The Million-Dollar Heart

Arthur glanced 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 but compare 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 Linklater 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. The lack 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 I the same clueless kid once upon a time?"

defend Dracon. He was doing good if he didn't scold him-yet today, he was actually speaking

be he

Impossible!

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.

must be

Yorick shot Dracon a look, signaling him

Yorick could elaborate, Arthur spoke again, "Dracon, don't

Was this really his big brother

his silence, Arthur's gaze briefly skimmed over him. "What's

"No, no, Arthur, you got it all wrong. I'm just not used to you being so... nice. And I

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

staying for good?

leaving? What would become of his own

Hector were equally

this your choice or an order from the

Arthur well-war was his home. Unless it was a direct order,

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,"

return was now tinged

like Arthur's return would stir trouble in

Yorick erupted in a coughing fit. Arthur patted his back, asking casually

had informed Arthur of Yorick's poisoning, so he played

was about to dismiss it when Dracon burst out, "It's all because