Chapter 29 : Unexpected (2)

“The Elder asked me to deliver this.”

Jing, who was visited in his room by Ratel from early dawn, stared at him for a moment, then turned his gaze out the window.

The blue pre-dawn sky, as the sun had not yet risen, dimly brightened his vision.

“Thank you. A young man with less morning sleep than an old man. Very kind.”

At his weak reply, Ratel nodded without a word and quietly held out the thing he had brought.

Jing accepted the heavy object.

“It seems he has been investigating various things, just in case it was a suspicious item.”

Ratel added.

Jing quietly slung the leather bag, which was now a bit tattered, over his shoulder.

It was the bag the 7th Prince had handed him.

It was the only object from the outside world that was with him.

It was also the most suspicious object to him.

-You can't die yet.

The memory of that face, which had muttered expressionlessly as if casting some curse, resurfaced, and Jing almost shivered uncontrollably.

Ratel was staring intently at him, so Jing cleared his throat and asked.

“So, did anything come out?”

Perhaps a stone related to Amica?

That rogue-like 7th Prince was nagging at him.

The black-haired prince's last words, as if he had anticipated that he would receive a summary execution according to imperial tradition that day, were enough to make Jing suspicious of him.

If, by some chance, this was an object related to Amica, there was a high probability that this was what had summoned him to that strange cave.

It would be a clue for escape.

And it would also be a reason to contact the 7th Prince upon returning to the capital.

Ratel answered quietly.

“No. It was an ordinary stone.”

“Is that so?”

Jing, feeling his strength drain away again at the bland reply, asked again.

“Yes, and the Elder asked me to ask you if this is how people in the outside world take care of their health. He said he really wants to learn.”

He wanted to argue, how could carrying this thing around be good for one's health when his shoulder might fall off, but he shook his head, thinking the other person was mistaken.

“That…… I'll tell him separately.”

Ratel, as if he hadn't been expecting an answer, opened his mouth.

“Yes, he said to come to the archive after the meal, so you can go then.”

Ah, I did say I wanted to see the archive.

To see…… the books about Amica in the archive…….

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Jing snapped to his senses at the blunt tone, which didn't match the worry.

“Ah, I'm fine. What did you say?”

“The Elder said to come alone. That he would be waiting in the basement.”

After saying that, Ratel turned and left without any lingering attachment.

Jing's hand, as he closed the door, was not as relieved as Ratel's.

Jing placed a hand on his chest.

His heart was beating unpleasantly fast.

***

The place called the archive was smaller and older than he thought, and above all, very dirty.

“It's very…… cozy.”

At the greatest compliment he could give in front of that scene, the Elder, who was standing in the middle of the archive that looked like it would send dust clouds flying, laughed lowly.

“It's a bit dirty since it's a place anyone can enter and leave.”

Perhaps Ratel's words that anyone could read the books as long as they got permission weren't a lie, as the interior, which was filled with books that made it hard to find one without signs of use, was worn out here and there.

“If just anyone can come and go, the precious books will be damaged.”

It was a question he posed, not understanding how they could manage what were clearly the last remaining materials in the world like this, but the Elder just smiled.

“It's 'everyone' rather than 'just anyone'. The two are not the same.”

That was true.

Jing nodded and looked around slowly.

It was, indeed, ordinary.

To the point where it was pointless to have forcibly calmed his pounding heart before entering.

Jing had felt uncomfortable, as there was a time in Abalan when he had taken the lead in executing those who possessed heretical books.

But now that he was here, he didn't feel the intense emotions he had expected.

“Is there something you want to read? 'Everyone' includes Jing, too.”

The sudden invitation pulled Jing out of his thoughts.

“Ah, are there books that aren't religious texts?”

“If not, there would be no reason to be here.”

Jing, who had never once thought of learning the teachings of Amica in his life, couldn't hide his flustered look.

The Elder tilted his head.

“Didn't you say you wanted to look around this place?”

“I, I did. Right, I said that.”

“The most basic book is this one.”

Not knowing Jing's flustered heart, the Elder held out the most worn-out-looking, thumb-thick book in front of Jing's eyes.

It was just a book.

A bundle of paper.

Jing, who had stared defiantly even when all sorts of threatening weapons grazed his neck, felt himself flinch, as if frightened by a bundle of paper.

