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Even If Everyone Hates You 68

Seiyad couldn’t sleep, even though his physical condition was better than ever. The imprint of Ressas’s hand on his lower back lingered like a burn, irritating him, and his lips kept tingling. Not even during puberty—since those long-forgotten days of childhood when he first knew him—had the realization ever struck so sharply: that someone he’d watched grow up now viewed him as a sexual being.

There had been too much going on since that confession, leaving him no time to reflect. His body had yielded easily enough, telling himself it made sense, but now that he was back and replaying it in his head, the thought of Purification with Ressas felt impossibly distant. The problem was clear—the stimulation had been too overwhelming.

Why?

It was natural for a child to grow into an adult. But to feel aroused by someone he had thought of as a younger brother—that wasn’t normal. Ressas wasn’t even twenty-five yet—he was twenty-one. The fact that he, at his current age, had been thrown off by someone nearly a decade younger was mortifying.

It had to be Ressas’s ability. That power of his must have clouded everything.

At last, Seiyad landed on a plausible explanation. Ressas’s Purification ability was far superior to Aster’s. That’s why it had felt more intense than any kiss he’d ever shared.

Seiyad finally understood the warning his mother had drilled into him—never to fall under the spell of a Guide’s ecstasy. This was exactly the kind of moment she had meant. He had always believed he’d maintained proper boundaries with Aster, only to realize with dread that he’d spent the entire night thinking about kissing Ressas.

It meant nothing.

He kept telling himself that, but he couldn’t help recalling how desperately Ressas had clung to him—how frantic, how yearning. The passion in his kiss had been so fierce it felt like he was being consumed by fire. Like the sun. That such an overwhelming intensity had come from someone who always seemed cool and serene like the moon—just that thought alone stirred chaos in his heart.

It felt like being trapped in a swamp, constantly reliving yesterday, until Seiyad was finally pulled back into reality by the arrival of others joining them at the edge of the forest. He stiffened and gripped the reins tightly, prompting Luna to snort and huff. Even the horse seemed to sense that something was off with its master.

“Maybe it’s ‘cause I’m back home, but I finally slept like a rock. Come to think of it, this is where I first met His Highness, right, Rigda?”

The voice, loud and cheerful as ever, drew the group’s attention rearward. With a glance, Seiyad saw Ressas’s knights approaching from behind. The chatterbox who’d spoken—probably Vine—was met with a sharp elbow to the ribs from the knight Rigda, who had previously challenged Seiyad to a sparring match.

“Keep it down.”

Their conversation was loud enough to be heard by Aster’s knights, who were already waiting in position and turned to look. Adena, commander of the Armor of the Blue Moon, glared at Ressas’s knights with obvious disdain and gave orders to his subordinates.

“Be careful not to be tainted by such vulgar creatures. In this subjugation, we must achieve a victory for our liege and remind those mongrels of their place.”

As knights descended from noble blood, they all readily agreed with Adena’s words. Up until last winter, they may have ignored Ressas, but they hadn’t been openly hostile. After the king’s recent remarks, however, tensions had clearly risen. Understandably so—just the sight of someone associated with Ressas would ignite their fury. If Aster were here, who knows what underhanded move he might’ve made.

Thankfully, he had already gone inside a tent set up by the knights from the Shildras estate. In any subjugation campaign, the Guide’s safety was the top priority. Only after securing their protection could combat operations begin. As the battles progressed deeper into the forest, the encampments would also move further inward. In truth, half of the knights present weren’t even combatants against Nir’a—they were protection units.

In the past, Ressas’s tent would have been set up solely by his own knights. But now, he was clearly the kingdom’s new shining light. Moreover, being in Shildras—an area long friendly toward him—meant his tent looked no different from Aster’s: large and fortified.

Seeing that, Seiyad’s clouded thoughts cooled to ice. Ressas had promised to give up Zion’s life if Seiyad wished it, and he hadn’t protested Seiyad’s warning. And yet, he was still someone who wanted to save Zion. Like a fire that blazes briefly then vanishes, he might turn to Zion again the moment his desire for Seiyad was satisfied.

It would be foolish to trust the act of love they’d performed.

He had already died once by clinging to sweet words—used as a pawn by Aster. He would not be swayed by a Guide again.

“Cecilia, unless it’s a dire emergency, don’t use your ability. What matters most is seeing Nir’a with your own eyes and learning how to overcome it.”

Seiyad chose to focus on what mattered. Individual emotions wouldn’t help with the task ahead. They were mere distractions. Cecilia, who had been eyeing Ressas’s tent with a wary gaze, nodded at his words. Ever since she was young, his dear little sister had always listened when it truly counted.

“Got it. I don’t have any battle experience, so my goal this time is to learn as quickly as I can.”

“Nova hasn’t faced Nir’a either, so you’ll be stationed at the rear with her.”

“Nova Bridehit?”

Cecilia frowned—an unmistakable expression of disgust.

“I don’t want anything to do with the daughter of the Duke of Bridehit, Oppa. The Duke of the West didn’t even try to find out the truth. He just abandoned Mother—his comrade—and helped Shildras.”

Beyond Cecilia’s enraged black eyes, Seiyad saw his own reflection. He, too, had cast away everyone with that same heart.

