Rather Than The Son, I’ll Take The Father

As I attempted futilely to hold back sleep, Aedis laid my body down. Aedis put the blanket on me and checked my expression.

“And he was very wary of me.”

“…….”

It was apparent that Aedis wanted me to stop dozing and just go to sleep.

He locked me in his arms so I couldn’t get up and kick the blanket.

His eyes, which had purple spots like stars on the blue background, darkened.

“I do not understand as much as the wife does. He has lived so long that the years became insignificant, and he is as omnipotent as a god, but why is he so wary of me? And for what reason did he treat me as a wicked person beyond my brother?”

Although my husband is great, the beast’s attitude was definitely strange.

Aedis had lived for over 500 years, and even he would have looked like a young chick in the beast’s eyes, as it made sense as he had aged with the world. Moreover, following Eleonora, Aedis also acknowledged that the beast was omnipotent like a god.

But why was he wary of Aedis?

I was even more hurt when Aedis said that the beast viewed him as worse than Kadan. Subjectivity aside, it was still a mystery.

…… Did he misunderstand something?

Aedis looked at my face and added.

“Of course, I didn’t do anything good either.”

Huh?

“He grabbed my ankle, so I attacked him first.”

“…….”

When I arrived, the quarry was already in ruins, so I guessed something had happened.

However…… It seemed like some things were overtly left out, right?

It was the first time Aedis had ever mentioned that he attacked someone. So I corralled the drowsiness that was creeping in and pulled my head from his arms.

“Aedis, tell me all the conversations you had, just as I told you mine.”

When I showed him that I would never fall asleep with this matter unaddressed, Aedis avoided my gaze. But he didn’t relax the strength in the arms that embraced me.

He sighed with a bit of concern, and told me about the things he had been doing with the beast, without omitting a single action.

At that time, Aedis sensed that the barrier had been broken and headed to the quarry. The beast was waiting for Aedis.

The beast offered to tell the story of his life, but Aedis was not interested and just wanted to leave. Then the beast grabbed Aedis’ ankle, telling him to listen to the end. By closing the quarry. He used his omnipotence in such a place.

It was a different tale from Eleonora’s testimony that he was a good person who cared for all things.

The reason Aedis attacked the beast was justified in a way. Besides, afterwards he put my life at stake.

―If you want to attack me, stop. I am dead, only connected with the girl. Neither you nor I want the girl to get hurt.

Remarkably, Aedis seemed to have endured it this time. The problem was afterwards.

―What will you do if the girl dies in the not-too-distant future?

Um, uumm.

―I wonder if you can afford for the girl to die more painfully than you can imagine.

Even if it’s me, my eyes would roll back in my head as I lost all reason.

As expected, it seemed that it was because of me that the beast revived for a brief moment.

By the way! Why! He didn’t meet me but turned Aedis’ insides upside down!

“So what happened to the beast?”

“He must have gone to a good place.”

“…….”

“Up or down.”

“Is it okay to send an almighty being like a god to heaven or hell just like that?”

“He was sent.”

“…… Anyway, that’s later. Even after listening to the explanation, I don’t understand why that beast thought you were a more dangerous person than Kadan in the first place.”

“Maybe it’s because the wife thinks so well of me.”

Aedis parted my flowing hair with his free hand.

“Even if you turn a blind eye, that is not really the case, is it? Eleonora told me that Kadan had been looking for the beast for a long time to gain immortality. Letting Kadan do anything…….”

He lowered his eyes

“…… But Eve.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, but do you really need to call him by his first name?”

I stared at Aedis.

“Kadan? You don’t like it?”

“I don’t like it.”

It was a sharp answer.

“Are you jealous?”

“Yes. I am jealous.”

…… Hey, is this blanket too thick? Is it a little hot?

“I…… get it. I won’t call him again.”

I replied suddenly with a feverish face, then came to my senses for a moment.

Hot.

“Wait! That’s not what’s important right now, is it? Aedis, are you not even flustered?”

“Very. The wife is looking at me.”

“However.”

“Why did he talk about the wife’s death, why we couldn’t die together. I think I know now.”

“…….”

Somehow, if I drag on this conversation much longer, I think I would be the only one taking the loss. When I quietly chose silence, Aedis patted my back.

