Chapter 20
That day, Kyler Dierne visited his secret base after two months. It was a hanging chair hidden inside the bushes at the corner of the maze garden.
It was a place he had often hidden from people’s eyes since he was very young.
After emptying the tears in that quiet, comfortable, secret place where no one knew him, cold anger filled the empty space.
At the dining table today, his plan to invite his mother and father to watch his training was completely destroyed when Darius Dierne appeared.
The fact that his parents did not even glance at him made him feel like a ghost, and it made him want to cry in sadness.
But compared to that, that bastard Darius looked as if the attention directed at him was too heavy and unbearable.
The reason for complaining was ridiculous.
Was it because he didn’t want to attend the victory ceremony?
Or because he couldn’t be first place at school?
Kyler wondered how full someone’s life must be to complain about such things.
It was always like this.
He wanted something desperately but couldn’t have it, while the other person held everything and acted as if they were unhappy even though they never wanted it.
Disgusting hypocrite.
In childhood, Darius had bullied him, and now he pretended to be a good older brother and tried to take care of him, which made Kyler feel sick.
To suppress his boiling anger, Kyler went to the outdoor training ground.
He struck the hitting post without thinking.
His breath reached his throat, and his arms felt like they were being torn apart, but he did not stop.
“I will definitely gain my mother and father’s recognition.”
If he entered the military academy, he would not stop at being the top student of his grade but would become the top student of the entire academy.
After joining the army, he would rise faster than anyone else and build military achievements.
He would raise the family honor and become his parents’ pride.
Not Darius, but him.
In his imagination, his mother and father would smile brightly at him and praise him.
They would hug him and say he was great, that he had worked hard, and that they were sorry for not recognizing him until now.
No one would point at him and call him an illegitimate child or laugh at him anymore.
The vassals and knights would worship him as the heir.
Darius would be completely isolated while watching that scene.
Imagining such a future reversed from reality made him laugh faintly.
Training did not feel hard, and the blood seeping from the blisters on his palms did not hurt.
Kyler swung the wooden sword in a trance for a long time.
Then his vision suddenly spun.
Heat rose in his head, and warm liquid flowed down from under his nose.
When he regained his senses, he saw the girl handing him a handkerchief while he was crouching on the ground.
After forcing strength into his trembling legs, he stood up and pushed her away while wiping the blood with his sleeve.
“Are you okay? You pushed yourself too hard.”
The person he least wanted to see right now was looking straight at him with worried eyes.
He hated showing weakness, but at the same time, he felt relieved and wanted to cry.
“…Hey, go home.”
It was the only thing he could barely squeeze out after swallowing an unknown lump inside his chest.
Despite the cold dismissal, the girl continued chatting casually.
She talked about going somewhere to play, what to see, and what would be delicious.
She spoke about another world completely separated from his current reality.
The innocent, pure voice felt like scratching his heart.
So he swung harsh, sharp words that he didn’t mean.
It was ugly jealousy and anger toward the child who was loved so much, unlike himself who was hanging dangerously inside the boundary of his family.
“Can you tell me what happened? I’m your friend. I’m on your side.”
Even while he pushed her away mercilessly, he was speechless when hearing words that worried about him.
Friend.
On your side.
For a moment, his eyes became hot.
She truly acted only as his friend as she had promised.
Unlike other children who tried to use him after getting close, she was different.
She even deceived her own mother, the duchess, just to be friends with him. It looked strangely… sincere.
To be honest, he also enjoyed playing with her.
It was the first time in his life he felt what a real friend was like, even though he didn’t want to admit it.
But because of that, this child became an obstacle in his life.
Not only did she take away his training time, she made his soul weak.
If he continued hanging around her, he would be dragged into another world.
Once he stepped into it, he would fall helplessly into a warm, gentle world he could never escape.
If he became intoxicated by that sweetness, he would never be able to return to his original place.
So now, he had to cut it off.
“You’re in the way, so please disappear from my sight.”
His tongue moved on its own and formed thorny words.
The warm spring-like eyes twisted.
The red color disappeared from her cheeks.
But the deeply hurt expression soon relaxed as if nothing had happened.
When he heard her calm goodbye without attachment, he felt relieved.
Kyler knew he was wrong. He knew he was a bad guy.
But he neither stopped her nor apologized.
This was correct.
The longer it dragged on, the harder it would become.
It was better to cut it off when it hurt less.
Kyler stared endlessly at the place where Ries had left.
The wheel sounds that must have come from the carriage of Brant County Mansion faded away.
“Find another good friend… not someone like me.”
A hollow voice echoed like an echo.
Soon, rain began pouring down like a waterfall.
Kyler looked up, welcoming the sky’s crying.
Fragments of emotions accumulated in his chest were washed away together.
At the royal palace, a grand event was held to celebrate the northern war victory.
The hero of the ceremony and banquet held in the Great Hall of the capital’s nobles was undoubtedly Selfius Dierne.
I was still a young lady and did not attend, but I heard the story from Count Brant during dinner that evening.
“Darius young master also came. He was very friendly when talking to me, saying I was his friend’s father. He is a very honest and polite young man.”
The Count, who saw Darius in person for the first time, smiled satisfyingly and put down his teacup.
“He isn’t exactly honest, but he is quite good at social talk,” I said.
“And he is very handsome. If he enters high society, he will be extremely popular.”
“He looks too pretty for a man. It’s a little creepy.”
“If you stand next to him, you’ll look like an octopus.”
I kept agreeing with the Count’s favorite character praise, while my older brother Simon Brant kept pouring cold water.
Yesterday, that brother of mine came home, so I also knew that Darius was staying in the capital to attend the victory banquet.
‘It’s very close… within walking distance.’
I thought about visiting the duchess and meeting Darius by chance, but I folded that idea.
If I did it on purpose, I was sure I would meet Kyle.
Murphy’s law.
‘If I meet him only three weeks after breaking up, it would be awkward….’
“Recently you don’t go to the Dierne duke mansion, Ries.”
“Oh, yes… Since the duke is there now.”
I was slightly startled by the Count’s mind-reading-like words and stuffed cherry tomatoes from the salad into my mouth.
I couldn’t avoid Kyle forever, but I wasn’t ready yet.
“So you decided not to hang out with that younger brother of Darius? Good decision.”
“Brother, you didn’t even go to the victory ceremony, so why did you come home? The exam is coming soon. Shouldn’t you be studying in the dorm?”
I fired back at my annoying brother.
“What? You little… I’m here because—”
“Cough, cough!”
At the Count’s fake cough, Simon shut his mouth.
“What? Don’t tell me you came because it’s my birthday tomorrow?”
I didn’t really need that. I had already canceled the party.
“Do you think I came just for that? Your brother is a busy man.”
“Ah, yes yes. Thank you for the meal.”
I answered casually to the arrogant Simon and stood up.
“Ries, sleep early and rest well today.”
“…? Yes. Good night.”
I wondered why he emphasized sleeping early, but the Count was always worried about me, so I said good night.
When I went up to my room, an unexpected item had arrived, although the Count’s wish was not fulfilled.
