SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant Chapter 836: Unexpected Visit

Several quiet days had passed since Aaron's birth.

Trafalgar appreciated them more than he'd expected. For once, nobody was trying to kill him, no Great Family was waiting across a table, and Dravok wasn't beating another Primordial technique into his body.

Still, something had started bothering him.

He was sitting with Rhosyn in one of the mansion's smaller sitting rooms when he finally brought it up.

"When do you think Dravok's coming back? I spoke with Vivienne, and apparently she doesn't know where he went either. He said he'd let me know when it was time to continue training, but disappearing without saying anything is starting to bother me."

Rhosyn looked at him as though the concern itself was slightly ridiculous.

"You're worrying about a man who could probably tear you in half before you realised he'd moved. There aren't many people alive who could actually put Dravok in danger, Trafalgar."

"I know that."

"Then try acting like it." Her tone softened a little. "You were told to rest for a reason. Your mind needed it, and now you have a newborn son upstairs who probably wouldn't complain about seeing his father more often."

Trafalgar leaned back into the chair.

"Don't misunderstand me. I'd rather be here right now too. Aaron's barely been in the world for a few days, and Mayla needs me around. It's just... the question is there."

"Because you don't know what Dravok is doing."

"Exactly."

Rhosyn gave him a knowing look. "You really don't like things being outside your control."

"We've established that already."

"We have." She folded one leg over the other. "He'll come back when he's finished. Until then, enjoy the fact that nobody is punching you through a wall every morning."

Trafalgar gave a quiet laugh. "You make a convincing argument."

A knock sounded against the door before Rhosyn could answer.

"Come in."

Arthur entered a moment later, stopping just inside the room.

"My lord, you have a visitor."

Trafalgar frowned. "A visitor? I'm not expecting anyone."

Arthur stepped slightly aside.

Lysandra appeared behind him.

Trafalgar blinked once.

"Lysandra?"

"Hello, Trafalgar." She walked into the room with a small smile. "Caelum told me your son had been born, so I thought I'd come and see him before somebody found another reason to keep me busy."

Trafalgar stood to greet her.

"It's been a while. How are things at the castle?"

Lysandra let out a tired breath. "About as pleasant as ever. Rivena is still being watched closely and isn't allowed to go much of anywhere. Everyone else is busy doing whatever people in this family do when they're trying to avoid talking to one another."

"So the usual."

"Pretty much."

Trafalgar gestured toward the seats. "Sit down. I'll go get Aaron."

Lysandra's expression softened immediately.

"Aaron?"

"That's his name."

"I like it. It's simple."

"That was part of the appeal."

Trafalgar left them there and headed upstairs.

The moment he disappeared, the room became considerably quieter.

Lysandra sat across from Rhosyn and looked at her for a few seconds. Rhosyn returned the look with the same calm expression she used for most people she didn't know.

Eventually Lysandra spoke.

"I don't think we've met."

"We haven't."

"I'm Lysandra."

"Rhosyn."

Another short silence followed.

Lysandra adjusted slightly in her chair. "Are you staying in Euclid?"

"For now."

"With Trafalgar?"

Rhosyn's eyes shifted toward her.

"I'm helping him with a few things."

Lysandra waited, apparently expecting those things to be explained.

Rhosyn didn't explain them.

"Right," Lysandra said after a moment. "He does tend to collect people involved in things nobody else understands."

Rhosyn's mouth moved faintly. "I've noticed."

That helped a little.

Lysandra relaxed back into her chair. "How long have you known him?"

"Longer than he knew me."

Lysandra stared at her.

Rhosyn realised how that sounded.

"It's complicated."

"I assumed it might be."

Thankfully, footsteps arrived before either woman had to decide where the conversation went next.

Trafalgar returned carrying Aaron carefully against his chest.

Lysandra's attention went straight to the bundle.

"Oh."

Trafalgar smiled at the reaction. "That's roughly what everyone says the first time."

"He's tiny."

"He's early."

Trafalgar moved closer and lowered Aaron enough for her to see him properly. The baby was asleep, wrapped tightly against the cold, his face far calmer than it had been during his first few hours in the world.

Lysandra reached out but stopped before touching him.

"Can I?"

"Of course."

She brushed one finger carefully against Aaron's hand.

His fingers closed weakly around it.

The change in Lysandra's face was immediate.

"Well, that's unfair."

Trafalgar raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"He's been alive for a few days and already knows exactly how to make people like him."

"Useful Morgain instinct."

Lysandra laughed quietly.

She remained there for a while, asking how Mayla was recovering and whether the healers were worried about Aaron. Trafalgar explained that both were doing well, though Aaron still needed more attention than a child born at the proper time.

Another knock interrupted them.

This time Arthur didn't enter first.

Caelum did.

Trafalgar's expression changed slightly when he saw him.

Caelum almost never came to Euclid without warning anymore. If he had something simple to report, the Shadowlink Echo was far easier.

Caelum stopped after entering, his eyes dropping immediately toward Aaron.

His face barely changed, but Trafalgar knew him well enough by now to catch the brief pause.

"Young Master."

"Caelum?"

Caelum looked toward the child again.

"He resembles you."

Trafalgar glanced down at Aaron. "Apparently. Everyone keeps telling me that."

"I can see why."

Trafalgar shifted the baby slightly higher against his chest.

"But you coming here in person is strange. You normally send a message first."

Caelum nodded. "I have news."

Trafalgar's attention sharpened.

"I figured. I wanted to speak with you too."

Rhosyn stood almost immediately.

"I'll leave you to it."

Trafalgar looked toward her but didn't stop her. Caelum and Lysandra still knew almost nothing about who Rhosyn really was, and the fewer questions her presence created inside House Morgain, the better.

"I'll see you later."

Rhosyn nodded once and left the room.

Lysandra looked between Trafalgar and Caelum, clearly reading the change in atmosphere.

"If this is private, I can go too."

Trafalgar shook his head.

"No. I'd actually rather you stayed."

That surprised her.

Trafalgar crossed toward the chair again, still holding Aaron.

"There's something I need to tell Caelum, and I've been thinking about whether you should know as well."

Lysandra's expression became serious.

"What happened?"

Trafalgar sat down.

"It's about our House."