Chapter 101
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It seems like Lark knows my secret. No, he definitely knows.
He didn’t explain how he found out about the secret, but it seemed like we had made an unspoken agreement.
‘Did I really say something in my drunken state the other day?’
I shook my head. It didn’t matter how he found out.
The only important thing was that Lark discovered the enormous secret that I was the contractor for Wishit and yet decided to cover it up.
[So, what do you want to say?]
Oops, I was in the middle of a conversation with my dad.
I pressed my lips against the small pot Lark had made for me and spoke gloomily, “So, my heart feels unsettled. This friend, A, is someone who has unwavering principles and strong personal values that cannot be compromised.”
[Yeah, the prince is like that.]
“What? Why are you suddenly talking about the prince? I was talking about my friend, A.”
[Oh, right. Go on.]
“Anyway, this friend, A, made a decision to sacrifice their principles for the sake of B. B has a huge problem, but it seems like A will just pretend not to know about it.”
[Do you have a problem?]
“Why does my issue keep coming up? I was talking about B, right?”
[Oh, right. But if A said they would turn a blind eye, then it’s settled. What’s the problem?]
“It’s not a problem, but my heart feels a bit unsettled. According to B, they didn’t even realize they meant that much to A.”
[So, in other words, B was quite touched by A’s decision.]
“Well, something like that.”
[Listen, Rubette.]
“Yes?”
[Snap out of it. Plenty of guys pretend to be helpful while harboring ulterior motives.]
“Are you criticizing A right now?”
[Oh, right. After all, A was a boy, right?]
“…”
***
“So, you’re saying B is at the point of falling head over heels for A?”
[I didn’t say anything like that!]
“That’s what you meant.”
[No! It’s just… Well, at some point, B wanted to talk to A about their issue, but the concern was that they couldn’t trust A.]
“Yeah, B was afraid that A would dwell on the problem and cling to it.”
[Yes, yes, exactly. But when A decided to look past it without much hesitation, B was surprised, that’s all.]
“It would have been nice if they were just surprised, but it seems like B fell for A.”
[No!]
Knock, knock.
At that moment, the sound of a knock was heard.
“Father, may I come in?” It was Viego.
“Rubette, hold on a moment.”
[Yes.]
“Yes, come in.”
Leonard was taken aback by the feeble door opening and Viego entering the room. His son had become a mere shadow of himself in just one month. He almost didn’t recognize him.
“Father…”
“Uh, yes.”
“I’m ashamed. Still…”
“…”
“But I will definitely find Rubette. Somehow.” Viego’s trembling body, with lips tightly pressed to the point of bleeding, shook as if his blood would burst out. Leonard was inwardly distressed by his pitiful state.
“With the help of the imperial family, access to the capital is strictly controlled. Surely, surely Rubette will be in the capital.”
“Uh…”
“I’m sorry, Father.”
“No, why are you apologizing? I know you’re doing your best.”
“I… I…”
…Is he about to cry? In his confusion, Leonard fidgeted, but Viego, barely holding himself together, turned his body.
“I apologize for showing such an unsightly appearance. I couldn’t be a good older brother to Rubette.”
“No, my child.”
“Just wait a little longer.”
“Viego!”
Thud.
Leonard, who had halfway risen toward the closed door, slumped down with a long sigh.
[What’s wrong? Was that Brother Viego? What did he say?]
“Sigh…”
[Dad?]
“Rubette.”
[Yes?]
“Tell that guy, A, to quickly resolve things. If not, my eldest son is in serious trouble.”
[…]
***
As soon as he finished his report to Leonard and came out, Viego coincidentally ran into the twins. Well, it wasn’t exactly a coincidence. The twins had intentionally sought out Viego. After all, he had been tormented by them for a month now.
“Sob.”
“Oh, Brother.”
“Stop it,” Viego coldly scolded the whining twins, grabbing them by both arms. “Why are you begging so naively? Aren’t you worried about Rubette at all?”
“Well, of course we’re worried. But, Brother, Rubette is Rubette, and we need to hurry and make the contract.”
“What? Rubette is Rubette?”
Ricky was taken aback by the sudden change in Viego’s eyes. Lillia quickly stepped in between them.
“Brother, Ricky is also very worried about Rubette. But because he’s anxious, he misspoke just now. Both of us have been eagerly waiting for the day we make a contract with the spirits…”
Originally, a month ago, the twins were supposed to visit the altar in the palace for the contract with the spirits. However, since the daughter of Duke Diollus was kidnapped and her life and death were unclear…
At the current juncture, the emperor deemed it unsuitable to hold the ceremonial contract with the spirits, which he considered a national affair. He proposed to postpone it, and Viego naturally agreed.
“I never said I wouldn’t let you make the contract. I just asked you to wait until we find Rubette safely.”
“Ah, it’s frustrating. If she’s dead or something, we’ll never be able to make the contract.”
“What?”
