Chapter 32 - I Will Take Care of Aidwen!
32. I Will Take Care of Aidwen!
‘No!’
I cried inwardly, clasping Lissandro’s arm in a hurry, shaking it.
“L-Lithandwo. Why ith he twied up like dat. It hurts!” (Lissandro. Why is he tied up like that. It hurts!)
“Um, uh. Your Majesty. It’s dangerous!”
Xavier, fl.u.s.tered, hugged me tightly.
For a moment, my hand, which lost its place, caught Lissandro’s back. Now that I’ve caught him, I shook his head.
Lissandro patted my hand.
“However, without that much restraint, we won’t be able to keep him, Your Majesty.”
“Ith cwuel. Lithandwo ith de devil!” (It’s cruel. Lissandro is the devil!)
“I didn’t even do it, so why…”
Lissandro was upset, but I wasn’t listening to him.
‘n.o.body should provoke Devlin’s Devil.’
I clearly remembered the sight of the boy sending a man flying without touching him. If I hadn’t stopped him, then the knight who was about to touch him would’ve died.
That man was a dangerous creature. However, since he decided to join Ermano, it was better to give him a carrot than a stick.
I was the one to get him into joining Ermano, but-.
‘This isn’t right!’
I understood that he was put in jail and that he’s the cause of all the damage to the Ermano border. I didn’t even wish to serve him to the fullest. But the stand-in-Emperor tied him to the limbs.
‘Is he mad? I’m sure he is…’
What if he changes his mind and attacks Ermano?
I shivered and plucked up my courage, turning back to the cage.
And as if they were waiting, my eyes met with red eyes.
The Devlin’s Devil’s eyes, without any expression, caught mine. I couldn’t guess what he was thinking.
“Uh… thowwy you’ twied up. Debwin’s Devil.” (Uh… sorry you’re tied up. Devlin’s Devil.)
I apologized first. I hope you will be relieved of your anger.
But they boy’s reaction was calmer than I was expecting.
“It’s okay. I haven’t even been tortured.”
“You thouldn’t be totued. You’ de geuth I bwought.” (You shouldn’t be tortured. You’re the guest I brought.)
I got embarra.s.sed after speaking. Treating someone who’s tied up like a customer.
“Sigh.”
I was greatly relieved that Devlin’s Devil didn’t seem very angry at the unkind treatment.
It’s said he would lose his reason and would kill enemies and allies, but the boy was so calm that I doubted whether the rumor was true.
I was convinced that a conversation would be possible.
“I hav a quethion.” (I have a question.)
“Ask.”
“Why did you thay you’ gwoing to exthile?” (Why did you say you’re going to exile?)
“I didn’t want to go back to Devlin.”
“How cwome?”
“Because I didn’t want to be swayed by other people’s will anymore.”
Did that mean that he had only lived on the will of others until now? I couldn’t figure out what his gaze at me meant, but he didn’t seem to be lying.
‘Of course I don’t completely believe him.’
“Who awe those people?” (Who are those people?)
“Veron Arthur Devlica.”
I was fl.u.s.tered when I heard the name of the Emperor of the enemy Empire.
“Empewor?”
“Yes.”
“Then did you puposey dwag your fowces to kill dem to get rebenge on the Empewor? (Then did you purposely drag your forces to kill them to get revenge on the Emperor?)
“That’s right.”
“Huu…”
‘Look at this guy.’
I was overwhelmed with the colossal idea. Usually, you would only think of asylum and not pretend to strike an enemy country to annihilate your own troops.
I was right in my judgement that I should find a way to give Devlin’s Devil a carrot.
‘Um. I’m not going to touch a crazy guy.’
If he’s irritated, you won’t know when an accident could occur.
Xavier and Lissandro both spoke with tired faces.
“It’s amazing.”
“I see.”
Xavier took a step back with an uneasy look. He looked scared.
But I didn’t care and asked a question again, “I hav anoder quethion. Why Ehmano?” (I have another question. Why Ermano?)
I didn’t know that much, but there were many other countries he could’ve gone to.
Ermano was the most powerful country; however, we were hostile towards Devlin. I was sure he didn’t expect to be hospitable.
