Forgive Me for Not Saying It Sooner
The long council meeting had finally come to an end. As the Emperor rose from his seat, the ministers climbed up one after another, stretching out backs and waists stiffened by hours of deliberation.
"Hyung-nim."
Unlike the other ministers, Duke Randert remained seated, lost in thought, and Liam approached him with a worried look on his face.
"...Are you quite alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your complexion has been poor for some time now."
The Duke rarely let his expression change, but even he could not hide it from his younger brother Liam.
"Could it be because of the boy Bayul?"
Who but Liam could read his brother's heart so easily? The boy had only just begun to settle into the Academy, and now he was being summoned into the treacherous imperial palace — of course the Duke's mind was not at ease.
The palace looked peaceful on the surface, but there was no telling when or how something might go wrong. A place where schemes and jealousy ran rampant, and where anyone of honest heart and gentle disposition found the burden doubled, tripled. That was precisely what the imperial palace was.
"I have my concerns as well, but I cannot hold him in my arms forever. A visit to the palace will surely be a good experience for him too. Do not worry yourself so."
"A good experience..."
"You and I will both be there, will we not? Nothing will go wrong."
Did the Duke not know that as well as anyone? It was simply the place itself that troubled him. The fact that Bayul would be coming to a place where even he never let his guard down — that was what the father in him despised.
"What private matter are you two discussing with such gravity?"
An unwelcome voice cut in. Duke Hector, who until moments ago had been trading whispered words with Marquis Voytek, now spoke up with a smile.
"Is it something to do with young Bayul?"
"A problem, you say?"
The phrasing grated on the nerves. Liam bowed with perfect courtesy while making his displeasure plain, and Duke Hector waved a hand in excuse.
"Now, now, do not misunderstand. I only heard that his health has been poor, and I was concerned it might make it difficult for him to comply with His Majesty's command."
In that moment, Duke Hector's face looked genuinely worried for Bayul. The art of delivering falsehood as if it were heartfelt sincerity — it was one of Hector's long suits.
"You have worried over nothing. Bayul has enrolled at the Academy and is doing very well."
"Ah, yes, I heard that news. He transferred in, did he not? If he could not sit the regular entrance examination, he must have been quite ill indeed. Tsk, tsk — how can an only son be so frail? This must weigh heavily on you both."
Thorns hid beneath every word. Duke Randert, who had listened in silence, met his gaze and spoke in an even, unhurried voice.
"Even so, hardly anyone could measure up to Duke Hector himself, could they? I heard the news as well. A disciplinary committee is being convened, I understand?"
"...A disciplinary committee, you say?"
"You have not heard yet?"
Duke Hector answered by looking back at the aide standing behind him. The question in his eyes was unmistakable: how has this come about?
"Well, you see, that is..."
"Do not tell me you failed to block it?"
"...F-forgive me. I intended to report it the moment the council adjourned."
The Duke's eyes turned venomous. This was a development he had never anticipated. Had he not, a duke of the Empire, sent a letter with his own hand? And yet a disciplinary committee was to convene — it was an open affront, a blatant dismissal of his authority.
These wretches dare to slight me?
His clenched fist trembled with fury.
"How grieved Duke Hector must be. The child played a bit of a prank, and now a full disciplinary committee is convened? It strikes me as excessive."
Could it be...?
No, impossible. The thought that Duke Randert had orchestrated this flashed through his mind for an instant, but Hector soon shook his head. Their political convictions differed and they stood opposed as rivals — and yet, paradoxically, he trusted the Duke's character.
"...Ah, yes. I do play from time to time. Quite an enjoyable pastime, chess."
"Is that so?"
"Come play with me sometime. I will prepare a fine bottle to go with it."
"No, I must decline. My skill falls short of my sons'. There is no ordeal quite like drinking wine you did not want. I shall respectfully pass."
It was Duke Randert who had taught his two sons chess. At first his own skill had been vastly superior — but around the time they turned ten? He had gradually found himself pressed, and soon the days he lost grew more frequent than not.
While he was buried in official duties, the brothers had devoted themselves to relentless practice, united by a single resolve: to beat their father. The result spoke for itself.
"I wish young Jared's affairs every success. I trust we shall meet again in good health at the banquet for Crown Prince Lindemann's birthday."
"With Duke Randert showing such concern on my behalf, I am relieved indeed. Thank you for your kind words."
"Then we shall meet again."
With a brief nod, Duke Randert turned away. Liam exchanged a light glance with the other man and followed his brother out.
"..."
Duke Hector watched the brothers' retreating backs for a long while, like a man with words left unsaid. His eyes glinted, sharp as a freshly honed blade.
"Bayul, are you really okay?"
Two days had passed since his meeting with Logan. He had slept the day away, and now his body felt as fresh and light as if nothing had ever happened.
But perhaps the shock had simply been too great. Ever since the day he collapsed, his friends had been dropping by constantly to ask if he was all right, and Bayul was quietly suffering for it.
