RHFTY chapter 38

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“A conversation?”

“Yes. I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while. There are some things I’d like to say.”

“…All right.”

Chaeyi, who had plenty of time to spare, saw no problem in spending a bit more time here. He was also curious about what she wanted to discuss. After Chaeyi agreed, Oscar nodded and turned to walk away.

“Then let’s talk while we walk.”

Chaeyi quietly followed her. Once outside the mansion, Oscar began to match her stride with Chaey’s. She was very tall, so even though Chaeyi was 178 cm and not exactly short, he had to slightly look up at her.

‘She’s about the same height as Fer.’

She was probably around 180 cm. Delion and Bennett were also tall. It seemed that height ran in this family.

Leonard had been small as a child, but he’d had a growth spurt….

They walked in silence until they reached a spot where the fountain was visible.

Just as the silence started to feel awkward, Chaeyi glanced over.

Oscar seemed deep in thought.

Just as Chaeyi was about to speak, their eyes met in the air, and he lost his timing.

“…First, I’d like to apologize.”

Hearing the preface, Chaeyi remained silent, waiting for her to continue. After a moment of reflection, Oscar slowly began to speak.

“When Leonard was cast out of the family for being a failure with a late manifestation, Violet was only four years old, and Hallard wasn’t even born.”

“……”

“So they don’t understand why Leonard is so distant from the family. They’re just kids who want attention from an indifferent older brother.”

“……”

“That’s why they express their feelings towards Leonard so openly and sincerely. To the point where Violet sought you out to find a way to get Leonard’s attention.”

Oscar smiled faintly, seemingly self-mocking. For some reason, she appeared regretful.

At least, that’s how Chaeyi felt.

“Anyway, it seems my siblings have caused you some trouble. I wanted to apologize for that.”

“No, it’s fine. I actually had fun talking with them.”

Oscar looked back at Chaeyi and smiled briefly again.

Then, she glanced into the distance with an expression that seemed to recall a past memory.

“And I also wanted to thank you.”

“…I haven’t really done anything.”

“No, you have.”

Oscar shook her head.

“I still vividly remember the day Leonard returned to the family. Back then, the atmosphere was far from pleasant. It was tense, as if something could happen at any moment.”

Chaeyi listened quietly.

“At the time, my father asked Leonard if he had come to cut off my head. Leonard replied that he ‘had planned to.’”

“……”

“Later, I found out that during his exile, someone had kept him from being consumed by revenge. ‘You should be grateful to that person because it’s thanks to them that your heads are still attached,’ he said.”

…Ah.

Chaeyi couldn’t help but know who that person was.

After all, he was the only one who had been with Leonard throughout his childhood.

“Leonard didn’t kill our brother Aelan, who lost the succession battle against him. He only exiled him from the family. According to the family rules, the loser should have had his head cut off.”

“Aelan…”

“Yes. He’s the eldest son of the Lancaster family. During the succession battle, he questioned Leonard’s right to be the heir, but… ultimately, he lost and was exiled from the family, so he’s not here anymore.”

Chaeyi had heard that there was a brother who had challenged Leonard’s right to succession, so that must have been him…. But it was strange.

To be exiled and not killed.

According to what Chaeyi knew, that Aelan should have been beheaded by his own younger brother, Leonard.

The fact that he was still alive indicated that the story had taken a different course from what Chaeyi was familiar with.

‘…Leo’s past and mindset must have changed, leading to a different story.’

Only now did Chaeyi fully understand everything.

The reason why the atmosphere among the Lancaster family members wasn’t as bad as he had thought… and also why Violet had described Leonard as merciful.

– Later, I found out that during his exile, someone had kept him from being consumed by revenge.

So Leo… had said that.

Tears unexpectedly welled up in my eyes.

“Leonard was like an anomaly in our family… But because of him, my father and mother changed a lot. They’ve become much softer than they used to be.”

Oscar looked at Chaeyi with a gentle gaze.

