What should I do?
The maid, Sally, was lost in thought outside the room, gently stroking the tip of her dagger.
Originally, she should have been secretly following and guarding the Young Master, but he had asked her to fetch a board game, so she had entrusted his safety to that detestable High Magician and returned to the room.
She knew the Spirit Master girl was inside but didn’t care. The girl had suddenly become terrified and locked herself in the room. Frankly, Sally found it pathetic.
“She was so confident in the turret.”
And now, when it’s time to protect the Young Master, she’s like this.
Sally couldn’t help but scoff at what she thought was their so-called “friendship,” then grabbed the board game and left.
The Spirit Master, utterly exhausted, didn’t even notice Sally coming and going, as she was having a breakdown.
A breakdown, then silence.
The sight was unusual, so Sally quietly observed the Spirit Master.
Soon, she realized the girl was suffering from some kind of trauma.
………Sally had been through something similar herself.
That’s why she leaned against the door, deep in thought.
The Young Master thought the Spirit Master was simply tired and staying in her room. The Spirit Master had desperately kept silent and acted as if nothing was wrong.
If the Young Master were informed of the Spirit Master’s condition, things would obviously take a predictable turn.
However.
“But that would mean revealing that the Spirit Master is inside the Water Spirit.”
The Young Master had no idea the Spirit Master was inside the Water Spirit. In fact, considering that “synchronization” is a secret art even most Spirit Masters can’t achieve, it was only natural.
Using that ignorance, the Spirit Master had taken the Young Master’s side and even dared to sleep in the same bed. What a bitch.
In a way, it was her own fault. She had taken advantage of the Young Master’s ignorance, so even if something like this happened, she couldn’t inform him.
Frankly, from Sally’s perspective.
She wished the Spirit Master would completely collapse here. She genuinely wanted her to fall so miserably that she could never dare to approach the Young Master again.
And having experienced trauma herself, Sally could confidently say that a Spirit Master in that state would self-destruct if left alone.
But.
“………Sigh.”
Sally, who didn’t want to sympathize with anyone other than the Young Master, couldn’t help but recall something when she saw the Spirit Master’s breakdown.
How cruel and horrifying trauma could be.
Because she knew that pain all too well.
“………This is the last time.”
Clicking her tongue once, Sally turned her back on the Spirit Master, who was still sobbing quietly, and walked away.
To the only person who could possibly resolve the Spirit Master’s trauma.
Her Young Master.
*
Roderick Byron had his face buried in his desk.
It was a completely different look from his usual self, and it was something he shouldn’t be doing in front of his younger brother, whom he should be wary of, but he had no choice.
They had been playing the board game for 11 hours straight now.
Including the past few days, it had been over 60 hours. No joke, aside from lecture times and the bare minimum of sleep, they had been playing board games nonstop.
“Does getting closer through board games mean getting closer to death?”
He had long abandoned the idea of just going along with it. Roderick’s concentration had a limit of three days.
The High Magician from Arkhé Magic Tower had been doing this for over a week, but that was because Arkhé’s magic inherently required extreme focus.
After three days, Roderick had been desperately trying to escape from Kyle.
Not from threats or ambushes, but from his board games.
But no matter how much of a genius magician Roderick was, there was only one place he could go.
If Kyle just waited in front of the lecture hall or the dorm, there was no way out.
“How much longer is this going to go on……?”
For now, Kyle had stepped out, giving him a brief moment to rest, but the moment he returned, they’d have to start playing board games again.
From the moment I entered the room, I thought about ignoring the board game altogether─── but if I did that, Kyle might get genuinely upset and start aiming for the head seat.
Regardless of the actual possibility, Roderick was stuck, unable to do anything because of the endless, expanding doubts in his own mind.
“I’m tired.”
During lectures, he focused on the class. During sleep, he was haunted by lingering doubts. And all other times, it was because of the board game.
Roderick’s brain had no time to rest. Even during sleep, he couldn’t rest properly because he kept suspecting Kyle. It was only natural.
This went on for almost a week.
……Honestly.
Would it be easier if I just trusted Kyle?
Such an absurd thought even started creeping into his mind.
“Is this Kyle’s plan? To wear me out and corner me…….”
Maybe it was the fatigue, but around this time, strange thoughts started to surface.
Just then, Kyle returned to the room with a somewhat serious expression.
“Sorry, bro. Did I take too long?”
“……It would’ve been fine if you took longer.”
“Yeah, I think that’s about to happen.”
“What?”
*Plop.*
Kyle, now sitting weakly on the sofa, unlike before, let out a bitter smile and made his final statement.
