OPDPS 115

Aeryl scoffed. It was a bluff, meant to make Derbas perceive him as more valuable. That way, the man wouldn’t treat him carelessly.

Derbas fell for the bluff.

“Got a better idea?”

“Mind your manners.”

“Do you?”

“And why should I tell you?”

Since the bluff was working, Aeryl raised his tone further. As he’d guessed, this guy was the type who crumbled in front of those stronger than him.

“Ugh. Can’t even beat you up. If the boss were around, I could’ve just done what I was told.”

Derbas looked dejected.

The boss? Wait a second. Does he not know?

“Didn’t you say your pirate crew was wiped out? Including your boss?”

Derbas’s face twisted in an instant. That was all the answer Aeryl needed.

“Now that I think of it, the Grand Duke told me a few things. About your boss.”

Aeryl subtly lowered his voice. Derbas shot him a sharp glare.

“What did he say?”

“Oh, I’m suddenly dizzy. Probably because I don’t have my glasses.”

The dizziness was an exaggeration, but his unease was real. The Grand Duke was likely searching for him right now. Revealing his identity like this was absolutely out of the question. First, he had to get his glasses back.

Besides, this kind of demand was also a way to steer the situation in his favor—an act of psychological warfare to control the other person’s actions.

“Ha… You think I’m gonna fall for that cheap trick?”

“I’m serious. Give me the glasses, and I’ll tell you the secret. I heard it straight from the Grand Duke. If you don’t want to, then forget it.”

“…Fine.”

Derbas hesitated, then handed over the glasses. He’d already confirmed Aeryl was the prince. If Aeryl didn’t want his identity revealed, he had no choice but to comply. Unlike Aeryl, the glasses weren’t that important to him.

Aeryl, on the other hand, was visibly relieved the moment he put them on. His eyes immediately returned to their usual brown. With that, he was sure he had control of the conversation again.

“Now talk. If this turns out to be nothing, you’ll pay for it.”

Derbas drew a dagger and waved it menacingly.

“The leader of the Valbean Pirates isn’t dead.”

“What?”

“He’s alive.”

Aeryl figured it was fine to say it now—he was planning to use the information as bait if Derbas got out of hand anyway. If it helped him survive, then so be it.

Derbas went blank for a moment before suddenly grabbing Aeryl by the collar in rage. The sharp tip of the dagger grazed Aeryl’s throat.

“How dare you lie to me with such filth—!”

Derbas’s eyes were blazing with fury. Aeryl rushed to explain.

“Think about it. Did you see him die? See a body?”

“I saw him collapse from the Grand Duke’s attack.”

“Exactly. That’s it. He didn’t die there!”

“…”

“The Grand Duke told me himself. He wouldn’t lie to me.”

Derbas blinked rapidly, then managed to stammer with trembling lips,

“Then… really? He’s alive? Is he?”

“Yes.”

Derbas let go of Aeryl’s collar. He rubbed his face with both hands like he didn’t know what to do, then gave his own cheek a loud smack and muttered,

“Thank goodness. He’s alive. And I didn’t even know… All I thought about was avenging my father.”

His dazed expression was mixed with joy and relief—it looked sincere.

Were they that close?

Even so, Derbas’s reaction seemed unusually intense, but either way, it was good that Valbean was someone important to him.

“They say he’s locked up somewhere in the Grand Duke’s quarter. Probably suffering in some underground prison. Who’d bother looking after a pirate?”

“…He must be in terrible shape, huh? Of course he is. I should be the one taking care of him.”

Derbas’s face contorted like he was in pain himself.

“Want to know how Valbean’s doing?”

“Yeah. I do.”

Derbas nodded, like he was in a trance.

“I could find out.”

“You? Oh—oh, right. You’re the Grand Duke’s lover, so he’ll do whatever you ask!”

‘So he still thinks I’m the Grand Duke’s lover. No point correcting him right now. Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing.’

“No. I need to see for myself that he’s alive. Right now.”

“Calm down. What do you think you’ll accomplish just barging into the Grand Duke’s castle?”

“You’re here, aren’t you?”

“So you’re just going to use me without a second thought?”

Aeryl was momentarily overwhelmed with anger, but he swallowed it back and worked to persuade Derbas. He couldn’t afford to lose the upper hand he’d finally gained.

“Taking me hostage isn’t a good idea. It already failed last time, and you nearly got killed by the Grand Duke. You might manage to escape, sure—but what about Valbean? Your boss will just be in even more danger.”

