As long as it isnt Cassadin.
After hearing Fathers words, my heart pounded inside my chest. I tried to conceal my anxiety, putting on a smile for him.
Maybe its difficult now, but there might be a day when Father accepts us.
Perhaps it was guilt that made my right hand shake faintly. Then I subtly covered the tremor with my left hand as I spoke to Father.
Shouldnt we consider leaving the palace first, Father?
Father nodded in agreent. We resud our walk through the long corridor, intending to leave the palace imdiately.
That was, until a voice called out my na.
Aren.
A voice that had no business being in this place echoed from behind us. I slowly turned my head towards the source of that familiar voice.
Upon recognizing the owner of the voice, my eyes widened in disbelief. Because the one who had called out to was none other than Damian, who was being supported by a palace physician and panting lightly.
There was a fresh wound on his right cheek that I hadnt seen before, which was likely inflicted by Cassadin.
Did he already wake up? But looking at his face
Damians face was incredibly pale. He was pale enough to the point where I thought it wouldnt be strange for him to pass out right on the spot.
It appears hes not as skilled at controlling his emotions as he used to be.
The reason I took the risk of visiting Damians mansion was to rattle this ironclad ntality of his.
After I frad Damian for Cassadins poisoning of the Crown Prince, I realized that I needed to approach Damian first, or else he would find a way to corner .
Since his heart disease causes unbearable pain when he fails to control his emotions, I must have succeeded in disturbing him to so degree.
I turned toward Damian, who was looking at with an oddly affectionate expression. Speaking in a tone filled with worry, I asked him,
Your Grace, how are you feeling?
Are you alright? I was very worried when you collapsed all of a sudden.
Im pleased to know that you were concerned for .
He gave a soft smile.
Could he possibly be your father?
Then Damian glanced at my father, who was standing beside .
Why did it have to happen when Father was with ?
Damian was still unaware that there were other healers besides . Just as I was about to divert Damians curiosity towards another topic, Father beat to it.
It is a pleasure to et you, Your Grace. I am Arens father, Zigen Serkia.
Earl Zigen
I had only heard of your feats through rumors, so its an incredible honor to et Your Grace in person.
Damian rarely made public appearances, aside from the Swordsmanship Competition and the occasional banquet, making it difficult for anyone who wished to et him.
Thats precisely why I was able to pin the Crown Princes poisoning on Damian.
However, I hadnt expected even Father to want to et Damian.
I will take this into consideration, as soone who is the father of Aren is also a father to as well.
Why would my father be your father?
Unaware of my thoughts, Father rely smiled gladly.
Hahah! Im not sure how to respond to that. It seems your Grace is as kind as the rumors suggest. I was not aware that you were so close with my daughter.
Well, of course, we are.
Would it be rude of to ask when Your Grace beca close with my daughter?
Damian tilted his head sideways in response to my fathers question, a slight smirk curving the corners of his lips.
Ill have to keep that a secret.
A secret?
Yes, its a private matter between the two of us. Im afraid I cant share it with you.
For so reason, Damian had transford our insignificant first eting into a aningful secret.
I wonder what hes scheming now?
As I glared at him, Damian shifted his attention towards Father and said,
I need to discuss a private matter with Aren. May I borrow her ti for a mont?
I sent Father a pleading look, silently begging him not to leave, but he either didnt comprehend or chose to ignore it, as he simply nodded his agreent.
Certainly. Aren, Ill be waiting for you in front of the palace. Join after youve spoken to His Grace.
Father.
Its alright. I wont follow you both. Ill be waiting nearby.
My father patted my back and departed, leaving us alone. Once my father had left, Damian also subtly signaled to the physician supporting him to withdraw.
Deciphering Damians hint, the physician retracted his hand that was supporting Damian, wearing a puzzled look.
I will also take my leave now
With both the palace physician and my father now gone, it was just Damian and .
The length of the corridor seed amplified by the silence. Oddly, the knights who should have been protecting the hallways were missing.
Sensing sothing was off, I broke the silence with an awkward laugh.
I cant seem to find the imperial guards. They were here just a mont ago.
They have departed at my command, Milady.
You sent them away?
It appears so knights still regard as royalty, hence, they followed my orders.
Damian was speaking as he wiped away the beads of sweat dotting his forehead with a handkerchief. The difficulty he had articulating each word was a clear indication that he should be in bed at the mont.
I see. However, Your Grace, you seem currently unwell.
Wouldnt it be better for you to rest for now? We can discuss whatever matters we need to attend to at a later ti.
