TCS - Chapter 20
It was a humiliating posture, but at least it was better than going mad.
It wasn't just talk, people with weak minds really did go mad.
'I heard Viscount Sachsen ended up like that...'
I heard he was in and out of lucidity, like with dementia.
He was an annoying person who had disrupted our family trip, but I hadn't wished for him to be ruined to that extent.
That's why I was even more afraid. Afraid that Seiana might end up like that. Of course, even if she did, the Count would still love her.
'Isn't my daughter's life becoming too pitiful?'
The Count wanted his children to enjoy their lives normally.
According to his eldest son, Sinclair, Seiana seemed okay even when seeing the Fourth Prince, but...
'It seems that wasn't just a coincidence that day.'
In his averted gaze, he saw their clasped hands. Just seeing their hands made him seethe with disgust and anger.
He felt like cutting them off, but the fear that surged simultaneously prevented him from acting rashly. It was fortunate, if anything.
'Even though he lost his right to succession by becoming an ability user, isn't he still a prince?'
If he had acted on instinct, he would have become a knight who beheaded his lord's son.
The Count's head ached. Why, out of so many people, did it have to be his child?
Of course, his daughter was so cute, pretty, and had everything to be loved by everyone in the world, but...
'She doesn't need to have the Fourth Prince too.'
Tears welled up at the sight of the future his daughter would face.
If only his daughter had rejected the Fourth Prince, he could have used that as an excuse to prevent him from approaching her.
'But it seems Ruby only sees him as a pretty boy. Sob, why are you giving up your side so easily, Ruby! Of course, even that acceptance is lovable, but...'
Thinking such doting thoughts, the Count pondered.
How could he drive away the Fourth Prince without hurting Seiana's feelings?
In his heart, he had even imagined resigning from his position and having the whole family defect to another country, but it wasn't easy.
'Even if we did, it doesn't seem like the Fourth Prince would give up...'
Go to another country? It felt like he would just follow, thinking he could just tag along.
As the Count agonized, Raymund, who had been staring at him, whispered to Seiana.
"Seiana, I'd like to talk to the Count separately."
"Talk?"
"Yes. I want to apologize for coming to see you so recklessly because I missed you."
"But that's because my dad... Hmm. Alright. I'll go inside." Seiana seemed uneasy leaving the two alone, but at the mention of an apology, she obediently stepped aside.
Watching that, the Count felt conflicted.
He was glad that Raymund was separated from Seiana, but he didn't like being alone with him.
As Seiana slipped inside the mansion, only then did Raymund turn towards the Count.
The Count shivered at the gaze of the child who didn't even reach his waist.
Even without looking directly, the mere thought of Raymund looking at him sent shivers of fear down his spine.
Fortunately, that feeling soon subsided. Raymund pulled out a dark black robe from somewhere and draped it over his shoulders. Then it became much easier to breathe.
“That should suppress some of your disgust,” Raymund said.
The Count realized the robe was no ordinary garment. Though his aversion wasn’t gone, what once felt like thousands of swarming insects was now reduced to mere dozens.
“Ah, so that’s how the existence of awakeners was kept hidden.”
He understood, yet he felt resentful. If only he had worn that from the beginning, he wouldn't have been so flustered by his visit.
Seeing that the robe completely concealed his body, barely showing his chin, it was clear he had deliberately not worn it to look pretty for Seiana.
'...His personality is quite bad.'
From his daughter's words alone, he was a kind and frail boy, but it seemed that was a side he only showed to Seiana.
The Count worked in the imperial palace but had no opportunity to see the princes.
This was because members of the imperial family, excluding the Emperor and Empress, had no public activities before adulthood.
Therefore, he had roughly assumed their personalities would be similar to the Emperor or Empress, but it was completely different.
It was at this moment, as the Count's opinion of Raymund was dropping because he disliked his two-faced nature depending on the person.
"I know what the Count is worried about."
"You know?"
Whether he was laughing at the Count's slightly sarcastic question born of unnecessary defiance, he could see the corner of his chin move slightly under the hood of the robe.
“I’ve lost so much against my will. No matter how much I struggle, I can’t get it back, so I’ve given up.”
