LNU 65

“Tsk. What a waste. It’s not easy to find a face like that anywhere.”

A person jumped off in front of his eyes. Without a moment’s hesitation. With a light gesture that almost seemed cheerful.

But the man’s voice, clicking his tongue as if disappointed, contained only a little regret and surprise. To him, the life of a commoner who was merely handsome and looked like nothing more than the Young Duke’s servant was less significant than a hangnail on his finger.

“…….”

Carlisle was still in shock, his arms tied and his eyes wide open. Their eyes… Their eyes definitely met. The corners of his lips, with a faint smile that was inappropriate for the situation, were trembling with fear that he couldn’t hide, but all Carlisle could do was struggle helplessly.

‘Young Master.’

‘Ugh!’

‘I’m sorry too, for making you go through this.’

‘Ugh, ugh!’

What was he sorry for, and what was ‘this’? If it weren’t for Carlisle, if it weren’t for the thugs who came to target Graham, he wouldn’t have had to go through such a terrible thing.

It was fortunate that his mouth was gagged. It was only when he jumped off the cliff that Carlisle belatedly realized. Carlisle didn’t even know his name properly.

They were always alone when they met, so there was no need to call each other by name. No, that’s an excuse. He could have asked if he wanted to, and he could have found out if he wanted to. But Carlisle didn’t ask anything, and when curiosity arose, he intentionally suppressed it.

As soon as he knew his name, he would have to tell him his name as well. That seemed like the least bit of ‘fairness’. But as soon as he knew his name, he certainly couldn’t expect the same peaceful and intimate atmosphere as before. So, he remained an unnamed young master to Carlisle, and likewise, he remained an unnamed servant of Young Master Hamilton to Carlisle.

Carlisle just wanted to maintain the strange intimacy and bond he felt in his relationship with him for a little longer, even if it was just for a few days. Was that too much to ask?

In the end.

In the end, his faint desire…

Drove him to his death. He, it was no different than killing him.

He didn’t want to believe it, but it was an undeniable fact.

Ugh, hoo, ugh!

Carlisle slammed his forehead into the ground with his mouth blocked and screamed as loudly as he could. The voice mixed with sobs seemed to tear through the air. Grief and anger surged within the young Carlisle, unable to control his body.

“Uh, Elder… The Young Duke’s condition is a bit strange?”

“How amusing. No matter how great Graham is, it seems the cub is helpless. Leave him be. It seems he’s severely traumatized.”

His knees were forcibly bent, and his arms were held tightly. The strength that had been restraining his entire body had been irresistibly strong until just now. Why? As the sound of the mournful cry mixed with screams and sobs gradually subsided, Carlisle felt like he could shake off the assassins holding him without any effort.

“No, it’s not just fear, but…”

It was the assassin closest to Carlisle who noticed the change. The assassin, who had caught the warning of his keen instinct, wanted to let go of Carlisle’s body and run away immediately. Otherwise… Otherwise…

But Carlisle’s actions were one step ahead of the assassin’s escape. Carlisle shook his arms as if testing them. With a very light and casual movement, as if brushing off dust.

It was a very nonchalant movement, but the aftermath it brought was not small. The ropes that had been tightly binding his wrists snapped in an instant, and the thugs who had been restraining the Young Duke were sent tumbling to the dirt floor.

Not only that, but the childishness on his tear-stained face disappeared clearly. His vision subtly heightened, and the loose clothes fit perfectly without a single gap. Slowly rising, he calmly untied the gag with his freed hands.

‘Please try this too, Young Master.’

‘You like it when I come out like this, right?’

‘You’re saying you’re grateful? That I’m the only one for you?’

Even if it was just a tender sprout that had just begun to emerge, it was clearly a bud of affection.

“I can say with certainty that the biggest mistake you have made…”

“Everyone, run, it’s, ‘Growth’!”

“Will be not killing me first.”

The damp, wet gray eyes are much darker than usual. The wolf who had shed his childishness repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists with an imprudent air. It’s difficult to control his strength. But it’ll be okay. These people don’t deserve the mercy of having their strength controlled.

“Everyone, step back!”

“Aaaagh!”

The next was a time of very one-sided venting. Carlisle left only one Alpha, who seemed to be the highest-ranking among them, and didn’t spare anyone else.

“Hee, save, save me…!”

The uninvited guest, who had come to cut off the breath of the still young Carlisle, cowardly without even having the confidence to face the grown Graham, begged for his life in a very miserable state when the situation was reversed. Carlisle pretended not to hear. He dragged the neck of the one who wouldn’t walk on his own two feet and walked towards the main castle. Losing his life at his hands here was too merciful.

“Please save me, Young Duke, I, I was momentarily insane, that, that…”

“…….”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Even though the person who had become the most hateful enemy in the world at this moment was begging so desperately and pathetically, Carlisle wasn’t happy at all. Even the fact that he had reached the stage of growth that he had so desired, following in the footsteps of his respected brother, was not a comfort.

‘Even if you’re making that sullen face, I know everything.’

‘…….’

‘Hey, don’t just stay like that, you can comfortably say that you like it if you like it.’

If he could turn back time and have that conversation with him again. Instead of making excuses that he was an impudent guy because he was embarrassed, he would really say that he liked it, that he was grateful, and that he wanted him to stay with him in the future… If he could only give such an honest answer.

He would be happy just to remain forever ungrown, forever a child.

“Young Master!”

Kwaaang…!

The sound was loud. As if something hard was being smashed without a trace. I, who had tightly closed my eyes and was waiting for Nicole’s voice to wake me up, finally realized that something was wrong and cautiously checked in front of me.

It was difficult to secure visibility due to the scattered dust, but fortunately, there were two things.

First, the hard object that was smashed was not my skull, but the large rock that seemed to be about to crush my skull. And the second was…

“Are you alright?”

“…….”

“Fortunately, it seems I’m not too late.”

“…Lennox.”

The owner of the voice that called me was Lennox, not Nicole.

“I’m just happy to see you like this. It’s nice to meet you, Young Master. How have you been? It seems like it’s been a while since the graduation ceremony.”

Lennox, who had suddenly appeared, was holding me in his arms and floating in the air.

I, who had almost died and come back to life, was still dumbfounded and only blinked, but Lennox smiled brightly and nonchalantly took my hand and lightly kissed it.

Should I rebuke you for not being of noble status and not even having a knightly title, thus having no right to show such courtesy to me? Or should I get angry and ask if you have the mental capacity to even be glad or whatever in this situation? A myriad of thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant.

But still, I guess the first thing I should say is thank you for saving me.

“Yes, it’s been a while. Thank you for saving me.”

“Is that what you mean? You are someone who is worth it to me.”

No…. I’m thankful for being saved, truly, truly thankful…

“But, first of all… Could you put me down?”

I hoped it was a misunderstanding, but it was definitely not. Lennox’s hand, holding me in one arm while I was floating in the air, had been unnecessarily and blatantly caressing my waist for a while now.

“Hmm. What to do. I’m just not comfortable putting you down in such a dangerous place.”

It wasn’t even a matter to ponder, but Lennox exaggeratedly hmmmed and uhmmed as if contemplating, then soon smiled brightly and opened his mouth.

“Then let’s do this.”

“Huh…?”

“I’ll move you to a safe place and then put you down.”

Snap. The magician’s finger snapped once with a clear sound of friction. And the moment I closed and opened my eyes.

“You, you, what is this!”

“Welcome, Young Master. I have always longed for your arrival.”

We had somehow arrived at Lennox’s laboratory.