In a world where the sins of parents are visited upon their children, it was perhaps only natural that they hated those bearing the name of Prosius as much as they hated what had happened to them. Seiyad’s own heart often veered toward those same dark impulses. If he had followed them, he would’ve already taken Zion Shildras’s head.

But…

“Cecilia, what Mother wanted was to protect this kingdom. I understand your feelings more than anyone—but don’t forget that right now, what we must do is eliminate our common enemy.”

If not, then they were no different from Shildras. To hold Shildras accountable for betraying his comrades for selfish gain, one had to act differently than he did. Seiyad realized that far too late—only after his own pursuit of revenge had caused the deaths of innocents.

“You really think it’s worth caring about people like them? I don’t need shallow camaraderie to fulfill my duty. I’ll do what needs to be done, no matter what.”

Cecilia had been thoroughly swallowed by the same revenge and fury that once gripped him. But thankfully, she hadn’t known Aster for long. Unlike Seiyad, who had spent a lifetime by his side, Cecilia still had time—time to avoid falling into the same pit.

“That’s not what I meant. I’m not saying to consider their feelings. I’m saying you need to confront them—make them realize their wrongs.”

“I don’t really get what you’re saying.”

“People don’t believe even what’s said aloud. So they’re even less likely to believe what’s left unsaid. If the Lady of Bridehit behaves like her father, you must make it clear that she’s in the wrong.”

As Quilly had once said, when someone chooses the easier path of rumors over truth, you have to confront them. He had learned that last winter. His fury toward Selfini Vetria had only cooled after seeing her sincerely admit her sins and accept death. Anger kept inside only swelled endlessly—it never faded or dissolved.

In the end, what he truly wanted was to extinguish the searing blue hellfire that endlessly burned within him. To do that, he had to face his rage head-on. If the other party couldn’t accept it, then he had to fight them fiercely. If they could, then he had to find a way to live with that truth and carry on.

“…I’ll think about it—after I see how she acts.”

With that, Cecilia fell silent, seemingly troubled by the conversation. She tugged her reins and turned away.

For the first time under the rule of Cyfrid Raman Solias, a banner fluttered to signal the official beginning of the forest’s “subjugation.” A crimson flag emblazoned with the sun flapped above the tents, and beyond the edge of the boundary, spectators looked on from a distance, small as dots.

“Your march today will determine the future of Solias. In gratitude for the labor of the stars, I pray this subjugation proceeds without misfortune.”

Aster was remarkably concise in both ceremony and governance. Though his methods were harsh, he always ensured a clean finish and left no room for lingering issues. Many knights admired that about him. The Armor of the Blue Moon stomped in unison in answer to his words.

Aster, wearing his usual air of boredom, scanned the surroundings until his eyes fixed on the Tithers standing directly before him. He then wiped the disinterest from his expression and flashed a radiant smile with his blue eyes. His elegantly curved gaze landed on Seiyad.

“My star will take responsibility and lead this subjugation to success. After all, you are more faithful to your duties than anyone here.”

A dry scoff escaped from Zion Shildras beside him. Cecilia, who had kept her head slightly bowed, was suddenly filled with murderous intent. Aster must have noticed, because with a breezy smile, he reached out and took Cecilia’s hand.

“It’s your chance to make the name of Brosius known, Cecilia.”

He pulled her hand up to bestow a Purification. Given the situation—about to enter subjugation—Seiyad couldn’t stop it without cause. He clenched his jaw tightly, just as Ressas, who had remained silent beside Aster, spoke up with a smile.

“My brother won’t be the only one responsible for this subjugation. Best not to overstep.”

Aster, still smiling, replied without missing a beat.

“I lack experience, so perhaps I don’t know better—but interruptions aren’t proper during a Purification ritual.”

“Is that so? I must’ve been unaware that touching is required for Purification to occur. How fascinating.”

Ressas responded just as calmly, painting an equally radiant smile across his face. And in that moment, a faint crack ran through the perfect composure of Aster’s grin.

Levia
Author: Levia

Even If Everyone Hates You

Even If Everyone Hates You

Status: Completed Author:
The Demon of the North. A ruthless cold-blooded killer. The Crown Prince's dog. Duke Seiyad Brosius would use any means necessary, without regard for method or cost, as long as it meant killing the monsters that threatened the kingdom. Though his methods were brutal, Seiyad was a capable asset beyond compare. Yet during a battle against monsters, he suddenly went berserk and ended up harming countless people. As a result, he met his end at the hands of Prince Ressas—the Crown Prince’s rival and the most powerful Guide. “There will never again be someone as monstrous as you.” At the edge of death, Seiyad reflects on his life. Even the gentle prince, kind to all, hated him. Even the Crown Prince—his own Guide—abandoned him in the end. Drowning in regret, he wishes he could change that last moment. Seiyad then awakens five years in the past. Though he questions the unbelievable reality, he decides to live a different life in order to prevent the berserk outbreak. He seeks out Ressas before he has awakened to his power, trying to approach him once more. “Why are you acting this way toward me? Isn’t it your job to hate and ignore me?” One by one, Seiyad begins to uncover things he never realized in his previous life.

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