Chapter 102

Chapter 102

A noisy girl.

That was Hizen’s first impression of Leasis. She was not as scary or cruel as he had imagined. She was just a talkative girl, and most of her words were nonsense.

She visited Hizen every time and made him uncomfortable. Her appearance was very unusual for Hizen, who was only used to see noblemen dressed elegantly. The girl was holding two swords, wearing a simple hunting suit and even had pants.

In addition, she was very mischievous and had the fitting nickname of a little rascal. Nevertheless, she had a lot of love and interested in everything. It was his first time meeting such a person.

Her ruby-colored pure eyes were full of affection and it was burdensome. Hizen was very uncomfortable in many ways. The little rascal was a girl but had also genius sword skills.

Hizen, who had been compared a lot to her, treated her coldly.

But the little rascal was always around him.

[Go away.)

[I don’t want to.)

Leasis opened her eyes wide, looking at Hizen practicing swordsmanship. She had never seen someone wielding a sword with such a dislike on their face. So she was surprised.

Hizen’s face turned red because he misunderstood her look. She was already a swordsman, so his skills must look ridiculous. In particular, he was often criticized for his lack of knowledge about swords.

[You don’t like swords?]

At the sudden question, Hizen looked at Leasis in surprise. She smiled brightly and approached him.

[The sword opens its heart to someone who likes it. If you close your mind like that, you can’t open it.]

Warmth spread in the hands held together. Leasis took the sword from Hizen’s hand.

An intense blue color caught Hizen’s eyes. For the first time, Hizen heard the sword speaking. It was strange, but that was how he felt it.

It was saying that it was fun. Now Hizen’s sword was enjoying it. And so was the girl in front of him.

[Try it again.]

Hizen slowly grabbed the sword. Then a breath of air blew out with a brilliant blue flash.

It was beautiful.

Hizen stared blankly at the light. Then Leasis stroked his head and smiled.

[Good job.]

Ah. His heart was beating uncontrollably. Hizen turned his head in the opposite direction. He was afraid of showing his foolish red face.

But he made eye contact with a tall maid girl next to a tree.

‘So her eyes were brown.’

Hizen saw that girl’s eyes for the first time. He was always walking with his head down like a sinner.

The girl disappeared as soon as she noticed his gaze.

Hizen’s frozen heart melted little by little. A smile brighter than the sun, eyes burning with passion, and a tender heart. Hizen could not help but fall in love with Leasis.

The brown-haired maid hovered around them. Even though Leasis had a separate maid, she often delivered milk, cookies, and water.

[Her name is Lenny.]

[Lenny?]

[Yes. We’re the same age. She’s really nice.]

Hizen did not really listen to her words. It was because he did not have enough time to learn about someone else than Leasis.

His whole world was filled with Leasis. It was his first time thinking that he wanted to have similar beliefs as someone else.

That was how deeply Hizen fell for Leasis. He could not even notice other people’s feelings.

A few days later, Ramashter came to the mansion. Although Ramashter was tougher than what Hizen had imagined, he was a great man.

The two grew up with Ramashter’s sword training. Sometimes his wife came with her hands full of a hundred roses to redecorate the mansion.

Happiness

Hizen understood the word happiness for the first time and was happy all day. It was hard to notice Lenny’s gaze and heart from afar.

He ran around the mansion in the morning, practiced swordsmanship until lunch, and read books in the library in the evening. During all those moments, Leasis was with him, and his heart was full.

Everyone cared about Hizen. The small rascal of the mansion, the teacher, the servants and the maids.

In particular, Baron Berman treated Hizen like a son. He was like a person from a different world when compared to Calibaut. He was always full of laughter, brightness, and never got angry or screamed.

[B-Baron-nim! I’m fine!)

Hizen, who was on Baron Berman’s broad shoulders, blushed. But Baron Berman said with a cheerful smile.

[Hizen, raise your head.]

[What?]

Come on.]

As he raised his head, a beautiful sky unfolded before his eyes. The afternoon sky, which was hard to see for Hizen, who had always his head down, was beautifully colored.

Hizen’s eyes turned red. This moment was so precious and happy that he did not want to go back. He wanted to be with them, so for the first time in his life he lifted his sword with his own will.

He tried as much as he could, his swordsmanship grew day by day, and he became a decent warrior, not far from Leasis. Leasis was the most important factor in improving Hizen’s swordsmanship.

[Hizen, you’re amazing!)

No, you’re amazing. Hizen murmured inward and blushed. He did not know how to react when Leasis complimented him like this.

He just lowered his head. Then Leasis quickly approached and grabbed his cheeks with both hands.

Mwah.

Hizen looked at the red eyes with a blank face. Leasis laughed, playfully kissing him again.

[This is a gift.]

By that time, Hizen and Leasis were engaged. The two were very happy, but Baron Berman and Ramashter looked dark for some reason.

In the calm garden, Ramashter sighed and said to Baron Berman.

[We have to stop Calibaut.)

[… What should we do?]

[It’s because of the Emperor. Bringing a woman from the Yvette family as an Empress… The moment you get your eyes on that power, you’re doomed.]

