12.

My whole body is hot. The heat encroaching on his body began to erode Ban’s spirit. Memories from my childhood that had been buried deep began to surface.

He doesn’t know where he was born.

My first memory began in a dirty, dirty carriage. I heard that he was born to a slave and sold.

Half were slaves from birth. His life as a slave was difficult and arduous. His heart was always empty, and no thoughts came to mind. A slave simply exists as a slave.

It was then that I met Duke Devine. He recognized Van’s talent and brought him into the duchy, even though he was a slave.

“From today onwards you are no longer a slave.”

The Duke said so, but he half knew. Even if his name changes, his slave nature does not change. Still, he answered the duke calmly.

“yes.”

The duke seemed satisfied with Van’s answer.

“Then let me introduce you to my children.”

First daughter Maia. She treated her class like a pile of filth.

“The child is a little sensitive. sorry.”

I didn’t get those looks once or twice, so it was okay. For the second time he met his second son, Richt. Richt’s reaction was not much different from Maia’s, but for some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was because she was pretty.

‘Yes, I did.’

As the child grew older, the behavior that was simply ignored began to turn cruel. Richt could not stand the attention the duke received, and he often punished him without the duke’s knowledge.

‘I can’t help it.’

Because you are a slave. With that in mind, I risked everything. But one day, Licht changed. They treated my wounds and gave me food. The number of conversations increased.

‘It will be a whim.’

Even though I knew that, I felt strangely anxious. What on earth is this feeling? Although she had half a doubt, she couldn’t find out about him.

Half opened his eyes. My vision was blurred due to the heat, but it wasn’t so much that I couldn’t recognize the person right in front of me. The face she always thought was pretty was right in front of her.

“Hmm.”

Even the furrowing of her eyebrows was beautiful.

“master.”

I quietly called out to the owner, but there was no response. Maybe all of this was a dream. No, it must be a dream. Otherwise, there was no way the master, who hated slaves, would be lying right in front of him. Then wouldn’t it be okay to be a little greedy?

The class called his name.

“Mr. Licht.”

After calling it once, I looked around in shock. But nothing changed. Richt was still sleeping in Ban’s arms with his brow furrowed. Seeing that somehow gave me courage.

“Mr. Licht.”

My name was called again. The more I called the name, the more the feeling of incomprehensibility grew in my heart. I didn’t think I could be satisfied with just calling his name. Van hugged Richett’s body tighter as he kept rolling to her side.

As I curled up and buried my face in the crook of his neck, I smelled a unique scent. I don’t know if it’s the perfume or the scent of the soap being used. It was the fresh scent of a flower that seemed to have just bloomed.

‘I want to keep taking charge.’

Half of me wanted this dream to continue.

At that time, someone opened the door and entered.

“Licht!”

A young voice called Richt’s name.

‘Who is it?’

My feverish head couldn’t immediately recognize the other person. Inyoung came inside in a hurry and stopped in place as if she was surprised. But that was only for a moment, and then she came running screaming loudly.

“What are you doing!”

A small hand grabbed Richt’s clothes.

“Let Licht go now!”

Is he an uninvited guest in a dream? He didn’t let go of Licht even when Ban asked him to let go. She just hugged him tighter.

“This guy!”

This time, the small hand started hitting Ban’s body. It felt like I was hitting it with some force, but it didn’t hurt. She said she didn’t feel pain in the dream, so it was indeed a dream.

Half smiled and buried her face in the back of Richt’s neck again.

“Take this guy out!”

The little boy jumped up and down. Then the knights standing behind him touched Ban. Then they tried to get Richt out.

“no.”

Ban spoke firmly and pushed away those who approached. It’s a dream. You can do anything in your dreams. She didn’t want to lose what she wanted here. While they were arguing, Licht, who was in her arms, suddenly opened his eyes.

“what?”

A nervous voice split the room.

“Licht!”

Theodore, a boy who was running wild, happily called Richt’s name.

“Your Majesty the Crown Prince?”

