Chapter 52 Meeting Elder Brother

Ethan's POV"Little Virelle, how come you're here?" the blond man asked, his gruff voice betraying genuine surprise.

"Elder brother," Virelle replied, her face lighting up with a small, genuine smile. It was a startling transformation as for the first time her voice carried warmth and joy.

"I came here to introduce someone to this place."

"Lady Virelle, such an unexpected pleasure to meet you here," another voice chimed in smoothly. The speaker was an effeminate man whose tone oozed suave charm though his calculating eyes betrayed a depth beyond his polished exterior.

"And who might this person be, the one fortunate enough to accompany you?" he added, his smile appearing polite but the poorly concealed longing in his gaze as it rested on Virelle told a different story.

He didn't even glance my way, instead focused on Rendell and his sister. However, the moment his eyes landed on Rendell his demeanour shifted. The warmth in his expression vanished replaced by a frosty sneer.

"Did you come here with him?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain as he jabbed a finger in Rendell's direction. The mockery in his words was deliberate and the insulting tone couldn't be ignored.

Rendell's pale complexion darkened, his face a mottled mix of red and purple as anger surged within him. Yet, despite his visible frustration he held himself back refusing to stoop to the bait. It wasn't necessary for him to respond as Virelle's voice rang out with an edge that silenced the room.

"Young master Lucien," she said, her tone icy and cutting. "You have no business questioning whom I choose to accompany."

Her words were like a dagger, sharp and precise severing Lucien's attempt to insult Rendell. I inwardly chuckled at the scene though my face remained impassive as if this childish squabble demanded my utmost seriousness.

The blond man, seemingly unconcerned by the tension addressed Virelle again his tone calm and measured. "Why don't you introduce him, Virelle?" he suggested, gesturing toward me with a slight tilt of his head.

At last, the man named Lucien seemed to notice me. His eyes widened in surprise, his mouth opening slightly as if he couldn't comprehend my sudden presence.

It wasn't entirely his fault. Over the years, I'd mastered the art of merging seamlessly with the shadows, a skill honed through relentless training, innate talent and Master Nyx's ruthless guidance. Weaker individuals like Lucien lacked the ability to sense me unless I willed it. His shock was almost comical.

"Elder Brother, this is Eryndor Sangrial," Virelle began, her voice taking on a formal tone. "A distant descendant of the Sangrials and the newest disciple of Master Altheria. I've been assigned to help him familiarize himself with the city, and what better place to begin his journey into vampire society than here?"

Her explanation was deliberate, her words crafted to emphasize my importance. Under the dim crimson light of the lounge her smile was both bewitching and disarming.

For a fleeting moment, I had an impulse to bite her glossy red lips. But I quickly buried the impulse maintaining a composed exterior.

The blond man extended his hand toward me.

"A pleasure to meet you, Eryndor. I am Victor Elarith, prince of the Elarith Dukedom and Virelle's elder brother. I hear you'll be her fellow disciple under Lord Altheria's guidance."

I accepted his handshake without hesitation matching his firm grip. There was a silent exchange of strength in the brief contact, a mutual acknowledgment of power.

Unlike Lucien, Victor refrained from testing me with any petty displays. His gaze, steady and sharp conveyed curiosity and a desire to understand me and my strength better.

Lucien, on the other hand remained frozen in shock. His gaze darted between Victor and me his envy palpable.

Rendell was no better, his expression a mix of admiration and disbelief. Rendell's sister, Ivanna clutched her hands over her mouth her eyes shining with awe as she looked at me.

Feigning discomfort, I allowed a wry smile to play on my lips as if overwhelmed by the sudden attention. Internally, however I relished the moment.

In my previous life, I had been a loner mostly overlooked and inconspicuous. Now, in this life I basked in the admiration and envy that followed me wherever I went.

"Really, Victor? Lord Altheria has taken a new disciple?" Lucien blurted out, abandoning all pretense of decorum. His voice carried a note of desperation as he continued,

"I thought she declared a decade ago that she wouldn't take on any more disciples after Lady Virelle. And yet…he's so young! How can you possibly be so sure of his strength?"

Victor's smile didn't waver. He offered no response allowing Lucien's words to hang in the air unanswered.

Virelle's expression betrayed a flicker of surprise. Clearly, she hadn't expected her elder brother, a figure she deeply respected to make such a statement about me.

Until now, she had treated me as a junior—an unassuming teenager whose only remarkable trait was his appearance. Victor's casual acknowledgment of my strength had clearly unsettled her proud demeanour.

Lucien, too seemed deeply shaken. I could see the gears turning in his mind as he struggled to process the revelation. His expression soured further his envy now mingled with bitterness.

Composing himself, Lucien stepped forward and extended his hand reluctantly. "I am Lucien Vael, prince of the Vael Dukedom. It's an honor to meet you, Eryndor."

I accepted his handshake with a cordial smile, my grip firm but nonchalant. "Likewise," I replied, my tone even and polite.

The exchange was brief, but the tension between us lingered. Lucien's forced smile barely concealed his frustration and I could feel the weight of his resentment.

In this short time, I had concluded that Lucien was the kind of person who wanted everything in the world to go his way and if not he would hold needless grudges and resentment.

Victor's booming laughter cut through the awkward silence. "Come now, Lucien," he said, his tone light but commanding. "We're all here to enjoy ourselves, aren't we? Let's not waste time on trivial matters."

Reluctantly, Lucien stepped back, his expression smoothing into one of feigned indifference.