The West Wind’s Destination - Chapter 72

“A dead person cannot be a rival. But that’s not the case now, is it? Your Highness has gained the opportunity to completely push him out of Zephyr’s heart.”

“What, what are you saying, exactly?”

Listening to the butler’s words made Aseph feel dizzy. But, in fact… there was a part of him that was somewhat tempted.

Even if he killed Myron Devesis, no one would blame Aseph. In fact, the empire would welcome it with open arms. Perhaps killing Myron Devesis could even legitimize gaining Bea as a form of recompense.

But, Bea had sacrificed everything to research the resurrection of her master, which led to her studying Aseph’s body and subsequently creating the child.

“I want her to be happy with me. I don’t want to force her will and make her unhappy like a withered flower.”

“Even if withered, she would still be Your Highness’s flower.”

The butler spoke as always, in a gentle tone, as if it were a matter of course.

“Kill the obstacle and take what you want. If necessary, confine her in the mansion. Even if Zephyr comes to hate Your Highness, she will still be yours.”

“…”

Silence lingered in the bedroom for a long time.

Between Aseph and Ruslan, both rendered speechless with flushed faces, it was Ruslan who regained his composure first.

“That… I heard the butler had a fiery love in his prime.”

“What’s wrong with that.”

“He lost his beloved in the last war.”

Aseph quietly covered his face with both hands.

“…My sincere condolences, Butler.”

The butler brushed it off with a soft smile, but Aseph felt he understood why the butler maintained a nuanced stance towards Zephyr.

‘The last war’ referred not to the time when Vilkanos had killed Myron under the instigation of the mages, but when the mages turned their blades towards Vilkanos.

Both Myron Devesis and his right-hand, Zephyr, were in fact threats to the empire, but not enemies of Vilkanos. Perhaps the butler wouldn’t mind if Myron left to wreak havoc on the empire.

As Aseph pondered dozens of ways to kill Myron Devesis in his mind, he eventually sighed.

No matter how he thought about executing the plan, Bea’s cold expression naturally came to mind afterward.

“Stop talking nonsense. I don’t… want to possess her as if she’s an object to be had.”

He wanted to slowly get to know each other, to rely on each other a bit, and to build a future together.

That had been his wish since he met Bea. If Aseph had been consumed by possessiveness, he wouldn’t have left Bea in a secluded forest laboratory to find stability, nor would he have regained his will to live by getting to know her.

Changing his attitude towards love now, Bea meant such a significant love to Aseph.

If just being able to have her by his side was enough, the attraction was real.

But if he proceeded that way, his feelings would turn from love to obsession.

However.

Still, a little bit.

“Butler, in the west… could you look into the alchemists who once worked under Myron Devesis?”

It wasn’t just about guarding against the rival who had taken Bea away.

It was necessary to prepare for whatever course of action he might take. Myron Devesis’s greatest grudge was against Vilkanos, and knowing this but letting him go was a grave mistake. Although there were unavoidable circumstances.

“Before Your Highness commands it, I meant to suggest it as well.”

The butler bowed politely.

“I’ll leave the tracking of his movements to you, Ruslan.”

“Yes.”

Even after hearing Ruslan’s firm response, Aseph was still sighing deeply when.

“Uh, hmm…”

Homun groaned as if in pain again. When Aseph went to check on him, the child grimaced and opened his eyes.

Blinking several times with unfocused eyes, Homun spoke in a hoarse voice.

“…Master?”

At Aseph’s gesture, Ruslan and the butler, who had been talking loudly, silently left the bedroom.

The child struggled to sit up, lacking the strength, so Aseph helped him by supporting his shoulder.

“Master? Where is… where is Master?”

How should he explain to the child who was looking for Bea right after waking up?

Aseph watched the child calmly.

Homun’s expression was always impassive, resembling Bea’s, but Aseph thought he had become quite adept at reading Bea’s expressions and could read them both well.

“…She left.”

The child spoke quietly, looking down, seemingly very disheartened.

Aseph pondered what to say, trying to come up with comforting words.

Although Bea denied it, Homun was no different from Bea’s child, and it was clear that Homun relied on Bea in that sense.

“Bea, she…”

He first decided it wasn’t right to tell the child the situation exactly as it was.

He had seen many cases where, in situations where one partner had left and only the child remained, the remaining people would blame the one who left as the cause, to live together better.

Saying that Bea followed the person she loved would be telling the truth, but it wasn’t different from the above actions. Aseph only wanted to get along well with Homun, not resort to such measures.

“She was very worried and worked hard to restore your health. But due to that, something unexpected happened, and we had to part ways for a while.”

“Something unexpected?”

Homun reacted to an unexpected part of the explanation.

“Yes.”

“Are you saying Master entrusted my body to that man, and then something unexpected happened, causing her to leave?”

“Yes…”

Affirming the child’s words, Aseph added a few more, worrying about potential misunderstandings.

“She was taught by her master. It’s undeniable he is a skilled alchemist. However… it seems he wasn’t trustworthy enough to leave you with. He abandoned you and ran away midway. That was the unexpected event.”

It didn’t matter how negatively they thought of that man regarding Bea. Therefore, he was honest about this part without hiding anything.

But at those words, Homun narrowed his eyes.

“Master is not a fool, Aseph Vilkanos.”