“Veron hates Ermano’s stand-in-Emperor, Esteban.”
“Aha.”
I quickly understood.
‘If Devlin’s Devil were to switch sides to Ermano, the one who would hate it the most would be Veron Arthur Devlica.’
I didn’t know why Devlin’s Emperor hated the stand-in-Emperor so much, but I was able to understand why he chose Ermano.
“After killing my own soldiers, I have no place to go back to now. If you don’t take me, that is.”
While saying so, the boy’s face was devastating. I was sure he’s a killer who had killed so many people, so why did I feel sorry?
‘Let’s get it together. Don’t fall for beauty.’
There were too many mischievous looking children.
Oscar, Enrique, and Devlin’s Devil.
Of course, the stand-in-Emperor and Lissandro’s appearance were also great, but-.
‘No, no. Focus, focus.’
After waking up, I looked at Devlin’s Devil. One of the biggest questions was remaining.
“Why awe you gething rebenge?” (Why are you getting revenge?)
“Veron Arthur Devlica pushed me into the border deliberately to drive me into a rampage. When I wake up, I don’t want to see bodies around me anymore.”
“…”
“I don’t want to go back there again.”
The question was light, but the answer was heavy.
‘He’s making him go crazy on purpose?’
How could that be possible? No, I can communicate with animals, but there’s no way I can make them run amok.
I could feel his sincerity, but I couldn’t fully trust his words. It’s difficult if all his actions were to infiltrate Ermano.
My plan was like this: pretend to gloss over it completely, but don’t let my guard down.
“Hm. I gwet it for now.”
“Do you believe me?”
“Ung.”
Of course it’s a lie.
It would be better to release some of the restrictions to prove that I believed him.
I tugged on Xavier’s hem.
“Xabie.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I think it’ll huwt to be tied up lwike dat. Can’ you rewease them?” (I think it’ll hurt to be tied up like that. Can’t you release them?)
At my words, Lissandro replied instead of Xavier.
“You cannot.”
His determined will was seen from his sternly nailed expression. In the end, he didn’t bite the bait.
“Lithandwo…”
“You cannot. As I always say, he’s a dangerous person. So you cannot just let him go. That’s why he’s shackled and handcuffed.”
Some of the functions of the spirit mine were to cut off mana and neutralize it. Perhaps the power was cut off by that ability.
But I couldn’t let it pa.s.s over like this. It didn’t matter if the handcuffs and shackles weren’t released until the end. Actually, this was a kind of show.
‘I have to show him that I think about him this much.’
I spoke confidently.
“Open it.”
“I cannot, Your Majesty. It’s too dangerous.”
“Open it. Ith an owder!” (Open it. It’s an order!)
Of course, Lissandro didn’t listen to my orders.
‘This should be enough, right?’
It was time to pretend to give up.
But the voice of Devlin’s Devil was heard.
“It’s okay.”
Thud.
‘huh…?’
The handcuffs, which were made of mana stones and had the function to block mana in the body almost completely, snapped from the boy’s gestures.
Thud.
The shackles on his feet were broken helplessly and rolled on the floor. Except for the boy, we looked at the wreckage.
‘Just what the h.e.l.l is he?’
Why would he stay tied up like that when he could cut them off that easily. Why on earth?
‘It must be insulting to have your limbs bound, so is there a reason to put up with it?’
To our astonished eyes, Devlin’s Devil spoke, “Are you at ease now?”
“U-ung…”
He spoke as if he’s able to stay tied up but cut them to ease my heart…
“Your Majesty. We need to go back now.”
“Alweady?” (Already?)
“His Majesty-.”
“A-ah gwot it.” (I-I got it.)
If he comes here, I’ll just get even more tired. I put my arm around Xavier’s neck and waved at Devlin’s Devil.
“Ah’ll gwo now. Deblin’s Devil.” (I’ll go now. Devlin’s Devil.)
I was about to turn around, but I heard a low voice.
“…Aiden.”
“Huh?”
“You can call me Aiden.”
I met his red eyes again. I couldn’t keep the gaze, as if the heat from his calm red eyes were contagious.
I looked at the boy as if I was possessed. After getting to my senses, I nodded.
