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Chapter 4 - Loyalty At It's Best

"What do you want now?" Northern asked Finn as he walked towards him.

There was a smile on his face, a calm friendly smile but Northern did not like it. The more he smiled at him, the more he found it weird.

"I came to see you off," Finn replied. When he finally got to where Northern was standing, he continued. "I don't know why you seem utterly familiar to me though this is the first time we are meeting face to face. Don't you think that so?"

Silence.

Northern did not answer him even though he agreed with him.

"I see that you are mad at me for stealing your position but as you can see, it is not entirely my fault. You and I know that your father value talent a lot and I just happen to have it to the fullness. Naturally, he would accept me. And guess what, the condition I gave him was to become the son of the Silver family... He couldn't say no to it of course, after all, what use is a useless son to him?" Finn said and giggled.

Northern clenched his fists. As much as he hated to show his emotions, the boy standing before him was intentionally provoking him. He could not help but be upset.

"Hahahah, are you angry?" Finn asked, laughing. "You don't need to be, instead, you should be glad that a burden has been lifted off your shoulders. Now, you will be free, as free as the bird and do whatever you want to do. You don't need to work hard anymore, just live your life however you want and when you die, you die peacefully. No one will look for you. Not your father, not your mother, not even your sister... In the end, you are still alone. A little piece of advice for you, stay off my path because if you don't, you'll regret it." With that, he turned and headed back inside.

Northern stood, staring at the spot Finn had just walked away from. His nails dug into his palm until he felt the faint sting of blood.

Alone. That word clung to him like a shadow.

His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightened, and for a fleeting moment, the calm mask he always wore slipped, revealing the storm underneath.

"Steal my position… become their son… and still talk of advice," Northern muttered under his breath.

The doors closed behind Finn with a hollow thud, leaving Northern outside in the empty corridor.

The air felt colder here.

Northern exhaled slowly, releasing his clenched fists. He lifted his gaze upward at the tall pillars of the Silver estate, their grandeur looming over him like they always had. Once, this place had felt suffocating because of expectations. Now, it felt suffocating because he had been cut away from it entirely.

But deep inside, something stirred—a whisper in his chest that told him this was not the end.

The faint sound of footsteps drew his attention. It was the elderly woman from earlier. She walked with slow grace, her cane tapping softly against the polished floor. When she reached him, she stopped, her wrinkled face bearing that same faint smile.

"You've endured much today," she said quietly, her voice carrying more warmth than he expected.

Northern looked at her in silence.

She studied him for a moment, then leaned slightly closer. "The Silver family may have cast you aside," she whispered, "but sometimes… being cast away is the beginning of freedom. Do not forget who you are, child."

Northern's eyes flickered at her words. "Who I am?" he asked softly.

The woman's smile deepened, though her eyes grew distant. "Time will remind you," she said, tapping her cane once on the ground before turning to leave.

Northern stood still, watching her retreating figure.

For the first time that day, his clenched fists loosened. And as he turned, he left with a promise.

'One day, I will return and when I do, I will make every single one of you pay for everything you have done, the pain, the insults, the hatred... You all must pay. I am no longer the Northern you once knew but the Northern no one knows.'

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As soon as Northern walked out of the gates, a carriage stopped for him.

"Master, come in!" The rider said. "I heard that Lord Silver has driven you out of the house, I am willing to follow you wherever you will go!"

Northern looked at the young man. A frown settling on his face. 'Who is he? There is no memory about him.'

"Who are you?" He asked the young man.

Taken by surprise at the question, the man gasped. "Master, do you not remember me? It's me, Alex and I've been your servant for years! You saved my sister and I four years ago. How can you say you don't remember me, or are you deliberately testing my loyalty to you?" He exclaimed.

Northern tried remembering something about the young man but strangely, nothing was coming to his head.

'I still don't remember anything about him. He doesn't look like an enemy, perhaps he'll be useful for now.'

"Master, do you not really remember me?" Alex asked, staring at Northern with a confused look. His silence alone made him want to believe that he could not truly remember him.

"I don't remember who you are," Northern replied... "But don't worry, it won't affect our relationship as master and servant," he added and then went to climb into the carriage.

"Really, master?" Alex asked and rushed into the carriage as well. He happily began to ride and then continued. "It's great. I almost thought you were going to drive me away from your presence! If that happens, I wouldn't know what to do again... I swore to serve you, not just me, my sister and I swore to serve you with all our hearts, we are forever indebted to you—"

"Alex," Northern called from behind.

"Yes, master!"

"I hate noise and men that talk like women."

"Oh. Sorry, master!"

"Thanks."

"No, master. You are my master and your wish is my command, you don't need to be—"

"Silence, Alex, silence!"

"Oh. Oh. Sorry, sorry."

Northern sighed and closed his eyes.

Alex took a sneak glance at Northern and seeing how he was peacefully sleeping, he smiled.

"Master, I knew this day would finally come," he muttered. "A day when everyone would reject you, especially your family but my sister and I will never reject you, we will never leave your side. Even if the world is being destroyed, we will stand by your side and protect you. Even if blades are being pointed at our necks, we will never betray you. You own our lives and no one can take it away except you. I believe that one day, you will change your fate and make everyone who mocked you beg for forgiveness."

Though Alex said this quietly, they couldn't still escape Northern's ears. He slightly opened his eyes, gazing at the back of Alex.

'You believe so much in me, in this boy... I will not disappoint you.'

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