"I keep telling you, I'm fine. Rai, Aidan — I'm really grateful you're worried about me, but you can stop now. I'm completely fine. Look!"
Bayul spread both arms and twirled in place. He had done the exact same thing that morning, in the very same spot.
"What about your medicine? Have you been taking what Aidan brought you?"
"Of course! Here, look. There's barely any left, see?"
Bayul, as if he had been waiting for the question, held up the medicine bottle and shook it. A red liquid sloshed back and forth inside the clear glass vial.
"Quinn, what about at night? Does Bayul sleep well?"
Ellai turned the question to Quinn this time. He, too, was no stranger to it — by virtue of sharing a room with Bayul, he had been dragged into the interrogation as well.
"Obviously he sleeps fine. I keep telling you, he sleeps like he couldn't wake up for anything these days. Right, Quinn?"
Bayul caught the faint crease that crossed Quinn's face. The two friends couldn't tell, but Quinn had been treading carefully for days now, guilty that Bayul's condition had dragged him into this torment (?) alongside him.
"And stop asking Quinn things like that. It'll get in the way of his studying."
"Studying?"
"Quinn, you were actually studying just now?"
Quinn had been sitting at his desk, true, but neither Ellai nor Aidan had imagined he might be studying. Their eyes widened in unison, as if they'd witnessed something extraordinary.
"So you actually study for exams. Amazing."
"Doesn't suit you at all."
"That's what I said."
"But why study here? The library's way better for concentrating, isn't it?"
"Exactly. Whenever I study in my room, I just fall asleep."
"What does it matter to you whether other people study or not? I said I'd study in my own room. Is there a problem with that?"
And so the dam finally broke. Quinn shot up from his chair, scowling.
"No, no problem at all."
"He's right about that."
But only Bayul flinched at Quinn's temper. Ellai and Aidan didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow as they pressed on.
"It's just, we think the library would suit you better, that's all. Call it advice from your friends."
"When you're studying, you need to look things up pretty often, right? Starting tomorrow, instead of doing this, why don't we all head to the library together? I can save us good seats."
"Oh, that's a great idea! Let's start tomorrow, right away!"
"Really?"
"Better with company than alone, no?"
"I'm in too! I was already worrying about exams, so this works out perfectly!"
"I'll pass."
Just as everyone was happily agreeing, Quinn voiced his refusal. Ellai and Aidan barely reacted — they had seen it coming. You're coming with us whether you like it or not. That was the general vibe.
Knock, knock.
That was when someone came calling. An unfamiliar knock caught their attention. Normally, Ellai and Aidan simply flung the door open and walked in — which used to make Quinn blow up in fury, but he had all but given up by now.
"Who is it?"
"Bayul, were you expecting anyone?"
"No."
"Quinn?"
"You think I would be?"
"Fair point."
At Ellai's remark, Aidan nodded in instant agreement and started toward the door. Quinn felt a flash of indignation, but since the jab wasn't wrong, he couldn't argue.
"Who'd come at this hour... Logan?"
When the door opened, an unexpected figure stood there. Logan had come. Faced with a visitor no one had imagined, Aidan stood frozen with the door half open, blinking.
"Who did you say was here?"
"Aidan, did you just say Logan?"
Ellai asked for confirmation, and Bayul brightened and dashed over.
"Logan!"
It had been two days. Even seeing Logan standing outside the dormitory door with his own eyes, Bayul found it hard to believe.
"May I come in?"
Logan had come to see Bayul, never expecting the whole group to be gathered. He was a little flustered, but he didn't show it.
"Yes, yes! Logan, come on in!"
Logan had come of his own accord, on his own two feet. Giddy at the thought of it, Bayul failed to notice that Logan was tense — or that his friends were eyeing him with suspicion.
"Here, sit down."
Bayul pulled over an empty chair and set it in front of Logan.
"Logan, did you have dinner yet?"
"...Yeah. You?"
"Me too. With everyone."
As Bayul smiled and glanced around at his friends, Logan's expression grew even more rigid.
"So what brings you here, though? I was really surprised that you came looking for me. Is there something you wanted to say?"
There was, of course. What other reason could there be for coming all this way?
"It's just..."
The words wouldn't come. He had steeled himself, worked up the courage — and yet now that the moment had arrived, he shrank from it. There was no helping that.
"Logan...?"
It was a strange sight. Logan, always so proud and composed wherever he went, now let his gaze waver as if uneasy.
"Is it the others? Do they make you uncomfortable?"
"What? No, not at all."
He had come to confess the wrongs of the past. In a position like that, who was present and who was absent hardly mattered. Sooner or later, everyone would know.
'Word is, it was originally Logan's fault that Bayul's twin died.'
'They say he pinned everything on Bayul, who lost his memories from the shock of the accident.'
'Good heavens! How could anyone do something so horrifying?'
'He's not even human. It's terrifying.'
The rumors would spread fast enough. Being met with looks of contempt a little sooner would change nothing.
"Bayul."
Logan gritted his teeth and forced the words out, one breath at a time.