The Useless Extra Knows It All....But Does He? - Chapter 240

Chapter 240: Chapter 240 – Vision in Broken Fragments!!
The road opened into the willow-ringed pond, sunlight spilling across the glassy water.

Luca’s reins slackened in his grip, his breath faltering as warmth spread through his chest like a ripple in the pond itself. His gaze lingered—too long, too intently—on the curve of the trees, the shimmer of koi beneath the surface.

“This place…” he murmured, voice hoarse without meaning to.

Vincent’s eyes flicked toward him. “What? Don’t tell me you don’t remember this place now.”

Luca blinked, lips parting but no answer coming out. What’s he saying? Did the ‘real’ Luca have memories here? Then… Why am I, all of a sudden feeling something stir?

Before he could think further, Aurelia nudged him gently with her elbow, her crimson hair brushing against his shoulder. “Well? What’s so special about it? Tell me.” Her amethyst eyes searched his with open curiosity.

Luca froze, looking around at his companions—expectant gazes from Aurelia, Kyle with his smirk fading into genuine interest, Selena tilting her head in thought, Lilliane and Lisa wide-eyed like children waiting for a story. He swallowed, unable to form words.

Vincent’s voice cut through. “This was the place where Luca and I used to sneak away when we were children.” His tone softened ever so slightly, a rare hint of nostalgia touching his usually calm expression. “When father’s lessons grew heavy… and the mansion felt suffocating at times. But here, by this river, Luca would always drag me out. We’d skip stones, climb those trees, sometimes even camp out when Mother covered for us.”

A laugh escaped Elowen, gentle and bright. “Luca is understandable, but I didn’t expect you, Vincent to be this mischievous.”

Selena smiled faintly, whispering, “That’s… unexpectedly heartwarming.”

Kyle let out a low laugh. “Figures. You might look all stiff and proper now, but turns out you were just troublemakers from the start.”

Lilliane covered her lips, giggling, while Lisa leaned forward eagerly. “Brother used to bring you here? Really? You never told me!”

Luca forced a smile, but inside his chest, unease coiled. Me…? Skipping stones, dragging Vincent along? His vision blurred suddenly, sharp pain stabbing through his head. “Ah—”

For a breath, the pond shimmered into something else—

—two boys’ laughter ringing across the water.

The crack of stones skipping before sinking.

The rustle of willow branches as small hands climbed.

A soft whisper: “Promise me, we’ll always come back—”

—@#%$@#%$—

The sound fractured, broken like static tearing a memory apart.

“Ah—!” The cry slipped from Luca before he could stop it. His hand shot to his temple, knuckles white against his skin. His other hand tightened painfully around the reins, leather creaking. His shoulders hunched as his breath came shallow, uneven. Sweat gathered at his brow, trickling down his temple.

“Brother?!” Lisa’s voice cracked with alarm, her small fingers gripping her saddle so tight her knuckles blanched.

Aurelia immediately leaned forward, her horse sidling closer, her hand half-reaching as though to steady him. Her violet eyes were sharp, worried. “Luca—look at me. What’s wrong?”

Selena’s usual chill broke; she leaned slightly from her horse, eyes narrowing with concern. “He’s trembling. He looks pale.”

Kyle shifted uncomfortably, his smirk gone, one hand lifting as if to help but faltering mid-air, unsure.

Elowen’s crimson eyes sharpened, flicking over his posture, his grip, the shallow rise and fall of his chest. “His breathing’s too fast—he’s overheating!” Her voice rose, edged with urgency.

Luca forced himself upright, hand dragging down from his temple, chest heaving as though he’d just surfaced from drowning. “I—I’m fine,” he rasped, though his voice cracked, raw. His body betrayed him—the tremor in his hands, the sheen of sweat across his face.

Luca forced his breathing under control, blinking away the spots clouding his vision. What is this? These… memories. But they aren’t mine—are they? Then why do they feel so real? He shook his head quickly, forcing a weak smile. “I-I’m fine. Really. Nothing to worry about.”

But no one seemed convinced.

Lisa nearly burst into tears. “You’re not fine! Don’t say that!”

Vincent, still calm but with a shade of steel in his gaze, spoke firmly. “We’re returning. Most of the territory has been covered anyway. Your health takes priority.”

Umbra, sensing his rider’s distress, pawed the ground restlessly, nostrils flaring as he tossed his head and whickered.

