Chimera of Batius - Chapter 3

The rooms for the members of the theatrical company had been prepared in a building next to the servants’ quarters. It wasn’t far from the knights’ lodging either.

“Hahaha!”

Laughter rang out. When Cheil returned to his room, he found several people inside the spacious chamber, tilting their liquor cups amid laughter.

“Cheil! Why are you so late?”

The band of ruffians scolded Cheil. One man was busy thrusting his erect member into a hole on the edge of the bed.

In front of the wall’s cornice, another ruffian was entangled with a woman of unknown identity.

Eden, the theater director, sat calmly in front of the fireplace, tearing at meat. The only reason this discordant scene felt harmonious was simple: Cheil was used to such situations.

“Hey. Couldn’t you at least separate the place to sleep from the place to, uh, do your thing?”

Despite Cheil’s rebuke, Tim kept moving and said, “When have I ever kept them apart?”

Cheil protested, but didn’t seem especially bothered. He walked up to Eden and frowned at the fire’s heat. The flames crackled and blazed, throwing sparks.

“Eden.”

When Cheil irritably kicked the chair, Eden acknowledged his presence.

“Oh! Our theater’s most prized flower!”

Eden’s breath carried not only the smell of meat but also a strong stench of alcohol.

“Turn down the fire.”

“Ah, yes, the fire. The fire. Of course! Our distinguished guest doesn’t like the fire.”

Eden jumped up with a chunk of meat in his mouth and began poking the embers with a poker. As he covered the logs with ash, the flames shrank. Cheil dropped into the chair opposite him, crossed his legs, and leaned back. When Eden returned, he leaned close and whispered:

“So, how was your first meeting with him?”

A smell of filth. Cheil frowned but didn’t pull away.

“Which first meeting do you mean? The one in the banquet hall? Or the one after?”

Eden swallowed the meat and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“I think the second is more interesting.”

From the far end of the room came moans and urgent whispers from the bed. No one in the room paid attention to the conversation by the fireplace. Cheil, chin propped on the chair arm, tapped his foot.

“He told me to leave before the fog rolls in.”

“…What?”

Eden straightened; the leather chair creaked.

“Cheil. Does that mean the plan is… a failure? A complete failure? You?”

Cheil lifted his gaze and met Eden’s in silence. His yellow eyes gleamed, sharp.

“Should we call it a failure?”

Eden shook his head frantically.

“No, no, a failure…! Is there any human our supreme flower can’t seduce?”

He waved his hands exaggeratedly. Cheil stood.

“I suppose one strike isn’t enough.”

Cheil stretched his long arm toward Eden and rubbed the grimy sleeve between thumb and forefinger. Black dirt collected on his fingers.

“Where have you been crawling?”

“You mean this?”

Eden bared yellowed teeth and lowered his voice.

“I was poking around, stirring up anthills.”

Despite his careless look, Eden was meticulous, one reason Cheil hadn’t left the company. Cheil flicked the blackened fingertips.

“Eden, lay out lighter clothes for me tomorrow.”

“Lighter clothes in this weather?”

“Yes, something that shows a bit of skin.”

“Do you have another plan?”

Cheil stretched his long legs across Eden’s thighs, rested his chin on the armrest, and began tapping his cheek.

“You’ll see when the time comes.”

The bed behind them creaked louder. Eden raised the meat he’d been eating like a toast and nodded, his oily eyes fixed on the fireplace flames.

The North had rejected Ruzerolt. A knight-commander who lived isolated from pleasures as if obsessed with cleanliness, a man incapable of being honest about his desires, and therefore someone who didn’t fit with Heinsley. Over time, Ruzerolt’s standing never changed much. He remained a stranger to them.

On one hand, Ruzerolt had considered this fortunate. It felt like confirmation that his innate nature hadn’t been corrupted by the North.

But what had happened with the dancer? The dancer had looked at him with emptiness, even afraid to take his hand. In those eyes, he was just another northerner.

That thought wouldn’t leave him in peace. And so, in the end, he sought out Dexler.

“Brother, what brings you here so early on a day off?”

Dexler, lounging in his office chair, stretched lazily. He greeted Ruzerolt with only his mouth, not bothering to rise. Ruzerolt closed the door without flinching.

“Dexler, now that the banquet is over, how about we send the company you brought back home?”

Dexler shrugged, feigning surprise.

“My dear brother, Ruzerolt. Do you know how much effort I spent inviting those performers? I researched for ages, and it cost me quite a bit. Besides, I didn’t pay all that money just to enjoy them for one or two days.”

“The city gates will close soon. Do you plan to keep them inside the castle all winter?”

At last, the lounging man stood.

“Why not?”

Dexler approached Ruzerolt with loud steps, his shoes clacking. He hummed a tune while circling his brother.

