"Eep eep?"
Cel had returned to his room, looking at the small rabbit wrapped in towels.
It turned to him when he opened the door.
Looking at him curiously, its little ears rose as it made "Eep" sounds.
He walked up to his bed and touched it slightly.
"Soft," he said as he touched the rabbit's ears.
"Mmmff" it rubbed its ears on Cel's hand when he stopped doing so, making cute sounds.
A smile appeared on Cel's face.
He loosened the grip on the silver dagger he held in his left hand.
After petting it a few more times, he went back to the wooden box on his desk.
He opened it and put the silver dagger back into it.
Looking at it once more, he saw the engraving on the hilt.
May clarity walk with you in truth.May silver guard your heart,discerning the real from illusion.May the sky keep its silver light just for you.— For my beloved son, Scelus Nex
"Mother," he whispered as he closed the wooden box, putting it into the lowest drawer of his desk.
His father had sold all silverware in the house, even reducing the cutlery to wood and iron.
All just to buy a few items for his mistresses.
Returning to his bed, he played with the rabbit while his mind returned back to the dinner.
The crimson crystal wouldn't leave his mind.
"How can I see it again?" he asked himself.
The rabbit in his arms… wasn't suitable.
He himself didn't want to get hurt. He remembered the one time he accidentally cut himself –
"Blood didn't look so beautiful back then," he said in a low voice.
Why was it like that?
"Young master, you should rest now. Tomorrow the lord will teach you…"
"I know it's not lord father who will teach me, Bran.What has he told you to teach me?"
Bran paused slightly before sighing, "Young master, the lord is very busy and can't take care of these matters right now."
Cel shook his head, "What is he busy with? Wasting my inheritance on his fourth wife? Or is this his fifth?"
In private with his closest friend, the butler, he acted differently.
The quiet and shy boy disappeared, leaving behind a young master who had been taught from a young age.
It was only in moments of weakness that he still felt the need for his father's love.
Even after talking, his mind still returned to the blood.
It couldn't leave his mind, becoming an obsession.
He shook his head before turning to Bran, "I will go to bed now."
…
The next day had arrived and Cel was already in the study of the manor wing he lived in.
A book was on his desk, the only book left in the whole study.
It was a simple book teaching a few things across many classes, from simple calculation to geography and history.
Cel was looking at the vague map drawn on the last page of the book.
Its corners had faded somewhat.
"Bran, to the east is the Principality of Veriale, to the west is the Arcana Argentum Empire. What is to the north and to the south?"
"Young master, we live in a small border region between these two countries. There are only scattered villages and towns built by…"
"By what?" Cel asked when he saw him hesitate.
"Built by fallen nobles that left their respective countries… they fled the banks and higher nobles' exploitation, hoping to make a comeback here."
"So is my House Nex a house of fallen nobles?" Cel asked when he heard this.
"This…" just as Bran was about to answer, the door was opened by a servant.
The servant walked right into the study, disregarding Cel and Bran as he reached for the book.
"You! What are you doing!" Bran was about to scold when he saw his lord outside the door.
"I am selling this book. We don't need it anymore. A merchant in the town wanted to buy it for a hefty price.
Bran, I will go out to sell the book.
You stay here and take care of my wife and… this one." He looked at Cel for a moment before leaving.
The servant left with the book behind the lord, not caring about the young master behind at all.
Cel walked out with large steps, trying to catch up with his father.
But by the time he was outside, he saw the three servants of the house pushing the carriage through the snow.
His father had already boarded with a book in his hands.
"Father-" Cel wanted to call out, but after just a word, he stopped.
The servants didn't stop. He didn't know whether they didn't hear him or ignored him intentionally.
Anger welled up in his heart as he saw them leave.
Among all the things that were left, this one was the second most important treasure to him.
He walked back into the manor.
Inside, he saw the only maid walking with a tray of sweets to the master bedroom in the right wing of the manor.
Turning to Bran, he asked, "How much does a book cost usually?"
"Three silver coins."
"What about these sweets? How much do they cost in winter?"
"Young master…"
"How much?!" the anger in Cel's voice became clear.
Even the maid up front was startled, but she continued to walk, paying no more heed to the outbreak behind her.
"Such a platter in winter costs at least a silver coin…"
Huff
Huff
Huff
Cel took three deep breaths as he walked back to his room.
The rabbit was still on his bed, cuddling in the blankets.
But he didn't have the mind to look at it.
He lay on his bed partially, trying to calm his mind.
He thought of the things that usually calmed him.
The book appeared in his mind, but he quickly tried to think of something else.
He then remembered his mother.
She was a believer of the Argentum Church of the empire. He didn't know why she married his father, but even when he had affairs, she didn't say anything and took care of him.
It was one of these winter days when she was sick. His father was stingy and didn't heat up the fire in the left wing where he resided, so his mother hugged him throughout the night to keep him warm.
When he woke up all that was left was the cold body of his mother hugging him deeply.
If Bran hadn't helped him out, he might've died that day.
Thinking of his mother, he walked over to the desk.
He opened the lowest drawer, taking out the box…