Van coaxed and cajoled Rowy, whose appetite had completely disappeared, managing to get him to finish his dessert before leading the still-sulking Rowy out onto the street. Throughout the journey to the Irad estate, Rowy kept grumbling, but Van pretended not to notice and stayed pressed close to his side.
‘The Irad Duchy, huh.’
Of course, he’d been told that the Irad estate in Seren existed solely for Rowy’s sake and that he wouldn’t be meeting any other nobles there, but still…
‘This is my first time visiting a noble’s estate.’
Van stopped in front of the massive main gate and looked up at the estate beyond it. It was so enormous that, with only slight exaggeration, he couldn’t see where it ended. His tension mounting at the far grander scale than he’d anticipated, Van gulped.
“Is this it?”
“Mm-hm.”
…Beside him, Rowy also gulped. Rowy found this place just as awkward as Van did. He hadn’t visited even once since arriving in Seraphila two years ago, except for that first day. The two of them, stuck close together, crossed through the estate’s gates.
“Young master.”
As soon as Rowy entered the estate, all the servants and knights lined up on both sides bowed their heads deeply. The Duke’s loyal servants showed not a hint of disorder even as they welcomed back their master after two years.
Rowy’s face stiffened briefly at the sight, but he soon passed through the crowd of people expressionlessly. The Butler followed close on Rowy’s heels.
“It’s been a long time since you’ve visited.”
“I don’t need a meal. I’m leaving again tomorrow anyway, so don’t make a fuss. I need to use the communication orb, so…”
Rowy, who had been rattling off only what he needed to say, paused for a moment. Then he turned to look at Van, who was following close behind him.
“…Him, bring him to my room.”
With those final words, Rowy swiftly opened the door to the room beside him and went inside. And so…
“Haha, hello…”
…Van, left alone under countless gazes, awkwardly offered a greeting.
* * *
“Whew.”
Whether aware or not that he’d thrown Van into an awkward situation, Rowy, who had escaped alone from the people’s gazes, let out a deep sigh. Those two years of living freely on his own must have been quite long after all. From the moment he’d entered the estate, he’d felt a choking sensation.
‘I need to leave quickly.’
Shaking his head, Rowy lightly tapped the video orb sitting on the desk with his hand. Rowy’s mana flowed into it, and soon the video orb began to glow. Rowy had already sent someone to the estate that morning to request an audience with the Duke. Thanks to that, the connection was made quickly.
Through the bluish glow of mana, the Duke of Irad, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, appeared. With the familiar color combination of silver hair and blue eyes, yet completely unlike Rowy with his massive build, the Duke of Irad was a man still honed sharp as a blade, making his age of fifty seem meaningless.
—Rowy Irad.
“…Hello.”
Rowy greeted him in a shrinking voice under that piercing cold gaze. It made him even more cautious since the last time he’d seen his face was when he’d been severely scolded for what he’d done at the coming-of-age ceremony. Rowy forced his unwilling mouth open to ask after his wellbeing.
“Have you been well?”
—Asking after my wellbeing after two years. No need for empty words. Just state your business.
…He really is the worst. Rowy failed at managing his expression for a moment. Naturally lowering his head to hide his expression, worried another reprimand might fall, Rowy quickly opened his mouth.
“I’m going to visit Marzen.”
—Marzen?
The Duke’s brow furrowed deeply at the out-of-the-blue statement. He’d kicked him out of the house to reflect, and yet what happened? Instead, Rowy had been in high spirits, and then all contact had been cut off with no word of what he was doing or where.
He hadn’t shown his face even once at the estate that had been prepared for him, brazenly wandering about, and after barely appearing for the first time in two years, the first thing out of his mouth was that he was going to Marzen? Anyone who knew Rowy well would definitely feel uneasy about this.
Naturally, the Duke also felt deep unease. After all, it was the Duke of Irad who had cleaned up the countless accidents Rowy had caused.
—What kind of trouble are you planning to cause now.
“It’s not like that… Just…”
—Finish your sentences properly.
“I just want to go for fun.”
Why is he creating such a scary atmosphere? Even as Rowy grumbled inwardly, he clearly stated his reason. However, even with Rowy’s answer, the Duke of Irad only continued to furrow his brow deeply.
—’Just’ for fun, you say.
…As expected, it’s not working. Watching the Duke’s cold face, Rowy sighed inwardly.
‘Do I really have to do what Seilan said?’
Tell him I have a lover? But what if he really tells me to get married?
‘…Marriage?’
Suddenly, Van’s flustered face flashed before his eyes. Ah, somehow he didn’t want to do what he wanted.
‘Marriage from just one kiss?’
Rowy frowned. However, he couldn’t think of any other method besides that. Rolling his eyes as he pondered, Rowy finally just blurted it out.
“…My lover’s home is in Marzen, so I’m going to visit.”
Whatever. I’ll think about the consequences later, let’s just get to Marzen for now.
The memories that had been gradually returning had become hazy again like fog had settled over them at a certain point. It was such a sophisticated curse that if he hadn’t known there was a problem with his memories in the first place, even Rowy, a high-ranking mage, wouldn’t have noticed the abnormality. He needed a priest as soon as possible.
