◈ 324. [Side Story] In the Mood for Love (6)
It wasn’t until several days later that Lucas came to his senses.
The giant swordsman who was nursing Lucas cried out.
“young master! You are awake!”
“Mason… mister?”
Lucas struggled to get his body wrapped in bandages.
It was the home of the MacGregor family. It was unfamiliar to me to return to my hometown after such a long time, but I did not understand the current situation.
“How am I here… ?”
Although my memory is hazy in the aftermath of Beastization.
The mission failed, and he was in a situation where he had to be killed by Ash for his betrayal.
how to live… … Are you returning to your hometown?
“His Highness Prince Ash sent someone to send you here! The injuries were mostly healed, but I was so worried because I couldn’t regain consciousness for several days… … .”
Mason sniffled incongruously for his size. Lucas, blinking blankly, asked urgently.
“Did you have any other messages?!”
“Ah that… Anyway, Prince Ash’s letter is here.”
Lucas frantically read the letter Mason gave him. The content was simple.
– go away. forever.
“… .”
Lucas closed his eyes and folded the letter carefully and put it in his bosom.
I took a deep breath, gathered my heart, and turned my head to Mason next to me.
“How did Uncle Mason… ?”
Ash assassination failed. It wouldn’t have been strange if Fernandez had killed all the MacGregor family members who were hostages.
“His Highness Fernandez has freed us all!”
“Even if I fail… ?”
“Here is a letter from Her Majesty Fernandez. Please read it.”
When Lucas opened it, it read:
– Your dedication so far has become meaningless due to the failure of this mission.
– Still, in recognition of your hard work, I will save the people of your family and repay half of the remaining debt.
– I still think highly of your talent. If you want to pay off the remaining debt… … .
Cuggit.
Crumpling the letter roughly, Lucas eventually tore it into pieces. Mason, who was looking at Lucas in surprise, asked timidly.
“What are you going to do now, young man?”
“… I have to live.”
Lucas licked his dry lips and smiled.
The boy’s smile, which was like an innocent puppy, suddenly faded.
“Even if the world ends, people will have to live on.”
It had changed a bit like that of a wolf.
***
Lucas disposed of the MacGregor family manor and estate.
Even so, he did not have enough money to pay off his debts, so he eventually sold all of the swords that had been handed down as heirlooms to the swordsmanship workshop and family secret book.
The MacGregor family’s secret book and treasured sword were surprisingly expensive.
The day the family mansion was sold and the signboard of the swordsmanship dojo was taken down.
All Gasol and loyal servants who served the MacGregor family until the end burst into tears. Lucas hugged them once.
“I’m sorry for making you suffer until the end. Everyone is doing well.”
Even Mason, who said he would stay by his side, forced everyone to leave.
Selling everything down to the last speck of dust to finish paying off the debt.
Lucas is broke.
All that was left in his hand was the handle of the sword with the broken blade. The sword that Ash had given me now had only the hilt.
“… .”
Lucas, who was still looking down at the hilt, put it in his arms and started trudging along.
I had nothing more to lose anyway.
The place to go was decided.
***
“You look so shameless.”
Ash’s Villa.
Even though it was midday, Ash was sitting on a chair in a dark room with thick curtains drawn, sipping hard liquor from a glass.
The ashtray next to it was full of pressed cigarette butts.
“How did you make up your mind to shine your face in front of me again as a traitor?”
It’s like an old man who can’t believe he’s fifteen years old… … Ash sneered, letting his decadent, haggard eyes flow.
dump.
Lucas quietly knelt in front of him.
“Give me a chance to atone.”
“expiation? How are you going to atone?”
“I will be your dog. If you want me to bark, I will bark and if you want me to kill you, I will kill you.”
“Are you bringing back a dog that has already bitten its owner?”
“If a guard dog bites its owner, it must be killed. But, Your Highness spared me, didn’t you?”
Ash laughed and got up from his seat.
“The reason I saved you was because your betrayal didn’t mean much. Whether you betrayed me or not, my mother would have passed away in the end, and sooner or later, I would have become this goddamn mess… … .”
Pour the remaining alcohol into your mouth and tuck! Ash put down his glass and smiled gloomily.
“… And there’s no point in kicking you out of here. Because you are with me on my damned journey no matter what. Seriously, I’m going to be like this again.”
“Are you accepting me again?”
“I gave you a chance to escape. But it’s you who came back. So, I’ll pamper you right before you die.”
Ash couldn’t understand what he was saying, but Lucas was still listening.
“Be a dog that follows me thoroughly. If it turns out to be wrong, you will be killed according to your wishes.”
“It is my wish.”
he is a dog
Dogs do not question their master’s words.
“… tell me in advance I will be more and more broken.”
Ash brushed back his tangled hair.
“My soul is so worn out that the cracks are wide open. Right now, it’s just after the return, so it’s maintaining its shape, but as time goes by, it’ll break into pieces.”
“… .”
