#132. Family
What?
Asherad was shocked by a sudden thought. Isn't this bad? This? This situation right now? He was confused.
“Just stay still.”
Olivia's words brought Asherad back to his senses. Ian also brought a clean towel and wiped the blood off his shoulder. However, it wasn't a wound.
“That’s not my blood.”
"Sure?"
“It must be the blood of one of those knights.”
"Wow."
Ian looked at Asherad with a bright face. Asherad felt annoyed by the obvious longing.
Olivia's hand touched, then Ian's hand touched. For some reason, he felt hot. Asherad tried to frown.
“Thanks to Father, the ladies are now free?”
"Yes."
“My father is a really cool guy.”
Ian smiled brightly. Asherad reached out and stroked Ian's head. Asherad muttered as he watched Ian accept his touch as if it were familiar.
“It looks just like a puppy.”
At that moment, he felt a sharp pain in his back.
“Ugh!”
It was because of Olivia. Instead of dabbing the disinfectant on a cloth, she poured it in and felt a sharp pain tearing at his flesh. He screamed in unexpected pain and turned around, and Olivia spoke with a cold expression.
“Who said puppy?”
“I didn’t say anything wrong... Ugh!”
He groaned and furrowed his brow as Olivia poured the disinfectant. Yes. Puppy. Dog. It was a taboo word between them. Only Ian laughed. Asherad couldn't help but snicker at the harmless being in front of him and the being behind him.
It was really weird.
Even though his body was as bruised as a rag, he just laughed. When he laughed, Ian laughed along. Olivia, who was watching, let out a soft sigh. She knew why he did this.
This is something to be thankful for. He made a bet while she was unconscious and won. He did what Olivia wanted.
“Olivia.”
“...”
“If there’s anything you want from now on, deal with me first.”
“...”
“Don’t deal with others.”
Olivia bit her lip at those words. She wasn't moved by this. She wasn't moved by this. Still, she nodded. It was a cold but cozy family, a family that seemed to be cold but warm.
In the end, she couldn't stay in this town. In fact, she had no intention of staying. Through some channel, the fact that she was a 'spy' had spread, and it was clear that those who stayed wouldn't leave their hats alone.
Even if the women were released, they wouldn't be particularly grateful. It was quite natural. So Olivia left the city she had been in. It was probably fortunate that it wasn't Dens, where she was most attached. She rode with Ian. Asherad was beside the advancing troops.
Asherad, dressed in gorgeous clothes, brought to mind images from the old days.
What is Derek doing? Olivia looked worried. Does he know this? Olivia doesn't know. At that moment, Asherad approached.
“Aren’t you thirsty?”
“...”
Unlike Olivia, who remained silent, Ian stretched out his arms. He smiled brightly as he gulped down water.
“Thank you, Father.”
Asherad accepted the water jug with a blank expression and looked forward again. It was a strange expression, as if he were enduring a tickle.
“Mom, how long do I have to go?”
“Mom doesn’t know either.”
War is coming, what will happen now? Olivia was feeling resigned. Night fell, and they made a simple barracks and rested. They had to use the same barracks as Asherad.
Asherad went to sleep without saying a word. Ian crawled onto Asherad's bed, saying that the floor was uncomfortable. Olivia was the only one who went to sleep on the floor.
But when he woke up, Olivia was in bed, and Asherad was asleep on the floor. They had been eating together for several days, and Ian had become quite friendly with the servants and knights who entertained him.
Perhaps because of Ian, Asherad didn't say a word to Olivia, and Olivia noticed the awkward silence, but soon got used to it.
"Father!"
But Ian didn't seem satisfied with that. Even though Asherad didn't show any particular warmth, Ian clung to Asherad. Strangely, unlike Derek, whom he liked but had difficulty with, Ian had difficulty with Asherad at first, but now he clung to him without hesitation. When Asherad sat down, Ian sat on him, and Asherad just patted his head.
There wasn't any proper conversation. All there was was just stroking, stroking.
They say blood is thicker than water. Is that true?
