Chapter 29
He was sick of it.
The methods were always the same.
Because of that, Aster had long since lost all trust and any small expectations he used to have about other people.
He looked down emotionlessly at the blood-soaked floor and the people in costumes—assassins disguised as performers—who he had knocked down. He swallowed a sigh he was already used to.
The “prize” box must have contained magically enhanced sleeping gas.
If he hadn’t put a protective barrier around himself—and around Psyche—both of them would have been knocked out right away.
“Come out.”
Aster brushed the dark red blood splattered across his cheek as he spoke.
It was the work of his half-brother, Anteros, who must have been hiding in the darkness somewhere, watching everything.
Even knowing that, Aster still let her go alone because Anteros’s goal was only him. Only Aster mattered to him. And since he had left guards to watch her, there would be no danger to her life.
“Of course it’s you, big brother. Amazing as always. You wiped out a group of trained assassins like nothing. I even selected them carefully for this time!”
From the pitch-black fog, a hooded figure popped his head out.
When he finally removed the hood, bright golden hair appeared.
Even with blood covering the ground, Anteros only smiled without the slightest hint of fear.
“But this time, I won. That swan girl is probably in quite a troublesome situation right now.”
“…….”
“The knight you trusted so much had a girl he liked for a long time. When I threatened to kill her, he gave in around the twentieth time? His loyalty was only that much. I guess there truly isn’t anyone in this world who cares about you, brother.”
Anteros stared directly at Aster, who gave no reply. No matter how much Anteros tried to provoke him, Aster’s expression was always empty.
He looked at Anteros as if nothing in the world mattered to him, as if everything Anteros did was meaningless.
It was infuriating.
Anteros ground his teeth hard.
“It’s been a while since you saw your little brother. Can’t you at least say hello? Brother, didn’t you miss me? It’s still cold here, as always.”
“Where is she?”
“Hm? What are you talking about?”
Anteros, who had been happily greeting him, tilted his head and laughed.
Aster stared at the smirking Anteros, then clicked his tongue quietly.
He walked past him.
“Wait. Brother, I’ll tell you.”
Anteros quickly grabbed Aster to stop him.
“You’re looking for the swan, right? I can just tell you.”
Aster stopped walking.
Anteros knew exactly what that meant. It was the last chance. The last mercy Aster would offer.
“But answer me first. Has the swan girl become precious to you?”
But Anteros didn’t need his brother’s mercy.
No matter what he did, his brother would never hurt him.
As long as Aster still loved their mother, and as long as he clung to his duty to protect the Grand Duchy—
Anteros could never be stopped.
“Yeah.”
Aster, who had been staring at the ground with abyss-like eyes, answered calmly.
“You can never love anyone. And no one could love someone as horrible as you.”
Aster’s cold, unreadable eyes shifted toward him.
The look was so chilling that Anteros stepped back without realizing it.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Aster began walking again.
His calm footsteps echoed faintly.
Then he stopped.
“The only reason I haven’t killed you until now… is because even that would be bothersome.”
“…….”
“Don’t appear before me again, Anteros. I have never considered you my brother.”
Anteros was clearly misunderstanding something, but Aster truly could kill him.
The only reason he didn’t was because dealing with the aftermath would be annoying.
But the thought that Anteros had laid a hand on that woman—
Why am I this angry?
Aster ran a hand through his hair and quickened his pace.
* * *
After Aster left, Psyche continued looking around on her own, full of energy.
The street was filled with things that delighted her: ice sculptures, little cotton dolls made by children, and desserts she had never tasted in the Empire.
But Psyche could not buy anything.
No one had enough change to break the single gold coin Aster had given her.
‘He definitely did that on purpose.’
The gentle smile he had shown earlier now felt like the smile of a devil.
“Aster?”
Psyche frowned as she stared at the man standing blankly in the street. Why was he just standing there?
Since she had been waiting for him anyway, she approached the man curiously.
All she could see was his side profile under the tilted angle of the light. His black hair was hidden under a robe’s hood, which didn’t suit him. Only his tall nose and strong jawline were visible—the striking features Aster was known for.
Normally, Aster would notice her presence the moment she took a step toward him, even from far away. But strangely, he didn’t notice her until she was right behind him.
“Were you looking for me? Sorry.”
“…Hm?”
Only then did the man react, making a soft sound as if just realizing she was there.
But something was off. That sound carried a hint of confusion.
“A while ago, you said drinking something cold would make me feel colder. But you’re drinking something cold.”
In the man’s hand, a cup was filled with large chunks of ice. Because he held two drinks, Psyche assumed the one with the lid was hers.
“Cold drinks wake you up.”
Why was he speaking informally?
Psyche glanced at him suspiciously. Something felt different. The normally stiff and tense Aster, who almost seemed obsessive at times, didn’t stand like this.
“And do you know why this is a cold drink?”
“I don’t know.”
“Because it’s not yours, obviously.”
The man placed the cup on a deep crack in the wall and smiled softly.
“This was my brother’s drink. No—used to be. Before he abandoned me and left.”
Only then did Psyche clearly see his face.
Golden eyes—not bright gold, but not exactly yellow either—an unusual color swirling between the two.
And under the hood, dazzling blond hair.
“…I made a mistake. I’m sorry. I thought you were someone I knew.”
But he resembled him too much.
“Have we met somewhere before?”
Except for the color of his hair and eyes, he looked almost identical to Aster.
“Your approach is outdated. It’s so old-fashioned that it’s boring.”
The man clicked his tongue sharply while smiling. When he smiled, a dimple appeared on his left cheek.
He let out a low hum and reached out toward Psyche.
Whoosh.
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
Then slowly, he lifted the hood that had been hiding his face.
