Aaron feels really scared right now. The cold wind that touches Aaron's skin is not helping him to ease the anxiousness and fear in his chest. Aaron takes a deep breath and exhales slowly trying to relax his nervous self. Aaron keeps on telling himself that after waiting for five more minutes, he can finally go back to the Cres Val mansion.
Earlier after he finished his work for today, his young master asked him to go to the deepest part of the left alley in the slums. His young master also gave him a letter and told him to wait for a man wearing a brown hooded cape. Aaron's job is to give that letter to the man he will be meeting in the slums. Before leaving the mansion, his young master Gian reminded him not to tell anyone about his identity at all costs.
And now, Aaron has been waiting for that man in this place alone. This spot has an unpleasant smell coming from the garbage and the walls are all sticky and damp. Aaron tightens the grip on the sleeves of his shirt when another chilly wind blew through the narrow space where Aaron is standing. He was about to let out another sigh when he heard several footsteps from behind.
When Aaron turned his head, he saw a huge man wearing a brown hooded cape just like what Gian had said earlier. He unconsciously takes a step back when he saw the sword tied on his waist. The man's footsteps are slow and it echos off the alley. He stops directly in front of Aaron and slowly removes the hood on his head.
The first thing Aaron noticed after the man removes his hood is the unusual huge scar on his neck. There is a long jagged scar that snaked down the right side of his neck. It has a mixture of white and light pink colors which makes his scar more noticeable. When the man noticed Aaron's eyes are staring at his scar, he glares at Aaron which makes him shudder in fear.
"Where's the letter, kid?" The man asked in a gruff tone.
"H-Here..." Aaron said as he gives the letter to the man.
The man roughly snatches the letter from Aaron's hand. He tears the envelope open and read the letter inside. After reading the three sentences written in the letter, he crumpled it on his hand and throw it on the damp floor. Then all of a sudden, he unsheaths the sword tied on his waist and points it on Aaron's neck.
"Who is your master?"
"W-What?"
"Answer me! Who is your master?!"
Aaron never expects this scenario at all. He thought that after delivering the letter to the man wearing a hooded cape, he can finally go back to the mansion and report to his young master. But this scary man suddenly got mad. Not only that, but he also pointed his sword on Aaron's neck!
"If you tell me the name of your master, I might let you live." The brusque man said in a low but dangerous voice.
"W-Why do you want t-to know my m-master's name?" Aaron asked in a shaking voice.
"You are not in the right situation where you can also ask me a question, kid." He threatened. "Now stop dilly-dallying and tell me his name!"
"N-No!" Aaron refused.
Aaron remembered his young master Gian's reminder earlier not to tell anyone his identity. But Aaron is not doing just because he is following his order. Aaron does not want to tell the name of his young name and put him in a dangerous position. Aaron cannot clearly see the man's eyes, but his swift movements tell Aaron that he was a skilled fighter which means he can really kill people if he wants.
Ever since Aaron served the Cres Val family, no one treated him harshly. The servants who served the Cres Val family for a long time are treating him fairly and did not bully or scolded him for no reason. But what surprises him the most is the youngest member of the Cres Val family.
His young master Gian always treated him with fairness. Although his young master Gian is sometimes cold and indifferent, he never maltreats him. Instead, he is treating him with kindness. Recently, his young master is teaching him personally and even let him read the books in his library.
If it was the other young master, Aaron will never experience this kind of treatment. He was really grateful to his young master for all the things he had done for him. Now that there is someone showing a threat to his young master, Aaron will never let this man get near to him. Aaron will never betray his young master even in this dangerous situation.
"Kid, do you still want to live?" The man asked again. "If I were you, I will now spill the name of my master to spare my life."
"No! I will never tell you his name!" Aaron said in a firm voice. His voice is not shaking anymore and even dares to glare at the man who was twice his physical size.
"I am giving you the last chance. Tell me the name of your master, or else..."
The man dragged the tip of his sword on Aaron's skin and slice a small wound on his neck. Beads of blood came out from his wound and it drips down to his shirt. But still, Aaron is not willing to answer the brusque man's question. Seeing him like this, the man tightens his hold on the sword.
"Since you are such a loyal dog to your master, then..."
When the man raised his hand that holds the sword, Aaron tightly closes his eyes. If possible, he does not want to feel any pain before he dies. Afterward, a scratching sound came from the dark alley.
—//—//—
While Gian is drinking his tea inside his office, there is a teenage boy who is younger than him sitting on a vacant seat near his table. His head was lowered while he is wriggling with his fingers. Even after he came back safe and sound in the Cres Val mansion, it seems like the shock he received earlier is still not yet leaving his system. Letting out a sigh, Gian prepares a new cup of tea and put it in front of his little assistant.
"Drink your tea while it is still hot. It will help to calm your nerves."
Instead of drinking the tea, Aaron stays motionless on his seat. Gian gets a piece of paper and writes something on it. He did not urge Aaron to drink the tea and just let him quietly sit on the chair. After a few minutes, Aaron finally opens his mouth.
