#119. Cuckoo Chick
“Ioannis, Ioannis!”
Ioannis smiled at the voice coming from beyond the secret passage. Then he moved the wine barrel with great force to cover the secret passage and the lever. Boom, boom! The door opened with a sound.
Yeah, you finally call me by my name and not Daphne.
Ioannis recalled his childhood. His mother and father had been on bad terms from the beginning. The only difference was that they both loved him. In any case, unlike Asherad, his home was a safe haven, and his parents were not so nervous that he had to worry about anyone.
Both his mother and father were blunt but loving people. Ioannis was also born with that blunt temperament.
'How could you do something like this!'
'I'm sorry.'
'If His Majesty finds out, he'll kill us!'
'I'm sorry to Ioannis. I'm sorry for you.'
Then one day, Ioannis saw his parents fighting. It was the first time he had heard these two, who were always expressionless, fight so fiercely.
When he heard, his younger sibling was born. His younger sibling was born. But it wasn't born from his mother's womb. That's why they're fighting.
Ioannis hated his brother when he was born. He didn't know where he was born. He didn't know how he was living. But if his mother, who didn't care about a harmonious couple relationship, got angry, something big was going on.
But his brother never showed up, and the incident was forgotten by him.
“Look, Ioannis. This is your brother.”
One day, when he was twelve and had grown up, he was taken by his father to see the Empress. A little boy was sitting next to the Empress. His father whispered to him, pointing at him. Looking at the boy with his empty green eyes, he had a twisted thought.
Is that my brother? The guy who made my mother sad?
“You, protect your little brother.”
Ioannis laughed at his father's words. His father's mistress was the Empress. It seemed that his younger brother was destined to become the Emperor. He had made his mother sad, and yet he did so.
Fortunately, perhaps it was fortunate that the boy, who inherited the blood of his grandmother, who was a member of the royal family, had green eyes.
He wished he had been born with brown eyes like his father's. If he had, he would have been abandoned.
Even as a young man, Ioannis continued to ignore Asherad. Ask him to protect his half-brother? What nonsense. He had a lot to do as the heir to the family, and he could use that as an excuse to somewhat ignore his father’s wishes.
He ignored a lot of things.
He tried to ignore the bruises on young Asherad's body, the fact that he was ignored by the Princes of the kingdom, and the fact that the Emperor, although a fake father, had ordered Asherad to drink poison.
Shouldn't the Crown Prince live better than I?
Why does he have to be treated so stupidly?
He trembled with an unknown anger.
So the first time they met was on the battlefield with Asala. What Ioannis saw of Asherad was a miserable sight. There was nothing in the way he had treated others with kindness and affection.
He looked like a ghost.
Ioannis approached him on purpose. And so they became friends. Thinking back now, it was the best decision he ever made. The boy was lonely and miserable, not knowing anything.
An unfortunate child who grew up under the thumb of cruel parents, while Ioannis received love from his parents.
He willingly stood by his brother's side and did not hesitate to become his subordinate.
At some point, Ioannis decided that he would grant Asherad whatever he wanted. He wanted to stand by his lonely side, shouldering all the world's misfortunes because he had a different mother.
Because he is my...
Because he was my younger brother.
He heard the sound of swords clashing.
If he had any regrets, it was that he had not told him earlier. Asherad himself did not know that he had gone mad because he was not loved. Still, he was satisfied because his brother was there to give him love.
“Asherad.”
There are too many things he didn't tell him. He regretted that he gave him too many 'yes' just because he was unhappy. Sometimes, Asherad needed a stern scolding from his brother. He also needed the teachings of an adult. There were many more things he wanted to tell him.
You were loved,
So, stop being a spoiled brat and grow up.
I will be by your side.
You won't be lonely anymore.
I will cherish you as your older brother, not as your most loyal vassal.
But those were words he could never say again in his life.
Phew!
Ioannis saw several swords stuck in his body. Those who could not stand against his sword came rushing in and attacked him. He dragged on for as long as he could.
