Rather Than The Son, I’ll Take The Father

“It’s because I’m touched.”

Aedis was not impressed at all and was still wary of me but gave me special service.

With a single gesture of his, the wall that had been twisted was completely transformed.

It was as clean as if it had been rubbed lightly with soap, and a soft white light came out.

The spires and roofs were painted a reddish color, as if sprinkled with cyclamen petals, in contrast to the walls.

It was far from vivid red, more like dabbing soft pastel paint with a brush.

The roof on which I was standing changed like that, and it felt like I was stepping on a flower.

It was as if time turned back to right after the construction of Cyclamen Castle.

I couldn’t believe that peeling the old dirt changed it so drastically.

Thinking it would look much prettier in the daytime, I called Aedis.

“Aedis, are you overdoing it?”

“It was too much. I couldn’t remember what it used to be.”

I tried to magnify the castle using the lens.

Even though it was an ink fortress, and it would not have been strange if demons were to come out, only a beautiful old castle that matched the cold winter was left.

If you put a lot of jewelry on it, it would look like it was right after it was completed, but now, I was just satisfied with this simple elegance.

Now, all we need to do is resolve Aedis and Regen’s fashion sense.

“Aedis, the tallest spire looks a little boring, what do you think of erecting a Paimon statue?”

“I’d rather hang up leftover roast turkey.”

It was fierce opposition.

Suddenly, Aedis looked down.

Regen in his pajamas was coming out of the castle rubbing his eyes.

“Confucius?”

Before going to Regen, I took a look with a lens from the box of random items at the spot where the man who was also Regen’s biological father had stood.

The man and the corpse he used as a magic carrier had disappeared, but the floor was charred.

“Aedis.”

Aedis saw the same place as me through the lens and answered without my asking.

“He came here with less than 20 percent of his original magical power.”

With less than 20% of his magical power, he crossed the desert to the north and turned Gilbert into a demon.

If so, how much more can he do here if he poured all his energy into it?

I wrinkled the bridge of my nose.

“I said he was quite a genius.”

Aedis said that if he met him, he wouldn’t let him leave alive.

However, the man had the ability to change his body like parts.

He could use his magical powers like today and use it as a familiar.

What specifically did Aedis plan to do?

He could kill him in 500 years, but I wondered why he was so sure he could do it this time.

And how to get him out.

“It looks like there are a lot of things he can do with his familiar, but will the main body ever come out of the desert?”

“There are.”

There was no hesitation in Aedis’s answer.

“There are still many unfulfilled wishes.”

Eternal life.

Eternal youth.

It was a vague dream of most people.

However, it was not a dream for the man.

It was something rattling in the street, almost within reach.

“That is the reason he cannot cast away his regrets with me. Because I’m the only success story. If he could use me to gain immortality, he would. He was actually going to do that.”

Ugh, I can’t even imagine.

“I can see how desperate he is.”

When I took a half step back, Aedis made the lens disappear.

My eyes darkened under the sky full of moonlight and starlight.

“I told you I had received a letter eight years ago.”

“Yes. I remember.”

“He told me I could take it out on Gilbert and Regen.”

“……”

“If I had really treated them that way, he wouldn’t have cared much. He thinks it’d be more valuable to get information about immortality in my favor than to use Gilbert and Regen to change bodies.”

“……”

“That’s just about it. To him, the children are just parts that fit a little better and are a little more familiar.”

A few seconds of silence lasted as long as eternity.

Aedis looked at me who was in shock and said.

“I have sent a familiar to the desert. Even if it can’t get to his stronghold in the Red Desert, it’s enough as a watchman. Also as bait.”

His hand ruffled my hair, swaying in the wind, behind my ear.

“I promise, Eve. I will finish it before winter is over.”

My feet lightly touched the ground.

Regen found us and waved his hand.

“Father! Your, Your Grace!”

Regen ran up to me at once and peered at me.

“Your Grace, are you hurt?”

“I am fine.”

There was a reason why Regen asked such a question.

“I think my brother just came. Did he leave again?”

I focused on Regen’s wrist with the magic tool attached. It was red and swollen.

Aedis skipped all the narrative and only told the results.

“He won’t be back for a while. He is alive.”

“I see….”

Regen barely managed to hold back his yawn.

“Lord, can I put you to sleep?”

Regen laughed bashfully.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to worry because the nanny has agreed to stay with you today.”

