While the Marquis and his twins traded low laughs over their plans to dismantle Julian's life, the target of their spite was drifting through a cold, restless dark.
Julian's eyes felt heavy, his chest tightening with every breath as if an invisible weight were pressing down on his ribs. He fluttered his lashes, the world appearing in blurry, greyscale smears until a flicker of neon purple cut through the gloom. It hovered just inches from his face, a persistent, glowing rectangular warning.
> [WARNING: Relationship Status Critical]
> [Target: Marquis Astrea Affection Level: -1% (Mortal Enmity)
> Alert: The 'Paternal Bond' has been severed. Target is now categorized as 'Antagonist.'
Julian stared at the screen for a long time, his breath hitching. He wasn't particularly alarmed. If anything, he should have seen this coming the moment his father had created a ruckus and the prince and princess humiliated him.