"Young master, can I ask you a question?" Aaron softly asked.
"What is it?"
"Why did you do it?"
Aaron wanted to know the reason why his young master did it. Earlier in that dark and damp alley, Aaron really thought that he will definitely die in that place. The sword that was supposed to end his life hit the wall behind him and it created a loud, scratching sound that echos in the alley. Then after that, the brusque man suddenly laughed. The man picked up the letter he crumpled earlier and showed it to Aaron.
'After you received this letter, please do your best to scare and threaten my assistant. Ask him 'What is the name of your master' and when he refused to answer, tell him that you will end his life. If he still refuses to answer until the very end, it will be the time for you to stop and send him back to our mansion.'
After reading the content of the letter, Aaron remained silent. The brusque man introduced himself as Ian, one of General Viel's knight. While riding a carriage back to the mansion, Ian told Aaron their young master Gian asked him to do this earlier. Aaron was still shocked by this experience and did not speak a word until they reached the mansion.
"Aaron, you asked me before why I choose you instead of hiring a professional who is skilled in every aspect." Gian said. "I can now give you the answer."
Though he is still not lifting his head, Aaron is waiting for his young master to continue.
"Aaron, what I want from you is your sincerity and loyalty. A person can learn the skills they needed for a job. But in this world full of lies and deception, it is rare to find someone who will never stab you on your back no matter what happens."
Gian dips the quill on the ink bottle before he continued.
"I did that earlier to know if your loyalty for me is real or not. I would not blame you if you hated me for doing it. But I want you to know that if you choose to follow me, your loyalty and hard work is all that I am asking from you." Gian said.
Gian finished what he was writing and waits for the ink to dry. When he looked at Aaron, he is now staring at him with a frown on his face. Instead of getting mad, Gian lean his back on the chair and crossed his legs.
"Are you now angry at me?" Gian asked. "You can tell me the truth. I am not going to be mad at you."
"Yes. I am angry. I am really afraid earlier, but I still do not want to reveal your name even if that man threatened me a lot of times. Because you are always good to me, I refuse to tell your name so you will be safe. I also thought that even if I die, I will not give you any problem which will threaten your life." Aaron honestly said.
"You are really that Aaron I had known from the past."
"Huh? What do you mean, young master?"
"Forget it." Gian said as he waves his hand to dismiss it. "But I wanted to apologize for what I did earlier. I am aware that was too harsh of me."
"No. You do not need to—"
"Just accept my apology, Aaron. I mean it."
Though he was reluctant, Aaron slowly nods his head.
"Now, Aaron. Do you still want to work for me?"
"Huh?"
"The scenario earlier may really happen to you in the future. As I try to make my plans on work, I will certainly earn a lot of enemies in the future. I will not force you to stay. In fact, I will not blame you if you refuse to work with me right now."
"..."
"I will give you a day so you can decide."
"No, young master. It's okay. I can now give you my answer. I still want to work with you." Aaron said in a determined voice.
"Are you sure about that?" Gian asked. "There is no turning back once you decided to stay."
"Young master, you are the only one who shows a lot of kindness towards me. You always treated me with kindness and give me a lot of opportunities which I can never receive if not because of you. So I am willing to stay. I promise you my loyalty and I swear never to betray you until the day I die."
Gian closes his eyes as he remembers the days he spends with Aaron in his past life. Aaron treated him with sincerity and kindness despite their situation. In the end, he was still brutally killed because of his involvement with the Cres Val family. So now that he was back in time, Gian is now paying back the sincerity and kindness he received from Aaron in the past.
"Since you finally decided to follow me, here is the list of things you have to do tomorrow." Gian said before giving Aaron his to-do list. "Before you sleep, please remind Butler Del to put a mini office in the vacant room on the first floor."
"Are you going to use that room, young master?"
"Why should I use that room? I already have an office and I like the view in my window from here."
"Then..."
"The vacant room on the first floor is now yours."
"What?" Aaron asked in surprise.
"You do not like it?"
"No, but—"
"Do you expect to do the paperwork I will give to you later in the kitchen?"
"But for me to have my own room is..."
"Every servant in this mansion has their own rooms. Even Butler Del has his own room and office to do his work properly." Gian said. "And since you will become my assistant once you are ready, of course, you need a proper workspace so you can work proficiently. If you still have more questions, ask Butler Del about it. His room will be next to yours."
"But—"
"Now stop talking and go to your room now. Take a lot of rest so you can finish the test I prepared for you tomorrow."
"Young master..."
"Aaron, leave now and sleep to your new room." Gian said and move his hand towards Aaron to dismiss him.
Before leaving his young master's office, Aaron looks at him with a renewed determination and deeply bows in front of him.
"Thank you so much for everything, young master Gian! I already owe you a lot of things! I promise to do my best so I can repay your kindness!" Aaron said before leaving his office in a hurry.
'Silly. I am the one who owes you something.'