“But.”

“I hope that Your Grace didn’t get hurt. I’m here to check. So good night, Father! Your Grace!”

Regen walked away without giving me a chance to say more.

Mrs. Theresa, who was waiting for him, greeted us and went inside with Regen.

“Uh, he didn’t look good at all, did he?”

“….”

“Aedis?”

“…… Eve.”

“Yes, Regen…..”

There’s something strange, and it’s hard to pinpoint it exactly.

When I was speechless, Aedis explained it to me.

“As you can see from looking through Gilbert’s memory, he’s got a trick. He must have done something in Regen’s head. For example, if the two are separated, it will be cumbersome to retrieve them later, so he makes them want to stay together as much as possible. But it seems to have worked.”

To say that he brainwashed his own child because he was just too lazy to ‘retrieve’ it.

It was a bankrupt reason, but because the other person was that man, it was rather reasonable.

“Did you use your hand?”

“If I could have, I would have done it sooner.”

It was scary to think that there are things even Aedis couldn’t do, and a subtle gaze was upon me.

“I said it was a trick.”

“Even if you can’t exercise such a useless talent, I will recognize your ability to read my mind.”

Aedis finally snorted and laughed.

“You’re probably more likely to be blamed for the loss of power than I am.”

Huh? Me?

Of course, I was just an ordinary person.

If so……

“Because of my warm heart?”

“…… It’s still just speculation, I’ll let you know when I’m certain.”

“Aedis, show some sincerity in managing your facial expressions.”

Sheesh.

I muttered sullenly.

“By the way, he’s really starting to take an interest in me as you said.”

It’s disgusting to think about it again, sister-in-law.

“Aedis, I’m tired of my in-laws, so shouldn’t you bribe me before I run away?”

“Bribe?”

Aedis blinked, his long eyelashes fluttered.

The bewilderment that he showed only in front of me made me feel better.

“It’s already time to be ready. Aren’t you supposed to hold onto me while you put on the ring?”

Then, as if he had been waiting, Aedis took the ring from his sleeve.

It was a vicious ornament that radiated an ominous force like a 44.4 carat black diamond.

“It’s black”

Knowing why Aedis insisted on black, I felt strange.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll get another color…… ”

He was a husband who could change the color of the walls in an instant, but I knew that the color of the ring would not change even after a day or two passed.

If I miss this opportunity, I will have to wait for a long time until the color of his castle comes back out.

So I quickly stretched out my hand.

“It can’t be. Any ring goes well with my finger, so put it on quickly.”

Aedis worked hard to slide the ring onto my finger. Of course the size was just right.

I smiled without realizing it, and Aedis also relaxed and laughed.

“Now don’t worry about me running away, Eve.”

“If I can’t see you, can I visit you anytime?”

As black as obsidian, the ring looked like a starry night sky. The ring itself looked like a jewel.

“I will always be by your side, but if you find me, I will be very happy.”

Even as I nodded my head, I was concentrating on observing the ring.

I turned my palms over and looked at it from various angles, and suddenly Aedis’s lips touched my cheek and fell.

…… huh?

HUH?!

It happened so quickly. Aedis’s lips fell from his cheeks, but he still stayed nearby.

His breath brushed against my skin, and his voice was too close.

“My wife has a lot of unknowns, and she has a tumultuous past.”

“……”

“You are still so lovely.”

Depending on the interpretation, the husband, who had said things misleadingly, raised his head.

“Even if you are mean, I have no choice but to forgive you.”

When he looked at me like that, it felt like I could stop breathing.

But hey, did you say I was mean?

The husband, who framed his wife, laughed with satisfaction.

“Eve, can you put it on my hand too?”

My reason melted like chocolate on a bright summer day, and for a moment I couldn’t speak.

“I’ve seen a scene where you put a ring on your lips in my previous life.”

“I already put my ring on myself. I’ll just go back.”

Breathe and talk?!

He was too much of an iron wall.

But instead of keeping his distance as usual, Aedis held out his hand with the ring.

“Hold it.”

“…..”

“Or would you like me to give you a piggyback ride?”

I thought he’d just leave it alone, but he was taking care of me.

It was unexpected, and hesitantly, I raised one hand and placed it in Aedis’s hand.

Is he an iron wall?

He seems to have gotten a little sloppy…… ?