Dragon's Awakening: The Duke's Son Is Changing The Plot-Chapter 53 - 52 - Raven, Randolf, and Argon.

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Raven walked down the hallway of the main mansion of the Vaise, staring at his polished boots.

’...It sure is shiny.’

It was his first time wearing clothes like this. It was a dark, formal tunic.

It wasn’t just his first time wearing clothes like this, but also his first time walking down this hallway.

After all, this was the hallway of the main mansion of the Vaise family, and he had never been here.

His childhood passed in the Cradle, and when it was time for him to come here, Crisaius had kidnapped him.

Now, when he was finally here, it was because he was injured and needed treatment.

Raven was the best genius ever seen in the Vaise household, but he had never interacted with Vaise people other than his friends and Crisaius.

Yes, one of his sisters visited him regularly in the Cradle, but he could never tell why because it wasn’t supposed to happen in the plot.

But since she didn’t show any ill intention, he didn’t mind.

Above all, he wouldn’t mind getting in her good books, as she was officially the second strongest among his siblings.

As for his other siblings, he had yet to meet them.

The second member of his family that he met was Argon, his father, and he was being led to meet him again.

’On that note...’

His gaze turned forward, looking at the man before him, leading him toward the Patriarch’s chamber.

His back seemed to command the very air around him: straight, poised, and deadly.

It was the butler who had brought him Argon’s words.

The man was tall and slender, with a gait smoother than oiled glass, as his black formal uniform clung perfectly to his frame.

His silver-white hair was tied with a ribbon shimmering under the lantern lights.

He looked serene, but Raven knew better.

’Randolf Von Vaise.’

That was his name.

And he was no ordinary butler—everyone in the Vaise family knew that. freёweɓnovel.com

He was the right-hand man of the Patriarch.

He handled everything in the household in Argon’s absence, and he wasn’t simply wise, but he was also one of the strongest people in the Vaise family.

What no one knew, however, was that he was the Patriarch’s younger brother.

He was one of the only two siblings who bowed when Argon Von Vaise seized power, back when the family was divided by ambition and blood.

Argon was forced to erase everyone who didn’t submit to him.

Randolf was a survivor, and since then, he abandoned his name and worked as Argon’s butler.

He was so strong that he could control even the Patriarch’s children in his absence, and yet, now, that same man had waited silently outside Raven’s recovery room.

After informing him about the invitation, he waited outside for Raven to freshen up.

He never knocked or rushed. He just... stood.

If a figure like him waited for Raven to get ready, it showed how important this matter was.

Raven adjusted the collar, his gaze sharpening.

His shoulders still ached, and the soul fatigue throbbed behind his eyes, but he walked steadily because he had an idea of what this talk could be about.

’Siris...’

Yes, her.

The one they fought to save.

He didn’t see her among the people in the recovery room.

When he asked others, no one had any idea of her whereabouts either.

The only person who could have a clue about Siris was Argon, and he was summoned by the same person.

Soon, they stopped before a massive black door lined with golden carvings of dragons.

The butler raised a hand and knocked three times, like blades on stone.

Then, without a word, the butler opened the door and entered, leaving it wide for Raven.

’Here we go...’

Raven took a deep breath. His shoulders squared. His spine straightened. His lips pulled into a confident, borderline-smug smile—the kind that could sell lies and buy time.

And with all the boldness he could summon, he stepped inside and said,

"Good afternoon, Father."

He hoped that whatever he was called for wasn’t bad, not realizing he was already red-flagging it.

His words, however, made Randolf almost stumble.

His eyes slid sideways for a fraction of a second, brow twitching in faint surprise.

Not because Raven had spoken. But because Argon didn’t frown at those words.

No, rather, there was something new in Argon’s eyes.

Annoyance.

It wasn’t the type that he had when he wanted to kill someone; instead, it was as if he had expected it.

’This is... new.’

First, it was Raven, who called Argon father, something even the oldest son had never dared to do.

Then, it was Argon’s reaction.

Raven, on the other hand, finally looked around the room.

It was massive, but not lavish.

It carried power, not wealth.

A giant black table stood at the center like a throne without legs. Windows behind it were tinted, casting Argon’s face in slashes of shadow and light.

