The Viscount tried to deny that this was not his method of education, but he couldn't. His throat was all choked up. Pain kept him from breathing properly.
Kyle glanced calmly at his work lying on the floor. Right away, the Archduke started on every method taught by Thor Spencer.
***
Thwack!
At first, it was the sides, right on his ribs. Kyle kept on kicking him, exactly like he did to Riddel; to the point of agony. The Viscount rolled on the floor and moaned in pain. Incapable of breathing.
Thud!
Next was the body. His back, stomach, and chest were thoroughly trampled and kicked. Kyle didn't deviate from the lessons. Blood continued to flow from Spencer's body, who was struggling to avoid even one less hit. There was no mercy.
Spencer felt distracted by the persistent and continued pain. Nevertheless, he couldn't let go of his consciousness. No, he tried with all of his will to stay aware of the situation. If he didn't, he would die here.
While silence filled the room, the constant beating broke the stillness of it. When it finally stopped, the half-conscious Viscount was on the verge of fainting, but Kyle grabbed him by the shoulder without a care in the world. Simultaneously, lifting the magic binding of his mouth, letting out all the cries, vomit and blood from his mouth.
"Well, wrong… I did. Curr… Save me, please, please save me…" The Viscount begged Kyle to save him with the little strength he had left. He was so desperate at the moment that he didn't know what he was saying.
However, Kyle was watching the scene calmly, as if it had nothing to do with him. He barely noticed the damage inflicted on the Viscount.
'… Shall I bring this pile of garbage to Riddel?' The single thought came to Kyle's mind at the moment. However, once, he realized what it would mean for her… 'No, I don't want to bring Riddel this dirty, smelly neck of this pile of trash. She told me not to kill people.'
But more than that, did Riddel really mean that?
"- Just like this… Forever, not being able to see my mother and father."
This was her 'father'.
Normally, Thor Spencer's bones would have been crushed at the first strike, but Kyle hit him with just enough force for him to feel the agony without breaking. He didn't want to inflict permanent damage on Riddel's father. Even if Kyle controlled his beating, it would have hurt more than being hit with an iron stick.
Kyle looked coldly at his own work.
'To call this trash 'father' and miss it…'
Kyle clicked his tongue without realizing it. Such a pathetic man, if you could even call this a 'man'. Frowning at this pitiable excuse of human being in his hand, he threw him on the floor again.
"Cough! Cough… Cough… Ah… Cough. Cough."
The Viscount curled up on himself and breathed heavily. Kyle heard his immediate shrieking. Wondering if he should show sympathy, Kyle just stomped on Spencer's shoulder with strength.
"Ahhhh!"
The screaming and snapping sounds, followed by a loud thud reached Kyle's ears. His shoulder had been broken by the force of his kick.
Kyle told him without a moment's notice. "If you talk nonsense again, this won't end like this."
When Kyle left the drawing room, he saw the employees, Vestia, and Riddel's stepmother, Catherine, who appeared when they heard the scream of his work. They must have come to see the condition of their lord, but it wasn't a pretty sight to hold.
Kyle's appearance was one of a death blood-soaked executioner. His eyes, light crimson, were terrorizing them.
Elvin, who came along with Kyle, was waiting outside. Coming forward, he asked. "Are you done with your business?"
"… Yes." Kyle answered dryly to Elvin.
"Elvin, I'll leave you here for a while, leave the Viscount as is and starve him for two weeks. Do not give him a sip of water."
"… Yes, sir."
He wanted the order to last for the rest of his life.
'But if I do, he will die.'
After completing his work, Kyle continued, looking at Vestia and Catherine, who were shaking, unable to meet his eyes.
"If you ignore those instructions, I don't know what will happen to the both of you, but you'll find out when I get here."
It was the perfect warning.
***
On this cold night, there was only silence. The fresh breeze coming between the curtains through the window was covering them in dew. It was definitely a chilly night.
While lying in bed, I was fully awake. I knew that no matter how hard I tried to fall back to sleep, the time had already passed. I couldn't sleep.
'Is it because I can't stop my mind from wandering? I'm confused in so many ways.'
It was almost time for Sejan to come back with his answer.
'I can't, let's go for a walk.'
It would be better than laying on my back all night with my eyes wide open, looking at the ceiling. I grabbed a shawl and draped it around me to avoid most of the cold of the night. As soon as I exited right out of my doors, I saw a familiar-looking maid standing by.