Baron Berman clenched his fists at Ramashter’s words. His beloved friend had been deceived by the Emperor and was trying to touch black magic.

[Ramashter. I’ll talk to Calibaut.)

[Will you be all right?]

[Of course.]

He could not trust Baron Berman, who nodded gladly. He was better than anyone else, but he was weak-minded and would often make a mistake.

Ramashter frowned and shouted at him.

[No, you can’t do it. Just go with me!]

[What?]

When Baron Berman got angry, Ramashter burst into a pleasant laughter. His friend was always pure and cheerful even after getting older.

‘If Calibaut hadn’t changed…’

Ramashter was truly sorry.

What is this? Hizen, who was packing his belongings, tilted his head. There was a new book on the old wooden bed.

Did they give me a last present? The people of this house were all very fond of Hizen, so it was not strange if someone had given it to him.

He immediately checked the cover and opened it. It was one of his favorite history books. Hizen smiled slightly and started to read.

Then, Leasis burst in. Coming in without knocking, she approached him with a grin.

[Can I help you?]

[That’s fine. I can do this by myself.]

[Yes, of course.]

Leasis sat on the bed with a playful smile. But the book she saw caught her eye.

Ah. Leasis remembered something. It was like the book that Lenny, the maid, carried earlier.

Leasis looked unknowingly at the book. Hizen misunderstood it and kindly asked.

[Do you want to read it?]

[No, no!)

Leasis added, shaking her hands.

[I think you’d better read this by yourself.]

[Huh?]

[It’s your precious gift.]

Leasis spoke with strength. Hizen was a little puzzled, but he nodded, saying he understood.

After that, he seemed to hear tenuous footsteps.

Hizen’s heart was sorrowful when he returned to the Dratius mansion. The huge mansion was different from the warm and loving Berman’s mansion. It was just as cold and unfamiliar as a blizzard.

Calibaut had become more sensitive than ever. He was not concerned about Hizen’s use of the blue sword, but rather blamed him.

He burst into anger, saying that if he used the breathing or sword skills he had learned from Leasis, that would be like using the swordsmanship of the Berman family. So Hizen had to pay attention to every single action and even had to control his breath.

What was fortunate was that the three people he loved had come with him. Leasis went around the mansion and ran wild, and Ramashter and Baron Berman began hammering to make swings for the children.

Calibaut’s natural enemy was Baron Berman. He smiled and softly calmed down his feverish friend.

Hizen was a little surprised when he saw it by chance. Even his father, who had always been like a block of ice, could not resist Baron Berman.

As time went by, Hizen smiled widely. The mansion had been so dark, but it seemed to shine brightly now. He earnestly wished that time would stop like this.

That night, Hizen put the book that Baron Berman gave him in the library. But there was a strange sound coming from outside.

As he followed the sound, he saw his father arguing with Baron Berman. The two spoke with serious faces, and Baron Berman put his fist in Calibaut’s face.

Contrary to his expectations, Calibaut received the blow and did not fight back. Then, Hizen stopped breathing when he met his blue eyes.

Surprised, Hizen immediately ran into the room. He saw Baron Berman as he entered with a pounding heart.

[Uh, Hizen. You weren’t asleep yet?]

Baron Berman smiled widely and approached Hizen. When Hizen looked uneasy, he hugged him tightly.

[Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.]

A few days later, the three people left the mansion. Hizen practiced swordsmanship in the quiet mansion, secretly reading books at dawn.

When he laid down on his bed trying to sleep, he cried for no reason. The dark ceiling and the quiet mansion were filled with longing and loneliness.

Hizen could not sleep and read books until late. Then Calibaut caught him reading.

Calibaut shouted at Hizen with his fists clenched.

[Damn you! If you have time for this, just practice swordsmanship more!]

[Father, please stop now.]

Hizen had learned what a true adult was through Baron Berman and Ramashter. He could not just look at his father’s tyranny anymore.

The young son’s eyes only saw a disgusting adult. Calibaut stiffened and shouted at his servants outside the door.

[Burn them all!]

At their master’s order, the servants took everything out of the library. They burned all the books that Hizen considered as his life in the garden.

Hizen’s expression as he looked at the burning books hardened. After that, he ran away from home for the first time, taking a horse straight away.

Hizen wandered outside the estate for a few days and headed for Baron Berman’s mansion. He believed that Baron Berman and Leasis would accept him with a smile.

However, when he arrived, a fire was already engulfing the mansion.

[Save me, save me, please! Save me!]

[Save me!)

When he heard the screams in the mansion, Hizen tried to jump straight in. It was the servants of Count Dratius who stopped him.

Why were there people from Calibaut here? It did not even crossed his mind.

The idea of saving the people he loved, Leasis and Baron Berman, filled his head.

[Let go! Leasis is in there!]

[Young Master, please! You can’t enter!]

[Let go of me!)

[Y-Young Master!]

Hizen forced his way through the people. When the burning remnants hit him, he started to bleed and his skin turned black.

That day, Hizen lost two of the people he loved the most.