ICTV - Side Story Chapter 13
I change The Villain
The child felt instinctively scared by that question. But he still didn't want to give up the crown.
The child spoke in a trembling voice, but firmly.
"There is nothing better than this."
If this crown is taken away, his life will become dull again. It was a moment when the child expressed his determination not to give up the crown.
The man opened his mouth.
"Then let's do it this way."
The child looked at the man with trembling eyes. The man suggested in a voice as smooth and soft as snake scales.
"You can see it with your own eyes. Is there really nothing better than that crown?"
"..."
All the adults the child had ever met were liars. But strangely, he didn't feel like the man was lying.
"If there's nothing better than this, will you give me back the crown?"
The man shook his head.
"No. I can't promise that."
"...I beg your pardon?!"
The child became angry at the man's excessive honesty.
"Then why did you suggest that? Do you think I would accept that offer?"
"But I can teach you."
The man held out his hand to the child and still whispered in a soft voice.
"How to own that crown without dying."
The child's eyes were greatly shaken. The child asked immediately.
"Really? Really? Is there a way to not die even with this crown?"
The man nodded. The child was lost in thought. He said it was okay for a man to die in a fit of rage, but he actually didn't want to die. Because when he dies, he won't be able to wear the crown on his head or even touch it.
The child looked at the man again. He still didn't seem to be lying. So the child held out the crown with both trembling arms.
The moment the man was about to receive the crown, the door opened and the knights came in.
"Duke Serenity. The cleanup is almost complete."
"Yes? As expected, my knights are competent."
"That's too much praise. By the way, Duke. Why did you volunteer to take on this task?"
"Because we cannot live in a hostile relationship with the imperial family forever."
"That's true too, Duke. That kid...."
The knights stared at the child in silence. Seeing that gaze, the child unknowingly hid behind the man. The man said.
"Let's go out and talk first."
"Yes."
The man walked with the knights. The child, who had been walking while holding on to the hem of the man's cloak, looked back.
The fancy religious building built by stealing people's money was burning. The images of his parents who sold him into slavery and the religious leader who lived comfortably with other people's money came to mind.
The child watched the scene as if fascinated and asked.
"Did you do it?"
The man nodded like before. The child looked up at the man. And he asked.
"Great. How did you do it?"
What little vigilance remained disappeared somewhere. The child's hand holding the hem of his cloak tightened, and the child asked eagerly.
"Can I become as strong as you?"
"Didn't you say you wanted nothing more than that crown?"
"I changed my mind."
There was a strange heat in the child's eyes.
"I also want to know how to become as strong as you."
At that sight, the man burst out laughing again, and the child became confused. The
child couldn't figure out why the man was suddenly smiling.
***
From that day on, the child's life changed.
The child was taken to a small mansion nearby and washed in every nook and cranny with warm water. And he was treated to surprisingly soft clothes and delicious food.
Although he might have been happy about the servant's kind treatment, the child's expression hardly changed. This was because the child's mind was filled with the crown and the man.
Where on earth has that man gone?
The child became more anxious day by day. Then one day it happened.
"Is the food not to your taste?"
Finally, the man came back. The child who was nibbling on his soup kicked off his chair without realizing it. The man looked at the child with a slightly surprised face.
The chiId immediately clung to the man and asked.
"Where have you been?"
The man answered simply.
"Imperial palace."
"..."
The child was about to ask about the whereabouts of the crown but stopped. After seeing the church building burn, the boy who had come to respect the man had long since become gentler than before, the child asked.
"How long do I have to stay here?"
The man responded with a playful smile.
"Until today."
"Yes?"
The moment the child asked that question, a woman accompanied by a girl with light purple eyes entered the restaurant.
The child's eyes grew as big as they could. Because women were just as beautiful as the man. If the man was reminded of the blue sapphire embedded in the crown, the woman was reminded of ruby. She was such a sparkly person.
The child instinctively knew that this woman was the most beautiful and wisest wife in the world that the man had spoken of.
It was a time when the child was looking at the woman's thoughts for no reason. The woman said to the man.
"Go ahead, Belial. You said you had more work to do, right?"
"Yes, Rose. See you later."
The man who said that also told the child.
"Have fun chatting with Rose."
"..."
The child was still clinging to the man and just watching the woman. The interest in the man's eyes was as young as before.
"Usually you look at me, not Rose."
"... Yes? What do you mean?"
The child asked that question, but it was already too late. As if he really had something to do, the man walked out of the restaurant. Then the woman said.
"Shall we sit down first?"
"..."
