“Are you telling me not to clean up?”
Maybe he just liked the clutter.
The servant, who was quick enough to pick up on Levi’s moods, quickly stepped back and closed the curtains to the balcony.
“Hmm, the weather is so nice. It is spring when the flowers outside are in full bloom, but it’s still cold at night.”
The servant received no response, as if he was talking to the air.
Suddenly, he stopped perfectly in place, as he clutched the curtains.
That was because red-black eyes had pierced him like harpoons.
‘Why was the Young Master acting like this today.’
Levi asked the servant, who wanted to cry.
“It’s been cold?”
“Y-Yes?”
“….”
“Oh, so-sometimes. At night, there’s something called a cold snap. The level of chill isn’t as bad as back in the Bastion territory.”
The servant babbled without knowing what he should be saying.
It was the first time in his life that Levi had spoken to him and asked a question.
Usually, no matter what he said, he was left alone. At best, he would express himself with a nod.
Levi’s dark red eyes moved away, and were fixed on the balcony again.
A certain expression was seen from the side of his porcelain doll-like profile.
“Well, then I’ll get going.”
The servant sensed that it was the right time to quickly flee. As soon as he closed the door, his legs trembled.
He was covered in cold sweat on his back and hands.
‘Sigh, I thought I was dead.’
Even after all of his training, he hadn’t gotten used to serving a Bastion.
The weak servants still shook in front of him, as they broke teacups.
Half man, half god. The only demonic family. The ones named Bastion, who would even shoot down a flying phoenix.
In particular, Levi Bastion deserved the name more than anyone else.
It was scary. He could squeeze the human heart tightly with just his gaze.
It wasn’t like he was being openly angry, or being sensitive and difficult like a normal young master.
‘I would rather that.’
It was much easier to concede a hundred times, then to suffer from his gaze. Even after serving for many years, he still did not know what was in the young master’s heart.
As the servant was walking down the hallway, he ran into a close peer.
“What, why do you look like you’re dying?”
He tapped him on the shoulder as he sent a hand signal that he had stepped out of Levi’s room since he didn’t have the energy to speak.
Dead, yeah. Every day they wonder why there was such fear whenever they saw him.
The Master and Young Master were such different people, so…
‘The work environment would have been pleasant if they only felt less like a demon.’
They looked around while thinking the same thing.
She wasn’t hanging around today.
Did she get kicked out for going overboard? But they were still worried that something might have happened.
In fact, the Bastion family’s servants wanted her to stay for a long time.
“I miss her.”
“I know.”
Please don’t let yourself be scattered as quickly as a ray of sunshine that temporarily melted the frost in the north, but be healthy and stay forever.
To do that, she would have to give up her habit of saying that she’d be the future eldest daughter-in-law of the Bastion family.
Was it necessary to be the daughter-in-law? From Wolfgang’s attitude these days, they thought it was possible to be adopted.
Of course, if she could marry Levi without bloodshed, it would be a joyous occasion for them.
‘No way. It wasn’t possible. No matter how similar to Madame Kathryn she was, she didn’t have her spirit or temper.’
The servants, who recalled her ‘Perfect Kick’ series, shook their heads and began to look for her white and curly hair.
Meanwhile, a search was in full swing at the maid’s quarters.
“Has anyone seen Aisha?”
None of the maids, including Kim and Sarah, raised their hands to senior maid Joan’s question.
While Joan was looking around, she noticed Vivi and asked again.
“Vivi, you don’t know either?”
“…How would I know?”
“Because you’ve been hanging out with Aisha the most these days.”
“That’s because she’s been following me around on her own.”
Even the grumbling Vivi didn’t know, which caused the other maids to look concerned.
Betty took a particularly aggressive stance, breaking through the worried murmurs about what might’ve happened.
“Why don’t we tell the knights?”
“Okay, let’s do that. We’ll also split up, and look for her.”
“Yes!”
Soon all the maids, led by Betty and Joan, left the dormitory at the same time.
Vivi was the only one who remained, alone and arrogant.
Hmm. One day, she suddenly appeared like a stray puppy. She ran around the mansion, flattered people, and would smile as if she was saying to not hate her even if she acted obnoxiously. If she happened to get a tasty treat, she would visit her every now and then, and always put one in her mouth. She obviously knew her charm, and openly used it. Even when she was gone…
“Where the heck did that spoiled puppy go!”
Soon after, all of the servants of the Bastion household joined forces to search inside and outside the mansion.
This happened before the Duke and Butler could officially order a search.
And a pair of dark red eyes watched the scene throughout.
The wide open balcony door was an unfamiliar sight. So was the appearance that unfolded beyond that.
Have they ever been so loud and noisy?