“I will forget people’s names, I will forget what I was doing, and in the end I will forget my purpose. So don’t tell me the escort. Remember carefully.”
Lucas didn’t try to understand.
I just remembered the following words.
“In the year I turn twenty-three, I have to go to the Crossroads. To start my final game.”
next 8 years.
The master said that he had to head to the southern end of the world.
On the table next to Ash was a chess board. There were no other pieces on it, only the white and black kings.
On that desolate chessboard- Ash picked up another piece that had fallen on the floor and put it on.
widely!
Knight.
A white knight stood before the king.
“If I forget, you lead me. I will believe you.”
At that moment, a question popped into Lucas’ mind.
I tried not to question it, but I was convinced that this must be asked now.
Not for his own curiosity, but for Ash’s sake.
“… Can I ask you something?”
“Are you asking questions as soon as you hear it again as a guard dog? A guy with no quirks.”
Ash nodded while clicking his tongue. Lucas asked slowly.
“Why do you want to play that ‘game’?”
Then Ash’s eyes widened.
His eyes, which had been languid and dull, suddenly shone brightly.
“Yeah… Of course, there is only one reason.”
At that moment, Lucas saw.
As if sweet rain was pouring down on the land that had been horribly cracked.
A smile soaked in the weariness of the years turned into a bright smile like a 15-year-old boy—a look caught on Ash’s lips.
Then Lucas was convinced.
ah. No matter how much this person
changes, in the end he is the person I served.
With a bright smile, Ash said.
“To save the world.”
***
Ash took Lucas out.
The place the carriage was headed was the Earl of Wintersilver. Upon Ash’s visit, Serenade ran out barefoot.
“Husband!”
The serenade that came running in a month hugged Ash tightly. Ash stood still.
“After Empress Dustia’s funeral, she kept her door shut… The girl was worried. Are you feeling better?”
Facing Ash’s dry face with tears on his face, Serenade soon noticed the smell of alcohol and cigarettes coming from Ash’s body.
Serenade, not knowing what to do, carefully opened her mouth.
“Husband. I fully understand that you are heartbroken, but alcohol and cigarettes harm the body.”
“Sorry, Serenade. I didn’t come here to listen to your nagging.”
“Please come inside. I will serve you hot tea. If there’s anything I can comfort you… … .”
“I don’t even need your consolation.”
Ash spat out coldly and gave a light chin.
“Give me the money. Because I have something to write about.”
“yes? money… What?”
“If you’re the heir to a merchant family, you probably don’t have the money to spend. Hurry up and give it to me.”
Ash, who gestured cheekily, had a wicked sneer on his small smirk.
“If you have a good drink, bring a bottle.”
“… .”
Serenade became a face that collapsed in billions.
However, he went back to his house in silence and within a few minutes brought a small wooden box and a bottle of alcohol.
“In this neck box… It contains jewelry that I have collected since childhood. It’s what I’ve been collecting to use at my wedding, and this drink is-”
Ash didn’t listen any further and snatched the wooden box and bottle from Serenade’s hand.
He casually opened the wooden box, confirmed that it was full of jewels, and turned around quickly.
“thank you. I will write well.”
“ah… .”
“I will come again next time, so prepare this much again. got it?”
Serenade looked at Ash’s back in dismay, not looking back.
Lucas, who was watching this scene in a cold sweat, bowed to the serenade and hurriedly followed Ash.
As Ash climbed into the carriage again, the serenade cried out.
“Husband!”
“… .”
“If money, alcohol, or whatever can heal your heart, I will prepare it for you. therefore… .”
Serenade, who had barely swallowed her tears, smiled miserably.
“Please don’t be in too much pain. That hurts the girl more.”
“… .”
“Please find me anytime, sir. The girl will be waiting for you. forever here… … .”
Ash silently climbed into the carriage and started the carriage.
The mansion of the Countess of Wintersilver moved away in an instant. Serenade was still standing barefoot as if nailed there, waving her hand small.
When the serenade disappeared, Ash opened his mouth.
“Isn’t that great?”
“yes?”
“I mean first love. It might get dull after this amount of time, but it still makes my heart ache.”
Ash opened the wooden box given to him by Serenade.
The jewels she had carefully collected one by one while preparing for her wedding glittered.
“You might get used to this, but… Ha true.”
Ash smiled bitterly and closed the wooden box as he averted his gaze. And I looked out the window with dark eyes.
After a long silence, Ash spoke again in a cold voice.
“More money and… We need more connections.”
Lucas didn’t ask.
why do you need that money Why do you need that network?
What are Ash’s actions for?
“I don’t have any goddamn foundations, so I can’t help it. Again… … .”
But Lucas suddenly thought.
This boy with a dangerous smile that seemed like it would break at any moment.
“Shall we become the empire’s number one scoundrel?”
It seems to still radiate light even when immersed in darkness.
like a backlight.
***
Eight years have passed.
Ash and Lucas have reached the Crossroads.
And the final game began.
