[Ch. 20] A Father's Son

I tidied up my clothes while staring at my reflection in the mirror.

My pale neck showed a visible bruise in the shape of two handprints. I lightly tapped each spot where the steel-like fingers had grasped me. I could still feel the warmth on my skin. My fingers traced it delicately as I recalled Raylon's face filled with hatred.

I pressed down on the bruises until it stung. Then, I released it with an indifferent expression.

I kept doing it over and over until I heard the door open. I turned to it slowly without attempting to hide the bruises. Hatsuyo was frozen in the doorway with his mouth agape. He looked at the disordered room before turning back to look at me.

I forced a smile at him.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, "Um… What happened?"

I tilted my head, "What do you mean?"

"The room…"

"Ah…" I turned away from him and pulled up my collar to ensure that it was covering the bruises. However, they completely covered my throat. It was no use trying to cover it.

But it's not like I cared if it was hidden or not.

He knew I wouldn't answer him so he looked around, "Where is Sivvie?"

I replied ambiguously, "She saw a bird and went to chase it."

"..."

I moved away from the mirror and continued to smile at him.

After a few more moments of silence, he scratched his head awkwardly. He spoke timidly, "I tried to find Raylon to explain to him that you mistakenly gave him that flower, but I couldn't find him."

"I know."

"Eh? You know? How did you know?"

Because he already found me.

However, I didn't want to expend the energy to tell him so I merely kept on that false smile. I hummed apathetically, "Mmn."

He shifted uncomfortably not knowing what else to say. Suddenly, he noticed my hand was bleeding. His face paled as he rushed forward, "You're bleeding?!"

"Mmn."

He grabbed my hand and looked at it carefully, "I-It's broken too?"

I noticed his pale expression and studied it closely. I pulled my hand back, "You dislike blood?"

He coughed awkwardly and looked away, "I-I… It makes me feel… Sick."

I furrowed my brow at this.

He chuckled as he forced himself to reach for my hand again, "It's fine though… I may be weak when it comes to offensive magic, but I am a decent healer. A broken hand and a few cuts won't be too difficult to heal. It won't be perfect, but it will be better than it is now."

"Mmn." I silently let him heal my hand as I studied his complexion closely. Seeing his face change from white to blue, I spoke up. "Don't push yourself."

He smiled sheepishly, "I know you probably find me strange for behaving this way. People always wonder how I managed to survive when I'm like this. But they don't understand. My father is very protective of me. After my mother died, he wouldn't let me out of his sight. He kept me in the Palace with armed bodyguards at all times. No matter how safe I was, he wouldn't relax. He wouldn't allow anyone to get close to me, so I grew up pretty much alone."

Michiya did all that? I can't imagine that little soft-spoken bookworm as a helicopter parent.

Hatsuya lowered his gaze. His voice turned softer, "But I understand my father's actions. He never had a family. So, when he finally got one, he didn't want to lose it."

I nodded softly, "I understand."

His eyes lit up, "Y-You do? You don't think it's odd?"

I shook my head, "No."

I know better than anyone what it is like to want to protect someone. You were even willing to imprison them if it meant they would be safe. How could I not understand Michiya?

I only hope that he doesn't make the same mistake as I had.

I glanced at Hatusyo carefully and warned him, "You ought to be grateful that your father loves you so much. You should never betray his love."

Hatsuyo was clearly startled by this. He puffed out his cheeks as if he had been called the ultimate insult, "I would never! Even though my father had me locked up, I never once resented him for it. It was the only way to keep me safe. I am not as skilled at magic as he is. I fully know that if I hadn't been protected by those bodyguards, then I surely would have died."

I recalled the scene where Sylvia and I had found him scrambled up a tree panicking for help.

I asked feeling a bit curious, "When did he let you leave?"

He looked away sheepishly, "That was when Raylon came to visit. My uncle has always been cruel and unapproachable, yet he would always make the effort to see me. Sometimes he would give me things he had found from the old country. I never saw the world before Moao, so I was always fascinated by those types of things."

My eyes lowered once I heard this.

A world before me? Couldn't they have described the world before in a different way?

He continued unaware of my thoughts, "One day, Raylon had come to visit me and my father permitted me to leave the Palace with him. We were still in the city where it was safe from the undead. However, there had been an assassin hiding in the shadows. He jumped at me in an attempt to grab me. He did it in order to either kidnap me or kill me, but I never figured out which one it was. Before he could go through with his plan, Raylon cut him into pieces in the blink of an eye."

He let out a sigh, "That was the first time I ever saw death. My heart thumped so fast it felt like it was going to explode into pieces. Then, everything went dark. I woke up a few days later. Apparently, I had fainted and was in a coma for several days. My father went insane with worry. Raylon told my father that I was too soft and needed to be toughened up or else I would die in this world. He said that I should be given the chance to see the world in order to get experience. After all, many people wanted my father dead. His enemies all knew I was the only thing he couldn't bear to lose."

I picked up my head slightly, "Raylon spoke on behalf of you?"

He nodded quickly, "He did. And you can guess how that ended…"

I shrugged lazily.

He let out a dry chuckle, "It didn't end very well. My father kicked him out of the Palace while he shouted all kinds of things. My father refused to let me go until I finally gained the courage to ask him to let me leave. I wanted to see the world for myself. I was tired of only reading about it or having people bring me things from the old world. I wanted to find those relics on my own. When he saw my determination, he finally agreed. That was only a few years ago."

It is hard to imagine that the Raylon who had just strangled me, and who is also considered the strongest person on the continent, could be kicked out from a palace.

I asked cautiously while observing Hatsuyo's expression, "Your father and Raylon seem to have a good relationship."

He shrugged, "I guess when you think of Raylon's personality that is true. However, I think that calling it a good relationship isn't quite right. He is only tolerant of me and my father."

I furrowed my brow. Back at the Academy, Raylon and Michiya barely spoke. They were always cordial to each other, but they weren't close. I never really saw them together outside of group gatherings. So what changed in those years I was gone?

I asked in an indifferent tone, "Why is your father and Raylon so close? Are they related?"

He shook his head, "They aren't related whatsoever. I actually don't know why they are so close. I have asked other people about it, but there were never any explanations."

I nodded to him, "Well, for your father to be close to Raylon must make him a very interesting person. I wouldn't mind meeting him."

He laughed heartily, "If there ever is a chance, I will gladly introduce the two of you to each other. I think you both would get along far too well."

My lips curved up silently. I turned away from him and began to fiddle with my sleeves.

I wonder if Michiya would recognize me.

How would that reunion look?

I fiddled with my outfit as my mind drifted elsewhere. Hatsuyo caught sight of something while I was distracted. His eyes widened, "Y-Your neck!"

I paused, "My neck?"

He rushed over, "I-It's bruised!"

I quickly pulled up the collar as I stared at him with a frown.

He pursed his lips and reached out to me, "Let me heal that for you."

I took a step back avoiding his outstretched hands.

"..."

I stared at him indignantly, "It doesn't need to be healed."

He blinked in disbelief, "Haah?"