Villain Saving System (BL)
Chapter 268 - 6.28 The Duke’s Adopted Brother

Chapter 268: 6.28 The Duke’s Adopted Brother

Jillian had no idea what Elder Alain had done but two days later, they found the barbarian troops retreating back into their own territory. The very same night, a celebration party was held in the basecamp. The soldiers cheered, sang and danced around the bonfire, indulging in meat and wine until deep into the night.

But only Jillian knew that his work had just begun.

Without wasting any more time, he departed early in the morning after assigning the matter of patrolling to the other Generals. Taking Regius and Hayden with him, he mounted his horse and rode his way back to the Duchy.

Bassil welcomed him with a surprised and delighted look, crying out. "Young Master, you have returned safely!"

As much as he wanted to let Bassil fuss over him like how the head servant always did, he had more pressing matters to attend to. He jumped off the horse and handed the reins to the stableboy, gesturing for Hayden to do the same. The young man was fidgeting awkwardly behind Jillian, eyes darting with a mixture of awe and hesitation on the towering and majestic manor in front of him.

Jillian told him, not unkindly. "This will be your home from now on."

Hayden startled and turned to him with his eyes rimmed red. "General..."

Bassil had received Jillian’s letter a few days prior. The content was concise and — to Bassil’s pain — didn’t answer any of his confusion. Jillian had merely demanded him to clean up the west wing where the Master and Madam used to live but now had gotten quite abandoned, saying that he would be bringing a very important guest.

Despite Bassil’s gnawing curiosity to learn what had transpired between his Young Master and Hayden these past few weeks — the last time Bassil checked, Jillian didn’t even care for him — he put on a perfect smile befitting of the Lacrosa’s head servant and bowed elegantly. "Young Master Hayden, I have been awaiting your arrival. Welcome to the Lacrosa Manor. I am Bassil, the head servant here. Please feel free to tell me what you need during your stay here."

"Ah, I—" Hayden sputtered, clearly unaccustomed to being treated with such decorum. "T—There’s no need..."

"Alright, spare the small talk for later." Jillian cut in with an impatient look. "Bassil will guide you to your room. Wash yourself first and meet me in my study." After saying that, he strode inside in brisk steps, not before catching Bassil’s eyes.

Bassil knew that look all too well. A warning as well as a command. Meaning that he wouldn’t be able to get the answer he wanted anytime soon and he wasn’t allowed to wheedle anything out from Young Master Hayden either. With a twitch on the corner of his lips, Bassil restrained himself for now and offered the nervous young man an amicable smile. "This way, Young Master Hayden. It seems like time isn’t on our side now, so please allow me to give you a tour around the manor next time. Tomorrow, perhaps?"

***

Jillian was a tyrant! An evil, monstrous tyrant!

It was only after Hayden had willingly stepped into the devil’s den that he realized the painful truth. By then, everything was too late.

Three days, that was all the time Jillian gave him to learn everything about being a nobleman, starting from etiquette, mannerism, rules, how to react appropriately in different situations, to slow down and enunciate his speech clearly (even though Jillian often rattled off words too fast when he explained, much to Hayden’s consternation), to move in grace and charisma, when to speak, when not to speak and lastly as well as the lesson which almost made Hayden bald, was to memorize the name of every noble family members, not only those wily old fox — Jillian’s exact words — who dominated the court, but also their wives, daughters, sons, cousins, nephews, nieces etc...

After four hours of cramming hundreds of names into his brain, Hayden was ready to faceplant first onto the table and pass out.

"Straighten your back." Came Jillian’s solemn order. "Lift your chin five degrees higher. Wipe that gloomy look off your face, it’s repulsive."

Hayden instinctively obeyed, courtesy of years being the soldier under the General’s merciless training. Inwardly, he really wanted to cry. What was wrong with slouching?! His back was so sore, it was worse than sparring straight for a full day! He eyed the General’s perfect posture tearfully, awed that the latter could still hold his spine straight for hours. "General, can we take a short break?"

