Chimera of Batius - Chapter 10

The doctor frowned as soon as he saw Cheil’s wounds.

“These wounds can’t be sutured. We’ll have to let them heal on their own.”

While bandaging the wound, he kept clicking his tongue. Although he sensed how these wounds had been inflicted, he seemed unable to say it out loud. During the treatment, Ruzerolt stood near the bed with his arms crossed, watching Cheil.

“It would be better to refrain from moving for a while. The wounds could become infected.”

After bandaging the wound and giving some instructions, the doctor picked up his bag. River, the servant who had been standing behind them the whole time, approached cautiously.

“Sir Ruzerolt… I’ve prepared a separate room. Now that the treatment is finished, I’ll move this person there.”

Ruzerolt nodded without saying anything, keeping his gaze fixed on Cheil. River observed his master and approached Cheil.

Cheil, who had barely regained consciousness, was sitting with difficulty on the edge of the bed.

“Let me help you up.”

River put an arm around Cheil’s waist. When his hand touched the wound on Cheil’s back, Cheil let out a soft groan. River withdrew his hand and sighed.

“There’s no place on you that isn’t injured… please be patient.”

Just as River straightened up to lift Cheil again, Ruzerolt approached the bed. The doctor, who had just closed his bag, stepped aside.

“Cheil.”

Hearing Ruzerolt, Cheil lifted his drooping eyelids. Ruzerolt knelt in front of him.

“Sir R-Ruzerolt! I, I’ll do it!”

Surprised to see Ruzerolt in such a position, River stammered. But Ruzerolt paid no attention and extended his hand to Cheil.

“Put your hand on my shoulder.”

Cheil looked at Ruzerolt with sleepy eyes and bit his lower lip. Ruzerolt extended his hand once more.

“If your intention is to keep me in this position any longer, go ahead.”

At this kind of threat, Cheil extended his arm. Leaning forward as if about to fall, Cheil leaned on Ruzerolt’s shoulder. Ruzerolt held him easily.

“Sir Ruzerolt!”

River moved restlessly, not knowing what to do. When the two began to move, River opened the door wide with an anxious expression.

***

Beside the bed where Cheil lay, Eden let out a sob.

“Oh, my friend… my friend…!”

Sniff!

A dry rubbing sound accompanied the loud noise of his nose blowing. Cheil hugged the pillow and looked at Eden with disbelief.

“Eden. Rub your eyes with something to make it look like you’re crying.”

“Shh!”

Eden looked around urgently. There was no one else in the room but them. In the sudden silence, only the firewood crackled in the fireplace.

“Cheil! Someone might hear you…”

“Who’s going to hear you? It’s just us two.”

“You must be more careful! Do you want to ruin everything?”

“Who told you to act so poorly?”

Cheil stretched an arm out of bed and yawned halfway. Then he winced from the pain.

“Ow, ow. And now, what are we going to do with you? You managed to get yourself into this mess…”

“This is the best way.”

“Now you’re in the miserable position of not being able to lie down or get up, and you think this is a good idea? If that person hadn’t intervened, they would have kept beating you. Don’t you realize you could have actually died?”

“Eden, have you forgotten?”

Cheil turned on his side, propped one arm on the pillow, rested his chin in his hand, and smiled.

“I’m my father’s masterpiece. The finest product ever created by Batius.”

“That’s true, but…”

Batius, that eccentric already part of history. Cheil was the most beautiful, strong, and special creature he had ever made.

He stretched his hand out of the bed. With the tips of his fingers he touched Eden’s chin, making his hand appear and disappear among Eden’s thick beard.

“Cheil, what are you plotting? Give me a hint. That way I can help you. Do you know how much you scared me?”

“I don’t need your help. With your terrible acting you’d only ruin everything. Just watch what I do.”

“But still—”

Knock, knock.

A sudden rap made Eden open his eyes wide and freeze. Cheil flopped onto his stomach and buried his face in the pillow. In the instant he shifted, he pinched Eden’s thigh hard.

“Ow!”

Click.

River, about to enter, jumped at the cry and looked toward the bed. Their eyes met: Eden, mouth open in pain, and River, who had just stepped inside. Eden lowered his head.

“Oh, poor thing… Oh, my boy!”

This time the performance seemed genuine. Thanks to the pain in his thigh, real tears welled in Eden’s eyes. River, finally convinced, left a clean cloth on the nightstand and handed one to Eden.

