<h4>Chapter 279 A Foolish Man. </h4>


    279 A Foolish Man.


    "Is that all?"


    Astra questioned, looking at Eliza, her faithful subordinate and


    a close friend.


    "Yes, Lady Astra." Eliza nodded as she finished her report, all


    this time her head was lowered, she didn''t even look into


    Astra''s eyes once. Despite Astra telling her countless times


    that she could act normally whenever the two of them were


    alone, she refused toply.


    She knew Astra considered her a friend, a guide, and even a


    teacher, however, Eliza firmly believed that there should be a


    distinct difference between a Leader and a Subordinate.


    Since she had decided to submit and be Astra''s


    subordinate, Eliza would give it her all. Astra was the woman


    she respected from the bottom of her heart, and to show this


    respect, she believed that she should always act like a perfect


    subordinate should.


    Astra, knowing perfectly well how useless it was toment


    on Eliza''s attitude, just sighed and decided not to think about


    it.


    After all, it wasn''t her first time interacting with the woman,


    not to mention that she had something much more important


    in her mind than her subordinate''s stubbornness.


    "Eliza."


    Astra called out with a serious look on her face.


    Eliza stayed silent, waiting for the Family Head to continue,


    "Raise the number of guards secretly guarding Vaan and ra.


    Put on Obsidian Order Mage on each of them." Astra ordered


    and for the first time during their entire interaction, Eliza


    raised her head and nced at Astra.


    Astra, on the other hand, frowned as she thought of


    something and continued,


    "Tell the mages to respect their privacy, as much as I hate to


    admit it, they are not children anymore. Keep some distance,


    however, always be ready to act the moment you feel


    something is wrong, is that clear?"


    "Why the sudden order?"


    Eliza questioned with a frown on her face.


    Yes, she was a perfect subordinate who would follow her


    master''s order to the dot, however, this didn''t mean she


    wouldn''t question Astra''s decision. After all, as the perfect


    subordinate, it was also her duty to make sure that her Master


    wasn''t making a mistake.


    Astra nced at Eliza, for a moment, she considered revealing


    the secret to Eliza, after all, if there was one person she


    trustedpletely, it would be Eliza.


    Soon, however, she shook her head and dropped that thought.


    "I have my reasons."


    She trusted Eliza, yes, however, Eliza was also the first person


    her enemies would approach the moment they sensed that


    something was wrong.


    Of course, Eliza wasn''t weak, no normal being could touch her


    let alone get something out of her, honestly, Astra knew that


    the moment Eliza realizes that she was about to be captured


    by the enemy, she would take her own life, but even then,


    Astra didn''t wish to take any risk.


    Eliza was strong and for that very reason, she needed to be


    more careful. After all, unlike others, the enemies wouldn''t


    dare to underestimate her if they decided to target her.


    They woulde with a n and a well-prepared enemy is


    always troublesome, no matter who you were.


    Astra knew that she would need to reveal the secret at some


    point, however, knowing that her son was already making


    hisownmoves, she decided to y passively.


    After all, no one in the entire world would ever think that the


    centre of the storm that was about toe to the world


    would be a child in his early 20s. She would just act


    ''suspiciously'' to attract attention, giving Vaan time to do


    whatever he wanted.


    "As youmand, Lady Astra." Eliza nodded as she bowed her


    head again. Since Astra didn''t wish to say anything, she didn''t


    push her master.


    She, who had received new orders, decided to leave and get to


    work.


    As the woman left, Astra closed her eyes as she rested her


    head on his hand.


    "How much longer are you nning on hiding? Come out." She


    spoke in a calm voice and suddenly, she sensed something


    around her move.


    She opened her eyes, looking in the direction she sensed the


    movement from, there, she saw Orion standing with his back


    leaning against a wall and a smile on his face.


    "You seem quite worried. That brat must have said something


    important huh…"


    Orionmented.


    "If you knew what he said, you would act like me as well,"


    Astra replied.


    "I do-" Orion wanted to say something, but,


    "I know, you do not care.


    Sometimes, I am jealous of your simple thought process."


    Astra sighed.


    "Hey, are you calling me foolish?"


    Orion narrowed his eyes as he stared at his wife.


    "Are you not?" Astra chuckled.


    "I prefer to call it simplifying things.


    I would even say that it is quite the opposite of being foolish.


    I do not care what my child is doing or wants to do. His future


    goals, his ns, the actions he takes to follow through those


    ns, none of that matters to me,


    I only know one thing,


    The moment my child needs it, my sword would rise.


    Him being in danger?


    That is only possible when I stop breathing. Before that, death


    will never get close to my son.


    In my eyes, other than my child''s safety, nothing else matters.


    Even if he decides to be someone who would bring the


    end of the world,


    I would still protect him because he is my son."


    Orionannounced,the determination in his eyes was so intense


    that even Astra momentarily felt… small.


    Soon, however, she shook her head and smiled.


    It wasn''t like this was the first time she had seen this look in


    her husband''s eyes. Rather, she had seen it so many times that


    she was now used to it.


    That was the real Orion Ravenshadow.


    A man who would go to any lengths for his family.


    All hisactof not caring about anything, letting his son do


    whatever he wants and never bothering with his matters, all


    of this was just that, an act.


    In truth, this crazy man always kept an eye on Vaan. Even


    when Vaan''s performance was… not satisfactory. Was he


    disappointed? Of course, what father wouldn''t be


    disappointed if his son was useless and didn''t put in any effort


    to improve, but even then,


    Orion was still there, lingering in the shadows, ready to


    protect his son no matter what.


    It didn''t matter whether his son was in the wrong. It didn''t


    matter whether he was bullying others using his status, the


    moment his son needed his help, he would appear.


    That was the type of fool Orion was.