A Promise for the Future
"Dear Julian..."
Dario Ashbourne’s voice was calm, but beneath that calm lay a burden he had carried for years.
"I’m planning to hand the Ashbourne family over to Felberta in a few years."
He paused, rubbing his tired eyes before forcing out a faint, bitter smile.
"But... her androphobia is still standing in the way."
His gaze settled on Julian, filled with quiet hope.
"Do you have any ideas?"
Julian didn’t answer immediately.
He fell into silence, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest as he considered the question.
Treating Felberta’s androphobia...
For anyone else, it would have been an almost impossible challenge.
But for him, it wasn’t beyond reach.
The Tyrant System had long ago rewarded him with the Miracle Medicine Record, granting him medical knowledge that surpassed even the greatest physicians in the world. If there truly was someone capable of curing a psychological condition like this without leaving lasting scars, it was Julian.
Nonetheless, he wasn’t quick to promise anything. Hope ebbed slowly from Dario’s eyes as Julian failed to offer an immediate reply. The older man’s shoulders appeared to slump beneath some invisible burden, the deep-set lines etched into his weather-beaten face, born of years of responsibility, making him look less like the head of the powerful Ashbourne family, and more like a tired, aging dad who had no other alternative left.
A long silence ensued before the old man spoke again, his voice suddenly a great deal more subdued.
"Just... consider it one more favour from your Uncle Dario." No more than desperation had laced those words. "I’ve taken her to see every specialist throughout the nation." "I’ve spent the better part of my life searching for anybody who may have provided assistance."
"Every doctor has given me the very same result."
He gave a powerless shake of his head. "They all state that without treating her condition, will the condition likely get worse." The words came at lower volume.
"Maybe someday, she won’t even manage a proper discourse with a gentleman..." The words bounced against the wall of the room like unheeded thoughts before resting again where the speaker left them. Dario slumped back down into his own chair and sighed again, this one of deepest kind possible.
"I’ve already lost one son."
The old man’s voice trembled only a fraction; not even enough for anyone to really notice.
"I don’t wish to lose my child too." Another silent silence followed. It was none of this heavy sort that occurs in the event two total strangers remain uncomfortably unable to conversate; somewhat more akin to the heavy silent of two that truly could not figure what the answer was so that they could make issue better.
Julian watched the old man quietly.
For a brief moment, Zyan Ashbourne’s face flashed through his mind.
The man’s betrayal... his greed... the path he had willingly chosen.
Whatever fate had befallen Zyan was the result of his own decisions. Julian felt no pity for him.
But Felberta was different.
She had never wronged him.
She was simply another victim of circumstances beyond her control.
Julian remained thoughtful for several moments before finally letting out a quiet breath.
Then he looked Dario in the eyes and gave a small nod.
"I can’t promise a miracle," he said honestly, "but I’ll do everything I can."
"I’ll give it a try."
A flicker of relief appeared in Dario’s tired eyes.
For the first time that evening, the old man allowed himself to believe there might still be hope.
His answer immediately eased the tension in the room.
Felberta’s androphobia truly needed to be treated.
Left unresolved, it could become a dangerous weakness.
Someone like Steffan could easily exploit it in the future, potentially dragging both her and the entire Ashbourne family into disaster.
Fortunately...
Julian’s methods were far more refined than Steffan’s crude approach.
Using the techniques recorded within the Miracle Medicine Record, he was confident he could gradually heal her condition without causing unnecessary psychological dependence or altering her personality.
The moment Dario heard Julian’s agreement, his eyes brightened with unmistakable relief.
A broad smile spread across his face.
Without hesitation, he reached forward and firmly clasped Julian’s hands.
"Dear Julian..."
"I’ll leave this matter in your hands."
His grip tightened with gratitude.
"As long as you can cure my daughter’s illness..."
"I wouldn’t even mind marrying her to you."
"..."
Julian nearly choked on his own saliva.
He coughed several times, pressing a fist against his lips as he struggled to catch his breath.
The room, which had been heavy with concern only moments earlier, suddenly became strangely awkward.
Julian looked at Dario Ashbourne with wide eyes.
"Uncle Dario... don’t you think you’ve jumped a little too far ahead?"
A helpless smile appeared on Julian’s face as he shook his head.
"I appreciate your trust, but... I’m already engaged to Selene Aurevale."
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and let out a quiet sigh.
"My relationships are already complicated enough as they are. There are already many women in my life."
"You really want to marry your daughter to me?"
Dario burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha!"
The old patriarch’s eyes shone with amusement.
"What is there to be surprised about?"
He leaned comfortably against the headboard, the fatigue from earlier replaced by the confidence of a man who had lived through countless storms.
"In our world, truly outstanding men are rare."
"When a man possesses talent, character, strength, and the ability to protect those around him..."
"It isn’t unusual for him to have more than one life partner."
He smiled knowingly.
"That’s simply the way things have always been among the great households."
Julian could only smile wryly.
"Even so... shouldn’t Miss Felberta have a say in something as important as her own marriage?"
"Of course."
Dario nodded without hesitation.
"Marriage should never be forced."
His smile became gentler.
"If she doesn’t like you, then this conversation ends here."
"But if she truly falls in love with you..."
He looked Julian straight in the eye.
"Then I would gladly entrust her future to you."
Julian let out a long sigh.
"You really have a lot of confidence in me."
Dario laughed again, his voice echoing warmly through the room.
"I’ve lived for many decades, Dear Julian."
"I know how to judge people."
"You risked your life to save mine."
"You protected the Ashbourne family when everyone else hesitated."
"If one day my daughter willingly chooses you..."
"I’ll have no objections."
Julian smiled helplessly.
"Let’s cure her illness first."
"We can leave the rest to fate."
"Fair enough."
Dario grinned, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
"One step at a time."
"But I have a feeling..."
He pointed at Julian with a teasing smile.
"You’ll make an excellent son-in-law someday."