Ricky grumbled with a frustrated expression as if talking to himself, and Viego’s expression turned cold and rigid. “What did you just say?”
“Oh, Brother. R-Ricky must be feeling quite frustrated.”
“Then give us an exact date. We can’t wait indefinitely for someone whose life or death we don’t even know.”
“Ricky!” Startled, Lillia grabbed Ricky’s arm and restrained him, stumbling backwards. “Brother, I’m sorry. He’s just feeling too agitated. We… We’ll go ahead first.”
“…”
As Lillia pulled him away, Ricky continued to mumble incoherently. Watching the twins recede into the distance, Viego bit his lip with a heavy heart.
‘Rubette…’
Despite worrying about his one and only younger sister more than anyone else, Viego found his concern for her truly pathetic and pitiful.
‘When Rubette was by my side unharmed, I didn’t do anything for her…’
How ridiculous it must seem. What if, by any chance, Rubette was truly in danger? What if he would never see her again?
No matter how much he searched his mind, he couldn’t recall any memories of being a good older brother to her. He only remembered causing her pain and behaving indifferently.
“Always take good care of the twins. As the older one, you should treat them with the mindset of an older sister and make concessions for them.”
“Yes, brother. I will.”
Why did it turn out like this?
Rubetria and the twins were only a year apart. They were all just young children.
“Rubetria! What on earth were you doing? Was it such a difficult request to care for the younger ones?”
“I-I’m sorry. Ricky… D-did he get hurt badly? I-I was… I was foolishly asleep, I didn’t know…”
The image of him angrily waking up her clueless younger sister flashed in his mind, and he felt his breath catch.
“…”
Slowly, Viego’s hand reached into his pocket and pulled out something.
A clumsily made cat-shaped stuffed toy. It was a gift Lillia had made for him on his birthday the year before. Or rather…
He had only known Lillia made it, or so he thought.
“Haha, Lillia. Are you preparing a handkerchief for the martial arts tournament? Isn’t it more meaningful for you to do it yourself instead of having the maids do it? You’re good at sewing, aren’t you?”
“Oh, dear, Brother. What are you talking about? I’ve never touched a needle in my life. What if I make a mistake and prick myself? I’m scared.”
“….Huh?”
“Hehe, even Brother doesn’t want pretty Lillia to get hurt, right?”
Why did he automatically assume it was Lillia’s gift? Like a fool. And…
Seeing the foolish older brother proudly displaying the gift ‘Lillia’ had made in front of her, what must Rubette have thought?
“Hu, uh….” Viego brought the small doll to his chest and tightly gripped it, and from his trembling lips, sobs burst out uncontrollably.
“Uh, waaah….”
What should I do? What should I do?
I’m sorry. I’m sorry, little sister.
I was wrong.
“Hu, h-huh, waaah, aaah….”
Unaware of the embarrassment, tears streamed down his face. He didn’t even think about wiping away the mess of tears on his contorted face.
Turning nineteen this year, Viego had matured faster than most because he had to shoulder many responsibilities. It had been a long time since he cried like a young child.
“Huh, h-huh, w-waaah….”
He stood there and sobbed for a very long time. Regretting the absence of his one and only younger sister belatedly.
***
Crack, crack.
“…Huh!”
Startled, I quickly turned my head, my hazy eyes opening wide.
‘What, what’s going on? Did I wake up because of my own breathing?’
It seemed like I had been enjoying a very deep sleep. Normally, I would take short naps of three to four hours, but lately, with nothing much to do, the quality and duration of my slumber had increased…
“Hmm.”
I closed my eyes again, attempting to go back to sleep.
Creak.
Very cautiously, I sensed someone opening the door.
‘Is it Rebecca?’
I thought it might be Rebecca coming to check on my bedding in the early morning…
‘Huh, no?’
Stealthily, the approaching footsteps grew heavier, indicating that it wasn’t Rebecca.
‘Who is it?’
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart instinctively thumped as I realized there was an unfamiliar intruder. The suspicious presence made its way to the desk next to my bed.
Immediately, there was a creak, the sound of the desk drawer being opened.
“Who’s there!?”
“…!”
Quickly, I got up from the darkness and fled to the corner of the bed, and the suspicious presence seemed to be surprised.
“Don’t be alarmed. It’s me.”
“…Your Highness?”
“Sorry, sorry. I needed something and I heard it was here. I’ll take it and leave right away.”
“No, wait a moment. Turn on the light, please.”
“No, that’s not possible.”
For some reason, Lark tried to dissuade me, but in the darkness, I fumbled around hurriedly. I familiarly searched the top of the desk and found a matchbox.
‘What’s this? The smell of blood?’
As I approached Lark, I caught a whiff of a pungent odor of blood. It felt ominous somehow. I quickly lit the match and transferred the flame to the candle. And then I was shocked.
“Gasp!”
“…”
Lark stood there, swaying unsteadily, with a sheepish smile, his robe open. On his side was an immensely large knife wound that made my eyes involuntarily widen in surprise.
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