When I first met Sezan at Angelus University, I never thought he was a noble. He treated me without any discrimination, so naturally I assumed he was a commoner like me. But he was the heir to the renowned House Piart, a marquis family.

Watching Sezan be kind to everyone, I’d wondered what kind of upbringing he’d had as a child.

“Father. I…”

“Who’s your father?”

“……”

“If you were my sane child with your head screwed on straight, you wouldn’t have introduced trash like that as your friend.”

I’d really been curious.

“You wouldn’t have invited them to this banquet with all these guests watching in the first place!”

This was completely unexpected. I knew Marquis Piart would be strict, but I never imagined he’d be a parent who’d strike his own child. At the *buse spewing from his mouth so casually, Sezan couldn’t say a word in response.

“Do you remember why I allowed you to go to Angelus University?”

“…You told me to become someone worthy of House Piart.”

“And knowing that, you do this? You should have at least met people who could help your life and somehow elevated the family name.”

The marquis squeezed his eyes shut, seemingly trying to suppress his anger, then opened them and said.

“They’re not even just commoners—where did you pick up such worthless trash to call friends?”

“Father!”

“How dare you raise your voice!”

Smack! He’d barely gotten out one word, and as payment he was slapped again. After that, Sezan stood there blankly with his head turned for a long while. His trembling eyes seemed pushed to their limit. But the marquis continued driving Sezan toward the cliff’s edge.

“I even tolerated you wasting time on magic you have no talent for, chalking it up to youthful folly… It was my mistake to trust you. I shouldn’t have sent you to that school.”

So that’s why he told me to avoid being alone with the marquis. I wasn’t particularly hurt by being called “worthless trash.” Rather, I was worried about Sezan standing there with his eyes downcast, saying nothing.

Then, with a sigh deep enough to sink the earth, the verdict came down.

“If this is how it’s going to be, forget graduating—come back to the mansion immediately.”

“What do you…”

“I’ll attach you to professors just as good as Angelus. That would be better anyway.”

His shocked, wide-open eyes shook ceaselessly. His pale complexion looked precarious, like he might collapse at any moment. But to the marquis, for whom family was everything, his child’s wellbeing didn’t matter.

“Tsk, what a waste of time.”

With that, the marquis left without mercy. Left alone, Sezan just stared at his feet, lost in thought. I hid behind the bushes first, worried about running into the marquis, then fell into contemplation.

Should I approach and comfort him? 

No, it would be better to act like I was never here. No matter how I thought about it, that would be more comfortable for Sezan too. Just as I’d reached that conclusion and was about to move—

“Tae-oh?”

At the familiar voice, I hunched my shoulders and looked up.

“Oh, Sezan.”

D*mn. When did he get here? Was he trying to enter the mansion through the back door?

I tried to hide my momentarily frozen expression with a forced smile.

“What are you doing here alone? I felt kind of stuffy, so I was going to take a walk in the garden…”

I thought I’d spoken naturally enough, but Sezan already seemed to know the whole truth.

“Did you… hear everything?”

I couldn’t bring myself to lie. I felt like I should at least be honest with him when he had nowhere to lean on.

“It absolutely wasn’t intentional. …I’m sorry.”

When I apologized properly and raised my head, I met his distorted face. His melancholy navy eyes were filled with despair, like the world had collapsed.

“Why…”

“Yes?”

“Why are you apologizing to me? …I’m the one who should apologize.”

“Why? It’s not your fault, Sezan.”

His slumped shoulders looked so pitiful. But right now, no words would help. My heart ached, but all I could do was genuinely worry about him.

“More importantly, are you okay? Your cheek looks pretty swollen.”

I carefully reached out and cupped Sezan’s cheek. I could feel the stinging heat on my palm from how hard he’d been hit. Even to the n*ked eye, it was quite swollen.

“You should probably put a cold compress on it.”

I tried to take Sezan into the banquet hall right away, but strangely he wouldn’t budge. When I looked at his face wondering what was wrong, he was already half out of it. Already crushed by guilt, Sezan stood frozen in place, repeating the same words.

“I’m sorry I made you hear such insulting words because of me.”

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t care at all.”

“Still, I should have denied it in front of Father.”

“I know it wasn’t that kind of situation.”

He might have been hit more if he’d added anything. I patted his powerless shoulders and met his eyes gently.

“And I don’t know about right now, but whatever choice Sezan makes, I’ll be okay with it.”

“…Pardon?”

“You can’t just quit school like this. Look how hard you’ve worked until now. But constantly clashing with your father the marquis is also difficult…”

It was unfortunate, but Sezan had to make a choice. Of course, I wanted Sezan to continue school life with us. But given the marquis’s momentum earlier, he’d withdraw him immediately and then some. But I also couldn’t tell Sezan, with his bright future ahead, to turn his back on his father.

“So take your time and think it over slowly.”

Family matters are difficult to speak about carelessly. So I thought this was the best I could say. But apparently that wasn’t the answer Sezan wanted.

“Tae-oh, do you think I…”

“Yes?”

“…No. Never mind. Thank you for your concern.”

After that, Sezan returned to normal like nothing had happened. With a faint smile, he lightly lowered my hand and turned without a word. Soon, loneliness flickered from his retreating back heading toward the banquet hall.

Did I say the wrong thing? 

But it was a family matter, so I couldn’t get deeply involved. No, should I have grabbed Sezan more firmly even if it meant crossing the line? 

After continuing to regret and agonize, I eventually followed him into the banquet hall too.

From far away, I caught sight of a back view drinking wine and gazing out the window.

“Asrein.”

He who’d been radiating an aura telling everyone to stay away turned around sharply.

“Where did you go?”

