Heritage
That night, not only did Solomon and Ichika arrive late, Sebastian and Sasha from Frontier Bay were
also late for the New Year’s Eve banquet at the Hayes Residence.
In the end, the Hayeses could only wait.
By the time they arrived, it was almost eight. Saul hurriedly instructed to serve the roast beef, wine and
other delicacies prepared earlier.
“Sebastian, let’s go to the attic.”
“Okay.”
Sebastian, who was in an especially good mood, nodded and glanced behind him.
Solomon, who was also watching next to him, understood and followed behind him.
The memorial hall of the Hayeses was forbidden to most people. Back when Frederick was around,
only one member of each family from Frederick and his two brothers could enter. It was a rule passed
down by the forefathers of the Hayes family.
Saul brought the two of them to the attic.
“Let’s wash our hands first,” he said while looking toward the wooden basin outside the attic.
Sebastian, who was used to it, casually wetted his hands in the water and entered the attic. Solomon
had a look at him and cleaned his hands thoroughly in the water.
As they walked in, they could see portrait paintings hanging all over the walls on the memorial hall and
the place was already illuminated by candles. There was an oil lamp on the table in the middle of the
hall and there were also candle racks.
Solomon stopped in his steps as he wasn’t used to it; he had never been to this place since childhood.
He felt a sudden sense of belonging but was nervous and unsettling at the same time. It felt as though
a wandering soul that stumbled upon a sacred church.
Shortly, the two of them inside noticed him dazing off.
“Come, Solomon,” Saul called out to him.
Solomon quickly moved his feet and hurried in.
He received the candle and lit it. Under Saul’s directions, the two of them placed the candles in one of
the racks on the table.
Saul walked over to the side and stood in front of a portrait. “Grandpa, Dad, Uncle, it’s New Year’s Eve
today, and we’re all back to see you. This is Sebastian, and that is Solomon.”
Sebastian grew up in this household, and he went through this process every year. Thus, he was
unconcerned by what Saul was murmuring.
Solomon’s gaze flickered as he heard such a grand introduction of himself, and suddenly, his sight
focused at the corner of the portrait next to the one Saul was facing.
Frederick Hayes!
“Uncle, aren’t you happy? I brought your son here today. Don’t worry. He’s doing great. He even got
married, and his wife, Ichika, is right outside,” Saul added.
Since it was the first time his cousin came here, Saul deliberately focused the topic on Solomon.
Solomon clenched his fist again.
“Are we done? I’m hungry,” Sebastian asked.
Saul was speechless. He couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Huh, after so many years, his temper has not
changed at all.
Saul looked at the portrait for a while and got ready to leave the memorial hall.
However, Sebastian, who walked first, suddenly stumbled his feet as if he tripped on something. He
lost his balance and dropped down on his knees.
Both Saul and Solomon were shocked by the scene.
The position that Sebastian landed his knees on was where Solomon was standing just now, and it was
directly in front of Frederick’s portrait.
Shit!
Sebastian’s temper started to race. The veins on his forehead started twitching.
“What do you want, shitty old man? I am here, and you still got angry at me?”
“Ahem…” Saul rushed to him and quickly pulled him up.
“No, no. Uncle would never be angry at you. It’s all my fault. This place is not brightly lit. I’m sorry.”
He had to quickly soothe him, or he might get angry.
On the other hand, Solomon remained silent because he noticed the candle on the table flared up for a
second there as if it got furious. However, he might just be seeing things.
Soon, the candlelight burned brighter as Saul pulled Sebastian up.
Why would Frederick be angry at him?
Back when Ken threatened him, the enemy threatened him with his life. However, he did not let him
succeed. Instead, he sacrificed his own life in order to protect Sebastian. Therefore, Frederick couldn’t
be angry at him.
Even if there was something, he might just be pulling a prank on him for staying at the Jadeson
residence for two years without coming home.
He even nearly lost his life.
Solomon took a last look at the brightly lit candle and left the attic.
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