The Sinful Young Master

As Jolthar stepped out of the room, his eyes scanned the grand hall.

The tension from earlier still hung faintly in the air, but it was quickly overshadowed by a sudden announcement.

The Patriarch of the Kaezhlar clan, Caelum, stood at the head of the room, his presence commanding respect. His voice, steady and resonant, cut through the din of murmured conversations.

"Thank you for coming here, and today, I would like to make an announcement," the Patriarch declared, his gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd.

"The next patriarch of the Kaezhlar clan will be my second son, Wayde."

There was nothing but silence after it was announced. Caelum had straight said out loud, making everyone stunned. It took a few minutes for everyone to register what he said.

A wave of shock rippled through the room. Enjoy new stories from empire

For a brief moment, silence reigned as the weight of Caelum's words sank in. All eyes turned toward Wayde, who was standing with a straight face, no smile or confusion. It seems like he was already aware of it, and so were his other siblings.

Jolthar froze, incredulity etched across his face. His mind raced to process the declaration. How could the Patriarch bypass Lorryll, the eldest son, for Wayde? He wasn't the only one stunned.

Many members of the clan stood rooted in place, their faces a mixture of astonishment and confusion.

But then, as if on cue, the hall erupted in applause. The clan members, always eager to align themselves with power, began clapping and cheering. The sound grew louder as congratulations were heaped upon Wayde. Guests and family members crowded around him, shaking his hand and offering well wishes.

The Imperial Prince, who stood beside Wayde in his regal finery, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Congratulations, young master Wayde," the prince said with a gracious smile. "You will make an excellent patriarch."

Jolthar, standing near the entrance, observed the scene with a bitter twist in his chest. The applause was deafening, yet it felt hollow—a stark contrast to the quiet rage simmering within him.

Among the well-wishers were Isorabella and Davis, their smiles polite. They stepped forward to congratulate their brother, their actions more sincere. Unlike other siblings in the clan, the three of them got along well and had each other's backs all the time.

Elowen, the Patriarch's wife, stood to the side, her sharp eyes fixed on a particular figure in the crowd: Lorryll.

He was standing with Liliana, his wife, and the two of them looked like statues carved from stone. Lorryll's expression was dark, a storm brewing beneath his calm facade. Liliana, ever the composed one, stood straight, her face betraying no emotion, but her hand subtly tightened around Lorryll's arm.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

As the clapping continued, Lorryll suddenly stepped forward.

The sound of his hands clapping rang louder than the others, slow and deliberate, drawing attention. A grin stretched across his face, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"I can't express how happy I am, Father," Lorryll said, his tone mockingly cheerful.

His voice carried across the hall, silencing the applause. "It seems the entire clan is pleased with your decision.

A truly wonderful moment.

But tell me, have you forgotten the promise you made to me years ago? The one where you declared that I, too, would be the next patriarch of this clan? What about me?"

The hall froze. The air grew heavy with tension as all eyes turned to Caelum.

Elowen's voice cut through the stillness like a whip. "Lorryll," she snapped, her tone sharp with disapproval.

"How dare you say such things? After all the shame you've brought to this family? You stand here, spouting whatever nonsense you wish as if you've done nothing wrong.

We should never have married you into that clan!" She looked at Liliana when she finished the last sentence.

Lorryll's face darkened. His grin vanished, replaced by a seething glare. "Don't talk about my wife," he growled.

Elowen was taken aback by how Lorryl was defending his wife in front of his whole family. Before Elowen could retort, Liliana stepped forward.

Her movements were graceful, but her eyes burned with defiance. "Mother-in-law," she said, her voice calm yet firm, "it is not fair to place all the blame on my husband. He has worked tirelessly to strengthen the Kaezhlar clan and to expand its influence beyond the empire. His vision—"

"Is nonsense!" Elowen interrupted, her voice rising. "You snake! You're the reason he's turned out like this. You've poisoned him with your schemes!"

Elowen couldn't control herself after seeing how her son was glaring at her. There had never been a time in his life when he raised his voice against her, and he was such a loving and caring child who only thought about his family. But now, all he seemed to care about was his wife, no one else.

Liliana's calm facade cracked slightly, her lips curling into a faint, sardonic smile. "Lady Elowen, I would advise you to watch your words," she said coldly.

"You forget you are speaking to the daughter of the Naemarys clan. A clan whose power eclipses yours in every conceivable way."

"Enough!" Caelum's voice thundered across the hall, silencing the escalating argument. His gaze was like steel as it landed on Lorryll.

"What I have said is final," the Patriarch declared, his tone brooking no argument.

"And you, Lorryll, no longer have any right to the patriarch seat. In fact, you are no longer part of this clan. I cannot and will not ignore how you've used the name of Kaezhlar for your own greed, tarnishing its reputation. You have shamed us."

"Be happy that you are still breathing. For your mother's sake, I am just stopping there, and you are not permitted to come to this estate anymore as you are no longer a Kaezhlar."

The weight of his words hit the room like a hammer. Gasps echoed around the hall.

Lorryll's eyes widened in disbelief, his face twisting in rage. He clenched his fists, trembling with suppressed fury. His breath came in sharp, uneven bursts.

"You!!" he spat, his voice venomous.

"You would exile your own son? For what? For trying to elevate this pathetic clan beyond its small-minded ambitions?