“Ugh…”

Derbas bit his lip, face twisted in frustration. It looked convincing enough on his handsome face, but Aeryl’s heart only grew colder.

So it’s fine to kill other people, but his own are precious to him?

Even so, he masked his disgust and spoke kindly, almost tenderly.

“Try using me a little more efficiently. I’ll go to Valbean and take care of him. I’ll deliver your message too. He probably thinks you’re dead.”

“…”

Derbas looked conflicted. Aeryl was about to press him again when Derbas’s expression suddenly turned savage and he grabbed Aeryl by the neck with one hand.

“Ugh!”

“Why are you trying to help me?”

“…Keep my identity a secret.”

Under Derbas’s suspicious gaze, Aeryl chose to answer honestly. He seemed like the type with poor intelligence but sharp instincts, so truth would work better here.

As Aeryl predicted, Derbas dropped his suspicions and let go of his neck. Aeryl coughed, gasping for air.

From what he could tell, Derbas wasn’t used to thinking things through. He was reckless, impulsive. Probably hated overcomplicating things.

“Got a better idea? If not, try doing what I say for now. Then after that, just do whatever Valbean tells you.”

“…Fine.”

Just as Aeryl had planned, Derbas gave in.

“I don’t trust just words. Make a promise.”

Suddenly, Derbas plucked out a strand of Aeryl’s hair.

What the hell?

Aeryl stared wide-eyed as Derbas yanked out one of his own hairs as well. He held the two strands together and touched them with his fingers before speaking.

“This is a vow guaranteed by all the unknowns of the world.”

As he spoke, a flame flickered at the tips of the hairs, setting them alight. But the smoke that rose from the burning hair was nothing like Aeryl expected—it was overwhelming, with a fragrance he’d never smelled before.

“I shall guard your secret, and you shall guard my Valbean.”

With each word Derbas spoke, the smoke swirled and surged, wrapping tightly around both their bodies.

“Whoever breaks this vow shall face judgment by the unknown.”

Aeryl felt a chill crawl down his spine. As soon as the words ended, the smoke vanished with the breeze, like nothing had happened.

“What the—was that magic? What did you just do?”

“Anyone who breaks the oath is punished. That’s all. Now then…”

Derbas tied Aeryl’s wrists with rope.

“You’re betraying me right after we made a promise?”

“You were captured by me and then escaped on your own. But you can’t look too untouched, right?”

“Fair point.”

“I should mess up your hair too. And your clothes…”

Derbas tousled Aeryl’s hair and rumpled his clothing. He half-pulled off Aeryl’s coat, slid a hand to untuck his shirt. Something still felt lacking. After a moment of thought, he tore open Aeryl’s shirt collar, exposing his neck.

“How’s that?”

“Convincing.”

He looked just like someone who had barely escaped something awful.

‘I hope the Grand Duke misunderstands. Would be fun to watch! He’ll figure it out quickly, but still—let him stew for a bit.’

Derbas snickered to himself.

“Keep going straight, then turn left. There’s a thicket. Hide behind it.”

“Got it.”

Aeryl walked as Derbas instructed. Just as he’d said, there was a dense patch of brush perfect for hiding. Settling into position, Aeryl couldn’t help but feel that things had taken a strange turn.

‘Of all people… I actually teamed up with Derbas.’

He’d shut Derbas up and gotten free, but he wasn’t confident it had been the right choice.

A kidnapping, an imperial knight, now Derbas… The reality of living in hiding hit him hard again. His guard had clearly dropped during his time in the Grand Duke’s castle.

‘What now? I have to keep my promise to Derbas… Should I leave the Grand Duke’s castle? If the Emperor’s knights are roaming the territory, maybe it’s safer to stay inside the inner quarters. But inside the inner quarters is… the Grand Duke…’

He remembered the kiss from last night.

‘What is the Grand Duke trying to do? And what do I even want?’

There were too many thoughts, and in the end, they all canceled each other out. Nothing felt clear.

Frustrated and uneasy, Aeryl stayed hidden, waiting for the right moment to slip out.

‘Whether it’s a knight, a soldier—anyone from the Grand Duke’s side, I’ll come out when they show up.’

Anyone would do.

With that thought, Aeryl released a wave of pheromones into the air, letting the wind carry it to someone—anyone—who might catch it.