In the bathroom, Redian put on ointment and dressed up. His face, dripping wet with water, was reflected in the mirror.
“…”
“Don’t touch my body.”
“What?”
When the face of the woman who was looking at him in bewilderment came to his mind… Is this going to work? Laughter broke out on its own.
Redian quietly looked at himself, standing there with an unfamiliar expression. He had never woken up feeling like this before. Warm sunlight, the woman’s eyes, a peaceful breeze, and a sweet scent. All of this made Redian forget his dreams and reality. All the things she gave him.
Don’t get used to it. So, Redian constantly reminded himself. He has to be able to endure even if everything disappears, as if it were a dream, as always.
When Redian opened the door, he heard a clattering sound.
“Did you sleep well?
It was Siani, who was engrossed in something and smiled slightly at him.
“…”
Redian unknowingly avoided that gaze. This was because his determination, which he had repeated thousands of times, crumbled as soon as he saw that woman’s face.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Siani asked again. Looking at the pile of documents, it seemed like she was working without a moment’s rest.
“Come and have a meal.”
The scent of black tea stimulated the tip of my nose. The sweet scent of the cake, which he thought was disgusting, wasn’t particularly bad today.
“Monster hunting competition?”
“Yes.” Siani, who made a suggestion, nodded his head.
“There’s nothing I can’t do. But…”
After all, monster hunting competition was something that underground guilds also did. However,
Is that okay? Redian opened his mouth for a moment, then stopped. He wanted to ask if it was okay for him to show himself to the world. No matter how much Siani thought of him as special, it won’t change a few things.
The world he and Siani live in is completely different. As always, he’s a being who must hide in the dark. So he hid himself in the robe and mask that Siani gave him.
“The knights under my direct command have decided to participate in this competition. So, you must definitely participate.”
“…”
Siani said as if it were natural.
Knights under her direct command… At those words, an unknown feeling enveloped Redian again.
“Of course, you have to wear a mask. I don’t want to put you in danger.”
“…Am I in danger?”
“How much nonsense will they talk about you? My ears are already itching.”
So, the robe and mask aren’t meant to hide oneself but to protect oneself?
“They can curse me as much as they want, but they shouldn’t cure you.” Siani, who was holding the teacup, muttered to herself, “I hate when they touch what’s mine.”
Mine… Again, a strange feeling enveloped Redian. This time, his resolve in the bathroom seemed to crumble and evaporate.
“I’ll do that,” Redian replied immediately. If Siani wanted, he had no intention of opposing it, regardless of what she needed.
“Aren’t you going to eat more?”
Redian, only slightly quenching his thirst, stood up from his seat. For his training, he now had to go down to the underground castle.
“I’ve got to go. Nevil is supposed to come today…”
But Redian’s steps stopped next to her desk. No, to be exact, a note placed on top of it made Redian stop.
Vallentin? Things that are left behind with the name Vallentin that he didn’t know.
“What is this, Master?”
“Huh?”
Siani looked at the note at Redian’s fingertips.
“Ah.”
Her expression was calm, as if it were nothing. “Do you know? Vallentin has a talent for making medicine.”
“Medi…cine?”
“Something like magic potions.”
Redian didn’t miss every single expression of Siani that passed by. What kind of face does she make when she puts Vallentin’s name in her mouth, and whether she’s as sweet and friendly just like she did to him.
“I only asked for an antidote to cure the side effects of the mana stone, but he sent me everything.”
“…I see.”
Only after confirming that Siani’s red eyes were insensitive did Redian ask. “When did you get to know him?” His voice was quite calm.
“I heard from Maze that he was originally a prince from the next kingdom.”
“Yes, as you know, he’s of poor quality.”
Still, Redian was calm. He had no intention of showing himself shaking by a piece of paper like this.
“They said he killed his brothers with his own hands and escaped the kingdom.”
“I don’t think he’s a bad kid.”
“…”
But in the end, Redian’s hand holding the note strengthened to the point that the ends of the paper were slightly crumpled.