Looking back at his memory, he did have one.
Once upon a time, when his mother was alive.
‘Today is a treasure hunt.’
Suddenly it started with that one statement from her. A real treasure hunt.
Kathryn didn’t ever hold back.
If she suddenly wanted to go on a treasure hunt, she had to do something to relieve that instinct.
It was always the same, but it was especially that way now, since her illness had worsened after the cold air of the territory had fled.
As if she was admitting her own death.
So she acted as if she didn’t want to leave any regrets behind.
‘I’ve hidden something, so look for it carefully. Go!’
All of the servants and even Franz, who was toddling behind Duke Wolfgang, made an attempt to find the treasure for the sick Duchess.
Only Levi remained vaguely next to his mother, who was covered by a mountain of blankets.
‘Why doesn’t my oldest son look for the treasure?’
‘I don’t know why I should do that.’
It was a habit of Levi’s, who was only five years old.
He didn’t know the reason.
Most children around that age lived by the question ‘why?’ But Levi was a little different from that.
He was really hard to understand.
It was called a treasure hunt, but Levi couldn’t understand why she had to hide trivial things, and why he should look for them.
And the reason why Kathryn’s lips hardened under her mask whenever he talked about these things.
The day he killed the dying bird early last year, his mother looked like that.
Then she ran to his father, and kicked him.
Did she even catch prey as she yelled about her baby’s future path?
Of course, Levi didn’t know why she did it.
Or the reason why his father, who was stronger than her if he wanted, was still beaten every time.
Reason. Reason. Why?
There were so many things that he didn’t understand every day, but…
‘It’s sad if you’re alone while everyone else is having fun. If Levi is willing to search for treasures, Mother will be very happy.’
Although he couldn’t perfectly absorb emotions like joy, anger, or sadness, she always clearly taught him.
‘…I’ll be back.’
Nevertheless, Levi eventually moved according to his mother’s wishes.
If he were to ask himself why, he could answer properly then and now.
The world of young Levi, which was true from early on, was made of books.
In that sense, he was right to mercifully end its life quickly rather than have it suffer any longer, especially when there was no more hope for it.
The brilliant Levi mainly did the right thing.
It was the first time that his mother implemented the dictionary of ‘exceptions’.
It didn’t constrict his throat as he coughed bitterly. Instead, it wrapped him up in a warm blanket.
Then she would smile, and whisper to Wolfgang like this.
‘See, there is hope.’
Hope.
It was Levi’s least favorite word, but his mother was really ‘happy’ when she said such a thing, so he knew when he had done the right thing.
Even when he became the winner of the treasure hunt that day.
She smiled broadly. He couldn’t see it well because of the mask, but she was probably happy.
Whiiine
A gust of wind blew through the balcony door, ruffling his black hair before it disappeared.
It was a little similar to when his mother patted his head.
However, happiness and health were separate issues. She soon closed her eyes after her condition deteriorated rapidly after the treasure hunt. In other words, the treasure hunt was the last game he played with his mother.
Come to think of it, the treasure hunt reward at that time was…
“I found something!”
Flinch
Levi’s toes shook.
It’s a good thing he didn’t jump out of his chair at the small table next to the balcony where he had been sitting since last night.
Because if he had, he would have thought about the idea that he couldn’t understand himself at this moment.
“It’s her apron.”
Someone held a white cloth and waved it.
It was under the tree where she’d been hanging out every night for the past week.
“Why is it here?”
“What if something really happened?”
“There’s something in the pocket.”
“It’s strawberry candy.”
“That’s her favorite, but why didn’t she eat it…”
“Master!”
At that time, Wolfgang personally marched out to the yard.
Among the flustered servants, Knight Commander Winston quickly brought him the palm-sized apron.
As a vassal who’d belonged to the Bastion family as long as Hugo, he didn’t forget to make a report.
“According to the sentry’s testimony, I don’t think she left through the main gate. That leaves only one road.”
Winston glanced towards the mountain behind the mansion.
“To send a search party up the mountain…”
Hyuk
A short and dull shadow passed by on the wind.
Wolfgang’s eyes narrowed as the people around him looked around and wondered what that was.
“No, you don’t have to.”
“What?”
“I really didn’t think she’d be successful. It seems that taste is inherited as well.”
Shaking his head, he turned around while he muttered words that the gods couldn’t understand.
Somehow, he felt like he could hear an arrogant voice in his ear.
‘See? There is hope.’
Wolfgang was passing under the wide open balcony doors with the butler, who was following quietly behind as usual, when he suddenly said.
“Hugo.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Are the peonies blooming yet?”
He smiled as Hugo answered, ‘Out of season’.
