***
“…Brother?”
“What?”
A man squinted at his self-proclaimed sister.
Sez mistook the man for Rayton since he had ruby-red eyes.
However, it wasn’t him.
His hair was not black but a bittersweet navy color, and he was much taller than Rayton.
He looked around four or five years older than Rayton, with a much different aura too.
‘I didn’t know there was another person with red eyes in the palace?’
“Who are you?” Sez asked innocently.
“I think I should be the one asking that.” The man replied with a confused look on his face.
“Oh, I’m Sez, I got lost on my way to the library…”
“……”
“Sorry for bothering you, but could you tell me how to get there…?”
The man didn’t answer.
He stared at Sez with narrowed eyes.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?
Does he want a piece of me?’
“You ended up here because you’re lost?”
“Yes.”
“How did you get in?”
“Through the tiny door at the back of the palace.”
“You passed through that door…
and ended up here?”
“Yes…?
Uh, yes.”
“That’s strange.”
The man tilted his head and continued to question her.
“Didn’t you feel anything along the way?”
“Uh…
yes?”
But then, the man frowned.
“How old are you, kid?”
“I’m twelve.”
She wasn’t lying, she was currently twelve years old.
“You’re saying you’re twelve years old?”
“Yes.
What’s wrong with that?”
“…Interesting.” The man smirked.
‘What’s so funny?’
Sez stared at the man as if she were looking at a lunatic.
“Okay, anyway, if you could tell me how to…”
“Want some tea?”
“Yes… drink some tea…
what?”
“Have some tea.”
The man insisted.
He guided Sez by her shoulders and sat her down at a table by the window.
She didn’t know what was going on, but the man didn’t seem to care about what Sez thought.
“Here, it’s warm milk.” He handed her a glass.
‘It won’t be poisoned or anything, will it?’
Sez hesitated, but since refusing the drink would be impolite, she took a couple of tiny sips.
The man sat down in front of Sez.
“What did you call me earlier?
Brother?”
“Oh, yes, I mistook you for someone else…”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“If you confused me with somebody else, that means we must look alike.
I had no idea that there was such a person.”
“It’s…
your eyes.
You have the same color eyes as my brother.”
“The same color…”
The man became serious.
“Yes, my brother Rayton also has red eyes.
His hair is black though, not navy like yours…”
“Wait, wait.
Ray… what?”
“What?”
“What did you just say?”
“Black hair with red eyes?”
“No, not that.
What was his name?”
“Rayton?”
“Rayton.
So, his name is Rayton?”
‘Is he deaf?’
Sez raised her eyebrows.
“But you are a royal, judging by your blonde hair and blue eyes…”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Doesn’t that mean your brother is a royal too?”
“That’s true.”
“…I can’t believe it.”
The man let out a wry laugh.
Sez was rendered speechless.
She thought the man may be of assistance, but he turned out to be a lunatic.
“By the way, who are you?
Do you live here?
This is Lisette’s place though…”
“Um…”
“Or are you a servant of hers?”
“It’s not like that.”
“I’ve been coming here for the last few days and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you.”
“No surprise there.
It hasn’t been long since I was freed.”
‘…Was he some kind of prisoner?’
“Not that I was in prison or anything.”
“…What?”
‘How could he possibly know what I was thinking?
Lunatic’s instinct, maybe?’ Sez was embarrassed.
“I’m not a lunatic either.”
“D-did you read my mind?”
“No, you just can’t hide your thoughts very well.”
“You have keen eyes…”
“You don’t even deny it.”
The man snorted as he took a sip of his tea.
“What was your name, kid?”
Veins popped out on Sez’s forehead.
‘I told you my name earlier and you didn’t even listen….
and whom are you calling kid?!’
Physically, she was a kid, but it hurt her ego for some reason.
Sez answered with the utmost vehemence.
“My name is Sez, old man.”
She purposely stressed her final words.
“Did you just call me an old man?”
“Yes.”
To be honest, he didn’t look old at all.
However, Sez still insisted.
“How old do I look?”
“Fifty.”
“…That’s a bit of a shock.”
The man murmured to himself and groped his face.
Sez smiled as if it was funny.
“Just kidding.”
“Call me by my name, though, it’s better if you call me brother.”
“Well…
your name is…?”
“Oh, right, my name.”
The man nodded as if he had forgotten.
“What are some popular names nowadays?”
“Eh?”
“Name one that sounds both handsome and strong.
It can be anything.”
“You can use the name you already have instead of asking me…
can’t you?”
“I’d like to, but it’s been taken away.”
Now he sounded even crazier.
Sez just nodded, she couldn’t be bothered to get into it with him.
“Well, if you don’t want to help me, then…
let’s just stick with Eton.”
“Eton?”
“That’s right.
You can call me Eton.”
“Is that your real name?”
“It’s more like a nickname.”
“What about your real name, then?”
“I told you; it was taken away.”
“Oh, well… okay, whatever.”
The look on Sez’s face was saying that she couldn’t care less.
However, the man’s eyes…
Eton’s eyes, to be precise, looked a little uncomfortable.
She felt like red eyes that were identical to Rayton’s could see right through her.
Sez lowered her head as a chill ran down her spine.
“You’re interesting.”