It felt as if the Knight Captain Agoni Piteos was still left inside him.

-Reading subversive books is a betrayal of Abalan. Betrayal is treason. Treason is…….

“A capital offense.”

The Elder, who had widened his eyes for a moment at the lump of thought that popped out lowly, folded his wrinkled eyes again.

“I see.”

He immediately withdrew the hand he had extended.

“Can't be helped if one's life is on the line.”

Jing let out a deep breath, as if the sword that had been threatening his neck had been withdrawn.

“You're welcome to come anytime if you change your mind.”

The old man spoke peacefully and said he would look around the dust-pit books again.

What was that just now?

Something was strange.

There was no reason for Jing, who was not Duke Piteos, to be afraid.

Jing looked down at the copious sweat on his calloused palm.

***

The son, whom the former Duke Piteos was dying to know about, was currently standing in the center of an embarrassing situation, without a single scratch on his fingertips.

“Seya? Seya? Are you dead? Seya!!”

The Little Duke looked on with a complicated expression at the small kid, who was shaking the bigger, fallen kid, looking shocked enough to collapse alongside him.

The big kid named Seya had charged at the Little Duke at a considerable speed just a moment ago.

The Little Duke was also flustered by that agile movement, but he was, after all, a person of the Piteos Ducal Family.

That meant he had not been lazy in his training as the sword of the Imperial Family, and at the same time, it meant he was nimble enough to dodge a street child charging at him from close range.

The child named Seya, with surprising agility, noticed he hadn't collided with the Little Duke, and at the same time, tried to stop himself abruptly.

But perhaps because his bare feet lacked friction with the ground, he just slid and tumbled to the ground.

Around the time the Little Duke thought he couldn't stand the quiet stillness that came after the 'thud' of the light child falling, the small child approached the fallen child, whimpering.

And that was how they arrived at the current situation.

The Little Duke was flustered.

He had only stepped forward to stop them because the plan the children were discussing was so absurd and dangerous.

He had no intention of hurting the children.

The commoners the Little Duke remembered were mostly those who kowtowed just at the sight of him, so he hadn't dreamed things would turn out like this.

“Sob, ugh, Seya, open your eyes.”

The small child was already crying as if the big child was dead, so the Little Duke's confusion only intensified.

“Wait. You shouldn't shake him like that.”

He thought he should first stop the small child who was shaking Seya like mad, so he grabbed the child's shoulder, but that didn't seem to be a good choice.

The child began to wail as if having a seizure.

“Uwaaaah!!! I'm sorry!! I'm sorry!!! It's because we're bad vermin……!!! We were trying to do something bad, so we're dying like this!!!”

“Ah, no, that's not what I meant. No one is dying.”

Even at the Little Duke's words, the child couldn't stop crying.

“Wait. I'll bring people. They're not far from here.”

In the end, the Little Duke admitted it.

This wasn't something he could resolve.

Furthermore, a child was hurt, even if he was a commoner.

A faint guilt, coming from having done the exact opposite of the Little Duke's original intention of wanting to see with his own two eyes how the ducal family helped the children, made the Little Duke's feet move.

The Little Duke, who was about to turn back, saw the child lying on the cold ground and returned.

“Here, cover him with this for now. He said you shouldn't let the body get cold.”

The small kid watched with tear-filled eyes as the Little Duke carefully covered Seya's body with the high-quality coat.

That look, too, seemed to be blaming him, so the Little Duke avoided his eyes and said.

“Don't worry. The Piteos Ducal Family will take responsibility for the treatment.”

Leaving these words, the Little Duke was turning his feet to really call Tollin, when the small child asked him with a hesitant, ant-like voice.

“Thank you, really, thank you. What is the noble sir's name?”

The Little Duke hesitated for a moment at the awkward honorifics, which seemed improperly learned, and then answered.

“……It's Flinn.”

“Lord Flinn. Thank you, really, really thank you.”

Leaving the child, who was bowing his head repeatedly, the Little Duke, Flinn Piteos, ran with all his might.

***

The small-bodied child didn't take his eyes off the edge of the alley until his back disappeared.

And when he thought the Little Duke had completely left, he carefully opened his mouth.

“You can get up now, Seya.”

Seya peeked one eye open, and realizing that only his companion remained beside him, he shot up.

“You're really smart, Mir.”

