturally seamless, yet no one else appeared to find it peculiar.

“This wasn’t planned or a test,” Maxon began. “It’s true that I was an honor student who received a scholarship last semester, and I became Mr. Ethan’s assistant to receive it again this semester. You can confirm this directly with Professor Vince.”

“You’ll find that I was selected just a few days after Mr. Ethan’s class registration went through, entirely unrelated to recent rumors.”

Maxon spoke slowly, striving to maintain his composure amidst the suffocating tension. As the third son of a faded noble family, now in seclusion, he was in a far weaker position than even a commoner before the heir to the Empire’s most powerful house.

“To call it impulsive, you seem to have displayed abilities that shouldn’t have been seen.”

Ethan tilted his head, observing Maxon, who lowered his gaze at Bliss’s chilling words.

“Isn’t it true that a Control-type Esper can return a portion of another Esper’s power with extensive training?” Ethan pressed, his voice even. “It’s not a rare affinity, so why call it an ability that shouldn’t have been shown?”

At Ethan’s expert explanation, Maxon’s head shot up. The foolishness he’d displayed moments earlier, asking about the restaurant’s tablet device, had vanished, replaced by a clear understanding of a Control-type Esper’s affinity.

“Of course, Control-types are quite common in the Empire and other nations,” Bliss conceded. “However, none among them, at twenty-five or twenty-six, without a Guide, could reverse an A-grade Esper’s short-range teleportation.”

‘Oh.’

Ethan’s hand, which had been happily wandering over the full-course meal laid out for their quiet conversation, paused. His eyes met Maxon’s, who was reluctantly spooning soup, and only then did Ethan finally grasp the unsettling feeling that had persisted.

“Someone who should be limited to tricking people into tripping over a flat surface by making it seem like stairs suddenly skips ahead and uses a top-tier technique?”

While it wasn’t quite a damning indictment, Liam cleared his throat at Ethan’s blunt remark. It was a merciless analogy, sharp enough to make Maxon, who had been subdued by Bliss’s presence, flare up in indignation. Kyle gave up trying to suppress his laughter and simply grinned.

“Th-that childish level is something done at the toddler stage!”

“‘…Toddler stage?'”

Ethan, assuming it was merely a metaphor to emphasize the primary manifestation age of around twelve, responded vaguely. He then scooped a fist-sized meatball, cut it into a substantial piece, put it in his mouth, and let out a satisfied sigh.

“They say the Ancasters with golden eyes are Espers from birth.”

“…!!!”

Ethan’s eyes widened, and he hastily swallowed his food.

“No manifestation?!”

Bliss casually offered water, adding his comment without much thought. Maxon, disliking hearing about his own family from others, finally spoke.

“Our family has been here since the Aitoolia Empire was a kingdom,” Maxon explained. “More accurately, we were a single clan or tribe. Espers are born more frequently than Guides in our lineage, and those like me, born with golden eyes, invariably possess Control-type abilities from birth.”

“The power of a Control-type Esper varies with mastery, depending on how subtly one can influence an opponent’s five senses and cognitive abilities. Since we exhibited our powers from infancy, we were several times more potent Control-type Espers, earning the title of Marquis for our contributions to the Empire’s founding.”

‘Though now it’s merely a title in name only,’ Maxon thought, a bitter smile touching his lips.

“If ‘here,’ then… do you mean Ashilton?”

Relaxed by the lengthy conversation, Maxon’s face softened, and he slowly began to properly savor his food.

“It was a small village called ‘Loop,’ rather than Ashilton,” Maxon clarified. “It only became known as Ashilton after the Aitoolia Empire was proclaimed. The current Ashilton was formed by combining that small village with the absorbed territories.”

“We received the title and territory and relocated afterward.”

“…You know an astonishing amount.”

As Ethan, who had focused primarily on modern war history, gazed in admiration at Maxon’s extensive knowledge, a delectable fruit dessert was unexpectedly placed before him.

“Is there any noble who doesn’t know their own family history?”

“……”

With the exception of Ethan, who silently agreed, ‘Ah, of course, that makes sense,’ and Bliss, who diverted Ethan’s attention by meticulously asking about each fruit, everyone else at the table wore the same expression.

“If you’re tutoring Ethan for a scholarship, does that mean the Ancaster family doesn’t support its direct descendants?”

Although the Ancaster family had been ousted from politics, they still held the Wates region, a considerably vast territory in the northeastern part of the Aitoolia Empire. This land was so rich in minerals that generations could live off it without working.

Knowing that the Ancasters also traded with Moore Corp, Bliss was well aware that they were different from other noble families who merely retained their names without any land.