“Call me Theodore!”

“Yes, Theodore. “What is going on?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

I’m asking because I don’t know. Richt narrowed his eyes and looked around. Then he realized that his body was bound by something. He looked up and saw a familiar face.

“half.”

Ban was the one who was hugging Richt tightly. The body I was touching was hot, so I could tell that the fever had not gone down yet.

“Let go.”

Richt tried to calm his class down.

“I don’t like it.”

But coming back was a rebellion. Why is he like this all of a sudden? Richt, who was worried, also blamed the poison. Otherwise, why would I do something I didn’t do before?

“Hey, that rude guy!”

Theodore pointed a finger at Van. Richt calmly explained the situation to Theodore.

“It seems like my reason has been clouded because I am addicted to poison. “I’m not really this kind of person.”

At those words, Theodore hit his chest with his fist. It seemed frustrating.

“no!”

This is who I was originally. Van’s eyes as he looked at Richt were shining strangely. She didn’t know what that feeling was, but she was uncomfortable. No emotion Theodore knew could explain those eyes.

‘Don’t look.’

I hope Van doesn’t see Licht. That’s dangerous. But Richt was the only one who didn’t know that. Theodore felt like he was going to die from frustration.

The standoff continued for some time.

‘It shouldn’t stay like this.’

No matter how comfortable you think, the opponent is the crown prince. There was nothing good about going against the temper of someone like that. I felt like I needed to be a little more firm with my class here. Richt said, slapping the back of Ban’s hand who was holding him tightly.

“Let go.”

When I spoke quite harshly, Ban’s hand loosened. But I didn’t let go.

“I don’t like it.”

Van rubbed his face on the back of Richt’s neck. For some reason, it gave me the feeling of a large dog acting foolishly. Van has been through a lot of pain so far. It looks like he’s in a lot of pain to the point where he’s weak like this. Wouldn’t it be okay to leave him alone? I had a thought. His heart broke.

They said tonight would be the critical night, but the night hasn’t passed yet.

In the end, Richt changed direction and chose to persuade Theodore.

“Half of them were poisoned.”

“so?”

“They say tonight is the critical moment. “I guess I have to protect him.”

“why?”

Do people need a reason to protect others? While Richt was tilting his head, Theodore gritted his teeth.

“I’ll appoint someone skilled in nursing. “Licht, sleep with me.”

“It’s not possible.”

It was Van, not Richt, who responded to Theodore’s suggestion.

“An unmarried person cannot share a room.”

Are you really poisoned? There was no wavering in the voice rebutting Theodore. But he also had something to say to Theodore.

“We are uncle and nephew?”

“I understand that nobles, even those of the same blood, do not share the same room.”

I want to hit him. Theodore countered, suppressing his rising desire.

“Then you!”

“Am I dying? Mr. Richt is showing his final kindness.”

Ban spoke in a calm voice. And Richt seemed to be mesmerized by that calm voice.

“Theodore. Just be patient for tonight.”

Even Richt began to persuade Theodore more actively.

It’s all because of that wicked knight who was a slave. Theodore had never been this angry. Maia, her mother, always suppressed Theodore’s emotions, telling her that she should learn to control her emotions. So he believed that he could handle his emotions well, but it seems he was mistaken. He didn’t want to endure it.

‘I’m angry.’

I wanted to drag that slave out and slit his throat right now. For the first time, my eyes turned white as my murderous intent soared. Still, I knew I shouldn’t do that. Because half of them were Licht’s articles. If I killed him, I might be hated by Richt.

Tears fell from Theodore’s blue eyes.

“Theodore?”

Embarrassed, Richt called Theodore’s name, but the tears did not stop.

‘decomposition.’

As I cried out loud, I could feel the people around me panicking. In the end, Richt, who had struggled to separate the two halves, came closer and carefully hugged Theodore.

“Do not cry.”

Looking over Richt’s shoulder, he could see Van, who had lost sight of him. He felt that way even as he cried.

‘I won!’

Theodore cried out even more.