My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 987 - 989: Broken House

The Fayjoy manor sprawled enormously, just like most noble residences. But an odd emptiness clung to it.

Servants were scarcer than anticipated. The courtyard missed the subtle hum typical of such places. The atmosphere itself seemed stagnant.

Luna scanned the premises leisurely as the carriage advanced.

’Is the war causing this... or am I growing accustomed to life as a ducal house’s little princess?’

Regardless, the estate’s operations struck her as strange. She detected it at a mere glance.

’Must be the war.’

Noble families everywhere dispatched soldiers to the battlefronts, regardless of their numbers. Many weren’t even First Class, relegated to tasks like road-building, path-clearing, or grueling labor... or worse.

Cannon fodder.

Battling mere low-tier monsters challenged the unawakened. Facing a Lesser Demon meant certain doom. Higher demon varieties spelled instant catastrophe.

Her parents had achieved First Class.

Yet even they perished.

Warfare carried deadly risks.

Demons could not be permitted to persist.

True peace would elude the world while demons roamed.

’We must eradicate them entirely,’ she mused.

Despite grasping the implications.

Genocide. A whole continent. Myriad cultures. Innumerable souls yearning for peace like her own.

Peace.

Luna’s guiding principle.

Peace at any cost.

It rang with beauty.

In truth, it didn’t.

Unlike her brother’s aloof creed.

Hers proved far more ruthless.

Damon loathed the world, focused solely on self-preservation. His outlook centered on him alone. Suffering defined his journey, with all—including destiny—opposing him. No race or group earned his hatred unless they blocked his path.

Luna stood apart.

She craved global harmony.

Prepared to annihilate for it.

In her view, a million lives lost marked progress toward serenity.

Regrettably, she lacked the strength to fulfill that grand ideal. Talent and a dream were her only assets.

In peacetime, she could devote herself fully to her brother.

This stood as righteousness.

This embodied justice.

Peace harmed no one.

Demon conflicts would orphan no more children.

Iris, striding alongside, remained oblivious to the tempest raging in Luna’s serene expression.

"Do you think they’ll allow us entry?" she inquired, gazing suspiciously at the manor gates, knowing nobles’ volatile natures well.

A subtle smile curved Luna’s lips, mischief sparkling in her gaze.

"As esteemed guests."

She rapped twice on the carriage side, cueing the driver.

Shortly after, House Brightwater banners unfurled.

Chaos erupted instantly.

Luna observed the eastern gate guards dispersing hastily. Some dashed inside to alert the estate lord. Others rushed to compose ranks, aligning armor, stiffening stances, readying a proper reception.

After all—

She flew a Grand Duchy’s emblem.

Before long, the estate’s lady greeted Luna and Iris warmly, escorting them within.

No questions about their visit escaped her lips. She ushered them to a grand chamber where attendants silently poured tea and treats, then withdrew to the periphery.

The lady inclined her head deferentially to Luna, ignoring Iris almost entirely.

"My lady, it’s an honor to meet you again. House Fayjoy feels privileged to host you in our modest home."

Luna’s gaze swept the expansive hall momentarily.

Humble didn’t fit her description.

Yet against a Grand Duchy’s scale... maybe it did.

"I’ll get straight to it. We request a meeting with Lord Fayjoy," Luna stated evenly.

The lady dipped her head once more.

"Of course. He’ll arrive soon."

Luna parted her lips to respond as the door groaned ajar.

A figure entered.

Deep shadows ringed his weary eyes. His frame stood rigid, as though rest had forsaken him for ages. This man fathered Marcus Fayjoy.

Luna and Iris stood, delivering courteous bows.

Lord Fayjoy reciprocated with caution. Insulting this girl would be madness. Her authority could devastate him beyond his current woes.

"What occasion draws you to our humble abode, my lady? We pray no slight occurred on our part."

Luna denied it softly.

"None whatsoever, my lord. I seek clarity, if you’ll pardon my directness."

A slight scowl creased his brow, fingers pressing his temple against brewing pain.

"Does it concern... my son, Marcus Fayjoy?"

Luna inclined her head gradually, marking his frail tone.

He gnawed his lip, resentment flickering over his features.

"Pardon me, my lady, should my son have wronged you. We’ve surrendered all we owned. Reparations went to nobles bereft of heirs. Worse still, the Temple learned of it and labeled Marcus a heretic. His kin bore the cost of a cleansing rite... Bankruptcy claims us now."

Iris caught how he still claimed Marcus as kin. Typical nobles would disown such shame.

"I see," Luna murmured gently. "That’s not our purpose here. Someone dear to me might have suffered from his affair, yet we demand no coin or amends. Merely answers to lingering uncertainties."

Struck by Luna’s steady candor, he eyed his wife then nodded reluctantly.

Luna drew a soft inhale.

Simpler than foreseen.

"What details do you hold on the event preceding Marcus Fayjoy’s vanishing?"