Chapter 30: Heirs’s Meeting [3]

Silence.

And that silence was deafening.

All of them were stunned—caught off guard.

Especially Kaden.

Because he had no idea—none at all—about the “fallen house” Nuke had just mentioned.

But that wasn’t even the most disturbing part.

What really made it strange was the way Nuke said it.

The words dripped with mockery—like he was looking down on both the Warborns and the Thornspires.

But his tone and his face?

So soft. So gentle.

Warm enough to put your guard down without even noticing.

“You ... what are you doing?” Meris asked, puzzled.

Her cheerful, playful face was gone—wiped clean.

What remained was cold and confused expression.

The others might not have known.

But she did.

She knew the nature of the Cerveau.

How could she not?

Her mother never stopped talking about them. Always saying the same thing,

“They’re two-faced, Meris. Every last one of them. Smiling monsters with velvet knives.”

And that’s exactly what this was.

But what she didn’t get was why Nuke was doing it.

Was he really trying to pick a fight with the other heirs? Make them his enemy?

For what?

Was he stupid?

Nuke just tilted his head and looked at her. “What do you mean? I simply made a remark.”

Then turned to Kaden and Rea.

“I was just surprised to see the two of you together,” he continued. “After all ... how can a noble family like the Warborn allow their youngest child—not just any child, but the Child of Blood—to marry into a ruined family?”

He looked back at Meris.

“Isn’t that curious, my dear?”

No hate. No sarcasm.

Just calm.

Which somehow made it worse.

But Nuke wasn’t finished.

He tilted his head to the right, all innocent curiosity, blue eyes shining.