Soon our eyes met and Lily, asked my looking so surprised.
"Your Highness, it's very late, why are you not sleeping?"
"I can't seem to fall asleep. I thought I'd go out for a walk."
Lily looked anxious when she heard the word 'walk'. It was understandable. The last time I've been wandering around at night, she was the one I saw right before the fifth floor incident.
I waved my hand at her to relieve her anxiety even a little.
"Lily, you really don't have to worry this time. I'll be in the garden for a while. If anyone asks you can let them know."
"Of course, your Highness. I'll help you prepare to go…"
"No, it will only be a quick walk."
"But your clothes are too thin, I'm afraid you'll catch a cold."
"Thank you for your concern, but I'm really fine. It's not that cold, and you will sleep better if you stop worrying. I'll be right back."
Lily opened her eyes as if she couldn't let me out of her sight and said mournfully. "Then, please let me accompany you."
'Really, it's just a walk. Well, it's probably my fault since I failed in my last escapade to the fifth floor.'
"… Very well, but could you stay a few steps behind? I just want a moment to think by myself."
Lily kept silent as soon as I delivered my last request. She seemed to have noticed my acceptance to let her come to end all arguments including the big fuss of getting me ready for a simple walk in the garden.
I went ahead, walking faster than Lily. It was colder outside than I thought.
'Are the nightgown and shawl too thin?'
Fortunately, our path was lighted by the many lanterns scattered on our way. Thinking if I should ask for Lily's coat, I shook my head in denial. It's okay. I won't be long.
As I trudged along, I went back to the rose garden. Without hesitation, I moved to the garden, as if I knew the space like it was daytime. I admired the peaceful moment.
'Wow, it's still blooming.'
It was the same rose I saw blooming the other day. I came here wondering about the lonely flower, but I was glad it hadn't withered yet. I sat down and observed the rose that seems to thrive even in this weather. Such strong vitality.
'A beautiful, yet sharp, thorny red rose…'
It was cliche, but the rose somehow felt like it was referring to Kyle.
'Come to think of it, they look so much alike.'
"Huh?"
My voice came out without notice, I could feel the warm energy that flew close by, surrounding my whole body. When I turned my head reflexively, a man covered from head to toe in black stood in front of me.
"Archduke? Right…?"
"Yes…"
It was a rather heavy voice. As my vision gradually stabilized, Kyle's appearance became clearer. Looking at his clothes, I noticed he was still wearing the same clothes from earlier. I could only guess it hasn't been long since he came back to the castle.
It was perfect timing to run into each other now. When I looked closely at him, I caught sight of something thick on his white cheeks.
"… What are you doing here?"
"What? What am I doing? I am looking at the garden."
"At this hour?"
"Yes, I wanted to see some roses."
"Flower?"
"Yes, it's a flower. Would you like to go look at the flowers with me, Archduke?"
"You're talking nonsense again. What kind of flowers bloom in this cold season?"
Kyle suddenly stopped talking. He must have found the flower that he dismissed as nonsense.
I spoke in high spirits. "Look, it's not nonsense, is it?"
"…"
Uh? I could tell that he was silent, his face getting darker, because he could not refute my findings. It was not nonsense.
I thought about making a comment as usual, but I stopped myself. It was true that no progress would happen about the discovery of one flower, but now I wanted to bring up a different story.
"Actually, it's better than that. I really wanted to show this rose to the Archduke."
"… To me? Why?"
"Because the rose resembles the Archduke."
"I don't know how we look like."
"The red rose is like the Archduke's eyes when he's angry, and the thorns on the stem are as sharp as your personality…"
"What are you trying to say?"
"That… I like that."
"…"
"…"
I unintentionally started a quarrel.
However, it can't be said that this small rose looks beautiful like the Archduke and looks lonely like him drenched in the rain. Of course, I was not about to tell him that. I was not a minstrel, just thinking about it makes me cringe.
I cleared my throat to change the subject. "Anyway. Last time, I asked you for a thoughtful present and I wanted to give you one in return. I thought this flower was the best gift to show you. I was going to invite you to the garden tomorrow."
"…"
Kyle was silent.
'I'm only trying to show you my sincerity, why are you reacting like this? I'm so embarrassed.'
