Entering the study, Mary had already changed out of the dress she wore to the banquet earlier, and put on a red long dress. With her brown long hair and exceptionally well-maintained skin, she looked like a woman in her mid-twenties.

She had lost some of her youthful energy, but gained a touch of maturity and allure.

"Father called you to his study just now?" Mary seemed to be dealing with official documents at first, but when Osen entered, she immediately put down what she was doing, looked up at him, smiled, and spoke.

Looking at Mary in front of him, Osen's mood became complicated.

It is said that it takes two to tango. In the original work, Osen and Mary conspired together to frame Liter.

If he didn't have this thought now, Mary probably wouldn't continue to persecute Liter, right?

"Mother, indeed I was called to father's study just now." Osen nodded.

"Hmm." Mary nodded and continued to ask, "What were you discussing? About Liter?"

"I can't hide it from you, mother. Indeed, it was about this matter." Osen smiled.

"Osen, how do you view the matter of inheritance?" Mary spoke while getting up from the chair and walked in front of Osen, helping him adjust his collar.

She was a head shorter than Osen, and with her youthful appearance, she didn't have the slightest oppressive feeling of a mother. Instead, she seemed more like someone the same age.

More like a sister, or perhaps...

Osen had just thought of that aspect, when memories of the original work surged up in his mind, and the fleeting romantic thoughts that had sprung up in his young mind instantly vanished.

After all, Mary is your stepmother, and she was an antagonist in the original work!

"As for the matter of inheritance...Osen, how do you see it?" Mary said, as she helped him adjust his collar. Thinking for a moment, Osen replied, "I listen to father's decisions. In my view, father raised me, his non-blood-related son, for eighteen years and provided me with the best education. I am already grateful to father."

"Whether it's me inheriting or Liter inheriting, I support father's decision. In fact..."

Pausing for a moment, Osen continued, "Because of an accident, Liter has been living in the countryside for eighteen years. If our roles were switched during these eighteen years, Liter would have had a better life and he wouldn't be the way he is now."

"So, if possible, I lean more towards letting Liter inherit father."

Upon hearing Osen's words, Mary's movements momentarily froze, then she smiled, looked up at Osen, and said, "Osen, I always thought that you and I were similar."

"Similar? You and me? What kind of people do you think we are?" Osen asked.

"With far-reaching vision and lofty aspirations, for the sake of our goals, some unimportant things can be sacrificed, right?"

As Mary said this, she tiptoed and whispered beside Osen.

"Think about it, with your age and achievements, don't you want to go further?"

"With your abilities, isn't the position of the Duke not the end?"

"Have you visited the City of Saint Laurent? It is much more magnificent than Antica. Don't you think that is the place where you can display your talents?"

After she finished speaking, Mary took a few steps back and smiled at Osen.

In her actions, there was still a trace of a girl's charm.

Osen hesitated for a moment, his facial expression changing again and again, before finally revealing a relieved smile.

Mary hadn't changed, at least, her intention to persecute Liter in the original work hadn't changed.

In that case, she and himself were already on opposite sides.

"The City of Saint Laurent is beautiful, but home is more comfortable."

"Moreover, family is surely one of the most important things, right?"

"Haha, it seems that you and I have slightly different thoughts." Mary laughed. "Osen, you are even more formidable than I imagined."

"What do you mean, Mother?"

"It's nothing." After Mary finished laughing, she shook her head. "Then, I believe you will be able to do something that you won't regret.""Perhaps."

"Alright, it's getting late. Go back to your room and rest," Mary said as she sat back in her chair, waving her hand at Osen.

"I understand, Mother. You should rest as well," Osen replied, then turned and left Mary's study.

Once he was out of the study, Osen noticed that there was a thin layer of cold sweat on his neck.

After all, it was a conversation about his own destiny. He couldn't take it lightly.

"Young Master Osen, take care," Randall bowed to Osen at the door.

"Hmm."

...

At the door of his room, Vivian was still standing there.

Seeing Osen approach, she quickly bowed.

"Alright, Vivian, go back and rest. It's getting late." Osen said, preparing to push open the door.

"Um, Young Master Osen, Master Liter is still in the room. His room is ready. Should I wake him up...?"

"I'll take care of it myself." Osen smiled at Vivian, who's breathing hitched, and she quickly bowed again.

"Understood, Young Master. I'll go back now!"

Osen watched Vivian hurry downstairs until she disappeared from his sight, then pushed open the door and walked into the room.

According to the original work, the only person in the family that he could trust completely and was his right-hand person should be the maid, Vivian.

His mother, Mary, and his father, Lucius, were not to be trusted.

Upon entering the room, the first thing Osen saw was Liter lying on the bed.

Liter appeared to be sleeping soundly, with a relaxed expression. He looked much cuter than when he was tense all day.

This guy really has no problem sleeping without even taking his clothes off...

Osen shook his head as he looked at Liter, who hadn't even taken off his suit, and was about to help him take it off.

But as he approached Liter, there was suddenly a strange feeling that he was being a pervert.

Liter already had long hair and his face looked like that of a girl. If it weren't for his ordinary chest and the fact that Liter's gender was indeed male according to the original work, Osen would have thought Liter was a girl.

But even so, looking at Liter, who had a feminine appearance, Osen couldn't bring himself to do it.

There was a feeling that he was doing something bad.

And it didn't seem right to disturb someone who was sleeping so comfortably.

Osen thought for a moment and sat down at the desk, flipping through a book.

An hour passed and Liter still showed no sign of waking up. Osen was starting to feel a bit sleepy himself.

He glanced at his own bed.

It was a standard double bed, and since Liter was small and skinny, he only occupied a small portion of it.

They were brothers after all, so it shouldn't be a problem for today, just sharing a bed.

Maybe it was even an opportunity to get closer.

With that in mind, Osen yawned, took off his outer clothes, changed into his pajamas, and laid down on the bed.

"This guy, there's no way to tell that you'll become the protagonist in the future." Osen sighed, then closed his eyes.