Chimera of Batius - Chapter 31
He searched the entire city for Ruzerolt but found nothing. He followed the trail of forest scent, but it led to one dead end after another. Only echoes remained where Ruzerolt had vanished. The smells of garden grass and the open air had scattered his unique fragrance everywhere. Straining his senses to catch the faintest trace only frayed his nerves further.
Where in the world could he have gone? Has he already left the castle grounds?
That seemed unlikely, given the number of guards scouring every corner.
Ruzerolt’s allies were either too far away or powerless to intervene. Knowing that, he would not have done anything so reckless.
Where are you? Where are you hiding, Ruzerolt?
The longer the search dragged on, the more oppressive the feeling became, and the more his anger simmered.
He had discarded countless objects and people that no longer held his interest. Yet, he could not control the fury rising in him over the simple disappearance of a single possession.
Appear.
He searched, rummaged, and searched again. How long had it been since he had found only fading traces? The sun was already beginning to set. Eden, who had finally caught up to him, was stamping his foot in impatience.
“Cheil! We cannot wait any longer!”
The troupe members, along with Eden, had finished packing and were ready to depart the castle. But Cheil could not bring himself to leave. A powerful conviction gripped him: he could not go without finding Ruzerolt.
I was the one who dared to tame him. He is still mine. I have no intention of letting him go.
Where could he be?
Wandering aimlessly, Cheil took a horse from one of the troupe members.
Sweat beaded on his palms where they gripped the reins.
“Cheil! My friend, what’s gotten into you?!”
Without his permission, Ruzerolt had no right to escape. As long as Cheil did not discard him, he belonged to him. He would not tolerate him slipping through his fingers like this.
“Let’s go, now!”
But where would he go? With Reym and Hein absent, the only person Ruzerolt could turn to for help was…
“Eden, go on ahead. I will meet you at the inn later.”
“What? Hey, you crazy—!”
He snapped the reins, and the horse reared. Cheil directed the animal toward the location of the person who had just come to mind.
***
“I—I truly don’t know anything.”
River stammered as if he were the one guilty of a crime. His fidgeting fingers betrayed his clear nervousness. River had always been one to react dramatically to minor provocations, so this behavior wasn’t entirely strange. But Cheil knew. He knew he was lying. Ruzerolt’s scent lingered subtly in this room River used.
“You claim you haven’t seen Sir Ruzerolt.”
“Yes, I really… I swear I don’t know anything!”
Cheil had never lost something he truly wanted. He had never willingly let anything go, nor had anything been taken from him by force. But now, on the verge of losing Ruzerolt because of a servant’s simple lie, he felt a profound frustration. It was as if Ruzerolt were water trickling through his clenched fists, dissolving into nothing.
Cheil’s hands began to tremble.
No… I cannot let him escape.
“Then I will rephrase the question.”
Cheil grabbed River’s wrist and pulled him closer, bringing his nose to the young man’s palm. It carried the scent of dust and a faint, lingering trace of the forest.
He had definitely touched Ruzerolt’s hand. And recently.
“Where did Ruzerolt say he was going?”
“How dare you address Sir Ruzerolt so familiarly…”
Cheil’s patience was evaporating as he felt his control slipping away like a receding tide. He seized River by the shirt collar.
“You would be wise to tell me the truth. Where was he headed?”
“I truly don’t know anything!”
“If you refuse to tell me, I can summon Dexler. Or perhaps it would be better to send you to him directly. In that case, you will be the one feeling the whip. I was saved by Ruzerolt, but who will save you?”
River’s eyes widened in terror.
“I am trying to protect him. He is my lover. So, tell me the truth. That is how you protect the Sir Ruzerolt you claim to admire.”
“…”
“Where did he say he was going?”
After a long, tense hesitation, River finally spoke.
“I asked him… but he didn’t tell me…”
Cheil released River’s collar, and the servant staggered back.
Ruzerolt would not have risked coming all this way just to see this boy’s face. Nor would he be wallowing in self-pity in such a dire situation. There was likely only one reason for his visit.
“Then what did he ask you for?”
“That’s…”
Time was running out. While they wasted moments here, Ruzerolt was putting more distance between them.
It was infuriating that his only connection to Ruzerolt was this insignificant servant. But for now, he had to use River. Cheil closed the distance between them.
“River, listen to me carefully. Dexler has already dispatched his soldiers to hunt Ruzerolt. What do you think will happen if they capture him? Do you believe he will be allowed to live as he did before?”