"No." Jillian replied ruthlessly, his hand didn’t even falter a bit as he continued to write on the paper. "When it comes to the real thing, you will have to endure twice or even thrice this long. Depending on how dissatisfied the noblemen are, they could even prolong the hearing until hours."

That... That’s crazy! Hayden wailed silently, his vision was swimming as he took in the stack of books he still had to finish before the day ended.

"One more thing, remember not to address me as ’General’. Those people were already unhappy when I gained the title, saying that it was crude and unbefitting of a noble. No matter how high your rank in the military is, you will still be a ruffian in their eyes. " A sneer formed on his lips. "If I wasn’t of noble lineage, I might not even have a place within the Palace. So it’s definite that you will have it rougher. Learn how to dismiss the words of those who only want to see you fall. Don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing what they have done to you."

Hayden inhaled deeply. "I understand... Duke."

He glanced at Jillian from the corner of his eyes with even more admiration. As he had expected, this person was so cool and amazing. Even back when Hayden could only see him from afar, he had already known that Jillian was different from other aristocrats he had met before. Now that they had gotten... closer, Hayden’s respect and reverence only grew even more. Jillian might be a tad cruel, insane and moody at times, but he was the most hardworking, forbearing and resilient man Hayden had ever known. He was Hayden’s idol. The one and only.

"If you still feel like falling asleep," Jillian added with a smirk that smelled trouble. "Then Regius will make sure to wake you up."

Right on cue, a cold sensation brushed against the back of Hayden’s nape and he flinched, almost jumping out of his seat in shock. "S—S—Sir Regius!" He turned to the doll sitting on Jillian’s arms and almost burst out into tears. "Please don’t do that all of a sudden!"

Jillian threw his head back and guffawed wholeheartedly. "Heavens, you’re so funny!"

The corner of Hayden’s lips turned down in aggravation. It wasn’t his fault that he still had a lingering fear, alright?! How could he not be scared when Sir Regius would deliberately appear behind him without a warning when he was brushing his teeth in front of the mirror?! Hayden couldn’t even recount how many times he had been so frightened that he almost pissed his pants. It was so mortifying! To make matters worse, when he finally gathered the courage to relay the occurring accidents to Bassil, he only got a sympathetic smile in return!

Hayden grumbled as he snatched a new book and flipped to the first page.

He took his words back. How could he idolize such a person?!

***

With Jillian — and Lu Yizhou’s — help, Hayden finally managed to finish the lesson in time. When Jillian tested him the next day, Hayden was proud to say that he could answer each question clearly and loudly. Bassil made sure to praise him accordingly which Jillian replied with a mere harrumph. In spite of that, his eyes clearly shone with acknowledgment which caused Hayden to preen like a dog wagging its tail to its owner.

Hayden had no idea who had leaked the news but the rumors of Duke’s adopted brother had suddenly spread all over the Duchy like wildfire. Some speculated that he had saved the Duke’s life on the battlefield and thus, for lack of better things to offer in exchange, the Duke simply took him as his sworn brother. Or the most audacious rumor was how Hayden was the Duke’s illegitimate brother, sired by the deceased Duke with his mistress!

Hayden almost went out to beat those people to pulp for the insult for his mother they had uttered with their dirty mouth. Even though he knew nothing about his real father, he believed that his mother wouldn’t do this kind of repulsive deed!

Alas, upon seeing Jillian all calm and unruffled by the atrocious rumors about his father, and hearing Bassil who suspiciously said to him, "The preparation has all been done, Young Master." Hayden’s anger was promptly doused and he couldn’t help but wonder whether the rumors had originated from these two people instead.

As soon as the suspicion rooted in his heart, he was struck speechless. Did the General do this on purpose to lay down the groundwork so that there would be no opposition when the official ceremony started? Jillian had always called the noblemen in court ’wily old foxes’ but for Hayden, he was the most cunning of all!

The rumors spread so uncontrollably that the next day, a messenger from the Palace came, bearing the King’s official summon for them to be present in tomorrow’s court hearing. Jillian confirmed his attendance readily and offered Hayden a smug smirk once the messenger left the manor. "Get yourself ready. It’s showtime!’