“…”
“To me, Seiana is like a miracle. That’s why I’m sorry. I just can’t give up.”
Instead of promising to help ease his worries, Raymund declared, like a declaration of war, that he couldn’t give up on Seiana. The Count was dumbfounded.
But he understood. If suddenly everyone despised and feared you, pushing you away—even your own family—how could you not break?
Especially since Raymund was so young. For a child who hadn’t fully developed self-awareness, it was a cruel fate.
“Only Seiana treats me like a human. It feels like I’ve returned to a normal life. Now I finally feel like I’m breathing.”
“…”
“So, to survive, I’ll do whatever it takes to stay by Seiana’s side.”
His voice was thick with obsession. No wonder he’d follow her to the ends of the earth.
The Count pondered what he could do now.
'I wish…'
Suddenly, his eyes hardened. For Seiana’s safety, it might be better to eliminate Raymund. But the risk was too great.
Raymund was not only the emperor’s son but also an awakeners. He wouldn’t die willingly at the Count’s hand, and killing him would bring the emperor’s wrath.
'His becoming an ability user was like an accident...'
Originally, there was another child who was planned to inherit the ability.
According to the plan, the First Princess, born three years ago, should have become the ability user.
The Emperor, who didn't want the Empress's children to become ability users, had a contract pregnancy with the imperial consort, but...
'It was going well according to plan, but unfortunately, an accident happened...'
The previous ability user died. A week before the First Princess was born, to be exact.
In the end, among the children born, the youngest, Raymund, ended up bearing that burden.
Anyway, the Emperor loved the Empress's children so much that he even made a child through a contract to bear the curse instead.
His love for the Fourth Prince might have diminished due to the ability, but he would still be concerned about him.
Therefore, killing Raymund would lead to the worst possible outcome.
The Count gave up on trying to push Raymund away. He wasn't an opponent who would be pushed away anyway...
It would be better to receive as much consideration as possible while they could still communicate.
"You must ensure that our child is not hurt in that process."
"Of course."
"Not just physically, but emotionally too."
The Count looked at Raymund. There wouldn't be a big problem now that he was young, but when he grew older, issues between men and women could arise.
For example, Raymund forcibly taking Seiana if she fell for someone else...
If something like that were to happen, the Count would absolutely not leave Raymund alone.
Even if he were the Emperor's child.
"Promise me."
Raymund quietly watched the Count, who demanded a resolute answer, then let out a small laugh.
Even without the Count's worry, he wouldn't dare to go against Seiana's feelings.
Hadn't he just now feigned pitifulness to avoid being rejected by her, and made his siblings out to be trash to gain her sympathy?
Not only that, he had even begged for her affection by acting cute, which was out of character for him.
“Count, you don’t need to worry. I would never dare go against Seiana’s feelings.”
If he acted harshly and earned her hatred, or if she feared him and tried to distance herself, he wouldn’t be able to stay sane.
Hearing this, the Count seemed somewhat relieved. Though Raymund had a bad personality, he didn’t seem the type to lie to avoid trouble.
With the biggest concern settled, one more remained.
“…Have you found out who was behind the attack?”
The Count asked cautiously. Though he didn’t know who ordered the crime, if they learned about Raymund and Seiana’s closeness, they might target her, which was a major worry.
Raymund paused, choosing his words carefully.
“There’s no mastermind.”
“Excuse me?”
The Count couldn’t understand. Did that mean the guards just wanted to kill Raymund for no reason?
…Even the guards hated him? The Count wondered if Raymund’s personality was worse than he thought. How much had he treated them with contempt to make them want to kill their charge?
Raymund looked baffled by the Count’s distrustful expression.
“…The knights guarding the ability user royals are special. They must undergo mental training and are selected exclusively, not drafted from any ordinary order.”
They only obey orders from the ability user royals and the emperor. They had no time to mingle with other knights, nobles, or royals.
“There’s no reason to suspect anyone. Their private lives were spotless.”
Even if they feared him, they were people who overflowed with pride in serving an ability user. That's why he was bewildered by the betrayal that day and couldn't help but react slowly.
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