51 Chapter 14: Harvest Moons (1/2)
”No!”
Aeron stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.
Oh, of course he won't concede, I thought. I almost forgot about Aeron.
”I want to help them!” I insisted.
”No. You should go back home for dinner.” Aeron uttered with his usual assertive tone.
”But it has been a pleasure working with you today, Mr. Roderick!” Aeron offers a handshake, turning to him.
”The pleasure is all mine” he bows down almost in ninety degrees stance while holding Theah securely in his arms.
He left Aeron's hand hanging though.
This feels rather déjà vu.
”Ah. But I will stay for a little while longer. I hope you don't mind if I can also visit your home? I haven't seen Alessa in a while”
”Of course, young master!”
I saw Aeron's brow twitch for a split second.
He then sweeps a glance at me.
I wonder...
Has he figured it out as well that it's not the real Mr. Roderick?
But if he did—
I opened my mouth to object but Aeron cuts me off, ”It's not Lady-like of your status to still be strolling outside during evenings, Aerra. Let me handle this. I'll make sure...” he paused and glanced at Theah and Recca before looking back at me, ”I'll make sure to keep them company”
Oh god, Aeron figured it out as well!
I think these are one of the moments when I hope my brother isn't that sharp.
”I'll be going ahead then, young master. I'll tell my wife to prepare for your arrival! I'm sure she will be ecstatic to hear you'll join us for dinner!” Mr. Rodericks says in a soft tone as we all watch him walk away along with the children.
Aeron releases his grip on my wrist. I studied him as his lips move, ”Only Leon calls me young master” he stated barely audible but with my heightened sense of hearing, I am able listen— and he knows that too.
Grantzæl soldiers soon came to us and reminded Kain that he needs to go.
”I suppose I should be going.” Kain sighed in a frown. ”But I'll visit again very soon! By then, we can play again!”
”I better leave too. This day has been fun.” Levi subtly smiled. ”I'll visit again some other time” he added, looking at me.
I smiled at them gingerly. ”Travel safe, guys.” I bid them my farewell as some of their own soldiers escorted them back to their ride home.
Aeron went to some of our soldiers by a corner and spoke to them quietly but I listened. ”Leon seems to be missing. If he returns, capture him immediately.”
Watching him made me remember what happened few years ago... when we strolled around Grantzæl city for the first time, Aeron noticed my bodyguards are gone so he insisted to keep me company.
I still remember that day so clearly. He asked his own bodyguards to not allow anyone to come inside the apothecary while I bought candies. Before I didn't understood why he did that but now I do. And so when someone did enter... he knew it was time to run.
That was the time we were kidnapped by Ouboros' men.
And this time— he's not planning to run.
He's still looking after me...
If he keeps doing these sort of things, he's bound to get involved once again.
And I don't want that.
Aeron is one of the most important person in my life. If someone hurts him...
I can hear my own voice, whispering directly to my ears:
'...accept the darkness'
I will make them pay.
A cold and gloomy whisper that's making me feel so numb and yet cold at the same time.
...I will...
'...kill them all.'
Ki—
A hand suddenly lands on my shoulder and I flinched in surprise. I snapped back to reality and realized I was clenching my fists so hard that my hand is turning white.
I unfolded my fingers and saw my nails has dug red marks on my palm.
”You're staring pretty intently at Aeron, what's wrong?” Eriol asks, I look at him and his eyes were set on my brother as well.
”It's nothing”
”You're so easy to read.” he chuckled.
”Me? What do you mean?” I murmured, pulling away from his hand.
”Just answer this, did you saw it?”
”Saw what?” I fully faced him and studied his deep purple eyes.
”You were running to us looking so pale and rattled with Mr. Roderick who happens to be following after you instead of Leon so I figured something is wrong.” Eriol explained, ”Aeron did so too.”
I sighed.
”Did you see how he killed Mr. Roderick?” he asks, his gaze focused on mine.
Such a sad look in his eyes.
I shook my head, ”I didn't... When I saw him... he's already gone.”
