Vampire Queen : Fated Love

As Josh approached Eithan, Ruhr, and Albert, he couldn't help but vent his frustration.

"Hey, take care of Adi. He's just disturbing me from my great ambition," he said, throwing a glare at the younger boy who had followed him into the room.

Eithan, who had been casually leaning against the wall, suddenly furrowed his brows. Though still exuding his usual carefree attitude, there was a hint of anger in his voice as he replied,

"More like you're just trying to escape the girls' chit-chat, Josh. Behave like a decent person for once."

Albert froze for a moment, surprised to see Eithan angry for the first time.

The usually laid-back and carefree Eithan had a fire in his eyes now, making Albert feel a little uneasy.

Ruhr, standing nearby with her arms crossed, also looked annoyed.

"Why can't you just handle your brother, Josh? It's not like he's that much of a bother. Just take some responsibility for once instead of running away to play your games with girls."

Josh, trying to deflect the growing tension, quickly backpedaled. He didn't want to dig himself deeper into an argument.

"Alright, alright... Fine," Josh said, waving his hand dismissively.

"Adi, stay with them. Okay?"

Adi, still looking a little nervous from earlier, nodded quickly, relieved that the attention was no longer on him.

Josh, hoping to avoid any further confrontation, turned on his heel, trying to focus on anything other than the mess he'd made of the situation.

However, the awkward silence that followed spoke volumes—Eithan and Ruhr weren't about to let him off the hook that easily. But Eithan did.

---

As Leo stepped into the room, he could hear the tension in the air. His sharp eyes immediately took in the scene—Josh walking past him, clearly irritated, and the rest of the group standing around with varying expressions of frustration.

Leo, ever the calm and composed figure, raised an eyebrow and asked,

"Did something happen, young master?"

His voice was smooth, almost as if he were accustomed to hearing such outbursts. He could see Josh's irritated stride and the flicker of annoyance in Eithan's eyes.

Josh barely glanced at Leo as he passed him, muttering under his breath,

"Nothing. Just some people who don't understand what ambition is. Father was right "

Leo turned to follow Josh's movements, the question still hanging in the air.

He didn't need to be a mind reader to understand that something was amiss.

He could feel the underlying tension thick in the room.

Eithan, trying to rein in his emotions, exhaled slowly, his expression changing from a flash of anger to his usual carefree demeanor.

He slouched back into the chair, looking nonchalant despite the irritation that still buzzed under the surface. It was like he was trying to erase the last few moments where he'd lost his calm.

"No, nothing happened, Uncle Leo,"

Eithan replied, stretching his arms behind his head as if the conversation no longer mattered. But there was an edge to his words, a sharpness that betrayed his nonchalance.

"Just some ungrateful bastard things happening around here. You know how it is," he added with a slight shrug, as if brushing off the moment.

Leo remained silent for a moment, his gaze shifting between Eithan and the others. He could tell Eithan was trying to downplay the situation, but the tension in the air was palpable.

Josh's mood didn't help either; the younger man was clearly in a foul mood, still carrying the weight of something unspoken.

Leo cleared his throat, his voice steady but carrying a sense of quiet authority.

"I see. It seems there's some misunderstanding, perhaps?" He looked at Eithan, who still seemed to be putting on an act of being carefree.

"You're sure everything is alright?"

Eithan gave him a half-hearted smile, rolling his eyes as he leaned back further into the chair.

"Oh, Uncle Leo, don't worry about it. We've just got some... complications, you know. Nothing worth your time." He was playing it off now, his words almost rehearsed, like he had done this a thousand times before.

Leo wasn't convinced. He could sense the frustration in Eithan's tone, the way his words didn't match the coolness he tried to project. It was subtle, but it was there.

Leo was used to reading people, and he knew Eithan well enough to know when something was bothering him.

"Complications, huh?" Leo mused, crossing his arms as he looked around the room.

His sharp eyes moved to Josh, who was standing by the window, staring out, lost in his own thoughts.

"And what about Josh?" he asked, his voice carrying a soft but pointed tone.

Eithan sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Josh is... being Josh," he said with a dismissive wave.

"He's always like this, you know? Gets in his own head, does his thing, and ends up making everyone else uncomfortable. Can't help it."

---

There was a bit of bitterness in his words, though, something that suggested it wasn't just a passing irritation. Eithan was frustrated with Josh, and it had been building for a while.

Leo raised an eyebrow.

"Uncomfortable, you say?" He stepped closer to Eithan, his gaze piercing.

"It sounds like more than just a small misunderstanding. Maybe it's time for you two to have a proper conversation."

Eithan gave Leo a sideways glance, his lips curling slightly.

"Sure, Uncle Leo, maybe. But I don't have the patience for it right now. Let's just say, I'm tired of dealing with his antics. Sometimes, I think he forgets he's not the only one here with things to do." He leaned back further, folding his arms across his chest.

"He thinks everything revolves around him, and sometimes I wonder if he even realizes how selfish that is."

Leo took a moment to absorb Eithan's words. He could sense the underlying tension that had been simmering between the two.

The dynamic between Josh and Eithan was strained, and it seemed like it had been for some time. It was clear to Leo that there was more to the situation than just a passing annoyance.

"Maybe so," Leo replied quietly, his gaze flicking to Josh, who still hadn't moved from the window.

"But sometimes, people need space to figure things out on their own. You know that better than anyone, Eithan."

Eithan rolled his eyes, trying to shrug it off.

"Space. Yeah, sure. I get that. But there's a limit to how much space one person should take up in everyone else's life, don't you think?"

Leo didn't answer immediately, instead observing Eithan closely.

He had been around long enough to understand the complexities of family dynamics.

It wasn't always easy to balance personal ambitions with the responsibilities that came with being part of a larger group.

And it was evident that Eithan, though outwardly carefree, was carrying a weight he didn't fully express.

"Alright, Eithan," Leo said after a pause, his voice softer now.

"I won't push you for answers. But just remember, family is more than just shared space and obligations. Sometimes, it's about understanding each other, even when it feels like the world is moving in different directions."

Eithan's expression softened, just for a moment, before he nodded dismissively.

"Yeah, yeah, Uncle Leo. I know. I'll figure it out. Just don't expect me to babysit anyone anytime soon."

He leaned back in his chair again, trying to divert the conversation.

Leo studied him for a moment longer, before giving a small sigh.

"Alright then. Just make sure you don't burn any bridges while you're figuring things out, Eithan."

He gave a pointed look toward the door, where Josh was still standing, lost in his thoughts.

"You'll need them later."

Eithan nodded again, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes now.

"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind."

As Leo turned to leave, he couldn't shake the feeling that the conversation wasn't over yet.

He knew the tension between Josh and Eithan would something that will resolve itself overnight. Because they are brother.

But for now, he would let them figure it out on their own.

Eithan, now left alone, let out a deep breath, his carefree demeanor slipping for just a moment.

" I hate those people who give priority first to outside people "