Chimera of Batius - Chapter 11

Ruzerolt’s character was an inheritance from his mother, the princess of Operta. She was the only person in the north who accepted Ruzerolt’s temperament.

Perhaps that was why, every time he saw the blue roses his mother loved, he felt his inner self was being recognized. That was why he loved the greenhouse full of blue roses. The greenhouse garden was his only refuge.

After checking several times that the glass door was closed to prevent a cold draft from entering, he went in. In the dark night, moonlight came through all the glass windows, creating a soft glow over the blue leaves.

“Finally, I can breathe.”

The feeling of suffocation had completely disappeared. He took a deep breath and the air filled his lungs. Ruzerolt straightened his shoulders and began to walk. But then, he heard a rustle not far away. Cheil, who should have been in his quarters, was there.

“Cheil. What are you doing here at this hour?”

His wounds were not yet fully healed.

“I felt trapped in my room, so I came out. Since you allowed me to come here, I… Should I leave?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Maybe because they had met in this cozy space, despite being worried, he was glad to see him.

“Were you looking at the flowers?”

“I was looking at the moon.”

“The moon?”

Ruzerolt raised his head following Cheil’s gaze. The full moon was shining brightly on the round glass ceiling.

“Yes. I like looking at the moon.”

With this light, it would probably be beautifully reflected in the water, as if the sky were a mirror. Thinking about that, a memory came to mind. It was the image of Cheil looking at the garden lake not long ago.

It can’t be…

“Were you also looking at the moon back then?”

Cheil tilted his head as if asking what he meant.

“I mean when you were alone by the garden lake recently.”

He smiled at his words.

“That’s right.”

“Do you like the moon?”

“Yes. It’s beautiful and, above all, I envy it.”

“You envy it?”

Cheil wrapped himself more tightly in his cloak and continued speaking in a low voice.

“It’s always looking down at everyone. For someone like me, who always has to look up… it’s something I envy more than anyone.”

“…”

He wanted to say something, but the words stuck in his throat. Seeing that Ruzerolt didn’t respond, Cheil touched his cheek and smiled.

“It’s silly. No matter how much I envy it, I can’t become the moon,” he said as if apologizing, looking away.

But he knew he wasn’t smiling sincerely. He knew better than anyone the humiliations Cheil had suffered in that place. And surely not only there. How many things must he have gone through before coming to Heinsley? How much must he have suffered to envy the moon for such unexpected reasons?

“I think I said something out of place.”

Seeing his expression harden, Cheil became nervous and examined his face. How pathetic that he gets so nervous just for confessing his feelings! He felt a slight pain in his chest.

Ruzerolt looked up at the sky. If that greenhouse was his cozy refuge, for Cheil the moon was his only escape. A cloud passed and hid the moon. Suddenly, the greenhouse no longer felt so warm.

He thought for a moment and then took Cheil’s wrist.

“Come with me.”

***

Cheil followed Ruzerolt without really understanding what was going on. He let himself be led, but he had many doubts.

A moment ago, he had told him to stay in the greenhouse because it was cold.

Manipulating people at will was Cheil’s only hobby and talent. In that sense, Ruzerolt was no different from the rest. Their earlier conversation had been intentional, an attempt to awaken his sympathy. He wanted to make him feel pity and open a crack in his heart.

He had no idea where he was taking him. Ruzerolt sometimes had unpredictable behavior. The fact that there were aspects of his personality he hadn’t yet discovered made him even more interesting. As he walked behind him, he suddenly felt ravenous. Cheil discreetly stuck out his tongue and moistened his lower lip.

After walking in silence for a while, Ruzerolt stopped in front of a small door. It was the door leading to the nearest castle tower.

“This way.”

They stooped to pass through the door, which was lower than their height. Ruzerolt bent down a few centimeters, and Cheil had to bend down a bit more. Inside was a steep staircase. It was very similar to the dungeon stairs he had descended earlier. They climbed until they reached the exit. Ruzerolt extended his hand from outside.

“Come up carefully.”

As if Cheil were the weaker one. Probably only Ruzerolt would treat him like that. Cheil, showing no emotion, took his hardened hand. Ruzerolt pulled him up.

They arrived at a watchtower.

…What does he intend to do?

Hiding the emotions that arose in him at all costs, Cheil put on an innocent expression. Ruzerolt took him by the shoulder and turned him.

“Look over there.”

He turned following his direction. At that moment, he was speechless. Flickering torches, lit windows of scattered houses, and trees swaying in the wind. The night landscape of Heinsley stretched out at their feet.

Ruzerolt described the Heinsley panorama to him, pointing out every corner of the vast landscape. But he wasn’t paying attention to his words.

“There’s the Yakli River. The castle lake is fed by that water.”