Damian gave a faint smile when he noticed looking around.
I didnt seek you out to ask for healing. To begin with, wouldnt the Emperor suspect both and Milady if you were to heal within the palace walls?
Then, why have you
In response to my question, Damian t my gaze squarely. Perhaps it was the crisp autumn sunlight, but Damians piercing green eyes seed to shine brighter than usual.
Because you were the first person who sprang to mind when I woke up.
Pausing for a mont, Damian managed to muster up a calm smile. Seeing a smile on Damians pale face gave the eerie sensation of a dead man smiling at .
That is the only reason why I sought you out.
What an honor. To think that I was the first person Your Grace thought of.
I responded vaguely to Damians nonsensical remarks, assuming that our conversation would soon co to an end.
However, it seed Damian had no intention of releasing . He fixed his gaze on and slowly began to speak.
I have heard that Cassadin has been elevated to a Marquess.
You heard about that?
I received the news right after I woke up. From a slave to a Marquess. His Majesty truly is remarkable to allow such a thing to happen.
I had been curious about why he looked so pale, but it must have been due to the shock of learning that Cassadin had acquired the title of Marquess.
Well, its understandable that Damian would struggle to contain his anger. Not only did he lose in his first ever fighting competition, but also Cassadin managed to secure the title of Marquess after winning.
Please pass on my congratulations to Cassadin.
Damian spoke these words while managing to maintain a smile, his mask never faltering. However, his eyes were devoid of any mirth.
I could still clearly sense his intense animosity towards Cassadin, emanating from his sharp, glowing eyes.
Ah, perhaps it might be difficult to offer my congratulations now.
Given that you two are no longer family, this consequently ans that you will not be able to share the sa household anymore or maintain the sa closeness.
Joy seed to gleam in Damians eyes, assuming a crescent shape, as he was seemingly pleased by that piece of information. As I furrowed my brow, Damian gently tucked my hair behind my ear, emulating what Cassadin had once done.
And he will no longer have the privilege of doing this.
I was so repulsed that I couldnt help but call out to Damian.
Your Grace.
Its rely a jest, Aren. No need to glare at like that.
Damians hand, which had been stroking my hair, paused mid-stroke, and he cleared all emotions from his face. No longer wearing a smile, Damian uttered sothing profound, yet ambiguous.
Butterflies are commonly drawn to fragrant flowers. However, they are not always birdwings.
He stared at my face so intently that it made feel uncomfortable. His face was expressionless, but thanks to my mories of the past, I could decipher Damians intentions as he glanced at .
He wants to test .
Among those who catch the scent of a flower, so may be harmless bumblebees, others dirty flies and also poisonous butterflies.
What does that an?
I trust you, who have faithfully morized all the scriptures of the Boundary of Good and Evil, understand my point.
Then, Damian smiled. He extended a hand toward my back and drew into him. Judging by his pale face, I had assud his strength was all but depleted, yet it seed Damian had rely been concealing his strength.
As a result, I found myself entrapped in Damians hold.
What is the implication of this?
I struggled to escape Damians arms, but with a small laugh, Damian used his other arm to secure even tighter.
Do you know of the poisonous butterfly called the Violo?
Pardon?
The violo, known for its high toxicity, typically sprays its poison onto flowers that are particularly fragrant. Do you know why?
Why did he suddenly start talking about a butterfly?
Your Grace.
I called out his na as a signal for him to stop, but he just kept uttering things I couldnt comprehend.
It does so because it cannot tolerate other butterflies or insects approaching the flower it cherishes.
The violo disperses its poison not only on the flower but also on its surroundings. Even if it ans the flower wilts from its poison, it forbids other insects from coming near.
Wasnt that fascinating? Damian then quietly added on.
Im afraid Im too insensitive to understand why Your Grace is sharing this with .
Damian burst out laughing at my comnt. His continued hold on was nauseating.
I did my best to squirm away from him, but Damian did not give an inch. It was hard to believe that soone who had just regained consciousness after collapsing could possess such strength.
It appears theyre arriving right on schedule.
His voice carried a hint of elation as he whispered softly, as though he had long anticipated this mont.
Is the man walking towards with a death glare, a harmless butterfly or a deadly one like the violo?
As Damian suggested, a series of footsteps were drawing near in the corridor behind us.
Then the footsteps halted precisely behind .
Almost simultaneously, as I turned my head towards the source of the sound, Damians voice, laced with amusent, echoed with a note of triumph.
Im betting on the latter.
Reviews
All reviews (0)