'I'm sorry, Miss Daphne.'
His words would trample on Daphne's happiness, but he couldn't help it because he was Asherad's older brother.
“Turbol, you have cut off the necks of the Emperor’s dirty dogs!
Listening to the people's joy, Ioannis closed his eyes.
He proved his love with death.
He came down to the foot of the wall. Ioannis was so prepared that he had two horses. Asherad rode calmly, carrying the gold bag and provisions from the other horse to his own horse. The screams were still echoing behind him.
He left the burning castle behind. But he felt no sense of betrayal or anger. He left the city empty-handed, without a thought of those who had betrayed him. His mind was full of thoughts about Ioannis. The only word in his head was 'Why?'
That's right.
I'm that brother? What could be funnier than that? As Count Locania said, he wasn't of the Emperor's blood. That was shocking enough, but...
Why? Why, die in my place?
Why on earth?
There is no reason for that.
His little brother? Me, his little brother. That shouldn't have happened.
As he rode out of the city, Asherad kept thinking. Ioannis Turbol was a friend he had made on the battlefield. They had become friends after he saved his life.
The Duke of Turbol was his ally, and he took it for granted that he was his son. He thought that their friendship was a planned acquaintance, formed by a hierarchy, before it became friendship.
He said that he relied on Ioannis, but did he really consider him a friend? No, he was not. He was close enough to open up to him, but he did not like him. However, Ioannis said that he loved him. He loved him as a family member, as a younger brother.
Because he loved, he willingly chose death.
Because of love, not loyalty.
The night shadows of leaving the city, under the night sky that looked like sprinkled flour, tears were flowing from Asherad's eyes.
He wished someone would do this. He wished his parents would stand up for him. He prayed that Daphne, despite his many mistakes, would be held in his arms.
But in the absence of Ioannis, Asherad felt a great loss for the first time. It had not been like this when his own mother died. At that time, all she could think about was Daphne.
Someone loved themselves so desperately that they were willing to sacrifice themselves.
Asherad felt fulfilled by that sacrifice. As fulfilled as it was, it also hurt.
He should not have come to him at all. If he had sacrificed himself silently, Asherad would have considered it loyalty and would soon forget it. Then, the last words Ioannis had said came to his mind.
Daphne's whereabouts.
He said those words for the last time. Port of Dens. Port of Dens in Thalassa.
He headed toward the harbor mechanically. The night sky became dark, and the sun rose. He felt neither tired nor thirsty, and when the horse stopped, he went to the river to quench his thirst. As he sat down on the lake, Asherad thought blankly.
I am that man's younger brother. I am the biological son of the Duke of Turbol.
I see.
That is why Duke Turbol readily offered him his help.
The reason the country was intact even though he was regent was that he was a father.
He knew that the Duke had a close relationship with his mother, but he didn't know that it was to the extent of producing a child.
Asherad chuckled.
That was why he was shunned by the kingdom of Thalassa. Asherad swore that he had never received help from Thalassa. The King knew that his daughter had conceived a child through adultery. Therefore, the King wanted to send his daughter to give birth to a 'real son'.
Now it all makes sense.
'You don't look much like me.'
There was a time when the Emperor grumbled as he passed by.
'Your eyes saved this mother's life.'
He finally understood why he had been saved. Asherad burst into laughter.
It was so funny, he couldn't stand it. What's the difference between me and Daphne?
He, too, was another cuckoo chick.
But the cuckoo chick, the cuckoo chick, hates, loathes, and loves!
I can't stand it!
“Ah, aaaah!”
Asherad finally collapsed. Then, the emotions he had tried so hard to block over burst through the dam of reason and flooded in. He had always been confident. He was made up of strong hatred and anger, so he had no choice but to be strong.
But when the flames of anger had completely burned out, nothing remained but ashes.
Cuckoo Asherad.
That was the title that suited him. He howled like a beast. Why die, why die! The lakeside echoed with a sad scream.
