Don’t Concern Yourself With That Book

Before I knew it, the dark clouds hanging in the sky covered the moon, blocking moonlight from permeating through so it was too dark to see anything in front or behind me.

I noticed Fleon still standing at the door.

I raised my hand to pinch Fleon’s cheek. He shot me a bewildered look.

“What are you doing?”

“Because that serious expression didn’t suit you.”

He zipped his mouth. Maybe because he was dumbfounded.

“I don’t want to talk to you when you’re like this. I just think you’re being a real moron. You’re being really tactless too.”

“Well, I don’t think you should say that. Because that’s what I always thought of brother, you know?”

“What?”

Fleon frowned. He did not know how funny he looked when he frowned like that while his cheek was being pinched.

‘Is his pride actually his shield, the one protecting him this whole time?’

When I raised my head, I noticed Fleon pacing about again. He seemed to have a lot to say.

I felt a little sorry for him. He offered to help me escape from here but I had refused.

“Brother.”

He stopped in his tracks. He swivelled around before he sighed and added.

“… Sorry.”

That was all I said. Though this might have been shameless of me, I hoped he understood what I meant.

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”

His gray hair shook before fluttering.

(F)“If anyone knew you were alone with a strange man, your reputation will be ruined, you idiot.”

(A)“A strange man? Do you mean Lord Ray? Brother, Lord Ray is not a weird man.”

(F)“What if that guy’s not a man?”

(R)“Well… What’s the third thing?”(1)

Then Lord Ray murmured grimly but it was too soft for me to hear anything.

(A)“I attend the banquet for a bit because today’s the day I protect my palace. If you’re worried, you can just take him away, brother.”

(R)“I’m not some object.”

(A)“Look at him. Lord Ray must also not like you very much, brother.”

(F)“What? Who?”

I looked at him calmly. I chased them both out of my palace firmly. Fleon, who I was pushing away, grabbed my shoulders just before I closed the door behind them.

“… You.”

His large hand pressed down on my head before falling off.

“Sleep well. You worked hard today.”

Was that his answer to my apology? Fleon smiled arrogantly once more before waving his hand and turning away.

***

I tried to sleep but I could not.

Too many thoughts were keeping me up. I recalled how I cried about what I did wrong before dying just a week later two years ago.

I looked into the mirror. Whether I liked it or not, my scar and my diary were now a part of me to bear.

Come to think of it, my previous life was not all that either. Whether it be how I was scammed of my deposit while I was trying to find a house to stay, the time I had to take a leave of absence from school because I remembered the scholarship application date wrong, or even when a strange man followed me late at night after my company dinner. Whether those had been intentional or not, the consequences were mine to bear.

“Stop.”

I slapped my cheek.

Anger and regret were useless in the long run.

“I should look for Amor.”

If I had any information, I should try to find a way to use it.

‘I don’t know if he’ll know though.’

It was about Auresia and the 2nd Empress. And about Castor who appeared in front of me again. I wanted to feel I was no longer alone.

I still had my most reliable comrade who was facing the gusts of the storm that was Castor.

Amor.

***

I took a step towards the forbidden forest. It was a dark night but I had walked this path so many times I did not hesitate as I walked forward.

After a long walk through the forest, I reached the stele but then I heard a clear sound reverberating through the space. I stiffened.

I could hear a beast crying from a distance.

‘Is it a hound?’

The watchman who normally guarded the forbidden forest could usually be only seen near the fence. Was it in the woods as well by any chance? I continued tiptoeing forward without slowing down as I quietly approached the stele.

A clear sound reverberated once again.

‘It’s getting closer.’

Damn. It was a long way back. I started running towards the stele without delay. All I had to do was grab it!

But when I finally ran across the grass and reached the stele, I realised my mistake.

A four legged beast was standing in front of the stele.

“… Damn.”

The cries were originating from here.

A black beast that was twice the size of the usual hound bore its teeth at me. Beasts bigger than the hounds existed? Its sharp triangular ears and long tusks. Growl.

Its saliva dripped on the ground.

I gritted my teeth.

‘I don’t really like the feeling of being ripped apart to death.’

It looked like I would have to regress this time but I did not want to relive today.

I did not want to go through that mess of that banquet again. The beast jumped forward.

I shouted the spell at the stele. Damn, move! Tongue!

“[R-ride the wind and come to me. Bring me the spring breeze from the west to grow these seeds…]”

Of course, the beast acted quicker than me. I shut my eyes tightly. Suddenly, I felt my body being pulled back.

“Let go.”

