* * *
Sean carefully folded the letter and tucked it into his chest as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
He stared into empty space for a moment, as if feeling awkward, then cleared his throat lightly.
After a moment’s hesitation, he sneaked a glance at Raizen.
When their eyes met, he coughed again.
“…This is a secret.”
His voice was quiet.
Raizen nodded without hesitation.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t curious about the letter’s contents.
But if Sean wanted it to remain a secret, then Raizen would respect that.
That seemed to surprise Sean.
He blinked slightly and tilted his head, puzzled.
It was such a simple, everyday movement, yet for some reason, the sight of it left a deep imprint on Raizen’s heart.
‘Why?’
Maybe because it looked as if Sean had swallowed the words he truly wanted to say.
“We’re alone, after all.”
The words left his lips like an excuse.
Sean gave a half-smile, half-grimace.
He looked like he didn’t like what he was hearing, but also like he felt embarrassed.
As if he were feeling both emotions at the same time.
Had he ever looked at Sean’s face this closely before?
Raizen had been watching Sean for a long time.
But his observations had always been focused on Sean’s actions—what he said, what he did in each moment.
Occasionally, he paid attention to his expressions, but they had never been his main focus.
But now, it was different.
Now, Raizen was looking at Sean’s face more than his actions or words.
And he realized—Sean’s expressions revealed more than he had ever thought possible.
‘Then…’
That night on the terrace, during his coming-of-age ceremony, what expression had Sean been making?
“Let’s go. They’re waiting.”
Sean rose to his feet.
Raizen gazed up at him in silence.
The emotion on his face just moments ago had vanished, leaving behind only a quiet stillness.
Like a door that had shut.
There was exhaustion in his expression too.
The vibrant life he had just seen in Sean was now completely gone.
Raizen knew what to call that emotion.
‘Resignation.’
That night, Sean had looked the same.
He had frozen in shock when he saw Raizen, then lowered his gaze.
And afterward, he had worn this very expression.
‘You saw it, didn’t you?’
That when you said I could never go back—I laughed.
“…Hyung?”
Raizen wasn’t sure what he was thinking.
Before he even realized it, he had grabbed Sean’s arm.
Sean looked at him in surprise, calling his name.
It was only then that Raizen registered what he had done.
He should let go.
That was the right thing to do.
But for some reason, he couldn’t.
He wasn’t sorry, so he couldn’t apologize.
That should have been the end of it.
But then why couldn’t he stop thinking about it?
Why did it bother him so much?
Why did it feel like Sean’s avoidance had everything to do with that night?
“…Let’s go, Sei.”
Even now, Raizen still didn’t know the answer.
In the end, he released Sean’s arm and stood up.
∗ ∗ ∗
By the time they had finished their meal at Aether, the sky had begun to take on a crimson hue.
It was time for the duke and duchess, along with Sean, to depart.
Raizen accompanied them back to their hotel.
The duke and duchess had agreed to his request to personally see them off, as they had traveled a long way.
Sean, who had boarded the carriage with the duchess first, soon fell asleep.
Watching from outside, Duke Pantheon exchanged a glance with his wife before stepping toward Raizen.
But before he could speak, Raizen spoke first.
“It would be more convenient for you to stay another night before leaving.”
“That may be true, but I can’t afford to be away from the estate for long. I can only hope it’s an unnecessary worry.”
“Is it because of the monster wave?”
At Raizen’s question, Duke Pantheon gave a simple nod.
A monster wave was when groups of monsters raided civilian areas over an extended period.
It had been commonly observed back when the Demon King was sealed and remnants of his power still lingered. But in the present day, the phenomenon had nearly disappeared.
Yet recently, a monster wave had occurred near the duchy.
Duke Pantheon had hesitated to jump to conclusions, but as the subjugation efforts continued, it became impossible to deny.
The difference this time was that dark sorcerers were behind it.
‘But the hostage we captured ended up dead.’
There was evidence that dark sorcerers were involved, but the hostage’s death was a painful setback.
To prove their connection to the Kingdom of Roite, the hostage’s existence had been crucial.
A confidential report had already been sent to the emperor.
The only remaining issue was how to make this information public.
“Raizen.”
The duke called his son’s name in a heavy voice.
Two pairs of crimson eyes met—anyone who saw them could tell they were father and son.