“And that actually doesn’t matter much to me.” Siani, who was looking down at her documents, answered while sipping her black tea. There was a strange composure in each of her actions. And,
“If he’s useful, that’s it.”
…Useful.
It felt very cold. Does she make a face like that when she talks about him to someone? She keeps him next to her because he’s useful?
“I told you, Master.”
Scented candles were burning on Siani’s desk.
“They say that b*stards who roll over trash cans never forget the warmth they feel once they feel it.”
Redian the note into it. The paper that caught fire was instantly crushed.
“…Huh?” Only then did Siani look up and look at Redian.
“I will chase you to the end of hell to find you, Master.”
So…
Redian muttered as he looked at Vallentin’s note, which had been completely burnt to ashes. His face reflected in the mirror was smiling strangely.
“Don’t be too kind.”
The warmth of a woman had to be his only.
“How are you going to handle it?”
Because he doesn’t need to have anything other than her.
* * *
“Redian and Vallentin are nowhere to be seen these days.”
“They’re just trainers who usually train, right?”
In the late afternoon, a boy leaning against the wall slowly opened his eyes. There’s no training anymore.
A boring day was starting again. The trainers were busy watching, and Norma spent their time as if they were nobles going on vacation to their villa. Since that woman appeared, time in the underground castle has stopped.
“…It’s annoying.” He murmured quietly. He wouldn’t have worked so hard to escape from the count’s mansion if he had known this would happen.
“In the end, the first prophecy became true. What do I have to do to get that princess’s attention?”
“Can’t you see that only Redian and Vallentin were picked out? You have to be strong and good-looking.”
He heard a chuckle.
“They’re just like the drill sergeants who are busy watching the princess. Well, isn’t that good? Our life becomes comfortable, right?”
They say foxes are going to wander in the forest when the tiger disappears. The voices of other Norma, who had always been holding their breath due to the pressure of Redian, came and went through the hallway.
Boring. He thought the moment when he had to walk on thin ice day after day to be noticed by someone was over… But he never thought that the conversations he heard that day at the Count’s office would overlap here.
“Hey, Francis.”
Francis tried to avoid them as much as he could. But then,
“Let’s come here and play together.”
“…”
The Norma gathered in a circle, gesturing toward Francis.
“It’s a personal training session.”
“Personal training?”
“Anyway, the trainers will be busy only caring about Redian and Vallentin, so what does it matter what we do?”
The gathered Norma burst into laughter at Francis’s answer.
“It would be quicker to think about impressing the princess during that time.”
“I’m giving up anyway. It’s okay to die comfortably like this.”
“Me too.”
Those sarcastic voices.
“Why do you think you can join them too? Well, since we’re both equal, we’ll have a chance, right?”
Sounds of ridicule surrounding him.
“How comfortable is it? They even feed me and put me to sleep. You just have to live like a dead person, Francis.”
“…”
Her mother’s weak voice followed him as if it were weighing him down.
“Or is it because Francis is a nobleman, being the son of the Count? He has a face that doesn’t fit in with us.”
“What do you mean son of Count? Isn’t he the son of a maid?”
“…”
Francis tried to pass quietly again this time. He was taught not to tarnish his father’s face and not cause trouble.
“Either be outstanding, even with a low status like Redian, or at least be noticeable like Vallentin, who came from a royal background.”
“He’s a child of a maid who has been attached to his room since birth. Where would his blood lead him?”
But in the end, Francis’ feet stopped at the words.
“…”
“What are you looking at? Do you have a complaint?”
Francis, who was standing with no expression on his face, walked slowly toward them.
“Welcome, Francis.”
Sounds of laughter surrounded the air as if they knew he would join them.
“Yes, hanging out with us is the best way to spend time.”
“Hanging out? Who? Me with you guys?” It was an instant before his emotionless face became cold. “Where did you come from?”
“…What?”
“You know I’m a maid’s child, but how could you not know this?” The boy smiled with his head tilted.
Francs. This boy will be the master who will lead Count Francis in the future…
“I hate shallow b*stards like you the most.”
He was the man who would stand by Emperor Redian’s side and bring downfall to major nobles.
