BR 3.4

Erons visited the shrine for the first time in ages. 

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to come. He simply hadn’t had the mental or physical strength to make the trip after being tormented so relentlessly by Nike.

True to form, he received flowers from the gardener today. Without the goddess statue, there was no way to know if his prayers were reaching Her, but he wanted to express his desire to connect, even in this small way.

Erons placed the bouquet on the altar and knelt. He called out Theos’s name and opened his eyes slightly, but as expected, nothing changed.

“Haa… I want to go to a place with a statue of the Goddess. I want to talk to You, Theos… Ugh!”

A flash of light momentarily blinded Erons, who snapped his eyes shut. Where could the light be coming from in this room? There were no windows, the ceiling was fixed, and nothing to reflect sunlight. 

When the light dimmed slightly, he peeked through narrowed eyes and saw it emanating from his own wrist.

“Light is coming from the bracelet…”

More precisely, from the bracelet on his wrist. 

It had shown no reaction until now, other than wrapping itself around his wrist, but now, as if it had found its purpose, the bracelet shone with great intensity.

“Theos…, is that You?”

The bracelet flashed with an even brighter light. That flash was quite similar to the light that had emanated from the eyes of the Goddess statue. 

The sparkle continued uninterrupted. 

The longer it lasted, the brighter the smile spread across Erons’s lips.

“This means I can talk to Theos now. Ah, though ‘talk’ might be a stretch. It’s just me babbling to myself. Still, it feels good.”

He couldn’t begin to describe how uncomfortable it had been not seeing this light. Erons was utterly elated at the joy of being able to offer prayers like before. Lord Theos, Lord Theos. 

As he excitedly called out to Theos over and over, Jen flew over and perched gently on his head.

“Jen, it’s been a while.”
–You’re late.
“Sorry. I had some circumstances I couldn’t tell you about.”
–Is it okay now?
“Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe? It’s gotten a little better.”
–That’s good then.
“As an apology, I’ll bring snacks next time. Can I pray a little longer first, then play with you?”
–Do as you wish.

Jen moved from his head to the altar. Somehow, it felt like praying to Jen. 

Anyway, Erons closed his eyes again. He poured out all the words he’d been holding back, wanting to say for so long.

‘His Grace has changed so much. He’s so different from before. Both my body and mind are exhausted and struggling. I want to leave here, but part of me doesn’t know if I really should. I’m here, and His Grace is suffering because of me. I can’t even imagine what would happen if I left…. There’s someone I hope doesn’t get hurt. I feel like if I disappear, that person will get hurt, so I can’t leave. Is this even right?’

In response to his prayer, the bracelet glowed intermittently. Even with his eyes closed, the light was bright enough to illuminate his vision, always bringing him peace of mind. But today, his thoughts were utterly chaotic. Perhaps it was because this worry was too immense, unlike anything he’d ever faced before.

“…Guess there are things prayer can’t fix.”
–Feeling frustrated?
“Yeah, a little.”

BANG!

“Eek!”

The sudden, thunderous noise in this quiet place made Erons flinch. It was far too violent to be considered a knock.

“Wh-what was that?”

Despite his fear, Erons forced himself to the door. Then, BANG! BANG! Someone pounded on the door again. 

The force was so strong it shook the door, as if the person wanted to break it down. As Erons hesitated to open it, the doorknob rattled and turned frantically. Fortunately, it didn’t turn completely.

“Wh-who is it…? Is someone out there?”

No answer came from the other side. Only the doorknob kept turning, click-clack, click-clack. 

Erons couldn’t bring himself to open the door easily. It could be someone trying to harm him.

“Ah! Ow, ow! Why are you doing this all of a sudden!”
–Get away.

Suddenly, Jen flew in and pecked at his forehead until it turned red. It pushed Erons far from the door and planted its butt firmly on the doorknob. It looked like it was blocking the door with its entire body to prevent it from opening.

–Don’t come over here.
“I’m not opening it. But who’s out there acting like this?”

Jen didn’t answer the question. Instead, whenever Erons tried to take even one step closer, it pecked at any exposed flesh. Thanks to that, Erons had to stay trapped inside the shrine until Jen moved aside.

–Go.
“Can I go out now? Is anyone there?”
–Yeah.

Just as he was about to get frustrated, Jen allowed him to leave. Erons dashed over and pressed his ear lightly against the door. The silence suggested no one was there. 

Still, just in case, Erons opened the door just a crack and peeked his head out first.