Actually, he didn’t envy the moon. Humans were, by nature, inferior to him. Talking about the moon had just been a way to play with Ruzerolt.

“Beyond that area it’s a bit dangerous. That’s why everyone cuts firewood on one side of the forest.”

Was there anyone who reacted like this to his words? …He didn’t think so. Nobles offering jewels and treasures, commoners begging for his attention, soldiers and knights making ridiculous threats. He didn’t remember any such case. While looking down, lost in thought, Ruzerolt stopped talking. At that moment, Cheil couldn’t keep his mask. For the first time, he said something sincere.

“Why are you showing me this?”

He was curious. What intention had brought him here?

“Cheil.”

His soft voice made his eyes move involuntarily.

“From here, without needing to be the moon, you can look down at the world.”

“…”

His green eyes looked at him.

“At least when you’re up here, you won’t have to envy the moon. So come up whenever you need to.”

Ruzerolt’s words echoed in him like an echo. He felt a blow to his chest. A hollow sound resonated inside him. At that moment, Cheil realized for the first time an empty space within himself. A wave of cold spread through that void.

He bowed his head and looked down at his chest. That space he had just discovered felt completely foreign. Cheil kept hitting his chest with his fist. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

***

“Pull!”

The servants pulled hard on the rope tied to the top of the tower, and a large banner rose up. On the dark-red flag, the Heinsley family crest could be seen embroidered in silver and gold thread.

Starting tonight and for three days, Dexler and Hilinda’s birthday banquet would be held. Normally, birthday banquets lasted two days, but to celebrate the siblings Dexler and Hilinda, an extra day had been added.

Another banquet at the end of a banquet!

Ruzerolt shook his head as he watched the flag wave so high.

Yet after this banquet, a long silence would envelop the Heinsley territory. Soon it would be time to close the castle gates.

“Captain, when will the last patrol leave?”

Reym, walking beside him, asked.

“Prepare everything so we can set out immediately after the banquet ends.”

Ruzerolt personally inspected the castle surroundings before closing the gates, instead of delegating the task to the soldiers. Especially this year, after the discovery of the chimeras, he had to be even more careful with the final patrol.

“The headcount and route are the same as last year.”

Ruzerolt nodded and slipped his hand into his pocket.

Clink.

The sound of a small glass vial knocking against something.

“It’s a very effective medicine for regeneration. Nothing better for open wounds.”

What Ruzerolt was handling was a wound-healing medicine. He had specially requested it from the personal physician, but it wasn’t for his own use.

Up to now, Dexler had punished many people: musicians, omegas, prostitutes, and so on. They had provoked Dexler’s wrath with their excessive arrogance and flirtation. But Cheil was different. He had been punished for rejecting the soldiers.

A dancer’s conviction…

“How many extra guards should we add?”

“Double.”

The image of Cheil enduring without uttering a single cry still lingered in his mind. The cruel wounds on his soft skin kept worrying him.

When he moved his hand in his pocket, the vial clinked. That sound sent a gentle tremor through Ruzerolt’s heart.

“Captain.”

I hope he recovers soon.

“Sir Ruzerolt.”

Hearing his name repeated, Ruzerolt snapped out of his thoughts. From Reym’s puzzled expression, he realized he had been lost in reflection for quite a while.

“What were you thinking about?”

“…Nothing in particular.”

“If you have any worries, don’t hesitate to share them with me. Perhaps I can help.”

This time, Ruzerolt was the one taken aback. Worry. How could he explain the tangle of thoughts in his head?

He was concerned about a certain dancer, wanted to understand his actions and reactions, and whenever he let his mind wander, he thought of that person… Yet he couldn’t put the flow of his thoughts into words. It was more a one-sided stream of ideas than a true worry.

“Ruzerolt?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

He was simply worried about a dancer. He had noticed him because he was a bit peculiar, and he also felt responsible because he had been injured by his brother Dexler. That was all it should be.

Ruzerolt toyed with his pocket again. The vial was still inside.

“Will he go to the banquet hall?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Ruzerolt looked away.

“I have somewhere I need to be, so go on ahead.”

“Understood.”

Reym looked puzzled, but said nothing more and turned toward his destination. Ruzerolt watched Reym leave, then changed direction. He was heading to Cheil’s room.

When he reached the door, Ruzerolt took a deep breath.

Why was he so nervous about entering a man’s room?

He laughed at himself. After hesitating a moment, Ruzerolt knocked.

Knock, knock.

There was nothing to worry about. He just had to deliver the medicine. Since the wound had been caused by his brother Dexler, he also felt a certain responsibility.

“Cheil.”

But there was no answer from inside.

“…Cheil?”

After waiting a bit longer, Ruzerolt opened the door. Only the crackling of firewood in the hearth could be heard; there was no sign of Cheil.