Chapter 10
Lethias stood up quietly, seemingly intent on either restraining or pushing Juan away.
Simultaneously, Benya, who had been observing Juan's behavior with mild interest while lighting a cigarette, finally spoke up.
"Enough."
"What? What are you saying now? Hic! Oh, come on! Your infuriating duality today..."
"Juan!!!"
"Even your Princess asked you to stop. I don't particularly want to witness bloodshed tonight, so let's call it quits."
He was saying it like it wasn't entertaining to engage with him because he was such an insignificant person. However, Juan was only further bolstered.
Crash!
"Kyaaa! Juan, what are you doing?!"
"Don't belittle me! I'm sickened by your arrogant conviction that you're superior to everyone! You're not fit for your position; all you disgusting snakes can go to hell! Haha, that tainted blood involved in private loans..."
"Ducal Prince!"
While my voice wasn't particularly loud, its resonance magnified in the quiet hall. Juan, who was stumbling in our direction with a broken bottle, looked at me through his haze of anger and confusion.
The blend of rage and uncertainty danced in his wide, pink eyes before abruptly transforming into an expression of surprise.
Knoxus was an entirely separate concern, and he bore no connection to this situation.
"Apologize, please."
"… hic. Hiccup."
"I am asking you to apologize."
Juan, who had been gazing blankly at me for a prolonged moment, was on the verge of mumbling something when someone suddenly seized him by the back of his neck from behind.
Unsurprisingly, it was Knoxus, exuding a palpable aura of wrath.
I'm retracting my earlier statement about them not making a good pair. Looking at them now, their camaraderie is unmistakable.
"What in the world is happening...?"
"… hiccup."
"What sort of vulgar display is transpiring within my imperial palace?!"
The appearance of the prince shattered the atmosphere entirely. Amidst sighs that seemed tinged with a touch of remorse, Adriana stiffened further, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Could the fact that her brother, whom she adores, reacted to my words instead of her own be that astonishing?
"Are you all right, Princess?"
Slowly, Adriana's gaze shifted towards me. Her oversized, rigid pink eyes bore into my face as if I were an unfamiliar entity.
Stains of wine marred her pristine white lace, likely a consequence of the wine that had splattered from Juan's altercation. Retrieving my handkerchief, I approached her, intending to offer it to her in kindness.
Slap!
A hand clad in a white evening glove struck mine, causing the handkerchief to tumble to the floor, joining the wreckage of shattered glass and spilled alcohol.
As murmurs spread rapidly, an odd groan echoed, and Adriana seemed to snap back to reality with a start.
"Oh, my god. Sasha, I apologize. I don't know what came over me..."
"Sasha!"
Adriana's apology reached my ears, but I was preoccupied with retrieving the fallen handkerchief. The voices of many individuals filled the air.
Just as I hesitated and lifted my gaze, Benya stood up and approached me, seizing my arm as if rescuing it, and swept aside the debris underfoot.
"Ducal Prince..."
"Princess, I believe it's time to properly educate that brat."
Of course, the "brat" in question was Juan. His worried gaze locked onto mine for a moment, just before Knoxus himself seized him by the scruff of his neck.
While his trembling persisted, his frantic outbursts had ceased. Adriana's cheeks were flushed.
"I'm terribly sorry..."
"You needn't apologize. Hyung, we’ll be heading out first. So, decide the donation amount yourself."
Lethias, watching his brother with a concerned expression as if sensing something peculiar, nodded earnestly. Subsequently, he softly spoke his mind.
"Don't throw the pup away..."
Rather than acknowledging that pitiable remark, Benya wordlessly guided me away. The Crown Prince, observing the situation with inscrutable eyes, calmly intervened.
"Are you departing already? Though someone else may have caused the issue, why?"
"I apologize, Your Highness."
"Very well, then. Until we meet again."
Regardless of whether Assad advised against him going out this early, Benya was determined to leave. Nevertheless, Assad seemed to cast aside his reservations and bid farewell, albeit in a subdued manner.
Benya didn't spare the Crown Prince a glance, proceeding directly towards the exit, his anger visibly brimming.
To match his pace, I took a few steps and glanced back one last time, witnessing an array of expressions from the onlookers that ranged from curiosity to dismay.
The entire time we boarded the carriage and left the imperial palace, neither of us said a word.
Despite still holding my hand, Benya's gaze remained fixed outside the window, his expression was quite pensive.
I couldn't discern his thoughts or whether he was angry, so I trod carefully with my words, not wanting to speak hastily.
Regardless, I had left the handkerchief behind, and even more frustratingly, it was from the dressing room.
In this unsettling silence, we finally arrived home.
Mr. Chaplin, our kind butler, appeared taken aback by our early return, but his perceptiveness seemed to deter him from asking any questions given the unusual atmosphere.
“Arf arf arf!”
“… Damn it, Chaplin!”
“I apologize, Young Master.”