Outside was eerily quiet. The place, devoid of any signs of life, was occasionally broken only by the sound of birds. Only then did Erons relax and throw the door wide open.

“Phew, I feel alive again. Who was that earlier?”
–You don’t need to know.
“What? Everyone’s hiding things from me already, and now you, too? That’s hurtful.”

But Jen didn’t respond, simply flying past his head.

“Wow, that’s really unfair. I tell you everything, I don’t hide a thing.”

Being told everything might have stopped the small unease from turning into reality.

“Who… Ah. Benoit, right?”

Excited by the unexpected find of the bracelet, Erons headed to the shrine again the next day, flowers in hand. But then a knight appeared and blocked his path. It was a knight he recognized. One of the guards Nike had assigned to him.

“The Captain summoned you. I’ve come to escort you.”
“Keld summoned me…? Hmm, I see. Would you lead the way?”
“Follow me.”

Since Keld had never summoned him directly before, Erons was slightly puzzled. But he didn’t doubt the knight. He simply thought Keld must have some reason for calling him.

Benoit entered the training grounds. It was usually the busiest time for knights to practice, yet strangely, no one was there. Benoit passed through the quiet training grounds and the servants’ quarters. Still not stopping, he led them to a secluded corner where few people would tread.

“Um… where are we going?”
“We’ll be there soon.”

Just before entering the forest, Benoit stopped in front of a small, shabby shed-like structure and gestured for him to enter. Not only was this hardly a place where Keld would be, but he was absolutely not the kind of person to summon his Master to such a place. 

Benoit even opened the door for him, but Erons backed away.

“You really mean Keld is here…?”
“Yes. The Captain is waiting.”
“No… I’ll wait here. I’m sorry, but if I just ask Keld to come out…”
“Damn, you’re stubborn.”

Benoit muttered a short curse and grabbed Erons’s arm as he tried to pull away. His skinny frame, clearly outmatched by the knight’s bulk, was shoved and tossed weakly into the warehouse.

“Ugh!”
“You here? You’re late.”
“Yeah. Had to keep pace with that brat. Ugh, I can’t believe I’ve been using polite speech with this kid this whole time.”
“What can you do? The Master orders it, so you do it.”
“Ah, my pride is wounded. An Omega as the Master? Does that even make sense?”

Sure enough, Keld wasn’t in the warehouse. Instead, four or five knights who seemed quite close to Benoit were gathered there.

“…. Where’s Keld? You said Keld was looking for me.”
“Why would he be in a backwater place like this?”

“Aaargh!”

“If you dare utter the captain’s name in front of me again, I’ll kill you for real.”

A knight who had stormed over, eyes blazing, grabbed Erons by the hair. 

It hurt like all his hair was being torn out. It hurt so much. 

He struggled to break free from the knight’s grip, but Erons’s strength was no match. The snickers of those watching him only grew louder.

“Ow, it hurts! Let go of me!”
“Why should I?”
“Why are you doing this? If you’d just tell me – ow!”

A large, rough hand slapped Erons’s cheek, making his head ring. 

Tears welled up instantly. His vision blurred, and his cheek stung. 

As Erons collapsed, hand on his cheek, Benoit grabbed him by the collar.

“You little bastard. Thinking about Randy still makes my blood boil. You’re the one who messed up, so why should Randy have to suffer for it? If you’ve got a mouth, say something!“
”I, I don’t know anyone like that, sniff. It’s a name I’ve never heard before!“
”Oh, really? The high and mighty don’t know the names of their inferiors? Well, well, an orphan turned noble, huh?”

His chest throbbed painfully under the hand gripping his collar and shaking him. Benoit’s fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, tightening the grip around his neck. 

Erons’s face gradually flushed red.

Their gaze and touch were more than Erons could bear. It hurt; it was agonizing. But with no way to escape, Erons finally let the tears fall.

“Look. You can’t possibly say you don’t remember?”

Benoit unfolded a portrait in front of Erons.

“… Ah.”

Though he’d seen her only once, Erons recognized her instantly. She was the maid from the tailor’s room. That face, which had enjoyed stabbing needles into his body and choking his neck, was impossible to forget.

“Back then… the sewing room…”
“She’s dead.”
“… Huh?”
“Dead. Because of you. What the hell did you tell the Master? Why did Randy have to die when she did nothing wrong?”

The news that the maid named Randy had died hit Erons like a ton of bricks. He had clearly taken the blame for all the maids’ crimes. 

