By Zephyria 
“That’s not the problem… How did that happen?”
It wasn’t like he wasn’t human from the start like me. Kyle was human and then his race changed, so it was actually an impossible phenomenon.
“When I was badly hurt, Aska put his blood and flesh and stuff into my body. This and that. Somehow, I guess that caused a mutation in me… maybe? So I’m almost like a half-Revenant. Ophelia can’t really tell the difference between Aska and me either. And the Security magic in the Ruins too.”
Kyle seemed to be trying to explain it as easily as possible so Mahir could understand. But he was still playful, so Mahir’s complexion was still not good.
Seeing that, Kyle chuckled.
“Or maybe I’m not human anymore, so I can’t be called your brother anymore?”
Mahir was almost dumbfounded by the strange logic.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“But why are you so surprised? Nothing much has changed except that I live a little longer. It’s actually good. I live longer, my wounds heal quickly, and all my pain is gone.”
“……”
Mahir seemed to be at a loss for words at the overly optimistic attitude. I was also at a loss for words. Of course, Kyle’s words weren’t false, but it wasn’t a problem that could be easily dismissed.
When I first found out that I wasn’t human, Kyle took it so lightly. I couldn’t tell if he was bold or just didn’t think.
“So, I mean, don’t worry too much. Even if I become a monster worm, I’ll still be your brother.”
“Monster worm is a bit much…”
Was it because of Kyle’s overly calm attitude? Eventually, as if infected, Mahir’s complexion returned to normal. He was still confused, but the anxiety seemed to have disappeared a lot.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Mahir sighed and muttered to himself. Then Kyle nodded.
“That’s right, that’s how it is. Just like how you’re still my brother whether you’re the Emperor or not.”
“……”
“Like Actan is my home wherever you are, whether you’re in Actan or another country.”
“……”
Mahir’s eyes widened at the quietly flowing voice. After a moment of silence, Mahir turned to me with a serious expression.
“Aska.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, you must answer my questions honestly. Do you understand?”
“Yes?”
Mahir frowned at my bewildered question. I heard Kyle clicking his tongue and muttering.
“Annoying, really.”
“Can’t you answer quickly?”
“Give it up. What do you mean die? Are you drunk?”
“Surely you don’t have less than 10 years left, do you?”
“No!”
Mahir, who was overly moved, seemed to think that Kyle’s words were his last will.
¸.•¨•¸.•¨•¸.•¨•¸
Mahir, who said he would only wet his lips, drank almost a whole bottle of fruit wine because he was in a good mood. He didn’t seem particularly drunk, but he laughed much more than usual.
Kyle was excited and talked for a long time, as if a child who had finished his first errand was bragging to his parents. He exaggerated, bluffed, and then acted all pitiful to get a generous allowance.
Because Kyle kept giving me signals, I had no choice but to help him when he was acting pitiful.
“Your Majesty, it’s past midnight.”
If someone hadn’t reminded Mahir of the time, Kyle would have taken all the jewels on his body.
“It’s already this late.”
“You’re not drunk, are you?”
“No. Come to the main palace with Aska by tomorrow morning. I’ll tell you about the Ruins you’ve discovered so far.”
Kyle and I also got up from the sofa to see Mahir off. Kyle earnestly asked the escort knight.
“Tarik, take good care of Your Majesty.”
“I told you I’m not drunk.”
“I didn’t say take good care of him because he’s drunk, I just said take good care of him in the future.”
“Don’t worry.”
After exchanging a few more words while standing there, Mahir left.
I thought we would wash up and go to bed right away, but Kyle said he wanted to get some fresh air, so we went out to the garden for a while. Kyle walked leisurely along the path and looked up. I couldn’t take my eyes off Kyle, who was looking at the sky full of stars.
“Are you dizzy?”
Kyle also drank quite a bit of fruit wine with Mahir. I wondered if he was drunk, so I asked, but Kyle smiled and turned to me.
“I’ve never gotten drunk even when I drank alcohol since I was young.”
“You drank alcohol since you were young?”
“Just occasionally, depending on the occasion. Not often.”
He certainly wasn’t staggering, and there was nothing slurred in his speech. However, every time he spoke, there was a sweet fruit scent, which made my mouth dry for no reason.
“When I was young…”
As I muttered in a small voice, Kyle took my hand.
“Yeah?”
Then he moved closer and turned his head completely towards me. He looked at my eyes, which were particularly blue today, and continued.
“It reminded me of when I was young. Back then, I was the one who was drunk, not you.”
Kyle, who immediately remembered what I was talking about, chuckled.
“You were really amazing back then. You kept hugging me and laughing a lot. ‘Hee hee hee, hehe hehe,’ you said. You begged me not to marry and clung to my legs, begging me to love only you.”
“……”
When did I do that?
He shamelessly lied, cleverly mixing what happened and what didn’t. I was dumbfounded, but I didn’t feel like correcting him. In fact, my true feelings at that time were more than Kyle’s lies, not less.
“If you ever need anything in the future, just cry and cling to me like that.”
At those words, I frowned.
“Do I have to cry?”
“It’s much more effective if you do. Maybe I’ll even die if you tell me to die?”
Why did he have to use that as an example? Kyle laughed at my face, which was even more distorted because I was annoyed. It wasn’t funny at all, but what was so enjoyable about it?
“If you hadn’t cried like that back then, I might have gotten married. It wouldn’t have changed the fact that I liked you whether I got married or not, so I didn’t really think it was a big problem back then.”
It was really absurd logic. But it seemed like Kyle would really do that, so I suddenly felt a chill down my spine. Honestly, I was very embarrassed because I acted so disgracefully, but I was glad that I cried well at the right time with the help of alcohol.
“What would have happened if I had married someone else back then?”
Kyle looked at me with a curious expression. I imagined Kyle marrying someone else for a very brief moment. Carefully lifting the thick veil, kissing, and swearing love to the Sun God…
“If that happened…”
Even though I only recalled a brief fragment, it was so unpleasant that I quickly erased the thought. If I had actually seen that scene, I would never have let it go. I would have overturned the temple to prevent the marriage from happening in the first place, or, if that didn’t work, I would have knocked Kyle out and run away with him…
“If that happened?”
Wouldn’t I have run away? I was having violent thoughts because I was annoyed, but Kyle urged me to answer. But his eyes, staring blankly, were so affectionate that my eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
“…I would have been so sad.”
“……”
“……”
The moisture that had risen so urgently without any way to stop it eventually overflowed and slid down my cheeks.
“Why are you crying?”
The smile instantly disappeared from Kyle’s face. I was even more embarrassed by his flustered question. As I lowered my head, droplets fell down.
“I just asked without thinking, I wanted to hear you say not to marry someone else. It was a joke.”
“I know.”
“I don’t like anyone else. I only like you.”
Kyle hugged my head tightly as if he was being chased by something and said urgently. I burst out laughing because the situation was so strange, and only then did Kyle release the strength of his tightly held arms.
“Why are you crying about that?”
“I’m not crying.”