"Well, if you don't like it, please go on ahead. I'm going to look around a little bit more, I will…"
"No, I won't." Kyle cut my words and slumped next to me.
I didn't know what kind of change of heart suddenly came upon him. He kept his expression unchanged. I couldn't understand him.
I quickly peeked at him and looked at the side of his face. I could see he was enjoying the flower.
The lights of the lanterns were shining upon Kyle. His face was dreamier than usual; I was even wondering if Kyle was human or a sculpture for a moment. The illusion disappeared when he opened his mouth.
"Riddel Spencer."
"Yes?"
"Do you like flowers?"
"Yes, I do."
"… I see."
For some reason, Kyle didn't wear his usual apathetic mask. It was not just me, but Kyle was becoming gentler these days, almost docile.
Well, maybe…
'What does Kyle think of this flower?'
I tried asking the same question out loud but stopped myself. I could remember Kyle trampling the wildflowers before, the same I revived them with my divine power.
A strange silence settled upon us. We hadn't talked to each other for the last few days, not that I really minded the quiet time to myself.
'Lily's got to be on the lookout. It's getting late, let's move and get back to my room.'
It was at the same moment when I looked up behind at Lily that Kyle flicked his thumb and index lightly. A faint light began to rise from the ground. It was magic.
The magical light, which became denser and brighter, raised into the air immersing the garden. I was soon surrounded by countless lights.
"Wow."
The admiration flowed from my heart. I had no choice but to look around me, amazed by the wonderful sight.
The withered roses in the garden were blooming one by one.
When I clearly lost my mind, laughing and incapable of looking at anything else than this vision, Kyle asked me.
"Do you like it?"
"… Don't say it."
"What is it? Don't say what…"
"I really love it!" I shouted with an excited face waving my arms erratically.
Kyle, who was looking at me seemed to have something to say, but kept quiet. What was he trying to say? I thought I'd ask, but I could not care at this moment. He was already making a face whose curiosity had been solved.
'Maybe asking him right now would only ruin the mood.'
Honestly, I didn't feel like myself, but I couldn't help it. This was a scene, a sight, that only could be called magical.
"… It's so beautiful."
When I saw the fresh roses thriving in this cold, I was amazed all over again. I was giving him a smile soaked in happiness.
Although the smile didn't last long.
"… Hey, Archduke. What are you doing?"
It became absurd. Kyle was already walking and breaking the stem of a rose.
"Why did you suddenly pick a flower without answering me? Huh?"
My questions didn't last. Kyle was admiring the silver leaking from the broken stem of the rose. After a while, the rose was magically removed from all his thorns.
I looked at Kyle, who handed me the rose and asked in a puzzled way.
"This flower, did you break it for me?"
"… Yes."
Did you really break it for me? I had a mixed look of surprise and doubt. Not too long ago the same man who had just stepped on flowers, destroying them unconcerned, was giving me one as a gift. Besides, I didn't ask for it this time. Oh… Where are my manners?
"Is this a thoughtful gift?"
"… it's a gift."
I just accepted it without complaining. The flower was an innocent gift anyway. I accepted the rose, then grinned with gratitude.
"That's so pretty. Thank you."
"… It's nothing."
"Nothing? I will cherish it and put it in a vase. Oh, by the way, you must be very busy with work these days?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"The Archduke never came to the room."
"…"
Kyle's silence was making me embarrassed. This was a question filled with pure curiosity, but on the other side, it could feel like an interrogation, or even blaming him.
I asked the next question in a hurry. "Well, you don't have to answer, more importantly, Archduke, did something urgent happen for you to go out today?"
"No. I just disposed of some garbage."
Kyle wouldn't have picked up the trash on the side of the road… I'm sure there must be an implicit meaning there. A corrupt nobleman or a rotten old rival causing trouble to Kyle.
'Wait, isn't that blood on his cheek?'
Oh, my God. I glanced at Kyle with reasonable doubt, but he opened his mouth first.
"I didn't kill it."
"What?"
"I said I didn't kill it."
I just blinked at the sudden remark.
'What didn't you kill? Wait, does 'it' mean someone…?'
I felt embarrassed when I realized Kyle looked at me with pure calm. Wait, what? Well, come to think of it, I was the one who told him not to kill anyone.
"Good job."
Ah.Ah.Ah. It was awkward but I complimented Kyle as much as I could with a smile. But why?
