Chapter 84
There was no agitation in the purple eyes that met him, and even in that rum, Mehen, who had watched him for so long, could tell.
That Valar was agitated.
“Halbern is cursed.”
The words spoken by those who envy Halbern, those who wish him misfortune, barely sneering at the sturdy Halbern, untouchable, unblemished.
Mehen knows.
Why they say it.
The mysterious accidental death of the previous Archduke.
Rumors of scandal and discord surrounding the marriage of Princess Sione.
The purges and controversies that followed the succession of the current Archduke of Halbern.
And the unexplained behavior of the Archduke of Halbern since then.
And then there’s Arellin.
Halbern is a very closed society, but how interesting it is to observe from the outside.
The only members of Halbern’s immediate family left were the Archduke, Valar, and his daughter, Arellin.
The name of Halbern could not be sustained by a line already tainted by blood.
This is no mere ‘house’.
It had to be able to sustain the lush secrets that Halbern guarded, protected, buried, and hid.
Mehen, who had long since become an insider, knew that this was done with Halbern’s powers, which were only passed down through the line of descent.
“Where did you hear this rumor?”
“You know better than anyone that it’s not like that, don’t you?”
Their eyes met again, but their gaze was calm.
No searching, no battle of wills.
Mehen tried to remember the last time these eyes had smiled genuinely.
Dimly, he knew.
There was a deep, dark cloud of unknown origin hanging over the sunny boy, who seemed to be as solid and unflappable as anyone who had ever saved him.
He knew that the boy was breathing for his own comfort, if only for a moment.
Sometimes he would go pale and shut his mouth, as if he couldn’t bear it, and Mehen would hold his hand still.
Then he’d smile again.
‘That’s old, too.’
All the best and most precious things this abandoned, street-walking boy ever had were given to him by this nobleman.
The friendship and trust, how wonderful.
It was precious.
For six years, he stood in his place, troubled and agonized for no known reason.
Ultimately, it was the reason he couldn’t run away, couldn’t let go.
Mehen could not forget Valar’s favor.
At least not to the detriment.
To be of service to him.
Even if he could no longer smile the sunshine smile that melted her frozen heart, even if his hand was no longer warm in hers.
When everyone else curses and turns away, he should still be there. He’s the only one.
He must try to understand.
Sometimes his heart would freeze, his face would harden, and his hair would stand on end, but he tried.
He tried not to let go of his trust in him.
“Whose daughter is this?”
“…”
“She is not the daughter of a real Lord, is she?”
“You don’t think so?”
Seeing Valar’s dubiously aesthetic demeanor, Mehen did not lose his temper.
“Did you think you could fool me when I know all about your post-pubescent female relationships?”
Valar rolled his eyes in amusement.
“Did I fool you?”
“We don’t know yet.”
“What do you think?”
“Can I hit you?”
Valar sighed, eyeing Mehen as he straightened his pen.
Secrecy is a subject of many things, and Valar does not lie, only withholds.
He merely cleverly creates room for misinterpretation, pulling the wool over the eyes of others.
“I’m afraid I don’t.”
Valar opened his mouth with a soft smile.
“What do you want to know?”
“The truth.”
The man’s face was as cold as ever, his straight, light-green eyes looking straight at his master.
The plain truth, without a trick, without a secret. The truth you keep to yourself, you bastard, and won’t tell even if you die.”
“Alas, Mehen.”
Archduke Halbern laughed bitterly.
“When you say something so tempting, you make me want to fall for it.”
“Cut the crap and prove your innocence to me, a man who has sworn allegiance and faithfulness to you.”
Mehen demanded.
“Valar, fulfil your oath to me.”
Valar raised his hand in response to Mehen’s invocation of an old oath.
Long ago, when Mehen had sworn loyalty and faithfulness, Valar had sworn as a lord.
As innocent as he was.
“Yes, you should know.”
Valar smiled meekly and opened his mouth.
The lines of Mehen’s eyes wavered at the truth spoken so boldly.
He had been prepared for it, but the truth was like opening Pandora’s box…
“Is that true?”
“Did you see me lying?”
“Ha, crazy.”
Mehen ran a hand through his hair. It was impossible to think with his messed up hair.
Just. Just…
“Valar… you crazy bastard.”
Has he lost his mind?
“What the fuck are you…”
Is he really crazy? Or was he always crazy and I just didn’t realize it?
Mehen was just about to grab his mace.
A bang!
A small body burst through the door of the office.
“Mum, help!”
Arellin rushed in, blinking dazedly at the unusual atmosphere.
“What?”
***
“We’ll talk about that later.”
“Sure.”
Mehen and Valar came to a quick agreement. Though it was more of a unilateral notification from Mehen than an agreement.
In any case, Mehen needed time to gather and organize his thoughts and feelings, so Arellin’s arrival wasn’t a bad thing.
Plus, she’s cute.
But what was that all about?
“You mean the Gun International Ball?”
“Yes!”
Arellin shook her head quickly.
Mehen was confused.
As far as he could tell, his lady disliked and shunned crowds, annoyances, and troublesome occasions.
She refused to go when he begged her to, and now she insisted that he take her first!
“Are you sick?!”
Unaware of Mehen’s consternation, Arellin was hiding behind him, engaged in a snowball fight with Valar.
“Take me away.”
“Yes.”
“Call me Dad.”
“…”
Cheating bastard.
Valar smirked, his eyes narrowing.
“Come on, call me Dad.”
“Ah…”
“…”
“Ah…”
“…”
“Long live the baby!”
“Ah….”
Valar burst out laughing, and Arellin looked like she was going to cry.
She wanted to ask him to call him dad, but for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth.
Mehen patted Arellin’s shoulder as she mumbled another ‘ah…’ in frustration.
“I’ll take her with me, don’t worry, Arel.”
“Mum!”
Arellin clasped her hands together, looking impressed, and Mehen’s jaw slackened at the cuteness of it.
“But why do you suddenly want to go to the Gun International Ball?”
Arellin’s eyes rolled.
“It’s a secret.”
Mehen looked lost.
Arellin, angered by Mehen’s desolate expression, stammered out an excuse.
“Uh, you wanted to go with your mum?”
Valar slipped in beside the momentarily dazed Mehen, her peachy cheeks turning even more adorable with embarrassment.
“It would be better if you came with your mum and dad, wouldn’t it, my dear?”
He gave him a fat stare that said, “What the hell?” but he didn’t care.
Apparently, this human was teasing his daughter, and he had a taste for it.
“When are you going to call me Dad?”
“When we get to know each other.”
“When will we be close?”
“I don’t know.”
Arellin pestered Mehen a little more, wondering if he didn’t like her father.
“Daughter, do you hate me?”
“I don’t hate it.”
“Then there’s still hope. I’m willing to try.”
Kissing the back of the small hand gently, Valar rolled his eyes and smiled wickedly.
It was the right attitude of someone who really knew how to use his beauty.
“Go away, Arel is uncomfortable.”
“Are you jealous, honey?”
Mehen pouted.
“You have a talent for accumulating karma with your words.”
Thud-thud-thud. Mehen clenched his fist and punched Valar. Valar, who greeted him without a hint of pain, replied cheerfully.
“Thanks for noticing.”
“I wasn’t complimenting you!”
Arellin cheered for Mehen, clasping her small hands together.
Well done. More! More!