‘Marriage or whatever, I’ll think about other matters after that, for now…’
—…A lover?
But unfortunately… the Duke of Irad’s reaction was completely different from Rowy’s imagination. Bang! At the loud sound of him slamming the desk, Rowy flinched in surprise.
—What bastard is it!
“…Pardon?”
Rowy was flustered by the unexpectedly intense reaction. The Duke of Irad was glaring at Rowy with blazing eyes. It seemed like murderous intent was being transmitted through the video orb. Bang! The Duke slammed the desk once more.
—Don’t tell me you’ve been living with that bastard the whole time you were there? I should have summoned you immediately when I heard that bullshit about buying a bedwarmer… If you’re going to act so loose, come back right now!
Come back! Absolutely unacceptable words had come out. How did he even find out about buying a slave? Flustered, Rowy waved his hands.
“No, it’s not like that. We only met recently…”
—You’re visiting the home of someone you only met recently?
The more he talked, the angrier he seemed to get… With the Duke continuously fuming, Rowy scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
—I went to the trouble of finding you a good match, and you disgrace the family like this!
“……”
…He had nothing to say even with ten mouths when it came to that. As Rowy, who had been trying to make excuses, closed his mouth shut, the Duke’s voice grew even louder.
—Tell me exactly when, where, how you met, and what you did!
“But…”
—Rowy Irad. Speak properly!
“Yes…”
…And so the tearful interrogation began. Of course, he didn’t tell him everything, filtering it appropriately… but rather, that made the scolding drag on even longer.
The Duke of Irad didn’t readily believe Rowy’s flimsy lies. But that said, he couldn’t exactly tell him honestly that he’d been cursed by a demon and was going to the temple.
In the end, only when Rowy, completely tearful, reached the point of saying he was sorry for wandering around loosely and meeting a man… did the Duke of Irad finally let Rowy go. Of course, he didn’t just let him go.
—Since I can’t get through to you, bring that bastard before me. Whether it’s Josef Valter or Seilan Levien, whoever you hang around with. I’ll question them properly myself.
…How did he even find out about Seilan too? Rowy nodded his head while making a completely tearful face.
* * *
During that time when Rowy was being thoroughly grilled, Van, left alone, was sweating profusely under the stabbing gazes. The servants and knights who had gathered to greet Rowy were still assembled in the corridor, staring intently at Van.
At least the knights’ gazes were easier to handle. Eyes scrutinizing his sword or gazes filled with competitive spirit were all familiar to Van. However…
‘This kind of thing is a first for me, so I have no idea what to do.’
“That rumored slave…”
“The young master’s taste…”
Murmur murmur. The whispers among the servants gradually grew louder. Under eyes that blatantly raked over his body, Van didn’t know what to do and kept breaking out in cold sweat.
Although Rowy never set foot in the estate, news of Rowy continued to reach the estate. Of course, it seemed stories he didn’t want known were blocked at Rowy’s level… but the sporadic stories that did get through were rather sensational.
Stories circulated that Rowy had bought a bedwarmer at the slave market and entered the island never to come out. And loose-lipped Karl from the slave market had contributed to that rumor. It was because Karl, who later found out who Rowy was, had spread the rumor here and there. Well, the content was as you can see.
“The young master has become an adult… Seeking out big ones.”
“Why, he rejected the Crown Prince for being small there too.”
Though they were whispering quietly among themselves, to Van with his good hearing, every word came through loud and clear. Moreover, since they were so blatantly looking at his lower half, it wasn’t easy to pretend not to notice.
Unable to bear the shame any longer, Van slyly covered his member with his palm. That only made the admiration grow louder. Oh my, it doesn’t all fit in his hand!
‘But I’m wearing pants, what exactly can you see?’
Just as Van was on the verge of tears, receiving sexual harassment, the Head Maid who had gone to personally prepare Rowy’s room returned.
“What are you all doing standing around in a group!”
The Head Maid was an old woman with a strict appearance, and as befitting her looks, she was the owner of a shrill voice. At the Head Maid’s single shout, the gathered servants scattered in a rush. Only then, with the gazes finally gone, did Van let out a sigh of relief. …However, it didn’t take long for him to realize it wasn’t time to feel relieved yet.
“Come here! The young master is particular, so you’d better wash well.”
“Pardon?”
And so Van was dragged by the rough old woman’s hand and thrown into the bathroom. And then…
“Ah! I’ll wash myself!”
The woman’s touch was unrestrained. As hands forcibly stripped off his clothes, Van didn’t know what to do and clutched at his front.
“No! I can do it myself! Don’t touch me! Ah!”
“Your voice is too loud. What does the young master even like about this?”
Her strength was incredible—she spun Van around, who was more than twice her size, and stripped off his clothes in an instant before dumping Van into the bath.
“Always wash thoroughly everywhere. You mustn’t pass any disease to the young master.”
“Yes…”
Van said while looking up at the sky, feeling like tears might flow. Of course, the old woman paid no attention to Van at all.
“I’ll come back to check if you washed properly, so make sure you do.”
“Sniff.”
Left alone like that, Van sniffled a little. It was his first time being treated as an actual bedwarmer… and he felt quite wronged.
“Master…”
Please come back soon… Van buried his face completely into the fragrant water.