Mr. Chaplin swiftly picked up the excitedly barking dog and cast a concerned glance my way. I offered him a reassuring wink, signaling that he needn't worry and should continue with his duties.
By now, the servants' gathering downstairs must be in full swing.
Benya released my hand, prompting me to follow him. Through numerous stairs and corridors, we eventually reached a familiar place. It was the room I had visited not long ago.
A tense silence stretched between us.
Benya discarded his frock coat and gloves before taking a seat on the plush sofa, while I softly shut the door behind me and stood still.
He then irritably undid his tie with a single hand and finally broke the silence.
“Why did you follow me?”
“Because I'm concerned about you.”
“What reason do you have to be concerned about me?”
“There are many questions you want to ask me, right?”
His intense light blue gaze bore into me for what felt like an eternity. My heart rate, which had settled, quickened once again.
“Well, there's no need to ask. Don't you think? Even without me questioning, it's pretty clear what you're thinking and what I'm thinking.”
I cast my gaze downward briefly before pursing my lips.
“The reason for your anger…”
“That bastard who nearly killed you hovers around you constantly."
“Benya…”
“You always know how to weave the best scenarios. I don't want to ruin your fun, no matter what my role in this, but that's where I draw the line. Stop whatever you're doing.”
“I can't do that.”
I shook my head calmly, offering a twisted, bitter smile.
"You can't... Then should I force you?"
“Don't say things you don't mean.”
“I'd rather have you hate me than watch you put yourself in danger. Sometimes I wish you had just told me to kill them all, just like in the past.”
“Do you think I'd entrust everything to you like that and ask you to dig your own grave?”
“I'm headed for hell anyway. Did you forget? Juan didn't say anything wrong. Even if you use me and discard me like trash, it's all fair game.”
“What are you...”
Suppressing my rising anger, I took a deep breath and then Benya stood up, retrieved a silver cigarette case from the table, and moved toward the window.
“I wanted to gouge out the eyes of those three today, and one of them turned out to be our benefactor.”
It didn't need to be specified who the other two were. That was clear.
“Go rest now. I apologize for dragging you out early.”
“You're not the only one who wanted to pluck someone's eyes out.”
“What?”
“Jealousy isn't your exclusive right.”
There was a moment of silence. Benya, on the brink of lighting a cigarette, looked at me with an utterly perplexed expression. With a wry smile, I approached him.
“I'm your partner. Do I seem like I'm driven by mere vengeance?”
“…”
“If you're headed to hell, I'll follow suit. It was I who originally suggested killing them out. Don't even think about using the excuse of protecting me to keep us apart.”
His sky-blue eyes flickered, tumultuously. I gently took the cigarette from his hand and returned it to the table.
“You're not just another character on my stage. You're my most valuable assistant director. Do you really believe I care about the Crown Prince or anyone else more than you? Just as you continue to support me, I will do the same for you.”
As I spoke, it seemed that the source of this odd unease I had sensed from the Crown Prince had finally come to light. It wasn't solely due to my recognition of Assad's feelings for me.
Benya served as Assad's unwavering hound. While Assad had played the role of being our savior, he had simultaneously reaped every inch of that investment.
It was feasible because there were individuals meant to radiate under the sun's brightness, yet for other people’s sake, they ended up being the ones who would soil their hands.
It wasn't fair. As much as Adriana's stupid naivety is poison to me.
Despite the loss of his parents and younger sister, Benya had become so shattered that he no longer felt emotions.
He had been stripped of the sentiments a human should possess and couldn't smile as he had in the past.
That reality didn't sit well with me.
After a while, Benya spoke once more. Unlike before, his voice was clenched, as though he was suppressing something desperately.
“I know that keeping you somewhere safe is a stupid delusion.”
“But you wouldn't do that to me, regardless.”
For if you did, you'd become no different from your relatives.
“I can't give up protecting you, though.”
No. Benya had already protected too many things. All the while, he inflicted irreparable harm upon himself in the process. Without him, would Lethias have survived?
Could the imperial family have achieved stability without factional strife? Could the Empire have escaped Fibonacci's sinister grasp?
I smiled and shook my head.
“I understand. But you, too, deserve someone to protect you.”
My hand softly clasped his. Along with his warmth came a faint shiver.
Benya stared at our joined hands, head bowed, and finally spoke with utmost sincerity.
“You're under no obligation to us. I don't know how long you'll stand by my side, but you needn't do this for someone like me…”
“Obligation? You must be joking. The days of being carried away by such absurd notions are already behind us. This is my choice. Even if you try to push me away now, you won't succeed in separating us.”
“… why? Sasha, why in the world?”
Look at this foolish man. We were just discussing jealousy, so why was he asking me this now? Or was he not acting foolish, but instead cunning and sly? Fine, this time, Noona will let herself be swept away by you again.
“Because I love you.”
Comments
Post a Comment