“When I heard that Leonard had brought a Beta into the mansion, I immediately knew it was you, the Beta who protected Leonard when he was a child.”

Chaeyi was unaware of this, but Oscar’s gentle expression was rare to see.

“What you did for us has left a significant impact. So, I want to thank you once again.”

“Oh, don’t mention it.”

“And… Lord Chaeyi, please continue to take care of Leonard. It seems we owe you quite a bit.”

“No, not at all. If anything, I’m the one who’s been relying on him. Leonard takes such good care of everything, so I’m living comfortably.”

Chaeyi, feeling awkward as Oscar bowed his head in gratitude, also bowed repeatedly. After a brief smile, Oscar added one last thing.

“That’s all I wanted to say. I’ll be heading back now.”

“Yes. Oh, and please tell Hallard and Violet they’re welcome to visit anytime.”

“Understood.”

Chaeyi saw Oscar off as he headed back to the main house.

Once he could no longer see her, Chaeyi returned to the Onyx mansion.

After Oscar left… In the evening, Leonard came to join Chaeyi for dinner and brought up the events of the day.

“I heard Hallard and Violet snuck into the mansion earlier today.”

Even though Chaeyi hadn’t mentioned it, it seemed Leonard had heard about it from someone else.

With nothing left to hide, Chaeyi smiled faintly, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and spoke.

“Don’t be too hard on them. I had fun talking with them. You know, Hallard really looks a lot like you when you were a kid.”

“…”

“They must really like you. They came over just to ask how to get your attention. I told them they could come by anytime—hope that’s okay?”

Leonard listened quietly, staring down at the table, lost in thought.

It was hard to tell what he was thinking, but after a moment, he picked up his fork again and said,

“Do as you like, Chaeyi.”

Although it probably wasn’t what he wanted to hear, Leonard’s willingness to allow it made Chaeyi grateful.

Reflecting on what Oscar had said earlier, Chaeyi found himself looking at Leonard with a renewed sense of appreciation, a smile creeping onto his face.

Noticing the smile, Leonard looked at him curiously. Without avoiding his gaze, Chaeyi rested his chin on his hand.

“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

“…”

“Thank you for growing up so well, Leonard.”

It didn’t matter if he understood the meaning behind his words or not. It was okay if he brushed it off as a sudden remark. Chaeyi just wanted to say what was on his mind.

Leonard gazed at her for a long time before lowering his eyes slightly.

Leonard had no idea that Chaeyi had heard about the past from Oscar earlier that day.

He couldn’t understand why he suddenly said something like that, but…

“Thanks to you, Chaeyi. For everything.”

He could respond clearly to her gratitude for his growth.

“Everything I am—being alive, breathing, being here—it’s all because of you, Chaeyi. You’re everything to me.”

“…”

“So, even though I know it’s selfish…”

“…?”

Leonard trailed off.

As Chaeyi focused on what he might say, Leonard fiddled with his fork, trying to distract himself.

He was doing his best to appear calm, but inside, he was anything but.

He questioned whether he should even say what was on his mind, fearing he might hurt himself again.

But despite that, he wanted to convey his feelings to Chaeyi…

Just as he had done in the library before, Leonard let his feelings slip out.

“I wish I was everything to you, too. I want to be the most important… the person you love the most in your life.”

Hearing Leonard’s mumbled confession, Chaeyi was overcome by a strange and complex emotion.

A foreign sensation tightened around his heart, something that rose from deep within.

Before he could identify this feeling…

…Thump. Thump.

Suddenly, Chaeyi found it difficult to look at Leonard, his heartbeat quickening. His breath grew slightly more labored, and her throat felt constricted, as if something was pressing against it.

‘Huh?’

Startled by the sudden physical reaction, Chaeyi placed a hand on his chest.

He thought it was a mistake, but no—his heart really was beating faster than usual.

‘What’s going on? Why am I like this?’

The inexplicable pounding of her heart…

It was unsettling, and Chaeyi couldn’t hide the confusion on his face.

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