Olivia was worried as she saw Ian, who had opened his heart so easily and was sleeping in Asherad's arms. It had been about two weeks since she had been with Asherad. Olivia was quietly falling apart.
Three more days passed. Olivia felt that their mood had changed. There were clouds of war. They began to build barracks and sharpen their weapons. During this process, Olivia and Ian remained separated from Asherad.
Asherad looked busy. He had left at the King of Pindus’s call and had been examining something on his own. When he returned, he looked very tired and pale. But why? Olivia thought it was as if the candle was burning for the last time.
And as the days went by, Asherad became more and more blatant in his pursuit of Ian. He would surprise Ian when he was hiding in bed, and he would even look for him when Ian was out of the tent playing with the knights.
Olivia didn't stop them, because she had no right to ignore the interaction between father and son.
At one point, Asherad smiled broadly.
“Olivia.”
Olivia was surprised. He always called her by her old name, Daphne. When a person changes, they die soon. Olivia suddenly remembered that sound. Asherad had a slightly different expression on his face.
“Everyone, come out tomorrow.”
“...”
“I’ll put the knights in charge, so you stay safe.”
Asherad said as he patted Ian as he was sleeping. Olivia couldn't help but feel sad because he really looked like her father.
“Where is this place?”
“Asophos, the capital of the Kingdom of Thalassa.”
“On the way to the capital, I was lucky and there was no fighting with the army of the Kingdom of Thalassa.”
“...”
“What if we occupy Asopos? Is there King Thalassa inside Asopos?”
“Yes. He must still be in love with the Queen he loves.”
Olivia kept her mouth shut. If the King of Thalassa is captured, the war will inevitably stop. That is what it means to lose the balance of power.
“If you take over this kingdom, will you return as Emperor again?”
“Olivia. I am already the Emperor. I was born that way, and I will live that way.”
Olivia didn't think it was strange. Asherad was born that way. Even if he lost everything now, it would be the same. Asherad looked down at Ian.
“Isn’t that strange?”
“...”
“When I first saw this guy, I wanted to kill him.”
“...”
“I wanted to kill him, but he came to me without even knowing it.”
“...”
“To me, my father was someone who could kill me, but this guy doesn’t think that way. Unlike me.”
It was a bland narrative, not a heinous self-pity. Olivia gasped.
“Why is that?”
“...”
“I’m just letting him be because he’s my son.”
“...”
“This guy is happy about that and hugs me without hesitation. This guy is different from me. That’s why I want to kill him.”
Tears were streaming down the face of the man who spoke of murder. Olivia looked at him with a hardened face. Tears were streaming down from the man’s green eyes.
Even humans who shed tears cannot explain them.
Could this man now be a father? Olivia couldn't tell. But she could tell the possibility. Just as she, who had been horrified at the child's resemblance to Asherad, had fallen in love with the child, so too might he have become like him.
“Then, now it can be done...”
“...”
“Ian said you were cool. He even said that the way you swing your sword makes you look like you’re flying.”
Olivia approached the sleeping Ian and placed her hand on him. Ian slowly opened his eyes, looked back and forth between Olivia and Asherad, and closed them again. The child, smiling brightly and sleeping, looked just like an angel.
“Become a proud person.”
“...”
“What you did is clearly unforgivable, but...”
That was all Olivia said. Once again, silence fell over them. Asherad stared at Olivia, and Olivia stared at Ian.
A mother and father with one child were thinking about the future. What would it mean to be proud? What would become of them?
But the two of them didn't talk to each other. Maybe they had already finished talking.
The man apologized for his mistake, but she did not forgive him for his apology.
Was that their ending?
As morning approached, Asherad set out without even saying goodbye to them. Olivia, who was woken up by the knights, closed her eyes.
“You must go quickly.”
The luggage was already prepared, and all they had to do was follow the knights' instructions. The sky was beautiful, and the forest path they were taking was as gentle as a path.
However, Olivia started to walk away and burst into tears.
She knew it too. Asherad had let her go. Tears flowed for some reason. She moved away from him, step by step.
