Chapter 49: Jay’s Letter!

Though the corners were worn from the long journey, Rassett could not bring himself to crumple the envelopes held in his hand.

Rassett relaxed his grip and interrogated Sella in a suppressed voice.

“You crazy bastard, where did you get the cigarettes? Don’t tell me you still haven’t fixed your habit?”

It was common for supplies meant for the entire army to be diverted to a few individuals.

Captain Sella, the supply officer, used to pick up crumbs while cleaning up after war merchants, and Rassett had also benefited.

That was before the King’s Brother was appointed Commander-in-Chief, or more precisely, before he gained complete authority through repeated victories.

“Aren’t you the crazy one? Trying to send someone to the brig.”

As Sella said, misappropriating supplies was now something that would send anyone, regardless of rank, straight to the brig. Even civilian war merchants wouldn’t be safe.

Why is someone who knows better doing this?

Rassett crumpled his face even more. Accepting the cigarette offered was a path to becoming an accomplice.

“Hey, are you seriously thinking of ratting me out for a reward?”

Sella let out a long breath, hah, as if dumbfounded. The smell of cigarette smoke after a long time stimulated Rassett’s desire to smoke. But instead of reaching for the cigarette, Rassett affirmed Sella’s words.

“If you really committed corruption.”

“I told you it’s not. It was sent from home. The letters the Commander-in-Chief will receive aren’t the only things that arrived today.”

Only then did Rassett snatch the unlit cigarette Sella was holding in his left hand.

“f*cking bastard.”

Sella grumbled in a tone completely unbefitting a noble but lit Rassett’s cigarette. The moment he inhaled deeply and exhaled the smoke, Rassett couldn’t hide his admiration.

“Private goods are different after all, huh?”

“Indeed.”

Not because they were private goods, but because they were high-quality. Rassett chose to nod rather than express his honest appreciation.

“I’m sharing what I saved up to smoke, you punk. Saying you’d rat me out even as a joke was too much, really.”

It wasn’t a joke. If Sella had really committed corruption that was no longer tolerated, Rassett would have reported him and received a reward. Being generous to others was a privilege of those who have, like Sella.

Rassett hid his truthful expression by putting the cigarette back in his mouth. He hoped the damn rain would stop soon. So he could avoid this place.

****

“These are the letters arrived for Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.”

Rassett carefully placed the letters, which he had hurriedly brought without getting wet during a brief break in the rain, on one side of the King’s Brother’s desk.

The King’s Brother, who was writing another new document in the meantime, put down his pen.

The King’s Brother’s work was paused for a moment, but knowing that a thick stack of completed documents would be handed to him tomorrow morning, Rassett wasn’t the least bit curious about the content of the documents.

A couple of months ago, he would have been quite anxious wondering if there was a way to know the content in advance.

But now, he just hoped the King’s Brother would sleep well at night so the completion of the documents would be delayed by a few days.

A competent boss created a lot of work for the adjutant as well. And Rassett had already learned enough that those tasks didn’t help much with promotion or financial affluence.

The King’s Brother looked down at the envelopes with broken seals for a moment.

“The seals were already broken when I received them.”

All documents entering and leaving the military, especially this New Continent headquarters, had to undergo censorship.

Letters to the Commander-in-Chief were no exception. No, rather, private letters to the King’s Brother would be the most important targets for censorship.

The King’s Brother also knew the circumstances, but Rassett didn’t forget to explain the state of the letters every time. It was out of concern that responsibility might fall back on him.

Feeling the King’s Brother’s gaze looking up at him, Rassett shut his mouth tight. The time the King’s Brother examined Rassett was very short, but Rassett thought he was reading his mind.

With Rassett stiffened with tension in front of him, the King’s Brother took a letter out of an already opened envelope. Through Rassett’s stealing glance, a page full of numbers shaped neatly as if measured with a ruler came into view.

It was a report on the King’s Brother’s personal business. Opening a business report first among several letters, it was almost laughable. It wasn’t something to be flawed, but he thought he lived a quite boring life.

Objectively, the King’s Brother was a very handsome man.

If the word ‘beauty’ is an expression for a beautiful person regardless of gender, enough that the word beauty would fit better. Especially the smooth jawline played a big role in making his impression look soft.

Moreover, he had a lot of money.

Still young, wealthy, and even picture-perfectly handsome, it wouldn’t be strange if love letters flooded in.

No matter how complicated the political situation is. Yet, there were no love letters at all among the letters the King’s Brother received.

“Do you have nothing to do?”

