Just before the date changed, Isaac, who had been facing his desk, finished his day's assignnts and stretched in his chair.
It had been nearly three years since Isaac had co to this estate. When he was first given this room, he had struggled with the chair and desk being an improper height, but now that he had grown taller, such inconveniences were gone.
He was completing the assigned tasks without issue, and his skills with the sword and horse were praised.
Whether he beca a servant or a body double with his face reshaped, as long as he could be by Felix's side, that was enough.
The only thing that worried Isaac was how Felix would react when he learned that Isaac would beco his body double that alone frightened Isaac.
As he sighed, thinking of the future that would eventually co, there was a modest knocking sound at the door. Who could it be at this hour?
When Isaac opened the door, Felix was standing there. Despite the late hour, he was not in his nightclothes, but wearing a simple shirt and trousers.
"Your Highness? What is it?"
"Ike."
Felix called out Isaac's na as a friend, not a servant, his face stern. Isaac softened his expression slightly.
"What's wrong, Ark?"
Prompted by Isaac's gentle tone, Felix clenched the hem of Isaac's shirt and said:
"Let's go look at the stars."
"Right now?"
Isaac tilted his head slightly, and Felix, unusually stern, nodded. "Right now."
"Can't we just see them from the window?"
"Let's go to the back garden. I had Marcy clear the area near the back door."
It was an unusual proposal, not at all like the ever-obedient Felix. Isaac was honestly surprised.
However, Felix seed desperately, stubbornly insistent. Even if Isaac refused, Felix seed ready to go to the back garden alone.
"All right, I understand."
When Isaac nodded, Felix looked relieved and stroked his chest.
The two walked quietly down the hallway and out the back door. There were night watchn at the front gate, but they would not be a problem if they did not approach.
Felix looked up at the largest tree in the back garden and said, "Let's use this tree."
Previously, Felix had been seriously injured after falling from a tree while climbing. When Isaac looked at him with concern, Felix smiled. "It's okay."
"Elliot taught how to do it properly."
Saying so, Felix began climbing the tree clumsily but choosing sturdy branches to support his feet. It seed Elliott had indeed taught him the proper technique.
As Isaac waited below, ready to catch Felix if he fell, Felix waved down to him from above the tree.
"You too, Ike."
If things continued like this, there was little chance of Felix falling. Isaac put his feet on the branches like Felix and slid smoothly up the tree, taking a seat beside him.
Looking up at the night sky, it was quite cloudy, with more than half of the moon and stars obscured. It did not seem suitable for stargazing at all, yet why had Felix so insistently invited Isaac out?
After gazing upwards, Felix turned his eyes to Isaac and furrowed his brow with a smile.
"Sorry for being selfish. Sneaking out of the room to look at the stars I just wanted to do it once with you, Aik."
"Next ti, let know sooner. Then I can prepare things you might like, like tea and snacks."
Felix dropped his gaze slightly and murmured a soft "Yeah." His face looked sowhat sad, and Isaac leaned in with concern.
"Ark?"
When Isaac called out worriedly, Felix quickly looked up and spoke with forced cheer.
"Say, Ike. What do you want to be in the future?"
"Huh?"
Seeing Isaac's confusion, Felix rushed on quickly, even faster than usual.
"You're smart, and good with swords and horses, so you could be anything you want. A doctor, or teacheror even a knight, maybe!"
"I'm your servant. Now and forever."
If Isaac added that there was nothing else he wanted, for so reason, Felix looked as if he might cry.
His slender eyebrows slanted sadly, and a thin film of tears ford in his clear, blue eyes.
"Hey, Ike."
"What is it, Ark?"
When Isaac responded soothingly, Felix leaned in desperately, then spoke with an uncharacteristically forceful tone:
"I want you to find sothing you can beco obsessed with, for your own sake alone, not for anyone else's. I want you to find many things you truly enjoy and love, just for yourself."
Why was Felix looking as if he might cry?
Serving Felix was Isaac's true desire from the heart.
For Isaac, who had lost his family and felt empty, Felix was everything. He never wanted to lose him again, wanted to protect him. For that, he could do anything.
So he could not think of anything else he wanted to do.
In fact, I don't need anything else, Ark.
Because soon, "Isaac" would be remade, and turned into a doll with Felix's face.
There would be no need for Isaac's will then. All that would be needed was loyalty to Felix. What else was required?
Noticing Isaac's muted reaction, Felix gripped his hand tightly and pleaded desperately:
"Promise , Ike. Please, promise that you'll look for things you truly enjoy, things you can beco obsessed with, for your own sake."
"All right, if you insist on it. I'll give it so thought."
