Chimera of Batius - Chapter 16
Although Ruzerolt wasn’t there, dawn came to Heinsley. The day at the guesthouse began with the quiet singing of birds. The only people Cheil found at the guesthouse and its surroundings were Hein and the servant, River.
It was incredible that a simple dancer had a personal servant and a protective knight. There was no clearer proof of Ruzerolt’s change.
Cheil, after enjoying Ruzerolt’s attentions, set out to carry out his plan. He left the guesthouse and headed to the lodging where the theater company members were staying.
“Eh? How did you get here?”
“You talk as if this were a place I couldn’t come to.”
He pushed Eden, who was standing by the door, and entered the room. Eden was using the small room in the corner of the building where Cheil had stayed before. Eden locked the door and approached with light steps.
“I heard they assigned you a knight.”
“Those rumors already reached here? It’s only been half a day.”
“That’s the knights’ building! Besides, there’s nothing that doesn’t reach my ears.”
Eden smiled and showed his yellow teeth. Cheil looked away from him. He saw a large paper spread on the table.
“And what’s this strange thing?”
Cheil grabbed the edge of the paper as if touching something dirty and lifted it in the air. Upon closer inspection, he saw that what was written on the paper wasn’t letters, but small drawings. It was very difficult to understand their meaning. When Cheil frowned, Eden approached excitedly.
“Ah, that! I was just calculating our future!”
“Our future?”
“I was writing down a plan about how we’d live if we received the 10 million milos. What do you think? Isn’t it great?”
Cheil looked at the paper again.
“What do you want me to see in these dirty scribbles?”
“How rude! These aren’t scribbles! Look at this!”
Eden snatched the paper and spread it on the table.
“Look, this is the first thing I’ll do. If we have 10 million milos… first, I’ll dress myself with the most beautiful jewels. I’ll build a luxurious mansion and live like a king.”
“It’s an absurd dream.”
“Absurd?”
“You can’t become king with 10 million milos.”
“Come on, man…! It’s just a way of speaking! Stop throwing cold water on me so early!”
Seeing Eden get angry and turn red, Cheil stood up from the chair. He sat at the table and rested his chin on his hand.
“Then, the day the plan succeeds, the theater will also disappear.”
Eden made a face indicating he hadn’t thought of that.
“Why that expression? You said you wanted to live like a king. Are there kings who wander around?”
“That…”
Eden began to think about Cheil’s words.
“Maybe you feel sorry to leave the theater?”
“Well… yes! Who knows if while wandering we’ll find another opportunity to earn so much money!”
“Typical response from you.”
“And you? What will you do with that money?”
“I don’t know.”
If I were to obtain 10 million milos… what would Ruzerolt be like by then? How would I treat him when he was under my full control?
Maybe I’d just leave him and look for something more interesting.
Cheil had wandered throughout the Catanel Empire for a long time. Of everything he’d seen, Ruzerolt was the most interesting and beautiful. So, at least in this land, there would be nothing more interesting than Ruzerolt.
“I don’t think I’d have anything more to do in the empire… maybe it’s a good idea to cross the sea.”
“Are you seriously thinking of leaving the theater?”
If he really were going to another country, leaving the theater would be the logical next step.
Cheil had begun his life in the theater at eleven. He’d spent more than a decade there. Yet he felt no attachment to the place, no sorrow at leaving. If he found something more interesting, he could abandon the theater at any moment. Seeing that Cheil didn’t answer, Eden grabbed his arm.
“What? Seriously? Do you really plan to quit the theater?”
“Hmm…”
“No way! If you leave, who will go onstage and dance alone?”
He said he wanted to live like a king. But from the look of it, Eden wouldn’t be able to leave the theater.
“Didn’t you want to stop the wandering life?”
“Of course I did!”
“Your life is a mess. Make up your mind.”
“Aren’t you being too harsh?”
“Better than saying your life’s as much of a mess as you look.”
“Ouch.”
Eden shook his head.
“I don’t get how you hide that character so well. Right now, I feel sorry for the man you manipulate!”
“Eden, speak properly. ‘Manipulate’ isn’t the right word. I haven’t used his body even once. Haven’t even tasted his lips…”
Eden raised a hand to interrupt Cheil, who was speaking indifferently. Cheil stopped. The man’s wrist hung suspended in the air.
“Watch your words!”
“There’s no one here. No one’s listening, so don’t panic.”
“If you say something like that again, I won’t have the heart to endure an attack! If Batius hadn’t asked me, I wouldn’t be living like this, so anxious…!”
Batius.
