Chapter 18
The events in the desert were still vivid. The city consumed by a dragon of fire, all from the fingertips of a boy. It was too immense to be called the work of a child’s hand. Yet it had happened. Afterward, in the carriage heading to the nearest city, Del was bedridden for days, and Ethan couldn’t leave his side. Whether it was for nursing or because he was Del’s “crow,” he didn’t know, but Del opened his eyes cleanly one morning, the city almost in sight.
“Want to make a lifelong contract with me?”
Ethan nearly dropped the spoon at the first words out of Del’s mouth. The coachman, seemingly surprised, nodded readily.
“If the star chose me, then I suppose that’s fine.”
“It’s a mutual contract between free-willed people.”
“The desert coachman is quite curious.”
Ethan didn’t understand, but apparently, a contract had been made.
“Is he like me?”
When the carriage set off again, Ethan asked. Was it curiosity as fellow employees? Well, he had given him a name for now. Del shook his head.
“The coachman is a magician, so he’s different from you. You’re a crow, and he’s… a servant, I suppose.”
“I don’t really get it.”
“It’s about different roles. You just need to be by my side, but I want to keep him as a servant.”
Ethan nodded. It was reassuring to hear they were different. He didn’t dwell on why. His mind was already complicated enough.
Upon returning to the capital, Del’s coming-of-age ceremony was soon held. It was strange that a boy not yet fully grown was having a coming-of-age ceremony.
“A magician comes of age when they prove their abilities.”
So he had obliterated a city. That was more than enough proof. Ethan thought wryly. The duke’s secretary had mentioned that Del had been avoiding his duties, and though it wasn’t Ethan’s place to interfere, he couldn’t refuse the duke’s request. Before he knew it, he was forcing Del to sit down and get to work, and naturally, he ended up taking on the role of secretary as well. At this point, Del blinked blankly and said:
“You’ve been with me for six years now. You said there’s a difference between you and me, but honestly, I don’t see it anymore.”
“Crow and servant—what’s the difference? Now I’m your secretary, attendant, and guard.”
“Hah. That’s just because you’re nosy.”
Del could have added “smiling sweetly while stabbing you in the back” to his list of special skills. But it made Ethan think seriously.
“Is that it? Is that the problem? Should I just step back?”
“Don’t you think it’s too late for that?”
The words that hit the mark stung. Ethan rubbed his face. Del, who had said he’d prepare and come out, still hadn’t appeared long after the appointed time. The desert coachman, now Del’s personal coachman, chatted with Ethan, but eventually, Ethan stood up and went to Del’s room.
“This is what you call preparing?”
“…I don’t want to go.”
“The duke has already left.”
“Isn’t the duke enough? Why do I have to—!”
So that’s why he had reviewed the documents so well, dressed so neatly, and had such a brilliant discussion with the duke! But on the day itself, he was glued to his bed, refusing to get up. Ethan barely managed to wake him, only for Del to be in this state. He washed him, dried his dripping hair, found a shirt, buttoned it—only to realize it was misbuttoned and had to undo it—dressed him in pants, and put on his outerwear. After his coming-of-age, Del no longer wore women’s clothes, which made things much simpler. Of course, dragging around a man who seemed to have melted bones wasn’t exactly easy.
Thankfully, Del’s natural elegance meant he looked presentable even when hastily dressed. Ethan threw him into the carriage, grateful for Del’s good looks. Del sat with the expression of someone whose world had ended. The coachman smirked slightly. “I told you he was spoiled.” It was painful, but true.
What Ethan had learned while living with Del was that, despite being the duke’s heir, Del rarely engaged in external activities. And no one found it strange. After his coming-of-age, he had external appointments once every month or two, but only when absolutely necessary. Though invitations poured in for the mysterious young master who never showed his face, Del only waved them off listlessly. Most matters were handled by the duke. Ethan wondered if this was acceptable, but since he was just a commoner, he decided it wasn’t his place to worry about the future of the ducal house. He just did his job.