That’s why he’d received punishment from Nike that felt like more than punishment, and had even heard promises from Nike that he wouldn’t harm them. So why had Randy died?

“It’s your fault, you orphan brat.”
“It’s my fault… I don’t know. I didn’t do anything like that!”
“Of course you didn’t do anything. You just wiggled your smart little mouth to get the Master moving. You think I don’t know?”
“What the hell are you talking about, ugh!”

Benoit grabbed Erons by the hair and slammed her head hard into the sandy ground. The impact against the hard ground made his head throb. 

The coarse sand embedded in his flesh caused cuts, and grains lodged in the open wounds, adding to the stinging pain. Erons groaned, but sadly, no one showed concern for him.

“How’s it going?”
“Ah, Jowen.”
“… Jowen?”

Jowen appeared among the knights. She stood flat-footed on the ground, looking down on the pinned-down Erons and openly sneered.

“Perfect. That look really suits you best. Benoit, what were you trying to do?”
“Just about to beat him up.”
“Oh, really? Then go ahead. Beat him until you feel better.”
“That’s exactly what I was going to do.”

His words signaled the start of a brutal barrage of kicks. 

The once-neat shirt and pants were quickly covered in mud and dust, reduced to rags, and the soft flesh was torn open by the hard boots. 

Even though it was pathetic to see his little body trying to protect itself, they were cruel to the end. They didn’t pause for a moment, nor did they ease up at all.

“Haah, huff… Huh, ugh…”
“Phew, that feels so good.”
“Already? I could do more.”
“Stop it. He’s already a bloody mess.”
“Hmph.”

When the beating stopped, Erons gasped for breath, panting heavily. 

The pain, like his bones were shattering, was indescribable. 

Someone tapped his sprawled cheek, but Erons couldn’t even twitch a finger. He didn’t have the strength to speak, let alone move his body.

“Should we cut this bastard too?”
“Are you crazy? What if he never recovers?”
“Bad luck. Just let him live like that.”
“You lunatic. Do you want to die by the Master’s hand?”
“Ah, I can’t let this go! Not just Randy, but us too –!”
“Enough. Stop and get out. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Got it.”

When Benoit tried to go too far, Jowen kicked him out. Fortunately, Benoit obediently took his comrades and left the warehouse. 

Left alone with Erons, Jowen pressed her foot hard against his waist. It was a spot already bruised from beating, and Erons couldn’t hold back a piercing scream.

“Aaargh!”
“How does it feel? People died because of you. Just for a few tiny needle marks on your body, they made me clean the dungeon for four whole months. They even cut off Andy’s perfectly good hand. And they killed Randy. Our Master is so cold-hearted. He favors a bastard like you, picked up off the mountain, more than us who’ve been with him for years.”

Erons thought Randy would still be working in the tailoring room. Honestly, she was one of countless employees, so he’d forgotten about her. 

But Randy died while he was forgetting her. 

Benoit, Jowen – they all seemed to think Erons had betrayed them. 

The reality was, Erons was the only one scrambling to protect them.

“Why… why do you keep blaming me?”
“Because you must have whispered it into His Grace’s ear. Isn’t that obvious?”
“No! I… I never said anything like that!”
“You can always say you didn’t say it. Got proof? Proof you didn’t say it.”
“That’s…”
“Shut up if you don’t.”

Thud! 

Erons’s head, kicked by Jowen’s foot, slumped limply. The impact to his head made his vision go white, and he let out a painful groan.

”Look.” Jowen’s voice rose slightly. It was a cruel tone, as if she enjoyed seeing Erons suffer. Jowen then pulled something out of her pocket and waved it in front of Erons.

“Th-this is…!”

What she held was the magic stone. The gift Erons had received from Fedor on his birthday. He couldn’t help but be shocked that Jowen had it, since he’d secretly hidden it away in a safe place after taking it out just once before.

“How did you get that…?”
“What do you think would happen if word reached His Grace that you’re having an affair with the Lord’s second son?”
“…Me and Lord Fedor? Don’t talk nonsense!”

“Others might not see it, but I know. The Second Young Master gave you this, didn’t he? His Grace wouldn’t even know you received something like this. But if word gets out that you secretly hooked up with the Young Master behind His Grace’s back and got this from him…”
“I never did that!”

“I know that much, of course. But that’s how rumors work, right? Words pass from mouth to mouth, gaining weight, until they grow so big you can’t control them. Things you never did become established facts later on.”

As his maid, Jowen knew well. Even though Erons had spent many nights with Nike, he had never done such a thing with Fedor, despite the strange atmosphere between them.

