The Beast of the Albard Mansion - Chapter 14

When I feel sad because Desi isn’t around, I imagine him living freely and happily outside. I’ve never seen Desi smile brightly, but in my imagination, he always does. Imagining Desi smiling comforts me.

Desi drooped his ears against his head.

“I was so worried that I regretted it. I shouldn’t’ve told you to bring the key.”

“What are you worrying about? Hawk isn’t scary.”

“But he’s the one who beat me the most.”

“Hawk beat you the most?”

Not Father? I was shocked and covered my mouth. Hawk was a braggart, clumsy, and often bullied by others. I had seen him get beaten many times but never saw him beat anyone. I couldn’t believe Hawk had beaten Desi.

“He’d come down to this dungeon out of boredom and beat me. When I get out, I’ll kill him first.”

Desi’s eyes gleamed. I hesitated as I reached for the key, my heart sinking. Kill Hawk if he gets free?

“I hear the keys. Give them to me.”

Desi reached out his hand. I took a step back before he could grab me. Desi tilted his head, puzzled.

“Why?”

“…Desi, you can’t kill Hawk. If you’re going to kill him, I can’t give you the key.”

Desi looked at me, trembling slightly, and tilted his head again.

“Why?”

“Hawk… works at our estate.”

“But he beat me.”

“Even so, you can’t.”

“…Since you said not to kill him, I won’t. But can I cut off one of his legs?”

“No, you can’t do that either!”

I shouted, my voice echoing in the dungeon. Desi frowned in dissatisfaction and stood up, casting a dark shadow over me. He had grown taller again. I looked up at him, my mouth agape.

“Desi, you’ve grown again.”

“I’m making up for the growth I missed.”

Desi shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“How old are you, Desi?”

A few months ago, I thought he was just a year or two older than me. Seeing him now, much taller, I figured he was much older.

Desi grinned, showing a fang.

“How old? I think I’m around sixteen?”

“What?”

Desi was three years older than me. I could ignore a one or two-year age difference, but three years made me feel uneasy.

I wanted Desi to be my friend, not another brother. I already had enough brothers who were boring and ignored or bullied me.

“I don’t want you to be my brother, Desi.”

“We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yeah. Even if you’re older, we’re still friends. Once friends, always friends.”

“Right. Now, give me the key.”

“Promise you won’t kill Hawk. Don’t cut off his legs or his hands.”

“Can I pull out his teeth?”

“Don’t hurt him at all.”

I made Desi promise several times before handing over the key ring. I hesitated until the last moment, but Desi snatched the keys away.

Desi quickly unlocked the chains around his ankles. The chains fell with a clank.

Desi stretched, rotated his ankles, and walked around excitedly. He looked very happy.

“Desi!”

Seeing him stride toward the stairs leading outside, I stopped him. He needed to be cautious to escape safely.

“Desi, it’s not night yet. We should leave when there are no people around.”

Desi approached me with a sulky expression. Suddenly, his size felt intimidating. His newly cut hair and clean appearance were unfamiliar, as was his freedom.

“Desi? Ah!”

Desi picked me up, one arm under my bent knees and the other at my back, and whispered in my ear.

“It’s dark enough outside. We can go.”

Indeed, it was completely dark outside. The mansion was silent, with only the hoot of owls and the chirping of insects.

A cold night breeze blew. The mansion, shrouded in darkness, had only a few yellow candle flames flickering in the windows.

Desi, carrying me, started running around, excited about his newfound freedom. I clung to his neck, constantly warning him. Don’t go there; that’s where the maids live. Not that way; that’s the stable. Let’s go back.

But even without my warnings, Desi instinctively avoided people. He seemed to hear things I couldn’t, his ears twitching before maids appeared. His pace was so fast that it felt like he was running, and when he did run, the wind was so strong that it was hard to keep my eyes open.

How long would he keep circling the mansion? Desi didn’t enter the mansion but scouted the surroundings thoroughly, like a beast expanding its territory.