[Ch. 18] A Cup of Tea

Friendship? Since when did we become friends?

Wasn't he just paying us to be his bodyguards? When did he make the jump from bodyguards to friends?!

Without waiting for a response, Hatsuyo quickly disappeared from the room.

"...Fool." I spat out after he had left.

Syvlia sighed, "Don't be harsh on him… He is actually quite nice."

I looked at her critically, "He is too nice. How could someone have survived in this world acting like that? It is obvious that he has been sheltered."

She nodded, "I agree as well. He probably would have died if we had not saved him when we were passing by. From my understanding, he isn't skilled at magic and he doesn't have any notable physical strength. How could Michiya's son be so useless?"

I sneered, "Useless?"

She lowered her as she played with her cloak, "I... I just... I can explain..."

"Ah. That's right." My eyes turned to her with flames of rage building inside of me. My voice was frigid, "Explain. Explain everything you've hidden under that dead face of yours."

She flinched and lowered her head even further. Despite her mask, I knew she had the expression of a puppy being scolded. "Please don't be angry..."

I didn't lighten up, "I don't enjoy things being kept hidden from me. I am not patient nor do I like surprises. You know this."

"I... I know..."

"So then why were you so bold as to keep secrets from me?"

"I-It wasn't that I was keeping secrets from you. I just-"

I interrupted her, "How long have you known about Raylon?"

Her body slowly moved away from me and started to tremble. She didn't answer.

I shouted, "How long?!"

"I-I-"

Seeing her stutter, I realized something important. I grit my teeth, "You knew since the very beginning?! Does that mean you even knew before I… Before I.."

If I had known, I wouldn't have…

I squeezed the teacup in my hand as I felt my control over my emotions loosen.

Her head snapped up in a panic as if she noticed something wrong, "I knew! I knew from even before you came back! Gyles told me, but- but he told me not to tell you! We both thought it was best if you didn't know!"

The glass could no longer stand the pressure and shattered abruptly in my hands. I paid no attention to the pain nor the blood now dripping from my hand. I scoffed mockingly, "Thought it was best?"

Even the person I brought back from the dead hides the truth from me.

She even had the audacity to lie all these years!

I ought to rip off that arm I had given her all those years ago!

My soul reacted almost instinctively as if it had heard my desire and wanted to make it a reality. The sudden magic fluctuation churned my stomach, burning it with what felt like acid. As my rage increased, it felt as though hot pliers pierced my skin and twisting it from the inside. My body convulsed and I coughed violently. I covered my mouth as my body shook from the force.

A mouthful of blood was coughed up, leaking between my fingers.

Sylvia panicked at the sight of blood, "Mo!"

She went to help me, but I swatted her off. I ignored the burning pit in my stomach as I glared at her in anger, "The two of you knew?

She reluctantly drew back her hand, "We… We did.."

"Hah!" I laughed spitefully, "Such loyal friends. What an honor it is to have such people by my side."

Her head lowered more, "Moao…"

I snapped at her, "Don't call me by that name."

Under her mask, her lips pursed. She pleaded with me pitifully, "Mo… We were just worried. We were going to tell you... It's just that we didn't know how..."

"Oh? You were going to? Really?" Killing intent started arising from my face, "What else did you lie to me about? Korph? Amanda?"

She shook her head slowly, "I only kept Raylon's recovery a secret from you."

My killing intent soon died down after I heard this. I didn't know if I could trust her anymore, but I didn't have the energy to stay angry. I was desperate to hear that I was wrong about Amanda, but it seems that wasn't the case.

I reached out to grab a towel and cleaned off the glass and blood from my hand. My lifeless eyes watched as my hand slowly dripped blood to the floor.

My body would no longer heal automatically.

Sylvia cleaned up the mess with her head lowered. She handed me a new teacup, "Here… You can have mine. I never drank from it."

I accepted the cup and rubbed the space between my eyebrows. I let out a tired sigh, "Do you even realize how many things could have been avoided if I knew? I may not have gone down that path if I had known... I may not have lost-"

I couldn't finish my sentence and closed my eyes.

I don't want to remember my final day.

I don't.

"Mo… I am really sorry…"

I shook my head and resumed my usual expressionless face, "It doesn't matter."

It really didn't.

Whether Raylon was alive or dead, it didn't change the fact that I was still Moao.

I continued, "Is what Hatsuyo said true? Did Raylon really change in that way? Is he really as bloodthirsty as he said?"

"I'm not sure. I avoided him after I betrayed him for you. I didn't want him to see me like… This. I couldn't bear it."

"Mmn."

"But, I did hear those stories. In fact, I have seen the devastation left by him. After your death, he disappeared for a while. After he resurfaced, he was a totally different person. As he grew stronger, he grew more violent. He no longer valued human life as he used to."

My face scrunched up before relaxing again.

She glanced at my face before cautiously continuing, "Whenever someone mentioned your name, he would fly into a rage. No one could survive once they provoked him. Once, there was a village outside of the city. Although I don't know the context, the village head had asked Raylon about his relationship with you. Raylon snapped and decimated the entire village. There were no survivors. He didn't even spare those who couldn't fight."

Did he hate me that much?

Did he hate me to the point where he would massacre anyone who said my name?

She continued, "After I heard about this village, I paid a visit to determine if the story was true or not. When I walked through, I was shocked by the devastation. It was a bloody scene. He didn't just kill them. He tortured them before they finally died."

The sound of heavy footsteps climbed the stairs, leading to our private room.

Sylvia abruptly stopped talking and jumped out of the window without another word. I was left speechless in a room all by myself. I was confused as to why until I saw the door open...

Then I understood immediately.

Hawk-like eyes pierced into me as if wanting to tear my skin to shreds.

I forced on a smile as I motioned to the seat next to me, "...Prince Raylon. I'm honored to have you visit me… Would you like a cup of tea?"