“That… that’s…”
“Seeing how swiftly he sent Reym and Hein to Operta, can’t you see? Dexler has no intention of letting Ruzerolt live in peace.”
River’s eyes filled with dawning fear.
“So, we must get him to safety.”
“Th-then…”
As River wavered, Cheil pressed his advantage.
“The troupe members will help Ruzerolt escape. So, tell me quickly what he said to you.”
“That’s…”
“We are out of time!”
Cheil insisted, his voice sharp. Seeing River’s continued hesitation, it was clear Ruzerolt had not entrusted him with the full plan.
“Are you going to be responsible for Ruzerolt’s death?”
Finally, after a prolonged internal struggle, River relented.
“He asked me… to get him a horse.”
The words hit Cheil like a bucket of cold water.
There was only one reason to need a horse: to escape. To flee this place alone, abandoning the one he had claimed to love so deeply.
The simmering discomfort that had been building within Cheil finally erupted into a roaring blaze.
How dare you try to escape from me?
“Then I will wager my reputation that I will stay with Cheil. Forever.”
Where have those moments gone? The moments you whispered words of love, swearing you needed no one but me?
From the beginning, it was Cheil who had chosen Ruzerolt. The effort he had invested, the very relationship they shared—it was all Cheil’s doing. It was proof that Cheil loved Ruzerolt, and that Ruzerolt, in turn, had loved him. If that was not love, then what was? There was nothing wrong with their love. Therefore, Ruzerolt was still his lover and rightfully belonged under his control.
I am not going to let you abandon me.
Just as Cheil was about to run out the door—
“He said he would fix everything!”
“…Fix it?”
What?
“Everything. He said he would fix everything that had gone wrong.”
***
Crack.
The snow-laden bushes shuddered.
“Who’s there?!”
The guard on duty spun around. As he advanced with his sword drawn, the leaves rustled and a dark figure darted out.
“Meow!”
“It’s just a cat!”
The cat arched its back, fur bristling, and hissed at the soldiers.
“Get out of here! You gave us a fright, you little beast. Shoo, shoo!”
Finally, the cat fled from the waving swords. The soldier breathed a sigh of relief and sheathed his weapon. His companion nudged him.
“You nearly jumped out of your skin, you coward.”
“How could I not be startled? If that had been Sir Ruzerolt, I might have fumbled my sword, and he would have slit my throat.”
“Do you truly believe Sir Ruzerolt would cut your throat?”
“Well… I don’t know. The situation is different now.”
“Do you honestly think Sir Ruzerolt is… a chimera? I still can’t believe it. Maybe Lord Dexler is deceiving us all…”
“Do you have a death wish? Anyone who hides or defends a chimera…!”
“When have I hidden one? When have I defended one?!”
The first soldier stepped closer, wagging a threatening finger.
“The north has seen few chimeras, so we’ve been spared the worst, but the south suffered terribly. Do you remember the reports from Santorias? The hunts in the south and the central regions were horrific! People were burned at the stake almost daily! If you don’t want to end up like that, you’ll hold your tongue. That’s my advice to you, as your comrade.”
“Yes, yes, I understand. Let’s just search elsewhere. There’s nothing here.”
“This is why northern peasants are so…”
“What?”
The argument between the two soldiers was heating up.
On the outer castle wall, the bushes the soldiers had just left rustled once more. This time, it was not a cat.
Ruzerolt, clad in servant’s attire and wrapped in a white wool cloak, rose from his hiding place.
…Have they all gone?
The glow of distant torches filtered through from inside the castle walls. Escaping from Heinsley would be even more difficult now, in the precarious hour between night and day. Ruzerolt tightened his grip on the old key in his hand.
“It leads to an underground tunnel the servants use to transport food in winter. The confinement season is over, so no one will be using it now. If you escape through there, you can reach the outside of the north wall, which leads into the northern forest.”
If not for River’s help, he would not have even made it this far…
Ruzerolt leapt over the bushes and kept running north. He hid behind trees, threw himself onto the snow-covered ground, and the falling snow—as if the sky itself were aiding him—concealed his tracks.
“I will send some horses with the herd. The woodcutter will likely come for the cattle at sunset. You must reach the northern ruins before then.”
“River, if something happens to you because of me—”
“Serving you, Sir Ruzerolt, is my duty. A servant who performs his job well has nothing to fear. Please, go without worry.”
He remembered River, who always offered an awkward, loyal smile. Then, the image of the man he had loved so deeply appeared before him.
“I worked hard to tame him. It is only natural that I should want to play with my prize a little longer, is it not?”