The child sat obediently in the chair. The woman sat the girl down in the middle seat and then sat across from her. The woman asked politely.
"The soup is all cold. Should I ask the maid to reheat it?"
The child shook his head.
"... I'm full."
"Yes?"
"..."
The child lowered his head and did not move. The woman took a sip of the tea her maid had brought her. And she said.
"My name is Rose le Serenity. Please feel free to call me Rose."
"Yes?"
"And this is Iris Ionette. I am sponsoring this child."
Iris bowed her head gracefully. At a moment when the child became even more nervous, a furry weasel poked its head out from the basket.
Iris was holding.
Wait, weasel? Why are weasels that you only see in the mountains here?
The moment the child became suspicious, the weasel rushed towards Rose. Rose said while petting the weasel.
"This child is Belle. Although he is a weasel, he is a very gentle child. He's never attacked anyone, so you don't have to be scared."
Iris said with a small smile.
"To be more precise, he doesn't even bother to attack, Rose."
"Isn't that what it is?"
"Is that so?"
The weasel soon curled up on Rose's lap and fell asleep. Rose continued to pet the weasel and looked at the child. The child also felt that his mouth was dry. Rose asked.
"Did I scare you?"
"... Nо."
The child quickly whined.
"You can be more comfortable."
How are you supposed to be comfortable?
The child swallowed dry saliva. Rose opened her mouth as he pondered what to do.
"The man's name is Belial le Serenity. He's my husband."
"..."
"It hasn't been long since we met, but I think we've become very close. Am I right?"
The child answered in a low voice.
"I do not know."
With those words, the child closed his mouth again. How do you change the mood?
Rose pondered and then asked.
"Do you like sweet things?"
The child immediately raised his head. Rose told the maids to bring the cake immediately.
At the word cake, the child's eyes lit up with even more anticipation. Although he has never tried it, he has seen it served a few times by the leader when serving the guests.
The round cake, slathered with pure white whipped cream and decorated with colorful fresh fruit, was similar in shape to a crown. So, this is a snack he wanted to try at least once.
After a while, the maids brought a small plate.
"This is a Mont Blanc cake specially prepared by our mansion's chef. I guess the rumor that I like Mont Blanc has spread to this mansion? I hope it suits your taste."
The maids also placed plates in front of the child. The child who checked the plate was embarrassed. This was because instead of the cake she had seen so far, there was some kind of dark-colored food.
Is it cake? No matter how you look at it, it doesn't look like a cake, does it?
It was when the child was tilting his head and looking at Mont Blanc, Rose asked the maid who was pouring Iris some juice.
"Do you have any other cakes?"
"Yes, wait a minute. I'll get it right away."
The maids quickly left. Rose asked sweetly.
"Were you surprised because it looked different from the cakes you know?"
"... How did you know?"
The child's face lit up. But Rose still had a friendly face.
"It's okay, I was very surprised when I saw this cake at first too. This is my first time seeing a cake shaped like this, But when I took a bite, I couldn't help but be surprised. It was so delicious."
"... Really? Is it tasty?"
"Yes, it's my favorite cake."
Just then the maid brought another cake. Unlike the Mont Blanc cake, the color was bright. Rose said as she also pushed the cake in front of the child.
"Try it once and if you don't like it, try another cake."
The child looked at Mont Blanc. He was still dull. But seeing that such a pretty person said it was delicious made him want to try it.
The chiId took a bite of the cake. The child's eyes opened brightly as he pursed his lips. He looked at the Mont Blanc covering his mouth.
"It is delicious."
"Yes?"
The child also took a bite of another cake. But it wasn't as delicious as Mont Blanc. The child hungrily ate the Mont Blanc.
"Others are delicious, but this one is the most delicious."
"We have similar tastes."
Rose rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I'm glad to meet a comrade."
The child's face lit up with that beautiful smile. The child lowered his head again and he spoke in a low voice.
"I'm happy too."
"Would you like some more?"
"Thank you."
The child received the Mont Blanc while still not making eye contact with Rose. Rose thinks it would be difficult to talk about it right now. She said as she got up from her seat.
"I'll leave my seat for a moment.".
"Yes?"
"So eating comfortably...."
"Wait!"
The child hurriedly shouted.
"You don't have to go that far! I'm not doing this because you're uncomfortable!"
"Huh?"
"I just!"
The child, who was trailing off his words, spoke honestly with his face turning bright red.
"It's just that you're so dazzled that I can't even look at you!"
Cough.
Iris, who was drinking tea, heard the sound.
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