Chapter 4

Episode 4. Neat, Sensible, and Just Right (1)

The arrow warehouse of House Sephira.

In this place filled with the thick, musty smell of old leather, a middle-aged man was carefully inspecting the arrows.

It was Basil El Sephira, the Lord of House Sephira.

For decades, the Lord had never missed a day of inspecting the arrows produced that day.

Starting with light and well-balanced ordinary arrows, there were also arrows as thick as an arm, designed for hunting monsters with tough, thick skin.

The last arrow he picked up was like a skewer. This arrow, made to pierce thick shields or armor, was the least in quantity.

Basil’s expression was emotionless as he stroked the fletching of the arrow. Then, the door of the arrow warehouse slowly opened.

Someone entered the arrow warehouse, muffling their footsteps. It was Hisop, his eldest son, who had returned to the family last night.

Sharp features and intense eyes. His face, which was hard to imagine smiling, was a spitting image of Basil.

Dressed in an elegant and refined blue velvet outfit, Hisop, as the Branch House Lord who handles external affairs on behalf of the Lord, greeted with a posture that was not a hair out of place.

Placing his left hand on his stomach and his right hand firmly at his side, he bowed.

When Basil nodded in acknowledgment, Hisop straightened up and got straight to the point.

“Father. I heard from Mail. It seems a half-brother named Keter is coming.”

Basil fiddled with the fletching of the arrow in his hand as he replied.

“That’s correct.”

“I respect you, Father. I believe there must be a valid reason. However, no matter how much I think about it, this seems premature.”

“You must not like the sudden appearance of a half-brother.”

“I neither dislike nor like him since I’ve never met him. But you know best how precarious the family’s situation is. Bringing in an outsider during such unstable times seems dangerous for both us and this brother Keter.”

It was a fair and reasonable opinion.

Basil asked without a change in tone.

“So?”

“I think we can live with Keter, but he should not be involved in any family affairs. For our sake and his.”

“You mean we should not show him any attention.”

“Unfortunately, yes. Since Keter is from the Lawless City, I don’t want to hastily suspect him, but I also don’t want to blindly trust him.”

It was a thoroughly rational opinion devoid of emotion. This temperament was something he had learned from Basil. Therefore, Basil had no reason to oppose.

“I have also judged it so, so don’t worry. I plan to keep an eye on Keter. To see how he turns out, what actions he takes.”

“I will follow your will, Lord. However, if it’s not too presumptuous, I would like to ask how you knew of Keter and why you brought him here.”

“That’s not a question I can answer lightly.”

Avoiding the answer, Basil clasped his hands behind his back and looked out the window at the distant mountains.

“I hear the sound of a carriage. It seems Keter has arrived. I have already told the retainers not to show any interest in Keter. You should do the same.”

“…Understood.”

As if there was nothing more to say, Basil concluded, and Hisop bowed briefly, showing a simple courtesy, then left the arrow warehouse.

Basil placed the arrow he was holding into the quiver and let out a deep sigh.

The reason he had called his son, whom he didn’t even know existed, from the Lawless City of Ruquer to the family.

It all started with a letter he received a month ago.

“Suddenly, after all this time… a letter saying I have a son.”

A mysterious woman he had briefly met during his youthful days about 20 years ago.

The contents of the letter from her were astonishing.

-The night the stars shone feels like just yesterday, yet so much time has passed. I am doing well, but you must not be. That’s why I am sending this letter.

There is a son born between you and me. His name is Keter. Just as you helped me back then, this time our son will help you.

He is currently in Ruquer. You can use the ring seal enclosed to bring him out of Ruquer.

Though the sender was not specified, from the first line ‘the night the stars shone,’ Basil was certain who had sent the letter.

“Akra…….”

It was a fleeting moment of passion, but Basil had indeed spent a hot night with a mysterious woman named Akra.

At the time, Akra had told him not to worry, but now, saying that there was a son and that he would help the family was utterly absurd.

At first, Basil had no intention of finding Keter. Not because he didn’t trust Akra, but because the family had no room for it.

But that changed overnight.

Because Akra’s letter had disappeared.

“…….”

The letter placed on the office table had vanished without a trace.

Did the maids accidentally throw it away while cleaning? An absurd assumption.