He didn’t wear the robes of a ruler.

Like Raven, he wore a plain black tunic.

No jewelry. No crown.

Only a dragon crest stitched into his chest—the symbol of the Vaise family.

His face was unreadable. No greeting or movement, just those cold, sharp eyes watching Raven like a hawk studying a wind current.

Raven’s grin stayed firm, but inside—

’Yep. He’s in ’I want to know everything’ mode.’

Neither spoke.

Raven remained standing.

Across the table, there was a seat—empty, inviting, and deceptively innocent.

But even Raven, who wasn’t scared of Argon, knew where he would draw a line, so he didn’t sit.

His calling Argon father and outright disrespecting him were entirely different matters.

As a son, it was his right to call his father ’Father’, but he hadn’t accomplished enough to have the right to sit before the Patriarch yet.

So he stood.

And smiled.

He stood some more as the seconds stretched.

’Is this a test? Or just intimidation tactics? He’s probably waiting for me to get nervous,’ Raven wondered before he smirked inwardly. ’Too bad, old man. I’ve survived a crackhead of an old man. You’re just emotionally unavailable.’

Still, his heart was beating harder than usual.

The silence scratched at the edges of the room. Even the butler, standing near the far wall like a statue, seemed to be listening.

Finally, Raven spoke. Calm and respectful.

"To what do I owe this honor, Patri—" He caught himself. Then smiled wider. "Father?"

No flicker in Argon’s face.

He sat like a judge sculpted in stone.

But his fingers—long, calloused—tapped once on the table.

Once.

"Do you know the consequences of what you have done?" He asked, his gaze peering into Raven.

Raven, under Argon’s sharp gaze, momentarily forgot to speak before his voice found him. "Are you talking about the incident at the Principal’s mansion?"

His gaze was now serious, but Argon didn’t care; he simply stared instead of answering, and Raven’s eyes gleamed with understanding.

’That must be yes,’ he thought, his lips parting to answer Argon’s question.

"I don’t know about the consequences since I wasn’t wrong. I had just followed our family’s rule and rescued one of us—"

"What if she isn’t?" Argon cut him off, his expression unreadable as the temperature dropped.

Raven, for the first time, frowned.

This question was a trap.

From the corner of his eye, he could see Randolf, who stood behind Argon with his shining silver eyes fixed on him.

’Yeah...’

That guy was using his ability—one that could detect any lie.

’I should’ve known.’

When Randolf, a guy with lie detection ability, was involved, Raven should’ve expected that his words would be judged.

Now, with his eyes shining, indicating the activation of his ability, Randolf was staring at Raven.

If Raven answered, saying that he knew she was a Vaise, then he would be stuck in the net laid by Argon, who would then ask how he was so sure.

He wouldn’t be able to answer that question, as it involved the system, not something he wanted to tell Argon right now.

So, he gave what he thought was the best answer. "Then, I will bear whatever consequences I am supposed to."

Argon frowned but said nothing.

Raven didn’t fall for it, and since he lost the mental fight, he decided to let the guy go without further questioning.

After all, Raven was Crisaius’s disciple. He was someone who had learned Dragonification.

So, Raven wasn’t just someone anymore.

After staring at Raven for a while, he leaned back on the chair, and Randolf, catching his cue, gestured.

"Young master, this way."

It was time to see Raven off.

But when Raven, whose heart was hammering against his chest, was about to leave the room, Argon’s voice came from behind.

"Tomorrow is the verification. Be there with everyone who attacked the Principal’s mansion."

Raven froze in his spot before he resumed his walk, sighing inwardly.

’So, this is what he wanted to say...’

He realized this wasn’t an interrogation but simply Argon wanting to take a closer look at him while presenting an opportunity to confess anything he might have.

’He was just looking out for me, huh?’

Raven chuckled inwardly, shaking his head. ’He really is a coconut, isn’t he?’

Of course, Raven knew Argon wasn’t emotionally attached to him... yet.

It was hard to imagine Argon getting attached to someone after ’that’ incident.

But he also knew he wasn’t a nobody for Argon, and that even if the guy hadn’t realized it, he cared for his children.

So now, with his mind free of worry, Raven walked back to the recovery room, ready to tell everyone about the verification that would happen tomorrow.