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Why this man wanted to meet that child—the reason for that had not yet been revealed. That’s why Castian was asking again.
“You don’t plan to tell me until the end?”
“……”
“But you should know one thing. If you don’t give a reason, promise or not, you might not even be able to get near that child.”
Terion quietly lowered his gaze under Castian’s seemingly light but seriously tightening pressure. After remaining silent with a contemplative expression, he finally let out a sigh through his nose and opened his mouth.
“Before, I said I was living because I couldn’t die. Do you remember?”
“You did.”
“I am an avatar of the god Jephs.”
A strange light flashed in Castian’s suddenly hardened eyes.
“Avatar?”
“Yes. I rashly made a wish to that god wanting to live an immortal life, and instead of granting the wish, Jephs erased my existence from the memories of everyone who knew me. The schemes of gods are truly cruel.”
“……”
“I… have lived too long in solitude. I don’t want to live anymore. But Jephs hasn’t responded to my calls even once since that day.”
A faint crack appeared between Terion’s brows.
“Then I learned of Prometil’s existence. Perhaps that god, who is said to have mastered the wisdom of all things, knows a clue to escape from this shackle.”
“……”
“That’s my only hope. That’s why I want to meet him. That child who is Prometil’s avatar.”
The reason he had been involved with the Seraphium Cult all this time was to find clues through information related to divine artifacts.
Along the way, he had encountered a young man who was searching for information about the god Chronos, and had even exchanged information with him, but there were no particular results.
However, that young man… the man called Cedric seemed to have found what he had desperately been seeking, unlike Terion.
Terion had met Cedric ‘before the regression.’
In other words, Terion was someone who accurately recognized that this world had regressed once, so he could think that Cedric must have found Chronos and turned back time.
He had said he wanted to turn back time because there was someone he wanted to meet again. After the regression, he hadn’t met that young man yet.
He only remembered his face and name, but didn’t know where he came from or what status he held…
Perhaps he might never meet him again.
“How… does that serve as an answer?”
Terion urged Castian for a response.
Castian nodded and crossed his arms.
“Hmm. Interesting, immortality. Then how long have you lived? Do you really never die? Even if you suffer fatal wounds?”
“…Are you planning to torture me if I say yes?”
“Haha, would I do such a thing? I’m just asking.”
Castian laughed it off lightly and waved his hand. Terion glared at him with eyes containing some wariness, but wasn’t particularly worried.
Having lived through centuries and experienced all kinds of hardships, and being a dominant alpha himself, he was confident he wouldn’t lose in terms of strength.
Terion opened his mouth again.
“The years that have passed… I don’t remember exactly, but it’s been well over a hundred years at least.”
“Haven’t you had friends or lovers during that time?”
“…You’re spouting nonsense.”
Terion snorted sharply.
To bring up relationships that couldn’t possibly be maintained normally in front of someone who neither dies nor ages—if the intention was to deliberately upset him, it succeeded.
A very long time ago, before becoming Jephs’s avatar, he had had a fiancée, but she was someone whose face he couldn’t even remember now.
“With the cult gone, you probably don’t have anywhere proper to go either.”
“I don’t need anywhere to go.”
If things are resolved well, he will grasp the death he has so longed for. If there’s anywhere Terion needs to go, it would be beyond death.
“Oh dear. Things might not go well, you know.”
“…Why don’t you just curse me instead.”
Why does he keep picking fights? Finally, a thin crack appeared on Terion’s previously expressionless face.
Castian smiled smoothly and said.
“If that happens, make sure to tell me. I’ll help you. In return, you just need to satisfy my curiosity a little. I’m very interested in divine artifacts, you see.”
“So you are planning to torture me after all.”
“I told you it’s not like that, this person.”
Around that time, a bustling noise was heard from the staircase. Looking back, Lionel was being guided in by a servant.
“I-I greet Your Highness the Prince.”
Soon Lionel, who spotted Castian, greeted him nervously. Though they had become acquainted several times through this incident, he was too difficult an existence for a commoner like him to approach easily.
“Yes. Come here.”