What?
Asherad was shocked by a sudden thought. Isn't this bad? This? This situation right now? He was confused.
“Just stay still.”
Olivia's words brought Asherad back to his senses. Ian also brought a clean towel and wiped the blood off his shoulder. However, it wasn't a wound.
“That’s not my blood.”
"Sure?"
“It must be the blood of one of those knights.”
"Wow."
Ian looked at Asherad with a bright face. Asherad felt annoyed by the obvious longing.
Olivia's hand touched, then Ian's hand touched. For some reason, he felt hot. Asherad tried to frown.
“Thanks to Father, the ladies are now free?”
"Yes."
“My father is a really cool guy.”
Ian smiled brightly. Asherad reached out and stroked Ian's head. Asherad muttered as he watched Ian accept his touch as if it were familiar.
“It looks just like a puppy.”
At that moment, he felt a sharp pain in his back.
“Ugh!”
It was because of Olivia. Instead of dabbing the disinfectant on a cloth, she poured it in and felt a sharp pain tearing at his flesh. He screamed in unexpected pain and turned around, and Olivia spoke with a cold expression.
“Who said puppy?”
“I didn’t say anything wrong... Ugh!”
He groaned and furrowed his brow as Olivia poured the disinfectant. Yes. Puppy. Dog. It was a taboo word between them. Only Ian laughed. Asherad couldn't help but snicker at the harmless being in front of him and the being behind him.
It was really weird.
Even though his body was as bruised as a rag, he just laughed. When he laughed, Ian laughed along. Olivia, who was watching, let out a soft sigh. She knew why he did this.
This is something to be thankful for. He made a bet while she was unconscious and won. He did what Olivia wanted.
“Olivia.”
“...”
“If there’s anything you want from now on, deal with me first.”
“...”
“Don’t deal with others.”
Olivia bit her lip at those words. She wasn't moved by this. She wasn't moved by this. Still, she nodded. It was a cold but cozy family, a family that seemed to be cold but warm.
***
In the end, she couldn't stay in this town. In fact, she had no intention of staying. Through some channel, the fact that she was a 'spy' had spread, and it was clear that those who stayed wouldn't leave their hats alone.
Even if the women were released, they wouldn't be particularly grateful. It was quite natural. So Olivia left the city she had been in. It was probably fortunate that it wasn't Dens, where she was most attached. She rode with Ian. Asherad was beside the advancing troops.
Asherad, dressed in gorgeous clothes, brought to mind images from the old days.
What is Derek doing? Olivia looked worried. Does he know this? Olivia doesn't know. At that moment, Asherad approached.
“Aren’t you thirsty?”
“...”
Unlike Olivia, who remained silent, Ian stretched out his arms. He smiled brightly as he gulped down water.
“Thank you, Father.”
Asherad accepted the water jug with a blank expression and looked forward again. It was a strange expression, as if he were enduring a tickle.
“Mom, how long do I have to go?”
“Mom doesn’t know either.”
War is coming, what will happen now? Olivia was feeling resigned. Night fell, and they made a simple barracks and rested. They had to use the same barracks as Asherad.
Asherad went to sleep without saying a word. Ian crawled onto Asherad's bed, saying that the floor was uncomfortable. Olivia was the only one who went to sleep on the floor.
But when he woke up, Olivia was in bed, and Asherad was asleep on the floor. They had been eating together for several days, and Ian had become quite friendly with the servants and knights who entertained him.
Perhaps because of Ian, Asherad didn't say a word to Olivia, and Olivia noticed the awkward silence, but soon got used to it.
"Father!"
But Ian didn't seem satisfied with that. Even though Asherad didn't show any particular warmth, Ian clung to Asherad. Strangely, unlike Derek, whom he liked but had difficulty with, Ian had difficulty with Asherad at first, but now he clung to him without hesitation. When Asherad sat down, Ian sat on him, and Asherad just patted his head.
There wasn't any proper conversation. All there was was just stroking, stroking.
They say blood is thicker than water. Is that true?