"Yeah, it's a promise."
Why had Felix suddenly said such a thing?
Trying to discern Felix's intentions from his childlike face, a strong gust of wind blew, rustling their hair. The branches swayed, and leaves rustled noisily. The hand gripping Isaac's had grown quite cold.
"The wind is getting stronger. We should head back before it becos unhealthy to stay out here, Ark."
"Yeah."
Surprisingly ekly, Felix nodded.
The two climbed down in silence and slipped back inside through the back door.
When they reached Felix's room, Felix took an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Isaac.
"Ike, will you read this once you're back in your room?"
"Can't I read it here?"
"No. Absolutely not until you're back in your room."
Rembering when Felix was younger and would write letters to practice his handwriting, giving them to Isaac with a cute "This is for you. Write back, okay?", Isaac smiled faintly.
"Got it, I'll read it once I'm back in my room."
"Yeahwell then, good night, Ike."
"Good night, Ark."
Isaac watched Felix close his door and then returned to his own room.
There, he held up the envelope he had just received to the candlelight.
"Huh?"
The envelope seed to contain sothing other than just paper, bulging slightly. Shaking it produced a soft, tallic rattling sound, like chains rustling together.
Isaac carefully opened the package that had been sealed with wax and took out the contents.
Before the letter spilled out, a small object rolled into Isaac's palm from the tilted envelope. It was a necklace featuring a large aquamarine gemstone the keepsake spirit contract necklace that had belonged to the late Queen Irene.
Why had Felix put such an important object in an envelope?
With trembling fingers, Isaac took out and unfolded the enclosed letter.
"My Dearest Ike,
Thank you for always being so kind to . Thank you for looking after so much. No matter how many tis I say it, it will never be enough.
Ever since the day you beca my servant, and the day you beca my friend, every single day has been truly enjoyable and filled with happiness. That's why I beca spoiled and too dependent on you.
I heard from Grandfather. That you were taken in to beco my body double. That eventually, they plan to reshape your face to be my stand-in.
That for that purposethey would give your body the sa scars as mine.
It's all because I'm so weak. Because I couldn't live up to Grandfather's expectations as a proper prince.
I can't bear the thought of you being remade because of .
So please, run away from this estate. Escape and beco free, and then find what you truly want to do for yourself.
Not for , but for your own sake, I want you to live freely and find many things you love and can beco obsessed with.
After I give you this letter tonight, I plan to cause a bit of a disturbance. Use that opportunity to escape through the back gate.
The enclosed necklace should fetch a decent sum if sold. I don't know how to convert it to money, but I'm sure your clever self can manage it.
This is the most I can do right now. I'm sorry this is all I can offer.
You, my most devoted servant and dearest friend.
I wish for your happiness more than anyone else.
Felix Ark Ridill"
All the blood drained from Isaac's body, and his ears were ringing.
Just like when he saw his mother impaled by a dragon's claw before his eyes, without thinking, Isaac rushed from the room.
Ark! Ark! Arkk!!
When he opened Felix's room door, the room was empty.
However, not much ti had passed since they parted. Felix could not have gone far.
As Isaac looked around wondering where Felix could be, he heard a scream-like voice from sowhere distant.
"Soone, please! The princethe prince is on the roof!"
Isaac dashed outside through the back door they had used earlier.
Now that he thought about it, Felix's suggestions to look at the night sky and use the back door were intended to give Isaac a path to escape.
If he went out the back gate from the back door, Isaac would be free.
However, he did not do so. Without hesitation, he ran toward the front of the estate. If Felix was trying to lure everyone's attention away so Isaac could escape, it would be in the opposite direction from the back gate, he reasoned.
Sure enough, there were the night watchn and several servants gathered at the front of the estate, looking up at the roof.
On the roof was a small figure visible. Gently swaying golden hairunmistakably Felix.
From the top floor balcony up to the roof, a ladder had been propped. Most likely, Felix had used it to climb up. That he had prepared the ladder ant he had planned this in advance.
A strong gust of wind blew. The clouds parted, revealing the round, faintly glowing moon surrounded by twinkling stars that had been obscured.
No, stop, Ark!!
On the roof, Felix reached out toward the shining stars
And fell.
A dull thud. Screams from the servants.
The small body thrown into the garden's flowerbeds had limbs bent at unnatural angles.
A roar like that of a beast rang out. Not realizing it was his own wail of anguish, he pushed through the servants to Felix's side.
"AhahhAaark? Wake up, please wake up"
The body he touched was still warm.
But the vacant, open blue eyes reflected only the stars of the night sky, and would never blink again.
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