Chapter 59: A Noble’s Mercy, A Kingdom’s Cruel Law

“I wasn’t intending to make you cry. I’m sorry if I only made you more frightened.”

At Kebel Ilya’s unexpected apology, the child’s eyes widened. It seemed the child wasn’t the only one surprised that Kebel had apologized to a s*ave, as Kapu Beryl’s eyes trembled ever so slightly. Kebel, however, failed to notice and was too occupied with wiping the child’s tears and soothing them.

“T-Thank you.”

Clutching the handkerchief Kebel had given them tightly, the child expressed their gratitude. The child bowed at the waist as straight as a folded piece of paper and remained that way for quite some time, unable to bring themselves to stand.

Seeing the child like that tugged painfully at Kebel’s heart, making the tip of his nose sting.

Even though he knew he could not interfere any further, Kebel quickly blinked his moist eyes before looking toward Kapu.

“Do you really have to punish the child?”

“The laws of the kingdom are meant to be followed, so there is nothing I can do either.”

Kebel pressed his lips tightly together at Kapu’s troubled response. Faced with the reality that there was nothing more he could do, he clenched and unclenched his fists before letting out a dry breath. Still, he smiled at the child, careful not to let his feelings show.

“Let’s move somewhere else for now. There are still too many eyes watching.”

“Yes.”

No sooner had Kebel answered than Kapu called for a knight. The knight hurried over at Kapu’s gesture and placed a hand over his chest as if awaiting his orders. Kapu spoke.

“Find out who this child’s owner is.”

“Yes.”

“And as for this child…”

Kapu’s voice trailed off as he glanced at Kebel. Seeing Kebel pull the child into his arms as though afraid they might be taken away, Kapu’s brow twitched.

As if telling himself that this could not continue, he let out a small sigh, grabbed the child by the shoulder, and handed them over to the knight. It happened so quickly that Kebel’s face twisted, but that was all he could do. This was the Kingdom of Beal, after all.

“Take the child to the castle. We’ll decide what to do with them once we return.”

At Kapu’s command, the knight immediately took the child away. The child disappeared from Kebel’s sight before they even had the chance to exchange another word. Kebel merely blinked blankly, and Kapu lowered his gaze before speaking quietly.

“Please don’t look at me like that. I did the best I could for the child, considering you.”

“…”

“I thought you would understand that we cannot make an exception for just one person…”

He spoke calmly in a low voice. There was something unsettling about the way he spoke, as though he were so accustomed to things like this that he had long since stopped feeling anything about them.

Kebel turned his words over in his mind. They could not make an exception for just one person. In other words, this sort of thing happened all the time.

Kebel silently stared down at his damp collar. Though it had only happened in a matter of moments, the child’s tears and the way they had struggled to hold back their sobs remained vividly etched in his mind.

Unable to shake off the suffocating feeling in his chest, Kebel exhaled a dry breath and clenched his useless fists.

Kapu quietly placed a hand on Kebel’s shoulder.

“I find you rather fascinating, Kebel. You are clearly a nobleman like me, yet you seem very different from the nobles around me.”

The words ‘like me’ bothered Kebel, but he chose to ignore them. More than anything, the way Kapu had said that Kebel was different from the other nobles sounded strangely sarcastic.

Noticing that Kebel had taken offense, Kapu hurriedly added, as though correcting himself,

“I wasn’t being sarcastic at all. I simply misspoke without meaning anything by it. I didn’t realize it would sound unpleasant.”

“I’m different from the nobles around you? That makes me curious. I wonder what makes me different from them.”

“I spoke carelessly. I’m sorry. For now, let’s sit here and talk some more.”

Kapu sat down on a bench in a secluded area and motioned for the surrounding people to move away. Was he about to tell Kebel something others were not supposed to hear? Or was he intending to question him about what had just happened?

Kebel unconsciously tensed as he sat beside him. As though he had been waiting for Kebel to sit down, Kapu slightly turned his body toward him. Apparently intending to have a serious conversation, he wiped the smile from his face and pulled something from his pocket.

“This looks similar to the ornament you gave me.”

“Yes, it is. My parents gave it to me when I was eight.”

The edges of the leather had become worn and frayed, as though Kapu had treasured it close to him for a long time. His expression looked somewhat bitter as he stared at the pattern engraved on the ornament.

Seeing that expression on Kapu’s face caused Kebel’s irritation from earlier to soften somewhat. Without saying anything, Kebel simply stared at the pattern engraved on the ornament Kapu had taken out.

There had to be a reason he had suddenly brought it out. When Kebel looked at him with a questioning expression, Kapu placed the ornament back into his pocket and turned his gaze toward Kebel.

