Chapter 87: A Bodyguard(?)
"What?!"
Amy stood up in shock.
"Do you want me to repeat myself?"
"What do you mean you appointed Sebastian as your bodyguard?!"
Amy ignored Markus' attempt at sarcasm and pressed him for answers.
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
Seeing Markus being so serene calmed Amy down. She went back to sit on the sofa and looked at Markus to wait for his explanation.
"Let me ask you a question."
Markus took a sip of his tea nonchalantly.
"Of the allegations that Sebastian has been accused of, what position would he have to hold to waive all of those allegations away without much investigation?"
Amy pondered for a moment, "as a noble, he would have to be at least an earl. As an Inheritor... he'd have to hold a position near a house head."
Being just one of the sons of a house head wasn't enough. He had to be in Amy's position, the heiress to her house.
"And, what are the positions that he should hold?"
"...The successor, an instructor, or a bodyguard."
"Perfect."
Though there were a few others, even if Jonathan wanted to give them to Sebastian, he wouldn't be able to do so because of his age.
"But, couldn't we just convince his father to name him the successor?"
"It was my original plan, yes. Unfortunately, something unexpected happened in the two months that both of you were away."
"What happened?"
Markus' eyes flashed a dangerous glint.
"Damian Sol, that irritating child has become an Adept."
It was rare for Markus to insult someone outright, much less call them irritating. Even Amy was surprised. What did Damian do to make Markus hate him so much?
But, compared to the surprise of Markus hating someone, the shock of the news that she had just heard was bigger.
"H-he became an Adept?!"
Amy was about to turn eighteen this year and Sebastian had turned seventeen at the time when Gilbert challenged him.
It was already December, Amy's birthday would be on the 21st. Damian was only a few years older than her but before she turned 18, he had already become an Adept?
It was as expected of the star of his batch.
Most Inheritors that become Adepts are few, but those that do reach near their mid-20s. Damian had just barely reached his 20s.
"Yeah. And coupled with his brain, he's the perfect successor if you ignore his attitude. Not only that, Jonathan can't remove him from his position even if he wants to."
"Is it because of the other faction in the House of Sol?"
Markus stared at Amy for a moment before continuing.
"Precisely. He needs a very good reason to convince the faction supporting that irritating child."
"And if he decides to go through with it regardless..."
"The House of Sol will be divided."
"..."
It wouldn't matter if Damian's faction was just a small part but based on how Markus said it, about half of the house should be under their influence. And, it isn't a guarantee the other half is part of Jonathan's faction either.
"In times like these, I'm glad that I only have one successor."
It was dangerous to have only a single successor, but it was indeed less troublesome. At the very least, nobody would have the rights to covet her position until her death.
"...what will Sebastian be doing as your bodyguard?"
"Simple. He will be my assistant."
"Eh?"
Amy could only stare blankly after hearing Markus' words.
...
"Done!"
Sebastian leaned back on his chair and raised his arms in victory.
Today marked the start of his job as Markus' bodyguard (assistant). When Sebastian heard the first task Markus gave him, he couldn't react.
'Make me some coffee.'
'Excuse me?'
'I told you to make me some coffee.'
'...'
If it was just that, Sebastian thought he'd endure but who'd have thought he'd be given a huge pile of paperwork and proposals to look through?
It wasn't until Markus gave him his fifth task did he realize it. It was strange for Markus to hire him—an Apprentice—as a bodyguard in the first place. It was obvious that he wouldn't be able to do his bodyguard duties but he didn't think he'd be left doing secretarial duties.
Luckily, he had a little experience in helping Amy and was able to do most of it after a few trial and errors.
Markus had told him that after he finished what was on his table, he could retire for the day.
"Lord Luna, I'm finished."
"Good work."
Markus didn't say anything other than that and gestured for Sebastian to leave. There was still quite a bit more work but it wouldn't take long considering Markus' speed.
Sebastian quietly withdrew and closed the door.
"Being an administrator of a house is quite troublesome, huh..."
He thought Amy was swamped with work but looking at what Markus did, it felt like she wasn't doing enough. Of course, that wasn't true.
At the very least, you wouldn't find anyone willing to do so much work in a day so easily. Sebastian had only taken a portion but he felt like he could drop down at any moment.
"I want to roll around in my bed..."