Olivia was worried as she saw Ian, who had opened his heart so easily and was sleeping in Asherad's arms. It had been about two weeks since she had been with Asherad. Olivia was quietly falling apart.
***
Three more days passed. Olivia felt that their mood had changed. There were clouds of war. They began to build barracks and sharpen their weapons. During this process, Olivia and Ian remained separated from Asherad.
Asherad looked busy. He had left at the King of Pindus’s call and had been examining something on his own. When he returned, he looked very tired and pale. But why? Olivia thought it was as if the candle was burning for the last time.
And as the days went by, Asherad became more and more blatant in his pursuit of Ian. He would surprise Ian when he was hiding in bed, and he would even look for him when Ian was out of the tent playing with the knights.
Olivia didn't stop them, because she had no right to ignore the interaction between father and son.
At one point, Asherad smiled broadly.
“Olivia.”
Olivia was surprised. He always called her by her old name, Daphne. When a person changes, they die soon. Olivia suddenly remembered that sound. Asherad had a slightly different expression on his face.
“Everyone, come out tomorrow.”
“...”
“I’ll put the knights in charge, so you stay safe.”
Asherad said as he patted Ian as he was sleeping. Olivia couldn't help but feel sad because he really looked like her father.
“Where is this place?”
“Asophos, the capital of the Kingdom of Thalassa.”
“On the way to the capital, I was lucky and there was no fighting with the army of the Kingdom of Thalassa.”
“...”
“What if we occupy Asopos? Is there King Thalassa inside Asopos?”
“Yes. He must still be in love with the Queen he loves.”
Olivia kept her mouth shut. If the King of Thalassa is captured, the war will inevitably stop. That is what it means to lose the balance of power.
“If you take over this kingdom, will you return as Emperor again?”
“Olivia. I am already the Emperor. I was born that way, and I will live that way.”
Olivia didn't think it was strange. Asherad was born that way. Even if he lost everything now, it would be the same. Asherad looked down at Ian.
“Isn’t that strange?”
“...”
“When I first saw this guy, I wanted to kill him.”
“...”
“I wanted to kill him, but he came to me without even knowing it.”
“...”
“To me, my father was someone who could kill me, but this guy doesn’t think that way. Unlike me.”
It was a bland narrative, not a heinous self-pity. Olivia gasped.
“Why is that?”
“...”
“I’m just letting him be because he’s my son.”
“...”
“This guy is happy about that and hugs me without hesitation. This guy is different from me. That’s why I want to kill him.”
Tears were streaming down the face of the man who spoke of murder. Olivia looked at him with a hardened face. Tears were streaming down from the man’s green eyes.
Even humans who shed tears cannot explain them.
Could this man now be a father? Olivia couldn't tell. But she could tell the possibility. Just as she, who had been horrified at the child's resemblance to Asherad, had fallen in love with the child, so too might he have become like him.
“Then, now it can be done...”
“...”
“Ian said you were cool. He even said that the way you swing your sword makes you look like you’re flying.”
Olivia approached the sleeping Ian and placed her hand on him. Ian slowly opened his eyes, looked back and forth between Olivia and Asherad, and closed them again. The child, smiling brightly and sleeping, looked just like an angel.
“Become a proud person.”
“...”
“What you did is clearly unforgivable, but...”
That was all Olivia said. Once again, silence fell over them. Asherad stared at Olivia, and Olivia stared at Ian.
A mother and father with one child were thinking about the future. What would it mean to be proud? What would become of them?
But the two of them didn't talk to each other. Maybe they had already finished talking.
The man apologized for his mistake, but she did not forgive him for his apology.
Was that their ending?
As morning approached, Asherad set out without even saying goodbye to them. Olivia, who was woken up by the knights, closed her eyes.
“You must go quickly.”
The luggage was already prepared, and all they had to do was follow the knights' instructions. The sky was beautiful, and the forest path they were taking was as gentle as a path.
However, Olivia started to walk away and burst into tears.
She knew it too. Asherad had let her go. Tears flowed for some reason. She moved away from him, step by step.
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