“If His Grace doesn’t believe the rumors anyway, we can just use this to make him believe them. And if we miss that chance, we can escape before he kills us. Surely the magic stone can manage that much? But your situation is different, isn’t it? You can’t just leave whenever you want. And how much longer must you serve up your lustful body before His Grace’s anger subsides? Now that I say it, I’m kinda curious myself.”

Even if it’s a lie, who knows what would happen if Nike found out? Especially if the rumor’s subject is Fedor. He’s already said he’d kill Fedor, so he might try to kill him in a fit of rage before even figuring out the rumor’s origins.

“… Please make sure it doesn’t reach Your Grace’s ears. I beg you.”

Clear liquid flowed from Erons’s eyes. Seeing his tears, Jowen felt a subtle thrill. She gave a very wicked smile.

“Then it’s time to set the conditions, isn’t it?”
“Conditions…?”
“Simple. Come running whenever we call. Replenish the magic stones before they run out. And don’t get caught by the Master until we say it’s over. Just keep these three things in mind.”
“…Uh, what?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’? Get it through your head the first time, will you?”

“But Lord Fedor isn’t at the mansion. How can I ask for more when he’s not here?”
“Why are you asking me? You figure it out. There are about eighteen left now, right? I’ll let you slide until there’s just one or two left. But if I call you, you’d better come running like a dog. And use this to cover yourself well so the Master doesn’t catch you. If you’re caught even a little, you know what happens?”

Jowen tossed one of the magic stones she was holding onto the ground and stormed out. Left alone, Erons groaned and struggled to his feet, picking up the stone lying on the floor. 

The once smooth and shiny stone was now dull and tarnished, just like his own reflection. 

Tears welled up and spilled over.

“Huh, ugh… sob…”

Tears flowed unceasingly, stream after stream. 

Life at the Duke’s residence, which he had thought would be nothing but happiness, was unbearably painful. 

He even began to think the desperate days spent constantly watching the headmaster’s every move were preferable.

Before leaving the storeroom, Erons used the magic stone he’d received from Jowen. As the crimson light enveloped him, his soiled clothes and torn, swollen skin returned to their original state.

The magic stone vanished the moment he used it. Erons stared at his empty palm for a long while, regretting the lost stone. He hadn’t wanted to use such a precious, precious magic stone for something like this, but he couldn’t even go out to the courtyard looking so bedraggled, so he had no choice.

His appearance had changed, but the pain remained. Even walking a short distance was difficult, but Erons forced himself to act fine and returned to the mansion. 

He headed straight for his room and rummaged through the storage cabinet, searching for the magic stone.

“I definitely put it here… Where is it? Found it…!”

The box was in its usual spot. Seeing it there, Erons relaxed and opened it. Then his face froze abruptly.

“…Gone. Not a single one…”

It was an empty box, the magic stones already gone. He pulled out the cushion he’d placed beneath them, turned the box upside down, and shook it, but only dust flew out. 

Desperately hoping the magic stones hadn’t been stolen in vain, Erons searched the floor thoroughly. Not that doing so would make the stolen stones reappear.

“What are you doing, you?”

Leaning against the wall, Jowen had appeared unnoticed and now looked down at Erons, sprawled flat on the floor, with pity.

“You’re not a beggar, you know. You’re a Master, yet you still haven’t shed that habit?”
“… Jowen.”
“Magic sure is wonderful. You dragged your leg all the way here, but I got here in a second with just this magic stone? If I were Alpha, I’d be dying to dash straight to the Magic Tower.”

Jowen, who had followed Erons, sneered at him. In her hand was a stone identical to the one Erons had used to cover his wound.

“You really took it, Jowen? Why? I only used them to help you, so why did you steal them?”

When Erons’ sharp retort came, Jowen stepped closer and grabbed his cheek so hard it stung. 

Having just been beaten by the knights, a groan immediately escaped him. 

Looking down at the pained Erons, she smirked.

“Well, you should’ve guarded them better. Don’t you think?”
“…”
”Look hard. You won’t find them anyway.”

Jowen shoved Erons hard and vanished without a trace. Erons, slumped on the floor, stared blankly at the spot she’d left, then began to cry.

“What am I supposed to do now…?”

It was terrifying and frightening. 

A future where he had to navigate alone, with no means or person left to protect him.

“Brother…”
Urno, brother.
“Brother, please come quickly…”

As if he were some kind of savior, Erons repeated Urno’s name over and over.