The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] novel Chapter 354

Chapter 354: Determination

But who knew that it wouldn’t be a death-defying endeavor?

In fact, it was so easy that Kyle was wondering if something had gone wrong somewhere.

But maybe it was because Ollie, who was just recovering from hiccuping and feeling like the world hated him, was now back to kneeling before his parents as they tried interrogating him under the lights of the dorm room.

However, the blonde mess of a mop stood, well, more like, knelt his ground as he insisted that he couldn’t talk about it.

Not just yet.

Marquise Julienne’s gaze sharpened like a blade unsheathed. Beside her, the Marquis sighed, resigned.

Their boy’s words—his refusal—echoed the very principles they had drilled into him since childhood. And now, weaponized against them, they could hardly fault him for it.

"Pop! You said I shouldn’t talk about it without the proper security measures, right?!"

Ollie looked up at his father, face puffy, but his eyes were as determined as they could be, even if his arms were trembling.

"So, I promise, I would be able to talk about it, but-but we need to go through the proper procedures!" Insisted the son, who didn’t exactly look intimidating as he knelt on the floor.

"Procedures, you say?" Asked the mother whose smile didn’t reach her eyes.

"Were there also procedures for when you get into such situations?

Ollie flinched at the coldness of her tone, but he could only clench his fists and nibble at his bottom lip.

Do you still remember why you got into the mechanic division in the first place?" She echoed, tone honeyed but glacial.

"Or have you forgotten your purpose?"

The air tightened. Ollie bit down on his lip so hard he tasted iron. His mother’s words were sharp, deliberate, testing.

"I haven’t forgotten." He swallowed. Maybe it was air or his pride, but it sure as hell wasn’t even his saliva, given how dry his mouth was due to fear.

"Then what are you doing?" she asked, cool and calm, yet every syllable an invisible shove. "Telling us, not asking. And worse, thinking you could shoulder it all without even considering the house."

He stared at the floor like it would give him answers before hesitatingly lifting his chin to face the inquisitors.

"I’m asking," Ollie said hoarsely. "Can I... show you something first?"

"Can I? Sure, you can, but you may not."

That made the mop pause.

"I’m sorry, Mom, but may I please show you something?" he tried again, hoping it would work this time.

Marquise Julienne raised a brow but finally allowed the conversation to continue.

"Show us?" she repeated.

"Mom, Pop...Please let me show you what I can," Ollie pressed. "And then...you can decide if you want to know more. But if you choose to know, there’s no going back."

Silence.

Then Marquise Julienne leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. "Ah...so now you remember how to ask."

But her smile took on a sharper tilt. "Perhaps you need time to clear your head. Maybe it’s better if you come home for a while and work on the family businesses. Once your mandatory service is done, of course."

Ollie’s breath hitched. His blood drained. _{freёwebnovel.com}

His mind raced as the past months invaded his memories.

His friends, their accomplishments, their vision. And now he was being told to leave this all behind?!

"!!!"

"NO!" he gasped, panic bursting forth, raw and immediate. "No! Mom, please—don’t pull me out—please don’t!"

Marquise Julienne watched impassively.

"I believe in this, Mom!" Ollie’s voice cracked, thick with desperation. "I believe in all of it! Please...even if you don’t understand, even if you don’t support it—I have to do this, with or without your help!"

He was grasping at straws, throwing out all the sacrifices he was willing to make, even taking out financial support and even the right to his noble status, if that would help.

Ah. I see. Thought the mother who looked at her son with different eyes.

Eh?

Ahh. What a time to be alive.