Maxon’s face flushed with shame. Even if one were poor, it was unthinkable for a noble to admit a lack of funds; the reality of having to reveal his family’s true circumstances to another noble was utterly dismal. He squeezed his eyes shut then opened them.

Given that his family conducted business with the Moore household, it was a truth that Bliss Moore would undoubtedly uncover if he chose to investigate.

“An Ancaster with golden eyes does not hold a favorable position within the family.”

“…I see.”

Bliss’s simple reply, after a long pause, brought their conversation to an end, yet Ethan blinked, utterly bewildered. However, as long as it didn’t directly affect him, Ethan had no desire to delve into potentially complex political entanglements at this moment. Instead, he asked what truly piqued his curiosity.

“Among the past Ancasters with golden eyes, were there any women?”

He had originally intended to ask if there was a ‘missing female Ancaster with golden eyes,’ but with Bliss present, he chose to phrase his question more subtly. Even for such a straightforward query, a response took some time.

“…Of course, there were.”

Ethan hoped for more information, but Maxon offered nothing further. With a small sigh, Ethan decided to seize another opportunity later.

“…Then, how should we proceed with the lessons?”

As the topic shifted, confidence began to return to Maxon’s face.

“First, if you sign the supplementary study agreement, Professor Vince will approve it,” Maxon began, his voice gaining momentum. “From then on, we’ll go over past lectures based on the course materials. The school library…”

“Allow me a question.”

Abruptly, Bliss cut off Maxon, who had been explaining with such fervor.

“Please, speak.”

“So, Ethan must be with Maxon Ancaster for the entire week, throughout the mornings or a portion of the daytime hours?”

“That would… be correct?”

“Until when?”

“This entire… semester?”

“Rather than erratic timings, it would be more efficient to conduct the lessons at the same time each evening.”

“That’s true, but the Ancasters don’t have a mansion in the capital. My family’s estate is far away, so I live in the dormitory.”

“Then, how about moving into my private residence for the time being?”

“No, dormitory life is perfectly satisfactory—”

Maxon inadvertently lowered his head, then swallowed hard. The soup, which had been pleasantly cooled and ready to eat moments ago, was now bubbling like lava. Bliss Moore’s S-grade power was far beyond anything he could contend with.

“Satisfactory… but if you insist on no rent, I will gratefully accept your hospitality!”

“Ethan, what are your thoughts?”

As Bliss directed a gentle voice towards Ethan, even offering a faint smile as if to say that his arrangements were useless without Ethan’s approval, Maxon’s eyes wavered. He desperately questioned the guards standing behind them with his gaze, but Liam and Kyle merely shook their heads with resigned expressions.

“I don’t have to worry about other people’s gazes, and I’m fine with it.”

Bliss, with a leisurely and elegant motion, wiped his mouth, then instructed them to order after-dinner tea, signaling the conclusion of their meal.

“…A satisfying meal.”

It was then that Maxon Ancaster dazedly reflected on his reality.

*Bzzzt— Bzzzt—*

Liam’s tablet vibrated first, followed by Bliss’s, Kyle’s, and then Ethan’s, each ringing with a slight delay.

“I’ll take it.”

Seeing Liam check his tablet after confirming Philip’s name, Bliss ignored Enoch’s incoming call.

“Put it on speaker.”

“No, I won’t listen!”

Maxon urgently tried to stop Bliss. He had a premonition that the moment he heard even a single sentence of their conversation, he would never be able to escape.

Liam paused, glanced at Maxon, then obediently complied with his superior’s command, activating the speaker function.

“[What is it, Philip?]”

“[His Highness Devon’s Esper, Trisha Haxson, attacked gossip reporters!]”

“…!!!”

At the words suggesting the circulating gossip was their machination, Maxon paled. Ethan merely alternated his gaze between the overly reactive Maxon and Bliss, who was silently pressuring him with an indifferent expression.

Yet, Ethan understood that Bliss had effectively trapped Maxon.

Silence settled, and after a moment of thought, Ethan shrugged, lightening the somber mood.

“Well, a family that established a major, I don’t know what it is, but don’t you think they should at least have the will to reclaim their lost glory to be included?”

Silence fell at his casual remark. Ethan’s eyes, which had been raising his teacup to drink, widened progressively at the unusually prolonged quiet.

“No way, is that true?!”

Bliss chuckled softly, then subtly took Ethan’s hand, lacing their fingers together, before turning to Maxon and asking,

“My Guide is exceptionally clever. Remarkably so. What do you say? The Ancaster Marquis with golden eyes who led the Procyon Unit?”

“…!!!”