“…I really don’t want to go.”
“I know, but you have to. What else can you do?”
“I want to set it on fire.”
“Don’t.”
No one else would dare say something so blasphemous about the imperial palace. It made sense that Del, who usually found ways to skip appointments, was particularly averse to the palace. The idea of willingly going there was unimaginable, and on days when he had to enter the palace, he would protest from morning with the face of someone who had seen the world. Most of the time, his protests were ignored.
As soon as they arrived at the palace, Del, who had been slumped in the carriage as if his bones had melted, straightened his back. It wasn’t surprising. Even if Del acted like a spoiled child in the mansion, he didn’t do so outside. That was the frustrating part—he could, but he chose not to.
Ethan escorted Del to the hall, where a servant announced his full name. Finally, some rest. Just as Ethan thought that, Del quickly whispered to him:
“In two hours. Even if I’m dead, come get me in two hours!”
He spoke so quickly that his name wasn’t even fully announced. By the time Ethan turned, Del was already walking inside with his usual graceful smile. Sometimes, Ethan wondered if Del’s ability to express his desire to escape so precisely in such situations was a kind of magic. After all, he was a magician, so strange thoughts often crossed Ethan’s mind.
Ethan took a moment to breathe in the servants’ lounge. The servants of the noble families who had arrived earlier were already resting comfortably. It was a place somewhat distant from the meeting hall. Since important discussions were taking place, the servants were gathered separately. In the meeting hall, designated palace servants would attend to them. Honestly, resting at the palace felt more restful than at the mansion. At the mansion, he always had to be ready to rush to Del at a moment’s notice. Everyone seemed to share that sentiment, as the people in the room silently enjoyed their rest.
“Phew…”
Ethan checked his pocket watch, sighed deeply, and stood up. Two hours had passed. What excuse would he use to fetch Del today? Since the duke was also present, he couldn’t use the duke as an excuse. As he walked alone, racking his brain for a creative reason, he realized he didn’t need one.
“The young master went to the lounge to rest a moment ago.”
“Is he not feeling well?”
“He said he was dizzy… I was just about to bring him some cold water.”
“Then I’ll take it to him.”
Ethan took the water pitcher and cup from the servant after getting detailed directions to the lounge. The “dizziness” was likely an excuse, but if Ethan didn’t play along, things would get complicated. There were two cups, though.
“Is there someone else in the lounge besides our young master?”
“Ah. His Highness is resting there as well.”
“Thank you!”
Before the servant could finish, Ethan hurried toward the room. He couldn’t run openly, but he walked as fast as he could, probably looking like he was sounding an alarm. Of all times, the crown prince was there. Ethan remembered when he had first entered the duke’s service as a boy. The duke had called him into an empty room and, with a heavy gaze, instructed him:
Never leave Del alone with someone from the imperial family.
It would be best if they never met, but since that was impossible… The duke had begged him to at least ensure that. It was a warning. Or perhaps it was fear. Ethan couldn’t understand. The duke spoke as if the imperial family would harm Del. His gaze, his trembling voice—it was as if he feared them, despite the duke’s immense power and status, which even the emperor couldn’t easily challenge. The duke didn’t explain why, but Ethan nodded. It felt like something he had to do.
But now, Del and the crown prince were alone together. Ethan rushed into the room without knocking. Inside, the crown prince and Del sat facing each other across a table. The atmosphere between them was… filthy.
“What are you looking at? You look like a girl.”
“You look like a bandit. And you have the nerve to interrupt my rest?”
“Hey, I was here first!”
“You sat on the sofa first!”
The crown prince and the duke’s heir were having a childish argument that made Ethan cringe. He quietly closed the door. Of course, despite their mutual insults, they were both objectively stunning men. Just different types.
Six years in the mansion. Three years since he had first met the crown prince. Lately, Ethan had been seriously pondering something. The duke’s warning—was it because if someone saw these two fighting so childishly, it would be terribly embarrassing? That seemed plausible.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
