Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Revealing everything (2)

Theo got off the carriage after it reached the castle and paid the old man in gold coins, which made him cry.

When he moved his body toward the gate of the castle, he could already see Alfred coming down the stairs as if he already knew Theo was coming.

"Young Master Theo, it’s good seeing you back. But isn’t today your first day of school?" Alfred asked after giving him a courteous bow.

"My first day was yesterday, Old Man Alfred. I came here because of some urgency. Are father and mother home?"

"They sure are. Would you like to go to them directly?"

"That would be amazing."

With that, the trio went with Alfred toward the Baron’s office.

Two knocks later, Alfred opened the door, making Theo smile when he saw his father and mother seated together.

They were buried in paperwork and couldn’t even lift their heads until the Baron squinted his eyes and looked up, only to see the trio.

"Theo? What are you doing here? Isn’t it your first day?" the Baron asked with a frown. There was some relief seeing his son after many days, but the curiosity of why the boy was already here was killing him.

"Theo, my son. Are you alright?" The Baroness got up and briskly walked toward Theo to check on him.

"I am alright, mother. But there are some things I would like to share with you. They are important." Theo spoke in a serious tone, which made the Baroness, who had kept a hand on his cheek, move aside and let him sit opposite them.

Theo told them everything about what happened in the class, and the Baroness and Baron could do nothing but listen attentively.

When Theo was done, the Baron looked toward the window as if thinking about something.

"If today was your beast’s evaluation... and you’re here... that means the deed is already done." The Baron sighed and looked at Theo again.

"Theo, you made a decision about your life that could lead you to be left out of the academy. Are you sure you want to continue this forward?" the Baron asked in a grave tone.

"...What do you both suggest?" Theo spoke after looking down. "In my eyes, I made the best decision for my life. I am still not ready to tell the whole world what my affinity can do. I am just not strong enough. If they were to fully know what it can do, then the family would have faced the problems with me."

"You should not be concerned about what the family will be facing, Theo," the Baroness spoke. "You’re the youngest of our family. Such responsibility does not shoulder you yet."

Theo looked at her and nodded, and then at the Baron, who was silently watching.

"Do you know what I swore to myself when I thought of having children, Theo?" the Baron asked, making Theo shake his head.

"I swore that no matter what decision my children make, I will always support it. I will let them grow in ways that are not conventional because that is what makes a Merrick special to begin with."

"Your decision of leaving the academy because you didn’t want to reveal your powers yet—I am sure you thought a lot before making such a decision. Do you want to abide by this now? Not going to the academy?"

Theo looked at him for a moment. His eyes couldn’t falter anymore. If they did, the Baron would catch it in mere seconds.

With the confidence he always had, "I have already realized that I can learn everything they were trying to teach me with the help of the books. I could get a private tutor too, to help me study. I am not saying that I won’t complete my studies, father and mother. I am saying that I won’t be doing it in the academy," Theo spoke.

The decision was so strange that if it were normal noble parents, they would have sent their child back to the academy already.

"Good. If that’s what you really want to live by, then I won’t stop you. But make sure of one thing, Theo," the Baron spoke again, leaning forward with sharp eyes.

"Even if I am agreeing with this decision of yours, it doesn’t mean I will let you slack off. There are plenty of opportunities by being in the family too. I could help you with that, but you should be willing to be ready for it. Some are harsher than the environment of the academy."

When Theo heard that, a slight smile bloomed on his face—expected by the Baroness but surprising to the Baron somewhat.

"I will do my very best to live up to these opportunities, father. You will never hear a single complaint from me, no matter how difficult it is."

"Careful of what you say, Theo. I know you’re excited for the opportunities. But some of these things are way too complicated for you to handle. Even Lucien has trouble with some. So we will take it slow."

Theo nodded profusely, but within a mere second, his attitude shifted back to serious.

Before he could even speak, the Baron sniffed the air and frowned.

"Is that fear I smell, Theo?" he asked with sharp eyes.

When Theo looked at them, he was sure about one thing: he were not angry at him for showing fear. They were reacting because the Baron already knew it was for a reason.

Even the Baroness’s demeanor changed, which affected Elias and Clara. The pressure was insane.

"There was something else in the academy too..." Theo spoke.

He told them everything that happened, from the telepathic voices to the fact that the voice admitted it was a beast.

To the fact that it wanted to be done with Theo.

The room’s pressure increased every second. It was to the point that Elias and Clara could hear the creaking of the windows close to them as if they were about to break.

The Baron’s face showed so much anger that Theo thought it would burst anytime now.

Until the Baroness kept her warm hand on his, which made him come back.

Theo took a sigh of relief. At one point, he thought the Baron would go after that beast.

"I will kill whatever that thing is. How dare he threaten my child!!"

"!!"