* * *
While he grumbled internally, Zavad clicked his tongue and pushed a book off Ranshel’s back.
“Why the hell did you take the hit? Did you think I’d die from getting bonked by a book?”
“Well, yeah. You’re so pampered, you’re kind of… fragile.”
“…What did you just say, you little twig? I can handle myself. You worry about your own ass.”
“Then maybe you should’ve taken the hit! What’s with this—”
Thunk.
Zavad bopped Ranshel on the head with the book he’d been moving.
“You were just too damn fast and stole my spot. What the hell were you even doing before this to be so quick only in moments like this?”
“…You’re just slow. Like a turtle. A slug. A worm.”
“Don’t talk about worms. That pisses me off.”
“Yes sir, Mr. Worm. I’d never talk about worms to someone who hates worms so much—while being a worm—unless I wormily wanted to worm on about worms, right?”
“You little brat. You must be feeling better if you’re back to mouthing off.”
Ranshel could definitely keep going, but it seemed like Zavad might actually whack him this time, so he decided to behave for now.
He’d never laid on top of someone like this before.
He was always the one holding or carrying others, never the one putting his weight on them.
Letting someone else carry his weight felt… unfamiliar.
Zavad didn’t seem the least bit strained.
Maybe he wasn’t lying—Ranshel really didn’t weigh that much.
Despite still being in the midst of growing, his bones felt remarkably solid—like forged steel.
It was strange.
From within that sturdy frame, he could feel a powerful heartbeat.
Thump, thump.
The steady rhythm tickled his ears.
With their chests pressed together, he couldn’t tell whose heartbeat it was.
Even the way the other moved to put the books away seemed slower—was that just his imagination?
At the end of the day, he’s still just a boy.
A young master in need of care.
A precious child who should grow up seeing and hearing only the best.
“I really am a fool.”
He didn’t want to grow attached, yet… why did this boy seem so pitiful, so dear?
“…It’s done.”
Only after some time did Zavad finally flick the last book off his back with a thud.
He thought about teasing the slowpoke young master, but let it go and straightened up instead.
“Ow, ow…”
His arms felt like they were going to fall off.
He must’ve overexerted himself holding that position earlier.
His arms trembled like he’d done an intense round of push-ups.
Ranshel lightly tapped his own forearms with the edge of his hand, glancing sideways at Zavad, who was brushing off the front of his shirt where their chests had been touching.
“Guess he really was uncomfortable…”
Ranshel sat quietly, and a small lump formed in his throat.
His clothes weren’t as fine as Zavad’s, but he washed them often.
It wasn’t fair to act like they were filthy.
Just because they were a servant’s?
“…You’re kind of strange, young master.”
“What is?”
“You really hate commoners, don’t you? Even though your mother… she used to be one of them, too.”
Zavad turned to him with a frown. His face went cold, picking up on the sarcasm in Ranshel’s tone.
“My mother carved out her own path, like taming a wild land. She deserves respect for that. You, on the other hand, whine and moan without understanding the value of an education. Don’t even try to compare yourself.”
“Ah, I see. So you despise where your mother came from? Because you hate being compared to someone like me?”
“…You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about, so let me tell you just one thing.”
Zavad grabbed Ranshel’s shoulder tightly.
His grip was so strong that Ranshel instinctively winced.
“Do you know why my mother gave up this entire castle and her title as duchess to run away? Because she fell in love with a commoner.”
“…!”
“If he had even been the heir of a fallen noble house, maybe she wouldn’t have had to flee across the continent. But no—she fell in love with a man who had nothing. And for that, she lost everything. All because of one pathetic man who couldn’t even protect the woman he loved.”
His shoulder ached under the pressure, but Ranshel couldn’t even breathe.
The look in Zavad’s eyes was deadly.
As someone raised to be an assassin, Ranshel had no trouble recognizing that kind of genuine hostility.
Zavad wanted to tear him apart.
He wanted to destroy him—the lowborn servant who reminded him of the man who had taken everything from his mother.
That was why, from the very beginning, Zavad had looked at him with such disdain.
When he saw Ranshel, he couldn’t help but be reminded of that commoner, the one who had brought so much pain.
Petro didn’t count—his background was different from the start.
Even if his noble house had crumbled, he was still a noble.
Compared to that, Ranshel was nothing—less than even the gardener who once tried to kill Zavad.
Because one’s birthright can never change.
Not ever.
“…I suppose that’s good news for us, then. Since you and I… will never come to cherish each other.”
Ranshel smiled. In a way, this wasn’t a bad thing at all.
They were in a relationship that was essentially a contract—with clear terms and compensation.
He was to support Zavad in becoming the head of the family, and in return, would be rewarded with a vast fortune.
Zavad, until he gained enough power, would receive help and later repay the debt once he had the means.
That was all their relationship was.
Zavad seemed to have similar thoughts, as he raised only the corners of his lips with a scowl.
“Of course. Why would I waste affection on someone filthy like you, a commoner?”
“Filthy, commoner.”
He put extra emphasis on those particular words.
It was amusing how even his insults didn’t sound crude, thanks to his naturally refined way of speaking.
Ranshel should’ve laughed, but oddly, he couldn’t bring himself to.
He forced a smile, tugging at his lips deliberately.
“Right. Just like I have no reason whatsoever to serve you body and soul, please don’t go catching feelings for me either. The very thought is repulsive.”
“You’ve got some nerve. Try minding your own business instead of staring at people’s faces like a fool.”
“…When did I ever do that? Someone thinks too highly of himself. Are you insane?”
What was this attitude?
Had he gone mad?
Ranshel snorted and looked away casually.
It was only human instinct to be drawn to beautiful things.
Not his fault the guy looked like that.
Really, it wasn’t his fault at all.
‘…Was it?’
Ranshel decided he needed to get out of here quickly.
“Let’s move. They’ve probably finished setting up the fire by now.”
“Yeah. I’ll be there in a bit. Just need to take care of something.”
“Take care of what, in this situation? What if someone comes in?”
“I just need to find something. I’ve been here a dozen times. You think I’ll get caught? Stop nagging and go ahead.”
“…Fine. Don’t take too long.”
Carefully avoiding toppling over more books, Ranshel slipped out through the passage he had come through earlier.
He figured he should check whether Petro had followed through with the task before Zavad arrived.
If he failed, they’d need a new plan.
* * *