The man who had created him. Hearing his father’s name after so long, his mind slipped into the past. The dark, damp underground laboratory, the simple cabin. Memories of that time were still vivid. If the cabin hadn’t burned, if Batius hadn’t been burned at the stake, he would probably still believe that small space was his whole world. Thinking so, he realized that now that Batius was dead, everything was better.
“Then I’ll leave the theater now.”
Eden was startled.
“What are you saying? You owe me a debt for taking you in!”
“Are you telling me to go or to stay?”
“I never told you to leave! You can’t go until you succeed in this matter. No, you must stay even after you succeed!”
“So, in the end, you won’t close the theater.”
“Yes! So don’t think of anything else and focus only on succeeding in this!”
“I don’t need you to push me.”
Cheil was more interested in Ruzerolt than in the ten million milos. Being by his side was fun. First, he liked his looks, and he enjoyed how he reacted to his words and attitude. But more than anything…
“From here, without needing to be the moon, you can look down at the world.”
…it was interesting to see him show unexpected behavior.
Since that day in the watchtower, Cheil had realized there was an emptiness inside him. He’d never imagined that inside a shell of flesh and bl00d could hide such a space.
“Is everything all right? Don’t you need my help? Are you sure you can get him pregnant…?” Eden came closer and asked in a low voice.
He could have taken him by force just to get him pregnant. But that wasn’t Cheil’s style. Besides, someone as strange as Ruzerolt was too valuable to use and discard so easily. He wanted to devour him whole, from feet to head.
“…Wait and be patient. This time, I’m also very eager.”
“Oh! That’s rare. It’s not common for you to be eager!”
Cheil leaned back in the chair and tilted his head.
“This time, I’ll chew him until he turns to dust.”
Cheil crossed his legs and gave a languid expression. Eden frowned.
“You scare me a little when you look like that…”
Cheil burst out laughing at Eden’s trembling.
“Come here, Eden.”
Eden approached Cheil at his gesture.
“Why…?”
“I have something I want you to do for the 10 million milos.”
There was only a day and a half left before Ruzerolt returned.
***
The sound of hooves hitting the ground was cheerful. Mark and Reym followed Ruzerolt, who rode ahead. The three said nothing as they galloped across the snowy field. How long had they been riding like this? Reym sped up a little and rode alongside Ruzerolt.
“Why the rush?”
Ruzerolt’s gaze turned to the side.
“We have to get back and close the gates.”
“Either way, we’ll arrive today. You seem more impatient than usual.”
The exploration had been completed in two days, just as Ruzerolt had calculated. They had worked hard, even cutting back on sleep. But above all, the schedule had been possible because they no longer encountered chimeras in the northern forest.
Mark pulled on the reins and positioned himself on the other side of Ruzerolt.
“It’s good to finish early, right? Thanks to the captain, we’ll get to spend a warm night tonight.”
Reym frowned when she saw Mark smiling.
“Are you going to Amelia’s again?”
“How did you know?”
“Half the conversations you start are about Amelia.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“But it’s inevitable. Reym, you’ll understand when you fall in love. You spend all your time thinking about her face, reliving every conversation you had, and also…”
“Enough, stop.”
Reym cut Mark off and frowned. Ruzerolt, who was listening to their conversation without realizing it, found himself applying Mark’s words to someone in particular.
“You spend all your time thinking about her face.”
“Captain, I’ll sound the closing alarm.”
“Then can I go see Amelia now?”
Ruzerolt looked at Mark. When he didn’t respond and just stared, Mark felt unsettled.
“Do you have something to say?”
“…Nothing.”
He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Cheil since leaving him alone. While exploring the forest, even when lying in bed, he could only think of returning to him quickly. The most important thing wasn’t the knightly mission, but Cheil.
Throughout the entire exploration, Ruzerolt’s mind had been filled with thoughts of Cheil.
Why am I like this?
Heinsley Castle was already beginning to appear in the distance. Ruzerolt whipped the reins harder and spurred his horse faster. His impatience overwhelmed him. Neither Mark’s love nor Reym’s loyalty could match Ruzerolt’s speed.
***
As he crossed the main gate, the sky was turning orange. Ruzerolt sent the two knights to their respective destinations. And then, his own destination became even clearer.
As soon as he handed his horse to the stable, Ruzerolt headed for the guest house. He had finished in two days what in other years would have taken three full days.
What expression would Cheil make if I told him this?
Of course, he had no intention of telling him. However, his mind began to imagine the situation on its own. He pictured Cheil smiling immediately at the words, “I came running because I was worried about you.” The Cheil his subconscious showed was more beautiful than ever within the safe haven he had provided.