"Yes." Kyle's voice felt softer this time around.
***
"Good job."
Kyle was staring at Riddel who complimented him. His only thought at the moment.
'How does this woman shine so brightly?'
Kyle somehow felt a tingling heat to his numb heart. It was another up and down of those unknown emotions. He felt affected more than ever by those mood swings.
***
Early in the morning, Jean came into his office and asked him.
"Did you call me, my lord?"
Kyle, barely looking at him, was clearly lost in his thoughts.
After a while, Kyle opened the desk from the drawer in front of him and took something out. The content quickly passed through his fingers. It was an ornate key made of gold and a single piece of paper.
Kyle gave them to Jean and waved them at him.
"Give this to Riddel Spencer."
"… Could his Highness not give it to her?"
"…"
Kyle's eyebrows wiggled in an apparent way of asking 'why should I'?
'Oh, you're such a disrespectful master.'
Jean's mouth went up and kept going up. On the surface, he knew the stark atmosphere emanating from Kyle was his usual apathetic mask, but Jean was excited about his rare request.
There were two reasons why Jean was so responsive this early in the morning.
Firstly, discovering that Riddel could call his name and calm the Archduke right away. Only the Archduchess could accomplish something like that, no one else. Of course, Jean didn't see it with his own eyes, but the information was coming from her Highness. He knew it was not a lie.
Secondly, Jean already knew the development between the two of them. The rosy romance that took place in the rose garden last night. No, it wasn't just Jean. All the employees and knights of the Great Duchy knew. It wasn't an exaggeration.
The rumor originated from Lily, the only witness to the scene.
" – Listen, listen! How romantic! The Archduke last night…!"
Lily, who had always been obsessed with romance novels, couldn't sleep at all thanks to the excitement of the previous night in the garden.
As soon as morning came, Lily, who was working in the kitchen, related everything that had happened last night to the other maids.
" – I can't believe the Archduke spoke to her Highness first. He even used wind magic in case it was too cold for her."
" – Oh, my God, I know you adore her Highness, but you can't be telling sweet stuff like that."
" – I'm telling you, it's true. I saw it with my own eyes. Besides, that's not the end of it. The Archduke and the Archduchess watched the flowers together. But do you know what her Highness said?"
" – What? What did she say?" When another maid, who suddenly stepped in asking the question, Lily put her hands together and said in a theatrical tone.
" – Oh, Kyle! You're as beautiful as a flower."
" – Oh, really? That's what her Highness said?"
" – Yeah!"
" – Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!"
" – Oh, my God!"
Thanks to Lily, the kitchen was in chaos in an instant. Excited by the enthusiastic response, she continued retailing the story with the full attention of captivated faces.
" – What, what, what's going on?"
"- What's going on in there?"
" – Come here and listen! Archduke Romani…!"
With all the other employees who had business in the kitchen, the disturbance grew out of proportion. Lily, excited by the enthusiastic reaction, continued with a dreamy look on her face. Even after retailing the first part dozens of times.
" – And then the Archduke stared at the Archduchess with his eyes dripping with honey, then he asked her, Riddel, do you like flowers? Then… He used his magic and let the withered rose garden bloomed in the dark night!"
The way Lily spoke, the picture of them mixed with Kyle's bloody face and Riddel's sarcastic demeanor, seemed to have been distorted through a filter in her head.
" – Oh! The Garden, I think I've seen that. I was going to sleep last night, but when I looked through the window, the rose garden was shining brightly!"
" – Really? That's too bad. I would like to have seen it."
" – Anyway, that's so romantic! The cold-blooded Archduke is so sweet to his Archduchess. He must really love her!"
Honestly, it was close to the point of fabrication, but the responses of everyone who listened to her stories was instant. In conclusion, last night's meeting between Riddel and Kyle was the romance of the century.
Jean, who was nearby, could hear all the vivid stories not far from the door since Lily was the only one talking in the kitchen, putting everyone to a stop to hear the famous love story.
Thus, the love between the two spread widely in the Great Duchy. When the two reasons lingered in Jean's head, he felt like smiling again.
However, he answered his lord keeping his composure, with a calm attitude that he didn't feel as to not raise suspicions. Jean was trying not to be obvious in front of Kyle.
"Of course, I'll deliver it to her Highness."
Leaving the office, Jean struggled to keep his expression neutral until he finally reached the door.
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