Just as Sebastian went through Clarice's estate's doors, Sana greeted him.
"Papa!"
"Sana!"
As if he forgot all about his fatigue, Sebastian carried Sana and spun her around. She must've been bored for the past few days.
During the engagement party, they couldn't bring her lest anyone were to say anything. They weren't necessarily hiding Sana's existence, but they definitely weren't trying to actively reveal her.
"Do you want to go outside this weekend?"
Sebastian and Amy didn't want Sana to go out on her own. Even though they had fled from Tidas and dealt with a good number of assassins, it wasn't a guarantee that they wouldn't strike again.
Other than Amy and Sebastian, there were only a few they could entrust with Sana's protection. At the very least, her guard needed to be someone at the peak of Apprentice.
Sebastian and Amy who could display more power above their levels were rare.
"Isn't papa tired?"
"I am tired, but, it isn't as if I won't be okay by the weekend. So, want to go?"
"...nn."
Sana nodded after a bit of contemplation. She was sitting on Sebastian's arm. Sana wasn't young enough to be carried so easily but perhaps it was because she was underfed, she was smaller than her age and felt as light as a feather. Sebastian's trained arms were enough to carry her.
Sebastian carried Sana back inside and headed straight to his mother's bedroom. It would seem that before or by Amy's birthday, Sebastian's younger brother would be born.
"Mother?"
Sebastian didn't forget to knock on the door as he and Sana entered.
"Ah, dear, come on in."
Clarice was sitting on the bed and stroking her swollen belly.
"Are you alright?"
Sebastian set down Sana beside Clarice and asked.
"Yes. I was just reminiscing of when I had you. I had madly fallen for your father so just the thought of having his child filled me with great joy."
Clarice laughed and gestured for Sebastian to sit on her other side. Once Sebastian took his seat, she continued.
"It wasn't without its troubles. As one of his mistresses, many had warned me not to dream of sitting in the legal wife's position—not that I had any intention of doing so. Being able to see your father and interact with him was more than enough for me."
I was quite foolish, Clarice added.
"It all changed when I had you. Though I still greatly admired your father, I also didn't want to separate from you. In the end, I settled down and took care of you even if it limited my interaction with your father."
Clarice looked at Sana and began stroking her head from the back.
"Though I'm sure you don't have much of the same feelings as I do when taking care of Sana, you must never hurt her, okay?"
"Nn. Even when I have a child in the future, Sana will forever be one of my children as well."
Though he was still 17, it wasn't like he couldn't feel any parental instincts. At the very least, he had no intention of abandoning Sana once he had a child of his own.
"And, Amy would kill me if I hurt her."
"Haha!"
Sana laughed. To her, it was funny how the strong father of hers always seemed so helpless in front of her mother.
Though she believed that Amy wasn't weak, most of what she had seen was Sebastian. To her, he was the strongest.
Clarice smiled and stroked Sebastian's head too.
"Good. Now, go back to your room. You must be tired from work. I'm going to sleep."
"Nn."
Sebastian was about to take Sana but Clarice stopped him.
"Sana will sleep here too."
"Mother, it isn't time for bed yet. She'll have trouble falling asleep later."
Not to mention that they hadn't eaten dinner yet either.
"Ooh..."
Clarice relented and handed over Sana to Sebastian.
"Papa, I want to stay with grandma!"
"Well, if you want to... Just be sure to let her rest, okay?"
"Nn!"
Once Sebastian had her nod of approval, he set off for his own room. He could hear the giggling noises coming from his mother's room as he left.
Sebastian sat down on the desk in his room and took out some documents from the drawers. He closed the curtains with some wind and then lit a candle with his finger.
"..."
Sebastian began reading the file that Wisteria had given him. He had been reading it over and over the past few days. It wasn't that he accepted being separated from everyone, it was because he might be forced to do so.
He didn't want to endanger them with his own selfishness.
By reading the document in its entirety repeatedly, he would be able to adopt that persona. Wisteria had added many details to it, and Sebastian couldn't call it anything other than perfect.
There were no gaps in this fictitious identity.
Just as Sebastian finished reading the document and was about to return it to the drawer, two things had caught his eye.
The badges that Mile had given him as a reward for learning the Lightning God Style's techniques.
"The school is open tomorrow, isn't it?"
Sebastian decided on his destination and closed the drawer.
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SeverTheHeavens
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