“After today, I’m planning to leave the Academy.”
“……Are you serious?”
“Honestly, I only stayed to play board games with you. Lady Lukesil said I could stay, but I can take a hint.”
“Is there another reason?”
“Bro?”
“You…… wouldn’t leave without finishing our board game, would you?”
Having spent the entire week only being wary, suspicious, and thinking about Kyle, Roderick could confidently say this.
Right now, Kyle has no interest in the head seat. His focus is entirely on the board game.
Just look at the Monopoly game in front of us.
It’s already the 11th round. The record is 11 wins for Kyle.
But every single game was a close loss. That’s why we kept playing Monopoly instead of Kyle Galli or Spirit Poker.
Moreover, this round is the first time it’s leaning in Roderick’s favor.
If it’s the Kyle I know.
‘Absolutely.’
He wouldn’t run away after winning. Even if he loses, he’d stick around until the end. That’s the kind of person Kyle Byron is.
Because I doubted and doubted endlessly. Whether I liked it or not, we spent half of every day together, talking and clashing.
It was a trust I could finally pull out.
Perhaps it was the first time Roderick showed such certainty about Kyle.
Kyle smiled for a moment.
“……It’s already night, bro. Considering tomorrow’s lecture, it’s about time to wrap up the board game.”
“Answer me, Kyle.”
“We won’t be able to finish this Monopoly game. Sorry.”
“Kyle.”
“………Something came up. Something really urgent.”
An urgent matter.
That might just be Kyle’s weakness.
For a moment, Roderick’s tired eyes lit up.
‘If I ask him to tell me now.’
Kyle would probably tell me. He’s the brother who tried to get closer through board games. He knows that hiding something from Roderick now would make all his efforts so far meaningless.
Since we said we’d trust each other, Kyle shouldn’t hide anything from Roderick.
So, all I need to do is say one thing.
To Kyle, who seems reluctant to speak.
Just ask him what’s going on───
“……How was it, bro?”
“………What do you mean?”
“The board game. All this time…… was it not fun?”
“………….”
Not fun, you ask?
Well, it was tiring and exhausting. I was too busy worrying and suspecting you to really immerse myself in the board game. I couldn’t sleep properly, couldn’t focus on lectures.
But───
“……It wasn’t not fun.”
Kyle’s eyes widened slightly at Roderick’s unexpected answer.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Even if it was exhausting, it wasn’t not fun. I just…… couldn’t fully enjoy it because of my own issues.”
Kyle stared at Roderick for a moment, then let out a small laugh.
“……You’re such a weird guy, bro.”
“Shut up.”
“But…… thanks. For being honest.”
Roderick didn’t respond, just leaned back on the sofa, staring at the unfinished Monopoly board.
“……So, what’s the urgent matter?”
Kyle hesitated for a moment, then sighed.
“……I got a call from home. My dad…… he’s not doing well.”
Roderick’s expression stiffened.
“How bad is it?”
“……They said it’s serious. I need to go back as soon as possible.”
Roderick was silent for a while, then stood up.
“Let’s finish this game quickly, then. You can’t leave without settling the score.”
Kyle looked up at Roderick, surprised.
“……You’re not going to stop me?”
“Why would I? Family comes first. But───”
Roderick pointed at the Monopoly board.
“───you’re not leaving until we finish this.”
Kyle stared at Roderick for a moment, then burst out laughing.
“……You’re really something, bro.”
“Shut up and roll the dice.”
As Kyle picked up the dice, Roderick couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of relief.
Maybe, just maybe, trusting Kyle wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
But for now───
“Your turn, bro.”
───they had a game to finish.
It was an incredibly tough week.
“……If you say it’s not fun.”
“Bro?”
“That would be a lie.”
Even though it was hard, exhausting, and draining.
Still, board games, Monopoly, were fun.
Sure, Monopoly itself was enjoyable.
But more than that, playing board games with Kyle was fun.
‘As expected, this guy.’
Without Roderick noticing, he’d subtly go easy on him, and when attacking, he’d move just enough to not upset the opponent, and his reactions when he lost were top-notch.
It wasn’t awkward or bothersome, just pure enjoyment of board games themselves.
‘Entertainment.’
Even if it was to get closer to him.
Playing board games while entertaining was endlessly enjoyable.
Even Roderick, though rarely, would forget his suspicions and get immersed in the board games.
That fact was suspicious and annoying, but.
Roderick.
“You said there’s something urgent……right?”
“……Yeah.”
“……Take care.”
“Bro……?”
“I have nothing more to say.”
Ultimately, even after a week of entertaining Kyle with board games, Roderick didn’t come to trust Kyle.