Tears welled in his eyes. It was his first love, his first true comfort. He would never again feel the warmth and affection of the man who had so utterly betrayed him.
I was a fool.
He never imagined that a single misjudgment could transform into such profound pain. Thin lines of frost traced paths on Ruzerolt’s cheeks as he pressed deeper into the forest.
Even if his father returned, he could not erase the stain of being a chimera, the accusation Dexler had placed upon him. To end this, he faced either a dishonorable punishment as a chimera or the immense challenge of proving he was not one.
The reality of being forced to choose exile made him feel as if the ground were crumbling beneath his feet. But he could not allow Dexler to manipulate him so completely. Nor could he forgive what Cheil had done.
Soon, he reached a meadow. Thanks to the cleared snow, the fallen leaves were exposed. Among the grazing cattle, Ruzerolt spotted a familiar white horse—his own mount, walking calmly with the herd. Hiding behind a tree, he scanned his surroundings and whistled. The horse instantly recognized its owner’s call and trotted to him.
“River sent you.”
Ruzerolt stroked the horse’s neck and pressed his wet cheek against its soft coat. Then, without hesitation, he mounted it bareback.
“Hey, you there!”
The woodcutter who had come for the cattle spotted Ruzerolt and shouted. But Ruzerolt did not stop; he urged the horse northward without a backward glance.
He had to reach a place where the Empire’s laws could not touch him. The best option was the Kingdom of Operta. It was close and held no specific laws against chimeras.
Once he crossed the Yakli Strait, he would be on Opertan soil. First, he just had to get there and hide.
As he rode, he tried to remain calm and rational. But the more he tried, the more the sense of betrayal festered, until his heart felt like cold ash.
He had loved Cheil with all his being, but now all that remained was a deep, searing pain.
“Cheil.”
He let the affectionate name he used to whisper fade into the rustling snow.
“Sir Ruzerolt.”
He carried his tears into the memory of the radiant lover who had once called him that. Then, his vision began to blur.
I suppose that is why I am seeing things. That must be why I am hearing voices.
“Ruzerolt!”
A black horse stood at the forest’s edge. As if it had known Ruzerolt would come, Cheil urged it forward.
It was not a hallucination. Nor an illusion. The approaching figure spoke with a voice thick with anger.
“Come with me.”
The moment he realized it was truly Cheil, Ruzerolt drew a firm, definitive line.
“Do not come any closer!”
The black horse halted. Cheil bit his lip, his eyes blazing with fury.
“You told me I was all you needed.”
Ruzerolt gripped the horse’s mane and stared back in resolute silence.
That’s right. I definitely said that.
“You said it yourself. Therefore, you must keep your promise.”
Not knowing it was a tower built on lies, I dared to swear eternity before a foundation of hypocrisy.
How foolish I was. How ridiculous must I have looked, playing my part in your game? How much amusement did you derive from toying with me?
You have no right to speak of my sincerity, of my heart that confessed a genuine love, of my promise.
“Every word you spoke was a lie…”
Every brick of the tower you built was fashioned from lies and deceit. That is why it has collapsed.
“How can you… possibly expect my promise to hold true…?”
How can you ask me to salvage a broken oath from the ruins?
He felt suffocated. The pain was unbearable; Ruzerolt clutched his chest as if to physically contain it. Cheil watched him but did not alter his stance.
“Ruzerolt. Come with me.”
“What?!”
Do you not understand that my promise has already shattered?
“Cheil, you… Can you even comprehend another person’s feelings?”
He lifted his head forcefully, his vision wavering through a film of moisture. Cheil remained there, unmoving.
“After all this, do you expect me to continue loving you? Or did you come here to mock my sincerity until the very end? Whatever your reason, if you came seeking such a thing, then you are the true chimera, not I.”
He could not read the expression on Cheil’s unnervingly still face. But he refused to wipe his tears away just to decipher it. Escaping this wretched situation was the only dignified choice left to him.
Just as Ruzerolt moved to remount his horse and flee into the forest—
Fiu!
An arrow whistled through the air, embedding itself in the horse’s rump. The animal reared in panic, and Ruzerolt was thrown to the ground.
Thud!
His face struck the earth with a sharp, jarring pain. Beneath the snow lay a large, hidden rock.
“Ruze!”
Cheil leaped from his horse and sprinted toward him. Ruzerolt’s spooked horse bolted and vanished into the trees.
“Ugh…”
He had hit his head against the stone. His skull rang from the impact, and his vision turned as white as paper. He could not force his eyes open. Ruzerolt clutched his face, groaning in pain, when another arrow sliced through the air.
