roccoschili Chapter 31 - Family Suffering – Part 6
Chapter 31 - Family Suffering – Part 6
Chapter 31 - 31 - Family Suffering – Part 6After that day, Arthur felt a sense of relief and began working day and night to solve the problem facing the Radiance family. To that end, he stopped
— I already told you: that marriage isn't happening, so get out of here and stop annoying me.
"How dare you...!"
"Come on, old man: your hair is falling out because you still haven't taken the pill; even your teeth are only staying in your mouth thanks to your Qi—and the same goes for you, madam. I'd say that if this keeps up, you'll have less than a month to live... Ah, so that's why you invented that stupid rule against me?"
"Arthur, you really...!"
"Now, you old geezers, get back to your rooms, cultivate to extend your lives even further, and leave me alone to do my job in peace."
Those who had attracted those judgmental stares were the first to leave—a tongue click echoed, and the old elder bolted before the others could catch up to question him, with the elderly woman following closely behind.
"Ah, this is truly embarrassing. Oh, where have we ended up..." sighed one of the two remaining elders in the room. "That pill story is indeed true, Arthur?"
"...Yes, elder."
The old man nearly collapsed from a sudden weakness—he had to lean on his cane to stay upright.
"How shameful..." he said in disbelief. "To think they spent so much money on things like that—wasting the family's funds on pills that barely add five years to their lives... idiots, where were they thinking?"
"Calm down, brother. Quarreling over this now won't solve our current situation," said the other elder, consoling him as he looked at Arthur. "But why didn't you reveal this fact earlier, Arthur? Had you done so, the damage would have been less—even if only a little—any difference would have helped."
Arthur averted his gaze and sank back into his chair, unwilling to meet the eyes of the elders—he knew that part of the blame for this situation lay on his own shoulders.
— I... I wasn't in a position to judge them...
He murmured.
But slamming his cane on the floor, the elder exclaimed,
— You are the current leader of the family! If you're not in a position to judge them, then who here is?!
And then he coughed again.
"But..."
"As head of the family, it's up to you to decide how and when to use the money, Arthur," added the other elder. "You weren't the first, and you won't be the last to use the family funds for personal reasons—but letting this situation worsen was indeed a mistake—your mistake. I hope you truly manage to turn things around, or else I'll be forced to stand for little Soph's marriage, whether you like it or not."
The elders left together, leaving Arthur in a desolate silence. He rose from his chair and, as the old men passed through the door, bowed in respect.
As the door closed, Arthur sighed and slumped back into his chair, declaring,
— Finally...
For my moment of peace.