“Ioannis, Ioannis!”
Ioannis smiled at the voice coming from beyond the secret passage. Then he moved the wine barrel with great force to cover the secret passage and the lever. Boom, boom! The door opened with a sound.
Yeah, you finally call me by my name and not Daphne.
Ioannis recalled his childhood. His mother and father had been on bad terms from the beginning. The only difference was that they both loved him. In any case, unlike Asherad, his home was a safe haven, and his parents were not so nervous that he had to worry about anyone.
Both his mother and father were blunt but loving people. Ioannis was also born with that blunt temperament.
'How could you do something like this!'
'I'm sorry.'
'If His Majesty finds out, he'll kill us!'
'I'm sorry to Ioannis. I'm sorry for you.'
Then one day, Ioannis saw his parents fighting. It was the first time he had heard these two, who were always expressionless, fight so fiercely.
When he heard, his younger sibling was born. His younger sibling was born. But it wasn't born from his mother's womb. That's why they're fighting.
Ioannis hated his brother when he was born. He didn't know where he was born. He didn't know how he was living. But if his mother, who didn't care about a harmonious couple relationship, got angry, something big was going on.
But his brother never showed up, and the incident was forgotten by him.
“Look, Ioannis. This is your brother.”
One day, when he was twelve and had grown up, he was taken by his father to see the Empress. A little boy was sitting next to the Empress. His father whispered to him, pointing at him. Looking at the boy with his empty green eyes, he had a twisted thought.
Is that my brother? The guy who made my mother sad?
“You, protect your little brother.”
Ioannis laughed at his father's words. His father's mistress was the Empress. It seemed that his younger brother was destined to become the Emperor. He had made his mother sad, and yet he did so.
Fortunately, perhaps it was fortunate that the boy, who inherited the blood of his grandmother, who was a member of the royal family, had green eyes.
He wished he had been born with brown eyes like his father's. If he had, he would have been abandoned.
Even as a young man, Ioannis continued to ignore Asherad. Ask him to protect his half-brother? What nonsense. He had a lot to do as the heir to the family, and he could use that as an excuse to somewhat ignore his father’s wishes.
He ignored a lot of things.
He tried to ignore the bruises on young Asherad's body, the fact that he was ignored by the Princes of the kingdom, and the fact that the Emperor, although a fake father, had ordered Asherad to drink poison.
Shouldn't the Crown Prince live better than I?
Why does he have to be treated so stupidly?
He trembled with an unknown anger.
So the first time they met was on the battlefield with Asala. What Ioannis saw of Asherad was a miserable sight. There was nothing in the way he had treated others with kindness and affection.
He looked like a ghost.
Ioannis approached him on purpose. And so they became friends. Thinking back now, it was the best decision he ever made. The boy was lonely and miserable, not knowing anything.
An unfortunate child who grew up under the thumb of cruel parents, while Ioannis received love from his parents.
He willingly stood by his brother's side and did not hesitate to become his subordinate.
At some point, Ioannis decided that he would grant Asherad whatever he wanted. He wanted to stand by his lonely side, shouldering all the world's misfortunes because he had a different mother.
Because he is my...
Because he was my younger brother.
He heard the sound of swords clashing.
If he had any regrets, it was that he had not told him earlier. Asherad himself did not know that he had gone mad because he was not loved. Still, he was satisfied because his brother was there to give him love.
“Asherad.”
There are too many things he didn't tell him. He regretted that he gave him too many 'yes' just because he was unhappy. Sometimes, Asherad needed a stern scolding from his brother. He also needed the teachings of an adult. There were many more things he wanted to tell him.
You were loved,
So, stop being a spoiled brat and grow up.
I will be by your side.
You won't be lonely anymore.
I will cherish you as your older brother, not as your most loyal vassal.
But those were words he could never say again in his life.
Phew!
Ioannis saw several swords stuck in his body. Those who could not stand against his sword came rushing in and attacked him. He dragged on for as long as he could.
