Chapter 98 (1/2)

5 – 5

Alois' parents passed ahen he was fifteen

That was only eight years ago

Officially, the cause of death was an accident

An accident caused by out of control ical power is stronger than that of ether in Alois' study As they sat facing each other in front of the crackling fireplace, Cah she said that, Caical power The most she had seen hithen his body with round in Einst

However, even if she hadn't seen it fully, the level of his poas obvious Those vividly red eyes above all else told her y was stored within his body

“I used to be unable to control the power I had in my body… no, even now, I still find it difficult to keep under control properly But in the past, I truly couldn't wield it at all”

“What do you ical power is sealed away Now, I can only use a fraction of the power in h Alois' power had apparently been curtailed, he could still follow the veins of thelike that would require strong ical power To put it sith And if he says that's just a ‘fraction' of his real power, just as he really capable of…?

“The sort of out of control y that Nicole sometimes has trouble with, I also experience it It's often just sone out of control in a huge way My ical power of other people, and ran a his hands into fists on his knees Those downcast eyes of his seemed like they were solely focused on those clenched hands Although his face was expressionless, the slight treht years ago The day when my parents died, and the day that I killed people”

A deep breath left Alois' lungs As he curled his hands into even tighter fists, he looked at Camilla dispassionately

“I barely have any memories of my childhood Maybe that incident is what caused it? Whenever I try to re that happened before it, it's like there's nothing there I'et Honestly, I can barely even remember my parents' faces”

Camilla listened with bated breath Alois, meanwhile, was expressionless As they sat in front of the fire, their figures cast dark shadows behind them The way he spoke without e that had nothing to do with him

“But, I remember bits and pieces The outlines of ical power towardstheir oer to seal ic was repulsed by my own and rebounded… they were torn apart by it, both of them Mother and father”

It was then that a flicker of a frown ran across Alois' face Then, it passed, and his mouth bent into a smile

“I killed my parents”

“…But, that was just an accident? There was nothing you could have done”

“It was my oer that caused it My power that took their lives Even if I didn't e the fact that I caused both of their deaths”

That was the reason why none of the senior servants referred to Alois as ‘Master' To them, Alois' father was still the Master of the house

For stealing away the Master they loved and respected, they never forgave Alois That attitude only uilt

“But…!”

“The last vivid h them Because it was my power The moment it came into contact with them, it was as if I touched themin ertips, as if I had ripped them apart with my own hands”

Alois' eyes narrowed as he looked back down at those clenched hands That smile was still on his face, but it didn't have a shred of war about the past, but to hiht years, it was still so he carried with hiic power reicwill stay with ic in et”

Although Camilla had tried to interject, to tell him that it wasn't his fault, Alois didn't care to listen Even though it was only a tragic accident, Alois bore the guilt of a murderer

As they sank into silence, Alois' expression didn't change Sitting back further in his chair, he still stared at his hands, un secret, instead of letting Ca up

Camilla kne she would react if she were in Alois' position If Ca like that, either she would drown in that guilt or try to justify herself, saying that ‘I didn't do anything wrong'

But, that gravely seriousI could do It was an accident I didn't do anything wrong He wouldn't flee fros like that

He refused to be coiven, and kept everyone else at arth He would carry that burden hiht to herself ‘I understand now'

– He is trying to atone

That personality of his, that was so quick to martyr himself for the sake of others… this is where it caood lord', without desires or greed

All of it, surely, was part of some kind of atonement to his mother and father

– But, is that truly it?

There was soe in the way that Alois had confessed

Despite telling her this, so Ca in his heart that he didn't want her to know about

Just eighed on hishe truly couldn't tell anyone?

“Cahts were broken when Alois spoke out to her Leaning forward in his chair, Alois looked at Camilla's face Cae in attitude

“Camilla, do you want to return to the royal capital?”

“…Excuseabout, so suddenly?”

Even though Camilla obviously had no idea what he meant, Alois didn't pull back He repeated the saain

“If you could return back ho? Besides, the royal capital is-”

“Please answer h Camilla tried to draw out the reason behind his question, Alois coercively pressed her for an answer Cahtly, not used to how assertive he was being

– Returning to the royal capital, that's…