Vincent finally spoke, his tone steady but carrying weight. “Enough. We’re returning. His health takes priority.”

No one argued. The silence was heavy, broken only by the shuffle of hooves as they turned back.

When they reached the mansion, Luca nearly stumbled as he dismounted, knees momentarily weak. Umbra immediately pressed close, nickering, licking at his cheek as though desperate to comfort him. Luca let out a shaky laugh, raising a trembling hand to stroke the stallion’s dark mane. “I’m alright, boy… don’t worry.”

But even as he said it, his head throbbed, a dull weight pressing behind his eyes. He turned toward the group, forcing a tired smile that fooled no one.

“I’ll… take some rest now.”

He left without waiting for replies, steps heavy as he mounted the mansion’s stairs. Behind him, his friends exchanged anxious glances, and Umbra stomped the earth with restless worry, refusing to settle until Luca disappeared inside.

Luca stumbled into his room, one hand still pressed hard against his temple. His head felt like it was splitting open from the inside, the aftershocks of that strange vision gnawing at his thoughts. He barely managed to tug off his boots before collapsing onto the bed, the sheets crumpling under him.

W-what was that? His chest rose and fell heavily, breath uneven. Was that… another kind of vision? But this time… tied to this body? Am I… actually starting to receive the real Luca’s memories?

The thought chilled him more than the pain did. He clenched his eyes shut, groaning softly. But if that’s true, isn’t it too late now? I’ve been here for months. Why now? And even that dream… was it really just a dream, or another vision I ignored?

His fingers curled in his hair as he turned onto his side, the words slipping out in a pained mutter. “Why is it all getting so complicated suddenly…?”

The door swung open without warning.

Luca’s head snapped up, his eyes widening as Aurelia stepped inside, her crimson hair catching the faint sunlight streaming through the curtains. She closed the door quietly behind her before striding toward him, her gaze steady but softened with worry.

“You’re fine, right?” she asked, kneeling by the edge of the bed. Before Luca could answer, her cool hand pressed against his forehead, lingering there as if to judge his temperature.

Her closeness made his heart stumble, beating against his ribs with a different kind of ache. He forced a smile, trying to push away the tangle of questions clawing at his mind. “I’m fine. Really.”

Her brow furrowed, unimpressed. “Liar.”

Luca blinked. “Eh?”

“You’re sweating, your pulse is racing, and you can barely keep your eyes open.” She sat more comfortably by his side, her hand still resting against his forehead before slipping to cup his cheek. “That’s not ‘fine,’ Luca.”

A warmth spread through him, though this one had nothing to do with fever. Her touch, her voice—it grounded him, eased the storm inside, even if only for a moment. He let out a quiet chuckle, more to hide his fluster than anything else. “Since when did you become my nurse?”

Aurelia rolled her eyes, though the corners of her lips tugged upward. “Since you’re too stubborn to take care of yourself.”

He tried to sit up, but she placed a firm hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back down. “Rest,” she said simply, her tone brooking no argument.

For once, Luca obeyed, watching her as she fussed over him, adjusting his pillow, brushing damp strands of hair from his forehead. The way her gaze lingered on him—steady, protective, yet so achingly tender—made something inside his chest swell.

“Aurelia…” he whispered, the name slipping out without him even realizing.

Her eyes flicked to his, thunderous and unwavering. “What?”

He swallowed, lips parting as if to speak more—but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he just shook his head faintly, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Nothing. Thank you.”

The moment stretched between them, warm and fragile.

Until the door flew open again.

“Are you okay, son—” Selene’s voice rang out, but stopped midway.

Luca and Aurelia both jerked their heads toward the doorway, eyes wide. Selene stood frozen there, her hand still on the knob, her gaze flicking between the two of them: Aurelia sitting close, her hand against Luca’s cheek, their faces far too near to pass as casual.

Selene’s lips curved into a knowing smile as she lifted a hand daintily to her mouth. “Fufu…” A mischievous gleam lit her eyes. “It seems I was worried for nothing.”

Her tone dripped with gentle teasing as she turned and glided out, closing the door behind her with deliberate slowness.

For a heartbeat, silence filled the room.

Then it hit Luca. His face flushed crimson as he instantly bolted upright, the bedsheets tangling around him. “M-mother—!!”

But the door had already clicked shut.