“You must sleep.”

“Yes, I will.”

As expected, the blanket was too thick. I kept getting cold sweats. It would have been nice to sleep like this.

Sadly, I still had something to say to Aedis. I slowly opened my mouth.

“I think I have an idea about Kadan…..no, your brother……”

“Don’t look away.”

Yes.

“Your brother is trying to do something else using the Lord, no, using Regen. So, how about releasing the spirits in the bell tower? On the condition that they protect the castle until next spring. Well, I’ve always been concerned about them.”

Since Paimon is the head of the other spirits, there were probably some spirits sealed unfairly. Even if not, there must be some spirits who grind their teeth because only Paimon’s seal was lifted 500 years earlier.

There will be spirits who vow revenge on Grand Duke Kallakis.

…… However, there will be many more spirits who regret the past and miss freedom.

If they do bad things again after being released, then Paimon can hunt them.

Aedis lifted his hand.

“Can I do it now?”

“Will it be alright?”

“Is there any reason why it shouldn’t be okay?”

“Well, they’ve been imprisoned for 500 years, but you release them so easily.”

Of course, Aedis didn’t seal them in the first place. This was a bit overreacting.

The first Grand Duke, it is true that the spirits deceived those who roamed the forests so that they could monopolize wealth and fame if they went to the beast’s habitat, but a thousand years was too harsh…….

“The wife wants it.”

Aedis said without pausing.

I’m sure. Love blinded Aedis’ eyes. In fact, I am probably the only one seriously thinking about it.

“Aedis, don’t you like me too much?”

When I asked in surprise, Aedis smiled.

“I missed you, Eve.”

“Don’t tempt me by not kissing me goodnight.”

Even with a sullen expression, Aedis just smiled as if I was the cutest person in the world.

“I didn’t know it would be so painful to be away from the wife.”

“…….”

I felt weird. Aedis felt the same way I did.

At the time, I was going to say that there was something broken in him, but Aedis kissed my forehead softly.

“And there is one thing I want to explain to you.”

“Explain?”

Aedis sighed. It really felt like a sincerity that came from the inside.

“I’m not saying it’s hard to have children because I can’t.”

“Uh, then?”

Aedis looked at me as I struggled with sleepiness.

“I don’t know if the wife will remember it even after waking up, but my essence is infinitely close to a magical beast. The ability to manifest itself is similar to ordinary magic, but it is also the same as the abilities possessed by magical beasts.”

“…… Is it difficult because we are of different races?”

“I think that will be the case.”

“Are you guessing?”

“I never tried it.”

“You don’t want to?”

“It would be dangerous for the wife.”

“I see…… .”

I pretended to agree.

What name should the magical child carry?

“…… Eve, I can see what you’re thinking on your face.”

Aedis continued to sigh while patting me on the back to put me to sleep.

* * *

It was still dark in the room. Even before sunrise, Shaula came in.

“Your Grace! You’re safe!”

I looked at Shaula blankly and buried my face in the pillow.

“Aedis, kick him out.”

“…… Your Grace?”

Shaula, only you and I don’t know that Aedis and I returned, and you ate a meal for 20 people and slept like crazy. I’m sleepy, too

“Your Grace, I came here with great courage. Can you ignore my loyalty like this?”

“Aedis?”

I called Aedis again. Still, there was no answer, so when I patted the side with my hand, only the blanket was in my hand.

“The Lord is not here.”

“…… Where did he go?”

“To the Lord. So I’m here.”

So that’s why I’m ignoring your shallow loyalty…….

“I was told to tell you if you happen to be awake, that this is the last treatment for eight years ago.”

I wrinkled my nose a little.

Aedis said that Regen died once eight years ago. At Gilbert’s hands. However, Aedis forced him to live, and Regen was suffering from aftereffects.

I raised my upper body and grumbled.

“Did you think I wouldn’t wake you up after you called me so loudly?”

Shaula shrugged her shoulders.

“Ah, the Lord sent me in as an escort on the condition that I didn’t wake Your Grace. But I woke you up because I’m bored. You won’t tell him right?”

“…….”

“Your Grace? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to tell him.”

“Uwack, wait!”