‘Who would dare touch the things on my desk? Moreover, not just anyone can come and go in my office.’

Finding no signs of intrusion, Basil asked the soldiers guarding the front of his office if anyone had come and gone in his absence.

“Three elders and the chief steward came by.”

The suspects narrowed down to four.

But Basil only grew more troubled.

One of Sephira’s key retainers had secretly read and stolen the letter. If the existence of a bastard child were revealed in the famously upright House of Sephira, it would not bode well. Wouldn’t the key retainers know this? The fact that they stole it despite knowing made Basil’s heart even more complicated.

‘There is a traitor in the family.’

The suspects presumed to be traitors were the three elders, all blood relatives of the family.

Even the chief steward, who had been loyal from the previous Lord to the current one, was a paragon of loyalty.

Basil had a worse headache than ever. What needed to be done in this situation was clear.

‘There’s no choice but to call Keter.’

The reason Basil hadn’t called Keter to the family wasn’t due to the issue of his birth. It was because there were many enemies within House Sephira, and the family’s situation was precarious.

There was no reason to call him and involve him in the bloodshed.

But now that Keter’s existence was known due to a traitor, Keter was also in danger. It was better to keep him within sight.

He didn’t even know he existed, nor had he ever seen his face, but…

‘Still, he is my son.’

Basil held a meeting, revealed Keter’s existence, and unilaterally announced that he would bring him.

But he hid the birth. He said he was bringing him from Absinthe, a city imitating Ruquer, not from Ruquer itself.

If it were revealed that there was an artifact that could bring someone out of Ruquer, not just Sephira, but no noble family could handle it.

‘Akra. Who are you to possess such a remarkable artifact, and why did you raise our child in Ruquer?’

Basil couldn’t understand the intentions of Akra, whom he couldn’t even call his wife.

Though the situation was far from positive, amidst it all, Basil, as a father, grew curious.

His and Akra’s son, Keter. How had he grown up? What values did he hold?

Did he resent being abandoned by his mother and father?

He didn’t grow up normally but in the Lawless City of Ruquer. It was easy to infer that he must have had a rough upbringing.

The worst was that Keter might even plunge the family into crisis.

‘Ruquer is a place where once you enter, you never leave. Can Keter, who grew up there, really have a normal personality?’

There were many possibilities, but only the worst came to mind. Realistically, it seemed right to eliminate future troubles.

But Basil had no such thoughts.

Abandoning family was akin to abandoning the family.

Thus, time passed, and now.

Basil heard the sound of a carriage stopping.

There was only one carriage that would arrive at this time. Keter, brought from Ruquer, had arrived.

‘Keter. Rest assured. I won’t burden you with the family’s troubles. I called you here solely to protect you.’

That wasn’t all.

If the family were to fall, at least Keter had to survive. Keter had done no wrong and bore no responsibility.

That’s why, even if it was harsh, he decided to ignore Keter and maintain distance.

If he ostracized Keter blatantly so that even internal enemies would see him as unrelated to the family, wouldn’t their interest fade?

Basil only wished for Keter, who must have grown up lonely without parental love, to live here safely, peacefully, and unharmed no matter what happened.

“I’ve wasted too much time.”

Basil’s shoulders were heavy. As the Lord, he had the duty to protect the honor and history of the family built by his ancestors, and as a father, he had the responsibility to protect his family.

Just as Basil, having shaken off personal feelings, was about to leave the arrow warehouse.

A loud shout came from outside.

“Father! The abandoned bastard has returned!”

A voice as passionate as a volcanic eruption.

Basil instinctively knew. That was the voice of his son, Keter, whom he hadn’t seen in 18 years.

“Huh, huhuh.”

Basil let out a hollow laugh.

He had never imagined Keter would greet him in such a bold manner.

“He’s just like me when I was young.”

But Basil had no intention of meeting Keter right away.

“I’ll watch you, Keter.”

Loving his child as much as he loved the family, Basil went straight to his office.

* * *

“Young Master. The Lord is busy and won’t be able to see you. Let’s go to your quarters first.”

Jacques, who had hurriedly followed, said to me.

I already knew my father wouldn’t come out. If he were someone I could meet so easily, I’d be disappointed.

“Our father isn’t deaf, is he? It’s obvious he’s ignoring me on purpose.”