Fiu!
This time, however, the arrow did not reach Ruzerolt.
“Do not touch him!”
The arrow was now lodged in Cheil’s thigh, where he had thrown himself as a shield.
Several soldiers advanced, swords drawn.
“Step aside! Anyone who aids a chimera will share its fate!”
The soldiers closed in, tightening their circle around the pair. As the initial shock of pain began to recede, Ruzerolt tried to open his eyes, but his sight remained blurred.
Is it from the tears I shed? Everything seen through his bleary vision was indistinct. He tried to stand, grabbing at the dark figure in front of him, but it turned and leaned in close.
“Ruze, are you alright?”
The scent of lavender filled his senses. That voice, still so unnervingly gentle, provoked a fresh wave of tears. Ruzerolt pushed against Cheil and struggled to sit up.
“Kill them both!”
But Cheil’s grip was unyielding. Ruzerolt could feel the vibration of the ground as the soldiers charged. He tried to assume a defensive stance.
“Ugh…”
His stomach churned with nausea. He lost his chance to defend himself and heard the sickening sound of a sword piercing flesh. Yet Ruzerolt felt no pain. Startled, he lifted his head and through his blurred vision saw Cheil’s face. Cheil was shielding him, his own body taking the blow. Through the haze, Ruzerolt could make out a grim shape: the face of the man he had loved so deeply, and below it, the length of a soldier’s sword protruding from Cheil’s neck.
“Cheil!”
His cry was instinctive. The moment Ruzerolt grabbed Cheil’s arm, the sword was wrenched free. But there was no gush of bl00d, no normal physiological reaction. Even with his vision blurred, he knew this was wrong.
In that brief moment of confusion at the unbelievable scene, another attack came. Ruzerolt tried to pull Cheil aside to dodge, but his feet were rooted. Cheil simply covered him with his body once more.
Again, he heard the wet sound of steel meeting flesh. This time, a sword pierced through Cheil’s chest and out his back.
“Cheil! Let me go!”
But Cheil used his own body as an impenetrable shield. Even as he was stabbed, the arm holding Ruzerolt only grew stronger.
“Come with me.”
Cheil’s voice was broken, strained with pain. One of the sword-wielding soldiers stepped back, muttering in disbelief.
“Why… why won’t he fall?”
“What the hell is this?! This guy isn’t human!”
Before their eyes, the wounds on Cheil’s skin began to knit themselves closed. The soldiers shouted in terror.
“He’s a chimera! This one is a chimera, too!”
The words echoed in Ruzerolt’s ears.
A chimera.
Cheil…
While he was stunned by the revelation, a terrified soldier tried to slash Cheil’s throat. But Cheil caught the blade with his bare hand. He turned, stood to his full height, and wrenched the sword away, beginning a fierce counterattack against the soldiers.
Cheil… is a chimera?
Even through his confusion, Ruzerolt stumbled to his feet and moved toward the horse.
Did Dexler know? Was I made pregnant because Cheil is a chimera? Or was it the Sexslust flower?
Whatever the reason, the cause of his condition was connected to Cheil. If he delivered Cheil to Dexler, or to the imperial palace… if he did that…
His gaze dropped to his own belly. But unless he rid himself of what grew inside, there would be no escaping his fate. He was certain Dexler would not let him live.
Ruzerolt took the reins of the horse Cheil had ridden. As he hauled himself into the saddle with difficulty, the soldiers’ panicked shouts continued to echo from the forest entrance.
Even knowing the truth about Cheil, Ruzerolt’s decision was final.
All of this was the bitter fruit of his own foolish love.
As he pulled the reins, he heard another sword bite into flesh. He turned to see the soldiers swarming over Cheil.
“Ruze!”
Cheil shouted his name toward the forest, his voice sharp and desperate. From the back of the galloping horse, Ruzerolt cast one final look behind him.
Was our bond destined to last only a single season?
“Let’s go!”
He pulled the reins harder and plunged into the forest.
“Ruzerolt!”
Cheil’s cry for his lover scattered into the wind like a fading echo.
Cheil…
The emotion resonating in that voice shattered into a thousand fragments.
I loved him. I loved you more than anyone.
Like shards of glass, the pain returned and pierced his heart.
Tears fell without end. Ruzerolt sobbed until he could barely breathe.
His lavender garden—the sanctuary of his love for Cheil—had collapsed. Snow fell, relentlessly covering the rubble.
It was a night of blizzard, where nothing would remain.