CHAPTER 411: A BEAUTIFUL LIE

WINTER was glad that his mother was a good liar— er, a good storyteller.

I inherited my mother’s wits.

In his defense, he didn’t want to die at the hands of his father.

Hence, he made a lie.

Winter said he could see the future and the past.

["I can see things that happened in the past and things that will happen in the future. Whenever I receive a vision, I feel like I’m really there. Hence, I said that I came from the future. But it was just my consciousness wandering between the past and the future."]

That was what he told his father.

And now...

"Interesting," Kalel Moonchester said. "I have no way to confirm if you can truly see the future since we have to wait for that to happen. So, tell me something that happened in the past— something that a child your age couldn’t possibly have witnessed."

That was easy.

In fact, that was the reason why Winter corrected himself.

I might die, but it’s worth the risk.

"A woman with red flames," Winter said, gulping. "I saw a woman who looks similar to a red phoenix by my lord’s side— and her heart was missing."

And, just like that, the entire room had turned into what seemed like an igloo.

Okay, I admit that I went overboard with this one.

Winter clenched his hands tight.

He was about to say something when, suddenly, Julian knelt next to him.

What is he doing?

Winter was even more shocked when Julian suddenly held him by the head, slightly forcing him to bow down.

He wanted to get annoyed, but he noticed that his brother was shaking.

"F-Father, please forgive this child," Julian begged his father desperately. "He doesn’t know what he’s talking about."

Now Winter felt guilty.

Because of my recklessness, my brother is begging for our father’s forgiveness on my behalf.

But, to be honest, Julian didn’t have to do that.

"Young lord, you don’t have to do this for me. I appreciate your effort to save my neck, but I’m really okay," Winter whispered to Julian. "If your father wants me dead, my head would be rolling down the floor by now."

Julian turned to him with a tired look on his face. "Child, please..."

Oh, okay.

Winter acted like he was zipping up his lips.

"Julian, get up."

"Y-Yes, Father," Julian immediately stood up after their father asked him to. "Please spare the child..."

"I didn’t say I was going to punish the child, did I?"

Right?

That was why Winter was confident.

Even though he knew that he made a mistake, he didn’t feel like his father would kill him for the "prophecy" that he had seen.

But I wonder if I’ll return to the real world if I died here...

"Child, lift your head."

Winter immediately did as he was told.

"What’s your name?" Kalel Moonchester asked. But the gentleness and softness on his face right now reminded Winter of the father that he knew and loved. "Do you have a name?"

It was normal for peasants and slaves to not have a proper name, so Winter didn’t find his father’s question strange.

Should I make up a new name?

That was what he planned to do.

But, in the end, he changed his mind.

"My name is Winter," Winter said in a serious tone. "Please address me as such, my noble lord."

"Winter," Kalel Moonchester repeated Winter’s name softly. "You have a beautiful name, child."

I know, right?

***

FULL STOMACH.

Clean clothes.

A decent room.

Winter’s situation was pretty good despite acting "crazy" in front of Kalel Moonchester earlier.

I guess Father has a soft spot for kids.

"Winter, can I come in?"

Oh.

Winter immediately opened the door for his brother Julian. "Young lord, what brought you here?"

Julian smiled and gently patted Winter’s head. "Have you had your dinner?"

"A servant brought me dinner earlier. It was delicious."

Not really.

Winter was used to extravagant food, especially since his mother was a good cook.

But after going through all this crazy stuff, he thought his first proper meal in that world was good.

"I’m glad you enjoyed your dinner," Julian said, smiling. "Can we talk?"

"Of course, Young Lord. Come in."

A few moments later, Winter found himself sitting on the floor while facing Julian.

There was a plain teapot and teacups between them.

They look plain, but I can tell they’re made from premium materials.

It was brought by the servant that his brother came with.

But, after serving the tea, the servant immediately left the room.

Now the silence is starting to feel awkward.

"Winter, can you really see the future and the past?"

Oh, so that’s why he’s here.

"I can, but it’s not like I see them all the time, Young Lord," Winter said vaguely. "I see visions in my dreams, but it’s not like I dream about the past and the future every night."

Julian looked disappointed.

Haaah.

I don’t want to see my brother this way.

"Is there something you want to ask, Young Lord?" Winter asked carefully. "If its’s something that I’ve seen in my dreams, then I’ll answer your questions honestly."

Julian’s face immediately lit up. "Then can you tell me if my father will ever love me in the future?"

"What?"

"My father," Julian said, smiling sadly. "As you can see, he’s a cold person. So, I want to know if my father will come to love me in the future. Of course, I know that it’s something that’s not easy to see."

Wait, this is heartbreaking.

"So, just answer this if you can: is my father going to make me his successor?" Julian asked with expectant eyes. "If my father made me his successor in the future, then that’s how I’ll know that he loves me..."

Julian trailed off, his eyes widening a bit.

Winter, on the other hand, was already sobbing at that point.

"Child, why are you crying?" Julian asked worriedly. "Is it that bad?"

"Your father loves you, stupid," Winter said between sobs. "He has always loved you, Young Lord."

This time, it was Julian’s turn to cry. "Then why don’t I feel Father’s love?"

***

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