Chapter 122

Raul Berze.

My lovely lover listened to my complaints while fishing by the stream.

“Are those creepy things still not gone?”

“…. Yeah. I didn’t think they’d stick around even after losing arms and teeth. It’s almost admirable.”

“Ha. Really, parents these days are all like that.”

“Drunkard… I mean, Master looks decent compared to that woman.”

Raul casually measured the size of the fish he caught and started brushing off my complaints.

“Just what did that guy see in such a woman to fall for her?”

“I think it’s because she slightly resembles you. But even if the vibe is similar, she lacks class, so it’s meaningless.”

“Guess we both suffered because of our mothers.”

“…… Maybe so.”

Raul, who also seemed to have a lot on his mind, made a slightly bitter expression while baiting the hook.

“Our childhoods were all so unfortunate. People who starved would call it nonsense, but everyone thinks their pain is the greatest.”

“A reclusive prince locked in his room, a young lady threatened by assassins, an invisible young lady from a ducal family, and the troublesome young master of the Berze family. Quite the lineup. Oh, and Layla…”

“Let’s stop with the gloomy stories. I only want to talk about happy things when I’m with you.”

Raul casually looked at the fishing rod and cut me off. Why did he start disliking stories about the past?

He used to be obsessed with Layla’s stories. Did something happen?

I even started to feel like I might just be a replacement after that incident.

But that feeling disappeared as soon as I saw his lovely face.

Such trivial reasons don’t matter at all. What matters is that I can hold Raul’s hand.

“Anyway, who else would meet you like this if not me?”

“…… And I’m probably the only one who can endure the violence of the crazy princess.”

“Want me to really hit you once?”

“My bad.”

I crawled into his arms as he fished and gently hugged him. The embrace I’ve wanted since childhood was just warm and precious.

Yes. It felt like finally holding onto a doll I’ve always wanted since I was a kid. Of course, I’ve never put that much effort into a mere doll. My father was trash who treated me like I was invisible, but he gave me plenty of money.

I was in a good mood, but thinking about trash almost ruined it.

“…… I want to stay like this just a little longer.”

But even that discomfort was melted away by Raul’s voice. He’s not eloquent, and his voice might sound hollow at first, but I know.

The kindness hidden in Raul’s words and the warmth within his emptiness.

Of course, it took me a long time to understand that too.

“….This is nice.”

And I could tell.

His arms were getting thinner. He was getting lighter day by day. And his heartbeat was getting weaker.

That’s what dragon poison does. Even if it tears apart and regenerates the body into something new, the dragon poison continues to torment its victim.

Normally, even the greatest warrior wouldn’t last three days if poisoned, but our bodies, modified and cursed, prolonged that suffering.

How much time do we have left? How much happiness is left for us?

I didn’t want to know for sure. Rather than being chased by that fear, I just wanted to savor each day faithfully.

“Raul.”

But I didn’t want to let him go so meaninglessly.

I didn’t want to let this love, cherished for over 15 years, scatter meaninglessly in just a few days.

Call me greedy if you want. I’m used to it by now. I’m more afraid of losing happiness by being swayed by others’ opinions.

So I wanted to leave some proof that we existed in this world.

“Raul, I want something.”

“… If it’s something I can give, anything.”

“It’s not something you can give, but something we can make together?”

Raul immediately threw down the fishing rod and started running away.

Yeah. I get it. You’re scared. That gloom from your childhood, the life of the kid you knew.

Even we, who were around you, had such miserable childhoods that we couldn’t deny that perception.

The Emperor, who lost his mother tragically and locked himself in the palace. The Empress, who was neglected by her family despite her exceptional abilities. The princess, abandoned by her mother and treated as invisible by her father.

How could we deny the boy who grieved alone in the garden? No matter how much we say our child will be happy, you’ll always see your past self in them.

We all carry the same wounds. How can we break that perception?

But I want to break it.

“Raul Berze…!!!”

I grabbed his hand and knocked him down.

“Listen to me!”

“… Are you planning to assault me?”

“What do you take me for? I’m not that barbaric!!!”

“Then please move aside. Yesterday’s conversation was just a joke. I never intended to produce an heir for the family…”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

I grabbed Raul by the collar and was about to slap him, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

Because I think I know another reason why he’s acting like this.

“Half of my blood might be from some king, but the other half… the other half… is from that filthy…”

The barbarians of the north. The blood of that filthy man who mocked his mother. He wouldn’t want to leave that bloodline in this world.

Because he voiced that reason,

I didn’t hesitate to slap Raul.

“You ungrateful brat.”

“Why are you hitting me? I’m just saying I can’t leave that filthy man’s bloodline in this world…”

“Don’t get it wrong. Your father is Arthur Berze. The Empire’s sage, a brilliant minister, a noble of integrity. Even those who despise nobles acknowledge the great Arthur Berze. That man is your father. Are you trying to deceive me in front of a drunkard’s daughter?”

“I’m not his biological son…”

“Does that matter?”

This side of him hasn’t changed.

I just felt pity.

So I’ll fix it. Even if I have to beat Raul to death.

“He called you his son.”

I punched his jaw.

“He acknowledged you as his son and devoted himself to you.”

I struck his temple with the edge of my hand.

“And yet you say you’re not his son? Isn’t that repaying kindness with cruelty?”

“…….”

“If you spout such nonsense in front of me again, I won’t let it slide.”

“But this is the truth. I’m born from a filthy bloodline…”

“Raul. I love you. I love everything about you, and I’d do anything for you. Just like you’d do for me.”

I meant it.

I’d even die for him. If that’s what it takes to carve myself into Raul’s heart, if that’s what he truly wants, I’d die a thousand times.

I loved him that much, and he was that lovable.

“That’s how much I love you. I’ve never let anyone who insulted you get away with it. Those guys who tried to woo me by badmouthing you? They’re all taking a nap in the dirt.”

There were many.

Guys who thought they were better suited for me than you.

I killed them all, but the anger still lingers within me.

“I’ll kill anyone who insults you.”

After saying that, I gently placed my hand on Raul’s chest, where his heart is.

“Even if it’s you.”

“Scary. I wish you’d tone down that murderous aura a bit.”

I’ll fix that frustrating attitude of belittling himself too.

Even if I have to strip away all of Raul’s flesh.

“Anyway… yeah. You have a point. At least it’s right for me to call myself Arthur Berze’s son.”

“Right?”

“But I don’t want to have a child.”

“Why not!”

“Don’t you think about the child growing up under a violent mother?”

“How violent do you think I am!”

“………”

I was so dumbfounded I almost let him go.

That attitude of casually dodging the issue also needs to be fixed.

Even if I have to create an inescapable responsibility.

“… Even so, doing such things in the forest is just beastly, isn’t it?”

“We’re just wild boars and raccoons anyway. Deal with it.”

Just as I was loosening my belt, a strong, sharp gust of wind blew in.

A very familiar and disgusting wind.

The very wind the owner of this ability hated because it made him look ridiculous.

“Damn… Can’t you live a little closer? I almost died running at full speed all day. And I’ve got a hangover too.”

Heron Argos, my father, mentor, and the Empire’s Minister of War.

He’s also known as the Spear of Storms or the Knight of Wind, but he hates being called that in front of his wife’s lover.

At the same time, he’s the worst kind of father.

“Anyway, these brats are making this old man work. Acting all high and mighty as Emperor and Empress, using me as some kind of messenger?”

“Master…”

“Ah. Uh…”

Seeing us like that, my father seemed to hesitate for a moment.

Even if it’s his own daughter doing such things with a man, he should be angry…

“What are you doing lying outside alone?”

He’s really a piece of work.