At my straightforward words, Jacques blinked a few times and made an excuse.

“If you adapt well to the family, the Lord will surely call for you.”

“Whatever. I’m curious how strong our father’s patience is.”

Keter wasn’t disappointed that Basil wouldn’t meet him; instead, he made it his goal.

Just when would Basil call for him?

‘Even if he lasts just one night, I’ll consider it a long time.’

Unaware of Keter’s inner thoughts, Jacques asked.

“Uh, what do you mean by that…?”

“Never mind, let’s go to my quarters. That warehouse-looking place is my quarters, right?”

Jacques was flustered as he watched Keter walk ahead. Keter was heading straight for the warehouse.

‘How did he know?’

There was no time for Jacques to wonder. Keter, though appearing to walk, was moving as fast as if he were running.

“Young Master! Let’s go together!”

After Jacques hurriedly followed Keter.

The soldiers on guard duty whispered about Keter.

“Is that the person the Lord mentioned? He really looks a lot like the Lord.”

“That’s right. He’s the spitting image of the Lord’s portrait from his youth in the main building.”

“Will his arrival be beneficial to our family? I’m worried…”

“Don’t talk nonsense. When has the Lord ever made a mistake? Let’s just do our jobs well.”

“Hmm, you’re right.”

As the soldiers chatted, a latecomer joined in.

“Did you guys hear where he’s from?”

“We only heard he was coming, not where from.”

“This is a secret… There’s a rumor he’s from the Lawless City of Absinthe.”

“Absinthe?!”

“That cesspool?”

Only Oren knew that Keter was from Ruquer; the rest believed he was from Absinthe.

The Lawless City of Absinthe.

Like Ruquer, it was a lawless city, but in a different sense, it was called a cesspool.

“Prince Keter is from Absinthe?!”

Just the fact that Basil had a bastard child was shocking, but not incomprehensible. However, being from Absinthe was a different story.

At those words, the soldiers’ expressions darkened rapidly. The soldier who first mentioned Absinthe spoke with a serious expression.

“I’ve been to Absinthe. The people there are all deranged lunatics. If Young Master Keter is from there… we should be careful.”

“I didn’t look closely, but he didn’t seem like that…”

“You never know. It’s better not to provoke him.”

“Provoke or not, it’s better to just avoid him.”

“I agree. That’s safer.”

Through a soldier who knew Absinthe, the rumor spread quietly and quickly within the family.

That Keter was not of ordinary origin. That he was from the trash-filled Lawless City of Absinthe became an open secret.

Though no specific misdeeds were mentioned, Keter was naturally branded as someone to avoid.

The reason Keter was thoroughly ignored and received no attention in his past life was now fully revealed.

Of course, Keter didn’t care about such things. He soon arrived at the quarters where he would be staying.

“Young Master. This is the bathroom, and to the left is the wardrobe…”

As Jacques enthusiastically explained, Keter half-listened while looking around.

“Everything’s the same.”

“Huh? What do you mean by the same?”

“Never mind. By the way, Jacques old man. Where are my siblings and what are they doing?”

“Old man…? Young Master, do I… look that old to you?”

Jacques, called ‘old man’ by Keter, touched his smooth forehead.

“You’re as friendly as a grandfather. Anyway. Answer my question.”

“Ah……”

Jacques trailed off.

He had been strictly instructed by the Lord to ensure Keter didn’t meet his siblings. Therefore, he couldn’t take Keter to them or arrange introductions.

Knowing this, Keter waved his hand dismissively.

“If you can’t say, forget it. It’s fine if I find them myself, right?”

“Uh……”

Jacques was at a loss for words again. Keter’s statements were all unexpected.

‘I heard the Young Master lived his whole life in Absinthe. Yet, even after coming to a prestigious noble family, why is he so unhesitant?’

In less than an hour, Keter seemed to have already adapted to this environment, leaving Jacques at a loss.

As Keter stubbornly tried to leave the quarters, Jacques tried to stall.

“Young Master. How about taking a bath and changing clothes first? Showing the dignity of a noble will make others view you favorably.”

It was a plausible, reasonable suggestion.

But it was far from enough to stop Keter.

“Good image my foot, they’ll surely think highly of a bastard like me.”

Jacques, the steward, was left dazed by the blunt remark.