“Here. Dry your tears.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Feeling Eden wipe his tears, Cheil gave a small smile.

Cheil’s view, buried in the pillow, sank into soft darkness. Immersed in that darkness, Cheil thought of Ruzerolt: the way he had entered Dexler’s office, the steady shoulders with which he had carried him to this room, his calm attitude even in an emergency.

I suppose the only thing that could ruffle a man like that would be s3x.

Imagining Ruzerolt undone on the sheets, he felt a burning thirst dry his mouth just as he heard the door open again.

Even without Eden’s startled reaction, Cheil knew who was entering. Firm, confident steps.

“Sir Ruzerolt. I’ll handle this, so don’t worry.”

River looked at Ruzerolt with concern. But Ruzerolt gestured briefly toward the door.

“Give us some space.”

Eden and River glanced at each other and were then ushered out of the room.

Cheil leaned on the bed and sat up. He tried to stand, but Ruzerolt stopped him by taking his arm.

“Until you recover, the doctor and River will look after you.”

“I don’t deserve so much… Thank you very much.”

Cheil bowed his head. Ruzerolt sat on the bed and looked at Cheil.

“It was my men’s fault. Taking responsibility is my duty, so don’t worry.”

“…”

Cheil gripped the sheets tightly with his hands clasped together. Seeing how docile he looked, Ruzerolt thought:

If you had acted like that in front of them, things would have been different.

“Is your belief really that important?”

That was why he asked such a direct question.

When Cheil heard Ruzerolt, he lifted his gaze. In his yellow eyes were reflected doubt, sorrow, and self-loathing.

“Next time, choose the way to protect yourself on your own.”

“Protect myself…”

Cheil murmured, mulling over Ruzerolt’s words. Just as Ruzerolt rose from his seat.

“Do you mean I should give in and please others?”

Ruzerolt, who had been heading for the door, stopped.

“Do you mean I should set aside my personality and identity and act like a puppet?”

Cheil’s voice, about to continue, died away. Not only his voice, but the fabric of the mask he still wore trembled slightly.

“You think protecting the heart… isn’t a way to protect oneself? You think someone as low as me has no right even to that?”

Cheil looked at Ruzerolt with reddened eyes. Meeting those increasingly irritated eyes, Ruzerolt froze.

“You think it’s normal to trample the heart of someone as low as me…? If so… why did you save me…?”

Thick drops fell from Cheil’s eyes. Startled, Ruzerolt stepped closer.

Seeing the shoe approach, Cheil shrank.

“I’m sorry. I dared to say something insolent. Please forgive my disrespect.”

The red cloth kept trembling.

He had no desire to scold him for insolence.

Protecting the heart…

Countless dancers had been punished by Dexler. But none had been punished for a reason as peculiar as Cheil’s. Did that mean he had rejected the soldiers to protect his heart?

He couldn’t stop staring at the mask Cheil wore. Cheil wore it even when tied to a post and whipped. The same when he was locked in the basement, and probably when the soldiers attacked him.

A bl00d-stained mask. A dancer who valued that opaque cloth more than his own life. What was that integrity he wanted so much to protect?

Unconsciously, his fingers touched Cheil’s mask. Cheil flinched.

“I didn’t mean that.”

Ruzerolt rubbed the cloth as he spoke.

“Cheil, I didn’t mean that.”

His amber eyes blinked. Ruzerolt’s fingers touched Cheil’s chin. It was like a feather caressing him, touching and retouching his skin. Meanwhile, Ruzerolt felt his heartbeat pulsing through his body. Thump, thump. The rhythmic vibration stopped when he felt a cold touch on his skin.

Cheil shut his eyes tight and rubbed his cheek against Ruzerolt’s hand as if seeking comfort. The thin mask fabric brushed between Cheil’s cheek and Ruzerolt’s palm.

Seeing Cheil’s tear-filled eyes, Ruzerolt, without thinking, traced the outline of his eye with his thumb.

“So don’t cry.”

Cheil accepted the caress that dried his tears. When Ruzerolt’s thumb had wiped away every tear, Cheil moved his head and brushed his lips against Ruzerolt’s palm. Each time Cheil opened and closed his eyes, a new veil of tears formed beneath them. Meeting Ruzerolt’s intense gaze, Cheil curved the corners of his lips.

