Vesper saw his tiny fists clenched in nervousness and a flicker of hope in his eyes.
'You are still holding onto the hope that he will start treating us like family again?' He couldn't help but sigh, feeling sad for him.
After thinking for a moment, he pointed toward his hair. "You see, our hair is different from our siblings' hair. Ours is black without any hint of red, the indicator of the Ironhart lineage."
As he spoke, his expression turned cold.
He squatted down in front of him to make sure Alric was looking straight into his eyes before continuing,
"The reason he doesn't treat us like family isn't just because I failed my awakening ceremony. If this was the sole reason, he would have alienated just me, not you. You have yet to undergo your awakening ceremony after all."
Alric's face fell, and tears welled up in his eyes. Vesper could also see a hint of anger directed at Rhaedor.
Seeing this, Vesper understood either Selene had told him the reason or those who bullied him had said something about it.
'It's good. Otherwise, accepting the reality would have been difficult for him if he had heard this for the first time.' He thought before continuing,
"The real reason is our hair didn't match his. He thinks we are not his sons and that our mother… had an affair with someone."
He said the last words through gritted teeth, his body trembling in rage and disgust.
Suddenly, the fragments of a memory surfaced in his mind.
After he failed his awakening ceremony, he was devastated and cried to sleep. But his sleep broke in the middle of the night. Feeling a little thirsty and wanting to wash his face stained with dried-up tears, he left his room.
It was then he heard the sound of people arguing from the hall of the mansion they were living in at that time.
Curious, he went closer, and the distinct voices became clearer.
It was his mother and father arguing about something.
When he peeked inside the hall, he saw his mother on the ground, holding onto Rhaedor's leg while crying.
[Please, Lord Husband. Believe me, they are your sons.]
…
[I have been faithful to you, My Lord…]
…
[If you really don't believe me, test their bloodlines. You'll know they are your blood.]
…
[No, please don't abandon us. Please My Lord…]
…
As the memory replayed in his mind, Vesper could almost see his mother crying in front of him and hear her pleading voice.
"How dare he!?"
Suddenly, Alric's childish voice, full of rage, brought him back to his senses.
When he focused, he saw Alric's little face, red from rage, and his eyes, chilling cold, as he said through gritted jaws, "How dare he doubt our mother!?"
Vesper pulled him in his embrace and waited for him to calm down. Then he told him about his punishment.
"WHAT?!" Alric's eyes went wide when he heard Rhaedor wanted him to go to the second battlefield.
"That cold-hearted man! He really wants to kill us."
His reaction cleared Vesper's doubt—everyone really knew what this Second Battlefield was.
"We'll go to Vista village, big brother. We can't go to the Second Battlefield." Alric said, grabbing his hand. He was worried Vesper would go to the Second Battlefield so Alric could stay here and live a protected life.
"Of course," Vesper smiled and ruffled his hair, "Now let's eat something and go to sleep, alright?"
Alric heaved a sigh of relief and nodded, "Mm,"
…
Half an hour later, they had dinner and went to their room to sleep.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Early in the morning, before the sun was up, a loud knocking sound woke Vesper up.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he walked out of the house and opened the main gate.
There, in front of him, stood the Knight from yesterday evening with a scowl on his face.
"Get ready. We are leaving in ten minutes." He coldly ordered,
Vesper stared at him for a moment in silence before nodding calmly, "I understand. Please wait."
Unlike yesterday, he didn't dare be willful and take him lightly because until last night, he was still Rhaedor's son, an important member of the Ironhart family. Now, however, he was an exiled prince, no better than a homeless dog. If he angered him, the consequences could be severe.
'Get healthy soon, my friend. I can't afford to stay weak for too long.' He spoke in his mind, sensing the beast space as he turned around and walked back into the mansion.
It was as if the Silver Moon Wolf heard him; he felt the beast space hum briefly.
'Oh, she has regained consciousness?' Vesper was pleasantly surprised.
After entering the mansion, he willed the Wolf to appear in front of him.
Whoosh!
Almost instantly, she was in front of him, lying on the ground.
Sensing the shift in the environment, she raised her head and looked at him with confusion in her obsidian eyes.
Vesper could practically hear her thoughts.
Why did this human take me out?
Does he want me to fight that human?
Vesper was surprised and then tried to communicate with his mind.
'Can you hear me?' He asked in his mind, his gaze focused on her; however, she just looked on, wondering.
Why is he looking weirdly at me? Don't tell me I was wrong in my judgment about him?
No, this shouldn't be the case.
Vesper's lips twitched hearing her thoughts. He then coughed lightly and said, "I just wanted to see how much you have healed. And yes, you might have to fight that human outside."
The wolf's eyes narrowed.
"Wruff!"
You can read my mind?
"No, I can hear your thoughts." Vesper shook his head.
Hearing this, the wolf relaxed a little. Then he heard her voice.
Try not to hear everything I think… please.
Vesper nodded, seriously.
If he could communicate with her without telling her that he could hear her thoughts, he would've done so because he knew she would feel uncomfortable knowing it.
"Can you fight in your current condition?" He asked while looking at the ghastly wound on her neck.
I can't use much of my strength.
Although it was expected, her answer still disappointed him. But her next words changed this.
That human outside, however, isn't strong enough to force me to use my full strength. So, rest assured.
Saying this, she closed her eyes, appearing very aloof and majestic.
"..."
Vesper stared at her, his lips twitching. 'Can't you say it all in one go?' He complained in his heart.
"Good. I'll try to keep the situation under control, but it will be better if you are ready to come out at any moment." Vesper said,
The wolf opened one of her eyes and gave him a strange look before gently nodding.
"Alright, you can go rest now." He said, about to send her back when he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Do you have a name?"
…Yes, but it's a beast name; you won't be able to pronounce it properly.
"Hm? Then how about I give you another name?" He muttered, rubbing his chin.
The wolf didn't say anything.
After thinking for a while, he frowned before saying, "How about I just call you… White?"
"..."