I felt something firm around my waist. Frowning, I looked up before seeing something black flash in front of my eyes. It was someone’s hair. The hair seemed to have swallowed all the light under the dim moonlight. I only knew one person with this hair colour.

“Don’t you think this is too late for a walk?”

Kieeek—

The animal collapsed on the ground with a scream. At the place the beast fell, there was only a chunk of minced meat left. It fell. However, I could only feel a surge of dread in this situation.

As soon as his arm let go of me, I hurriedly retreated back. As if the space around us had been sucked into a black hole, breathing the air alone seemed to hurt.

“We meet again, Ashley.”

It was Castor.

Banquets usually lasted all night.

Did he leave before it ended?

My mind was blank. After a fierce scuffle with my inner self, I managed to say.

“T-t-thank… you very much. Good night to you, brother.”

I expected what ever I said to sound stupid but I sounded more foolish than I thought I would be. I could not stop myself.

I had not expected to see him here. I let out the tiniest sigh before taking one step away from him. I did not want to stand too close to see the blood.

Castor looked down at me with a thin smile.

Suaaaa-

A gust of wind blew through the dark forest. The branches tangled in the trees rustled vigorously in the huge tumult.

“You’re right. It is a good night.”

His eyes rounded. His smile that was barely illuminated in the dim moonlight was so dazzling it was dizzying. And as I continued to watch him, I remained increasingly vigilant and calmed my heart.

“What brings you… to this place?”

“Well, I… was on a walk.”

I could not help but laugh at myself inwardly. A walk? In the forbidden forest? It would have made more sense if I said I came just to die.

“Hm, alright, it is a good night for a walk.”

I stole a glance at the beast’s corpse before cringing. It was good to show such a reaction at least once. He might be suspicious if I were to act excessively calm in front of a motionless corpse when I was supposed to be on a walk.

“B-b-brother, why are you alone?”

Castor was relaxed and listless as he replied.

“Why am I alone-”

He seemed to realise right away what I was trying to ask.

“My guardian is trying to keep a low profile. He broke a promise with me, you see.”

As moonlight casted over his body, he smiled and swept his lips.

“He broke an important promise.”

Another gust of wind blew. His black hair was so dark, it even remained distinctive from the dark forest in his backdrop. Just like his insides which I could never understand.

“Isn’t it dangerous to wander in a place where beasts roam?”

“Uhm. I had never seen one before so I did not know. I didn’t know there would be such a s-s-scary monster in this forest.”

“Really? Then, you must have good luck.”

If it had been Fleon who discovered me, he would have asked one by one, A to Z, for the reasons that brought me to this place at this hour. But this person just smiled.

Since he was a tyrant, was it because the way he thinks was too unique from ordinary people? I had never tried to understand the madness behind those sparkling eyes but at this moment, I had the strange impulse to do so.

“Brother… were you surprised to see me? M-my nanny told me this was a very dangerous forest so I came here secretly.”

“Your nanny wouldn’t know. The reason why you were able to survive in this forest was because you are of a legitimate Imperial bloodline.”

“A legitimate Imperial bloodline?”

“This is the reason why people who are not of such a bloodline end up wandering this forest. This is an ability given by the gods.”

All this while, the reason why I was able to survive in this forest was because I had the blood of the emperor? I almost let out an incredulous laugh.

‘Instead of such a reason, should there not be another way to make me happy?’

“Ashley.”

With a drowsy gaze, Castor reached out to me.

“N-n-no!”

Slap.

I slapped his hand away roughly by reflex. It was just a simple action but I was so nervous I only realised what I did when the sound rang clearly. He shook his hand before narrowing his eyes and alternating his gaze between his hand and my face.

“You don’t like me touching you?”

He reached for me again. I was captured in his gaze, frozen. His golden eyes remained persistent in the dark.

“Why?”

There were strange emotions within his eyes. As if he was observing my expression to decide what to do next.

“Ah… B-b-brother, I…”

His eyes were landing on every part of my face. Then, to my surprise, a faint smile appeared on his face.

“Right. You wouldn’t like bloodstained hands.”

Blood? Only then did I see his red sword. Not only were there blood spilled from the beast on his hands, there was also blood all over his cheeks and clothes. I did not know. I was so used to seeing this appearance as he turned my palace red that I thought this was not that much blood.

T/N:

hope the three way conversation is clearer now!

(1): In this part, because Fleon was suggesting that Ray’s not a man, when Ray’s talking about ‘the third thing’, I think he’s referring to a biological gender other than male and female. Like if he was not male nor female, then what’s the ‘third thing’. I hope you get it! LOL