Chapter 6: The First Crack in a Silent Heart

Kebel held out his hand toward Osh. It was meant as a handshake, but instead of taking it, Osh simply stared blankly at his face.

As expected, nothing ever worked in one try. What kind of guy was this shy? With a faint sigh, Kebel grabbed Osh’s hand himself. Only when their hands fit together tightly, like interlocking gears, did Osh finally speak.

“…Please take care of me, Kebel.”

Osh curved his lips gently, his eyes softening into a smile, just like Kebel’s from earlier. Though he was only eleven, something flashed in Osh’s eyes for a fleeting moment. Kebel, who failed to catch that brief glimmer, simply smiled back at him, bright and carefree.

Kebel Ilya, set the wheel of fate in motion.

****

After that, Osh came to the ducal estate every single day. The household rejoiced, saying Kebel had finally made a true friend. Some even teared up.

Watching their reactions made Kebel feel oddly guilty. All he had done was run away from lessons because he didn’t want to study, but apparently, that had worried them far more than he realized.

Like always, Kebel brought Osh into his room. This time, though, he placed a few sheets of paper in front of him and handed him a pen.

“Can you draw something here?”

“…What kind of drawing?”

“Anything. Animals, fruit, whatever.”

For someone insisting on a drawing, Kebel’s answer was remarkably careless. Still, Osh quietly nodded and began sketching. The sight was so cute that Kebel nearly reached out to pat the back of his round head.

Holding himself back, Kebel waited until Osh finished. Soon, Osh handed him the paper. The moment Kebel received it, he tore it straight down the middle with a loud rip, a mischievous grin on his face.

“Osh, look. I just tore your drawing.”

He waved the two torn pieces in front of him. Making someone draw and then ripping it apart, he knew it was a jerk move. But to Kebel, this was training of a sort. Teaching emotions, you could say.

Leaning back with deliberate arrogance, Kebel thrust the torn paper forward again. But Osh simply blinked, completely unfazed.

Was he really that indifferent?

Kebel almost laughed. Back in the garden, Osh had reacted to the flower. But since then, he had been nothing but expressionless. Even that small smile back then had been the last—his lips hadn’t lifted once since.

Kebel let out a sigh. Where was he even supposed to start to draw out this boy’s emotions? Osh’s dryness began to spark a strange competitive streak in him.

“Hey, Osh.”

“Yes.”

As soon as Osh answered, Kebel snatched the pen from his hand. It was rude, deliberately so, but he wasn’t done. With a grin, he tossed the pen onto the floor.

“You mad?”

Kebel swallowed, watching expectantly. Surely now, Osh would get angry.

But Osh was still Osh.

He merely glanced at the pen, then stood up to pick it up. Irritation finally flared, and Kebel grabbed his wrist tightly.

“Osh, this is when you get angry, not pick it up. You’re not a dog.”

“…Why should I get angry?”

“What? Ha… Listen carefully. I was just messing with you. You were being bullied. That means you’re supposed to feel bad.”

“If that’s the case… it’s fine.”

The flatness of his response made something snap in Kebel’s chest.

“…Calm down, Kebel. He’s just a kid.”

Running a hand roughly through his hair, Kebel bit down on his lower lip. At that exact moment, Osh’s throat bobbed. His eyes followed Kebel’s every movement, then quickly looked away, as if nothing had happened.

“If anyone treats you like that, you should punch them.”

“Violence… isn’t right…”

“Yeah, it’s not, but… ugh. What I did was bad, so-”

“I understand. If anyone does that, I’ll punch them first.”

“…Wait, what?”

That wasn’t what he meant.

Kebel frowned slightly but let go of Osh’s wrist. Walking over, he picked up the pen and placed it back into Osh’s hand.

“Sorry about earlier. For tearing your drawing… and throwing the pen.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t feel bad.”

That was such an Osh-like answer that Kebel couldn’t help but chuckle. If only he could look inside this boy’s mind…

“Osh, excuse me for a second.”

Before Osh could respond, Kebel placed his hand over his chest. Why had he assumed Osh’s heart would be different from his own?

It wasn’t.

It was beating, just like his.

Curious, Kebel leaned in, pressing his ear lightly against Osh’s chest. The heartbeat grew faster, louder, like a blacksmith hammering metal.

“Your heart’s beating really fast.”

“C-Could you… step back for a moment?”

Osh stammered, shifting awkwardly backward. The reaction stung more than Kebel expected. Lifting his head, he looked up at him.

“Osh… do you not like me?”

“That’s not it-”

“Then why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?”

Kebel reached up and pressed a hand to his forehead. The air suddenly felt thick, awkward.

“Were you embarrassed because I listened to your heartbeat? Then want to hear mine?”

“…”

Instead of easing the tension, things only got stranger. Osh’s face flushed even deeper.

Kebel tilted his head slightly.

In the novel, Osh had never shown emotions. Not once. But now…

What if he wasn’t born that way?

What if he became that way?

A chill ran down his spine. But at the same time, a spark of hope ignited.

“Osh, try it.”

He took Osh’s hand and placed it against his own chest. Osh’s eyes widened in shock, his pupils dilating.

Kebel smiled softly.

“Feel it? My heartbeat?”

Osh nodded slowly.

Even so, he tried to pull his hand away. Kebel held it firmly in place.

“Osh, don’t ever forget this. I’m just like you. I have a beating heart. I’m alive.”

‘Don’t kill me.’

The unspoken plea lingered beneath his words. Yet Kebel smiled brightly, as if nothing was wrong.

“O-Okay… so please, can you let go now?”

“Why? It’s nice, feeling each other’s warmth like this.”

Kebel grinned playfully. He wanted to tease him more—but Osh looked like he might explode from embarrassment.

Reluctantly, he let go.

“I-I’ll go to the bathroom for a moment.”

The second he was free, Osh rushed out without even meeting his eyes.

Kebel watched him leave, then chuckled softly.

“…He really is just a kid.”

Stretching lazily, he leaned back and interlocked his fingers.

“Another peaceful day.”

Hopping up onto the table, Kebel closed his eyes, a quiet hum escaping his lips.

Somehow, it felt like the days ahead were going to be a lot more interesting.