'I'm sorry, Miss Daphne.'
His words would trample on Daphne's happiness, but he couldn't help it because he was Asherad's older brother.
“Turbol, you have cut off the necks of the Emperor’s dirty dogs!
Listening to the people's joy, Ioannis closed his eyes.
He proved his love with death.
***
He came down to the foot of the wall. Ioannis was so prepared that he had two horses. Asherad rode calmly, carrying the gold bag and provisions from the other horse to his own horse. The screams were still echoing behind him.
He left the burning castle behind. But he felt no sense of betrayal or anger. He left the city empty-handed, without a thought of those who had betrayed him. His mind was full of thoughts about Ioannis. The only word in his head was 'Why?'
That's right.
I'm that brother? What could be funnier than that? As Count Locania said, he wasn't of the Emperor's blood. That was shocking enough, but...
Why? Why, die in my place?
Why on earth?
There is no reason for that.
His little brother? Me, his little brother. That shouldn't have happened.
As he rode out of the city, Asherad kept thinking. Ioannis Turbol was a friend he had made on the battlefield. They had become friends after he saved his life.
The Duke of Turbol was his ally, and he took it for granted that he was his son. He thought that their friendship was a planned acquaintance, formed by a hierarchy, before it became friendship.
He said that he relied on Ioannis, but did he really consider him a friend? No, he was not. He was close enough to open up to him, but he did not like him. However, Ioannis said that he loved him. He loved him as a family member, as a younger brother.
Because he loved, he willingly chose death.
Because of love, not loyalty.
The night shadows of leaving the city, under the night sky that looked like sprinkled flour, tears were flowing from Asherad's eyes.
***
He wished someone would do this. He wished his parents would stand up for him. He prayed that Daphne, despite his many mistakes, would be held in his arms.
But in the absence of Ioannis, Asherad felt a great loss for the first time. It had not been like this when his own mother died. At that time, all she could think about was Daphne.
Someone loved themselves so desperately that they were willing to sacrifice themselves.
Asherad felt fulfilled by that sacrifice. As fulfilled as it was, it also hurt.
He should not have come to him at all. If he had sacrificed himself silently, Asherad would have considered it loyalty and would soon forget it. Then, the last words Ioannis had said came to his mind.
Daphne's whereabouts.
He said those words for the last time. Port of Dens. Port of Dens in Thalassa.
He headed toward the harbor mechanically. The night sky became dark, and the sun rose. He felt neither tired nor thirsty, and when the horse stopped, he went to the river to quench his thirst. As he sat down on the lake, Asherad thought blankly.
I am that man's younger brother. I am the biological son of the Duke of Turbol.
I see.
That is why Duke Turbol readily offered him his help.
The reason the country was intact even though he was regent was that he was a father.
He knew that the Duke had a close relationship with his mother, but he didn't know that it was to the extent of producing a child.
Asherad chuckled.
That was why he was shunned by the kingdom of Thalassa. Asherad swore that he had never received help from Thalassa. The King knew that his daughter had conceived a child through adultery. Therefore, the King wanted to send his daughter to give birth to a 'real son'.
Now it all makes sense.
'You don't look much like me.'
There was a time when the Emperor grumbled as he passed by.
'Your eyes saved this mother's life.'
He finally understood why he had been saved. Asherad burst into laughter.
It was so funny, he couldn't stand it. What's the difference between me and Daphne?
He, too, was another cuckoo chick.
But the cuckoo chick, the cuckoo chick, hates, loathes, and loves!
I can't stand it!
“Ah, aaaah!”
Asherad finally collapsed. Then, the emotions he had tried so hard to block over burst through the dam of reason and flooded in. He had always been confident. He was made up of strong hatred and anger, so he had no choice but to be strong.
But when the flames of anger had completely burned out, nothing remained but ashes.
Cuckoo Asherad.
That was the title that suited him. He howled like a beast. Why die, why die! The lakeside echoed with a sad scream.
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