Chapter 174
His luggage consisted of just one heavy-looking bag. When I examined it just in case, it mostly contained medical books. There weren’t many clothes, and no suspicious herbs or tools.
‘Why is that bastard being so clingy with Young Master?’
His face was incredibly thick-skinned and shameless. I didn’t like how he tried to harm Young Master before but now changed his demeanor and was sucking up to him. It also irritated me how he looked at Fei with a face that seemed about to drool.
‘Young Master is too kind, making him perfect to be taken advantage of.’
Especially someone sinister like him should be watched more carefully. Wondering if I missed something, I checked his luggage thoroughly once more, but again, there was nothing suspicious.
Reluctantly, I was about to return the bag after it passed inspection when I noticed Alteo had already attached himself to Fei’s side and was whispering in a low voice. As I stood still glaring at him, he seemed aware of my scrutiny, but Fei laughed.
“That’s impossible.”
What did he say to get such a response? And why was Fei smiling at him? Intending to separate the two who appeared too close, I raised my voice.
“Alteo. I’ll show you to your room.”
“Huh? Luwen will personally?”
Fei finally noticed me, which was satisfying. But then—
“It’s fine. Alteo will be staying in the room next to mine, so we can just go up together.”
“…The room next to Young Master’s?”
“Yes. I promised to help him study at night.”
“Help him study at night?”
Confused, I questioned.
“Yes. I’ll only have time late at night after I finish my daily routine, so we decided to do it then.”
Each casual word he spoke shook my emotions.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to pick up your bag? How long are you going to leave it with Luwen?”
“Yes, sir!”
Alteo cautiously approached, extended his arm to snatch his bag, then scurried right back to Fei’s side. It was ridiculous how he acted as if Fei were his guardian.
‘I was planning on the guest room in the corner of the first floor, but next door? And helping him study at night?’
He didn’t even do this for Taran. Even though he clearly favored Taran much more than someone like Alteo.
‘It’s not that I liked Taran, but I could accept that guy.’
He never crossed the line. He regarded Fei as his benefactor and focused solely on learning. Above all, didn’t he try to protect Fei by sacrificing himself in dangerous moments?
But Alteo isn’t like that. In the same situation, he would likely use Fei as a shield to save his own life. I couldn’t understand why Young Master would do so much for such a person.
‘Besides, when Young Master teaches, the distance between them disappears.’
Luwen recalled his childhood days when he learned letters from Fei.
When Fei personally corrected his writing and came close, a fragrant scent would waft strongly. A scent he hadn’t quite noticed despite being constantly together became particularly intense in those moments. He sometimes deliberately wrote letters crookedly because he enjoyed how the sweet rose scent intensified.
It was the same with Taran. He vividly remembered pushing away the guy’s face as he sniffed, saying it smelled good.
‘Is that bastard Alteo feeling the same thing?’
And what if he develops improper thoughts…
Of course, he couldn’t treat Fei carelessly in the Duke’s residence. That would cause trouble. But I couldn’t help feeling anxious.
I had always maintained boundaries well, but since that night I spent with Fei when he consumed aphrodisiacs, it felt like hot magma had pooled in my heart. And occasionally, like bubbles bursting, an impulse I could barely suppress would grip me.
If I hadn’t learned swordsmanship, if I hadn’t practiced calming my mind, I would have helplessly succumbed to those impulses.
But I can still endure it.
The murderous intent to cut down Alteo.
The impulse to kidnap Fei.
I suppressed it all.
Luwen hid his arms behind his back and clenched his fists tightly. He focused his consciousness on the pain of his nails digging into his palms.
‘Young Master needs to be a Young Master. This huge mansion is like a cradle protecting him. So I, out of my selfish desires, must not take him away.’
But… part of me was disturbed by the wicked whisper suggesting I could do as I pleased, because Fei would forgive me anyway. Even if I committed an unforgivable sin beyond disloyalty, wouldn’t that kind master accept me with his usual benevolent smile?
That’s precisely why I needed to control myself more strongly. Because my excessively gentle Young Master couldn’t protect himself. Because Luwen had to protect him.
“I understand. Then I will also stay in Young Master’s room.”
“How am I supposed to concentrate with you there? No way.”
“It’s not for you to decide. Know your place and don’t interfere.”
Intimidated by my sharp retort, Alteo instantly cowered and hid behind Fei’s back.
“Look at those eyes! He looks like he’s really going to tear me apart!”
As I continued pressuring Alteo with my gaze, Fei intervened.
“Luwen. I brought Alteo as a guest, so please be accommodating for a while.”
Asking me to be accommodating meant helping him concentrate. In other words, doing as Alteo wanted. Just the two of them, in one room.
“…”
“Alteo, follow me.”
As Fei moved, Alteo clung to him like a parasite. Constantly looking back and wary of me, he appeared frightened. But right now, I was only looking at Fei.
‘Again…’
This time the rival wasn’t even a noble. Yet I was pushed aside.
My nails finally drew blood from my palms, but I was too hot inside to even notice. The heat felt like it would consume me.
‘Endure. I must endure.’
But for some reason, I couldn’t calm down. Feeling like I might cause an incident, I couldn’t take even a single step.
Then Fei looked back and stopped. He was waiting for me.
‘Young Master. Young Master. Young Master… Fei. Fei Vinter.’
I stared at Fei waiting for me, silently repeating the name I had only called aloud once. How long had I been standing there looking at him? The emotions swirling with inexplicable anxiety slowly began to calm. Only then did my legs move.
* * *
A week had passed since I started facing Alteo every night.
The trial seemed to be progressing smoothly, but they hadn’t called me as a witness yet. It appeared they were first verifying the facts mentioned before the slave auction. My turn would likely come later, so I didn’t need to worry about the trial for now.
‘I still haven’t told Luwen that the First Prince might target me…’
That was because Luwen seemed increasingly unstable.
Perhaps shocked by not being allowed in the room, he would wait in the hallway the entire time, and after Alteo left, he would enter with a stern face and tightly hold my hand as if something had happened to me. Then he would examine me thoroughly before his expression relaxed, as if reassured.
Given this behavior, I couldn’t bring myself to make him more anxious. Since I only travel between the mansion and the clinic, and Luwen is always by my side, it should be fine.
As for the adoption matter, Luwen hadn’t brought it up again, so I wondered if he had changed his mind and was waiting to see. If he did bring it up, there would still be time to discuss it then.
‘The First Prince likely doesn’t have the capacity to worry about me right now anyway.’
Who would pay attention to a rolling pebble when a huge tidal wave is approaching?
I gazed at the firmly closed door while listening to the crackling of firewood in the fireplace. Luwen would be standing in the hallway again today.
‘I feel terrible about this.’
Meanwhile, Alteo was concentrating on his studies with a calm face. He studied so diligently that I wondered if he’d do nothing else until the exams.
“Are you really working on it?”
The scratching sound of the quill pen abruptly stopped. Alteo stretched, closed his book, and looked at me.
“I was planning to wait a bit longer, but I think we could test it now.”
“Test what?”
“Luwen seems about to explode. I didn’t expect a reaction so quickly; he seems more obsessive than I thought.”
He’s not even answering my question, just saying strange things. His face was grinning. He looked like he was dying of amusement.
“Actually, I…”
Alteo unnecessarily lowered his voice. Even though there was no worry about his voice leaking out unless he screamed.
“I told him I’m aiming for the position of Young Master’s bedroom attendant.”
“…What?”
Pointing at my bed, Alteo raised the corner of his mouth in a smirk.
“The study is just an excuse. I told him my real goal is to secure the position of Young Master’s bedroom attendant.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
