IYSTDF 26

IYSTDF

Chapter 26

While Aaron spoke, his hands didn’t stop moving — he swiftly sorted and stacked the papers in the correct order.
Meanwhile, Khalid’s gaze still drifted blankly in midair.

“To think I’d ever feel jealous of Roy.”

At Khalid’s dismissive reaction, Aaron gave a faint, bitter smile.

His master had spent an unimaginably long time in an impossibly harsh isolation.
For someone who once seemed to have no emotions left beyond his obsession with the “door” leading to the other world, Khalid had begun to regain traces of his former self ever since bringing the woman, Dalia, into his life.

Because of that, Aaron truly welcomed her presence — if through her, his poor master could relive even a sliver of the warmth and happiness of his distant past.

Right. What could that little human possibly do? She’ll die within a century at most. Even if she were something far worse — say, a jackal from the tundra, a fox’s natural enemy — I’d still accept her if she could bring out the master’s old self. It’s not my place to meddle in my master’s amusements anyway.

In the end, Aaron decided to play along with this little “game.”

“Lord Khalid, jealousy can happen to anyone, you know.”

“No. That’s impossible. Roy simply followed my orders. Ridiculous.”

Khalid shook his head several times, as if to clear his thoughts.

“Jealousy, of all things. It doesn’t make sense — I was the one who asked him to do it.”

“That’s what we call being human, sir.”

At Aaron’s teasing, Khalid scowled deeply.
Even if he had to live among humans for a time, that was one trait he had no intention of imitating.

Finally, he seemed to reach a decision.

“I still support Roy and Dalia spending time together. Yes… There’s a festival opening soon in Ahmad City — it might be nice for the two of them to go and have some fun.”

At this strange conclusion, Aaron sighed in frustration.

“If you do that, I’m sure you’ll regret it later.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s good for them to be close.”

“You’re saying that with a face that looks anything but fine, my lord.”

Ignoring Aaron’s bold remark, Khalid suddenly opened the window and called out to Dalia and Roy below. If he didn’t act immediately, his tangled emotions would only worsen.

“Oh? Khalid!”
“Master!”

Seeing them wave up at him so cheerfully, Khalid forced a smile and barely managed to speak.

“Dalia, how about going to the Ahmad Festival with Roy?”

“Wow! There’s a festival?”

Her delighted tone overflowed with excitement.

“Yes. The biggest one of the year starts this week.”

“That sounds great! But… only Roy? You’re not coming, Khalid?”

The fact that she even asked made Khalid’s lips curve upward.
For some reason, he felt relieved.

He almost blurted out that he’d go too — but caught himself just in time, swallowing the words.
He shook his head as originally intended.

“…No. I don’t have the time.”

“Really? Well, that can’t be helped.”

She nodded a bit too easily for his liking.

“Hmm, Dalia. You’re really fine going alone with Roy?”

He was the one who suggested it, yet he still had to ask again.

“Yes. We’ve gotten more comfortable with each other lately.”

“I’m fine too, Master!” Roy added brightly.

Khalid shot him a glare before turning back to Dalia with a forced smile.

“I see. That’s… wonderful.”

Aaron muttered from behind, “You don’t look wonderful at all, sir.”
Khalid pretended not to hear and waved kindly to Dalia before closing the window.

Aaron crossed his arms, looking ready to lecture him.

“Master.”
“What?”
“…”
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”

But seeing Khalid’s expression back to calm indifference, Aaron gave up.
He wasn’t the meddling type anyway.

He decided it wasn’t his place to stop Khalid from rationalizing his own confused emotions after experiencing jealousy for the first time.
Even if his master’s condition seemed rather severe, it was still a relief to see some life return to him.

“Never mind, sir. Since I can’t concentrate anymore, I’ll retire to my room.”

Gathering the remaining papers, Aaron left the study.

Left alone, Khalid covered his eyes with one hand, trying to calm his restless thoughts — but his heart only grew more tangled.

“I’m losing my mind…”

From the garden outside came the sound of Dalia’s laughter, bright and clear — Roy must have done something amusing again.

Khalid, Aaron, and Roy didn’t really need to eat much.
Even so, ever since Dalia had come to live in the mansion, they made a habit of gathering for dinner.

“Seems they’re having a fine time,” Khalid muttered.

It was the evening of the Ahmad Festival.
The normally lively dining room was quiet, with only him and Aaron seated at the table.

After a sleepless night, Khalid could only admit to himself that he’d effectively “cut his own foot with his own axe.”

“Let’s eat.”

The food had long since gone cold while they waited for Roy and Dalia.

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Aaron picked up a piece of meat. It was barely edible — not terrible, but nothing compared to when it was freshly cooked.

“Honestly, if you were going to wait like this, why did you tell them to take their time and enjoy themselves?”

“…I said something unnecessary.”

Aaron looked at him sympathetically — his master had once again overdone the act of pretending to be fine.

“Still, if you’re waiting for them, why bother sitting here like this? We could’ve eaten separately.”

The table was lavishly set — far too much for two people who barely needed food. Khalid avoided Aaron’s eyes.

“They might’ve been too caught up in the fun to eat anything. They’ll be hungry when they get back.”

“At the most food-filled festival of the year? You think they didn’t eat?”

“…You never know.”

Aaron swallowed and stabbed at a roasted carrot with his fork.

“Still, not bad.”

Human food, he realized, was far more varied than he remembered. The sweet, earthy flavor of the carrot filled his mouth pleasantly.

He was wondering what to try next when a faint noise came from outside — and suddenly Khalid shot up, toppling his chair. Aaron nearly choked, almost becoming the first foxkin in history to die by carrot.

“Ack! What was that for?”

“They’re here.”

Leaving the fallen chair where it was, Khalid strode quickly to the entrance.

It was indeed Roy and Dalia, both arms laden with packages.

“Ah, Khalid! You were up?” Dalia asked cheerfully.

Khalid hurried to take the bags from her hands.

“Yes. We were just having dinner. Have you eaten? If not, join us.”

Roy jumped in before Dalia could answer.

“Oh, Master, look at the time! Of course we’ve eaten.”

“…I see.”

He wanted to ask Dalia how her day had gone — where she’d been, what she’d seen.
But caught between that desire and his worry she might be tired, he chose the latter.

“You must be exhausted. Go wash up and rest.”

“Huh? But today was so much fun! Don’t you want to hear about it? I even brought you a gift.”

At her words, Khalid’s gloomy expression instantly brightened.

“…Really? Then, perhaps I’ll hear it.”

“But wait—you said you were eating. Want to finish dinner first? Or are you busy? Oh, right, you were too busy to come to the fes—”

“I’m not busy.”

He cut her off before she could finish.
Dalia blinked — she could still clearly remember how apologetic he’d looked earlier for being “too busy” to go.

“You’re not just overworking yourself because of me, right?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll change and be right back! Keep eating!”

She smiled brightly and skipped up the stairs.

As Roy moved to follow, Khalid caught him by the shoulder.

“Huh? Master, what is it?”

Khalid’s tone turned serious.

“Roy. I have an urgent task for you.”

“Of course, sir! Anything you need.”

But when Khalid leaned in and whispered in his ear, Roy’s face — still flushed from the festival — went completely pale.

Khalid was contentedly toying with the gift Dalia had given him when she suddenly burst into his study.

“What do you mean, Roy went to the mines?!”

Caught mid-motion, Khalid slowly set the keepsake down and looked at her, visibly flustered.
He had only thought to separate Roy from Dalia — not how to explain it when she came demanding answers.