“Didn’t you see how much the knights enjoyed themselves at the banquet yesterday? Being a good superior isn’t just about giving orders. Besides, my birthday is in December. Surely you won’t deny me a birthday gift, will you?”

Since the Grand Duke had fallen ill, his two sons, Ruzerolt and Dexler, had taken on their father’s powers and duties.

Ruzerolt, the eldest, as commander of the Grand Duke’s knights, was responsible for the castle’s defense and army administration, as well as foreign affairs. Dexler, the second son, handled the family’s domestic life and finances, and the administrative affairs of the Heinsley region. Family feasts and banquets were, strictly speaking, Dexler’s responsibility. And he had no intention of expelling the theater troupe from the castle.

“Dexler, I’ll get you an even more valuable gift.”

“Something valuable, huh?”

A short laugh rang out.

“Brother.”

Dexler stepped closer to Ruzerolt. He resembled their mother, the second duchess. His messy brown hair was far from the solemnity expected of a noble, and his small dark eyes gave him an almost sly look. Dexler raised a hand toward Ruzerolt’s silver hair.

“Though we’re so different, I respect you, brother. Unlike me, you’re noble, upright, unshakable…”

He brushed the silver strands with his fingertips and stared into Ruzerolt’s green eyes. Contempt flickered in Dexler’s gaze.

“You always walk the right path. Unlike me, who indulges in the lowest pleasures.”

“…Dexler.”

“Don’t you always think that? That I’m low and vulgar, that I don’t respect northern traditions.”

“Enough.”

“Brother, you know? Even if you think that inside, we’re brothers who share the same bl00d.”

“…”

“So stop pretending to be so superior. In everyone else’s eyes, both you and I are just members of House Heinsley. And to that dancer, there should be no difference.”

Immediately, he recalled the banquet, how that person had looked at him… something he couldn’t forget. Seeing Ruzerolt’s hardened face, Dexler shrugged with satisfaction.

“Hypocrite.”

Dexler flashed a mocking smile. He brushed past Ruzerolt and shoved him with his shoulder.

“Consider that you’ve given your younger brother a very generous gift. What could be worth more than this?”

With a dull thud, the door closed.

Ruzerolt, frozen in place, turned his gaze to the window. A small bird was perched on the sill.

He had never looked down on anyone, never thought anyone inferior. Yet he had denied himself countless pleasures others enjoyed.

‘That I am low and vulgar, that I disrespect the traditions of the North.’

Ruzerolt harbored a deep inner conflict. A contradiction between his innate nature, his mother’s teachings, and the need to be more Nordic than anyone else—a contradiction that sharpened whenever he was with Dexler.

“Hypocrite.”

He couldn’t deny it, because deep down he was aware of his own arrogance.

“Hypocrite, huh…”

He let out a heavy sigh. Unless he allowed himself to be more humble, the tormenting conflict wouldn’t disappear. The thought of having no place to settle his heart in this vast land filled him with unease. Ruzerolt glanced around his empty office and stepped out.

His footsteps down the corridor were heavy. How could a mere dancer bother him so much? He hadn’t even known him long. He had become a thorn lodged in the sole of his foot, one of those thorns that, once embedded, nagged with every step.

“Ugh…”

Ruzerolt loosened the collar of his perfectly pressed shirt. Thinking of him again made him feel stifled. Whenever that happened, he remembered the cold wind. Out of habit, he turned his head toward the hallway window. But then he sensed a threatening movement outside. His steps slowed. His eyes landed on Cheil and what appeared to be members of his troupe.

“Sir Ruzerolt. What a pleasure to run into you here.”

At the end of the corridor, Reym approached.

“What’s going on?”

Reym stopped beside Ruzerolt and followed his superior’s gaze out the window.

“The training ground is frozen over. I think we’ll have to move training inside the castle.”

“Use the field in front of the knights’ quarters.”

As he answered, Ruzerolt kept watching Cheil through the window. The theater troupe members surrounding him carried large buckets.

“Understood. Then…”

Ruzerolt and Reym, both looking outside, froze at the same time. The troupe members surrounding Cheil burst into laughter and dumped the bucket’s water over his head. It was a season when snow never melted. Cheil still wore light clothes in this weather.

“As expected of someone of low birth. Such a vulgar way to amuse oneself.”

Reym frowned, assessing the scene beyond the window. Ruzerolt’s expression had also darkened.

“…Right. He is of low birth.”

Water dripped from Cheil’s hair and clothes. Ruzerolt recalled his trembling figure emerging from the icy river, his swollen cheeks.

The sharp irritation he’d felt moments ago suddenly vanished.

Perhaps Cheil was rejected by his own troupe members, just like me?

A small spark of compassion bloomed inside him.

Reym turned away.

“Should we request permission from Sir Dexler?”

“I’ll speak with Dexler myself, so prepare to use the training field starting this week.”