***
“Are you telling me not to clean up?”
Maybe he just liked the clutter.
The servant, who was quick enough to pick up on Levi’s moods, quickly stepped back and closed the curtains to the balcony.
“Hmm, the weather is so nice. It is spring when the flowers outside are in full bloom, but it’s still cold at night.”
The servant received no response, as if he was talking to the air.
Suddenly, he stopped perfectly in place, as he clutched the curtains.
That was because red-black eyes had pierced him like harpoons.
‘Why was the Young Master acting like this today.’
Levi asked the servant, who wanted to cry.
“It’s been cold?”
“Y-Yes?”
“….”
“Oh, so-sometimes. At night, there’s something called a cold snap. The level of chill isn’t as bad as back in the Bastion territory.”
The servant babbled without knowing what he should be saying.
It was the first time in his life that Levi had spoken to him and asked a question.
Usually, no matter what he said, he was left alone. At best, he would express himself with a nod.
Levi’s dark red eyes moved away, and were fixed on the balcony again.
A certain expression was seen from the side of his porcelain doll-like profile.
“Well, then I’ll get going.”
The servant sensed that it was the right time to quickly flee. As soon as he closed the door, his legs trembled.
He was covered in cold sweat on his back and hands.
‘Sigh, I thought I was dead.’
Even after all of his training, he hadn’t gotten used to serving a Bastion.
The weak servants still shook in front of him, as they broke teacups.
Half man, half god. The only demonic family. The ones named Bastion, who would even shoot down a flying phoenix.
In particular, Levi Bastion deserved the name more than anyone else.
It was scary. He could squeeze the human heart tightly with just his gaze.
It wasn’t like he was being openly angry, or being sensitive and difficult like a normal young master.
‘I would rather that.’
It was much easier to concede a hundred times, then to suffer from his gaze. Even after serving for many years, he still did not know what was in the young master’s heart.
As the servant was walking down the hallway, he ran into a close peer.
“What, why do you look like you’re dying?”
He tapped him on the shoulder as he sent a hand signal that he had stepped out of Levi’s room since he didn’t have the energy to speak.
Dead, yeah. Every day they wonder why there was such fear whenever they saw him.
The Master and Young Master were such different people, so…
‘The work environment would have been pleasant if they only felt less like a demon.’
They looked around while thinking the same thing.
She wasn’t hanging around today.
Did she get kicked out for going overboard? But they were still worried that something might have happened.
In fact, the Bastion family’s servants wanted her to stay for a long time.
“I miss her.”
“I know.”
Please don’t let yourself be scattered as quickly as a ray of sunshine that temporarily melted the frost in the north, but be healthy and stay forever.
To do that, she would have to give up her habit of saying that she’d be the future eldest daughter-in-law of the Bastion family.
Was it necessary to be the daughter-in-law? From Wolfgang’s attitude these days, they thought it was possible to be adopted.
Of course, if she could marry Levi without bloodshed, it would be a joyous occasion for them.
‘No way. It wasn’t possible. No matter how similar to Madame Kathryn she was, she didn’t have her spirit or temper.’
The servants, who recalled her ‘Perfect Kick’ series, shook their heads and began to look for her white and curly hair.
Meanwhile, a search was in full swing at the maid’s quarters.
“Has anyone seen Aisha?”
None of the maids, including Kim and Sarah, raised their hands to senior maid Joan’s question.
While Joan was looking around, she noticed Vivi and asked again.
“Vivi, you don’t know either?”
“…How would I know?”
“Because you’ve been hanging out with Aisha the most these days.”
“That’s because she’s been following me around on her own.”
Even the grumbling Vivi didn’t know, which caused the other maids to look concerned.
Betty took a particularly aggressive stance, breaking through the worried murmurs about what might’ve happened.
“Why don’t we tell the knights?”
“Okay, let’s do that. We’ll also split up, and look for her.”
“Yes!”
Soon all the maids, led by Betty and Joan, left the dormitory at the same time.
Vivi was the only one who remained, alone and arrogant.
Hmm. One day, she suddenly appeared like a stray puppy. She ran around the mansion, flattered people, and would smile as if she was saying to not hate her even if she acted obnoxiously. If she happened to get a tasty treat, she would visit her every now and then, and always put one in her mouth. She obviously knew her charm, and openly used it. Even when she was gone…
“Where the heck did that spoiled puppy go!”
Soon after, all of the servants of the Bastion household joined forces to search inside and outside the mansion.
This happened before the Duke and Butler could officially order a search.
And a pair of dark red eyes watched the scene throughout.
The wide open balcony door was an unfamiliar sight. So was the appearance that unfolded beyond that.
Have they ever been so loud and noisy?
