Extra's Descent

Time passed like a blur.

Belle had left Amelia and Brandon to go to the bathroom.

Brandon would then emptily listen to Amelia's stories about the times she spent with the younger Belle.

She would even laugh at her own jokes from time to time.

For some reason, Amelia was trying to ease him.

There was a certain tension that Brandon felt around Amelia.

After all, he had witnessed her death, albeit—through a vision.

He couldn't help but stand in a daze, seeing the same person alive and breathing.

Then as he was lost in his thoughts, for some reason, Belle's Vice President was scruffing his collar.

But still, Brandon was stupefied at the sight.

Just what the hell did he do for Adrien to react that way?

It was peculiar.

But he couldn't do anything to retort, not now.

He couldn't allow another Felix incident to happen.

If it did, who knows what Lucian would do.

And thus he continued to ponder to himself throughout the entire ordeal.

Everything happened way too fast that when he was snapped out of his thoughts, Lucian was already standing before him.

Staring at Lucian's cold gaze, Brandon looked at him with widened eyes.

He didn't expect to interact with Lucian so soon.

In fact, he would've liked it if he could avoid him for as long as he lived.

But it couldn't be helped.

Thanks to the random commotion that this so-called Vice President caused, he had already caught Lucian's attention.

"I-isn't it, Brandon?"

"..."

Isn't what…?

He wasn't paying attention in the first place.

"Doesn't matter."

Lucian's monotonous voice resounded. Immediately, everyone stood frozen as an ominous pressure gripped them.

"Adrien."

And as the next words left his mouth, Adrien seemed like he was about to bawl into tears.

"Get down on your knees and apologize to him."

"B-brother! I've already apolog—"

"Adrien."

Adrien's voice was immediately halted as Lucian cut him off.

Lucian's voice felt dry and empty, but it held a certain weight that even Brandon found himself speechless.

It was then when Adrien followed Lucian's instructions and got on his knees.

"I'm sorry… Brandon…"

All of a sudden, Lucian appeared before them and forcefully pushed Adrien's head down.

"Lower."

Lucian bowed before Brandon as well and opened his mouth.

"I apologize as well for my Brother's behavior. I'll see to it that something like this never happens again."

"...Uh?"

What the hell just happened…?

Lucian Frost, the strongest, was prostrating himself before him?

Slam!

The door abruptly slammed open, and out emerged another man with a small stature.

It was Field Marshal Frost.

"Lucian, apologizing is enough. There's no need to do all that. We're the Frost Fami–"

And yet again, their father's words were cut off as Lucian turned his head to glare at his Father.

"Is that how you're supposed to raise your children?"

Lucian got up and walked towards his father.

"Adrien here has more than humiliated the Frost Family. A little something like this wouldn't hurt, no?"

"Lucian… I don't know why you're reacting this way but–"

"Silence, Field Marshal Frost."

Despite being of the same height as his father, it felt like Lucian was towering over him.

No, everyone.

Was this what it means to be the strongest?

"You seem to have forgotten your place. That man over there…"

Lucian pointed towards Brandon's direction.

"...Is the son of Field Marshal Locke, the same rank as you."

He glared coldly at his father, and continued.

"But unlike you, Field Marshal Locke was handfully picked as the Grand Marshal's right hand."

"...Is that true?"

Lucian placed his hand on his father's shoulder. Leaning close to him, he whispered in his father's ear.

"Unlike you, who had only climbed the ranks due to my standing, Field Marshal Locke actually attends the meetings."

"..."

"Go home, my presence here is enough."

Step—

As he finished his words, Lucian calmly walked away as if nothing had ever happened.

Speechless.

Everyone was utterly speechless, unable to do or say a thing to Lucian.

Adrien then got up and brushed the dust off his clothes.

"Sorry you had to see me like this, Brandon. I hope to show you a better side of myself back at the Academy."

He walked towards his father and placed his arm on his shoulder.

"If you'll excuse us, we'll be going now."

"Wai–"

But Brandon's words reached no one as he stared at the father and son's departing back.

This…

It was all a mess.

And now…

He had grabbed all the officers in the room's attention.

They looked at Brandon as they spoke to one another.

Brandon couldn't hear them since they were on the other side of the room.

"You okay?"

Belle approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, just confused."

"I don't blame you."

Amelia spoke from the side as she leaned on the railing.

"I've seen Sir Lucian a couple of times as a child. Not once had he ever acted that way, despite Adrien's personality."

"..."

If Lucian was really watching out for the Locke's, then he should have been looking for their father, Omar Locke.

Yet for some reason, the moment Lucian arrived at the venue, his gaze immediately landed on Brandon.

And not once had Lucian ever spoken to their father throughout the entire party.

It was now all clear to him.

Lucian Frost valued Brandon highly.

But in the first place, how had he even come to know about Brandon?

But Brandon dismissed his thoughts.

He was at a party. And it seemed like Lucian meant him no harm.

Snapping him out of the daze was Belle's voice.

"You've been staring at Amelia for a while…"

"Uh?"

He hadn't realized since he was lost in his thoughts that his gaze was fixed on Amelia.

All he felt was tension as he looked at her flawless face.

Right.

The girl beside him…

She was going to die in the future.

***

Before Adrien and his father left, a certain voice resounded and they halted in their steps.

"Wait."

Turning around, what greeted his sight was Lucian, standing with his usual indifferent expression.

"Yes, Brother?"

"Let me explain myself."

He walked towards them. Alternating his gaze between his younger brother and father, he opened his mouth.

"Brandon Locke and I share a mutual acquaintance. And this acquaintance of mine values him highly."

Again, a sudden pressure bore down on the two. Just not as intense as the previous time.

But it was strong enough to make the hair of the back of Adrien's neck stand on end.

"So from now on, the Frost Family will treat Brandon Locke like a VIP."

The pressure was then released. Turning around, Lucian walked away.

"Brother, wait!"

Adrien called up to him.

"What about his Family?"

Lucian turned his head back. Before he could answer, there was a brief pause.

Pinching his chin, Lucian answered.

"What do I care about his Family? I specifically stated Brandon Locke, and Brandon Locke only."

Just like that, Lucian left.

There was definitely more to Brandon Locke than meets the eye.

This acquaintance of his brother… Just who was he for Lucian to be subservient towards him?

There was definitely something going on behind the scenes.

The winds were about to change.

And if Adrien wanted to survive, then he had to play all of his cards right.

Adrien clenched fist at the thought of disrespecting Brandon.

It was truly a dumb move.

Of course he would be friends with Amelia.

Belle and Amelia were pretty close after all. It wouldn't be far-fetched to say that she would be close to Brandon as well.

Adrien smiled.

Yes.

If he were to salvage his relationship with Brandon, then he still had a chance with the two women.

"Let's go, Father."

That being said, Adrien left the venue with a smile on his face.