“What?”
“Well, it was no wonder that you could find this place.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“Yes, that’s normal, but it’s fine.”
Just listening to his nonsense made Sez feel both exhausted and thirsty.
Sez gulped down the milk she’d taken only two sips of, then looked at Eton.
“Who are you, exactly?
Why are you here?”
“Well, is that really important?”
“Of course, it’s important.
This is the safest quarters in the palace, and there are many guards around.
It’d be a big problem if a shady man was messing around in here…”
“Do you think I look shady?”
“Do you think that you don’t?”
“You’re a cheeky one, Aren’t you?”
‘I’m so annoyed!’ Sez glared at Eton.
“You know what?
They usually build a temple in the deepest part of the palace, at the innermost spot.”
“……”
“The same is true for any empire since temples carry tremendous significance in imperial households.
When a war breaks out, the people gather in their temples for ceremonies.
It comforts them and provides great emotional support.”
“And what’s that got to do with anything?”
“Den Helder is the same.”
“What?”
“Originally, there was a temple here too.
A long, long time ago.”
Eton smiled faintly.
Sez couldn’t understand the meaning of his smile.
“Once a temple is built, it belongs to God forever.
No matter how much its shell changes, the essence stays the same.”
“……”
“It’s the same for you, don’t you think?”
Eton’s red eyes looked sharp.
Sez felt a chill running down her spine.
‘…Why is he saying that?
It’s like he knows about me…’
“Well, you know what I’m saying.”
Eton shrugged his shoulders, his expression changing in an instant.
“I’m not shady.
I mean no harm toward you; you have my word.”
She didn’t believe him.
He was the epitome of a shady man by her standards, but Sez kept those thoughts to herself.
“So, do you come to these quarters every day?”
“Yes, I’m learning Kazarkish from my brother in the library.”
“Isn’t it a little early for that?”
“Oh, that’s…
well, I have my reasons.
I thought it’d be better not to be seen by others, so I just arrived early and waited for him.”
“Then, you’ll continue to come here, right?”
“What?”
“Will you visit this room tomorrow, too?
I have good tea.”
“Uh… but…”
“Keep it a secret from others though.”
‘Yeah, he’s really suspicious…’ Her gut was telling her to stay away from this guy.
“…I take it you aren’t interested?”
“Honestly, you’re right.”
“Then how about this?
You said you were learning Kazarkish?
I’ll teach myself.
It would be much better to learn it from me than from your brother.”
“No…”
“Why?”
“I prefer my brother…”
Eton frowned slightly.
“Is there anything else you want to learn?
Languages is one thing, but how about swordsmanship or spells?”
“Only imperial mages can do such things… you’re talking as if you can actually do it.”
The Den Helder Empire had mages, however, they had few in comparison to other kingdoms.
They all belonged to the palace, and the imperial family kept a tight leash on them.
Yet this random man claimed to be able to use magic, who would believe that?
“You’re not cute.” Eton smiled quietly and suddenly stretched out his hands.
“Uh, wai- what?!”
Sez let out a surprised sound as a fire began to blaze in the center of his palm.
“I can.”
Sez’s eyes almost popped out of her head.
Only the strongest mages could control fire.
Besides, she heard that none of them could do such a thing…
“You believe me now, right?”
“B-but I don’t have such talent…
I heard it’s only possible for the chosen ones to use magic…”
“It used to be like that, but now you can too if you want.
If I’m your teacher, you’ll definitely be good at it.”
“Well, I…
uh…”
“Well, you seem more interested, at least.”
Eton grinned.
Then he turned his head to look at the closed door.
“He’s looking for you.”
“Wha…?
Who?”
“Your brother, at least, it looks like him.”
“Okay, that’s enough for today,” Eton nodded.
“But I don’t even know where I am…
I just wandered into this room.”
“Just open the door and leave.
You’ll be fine.”
‘Yeah, you open the door to leave, not the other way around.
Thanks for telling me the obvious.’
Sez was a little irritated, however, she simply nodded as she stood up.
Eton soon spoke again as Sez grabbed the doorknob.
“See you tomorrow, Sez.
You don’t have to worry about running into anyone on the way since you’re the only one who can come here.”
“Eh?”
“Oh, right.
You’d better not tell anyone.
See you.”
‘Sorry, but I gave up trying to understand you…’ Sez sighed as she opened the door.
“…Huh?” Sez’s eyes widened as she glanced around.
She was in a familiar corridor, not the strange one that she was wandering around a few minutes ago, and the library was right in front of her.
‘What on the earth is going on?’
Sez looked back, but Eton’s room was nowhere to be found.
She felt like she’d been possessed or something.
“Where the hell have you been?”
“R-Rayton…”
Rayton ran toward her.
Perhaps he had been looking for her, as there was sweat dripping down his forehead.
“He’s looking for you.”
“Wha…?
Who?”
“Your brother, at least, it looks like him.”
She suddenly recalled what Eton had said.
“You idiot, do you even know what time it is right now?”
“Uh…
huh?”
“What?”
“Why am I here?
It’s strange.”
Rayton looked at her as if she was crazy.
Sez didn’t notice, as she was busy murmuring to herself.
“It’s weird…
it’s not right… it’s really strange…”