“P-pardon?”

Stealing glances at the rapidly passing letters and crossing over to the realm of delusion, Rassett stuttered at the King’s Brother’s question.

“I put the report to be shown to the generals tomorrow morning on your desk.”

“I will check it right away!”

Is there another report besides the document he was writing until just now? Rassett answered quickly in fright and sat in front of his desk. Indeed, a thick pile of documents that wasn’t there before he went to collect mail was placed neatly.

Rassett started reading the documents, suppressing a sigh.

****

Philius’s gaze, which had been quickly passing over numbers, changed slowly upon reaching the last page of the letter.

Having checked even the signature, Philius examined his adjutant.

After confirming he was concentrating on the documents with a frown as if burying his nose in them, Philius slowly ruminated on the contents of the last page again.

It was a business report starting with the preamble that the prices of gold and gems were finally falling slowly due to continuous news of victory. It just made the conclusion that all the volume collected so far was disposed of just before the news of victory was heard look complicated by mobilizing all sorts of numbers.

More important content than the news that a large investment tying up a large part of assets ended successfully was in the very last sentence.

“I have prepared a new cane for Mr. Palmer. I think it will be a quite sturdy cane that can be used for a long time.”

Philius had to fathom what emotion that short news brought. It was a letter sent by Jay. These words were a declaration that Jay had laid the foundation as the new owner of Palmer Jewelry.

Even when he declared he wouldn’t go to university, and when he requested to be designated as the successor to Palmer Jewelry, Philius experienced a stir of emotions not easily expressed in words, just like now.

‘Is it regrettable?’

Philius answered yes to his own question.

Jay could become anything.

A mage who would surprise the world, a merchant who would cultivate tremendous wealth, or an artist who could receive the admiration of many people.

Sometimes his status as a Beta and commoner might make things difficult for him, but eventually, he would overcome difficulties. And it was certain he would produce desired results.

University could have been a good foundation for him to walk his own path. Removing the tag of being the Duke of Westell’s servant.

Perhaps he could have received sponsorship from another prestigious family. A family with a stable political position unlike his own. Thus, he could have become complete.

‘So, is it joyful?’

Philius had to affirm this time too.

He was glad that Jay abandoned the path to become more stable, safe, and complete, and remained as the successor to a mere jewelry shop owned by him.

Not because he forced him to stay, but by his own will.

I must make him leave. I must send him away even by force. Thinking so was before Jay called his name.

Philius.

With eyes full of tears, Jay had clearly called him by that name.

Son, or descendant. The title with no meaning became his distinct name at that moment.

And at that moment, he knew he could no longer force Jay’s actions as his master.

Because he knew the joy when he approached on his own.

Philius remembers that time vividly.

The image of Jay, who was far away, stepping forward slowly but surely, came to mind as if drawn before his eyes again. The disheveled gray hair was pitiful yet affectionate.

The moment his two eyes full of moisture met his own, it felt as if time stopped. In that time, short as an instant or long as eternity, Jay called his name.

At that time, Philius realized. That he could never forget this time forever.

It was a blessing. A blessing some called a curse.

Imprinting. Being clearly remembered in the mind or memory.

Or, as an Alpha, coming to love only one existence for a lifetime.

Something that cannot be awakened from, nor broken.

On a dreary winter day, Philius came to harbor the light he wished for most in the world.

Even if it was one-sided, he was just happy. The fact that Jay wasn’t an Omega didn’t matter. For Philius, it was rather natural.

Philius savored the handwriting of the neatly written letter again.

‘Jay.’

He traced his signature with a finger.

Regretting that his warmth that touched this letter didn’t remain.

****

That night, Philius had a dream.

It was a dream of being submerged in deep water. He wasn’t surprised. Because it was a dream very familiar to him. He was just glad.

Following a faint light, Philius went up, up.

Finally coming out of the water, what he saw were countless flowers surrounding the lake he was submerged in.

He hurried to the water’s edge. Even in a dream, he felt impatient.

Pushing through the heavy water grabbing his steps, when he finally arrived at the flowers in full bloom, a smile formed naturally.

Not a meaningless smile made when hiding emotions or suppressing words he wanted to say, but an expression unable to hide joy.

Flowers still in buds were beautiful in themselves. Not having scent, not fully blooming petals, posed no problem for Philius.

It was peaceful and gentle. Like Jay.

In the flower field continuing endlessly under the warm sunlight, Philius closed his eyes.

It was the only sanctuary where the nightmares that always visited him couldn’t chase him.