Seya praised Mir, who had carefully whispered to him when he had fallen.

-Keep pretending to be unconscious.

Mir always found the right solution, so Seya followed without a second word.

Seya had stayed just like that, without flinching, as if dead.

As expected, it was the right decision.

Not only had he saved his life, but he had also obtained the noble sir's expensive clothes, just like their original purpose.

Excited, Seya looked over the black coat Flinn had left behind.

Is it made of gold?

It's too light for that.

Whatever it was, it seemed like if he just took off the buttons and sold them, he wouldn't have to worry about food for a week.

“He seems super-rich and soft-hearted, should we just lie down and say we're hurt? Mir?”

Seya looked at Mir, who didn't answer.

He still hadn't taken his eyes off the end of the alley where the small head had disappeared.

“No, the Piteos Ducal Family is too big. We'll have to be satisfied with this.”

He was still looking at the end of the alley as he muttered softly, so Seya was puzzled, but because it was Mir, he just let it be.

“Then let's go now.”

At Seya's urging, Mir slowly tore his gaze away and stood up.

“We scammed a noble, so we'd better hide well so we don't run into him.”

Seya also nodded at the words, which were like a vow.

The two children gripped the luxurious coat tightly and disappeared into the darkness.

The Little Duke, who would return later and be flustered, was outside their concern.

***

Tollin was still maintaining an awkward relationship with the Little Duke since the meeting at the Imperial Palace.

The strange situation from before, where they couldn't see each other's faces at all and only exchanged updates via documents, was no longer happening, but Tollin still couldn't treat the Little Duke like before.

The bright child, perhaps sensing his discomfort, began to avoid seeking Tollin out unless necessary, as if he were treading on eggshells.

His insistence on riding the carriage alone these days might have been a part of that consideration.

'How childish.'

Tollin sat in the carriage and pressed his throbbing temples.

Today, he was planning to see him face-to-face and talk.

He couldn't receive the child's consideration forever.

At the very least, he had to avoid doing something that would make him unable to face the previous Duke.

He had vowed not to let the child develop the strange habit of tiptoeing around an adult, yet he had gone and done this.

“Pale, when we arrive at the ducal mansion after finishing our work, bring the documents to be processed during dinner time.”

“……Lord Tollin, you didn't even eat lunch properly.”

Pale, who was watching Tollin incessantly rub his temples, said cautiously.

“Prepare things that are easy to eat for dinner. Document organization can be done while eating.”

At the irritable response, presumptuous words rose to Pale's throat, but he just nodded and whispered a small "I understand."

Whether he knew this or not, Tollin's current focus was entirely on the small child.

As soon as I go back, I must ask for the Little Duke's understanding.

I must say I'm sorry that I couldn't pay attention to him because I was busy with work.

I have to reassure him, even if it's only half the truth.

It was the moment he thought that.

Kwang!

At the not-insignificant impact on the front of the carriage, Tollin's body lurched forward.

As soon as he righted himself, Tollin burst out of the carriage.

“What is it!”

“Lord Tollin, it's dangerous if you suddenly come out.”

Jack stayed by his side.

Tollin urgently asked Jack.

“Is the Little Duke alright?”

Although things had stabilized a lot, foolish groups targeting the ducal family existed everywhere.

It wasn't that there hadn't been threats, big and small, but Tollin, who had taken every precaution for safety so that such an incident wouldn't happen when he was with the Little Duke, felt his blood run cold.

“He seems a little startled, but he is not injured anywhere.”

A knight who approached them quickly reported.

Tollin let out a sigh.

He pointed at the knights with his finger and instructed them to escort the Little Duke's carriage.

And he turned his gaze to the carriage that was the cause of all this.

Even though it wasn't that big of an accident, and despite the bustle of the knights pulling out the fallen coachman, no one came out from inside.

“Open it.”

Tollin commanded coldly.

He needed to check the face and the backers of the crazy bastard who had suddenly cut into the road at an intersection.

His gaze was sharp as he looked at the very suspicious carriage, which bore no crest.

But the familiar face of the opponent who finally came out after opening the carriage door was enough to make his expression even colder.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“To think I'd see you here.”

At the appearance of his older brother, Igo Crisa, speaking so nonchalantly, Tollin narrowed the space between his already close-set eyebrows enough to fit a needle.