“I saw Sezan go outside through the window. I went to talk with him for a bit. But… where’s Lord Sezan?”

“He came in before you and is talking with guests.”

His indifferent gaze turned toward the center of the banquet hall. Following him, I turned my head and saw a man surrounded by nobles. The person greeting with a gentle smile and entertaining guests wasn’t the Sezan I knew.

“Seeing him like that is quite different. No wonder people expect him to be the next marquis.”

The marquis was even standing beside him. From a distance, they looked like an excellent father and son. A father providing perfect support and an elite son accomplishing everything silently. But inside, they were thoroughly rotten.

Soon Sezan, standing on the platform, began his banquet speech.

“I’m grateful to all the distinguished guests who made time in their busy schedules. My respected father, Marquis Piart, always told me this… To respect people and treat them sincerely.”

Sezan lied without batting an eye. And Marquis Piart wore a pleased smile, looking as though his child made him very proud. Throughout the speech, the large hand resting on Sezan’s shoulder looked exactly like a weapon.

A gun ready to pull the trigger at any mistake.

Was it because I knew the truth? 

Though it was a perfect speech that would move anyone, for me it was an unbearably uncomfortable time. Soon after Sezan finished his speech and came down from the platform, Asrein spoke like he’d been waiting.

“Not good.”

“What?”

“Your complexion is too poor. Did something happen?”

“…I wonder.”

It was because of what just happened. But except for perceptive Asrein, no one noticed. Even the attendants watching his every move didn’t catch it—it was such perfect acting. That made my chest feel even more stifled.

Because he’d been doing this so naturally all along. The fact that I knew the truth but couldn’t do anything about it made me feel powerless.

Eventually I went out to the terrace attached to the banquet hall with Asrein. Facing the gentle spring breeze, I stared blankly at the garden. The neatly arranged flower beds, the fountain placed precisely in the center without error. 

And I now understood the sense of wrongness I’d felt from the perfectly trimmed garden trees. Marquis Piart treated even his son Sezan like a carefully cultivated garden tree.

“Asrein.”

Leaning against the railing, I muttered like I was talking to myself.

“What is family?”

Anyone would have envied House Piart and Sezan who would inherit it at least once. Maybe I too had secretly longed for parents who’d come to academic conferences and watch me grow. 

But knowing the other side now, only bitterness remained. What could possibly make someone corner their own child to that extent?

Unable to understand, I frowned and looked to the side.

“You have family-like beings too, Asrein.”

“Are you talking about the Hyperions?”

“Yes. What if they abandoned their mission?”

What would a parent feel seeing a child who didn’t meet expectations? The situations were quite different, of course, but I still asked Asrein, who was close to being a father. Then Asrein opened his mouth immediately without a moment’s hesitation.

“As I said before, they’d have lost their reason to exist, so I’d have to reclaim their authority.”

So that’s how it is. Is that why Sezan is desperately fulfilling his ‘duty as a son’ to avoid being abandoned? Facing reality left me with a bitter feeling. Then Asrein added something unexpected.

“But before that, I’d probably have a conversation.”

“A conversation?”

“…Even though they’re part of me, they’re beings with individual personalities. I should respect that.”

You’re an excellent father. I swallowed those words with difficulty. If Marquis Piart had the will to have a conversation with Sezan, they wouldn’t have reached this catastrophic point. 

The more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable I felt, so I sighed while holding my forehead. Then Asrein gently stroked my head and said quietly.

“I don’t know what happened, but want to take a walk?”

“…Sure. I saw pink flowers blooming in the back garden earlier.”

Looking at greenery should make me feel at least a bit better.

I left the banquet hall still crowded with people together with Asrein. Marquis Piart was busy greeting guests one by one with a benevolent smile. 

But strangely, Sezan wasn’t visible. He’d definitely been standing next to the marquis before we went to the terrace, but he wasn’t anywhere in the banquet hall.

It was just as I was walking down the corridor connected to the back garden with an uneasy feeling.

“Kyaaah!”

A sharp scream mixed in beneath the gradually fading orchestra performance.

“What was that?”

“Over there.”

I immediately followed Asrein around the corridor corner. Then I heard a voice trembling with fear.

“Wh-what should I do… Young master…?”

A maid was stamping her feet in place, having thrown down even her laundry. And in front of her, I saw a man barely supporting himself while gripping the window frame. Clear scars from sword use remained on the hand covering his mouth.

“…Se…zan?”

The closer I got, the more I could hear ragged breathing. I hurried to sit in front of him and check his condition. His dilated pupils shook endlessly, and shallow breaths continued irregularly. 

Thinking he might collapse any moment, I grabbed his hand—it was ice cold. It was probably hyperventilation.

“Sezan. Can you hear my voice?”

“…Tae-oh…”

Fortunately he recognized me. But his half-unfocused eyes were too hazy. Soon the strength left his arm gripping the window frame and Sezan swayed greatly. I couldn’t delay any longer. Holding his finely trembling body, I immediately told the maid.

“Call a physician right now.”

Then a hand covered in cold sweat grabbed my arm.

“You… can’t…”

“What?”

“You can’t… cause, haah… a commotion…”

Even while losing consciousness, Sezan worried about others.

“Father will… surely be disappointed…”

And of all people, the father who’d driven him into this abyss.

He seemed about to say more, but a hand suddenly appearing from the side covered Sezan’s mouth. It was Asrein. Held by that firm hand, Sezan still gasped for breath. 

But soon his breathing gradually calmed, and finally he collapsed to the floor. He’d fallen asleep due to sleep magic.

“Forget the physician—we need to move Lord Sezan first.”

At those words, the maid gasped and looked up at Asrein.

“But if something happens to the young master…”

“I’ll take responsibility. So guide us to his room.”