“Okway, Aidwen.” (Okay, Aiden.)
…stupid p.r.o.nunciation!
***
Back in the bedroom, I sat quietly waiting for everyone to leave. Soon enough, the nanny who was the last to leave, left.
‘Good.’
I was cautious of my behavior, as Lissandro, who was outside, might feel suspicious.
I crept along the window and slowly tilted the door a little.
‘Little mice. Come here.’
The mice soon appeared when I whispered in a small voice.
When they were about to be eaten by owls, I got quite close to the squeaky guys since I gave the owls an earful.
“Cwome hewe.” (Come here.)
[h.e.l.low, squeak.]
“Bwig mouse.” (Big mouse.)
The biggest mice answered curtly.
“Gwo to the jail-.” (Go to the jail-.)
[Don’t like the jail.]
My request was flatly rejected even before I finished speaking. I looked around at the mice in fl.u.s.ter.
Everyone seemed to want to leave since they were all turning around.
‘You said you’d do anything I asked whenever.’
There’s not one mouse you can trust in this world.
In the end, I had to take out my ace.
“Ah’ll give cheethe.” (I’ll give cheese.)
[I like jail, squeak.]
‘They’re guys who don’t know anything but cheese.’
I breathed a deep sigh of opportunism. Yes, I understand because I like delicious food, too.
I decided to put aside their ridiculous feelings and asked for my request immediately.
“Gwo to de jail and keep an eye on de kid who’th twapped ath de bottwom.” (Go to the jail and keep an eye on the kid who’s trapped at the bottom.)
[Male? Squeak.]
“Uung, mwale, thwat’s right…” (Yeah, male, that’s right…)
[What surveillance?]
“Whath ith hwe twalking abouth? Who ith he mweeting? Thwings lwike that.” (What is he talking about? Who is he meeting? Things like that.)
[Give me a big cheese, squeak.]
“O-okway.” (O-okay.)
As if they were leaving the cheese in my hands, the demanding mice suddenly disappeared.
“My bwead wath stowen…” (My bread was stolen…)
I looked sadly out the window. I just wanted the mice to do what I asked for.
Devlin’s Devil. The reason why I asked them to keep an eye on the boy named Aiden was because you never know.
I didn’t trust Aiden completely, so I needed insurance.
Just in case he contacted Devlin, we would be prepared.
“Ah’m wowwied…” (I’m worried…)
“About what, Mabel?”
From a familiar voice from behind, I opened my eyes wide and shouted.
“Squeak!”
“…squeak?”
Hub. I covered my mouth with my hands.
Hearing ‘squeak’ so much made me answer ‘squeak!’ in surprise.
The stand-in-Emperor was looking down at me with worried eyes. I faltered back.
‘He didn’t see the whole thing, did he?’
It would be very bad if it were discovered that I can communicate with animals. I had been trying so hard not to get caught!
I didn’t know what to say, so I was just looking at the stand-in-Emperor as he spoke first.
“I heard you went to the underground prison.”
“Ung.”
“Fortunately, nothing happened, but it was dangerous, Mabel. If Devlin’s Devil were to go wild, you could get caught in it.”
Usually, he would go ‘Mabel! Are you hurt anywhere?!’ so I didn’t know how to respond when he didn’t make a fuss and spoke softly instead.
“Promise me you won’t go down to the prison again, Mabel.”
The stand-in-Emperor looked at me with a grim face. I shuddered, but I didn’t nod.
“Ah can’t.” (I can’t)
I couldn’t listen to the stand-in-Emperor. His eyes shook heavily at my refusal.
“…How come?”
“Ah pwomised. With Aidwen.” (I promised. With Aiden.)
“Aidwen?”
“Aidwen ith my gwuest.” (Aiden is my guest.)
The one who answered ‘okay’ to his exile to Ermano was not the stand-in-Emperor, but me.
“Thwo, ah’m gwoing to twake care of Aidwen!” (So, I’m going to take care of Aiden!)
Somehow, the stand-in-Emperor’s eyes were bigger. I think he also stumbled a bit, did I see wrong?
I tilted my head.
‘…?’
Why do you look so shocked?
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