When Castian gestured, Lionel scurried over. His nearly 2-meter frame looked like a small child.
“You can take this fellow to the Lowell house.”
“Ah, have you heard the reason he wants to meet?”
Lionel asked while keeping an eye on Terion inside the prison. Instead of the silent Terion, Castian readily affirmed and answered.
“Yes. He claims to be Jephs’s avatar.”
“Avatar?!”
“He seems to have made a wish for immortality quite a while ago. He wants to make that wish null and void, so he’s looking for Edgar—or more precisely, Prometil.”
“Is that… a believable story?”
“At least it didn’t feel like a lie to me. If you’re really suspicious, how about trying to cut off that fellow’s neck? He said with his own mouth that he won’t die even if he suffers fatal wounds.”
Castian smiled with the corners of his mouth curled up. Terion furrowed his brow as if something displeased him. After pondering, Lionel decided to trust Castian and nodded.
“I will trust Your Highness’s words.”
At that, Castian let out a chuckle, stood up from his seat, and patted Lionel’s shoulder.
“Shall we go then?”
Soon the prison key that emerged from Castian’s pocket spun around his finger. Castian’s eyes, which had been facing Terion who was staring intently, curved even more narrowly.
“To the person you’ve wanted to meet so much.”
* * *
A few days ago, a letter arrived from Castian. It contained information about the background of the attack on me—the Seraphium Cult had been disbanded, and since he judged that the threat had disappeared, he would visit our mansion soon with Lionel.
This must have been what Lionel wanted to talk about. At that time it was still in progress, so he probably just said he’d talk about it later.
My parents also seemed to be properly relieved, so today, for the first time in a while, Cedric and I visited Orden territory alone together.
I told Cedric all the contents of the letter as well, but he somehow showed a displeased expression.
“You don’t know exactly when they’re coming?”
“Yeah. It just said they’d visit soon, that’s about it.”
We soon entered the exhibition hall entrance in front of us. This was also the purpose of Cedric and me coming to Orden territory alone today.
We came to look around together because they said they brought in some specially curious and interesting magical tools along with new artworks to see.
“Why are you sulking again?”
After presenting the two tickets I had a servant purchase in advance and entering, I poked Cedric’s cheek with my finger.
When Cedric turned his head and tried to bite my finger, I quickly pulled it back.
Though he failed at his prank, he didn’t seem to care much about that part and muttered while pulling the corners of his mouth crookedly.
“I’m annoyed thinking about His Highness hitting on you again.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s not that, but I just don’t like it.”
Cedric drooped his eyebrows gloomily. He’s just a complete jealous person. But the fact that it doesn’t feel bothersome and just seems cute—haven’t my love-blinders gotten quite thick?
“…I’ll clearly say I’m seeing someone.”
“Make sure to say that person is me too.”
“Yeah.”
“When are you planning to tell our parents?”
“Hmm, it seems like it would be fine whenever…”
When we announce our relationship, both sets of parents will see it as us dating with marriage in mind.
Of course, Cedric and I both naturally consider that we’re meeting with marriage in mind, so there would be no conflict on that part.
The problem is that I’m a male beta who can’t have children and Cedric is a dominant alpha…
Children would be possible if I undergo secondary gender transformation to omega, and gaining new traits under the influence of a dominant alpha like Cedric is also considered quite fortunate socially, so my parents wouldn’t particularly oppose it.
The only concerns were that changing traits requires luck, and whether the Grand Duke family of Soliwen would view this relationship positively.
‘It’s not like there’s any flaw in our family.’
The fact that I’m not a dominant trait holder…
“Why? Is it still awkward to tell them?”
Perhaps because I was lost in thought for a moment, Cedric asked carefully, lowering his voice.
His eyes, which were carefully observing to not miss even my slightest reaction, sent a meticulous gaze.
I shook my head.
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then?”
“I’m worried your parents might dislike it. I’ve met your mother a few times, but I’ve never met your father. I don’t really know what kind of person he is, so I’m a bit worried.”
And while I was thinking about it, I asked.
“What kind of person is your father?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
I think Castian is kinda…waaay too much intrested in Terion.🧐