Side Story 1: Part 1

“Leo. Can you be alone at home?”

“I have servants and butlers at home. It’s okay.”

“I’ll be back soon, my son.”

“Yes. You must come back soon.”

“All right. Your mother guarantees it. Now, promise.”

Although she pinky-promised, that promise was not kept.

Thus, at the age of 14, one spring day, Leonel lost his parents in a sudden accident. 

Being an only child, he had to inherit the title of a duke regardless of his wishes.

While he received education as the heir, ruling directly brought fear and pressure to the young boy.

Overwhelmed by the enormous legacy and grief left by his parents, he couldn’t breathe.

So, when relatives and vassals brought up the succession talk, he was secretly relieved.

“How about Devondus?”

“He is the closest relative and received heir education with the former duke, so he should be able to rule well.”

Though his uncle had a stern personality, he was familiar, frequently visited, and had a close relationship with Leonel’s parents. Even if not, Leonel would have favored Devondus.

He needed an adult, another family to share the grief of losing his family.

“Uncle, please take care of it.”

Devondus glanced at Leonel briefly and then went inside.

Though he had a somewhat cold demeanor, Leonel didn’t mind. He believed that his uncle was on his side.

This belief remained even when the queen warned Leonel separately, suggesting that Devondus might be the culprit.

“If all direct relatives die, he becomes the duke. What might he not do if he has ambition? If you find it hard to believe, watch out. He will definitely try to kill you.”

Leonel didn’t believe her.

No one could testify to the queen’s words. The maid died on the spot with his parents, and the body of the servant who rode with them couldn’t be found.

Above all, there was no evidence that Devondus was responsible for the deaths of the duke and duchess.

The queen sneered at Leonel’s disbelief.

“Here’s one piece of advice for you, left alone at a young age. To live, you must kill.”

Strangely, those words didn’t leave his mind.

However, the duke’s residence was peaceful, and Leonel soon forgot the queen’s advice.

If the servant he thought was dead hadn’t come, he might never have recalled the queen’s advice again.

“Young master.”

A servant who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere grabbed Leonel, who was taking a walk alone in the forest and burst into tears.

“I’m sorry, young master. I shouldn’t have done that…”

“What are you talking about, Finn? You were alive?”

Leonel grabbed the servant’s shoulders and pulled away. Then he examined his appearance. It was a pitiful sight, believable enough even if he had escaped from slavery somewhere.

He was the second oldest servant after the butler. He used to play with Leonel, being close to the duke and duchess.

Perhaps because of this, rather than having doubts about the servant who returned alone, relief and worry took precedence.

“Let’s go inside for now.”

“I don’t have the right to do that. I was blinded by ambition and betrayed the duke and duchess. That day, when we passed the cliff…”

As the servant was speaking, his eyes turned towards the back of Leonel. He turned pale and closed his mouth.

Leonel reflexively approached the servant but turned his head at the weight he felt on his shoulder. A large hand was wrapped around his shoulder.

Twisting his body, he looked back.

Backlight obscured Devondus’ expression, but Leonel could sense that he was hesitating.

At that moment, the voice of the queen echoed in his mind.

‘Watch out. He will definitely try to kill you.’

There was a chill at the nape of his neck.

“Uncle…”

“You were having an interesting conversation. We might need to delve deeper.”

As Devondus finished speaking, the trembling servant turned and ran away. However, he was captured by the knights not long after.

“We’ll interrogate him tomorrow; keep him in prison.”

Leonel, watching the servant being taken away by the knights, raised his head.

“Uncle, I want to hear too.”

Devondus nodded as if it were obvious. However, Leonel never saw the servant again.

The next day, the servant was found dead in the prison, having taken his own life.

In shock and unable to do anything in front of the hanging corpse, Leonel felt Devondus approach from behind.

“Well, that was the only evidence to reveal the deaths of my brother and sister-in-law.”

Devondus’ lips subtly twisted upward.

“Regrettable.”

A small, indifferent voice passed by behind Leonel. He sank to the ground in that spot.

That night, Leonel faced his first assassination attempt by a hired killer. Subtle attempts on his life continued for several days.

Barely escaping with his life, he felt the terror of death for the first time. All he could think of was the need to seek help from someone.

When Leonel, unable to wipe the blood off his clothes, descended,

“Young master, I’ve prepared a meal.”

It wasn’t the butler Roger, who had served the family for a long time, who greeted him. It was someone he had never seen before in a butler’s uniform.

Leonel stepped back and asked about the butler’s whereabouts.

“Where is Roger?”

“He was expelled due to suspicion of embezzling the duke’s property.”

It couldn’t be true. He was a loyal servant.

Someone proud to be a butler wouldn’t simply stop because of embezzlement charges.