His violet eyes, so much like amethysts, gleamed in the darkness. Under that gaze that seemed to linger as though he were deliberately drawing out the moment, Kebel grew increasingly tense and swallowed dryly.

After they exchanged those seemingly meaningless looks for quite some time, Kapu tilted his head. Then he gave a quiet chuckle.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Ah, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. There was just something I needed to check.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll tell you later. I promise. But more importantly, I imagine you’re curious about the real reason I took out this ornament.”

Kebel let himself be led along by Kapu’s smooth change of subject. As though urging him to answer quickly, Kebel gave him a small nod, and Kapu smiled warmly.

“Everyone knows that even something insignificant can become a source of strength for someone. Just like when you offered that child your handkerchief. Perhaps that child, too, might find a reason to hold on to life.”

Kebel’s eyes trembled violently at Kapu’s words, especially at the mention of ‘holding on to life.’ Just how painful must someone’s life have been for such words to come naturally? And how did Kapu know the feelings of children like that so well?

Kebel clutched his uncontrollable heart tightly with both hands.

“But that sort of kindness can sometimes become poison.”

“…”

“This is the Kingdom of Beal. If you do not learn how to endure on your own, you cannot survive here. So I hope you won’t take my words the wrong way.”

This was not some animal kingdom where only the strong survived. Yet from just one sentence from Kapu, Kebel understood exactly what kind of place this was.

At the same time, Kebel suddenly remembered something Osh Sulleban had told him when he was young. Everyone thought the same way, he realized. The thought left Kebel feeling strangely saddened.

Then, all at once, Kebel was struck by a peculiar sense of déjà vu.

Despite the fact that there was a First Prince, the royal palace was effectively controlled by Cinnamon, the Second Prince. And the person who could benefit the most from being beneath him was none other than Kapu.

Everyone treated Kapu’s words as though they were Cinnamon’s own.

Kebel met Kapu’s clear eyes as they gazed at him.

Kapu, who had enjoyed a festival despite the painful history behind it. Kapu, who had scolded the child rather than protecting them. Those chilling glimpses of him that appeared behind his smiling face.

As Kebel remained deep in thought, Kapu spoke.

“You look like you have a lot of questions. Let’s talk again next time. Unfortunately, Cinnamon is coming up behind us right now.”

Despite his words, Kapu’s expression showed no disappointment whatsoever. But when Kebel nodded, Kapu stood up as though he had been waiting for the signal.

Kebel’s gaze naturally followed him upward.

“Are you already tired without enjoying yourself a little more?”

At the voice coming from behind them, Kebel rose from his seat and greeted Cinnamon with a small nod. Cinnamon returned the greeting lightly before quietly calling out to Kapu, who immediately went running over to him as though he had been waiting for him.

Kapu smiled brightly like a flower in full bloom, and Cinnamon affectionately ruffled his hair. His carefully arranged hair was left a mess, but Kapu did not even frown.

He simply smiled happily. Watching them, Kebel could tell just how much the two of them cared for each other.

But then why did Osh Sulleban come to mind?

Feeling awkward for no reason, Kebel rubbed the back of his neck. Cinnamon spoke to him.

“You seem to have rested enough. Shall we go see the final night of the festival now?”

It was a question to which the answer had already been decided, so Kebel nodded. Then he quietly followed behind them.

****

Kapu came to visit again today, as he always did. But there was nothing in his hands.

Kebel found it somewhat strange, since Kapu had always carried a chessboard around as though it were a part of him. Perhaps noticing what Kebel was thinking, Kapu gave a light shrug.

“I was getting tired of playing chess every day, so I just came by like this. Would you like me to bring it next time if you’re disappointed?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Kebel had actually been starting to grow tired of chess himself. There was hardly a better way to pass the time with Kapu, but games could always be invented.

It was their first time alone together since the festival, and Kebel felt strangely restless. He could almost imagine Cinnamon catching Kapu’s scent and coming running over at any moment.

“What happened to that child?”

“They’re doing well after meeting their new owner.”

“I see. By any chance… is their new owner a good person? Ah, if it’s difficult for you to answer, you don’t have to tell me.”

Kebel smiled politely, letting him know that he did not have to answer if he did not want to. Then he brought the tea the servant had just left for him to his lips and took a sip.

“May I ask what kind of person I am in your eyes, Kebel?”

The sudden question made the liquid catch in Kebel’s throat. He coughed dryly, unable to collect himself.

Alarmed, Kapu hurried over to Kebel’s side. He quickly patted Kebel’s back with a worried look and asked,

“Are you all right?”

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