Naturally, they didn’t grow closer psychologically. To Roderick, Kyle was still a threatening target, someone to be wary of.
But.
‘Can we say we’ve gotten closer……?’
Over the week, Roderick got to know Kyle, and Kyle got to know Roderick.
It was natural since, despite being brothers, they barely knew each other. Spending 12 hours a day together for a week made it hard not to learn about each other.
And the medium was board games.
The brothers got to know each other through board games.
In a way, you could say they grew closer.
At least much more than before playing board games.
That’s why Roderick could confidently make a judgment about Kyle just now.
‘After a week of effort…….’
If it were Roderick, could he have done it?
Could he have spent 12 hours a day, just the two of them, playing board games or whatever, with someone he constantly doubted and kept at a distance? Always smiling, keeping the energy high, making sure the other person wasn’t bored?
No matter how much Kyle loved board games, it must have been quite a burden.
So, this was a small consideration Roderick could give Kyle.
The naive and pure dream of trusting each other through board games ultimately failed.
But the passion and persistence deserved respect.
“Let’s finish this Monopoly……when you get back.”
“……Bro.”
“I still won’t trust you. I’ll keep doubting and being wary. But…….”
After hesitating for a moment, Roderick.
Through all the board games, he finally spoke the one thing he was most certain of.
Something so obvious.
Yet, at the same time, something so unfamiliar between Roderick and Kyle.
“You’re……family after all.”
“………….”
From the same mother’s womb.
Brothers and family.
“I’ll do something brotherly for the first and last time……take care.”
That was Roderick’s farewell.
At the same time, it was also a gesture of consideration.
Kyle quietly smiled and stood up.
“I’ll be back, bro.”
“………….”
Is this really the right thing to do? Shouldn’t I ask about the urgent matter now? Maybe I’m missing a chance to catch Kyle’s weakness.
For a moment, all sorts of suspicions flooded Roderick’s mind, but he quietly shook his head.
He knew that going further would just feed his paranoia.
Roderick didn’t want to follow in his mother’s footsteps.
So, without asking anything, he sent Kyle off.
“…This isn’t a bad ending either, I thought to myself.”
“Oh, right, bro. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“………?”
“When I went to the royal palace, I met the Third Prince, and personally, I’m backing him in the royal succession race. Just wanted to give you a heads up!”
“…What? Wait, hold on. Hey!”
“I’m off!”
“Why are you telling me this now…!! Damn it, stop right there!!!”
*
“…It’s getting worse by the day.”
Duke Nicholas sighed quietly as he gazed out the window of the reception room.
Today, the weather in the Everts duchy was sunny, and the breeze was cool.
Except for one place, where the atmosphere was completely different.
“Gradually……….”
Leisha’s turret.
Except for the fact that no one could approach it and only spirits roamed around, it had never caused any incidents before.
But now, the turret where his daughter resided was clearly in an unusual state.
‘It’s quiet.’
The tower, which should normally be filled with the sounds of various spirits, was eerily silent.
Gloomy, silent, and sinking.
The turret, which had started to emit an unusual atmosphere beyond just being quiet, was causing unease among many servants.
What on earth was happening inside? Why were the spirits so quiet?
And what had happened to Leisha?
“………….”
Actually.
This wasn’t the first time Duke Nicholas had seen the turret like this.
In the past, which was now becoming a bit hazy in his memory.
The day Leisha first entered the turret and began refusing contact with people.
The turret was similar back then. It had remained in that state for almost a week after Leisha, who was extremely unstable after ‘that incident,’ entered the turret.
But why was that happening again now?
After years of peace, why was this happening again───
“Duke, a noble has arrived.”
“A noble?”
“Kyle Everts… no, Kyle Byron.”
“Let him in.”
──In the end, it had to be related to Kyle, the only one who had recently been able to enter the turret.
Without delay, Duke Nicholas let Kyle in.
And together, they looked at the turret emitting an ominous aura, and the Duke quietly spoke.
“Let’s skip the small talk. Kyle, what do you plan to do?”
“…………….”
“Kyle Byron?”
“…Before entering the turret, there’s something I need to hear from you, Duke.”
“Something to hear?”
“The reason why Princess Leisha shut herself in the turret.”
“…………….”
“I think… it’s time I heard the reason.”
“………….”
“If you wish, you don’t have to tell me. If you still see me as an outsider despite the engagement.”
“…It’s going to be a long story.”
The Duke, with a pained expression, continued.
“This is… my foolish mistake for not thinking of my daughter.”
“And Leisha’s trauma.”