Even if that were the case, he wouldn’t leave Leonel, whom he had cherished like a grandson, without a word or an apology.

For a moment, he thought something might have happened to him. Just like the servant who committed suicide, like his deceased parents.

‘I have to find him.’

It was when Leonel tried to run away.

A large hand pushed him from behind, and before he could turn around, he found himself seated at the table, his shoulders pressed against it.

“Leonel, let’s start with the meal. It’s the breakfast I prepared for you.”

Although Devondus’ voice came from behind, Leonel couldn’t move due to fear.

Meat, without any side dishes, was thinly sliced by a servant and placed on Leonel’s plate.

Trembling, Leonel slowly raised his head, along the long table, where servants and maids stood in a row. Dozens of unfamiliar eyes gathered at Leonel’s forehead like poisoned arrows.

He looked around, searching for familiar faces, but there wasn’t a single one he recognized.

Suddenly, all the people who used to serve the former duke and duchess had been replaced by Devondus’ people.

Even if Leonel were to face sudden death, they wouldn’t be shocked, sad, or testify.

“Even if it doesn’t suit your taste, you should eat.”

Devondus stabbed the meat with a fork. Greasy blood poured out and spread on the white plate.

Although he forcibly gripped the fork, Leonel couldn’t bring himself to put it in his mouth.

The blood, staining the silver fork, flowed down Leonel’s wrist.

If he ate, he would die. But could he survive without eating?

It felt like suffocating, being swept away by a sudden wave. The fear of death clenched Leonel’s heart.

No matter how he breathed in, it felt like the air wasn’t entering his lungs.

“Hu, humph!”

He wanted to live.

All he could think was that he wanted to live. If only he could beg for his life from his uncle.

With bloodshot eyes like a sleepy person, Leonel turned around.

The moment he met eyes with his supposed uncle, he despaired. Devondus smiled, watching Leonel suffering in fear.

It was a vivid smile that Leonel had never seen before.

“He, help…”

“Leonel!”

Before the blocked voice could put a period, a childish voice called Leonel.

Devondus grabbed Leonel’s wrist, forcing it down. The fork fell lifelessly from the hand, hitting the edge of the plate.

Clang. As a clear sound echoed, the butler quickly hid the tainted tableware.

“What’s this? Were you having breakfast?”

Leonel turned his head towards the voice.

His childhood friends, Tatiasun and Adelhardt, were entering. Relief washed over him as he saw familiar faces.

He breathed as if resurfacing after being lifted from the water.

Due to the sudden intake of air, his lungs were in pain. As Leonel coughed violently, surprised Tatiasun approached and patted his back.

“Why, Leo?”

Should he speak? Should he say he’s being threatened with his life?

But he, his friends, and himself were powerless.

‘What if they try to kill my friends too, just because they know the truth?’

Leonel glanced at Devondus’ stern face for a moment. A dull pain radiated from his captured wrist. 

Despite feeling the silent threat, Leonel clenched his teeth, raised his head defiantly, and spoke.

“It’s nothing.”

“What’s that? You surprised me.”

Adelhardt sat in a chair without much thought, swinging his legs. However, Tatiasun, after staring at Devondus for a while, grabbed Leonel’s hand.

“Let’s go play at the royal palace. You haven’t been there in a while.”

Leonel bowed his head and remained silent. Adelhardt scanned Leonel’s face and then stood up.

“That’s right. We came to take you. It’s okay with Lord Devondus, right?”

“Sorry, but Leonel shouldn’t leave the castle for too long.”

Adelhardt looked at Tatiasun. He held Leonel’s hand for a moment.

“We’re going to play for a while. Or should we play here? But if we do that, we might stay for quite a while.”

Devondus looked uncomfortable. If the two stayed for a long time and discovered any suspicious traces or stains, it would be problematic to report it to someone.

However, he had no grounds to stop them. It was even more unreasonable to kill them.

In the end, Devondus grabbed Leonel’s shoulder, squeezed it tightly as a warning, and then patted him on the back of the head.

“Come back as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

With a trembling voice, Leonel fled the castle as if escaping. On the way to the palace, Adelhardt and Tatiasun continued to question Leonel. However, Leonel had already witnessed numerous deaths, so he couldn’t open his mouth.

He genuinely wanted to protect his friends. In the end, Adelhardt sulked even before arriving at the palace.

Tatiasun looked a bit disappointed, but that was all.

“Leo. If you ever have a hard time, just tell us. We’re always on your side.”

Tatiasun spoke affectionately. 

Even though he couldn’t say it now, the thought that he had allies made Leonel feel secure. Leonel faintly smiled and nodded.

He’d been at the palace for days, so he enjoyed an unusually peaceful time. The more peaceful it became, the more afraid he became of returning to the castle.

And he had a premonition. If he went back now, next time, he might not be able to leave the castle alive.