Stupor

The Duke had been in a foul mood lately, and everyone at Black Swan Castle was walking on eggshells.

Except for the culprits themselves—Tang Feiliu and his brother Alexander.

Of course, Tang Feiliu genuinely didn't see anything wrong with the situation. Whether Alexander did it on purpose is open to interpretation.

When the Duke suddenly embraced Tang Feiliu that day, he obediently returned the hug. Edward was heartbroken—just looking at him, Tang Feiliu could tell the man hadn't been taking care of himself. All the weight Tang Feiliu had painstakingly helped him gain had vanished over the winter in the imperial city. Anyone unaware might think he'd been fighting a brutal battle instead of attending balls and celebrations.

What Tang Feiliu didn't know was that, in some respects, he was right. For others, this winter marked a season of immense upheaval within the palace—the Emperor's death, Empress Josephine's power struggle with the Templars, Prince Charles's execution for plotting against the Emperor, and Prince Wright's perishing in a hotel fire while returning to the capital... Ultimately, with the backing of the nobility, Empress Josephine donned the imperial crown. Though this stirred discontent among potential heirs, her ascension remained secure through the Temple's involvement in the investiture, its overwhelming military might, and the support spearheaded by the Black Duke.

Of course, this was all the perspective of those outside the center of power. What those within the inner circle truly experienced could not be summed up in a few words. Edward had no intention of telling Tang Feiliu anything about the events within the imperial city. At his behest, no one would ever mention these matters in Tang Feiliu's presence.

Everyone at Black Swan Castle and all the Black Duke's subordinates knew that in front of Young Master Lance, the Black Duke was a completely different person—gentle and compassionate, commanding yet fair.

This was the image Edward had painstakingly cultivated. As someone raised in modern society, having lived through an era of massive information explosion, Tang Feiliu could certainly grasp the significance of the palace gossip if he chose to. Yet Edward preferred Tang Feiliu remained unaware, and thus Tang Feiliu gave it little thought.

To Tang Feiliu, Edward's physical well-being was his foremost concern.

Yet upon his return, before he could spend time with his angel, Edward faced his first blow—while he fought within the palace walls, he had barely returned to embrace his little angel when a young man dressed in a pristine white modern suit entered the room.

The man possessed dazzling golden hair and a ruggedly handsome appearance. As he walked in, the maids blushed and curtsied to him. Before Edward could ask who this man was or why he seemed so relaxed in Black Swan Castle, the man's emerald eyes flashed with anger. He walked over, tapped his cane, cleared his throat, nodded to Edward, and bowed. To Tang Feiliu, he said, Lance, weren't we supposed to discuss recipes today?"

Though not raised in the most privileged circles, Edward possessed the bearing and pride expected of nobility. Especially when someone addressed his most important person so rudely, Edward, unusually, did not read the room or calculate his response. Instead, he frowned and demanded, "Who are you?"

As lord of this domain, Edward commanded respect even within the palace walls. Though he suspected this man might have backing, Lance was his Achilles' heel. Edward could not tolerate disrespect toward Tang Feiliu under his protection.

Unfortunately, just as Edward made this rare show of resolve, he realized he'd hit a brick wall. Tang Feiliu, nestled in his arms, stirred and then answered, her face flushing with embarrassment, "Brother, I'll go right now..."

Edward froze in confusion. What was this "brother" business?

At that very moment, Alexander saw Edward still clutching his younger brother tightly. Held by this bear-like, towering duke, his brother looked utterly small, pitiful, and helpless. Alexander instantly took a dislike to the duke. It wasn't genuine hatred toward Edward, but rather the prejudice an elder might feel toward someone who'd abducted his younger brother. Clearing his throat, he said, "I am Alexander, Lance's elder brother. Good day, Your Grace."

...Edward did recall Lance having an older brother. But what was going on? How could Lance, who had been away for an entire winter and returned without any reaction when mentioning family, now appear to have such a close relationship with his brother?!

While Edward was still processing this news, Tang Feiliu slipped down from Edward's embrace. She patted the stiff and flustered duke soothingly, as if calming a large beast, and whispered, "It's a long story. Anyway, my brother has bought a house here in Black Swan City now, so he'll be able to see us often! The cookbook is also a business venture we plan to partner on..."

The words seemed simple, yet they carried immense weight. Edward froze for a moment before responding politely, "Hello, please come inside."

"No, thank you. I need to discuss the cookbook with Lance. After all, the shopfront needs tending to," Alexander declined Edward's invitation, turning his attention to Tang Feiliu instead.

Tang Feiliu spoke timidly, "Brother, how about this? We can work on it at the castle. Edward just got back, and I'd like to spend some time with him today..."

If Alexander could access the internet, he'd probably understand the frustration boiling inside him right now. It felt like a parent whose child had grown beyond their control. Alexander had intended his actions to be a subtle warning to the Duke—a way to show how seriously he took his brother. But Tang Feiliu, that little rascal, had thrown caution to the wind and gone straight for the heart of the matter. Alexander glared at his younger brother. Seeing the pitiful look on his face, he could only sigh and resolve to resume his warning later.

Meanwhile, Edward watched the brothers' silent sparring and saw Ivans approaching from a distance. His confusion was practically forming question marks hovering above his head. He wanted to ask Ivans and Dave outright—what was the deal with this important Alexander? Why hadn't the intelligence reports mentioned him?!

This was a misunderstanding.

