Chapter 41
“That’s not it, I’m just a little worried… I heard that people who went there never returned.”
“Isn’t that because they’ve been working there for a long time? But if you’re that anxious, I’ll look into it. By the way, Asher.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t think too negatively. He’s still our father, isn’t he?”
Shaki was just being Shaki. Looking at him, who always put family first, Asher couldn’t bring himself to say that the Duke seemed to be plotting something. With an inexplicable sense of guilt, he repeatedly bit and released his lower lip.
“But why did you ask me to get this book?”
“Just… I wanted to read various things?”
“You do know this is a difficult book to obtain, right?”
The book Shaki handed to Asher was an ancient magic book that was said to have been buried underground until recently. Of course, reading the book wouldn’t enable one to use magic, but Asher had requested it thinking there might be a way to eliminate his ability to read others’ emotions. After all, reading others’ emotions, whether he wanted to or not, was an extremely difficult burden. Asher mumbled vaguely and changed the subject.
“Don’t you think it’s strange? Why is Father only taking alphas with him?”
“Father must have his reasons. He’s not someone who acts without purpose, is he?”
“Do you trust Father?”
“Well… rather than saying I trust him, I’d say I respect and follow him as the head of our family. The wealth and prosperity we enjoy were also given to us by Father.”
Shaki seemed to trust the Duke more than expected. Perhaps that was natural. The rapid growth of the Anest family was possible because of the current Duke. If he hadn’t been possessed, perhaps he wouldn’t have been so suspicious of the Duke’s actions.
“Can I ask one more favor?”
“What is it?”
“About Narta. Can’t you let him stay with the merchant group?”
“If it’s Father’s decision, that might be difficult. But I’ll talk to him about it, so don’t look so serious.”
Shaki said with a hint of laughter in his voice as he draped an outer garment over Asher’s shoulders. He didn’t forget to button it all the way up to the neck, lest Asher catch a cold.
“It’s cold near the seaside. Let’s go inside.”
*
In the long evening as the sun was setting, Asher went to Narta’s lodging and called him out separately. Having just finished his meal, Narta had breadcrumbs at the corners of his mouth. Asher wiped away the crumbs from Narta’s face and had him sit down.
“What brings you here at this hour, Young Master?”
“I have something to give you.”
Asher handed Narta the stone he had kept. But Narta seemed disappointed with the returned stone and asked with a sulky expression and a tearful voice.
“Why are you giving it back to me?”
“You said it was a stone that grants wishes. So I made a wish on it, and I think the stone should go to the owner of that wish.”
“The owner of the wish?”
“I wished that if anything were to happen to you, the stone would protect you.”
At Asher’s words, Narta slowly blinked with surprised eyes. As if he hadn’t expected it, he looked at Asher once and then down at the stone.
“So, will you keep this stone?”
“…Young Master.”
Narta’s eyes reddened with emotion. Then he tightly grasped the pebble in Asher’s palm as if it were precious.
“Thank you… Young Master.”
“I want you to stay healthy and grow well without getting sick.”
“…”
“I want you to become an upright and brave adult. So I hope you’ll continue to smile every day and be filled with happy things like now.”
At Asher’s words, thick tears fell from Narta’s large eyes. Those tears gradually created several tracks and eventually began to pour like a waterfall.
“Why, why are you crying? Did something happen?”
Flustered, Asher stammered as he pulled out a handkerchief from his inner pocket. He hadn’t meant to make him cry, but seeing how sorrowfully Narta was crying, Asher wiped the corners of his eyes.
“Young Master… *sob*”
“What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, that’s not it. Just… *sob*, I’m so happy… I cried because I’m happy.”
It was just what an adult might say to a child. But seeing Narta take it with more significance than expected, Asher’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“I’ve never heard anyone say such things to me… This is the first time, *sob*… that someone has said such things to me…”
At the word “first,” Asher felt a lump in his throat. Afraid he might end up crying himself, Asher pulled Narta close like a younger brother.
“From now on, there will be many people who will say such things to you. Because you’re a lovable child.”
Perhaps it would be better for Narta to follow Kan to learn magic rather than stay here. There was no guarantee he would be happy here.
Asher released Narta from his embrace and asked:
“You said you met a magician on the street, right? Have you thought about following him to learn magic?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Young Master isn’t there.”
Of course, Asher knew how much Narta depended on him. But seeing Narta express it so directly made him feel like he had gained a younger brother.
“But wouldn’t that be better than living here? I won’t be here forever, so if you miss me, you can always come visit.”
“But…”
“If you go there, I’ll definitely come visit you. So I’d like you to think about it seriously. I’ll respect your decision.”
At Asher’s words, Narta’s yellow eyes seemed to tremble anxiously. Asher held his hand tightly and gave him a warm smile.
*
Two days later, the Duke secretly summoned Asher through his butler. Feeling uneasy about the Duke’s unusual behavior, Asher called Toms into his room.
“If by chance I don’t return by afternoon, take this letter to the magician at the harbor.”
Asher handed Toms the letter he had just written. But Toms seemed to find Asher’s behavior strange and asked cautiously.
“Has something happened?”
“I’m just going to see Father. What could happen?”
“…”
“Just stay here and move as I told you.”
Asher patted his shoulder lightly with a reassuring look. Then he moved to the place where the Duke had called him.
The Duke, who usually asked to meet in the study, had called him to a different place this time. It was a room attached to the northern end, said to be used personally by the Duke. Somehow feeling a chilly sensation from that room, Asher approached the butler waiting in front.
“He is waiting.”
The butler would normally have knocked first. But instead of knocking, he stepped aside, telling Asher to enter. Asher grabbed the doorknob, which felt unusually cold today, and slowly opened the door to step inside.
Unlike the bright daylight outside, the room was shrouded in deep darkness. Only a yellow light illuminated the room with a dim glow.
“…Father.”
Asher carefully called out to the Duke, who was looking at the curtained window. The Duke slowly turned around and smiled artificially at Asher.
“You came.”
“…I heard you called for me.”
“Yes… I called you.”
No expression appeared on the Duke’s face as he said those words. As if he had never smiled, the smile had disappeared from the Duke’s expression, and Asher nervously swallowed.
“Come here.”
The Duke beckoned with his finger as if Asher were some animal. His instincts told him that approaching now would not end well. Asher instinctively stepped back toward the door behind him.
“What… is it?”
Asher asked cautiously with a trembling voice. But the Duke, as if displeased with Asher’s behavior, clicked his tongue and coldly spat out a curse.
“Foolish boy.”
It was just one phrase, but it reminded Asher of the unpleasant memory from that day. The image of the Duke suppressing him by emitting pheromones made Asher’s fingertips tremble.
‘I need to escape…’
That thought filled his mind entirely. Thinking that something truly dangerous might happen if he didn’t escape now, Asher tried to leave the place. But cruelly, the doorknob only made a clicking sound and remained locked, refusing to open.
“I gave you a chance. Along with a warning not to interfere anymore.”
“…P-please spare me.”
“Did I say I was going to kill you?”
The Duke smiled viciously as he approached Asher. Emitting a deep, dark, and eerie atmosphere, he narrowed the distance between himself and Asher.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
