Chapter 2. Temptation (2)
Since taking up the brush, this was the first time he had been so intensely captivated. Each time he looked, it was new, and each time he painted, he couldn’t escape further. He felt as if his talent had been given for this moment. Nothing else interested him anymore. He wanted to paint Ronen until he died. If he could do that, he felt he would be sufficiently happy.
Canui moved his hand half-crazed. Since no one spoke, only the continuous sound of brush touching paper could be heard.
Osian, who had been standing by the door, fidgeted with an anxious face before bumping into the door handle and making a noise. Because it had been so quiet, the sound seemed loud, and when Canui’s sharp gaze reached him, Osian lowered his head with a flustered expression.
“I’m sorry.”
Because he was noticeably restless, not only Ronen but even Canui couldn’t hide his puzzled expression. Eventually Ronen asked.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s not that, but…”
As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion arose from beyond the door. It was the voice of the madam scolding Nelly for causing some trouble again. Only then did Ronen, realizing why Osian was acting that way, smile slightly.
“You can go out.”
“…Pardon?”
Osian opened his eyes wide in surprise, but somehow looked pleased. How bored and tedious it must have been for a boy who had just turned thirteen to always spend time alone, confined in the building following Ronen around. At an age when he should be running around and playing.
Since Madame Cornelia’s daughter, who was the same age, had come to visit, it was natural for him to be eager to play together.
“I said it’s fine.”
“…That won’t do. His Highness specifically ordered me to stay by your side…”
Although he wanted to follow Ronen’s words immediately, Osian straightened his posture with a gloomy face because he couldn’t forget his duties. According to what he heard from the gatekeepers, the Grand Duke was said to be very cruel and merciless. He had heard that many of those who served Ronen before he came had died.
“I cannot disobey His Highness’s orders.”
Fear whipped the child. Instead, as long as he did his job properly, warm sleeping quarters and abundant meals continued, so he could overcome his fear and continue his page duties.
Ronen, with pitying eyes, comforted Osian.
“Don’t worry. There’s only me and the mute painter here, so how would His Highness know about this?”
Canui opened his mouth to show his tongue that was only half remaining. He too seemed to pity Osian.
At this, Osian panicked and made excuses.
“I wasn’t doubting either of you.”
“The gatekeepers don’t want to see another innocent child die either. It would be troublesome to teach a new child each time one comes in. Everyone gathered here wants peace.”
“…But.”
“I have a good idea.”
Ronen made a suggestion to Osian, who still showed obvious hesitation.
“You can learn about the outside situation through that child and then tell me. If it’s discovered that I know about outside situations, everyone here will be in danger, so no one will speak of today’s events.”
Though Osian pondered over the somewhat cryptic words, Ronen’s statement that no one would speak of today’s events shook him strongly like a spell.
“If you only play inside the building, there won’t be any witnesses, so what are you so afraid of? You know well that His Highness won’t be able to come for several weeks anyway.”
Grand Duke Canis was currently away in the Ilknur Kingdom, and it would take a long time for him to return. How could the Grand Duke, who was so far away, know everything that happened inside here? Eventually, Osian couldn’t overcome his desire and went outside.
“Ah, Osian.”
Just before the door closed completely, Ronen’s urgent voice caught Osian’s ankle. To Osian, who turned back as if asking why, Ronen showed a faint smile.
“…I’d also like to hear about the knight who made great achievements in this war. Hero stories are always enjoyable to hear.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Osian nodded with an understanding face and left the room. Even in the midst of this, he locked the door, showing how terrifying the Grand Duke must be.
The sounds of Nelly and Osian playing could be heard from beyond the door. After a long time, there was a liveliness that seemed like people were living, and satisfaction appeared on Ronen’s face. If no one spoke, the Grand Duke wouldn’t know. It was like a secret rule within the building.
As long as Ronen didn’t run away, or as long as they didn’t tell him about interesting and enjoyable outside life that would make him want to escape, the peace of this place would continue to be maintained.
“Shall we continue working then?”
Ronen took his pose again. The mute painter Canui, whose tongue had been cut, also moved his brush while happily appreciating the children’s noise from outside as if it were music.
The fine lines of his chin, the firmly sculpted shoulders, came down to his upper body where natural muscles were well-woven though not prominent. Canui’s hand, which had been moving the brush smoothly up to that point, suddenly hesitated.
He examined Ronen’s figure beyond the easel, who was posing with considerable concentration. Though faint and almost missed, thin marks remained around his neck. Whether they were from fingernails or teeth, it was difficult for him to distinguish. Looking closely, there were also scratches all over his gracefully extended legs as if they had been rubbed raw.
