TOPWL 72

Yudit still dreams of the nightmares from his childhood. However, he is no longer the helpless child he once was. In his dreams, he now often saves his mother, perhaps because he had rescued them from the fire. The women who chose to live rather than die had freed him from the nightmares that had tormented him for decades. Yudit was sincerely grateful to them.

“Then, since you’ve both saved each other, we could become good friends,” the Marquis of Kinezia said, extending his hand towards Yudit. People glanced at them, aware of how this handshake might be perceived politically. Yet, he still offered his hand. Yudit stared at the hand for a moment. There was no longer any way to run. Only forward lay the path.

Yudit grasped the hand of the Marquis of Kinezia. Despite his delicate features, the palm, hardened by long years of sword training, was rough with calluses and scars. Yudit held the hand and met the Marquis’s gaze. He was looking at Yudit with a gentle expression.

***

On the way back, Yudit felt a deep weariness. He would likely collapse as soon as he reached home. At the same time, there was a sense of satisfaction. The charity event had been a great success. Yasin’s tapestry had sold for a high price, Selena was offered a business proposal involving juice recipes, and at the concert attended by many nobles, both performers and audience members were satisfied and made generous donations. The funds could not only be used to rebuild the burnt mansion but also for other causes.

While he was thinking this, a scream echoed in the distance. Yudit opened his eyes. He tried to open the curtain, but Shane stopped him.

“It might be dangerous.”

“I’ll just take a quick look.”

Yudit gently lifted the curtain and peered outside. It was already hard to see due to the settling darkness. Listening carefully, Yudit finally opened the window a little. Faint sounds of something breaking, groans, and screams drifted from afar, accompanied by a foul stench. When he recognized where it was coming from, Yudit’s face hardened.

“It’s the slums.”

“Please stop the carriage.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Shane gave Yudit a look, as if scolding a stubborn younger brother. Yudit stepped out of the carriage and began walking. The shadows of the two stretched long between rats rummaging through trash bins.

“What’s taking so long?” A man’s irritable voice could be heard from behind a wall. Yudit paused, listening to their voices.

“I’m sorry! The resistance was stronger than expected…”

“Why is it so hard to push them through? Just kill anyone who gets in the way. I’ll handle it, I’ll!”

The angry man’s voice sounded strangely familiar. Yudit raised his head in disbelief. The figures of the people beyond the wall were faint, but Yudit could make out one of them. It was Hiore. He was in the slums. Yudit quickly guessed that this was the area Hiore had been assigned to, District 3 of Rio.

“Is it really that hard to do one thing right?” The angry voice grew louder.

“I’m sorry…” Hiore grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him. The man’s face turned blue as he struggled for air.

“If this isn’t fixed by the next time I’m here, you will lose your head.”

“Yes, I understand… Cough!”

Hiore dropped the man unceremoniously. The man, having regained his posture, gave Hiore a nervous nod. Hiore kicked a glass bottle on the ground in frustration. The bottle shattered against the wall, and the shards flew toward Yudit and Shane. Shane quickly embraced Yudit to protect him, but in doing so, their presence was revealed to Hiore.

“Who’s there?” Hiore’s voice was sharp, and Shane made an awkward expression. After a moment, he whispered to Yudit with determination.

“I’ll take care of this, Your Highness. You should run to the other side.”

There was no way a mere knight from a noble house could face Hiore. But instead of fleeing, Yudit stepped forward, pushing Shane behind him.

“It’s me, Your Highness.”

“…Yudit?”

Hiore frowned in disbelief, then twisted his face into a scowl.

“Why are you here? Came to scout, did you?”

“No. I heard the screams on my way back and came to see what was happening.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“I’m simply telling the truth.”

Hiore didn’t like Yudit’s response and tried to shove him against the wall. However, Shane moved to block him, and instead, Shane was pushed into the wall.

“Shane!”

“Damn, what’s this about?”

Hiore cursed in surprise as he ended up pushing a much larger man into the wall. Shane, being larger, naturally loomed over Hiore now.

“Who the hell are you?”

Hiore, dissatisfied, slapped Shane across the face. The sound of bone meeting flesh echoed, and Shane’s head was turned without any resistance. Shane, who effortlessly slaughtered monsters, could have easily dodged the blow if he had wanted to. Yudit bit his lip nervously.

“This is a knight that Duke Khalid values highly.”

“Duke Khalid values him, does he?”

Hiore gave Shane a skeptical look.

“If you don’t believe me, send a messenger to the Duke’s residence. This knight was personally assigned to me by the Duke.”

Just then, one of Hiore’s guards whispered something to him. Judging by Hiore’s twisted expression, it was likely not good news. Perhaps Shane was really one of Khalid’s guards.

“What’s your relationship with the Duke? Did you sell yourself to him?”

Shane grunted at Hiore’s words. Behind Hiore were more than ten of his guards. He likely hadn’t expected to face such a large number, but now he was trying to control the situation. Seeing Hiore insult Yudit like this was hard for Shane to bear, and he moved his lips. But before Shane could speak, Yudit quickly intervened.

“Well, I wonder about that.”

“What?”

Hiore was taken aback by Yudit’s response.

“You really slept with him?”

“I didn’t say that, but yes, the Duke does hold me in high regard.”

“What should have been born in a brothel was born in the palace, huh?”

Even at Hiore’s mockery, Yudit stood firm. Seeing that Yudit wouldn’t be swayed, Hiore glared at him.

“Can I leave now?”

“…Get lost.”

At Hiore’s words, Yudit grabbed Shane and started to walk away. Fortunately, Shane obediently followed. Yudit whispered to him.

“Walk as fast as you can.”

After walking a few more steps, Hiore’s voice called out behind them.

“Yudit. I’ve got one thing to say.”

“…”

“I don’t believe it until I see it myself.”

Just as someone grabbed Yudit by the neck and slammed him to the ground, four of Hiore’s guards lunged at Shane. Shane drew his sword, but they, too, were guards tasked with protecting the royal family.

“So, let’s see if the Duke really values you.”

A guard struck Yudit across the cheek. Yudit protected himself as best as he could, curling up to minimize the blows. Kicks landed relentlessly. Someone kicked him in the back with the heel of their boot.

“Well, now we’ll know if you really did hook up with the Duke.”

“Ugh…”

“Feeling wronged? You’re the one who crawled into my territory like a rat.”

***

Even after washing up, Hiore still couldn’t shake the lingering heat he felt.

“Is it time for my rut?”

He wasn’t sure if it was the rut or the satisfaction of having beaten his bothersome younger brother. He shrugged. Whether his rut was coming or not didn’t matter. If it came, he would spend the night with an Omega prepared for it. If not, it didn’t hurt to be ready.

“Send three to my chamber.”

“As you wish.”

A servant, who had served Hiore for a long time, bowed. If his rut was coming, it would last for at least two days, so three was the minimum. Additionally, Hiore would get more violent, and it would be easy to break something. He could control himself if he wanted to, but he wasn’t particularly interested in doing so. After all, the people he kept around were disposable for such purposes.

As Hiore stepped out, one of his attendants spoke.

“Prince Reginald is waiting for you.”