'This unruly guy, it'll definitely expose me.' Lukas thought, almost wanting to cry.
While other strangeness in his personality could be attributed to the near-death experience, his hard-on—that too because of his mother—could not.
If she noticed it, she would most likely become suspicious.
However, fortunately for him, Helen only ever looked at his face as they entered the bathroom.
Even as she helped him undress, leaving only his underwear where his hardened cock was pitching a tent, she didn't seem to notice it and just helped him sit down on a stool before she started washing him.
'This is… unbearable!'
Lukas fought back his gasps, which threatened to spill over as he felt her soft hands roam all over his body. At the same time, his member down there became more lively, twitching and throbbing.
Not able to endure, he simply closed his eyes and started to go through the information about the legacy he received.
Initially, he wasn't able to focus, but then he became lost in the sea of information. It was only when he felt himself being carried away in those slender arms that he snapped back to his senses.
He was dressed in a comfortable white robe that matched his silvery-white hair. Also, he realized he was no longer wearing the same underwear because the one he had on wasn't wet.
'She changed my underwear?' His eyes widened in shame, embarrassed… and a hint of excitement?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, they reached the bed and Helen bent her willowy waist to put him down and saw his expression.
A hint of amusement flashed in her eyes as she said, "No need to be embarrassed, honey. I didn't change your underwear. I used the drying spell to dry it and a cleaning spell to clean it."
Lukas heaved a sigh of relief hearing this, but then he raised his brows in confusion and asked,
"Couldn't you have cleaned me with the cleaning spell instead of helping me bathe? Wouldn't that be more efficient?"
Helen sat beside him and, while gently caressing his head, she shook her head. "No. While both seem similar, a cleaning spell just cleans you and doesn't give you the refreshing and relaxing feel."
"I understand." Lukas nodded. "Thank you, Mother."
Helen's expression fell at his words. Seeing this, Lukas realized he had hurt her feelings by thanking her, so he awkwardly added, "Um, I suppose I shouldn't have done that. But how else am I supposed to convey my feelings?"
Helen's expression improved and she smilingly shrugged. "It's your feelings, so you figure it out. But don't thank me again. I'm your mother—it's my duty to take care of you."
As she said the last part, her voice became low, revealing how bad she was feeling for saying it because she hadn't been able to take care of him much over the past few years.
Lukas could see it and felt bad for her. He was aware of her circumstances and didn't blame her. Neither did the original Lukas blame her.
"Okay," he nodded, his heart beating loudly as he pushed his upper body up and, under her bewildered gaze, placed a kiss on her cheek while greedily inhaling her pleasant scent.
Helen froze in shock, staring at him in disbelief.
'Uh oh!'
Suddenly panicking, Lukas hurriedly lay down and said, "S-So, Mother, is Knight Oslove and the others alright?"
Hearing his question, Helen's frozen expression changed, becoming solemn.
"Except Knight Oslove and three other guards, all died in battle," she said in a low voice.
Boom!
Lukas felt an explosion go off in his mind.
Because his father didn't support him and even seemed to hate him, he didn't get any benefit or facility a son of a noble lord should receive—for example, guards and knights from the family for him to use.
However, he needed them if and when he left the mansion.
So, Helen asked her family, a minor noble family, for some people, and he finally had a group of ten guards and one knight to accompany him.
The guards and knight weren't happy to serve a cripple, but with time, their dissatisfaction lessened and they even became closer. Especially the bond between Knight Oslove and him was quite deep—they were like grandfather and grandson.
As stated before, while Original Lukas' memories and feelings didn't influence him too much, the influence was there.
For example, when he saw Oriana, he felt she was a sweet and trustworthy lady, and when he saw Helen, the familiar feeling arose in his heart.
Similarly, upon hearing seven of the guards who were quite close to him had died, he became very sad.
A short while later, he recovered and looked at Helen, immediately noticing a look of hesitation in her eyes, which made him feel uneasy.
"W-What is it, Mother?"
Helen sighed and said, "It's Knight Oslove. He used a sacrificial technique to repel the bandits and bring you back safe and sound. Now… he is crippled."
If Lukas were standing right now, he would have fallen to his knees upon hearing this bad news.
Feeling himself becoming increasingly sad, Lukas took a deep breath and suppressed his feelings, his expression becoming calm—indifferent, even.
"Where is he now?" he asked.
Surprise and confusion flickered in her when she saw this, but then it vanished without a trace and she replied, "In his quarters. He has been waiting for you to wake up so he can leave with a peace of mind."
Lukas nodded. Since he was a cripple, he could no longer do his duty. So leaving made sense.
A moment later, he exhaled and asked, "Where is Natalie? Oriana went to inform you and her. This means she is here, right?"
Natalie was his younger sister, just a year younger than him. Unlike him, she didn't fail her awakening ceremony. Instead, she shone dazzlingly that day. Not only did she reveal high mana affinity, but she also awakened the water element with above-average affinity.
Then, at the age of fourteen, she passed the Royal Magic Academy's entrance test and became its student.
After entering the academy, she progressed very fast. In just four years, she went from early-stage One Star mage to early-stage Two Star.
It should be noted that there weren't many Two Star Mages in the Rivervale Family—only a dozen or so, if he wasn't wrong.
So, a Two Star Mage held quite the weight. This was why, the moment she became a Two Star Mage, almost everyone stopped bullying him and the family started treating him a bit better.
If she wasn't a girl, destined to marry out of the family, his treatment would have become even better.
Still, Original Lukas was very happy.
Unfortunately, though, this happiness didn't last long. Just two months later, he was ambushed on his way to a nearby city for a gathering of nobles—and lost his life.
He was curious about this genius sister of his, and hearing Oriana say she was going to inform her, he knew she was here. Surprisingly, however, she hadn't come to meet him.
Surprising, because from what he could tell from his memories, they had a good relationship despite the difference in their social status.
"Yes, she is here. She came over when Oriana informed her about you regaining consciousness, but found you passed out when she arrived. After waiting for two hours, she left to cultivate, asking me to tell her when you awoke again." Helen smiled.
"Oriana must have told her about it by now, and she should be here soon."
As soon as her words fell, the doors were pushed open and a graceful, silver haired and deep black eyed young beauty in a beautiful ocean-blue dress entered the room.
"Here she is," Helen smiled at her fondly.