Ronen made a puzzled expression, realizing that he had stopped painting and was concentrating on something. Soon understanding where Canui’s gaze had stopped, he unconsciously caressed his own neck. He could feel the traces that still remained under his fingertips.
“Isn’t this level fine? If it really bothers you, you could leave it out when you paint.”
Since it was obvious he would capture it on canvas regardless of what he said, it was just a meaningless remark.
Ronen took his pose again and added:
“As you know, Canui, His Highness has been away for a long time. Perhaps thinking they won’t be caught, some clients have appeared who freely violate the rules.”
Never leave any traces whatsoever. It was a rule set by the Grand Duke. The clients who had observed it fairly well when the Grand Duke was coming and going, being mindful of him, began acting selfishly and greedily as soon as he was away. Not only did several of them come simultaneously as if by appointment, but they were even rough, treating him like a street prostitute.
Just last night, he had to handle two at once and his body was completely battered. They were so unreasonable that he wondered how they had endured until now. No, perhaps they had been forcibly suppressing it and burst it out all at once, making it worse.
When Canui’s gaze turned toward his legs, Ronen again kindly explained the reason for the wounds.
“Among them, some started acting as if they were my master. They said they would properly educate me. When the cat’s away, the mice will play… They kept pulling and wrapping this around my body, making a fuss. These are the wounds that resulted from that.”
Saying this, Ronen slightly lifted one of his ankles and then lowered it again. Clank, clank. With the movement, the chains hit his body, letting out cold screams. Perhaps worried about creating wounds, they had wrapped cloth once and put shackles over it, but they probably hadn’t thought that the long chain would directly scratch his skin.
He recalled his nickname again, which couldn’t be hidden no matter how deeply it was concealed. The angel of the back alleys. An angel whose wings were torn and bound deep inside so it couldn’t escape.
When Canui made a very pitiful expression, Ronen calmly comforted him.
“You don’t need to pity me like that. It’s the path I chose. Even if it was a wrong choice… It must be my karma for not being able to overcome immediate trials and falling for the devil’s temptation. Still, thanks to it, I eat my fill and have a warm bed.”
Canui withdrew his sympathy. Even he himself was in no different situation. Thanks to the Grand Duke who valued his skills highly, he could start painting again and capture Ronen on canvas, so the Grand Duke was his benefactor. At least during the moments he painted Ronen, he was grateful for the Grand Duke’s grace.
How many times did he languidly close and open his eyes like a drowsy cat? Only after the position of the sun had changed and the shape of the dim shadows cast in the room had altered did Canui begin to organize his tools.
Only then did Ronen get up from his seat, lightly stretching his body that had become stiff from staying in one position. After properly adjusting his clothes, he approached Canui. While he was sick of seeing his own face since there were several mirrors placed in the room, the image captured on paper by Canui’s hand always seemed somewhat unfamiliar. This came from the difference between the gaze with which Canui looked at him and the gaze with which he looked at himself through the mirror.
In the painting, a rather attractive figure was lost in thought. What could be written in the letter he held that would cause so much contemplation? His clothes neither fully on nor off, seducing the viewers. A letter that tempted and conflicted the seductive one… He was curious about Canui’s intention.
Canui, who had finished packing everything, had Osian carry the painting that hadn’t fully dried yet. Osian, who had played to his heart’s content, had color in his cheeks and was full of vitality after a long time.
Canui bowed his head lightly in greeting and left the building, while Ronen leaned against the wall beside the window where curtains were half-drawn, secretly watching Canui walk along the road after leaving the building. Osian, holding towels used to wipe paint that hadn’t been cleaned up yet, said:
“Nelly says that most of the knights and soldiers who returned to the empire are staying here in Duran. Thanks to that, the prostitutes are making a fortune. But Nelly’s shop, whether because it’s expensive or relatively less known, hasn’t seen that much increase in customers. Madame Cornelia seemed more sensitive than usual, maybe that’s the reason?”
Osian, who had been chattering continuously, suddenly added as if remembering something.
“Oh, but Nelly said the soldiers are so terrible that it would be better if they didn’t come… What was it… I think she said they’re rough and unreasonable because they’re people who were on the battlefield. They raise their hands at the slightest provocation, and they hit even when they’re in a very good mood. If they’re happy, why do they hit?”
“…They received poor quality customers.”
Ronen had such experiences too. Occasionally, customers who couldn’t control their excitement and resorted to violence or strangled him would visit. The more he suffered, the more they enjoyed it.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