Seeing Cheil’s smile, Ruzerolt felt a warmth he had never known in his chest. He could feel his heartbeat. The fresh grass scent of alpha from Ruzerolt grew stronger. In the middle of the room full of greenery, Ruzerolt shared that moment with Cheil. He came back to himself when his heartbeat echoed loudly in the room.

Realizing he had let himself be carried away by Cheil without noticing, Ruzerolt pulled his hand back.

“Rest well.”

Cheil stared at the hand that had moved away from him. That gaze was so intense it seemed to paralyze his arm.

Ruzerolt hid his arm and said:

“I… will come back…”

***

Ruzerolt had never felt such an intense cold. Probably because he had adapted to the environment.

However, today, Heinsley’s chilly breeze felt especially icy. His heart was racing and his body burned, making the cold even more noticeable.

Ruzerolt, who had been walking with long strides, suddenly stopped. A carriage was entering through the garden gate. It halted near him. A woman dressed in a vivid yellow gown and a white tunic stepped down, escorted.

“Ruzer!”

She ran toward Ruzerolt. Though she hugged him fiercely, Ruzerolt’s upright body didn’t budge.

Ruzerolt took the woman by the shoulders and pushed her gently away.

“Hilinda, keep your composure.”

“You’re still as insensitive as ever.”

Hilinda let out a small laugh and stepped back. With a face identical to Dexler’s and chestnut hair, she was the daughter of the second grand duchess and Dexler’s twin sister.

“Did you feel lonely while I was gone?”

Hilinda rose on tiptoe and cupped Ruzerolt’s cheek. She gave off a strong grassy scent, typical of alphas. Ruzerolt’s gaze drifted involuntarily to the carriage Hilinda had arrived in. The half-open door swung wide and a young man stepped out. The dark-skinned youth, his shirt unbuttoned, hurried to fasten it as if embarrassed, glancing around. He looked like someone who had just had s3x. Realizing the situation, Ruzerolt sighed. Hilinda looked at him and smiled mischievously.

“You’re exactly my type, no matter how much I look. Too bad we’re siblings.”

“Hilinda.”

“Ruzer, you know? That pervert Dexler probably finds you very attractive too. We share the same tastes.”

“You joke too much. Watch your words.”

Despite the curt reply, Hilinda only laughed loudly. She stood beside Ruzerolt and held out her hand.

“Escort me.”

With a cold expression, Ruzerolt complied. Hilinda pressed close as they walked.

“My father’s health is worsening. The doctor says it’s unlikely he’ll survive the year.”

“…I see.”

Ruzerolt’s face darkened. He had expected it. Two years ago he had sent his father south to recover, but monthly reports showed his condition declining.

“Even so, he worries about you. Says you should marry and have children. He doesn’t know his eldest son spends sleepless nights tormented by loneliness.”

It was a double-edged remark. Ruzerolt tried to ignore it, but Hilinda wasn’t someone to overlook.

“Ruzer. Don’t you feel lonely at night? I doubt you have any physical issues.”

“Hilinda. There are limits to what I can tolerate.”

Hilinda shrugged and looked ahead again.

“Shouldn’t I worry about the Heinsley bloodline too? You haven’t brought anyone interesting to amuse yourself with. That’s no way to honor northern bl00d.”

“Unnecessary concerns.”

“Then let’s change to something more useful.”

Hilinda rested her head on Ruzerolt’s shoulder and continued.

“I heard Dexler brought something strange while I was away. They say it’s a dancer from a famous theater company.”

“…”

“I’m curious. I wonder how beautiful the person he brought this time is.”

Hilinda had inherited more Nordic bl00d than Dexler. Her cruelty and instinctive nature made her, in a way, the most fitting bearer of the Heinsley name among the three siblings. That’s why Ruzerolt didn’t want the name Cheil spoken by her.

“He’s just a dancer.”

Ruzerolt’s shoulders tensed as he spoke. Noticing the subtle change, Hilinda glanced at him and smiled faintly.

“Just a dancer, huh… That reaction intrigues me even more. Will I get to see that man dance at the next birthday ball?”

Ball.

Cheil’s dance.

Connecting those two words, Ruzerolt saw the whip marks again in his mind. He frowned and shut his eyes tight.

That body cannot dance. So Hilinda won’t see Cheil dance. Thinking he wouldn’t have to show Cheil to her, he felt an inexplicable relief in his chest.