I closed my eyes and I remembered that scene. Mr. Roderick's glassy eyes that stared blankly in a lifeless gaze.
”I see....” he replied.
Aeron soon walked up to us, ”I'll have some soldiers search the perimeters for other Ouboros members. For the mean time, I'll make sure nothing bad happens to Alessa and the kids.”
Eriol nods, ”Alright. Just summon me if things gets out of hand”
”No. That's what Faram wants. You look after her.” Aeron argued.
”Wait— you're seriously sending us home even though you know it's dangerous staying alone out here?” I stomp my foot down, ”At least have Eriol stay here!”
”And who will look after you if I take Eriol with me?” Aeron crossed his arms. ”We're already playing on their trap. Right now, Faram might have figured everything out and covered all the what ifs.”
”What do you mean?”
”The first time I met Leon, I already felt a strange air around him. Now I understand why.”
Oh. So it wasn't only me who noticed that.
”I bet my ass that's Scias right now acting as Mr. Roderick. Damn him...!” Eriol cursed under his breath.
I raised a hand up, ”Wait, who is Scias?”
”Remember when I told you Faram and his comrades are dark elemental magus? Well, Scias is one of them. I'm not particularly familiar with all their abilities but from what's happening right now, I just remembered the Eighth member of the elite mercenaries is an 'enorcist'. He can use the face of a person who is already dead.” Eriol answered. His fists clenched on his side, ”I'll make him pay for what he did to Roderick!”
”If that's the case then I'm guessing Faram and his men is behind the blockage on the road Lady Mirel is talking about earlier. They might have killed the real Leon by that time and then sent this Scias guy to play the role of Leon. That way, he has one of his men infiltrated inside the castle; so close for us to even suspect at all that Faram has already made his move” Aeron uttered with his jaws tightening.
”Right now, he more or less has Alessa and the children as hostage. If we act too hastily, they might get hurt. If I ask our soldiers to capture him now, it would look like we're oppressing Mr. Roderick instead. Alessa is bound to react and surely get hurt either way. Some workers might even try to get involve and make such an uproar here. They wouldn't understand or believe even if we say he's not the real Mr. Roderick.
That's why I need you to stay away from here as much as possible... even though that might also be part of Faram's plan, to get you separated from me and Eriol...”
”But if Eriol goes home with me, then you're in more danger being alone in this, brother.” I tagged at his sleeves, ”I somehow wish you're a real dimwit. That way you can just allow me to stay here on your stead.”
Aeron grins, ”Don't worry I won't stir up a fight. I'll just look after Mr Roderick's family while keeping an eye out at that Scias guy.” He pats my head and added, ”Whatever happens, don't leave Eriol's side. He can protect you. You just need to trust in him as much as I do.”
He took my hand that held him and carefully places it down on my sides. ”Besides, we have a guest. Princess Isera is on courtesy call. It will be rude if you leave her alone in the castle.”
I heaved a sigh of dismay.
”Fine, I'll go. But you becareful.” I uttered as Eriol ushered me back to where Princess Iserra sat down, watching us.
I watch Aeron from over my shoulders as he waved his hand at me, turning to walk the opposite direction.
Aeron has changed so much, I thought as I took a side-long glanced at Eriol.
”What?” he mumbled, eyeing me tentatively.
”For Aeron to trust you this much...” I murmured. He usually would prefer protecting me on his own. But now, he learned to rely on this guys named Eriol...
”Forget it.”
He pats my head all of a sudden, ”Faram is on the move. Make sure you don't blindly follow him again. If you do, you're either smitten with him or just really plain stupid.”
How rude.
”I'm not blindly following him! I do respect him at some point but that doesn't mean I'm that permissive!”
”Yeah, right. He had Mr. Roderick killed and you still respect the guy?” he shrugs. ”Great devotion there, snow head. You might as well thank him for erasing your memories of me if you happen to see him again.”
”I... Yeah, sure. I'll do that!” I scowled at him for a moment and just strode fast till I reach Princess Isera.
”Is something the matter?” she asks, standing up.