Chapter 66 - The Cursed Boy
Only then did I realize how this world perceived demonic power. Just as faith in Saint Marianne awakened the holy elent and opened the path to priesthood, demonic power was only bestowed to demon kin. In other words, it was proof of being tainted by the demon lord.
It wouldn’t be strange to be struck with fear when you discovered that the captain you trusted and followed possessed demonic power. However, I already knew about that. What shocked was learning that the captain’s hair wasn’t originally black. I had believed that Mayer would never understand the feeling of being judged by hair color, but I was wrong. To think that his hair was the mark, the brand of the demon lord that he carried since birth… I sighed and shook my head. “Because there’s no reason to be afraid.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. The captain is soone very important to . Soone that couldn’t be replaced by anyone else. There’s no way sothing like that would make fear him.” I explained to Vince in a strong tone to alleviate his concern. When the butler grew wide-eyed, I realized that my words were extrely suggestive. I made it sound as if Mayer was my precious, uh, special… No, I was talking in terms of ability! “What I ant was, uh…” I hurriedly tried to correct myself, but it was too late.
“…I was afraid.” Vince began speaking hesitantly as if beginning a confession. I couldn’t bring myself to cut him off to try and make an excuse. “No, all of Nochtentoria Castle feared His Excellency. All except for my wife.”
“Your wife?”
“She was His Excellency’s nanny. Even the duke’s mother, the forr grand duchess, avoided him. My wife had lost our child at the ti and so she ca to rear him.”
Was this okay for to hear? I felt it was far too private for to know. Deciding that I had nosed in deeply enough, I shook my head rigidly and said, “…I don’t know if it’s okay for to know this.”
“If it is you, Vice-captain, I think it will be fine. It is sothing you must know.” The butler insisted.
“I’m not so sure about that. Will the captain truly want to know the truth?”
The past was perhaps Mayer’s sole weakness. Not to ntion, he had yet to reveal to that he possessed demonic power. This had to be his sore spot so it was right to approach the matter with utmost caution. Vince seed to think otherwise, though, as he desperately clung to the subject. “I am sure His Excellency will be averse to you learning about this. He is, after all, a man of strong pride who refuses to show weakness. However, I still want you to know, Vice-captain.”
“Why?”
“Because you are the only one His Excellency trusts and relies on.”
“Well, that’s…” My mouth went dry. Trusted and relied on? That was all just pretense. I fought the urge to tell Vince that he was firmly mistaken. Unaware of my feelings, the butler continued, “His Excellency shared a glass of drink with you alone, did he not? He is not one to let people get so close.”
Mayer Knox, you rock of a man. Just how much were you distancing yourself from others? How could I have beco the most dependable person just because I drank so wine together with you? Shouldn’t this be the mont where I’m begged to keep a secret? Never did I hear of being begged to know a secret.
“Besides, you are the only one who thinks of the duke the way you do. Despite finding out that His Excellency has the sa power as the demons, you do not mind in the least. Your strong conviction and faith give you the right to know about his past.” Vince explained.
That was sothing he had completely misunderstood! I didn’t mind at all because I already knew, but I could not tell him this. I made one wrong statent and ended up being mistaken as Mayer Knox’s loyal follower. For a minute, I reminded myself over and over of the saying “weigh your words before speaking.”
While I was biting my lips, distressed by this bewildering situation, Vince let out a deep, remorseful sigh. “I am old now and do not know when I will leave this world. And yet, I am the only one left who knows what His Excellency went through. I am certain that the duke will never speak about it and shall continue to live while harboring that pain alone… Do you not think it too sorrowful? I ask of you, Vice-captain. Could you please take over this old man’s mory?”
Again, I don’t know if soone who suddenly joined the Dark Knights several months ago should receive that precious mory. I tried to persuade Vince the best I could. “…The captain and I could fall apart later, and I could use the past you tell to threaten him. You never know what’ll happen. What is it that makes you believe in ?”
“That would simply an that I was mistaken in my old age. But, in my experience, those who would act as you suggested are usually prone to prying in on secrets.” Vince stared at and his gaze seed to ask if I really would do such a thing. “Besides, there would be nothing better to threaten him with than the fact that the captain possesses demonic power, which you already know about.”
I gave up. Since he wanted to tell so much then okay. Outdone by Vince’s stubbornness, I sighed and held up my hands in defeat. “Alright… But it’s not my fault if His Excellency gets angry later.”
“This old man will take full responsibility,” Vince promised, nodding resolutely. He then took a mont to steady his breath and began recounting the past with a faraway look in his eyes.
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