Mystical Fantasy : The Lazy Real Young Master [EN]
Chapter 53 - 8.5 : Shadows Beneath the House

Chapter 53: Chapter 8.5 : Shadows Beneath the House

Virellano Residence – Evening

Inside the grand study room of the Virellano family, David sat upright at a golden-carved desk, lit brightly by a shimmering crystal chandelier above. Thick books lay open before him, each filled with complex knowledge. By his side, Clarista, his older sister, carefully monitored his notes. A young female tutor named Fani sat across the table, helping him tackle advanced mathematics. With a pencil tucked behind her ear and eyes sharp enough to kill, she looked ready to launch a barrage of math problems at David.

It was a picture-perfect scene from an elite school brochure:

A future heir, groomed with precision.

The kind of image that would make investors nod in approval and media outlets label them a ’model family’.

Meanwhile...

Al—the biological son who, by all rights, should have been the rightful heir—slipped through the mansion like a shadow. His stealth mode was on. Light-footed and silent, he navigated the massive estate with a single goal: food scavenging.

He made his way to the kitchen.

When the refrigerator door opened, it felt like discovering a treasure chest.

Al’s eyes sparkled. His mouth fell open slightly, a bit of drool escaping.

"Hmm... roast chicken, chocolate pudding... and—whoa, sushi! Jackpot," he whispered triumphantly.

Without hesitation, he loaded the goodies into his enchanted pouch—an item far more useful than a dimensional ring. It could store food and living things without damaging their organic structure. Perfect for his nightly foraging.

This had become a routine. A secret ritual. While the rest of the household chased titles and legacies, Al chased snacks and solitude.

A few minutes later, Al walked past the family lounge, heading back to his room, carrying his treasure-filled pouch. With his sneaky movements and silent steps, he looked more like a kitchen thief than a noble heir.

In the family lounge, Aurielle lounged in a massage chair, rubbing her temples after a long day as the company’s CEO. Their mother, Sandra, relaxed on the couch, fully immersed in her favorite Korean drama starring the famous actress Seo Eun Hye.

Vianna sat cross-legged on the back balcony, doing light cultivation. The home was peaceful tonight. Their father, Edward, was nowhere to be seen—likely still attending a world financial summit... or battling the stock market.

Back in Al’s room...

Al unpacked the food and began eating slowly, savoring every bite.

"Life here has been surprisingly peaceful lately... Sarah’s still away, David’s buried in his studies... No one’s accused me of anything recently."

But his thoughts shifted when he sensed a faint pulse of energy—right beneath his room.

"That energy again... it’s stirring. I need to tear down this floor and check it out soon."

Suddenly—

Knock knock knock.

A knock shattered the quiet.

Al panicked. His bed was stacked with food. If anyone peeked through the door crack, he’d be finished. In a flash, he activated illusion magic.

Dark Magic: Illusion – Hide.

"Allll, open up! What’s taking so long?" came Aurielle’s voice from outside.

After a quick check to make sure everything was hidden, Al opened the door, feigning innocence with a nervous smile. A thin line of sweat ran down his temple.

"Oi, sis. What’s up? You gonna make my identity official now?"

"In your dreams. I need you to—"

Aurielle stopped mid-sentence. She squinted at him.

"Wait... did you eat something? Why is your face so dirty?"

Al flinched. He forgot to wipe his mouth. Dread settled in—what if she realized he stole food from the kitchen?

But instead...

"How can we go public with your identity if you can’t even eat cleanly? Ugh. Work on that," she said with a sigh.

Turns out, she was more concerned with table manners than potential theft.

"Ah, no, this is just... dust, maybe?" Al replied, wiping the pudding off his cheek as discreetly as he could.

"Eww. Disgusting," Aurielle replied, half-amused, half-grossed out.

Then her tone turned serious.

"Anyway, I’ve got a meeting tomorrow with Miss Aiza. You’re coming with me."

Al blinked.

"Again?"

"Yup. She already thinks you’re my assistant, and it’d be weird if you didn’t show up. She doesn’t know you’re fake, so until she leaves Indorosia, you’ll keep pretending."

"Ughh... So I have to play fake assistant for two whole months?" Al groaned.

"Exactly. Be ready tomorrow night. Don’t be late again." Aurielle nodded.

Then she paused, brows furrowed.

"Wait... how did you know she’ll be staying for two months?"

Al’s eyes widened. He slipped.

"Uh... wasn’t that mentioned during the Tamarvich family gathering? Right? I’m pretty sure you said it then!"

"Did I? I don’t remember..." Aurielle frowned.

Al just nodded rapidly, beads of cold sweat flying with each movement.

"Whatever. Just don’t be late."

"Yes, ma’am."

Aurielle walked away, leaving Al pale as a ghost.

He stood in the doorway and let out a long breath.

"Whoa... her intuition’s scary. No wonder she became CEO so young."

Then he smiled to himself.

"But... she’s kinda interesting."

He glanced back at his illusion-covered stash of food and chuckled softly. This house may be filled with secrets and pressure, but at least the snacks were elite.

---

The Next Night – Aria Dining, Luxury Restaurant

City lights glimmered gently as the Virellano family car pulled up in front of Aria Dining, a luxury restaurant that only accepted guests with exclusive reservations. Owned by the multinational Aria Group—which also operated the Aria Plaza Mall—the establishment exuded elegance.

Al and Aurielle stepped out of the car, dressed in sleek semi-formal attire. While not as glamorous as their outfits at the Tamarvich family banquet, their presence still radiated authority—especially Aurielle, the commanding young CEO.

She glanced at her brother and instructed firmly,

"Don’t embarrass me. Speak only when spoken to."

Al gave a quiet nod, hands in his pockets, his expression as calm as ever.

They entered the VVIP section—a semi-open space with futuristic decor and panoramic city views, dimly lit and laced with high-tech minimalism.

Inside, a few distinguished guests had already arrived.

Crystal vases glowed faintly along the walls, and distant string music played just softly enough to feel exclusive but not intrusive.

And among them, standing gracefully with a dominant air and a composed smile...

...was Miss Aiza.