They Called Me Trash? Now I'll Hack Their World-Chapter 161: Careful... Father!

{Third Person POV}

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BAM!

The sound of a fist slamming against solid oak echoed through the study like a thunderclap.

"Just where the hell has that bastard gone?!"

Aldric Raith stood behind his desk, face flushed with anger, knuckles still pressed against the wood hard enough to leave impressions.

He gripped the edge of the desk, leaning forward.

"That son of a bitc—"

Then suddenly... the temperature in the room dropped.

Frost began forming along the edges of the window panes. The candles flickered. Breath misted in the suddenly frigid air.

"Careful, Father."

The voice came from the single high-backed chair positioned beside the tea table near the fireplace, which had stopped providing any warmth whatsoever.

Cassandra sat with perfect posture, her legs crossed at the ankle, one hand resting delicately on the armrest.

She wore a deep crimson dress with black embroidery along the collar and cuffs.

Her silver hair was pulled back. And her grey eyes were absolutely glacial as she looked at her father.

"Don’t dare insult my mother."

Each word was quiet. Controlled. Carrying more threat in its calm delivery than any shouting could have managed.

Aldric’s jaw clenched, the vein in his temple throbbing visibly.

"You’re threatening the head of the family?"

The question came from across the room, from the large chair at the opposite end of the table.

Victor sat forward slightly, his own eyes narrowed with warning. He wore dark formal attire.

His resemblance to his father was strong, same barely-leashed intensity.

"No."

Cassandra replied simply, reaching for her teacup.

She lifted it to her lips and sipped, casual as morning conversation.

The temperature in the room remained frigid.

Victor’s eye twitched.

"Then what’s with using your mana right now?" His voice had gone flat. "Stop it."

Cassandra placed the cup back on its saucer with precise care.

She looked at Victor directly, meeting his gaze without flinching.

"I was merely reminding Father that there are lines even he shouldn’t cross. Insulting Mother is one of them." Her tone remained perfectly calm.

"Surely you understand boundaries, Elder Brother."

The formal address carried just enough emphasis to be pointed.

Victor’s eyes narrowed further, his hand moving incrementally closer to his sword—

"Silence!"

Aldric’s command cut through the room like a blade.

Both siblings stopped, though neither looked away from each other.

Aldric sighed, the anger draining into exhausted frustration. He rubbed his temples with both hands, his shoulders sagging slightly.

"There’s no need to get worked up over that useless prick," he muttered.

The temperature began rising slowly. The frost on the windows started melting.

Victor leaned back, his hand moving away from his weapon, though his expression remained guarded.

Cassandra picked up her teacup again, recrossed her legs with deliberate elegance, and resumed drinking while leaning back into her chair.

The picture of unconcerned nobility.

Victor watched her for another moment, then turned his attention to their father.

"What do you want me to do?" His tone was business-like now, all traces of the earlier confrontation set aside.

"Prepare a search party? In case that stupid boy got himself kidnapped by bandits looking for easy ransom?"

Before Lord Aldric could respond, Cassandra spoke.

"No need for that."

Victor raised an eyebrow, looking at her.

She didn’t look up from her tea.

"He doesn’t look like nobility from any angle. No proper bearing, no family crest displayed, travels light, dresses simply."

Her tone was matter-of-fact.

"No one would take him hostage for ransom. He’s just a useless brat wandering around playing at independence. Even common bandits and minor lordlings can tell at a glance he’s not worth the trouble."

Silence fell over the study.

Lord Aldric’s expression shifted, anger giving way to grudging consideration.

Victor looked like he wanted to object but couldn’t actually find a flaw in the logic.

"She’s... not wrong," Aldric admitted finally.

"Even dressed in house colors he’d look like someone’s poorly-trained servant."

"Exactly." Cassandra set down her cup.

"So either he’ll come crawling back when he runs out of money, or he’ll get himself killed doing something idiotic. Either way, no need for us to waste resources."

Victor grunted, apparently satisfied with that assessment.

Aldric nodded slowly.

"Fine. We have more important matters to attend to anyway."

He moved back to his desk, already reaching for documents.

"Victor, the negotiations with House Marlowe need finalizing. And, Cassandra, your engagement ceremony with that Glimor brat needs planning—"

"I’m aware." Cassandra stood gracefully, smoothing her dress. "If you’ll excuse me, I have correspondence to attend to."

She didn’t wait for permission, just turned and walked toward the door with measured steps.

Neither man objected.

The door closed behind her with a soft click.

Cassandra walked through the manor’s corridors, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors.

Servants bowed as she passed. But she didn’t acknowledge them.

Reaching her private chambers, she opened the door and stepped inside.

The moment the door closed behind her, she locked it with a soft click and moved directly to the large window overlooking the estate gardens.

She pulled the curtains shut, blocking out the afternoon light.

Then she spoke.

"Rose."

The shadows in the corner of the room moved.

They coalesced, darkening, taking shape.

A figure emerged from the darkness itself, a woman in black clothing from head to toe, face hidden beneath a hood, only her eyes visible in the gap. She dropped to one knee immediately, head bowed.

"My lady."

Cassandra turned from the window, walked across her room, and sat on the edge of her bed.

"Is he still there?"

Rose nodded, her head still bowed.

"Yes, my lady. Young Master Jin remains in Oakmere. And..." She hesitated. "And has apparently become engaged to the chief’s granddaughter."

Cassandra’s expression didn’t change.

"Engaged."

"Yes, my lady."

For several long seconds, Cassandra said nothing.

Then, finally.

"I see."

Her tone gave away absolutely nothing.

Rose remained perfectly still, waiting for further instruction.

"You may leave," Cassandra said.

"My lady." Rose bowed deeper, then melted back into the shadows, disappearing as completely as if she’d never existed.

Cassandra sat alone in her room.

She looked at nothing in particular.

Then she lay back on her bed, still fully dressed, staring up at the ceiling.

"Engaged," she repeated to herself quietly.

Her fingers drummed once against the bedspread.

Then stilled.

She closed her eyes.

And lay there in silence, thinking thoughts she shared with no one.