He was eager to see him.
He didn’t even realize he was quickening his pace, lost in thought.
Just as he passed the main castle building with long strides, leaving the stables behind…
“Oh, what a disaster! It’s terrible, really! Mr. Hein asked me to take good care of him…!”
A familiar name rang in his ears. Ruzerolt stopped dead and turned his gaze toward the source of the sound. A short man was pacing in a corner of the building. Ruzerolt knew him too.
“…Theater director?”
His legs carried him over automatically. Ruzerolt’s shadow fell over him. Then Eden, who had been flailing as if dancing, turned his head. A strange gleam appeared in Eden’s eyes.
“Ah, ah…! Sir, ah, good afternoon…!”
“Is something wrong?”
Eden’s eyes darted even faster.
“It’s just… I mean…! Mr. Hein asked me to look after Cheil…!”
Ruzerolt’s gaze froze.
He had asked Hein to keep Cheil safe. But how could Hein have left before his mission was over? And how could he have handed him over to the theater director? It was unthinkable.
Eden went on, wringing his hands nervously.
“Mr. Dexler suddenly called Mr. Hein away! Since I was spending time with Cheil at that moment, Mr. Hein asked me to stay with him for a while. But…” He murmured, glancing sideways into a dark corner.
Ruzerolt turned, following Eden’s gaze. What he saw was a narrow space between the wall and a tree. A wind carrying snowflakes swept past Ruzerolt’s eyes. He narrowed them against the blur. When he focused, he could make out the shaded spot. A cloaked figure knelt on the snow-covered ground, back turned. He couldn’t mistake that flowing black hair. Cheil was surrounded by Dexler’s guards. One held a bottle.
“Drink it all!”
The man in front of Cheil tipped the bottle. The liquid gushed not into a glass but into Cheil’s cupped hands. Ruzerolt’s bl00d flared instantly.
The snowflakes, sharp and instinctive, seemed to sense Ruzerolt’s aura and veered toward the men. In his gaze, as he stepped forward on a cold breeze, was a subtle murderous intent.
“Why don’t you show some gratitude?”
Cheil lifted his cupped hand to his mouth. The red liquid wet his lips and slid inside. Some ran down his neck, soaking his clothes.
“It’s delicious watching you drink it. Let me taste too.”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t like ones bigger than you?”
“With this face, I can make an exception. I’ll close my eyes just once.”
“You’re really funny…”
“Stop!”
At the sharp command, the guards looked up in unison. Cheil turned his head. His yellow eyes widened in surprise at Ruzerolt. Then they filled with tears.
“Sir Ruzerolt…”
The guards stepped aside, startled. Ruzerolt shoved past them and seized Cheil’s arm to pull him up. He had no intention of assessing anyone’s status. He only saw Cheil on his knees, his face and clothes dirtied. His breathing grew ragged as he hid Cheil behind him.
“What are you doing?”
“C-Captain, we were just having fun with the dancer.”
“Yeah, it was cold, so we thought a drink would warm him up…”
Ruzerolt’s hand clenched. He wanted to force the guards to kneel and apologize to Cheil at once. But even Ruzerolt couldn’t arbitrarily punish Dexler’s men. The anger with nowhere to go boiled to the breaking point.
“Sir Ruzerolt. It hurts…”
Cheil moaned. Ruzerolt realized he was still gripping Cheil’s wrist. The force of his rage had locked it tight. He let go at once.
Eden was already nearby.
“If you lay a hand on Cheil again, I’ll cut off your arms. Understood?”
Boiling anger swirled again and again inside his clenched fist. He felt no pain even though his nails dug into his palm.
“Yes, understood.”
“Return to Dexler immediately!”
The guards bowed their heads and withdrew in order. Eden, who had been watching, cautiously asked Ruzerolt,
“What should I do…?”
“Could you go find Hein?”
“Yes, Sir…!”
After stealing a furtive glance at Cheil, Eden ran toward the main hall.
The front of Cheil’s cloak, soaked with alcohol, had already begun to harden like ice.
I was… only gone for two days.
He couldn’t express his anger to anyone. Ruzerolt rubbed his face with difficulty to calm himself. He felt great tension beside him. Cheil, who had done nothing wrong, couldn’t stand upright. Seeing him like that felt like a large nail being driven into his chest.
He felt as though an iron nail were shattering his bones.
“…Sir Ruzerolt.”
Taking a breath, he tried to soften his anger as much as possible. He didn’t want him to feel intimidated too. Ruzerolt took Cheil’s hand.
“Come on.”
Even with a gentle hand supporting him, Cheil couldn’t lift his head.