For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 136

When I left Dongguk, it had been the depths of winter, with breath puffing visibly into the air, but by the time I arrived in the capital, Raptero, a full hint of spring could be felt. Feyden took off his thick coat, draped it over his shoulder, and took in the sight of the capital, which had changed so much over the past few years.

The river where he had washed away blood because he didn’t want Truu to see him hurt. The street bakery he had taken Truu to on his birthday. The road he had walked every single day to earn money. Everything had changed.

If asked what had changed the most, Feyden would answer without hesitation that it was himself.

In four years, he had come to possess enough money to be the envy of others, and he could now stroll these streets leisurely, without any worries at all.

He found the version of himself he’d never even dared to imagine, not even in his dreams, simply fascinating.

The place he hurried to, quickening his steps a little, was the priest school. From the start, the reason he had left Estira’s side was because he was worried about Truu’s safety, so with the baptism notice that was little different from a threat floating through his mind, Feyden searched around constantly for Truu’s face.

How long had he wandered through the school grounds, swinging his long legs.

Despite drawing people’s attention wherever he went because of his distinctive clothing and striking appearance, Feyden searched for Truu as if it were someone else’s business.

Then it happened.

“BROOOOTHERRRR!”

Brown hair that looked like it might give off a savory scent came fluttering in like dandelion fluff.

“Squirt!”

Feyden immediately bent down and caught the small body flying into his arms.

Was it because it had been so long.

The small, skinny body he’d hugged years ago was nowhere to be found, and Feyden was pushed back slightly by the heavy weight that flew into his arms.

“When did you get so big.”

Feyden ruffled Truu’s hair messily and pulled the squirt fully into his embrace.

“Brother! It’s really actually you, Brother!”

“Is there a fake Brother too?”

“I missed you, Brotheeeeerrr.”

After searching Feyden’s face all over with his round eyes for a long while, Truu finally burst into tears.

The face he’d only seen beyond glass. A face he’d missed so terribly.

He’d acted like he was fine, but in this priest school where he had no friends or relatives, Truu had struggled with loneliness for quite a long time. He wanted to act spoiled and say he missed his brother, but he couldn’t burden the brother who had gone off to work in a faraway country for his sake.

Truu, who had clenched his teeth and endured and endured, finally let out all the tears he’d been holding back at once. Even after he cried loudly, sobbing for a long time, Feyden only gently patted his back.

He didn’t say things like, you did well, or you endured well. But between the two of them, who had only each other in the world, there were feelings they understood without needing words.

Holding his squirt, who had grown so big he was hardly recognizable, Feyden broke into a broad smile.

There was something else that had changed just as much as himself.

But that change made him so grateful and happy that he couldn’t help but smile.

When Truu had calmed down somewhat, Feyden separated him from his arms and checked him from head to toe, making sure he was safe.

“Mm?”

“You’re not hurt anywhere, right? No one tried to mess with you, or someone’s been coming around lately, anything like that?”

“Nothing like that happened at all?”

“No one brought up your brother’s name and did anything… no. It’s fine as long as you’re okay.”

He had rushed all the way to the Empire because he was worried about Truu, but Truu tilted his cute face like it was the first he’d heard of it.

Thinking that saying more would only make Truu anxious, Feyden let his words trail off. It seemed they hadn’t approached Truu yet.

Feyden let out a deep sigh of relief.

“What about you, Brother? You’re not hurt anywhere? I learned that the place you were at has tons of bad dark mages. I heard that because of dark mages, an epidemic spread in nearby villages over there, do you know how scared I was then?! And you barely contacted me…”

It felt like Estira had said something similar. His memory wasn’t clear, but Feyden added a small lie to ease Truu’s worries.

“There are a lot of dark mages in Dongguk, but where I stayed was a pretty remote area, so it was fine.”

“I was really worried, Bro… ah, oops, Brother!”

Feyden let out a rough laugh. Truu used to call him just Bro every single time, but apparently he’d been teased that calling him Bro made him sound childish or something. Because of that, Truu stubbornly called him Brother now, and Feyden found it nothing but cute.

“Look at the squirt, trying to act grown-up.”

Feyden, who had been squatting down listening to Truu’s chatter, stood up and took his younger brother’s hand, starting to walk slowly.

“Oh, right. Brother! Brother, but did you really see the pilgrim procession there? Did you see the Miracle of the Ark of Benevolence yourself, Bro? Huh? I bragged to the other kids. That my brother was there! Tell me all about it!”

“The Miracle of the Ark of Benevolence?”

Is that what they call it.

Feyden recalled the ridiculous spectacle by the lake that he’d witnessed years ago. He’d thought everyone involved was insane.

Spouting incomprehensible words, crying, cheering. And then stirring up people like that and rambling on with all sorts of nonsense… a farce of an event.

Whenever Feyden thought back on that day, Ariel naturally came to mind. The idiot who’d been shocked, saying it was completely different from the image of the temple he knew, and who had cried endlessly and suffered the whole time.

He looked at Truu, who was hopping around at his side with shining eyes. The squirt who wanted to become a priest more than anyone.