A boy was looking out the window, completely silent.
The garden outside was overgrown with weeds. The neglect of the adults was clearly displayed. Looking around, who could have ever guessed that royalty resided in this building?
The boy’s eyes sank as he gazed at the garden, then he heard a voice calling him.
“Lord Asher.”
The boy looked away from the window and turned around. His figure was half hidden by the back light pouring in form the window, but he appeared very young. Not older than 10 years old. However, the air surrounding the boy was so cool that it was hard to believe it belonged to a child.
The owner of the voice was a tall blond man. The boy’s eyes softened slightly when he saw him.
“Walter.”
This was the man who had saved him from the burning city all those years ago. Walter approached Ash and knelt down on one knee. It was an extremely polite greeting from a knight to his lord. Was there anyone else in the palace who teared Ash with such respect?
Because of his height, Walter still had to stoop his head, even though he was kneeling. Only then was he able to be eye to eye with Ash. Ash spoke to his knight who was kneeling in front of him.
“What brings you here?”
“I have something to report.”
Ash’s gaze turned to Walter’s hands. There, he held a long box that appeared to be very luxurious.
“Open it.”
Ash accepted the box that Walter held out to him. When he opened the lid, unexpectedly, there was a sword in a dark red sheath inside.
“…a sword?”
“His eyebrows narrowed slightly. He kept his gaze fixed on the box as he continued to ask questions.
“What is this?”
He wasn’t asking because he didn’t know what the object was, he was asking why Walter was showing this to him.
“I met a man in the front of the castle gate.”
“…”
“He said he was the grandson of a blacksmith. He asked me to pass this onto you.”
“Why would he give this to me?”
“That’s…”
“Before that, why did you trust him enough to give it directly to me?”
Ash cut off Walter’s words and questioned him sharply. Walter who was silent for a moment, closed his eyes heavily.
“I had no choice but to believe him.”
“…?”
“He knew Elaine’s name.”
“Who is that?”
Walter raised his blue eyes and looked directly into Ash’s cool purple gaze.
“A person who was very close to you and your mother, like family.”
“…!”
Ash clenched the hand that was holding the sword.
Walter had referred to his mother. The person, whom he couldn’t even remember himself, was a label that stayed with him wherever he went. She was the cause of the insults and hatred he had been receiving since he was a child. A bond that was impossible to escape. To him, his mothers existence was just a shackle that threatened his life.
People held Ash responsible for her crimes, which he hadn’t even committed. All kinds of persecution and contempt was directed his way. To him, his mother was a taboo that should not be mentioned. It was his most sensitive and festering wound. And Walter had just touched it.
“I have never told you anything about her until now because you didn’t want me to. Please forgive my rudeness this time.”
Walters voice was unwavering, adding a weight to Ash’s chest.
Ash then looked at Walter who still had his head lowered. The knight had spoken calmly but was still nervous. After a moment of silence, Ash finally opened his mouth.
“Take me to the blacksmith.”
Walter raised his head, Sky blue eyes slightly shaking. Turning to the window, Ash continued.
“I will hear the story directly from him.”
Ash had to meet him in person, there were many things he wanted to ask.
That day, Elaine’s name was engraved deeply within him.
***
Ash looked down at the red sword in his hands.
Elaine. Someone very close to his mother and someone who cared for him deeply as well.
“She said she was going back to Seveka.”
That was what the blacksmith had said on the day he had met him for the first time.
The incident had occurred the night Elaine, who had entrusted him to make the sword, had returned to Seveka. He had not seen her since that day. Maybe Elaine had been killed by his mother that night. No, she most likely had been.
Did she now hate his mother? She probably wouldn’t have forgiven the person who had killed her, even if it was family.
Yes, his mother had ruined everything. There was nothing he could remember, not even his closest family.
It was said that before the Seveka incident had occurred, he had lived a life filled with love. But he didn’t have a single memory left of that time, not even a vague recollection.
There was only this sword that had appeared in front of him one day. It was the only evidence left to him. Strangely enough, he felt warmth from this cold blade.
Elaine.
Another person with the same name came to mind. The scene where she was splashed with water still vivid in his mind. The event had happened in slow motion.