Looking back at his memory, he did have one.
Once upon a time, when his mother was alive.
‘Today is a treasure hunt.’
Suddenly it started with that one statement from her. A real treasure hunt.
Kathryn didn’t ever hold back.
If she suddenly wanted to go on a treasure hunt, she had to do something to relieve that instinct.
It was always the same, but it was especially that way now, since her illness had worsened after the cold air of the territory had fled.
As if she was admitting her own death.
So she acted as if she didn’t want to leave any regrets behind.
‘I’ve hidden something, so look for it carefully. Go!’
All of the servants and even Franz, who was toddling behind Duke Wolfgang, made an attempt to find the treasure for the sick Duchess.
Only Levi remained vaguely next to his mother, who was covered by a mountain of blankets.
‘Why doesn’t my oldest son look for the treasure?’
‘I don’t know why I should do that.’
It was a habit of Levi’s, who was only five years old.
He didn’t know the reason.
Most children around that age lived by the question ‘why?’ But Levi was a little different from that.
He was really hard to understand.
It was called a treasure hunt, but Levi couldn’t understand why she had to hide trivial things, and why he should look for them.
And the reason why Kathryn’s lips hardened under her mask whenever he talked about these things.
The day he killed the dying bird early last year, his mother looked like that.
Then she ran to his father, and kicked him.
Did she even catch prey as she yelled about her baby’s future path?
Of course, Levi didn’t know why she did it.
Or the reason why his father, who was stronger than her if he wanted, was still beaten every time.
Reason. Reason. Why?
There were so many things that he didn’t understand every day, but…
‘It’s sad if you’re alone while everyone else is having fun. If Levi is willing to search for treasures, Mother will be very happy.’
Although he couldn’t perfectly absorb emotions like joy, anger, or sadness, she always clearly taught him.
‘…I’ll be back.’
Nevertheless, Levi eventually moved according to his mother’s wishes.
If he were to ask himself why, he could answer properly then and now.
The world of young Levi, which was true from early on, was made of books.
In that sense, he was right to mercifully end its life quickly rather than have it suffer any longer, especially when there was no more hope for it.
The brilliant Levi mainly did the right thing.
It was the first time that his mother implemented the dictionary of ‘exceptions’.
It didn’t constrict his throat as he coughed bitterly. Instead, it wrapped him up in a warm blanket.
Then she would smile, and whisper to Wolfgang like this.
‘See, there is hope.’
Hope.
It was Levi’s least favorite word, but his mother was really ‘happy’ when she said such a thing, so he knew when he had done the right thing.
Even when he became the winner of the treasure hunt that day.
She smiled broadly. He couldn’t see it well because of the mask, but she was probably happy.
Whiiine
A gust of wind blew through the balcony door, ruffling his black hair before it disappeared.
It was a little similar to when his mother patted his head.
However, happiness and health were separate issues. She soon closed her eyes after her condition deteriorated rapidly after the treasure hunt. In other words, the treasure hunt was the last game he played with his mother.
Come to think of it, the treasure hunt reward at that time was…
“I found something!”
Flinch
Levi’s toes shook.
It’s a good thing he didn’t jump out of his chair at the small table next to the balcony where he had been sitting since last night.
Because if he had, he would have thought about the idea that he couldn’t understand himself at this moment.
“It’s her apron.”
Someone held a white cloth and waved it.
It was under the tree where she’d been hanging out every night for the past week.
“Why is it here?”
“What if something really happened?”
“There’s something in the pocket.”
“It’s strawberry candy.”
“That’s her favorite, but why didn’t she eat it…”
“Master!”
At that time, Wolfgang personally marched out to the yard.
Among the flustered servants, Knight Commander Winston quickly brought him the palm-sized apron.
As a vassal who’d belonged to the Bastion family as long as Hugo, he didn’t forget to make a report.
“According to the sentry’s testimony, I don’t think she left through the main gate. That leaves only one road.”
Winston glanced towards the mountain behind the mansion.
“To send a search party up the mountain…”
Hyuk
A short and dull shadow passed by on the wind.
Wolfgang’s eyes narrowed as the people around him looked around and wondered what that was.
“No, you don’t have to.”
“What?”
“I really didn’t think she’d be successful. It seems that taste is inherited as well.”
Shaking his head, he turned around while he muttered words that the gods couldn’t understand.
Somehow, he felt like he could hear an arrogant voice in his ear.
‘See? There is hope.’
Wolfgang was passing under the wide open balcony doors with the butler, who was following quietly behind as usual, when he suddenly said.
“Hugo.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Are the peonies blooming yet?”
He smiled as Hugo answered, ‘Out of season’.
***