Yet, despite their resemblance, Duke Pantheon still found his son difficult to approach, just as Raizen struggled to navigate his relationship with his father.
The dynamic between the current duke and his heir was what Raizen was used to, but after realizing his father wanted to be family first, things had only become more complicated.
The emotions in the duke’s red eyes were concern and apprehension.
Over the past four years, many events had taken place, but the monster wave was unlike anything before.
Just the fact that it had happened would remind the empire’s citizens of the era when they fought against the Demon King.
Naturally, it would also bring the prophecy from the awakening ceremony four years ago back into public discussion.
“…I’m… fine.”
Raizen forced the words out.
He had only said them because they seemed the most appropriate, yet once spoken, he felt strangely at ease.
A gust of wind suddenly blew from somewhere, tousling his hair.
Before he could fix it, Duke Pantheon reached out his hand.
“……”
Raizen silently accepted his father’s touch, rough and unrefined as it was.
His father’s hands were so warm that they felt almost hot.
An odd sense of courage welled up inside him.
“I still think I am the seed of this disaster.”
“…Rei.”
“But it doesn’t matter. I will never become what they fear.”
The gods had spoken of absolutes—everything was already determined, and it would inevitably come to pass.
But if a god declared something, did that mean humans had no choice but to submit?
Raizen didn’t think so.
More than that—if the gods had truly given him such a fate, then why had Sean come into his life?
Sean Kreveta had originally been known for his exceptional magical talent.
But ever since becoming the Sean Raizen knew now, his overwhelming mana had vanished, replaced by divine power—as if it had been completely transformed.
And of all places, why had such a being ended up by the side of the so-called seed of disaster?
Was it coincidence?
Fate?
Or was it the gods’ cruel joke, meant to lead him into deeper despair?
Honestly, it didn’t matter.
To Raizen, the very fact that the gods had allowed Sean to exist in his life meant that their so-called ‘absolute’ had already begun to crack.
“…Alright.”
Duke Pantheon gave a brief response and patted Raizen’s shoulder.
Raizen let out a faint smile.
“By the way, what happened with the temple’s search for the Saint?”
“Hm… It’s too early to say for sure, but it seems like a fabrication on their part. They’ve been sending priests everywhere, but they haven’t done anything meaningful. And yet, when villagers ask why they’re here, they make sure to answer that they’re searching for the Saint.”
“…I see.”
It seemed the temple still hadn’t realized Sean’s existence.
That had been Raizen’s biggest concern when he first heard of their search.
He gave a small nod.
“It’s about time to leave.”
Just then, the duchess, who had been waiting in the carriage with the sleeping Sean, approached the two of them.
Duke Pantheon nodded and made his way to the carriage.
Raizen naturally moved to follow, but the duchess suddenly stopped him.
“Mother?”
She gestured for Duke Pantheon to go ahead, then turned to Raizen.
“Rei, how do you feel now?”
“…What?”
“About Sean.”
Raizen was struck by a memory of something his mother had said before.
‘Rei, have you really thought about your feelings for Sean?’
Until recently, he had easily answered that he didn’t know.
But now… now his thoughts were in complete disarray.
Unconsciously, he furrowed his brows before letting out a small sigh.
“…I need Sean, Mother. I know that’s not the kind of answer you’re looking for… but it’s the best I can give.”
“It’s difficult, isn’t it?”
Her words felt as though she could see strayght into his tangled thoughts.
Raizen nodded without hesitation.
“But, Rei, there’s something called the right time for everything. And if you miss that moment, there are things you’ll never be able to take back or hold onto again.”
“……”
“Sean can’t always stay by your side. By next year, he’ll be of age, and he’ll have to decide his own path.”
His mother’s firm words made Raizen instinctively open his mouth.
He wanted to deny it—but the words wouldn’t come out.
His mind went blank, as if he’d been struck from behind.
He had forgotten.
Or perhaps he had ignored it, pretending not to know.
From the very beginning, Sean’s time living as Shane Pantheon was only meant to last until he came of age.
After that, his future would be entirely his own choice.
Seeing Raizen’s obvious distress, the duchess let out a bittersweet smile.
To her, his feelings were crystal clear—why couldn’t he see it himself?
Even though she understood why, it was still frustrating to watch.
But unless Raizen realized it on his own, there was nothing she could do.
So she asked him one final question, her voice resolute.
“When that time comes, what name do you want Sean to live under?”
* * *