Dave and Ivans assumed he was the older brother of young Master Lance, certain he would be mentioned in the letter. Yet they dared not bring him up casually, fearing it might give Edward the wrong impression. Meanwhile, Tang Feiliu, having read Edward's letter, sensed the young lord was already burdened with many responsibilities. Life in the imperial city seemed far from easy. His brother had come to the castle merely to stay temporarily. Once spring blossomed and everything was settled, he would move out. Meeting then would not delay matters.

Thus, the unexpected outcome was Alexander and Edward meeting suddenly. Clearly, it was their first encounter, and both formed rather nuanced impressions of the other.

Edward had finally returned to York, eager to spend the entire day with Tang Feiliu. Tang Feiliu and Alexander, unaware of Edward's early return, had initially planned to study recipes together—after tasting the cookies and dishes baked by his own brother, Alexander had decided to open a specialty bakery in Black Swan City. It must be said that Alexander and Tang Feiliu were indeed related by blood. Alexander hadn't previously considered food particularly important, but Tang Feiliu's influence sparked his passion for cranberry cookies and butter biscuits. This led to him gaining considerable weight over the winter, forcing him to walk outdoors just to maintain his previously well-toned physique.

This time, their discussion centered on waffles—though Tang Feiliu's concept resembled later-era waffles more closely: grid-patterned treats topped with ice cream and assorted fruit sauces.

In this era, however, ice cream was still handmade and a luxury reserved for the wealthy. Alexander aimed to create waffles accessible to both commoners and nobility, so the two were exploring different ways to pair ingredients.

Tang Feiliu wasn't well-versed in ingredient costs; his role was to propose ideas while Alexander handled the calculations. Naturally, they also needed to test-bake samples to determine appropriate quantities and flavor combinations.

Tang Feiliu deliberately separated his brother from Edward. Even if he were slow to catch on, he could sense the awkward tension between them earlier. Patting Edward gently, he said with concern, "Go take a bath and relax. I'll whip up something delicious for you. Haven't you tried my special waffle recipe yet?!"

"Alright," Edward reluctantly agreed. He needed to figure out what was going on first. He obediently nuzzled the little angel, then gave Alexander a cautious nod before finally, reluctantly, heading upstairs.

Alexander held back a cold snort for the longest time.

To Alexander, the duke's gaze seemed ready to devour his brother whole. He felt torn: on one hand, he was pleased the duke's adoring eyes clearly didn't treat his brother as a mere plaything; on the other, he wondered if the duke weren't so infatuated, his brother might still have a chance at a life with a wife and children... Alexander's thoughts churned chaotically, while Tang Feiliu busied herself making waffles and cautiously began listing Edward's virtues to her brother.

"Brother, Edward treats me very well. Please don't be too harsh on him," Tang Feiliu cautiously communicated with her brother. After months of living together, Tang Feiliu had come to understand her brother better. He appeared gentle and gentlemanly on the surface, but was actually incredibly petty. There was a new recruit on Stuart's patrol team who had once remarked, "This shop looks awful," during his first visit. Her brother had held a grudge ever since, and to this day, that young man was the only one in the entire team who never received the complimentary gifts.

Moreover, Tang Feiliu knew that when her brother narrowed his eyes, it clearly signaled his displeasure with whoever was across from him. When he saw Edward, his eyes were practically slits!

And Tang Feiliu shouldn't have said anything, because once he did, Alexander clearly became even more annoyed.

Upstairs, Edward had just learned of Alexander's origins and that his angel had apparently reconciled with his brother. Strangely, Alexander had shed his coldness toward his younger sibling. After Lance found their way home, the brothers' bond grew exceptionally strong. If Edward hadn't been certain the past he'd uncovered was flawless, he might have almost believed Alexander's story.

In any case, as Edward listened, the duke who had grown up in darkness thought to himself—Oh no. Could it be that while he was away, his tender-hearted angel had been deceived by that brother of his?

After all, Lance himself might not realize it, but everyone in the domain knew his standing and importance in York. The sharp-eyed minor nobles and gentry could tell just by his attire how vital this man was to the duke.

So perhaps Alexander, who had abandoned his brother in years past, had reconciled with him due to some undisclosed secret?

The more Edward pondered it, the more plausible it seemed. He wasn't worried Alexander would demand favors from him, but he deeply feared his angel might be hurt.

Disturbed by his own imaginings, the duke found himself unable to relax. Though he maintained a harmonious facade with Tang Feiliu and the sullen Alexander, sampling countless waffle combinations, he tasted nothing. After Alexander and his brother whispered together for a long while, Edward resolved to find an opportunity to warn this enigmatic figure.

When Alexander finally took his leave, leaving Edward free to spend time with his angel, Edward was about to carry the angel upstairs for bedtime routines. Upon reaching the fourth floor, Lance nudged him and whispered, "...Um, I live on this floor now."

Edward looked down at the angel in his arms. Tang Feiliu clearly saw the shock in his eyes and, flushing, murmured, "...Brother said you never courted me or took me to the ball, so... he won't let us live together."

For a moment, Edward's mind went blank.

Author's Note:

I'm here! I'm here! I'm here!

Busy as hell, freezing and starving, weak, pitiful, and helpless, but I finally managed to get this update out! Ahhhhh! Not easy! It's a bit short, but please don't mind. I'll make it longer once I'm done with this busy period.

P.S. Thanks to Tang Tang for the lightning bolt vote~ Everyone, you really don't need to spend money. As long as you enjoy reading it and I enjoy writing it, that's wonderful enough!