"What are you listening to?"
Before the person could scream or even just flinch in surprise, his body stiffened.
That person can still breathe, see, and hear the laughter of the demon controller behind the door of the study of the head of the Melchoir family. He could even see the person who had just asked him. But…
He couldn't move. It felt like his body was being forced into silence.
"It's not good to eavesdrop on your own family head's conversation, is it?"
That person couldn't even let out a groan for help once. What the hell happened to him?!
Then why is this person here?!
He glanced at the gap in the slightly opened door and his eyes accidentally met the demon controller's. The demon controller gave him a sly smile before she went back to laughing at something with the head of the Melchoir family.
"Come with me."
His body moved according to the command from that person's mouth.
No, no. That person wasn't a demon-controller, so there was no way he would have this much power. Could this be the power of the demon controller earlier?
There is a better time to be thinking about that! He had to let go of something that forced him to follow that person somewhere.
Unfortunately, they didn't meet anyone on the way to who knows where. The hallways of Melchoir's main estate were suddenly quiet, even though the maids were supposed to be busy pacing back and forth preparing for the feast. That person also strolled inside the main estate like it was his own estate, without fear or caution.
They arrived at one of the existing guest rooms. The man told him to sit down and he sat down at the coercion of the command voice.
"You must be one of Tavish's henchmen," said the man. "Actually, there's a lot I want to ask you, but I guess I'll have to wait."
He could feel his chest tighten with something as he tried to make a sound. Again to no avail.
"Just give up. The more you try, the more tormented you will feel. Just wait quietly."
How could he calm down at a time like this?!
After a while, there was a knock on the guest room door and the demon controller entered.
He struggled even more, forcing himself to just make a sound.
"Don't move like that. You will die if you struggle even more," said the demon controller in a soft voice. Her small cold hand traced his face. "What's he doing at the door, Chas?"
"Eavesdropping on your conversation with Marquess Hadrian–of course."
"Oh, really?" The demon controller smiled at him. "Tell me, what have you heard?"
His mouth opened and he began to say everything he heard without his consent.
This. This is demon control power. The power that forces you to do something against your will.
Terrible power!
"Wow, that means everything."
"Then what should we do with him?"
"I will force him to continue singing."
***
Hadrian could feel Desmond's scrutinizing gaze upon him that afternoon before dinner.
"Father and Mother are not fighting anymore?" asked Desmond timidly.
"We didn't fight, Desmond," Hadrian lied too quickly. "You don't need to worry about us."
Desmond nodded slightly, then looked down at the book he was reading earlier.
"Your father and mother never fought before?" Hadrian asked cautiously. He decided to finish his work and sat near Desmond, in the same place where Rheannon had come into his room earlier.
Desmond lifted his head and shook his head.
"You would be happier if you were with them–"
"I also enjoyed being with Uncle–I mean, with Father!" said Desmond quickly. "Dad and Mom used to–uh–often forbade me to go out. Meanwhile, Father often took me around the area and I was also free to invite the older knights to hunt in the back forest. It… it makes me happy. With Mother too… it felt like I was with my mom back then."
Hadrian smiled faintly. "You like traveling, huh?"
"Yes!" Desmond's eyes automatically lit up. "On the outside, I see many things. I used to be at home most of the time, only to go out if Dad or Mom accompanied me."
Wait a minute… That was new information for Hadrian. "You never played with kids your age before?" he asked, Desmond answered with a shake of the head. "Why is that?"
"Because I was a kid," Desmond answered innocently.
That's a valid reason. But to the extent that he wasn't allowed to play with his peers even though Desmond's home environment used to be close to a convent where children played...
It was as if Desmond's late parents had deliberately hidden him from the world.
"Even so, I was never lonely. Dad and Mom used to play with me a lot. Behind our house, there is a large garden and a small river. We spent a lot of time there, also picking and fishing for things. So we rarely have to buy anything." explained Desmond further.
Hadrian was again surprised. As far as he could remember, Desmond's family lived more than enough. They don't have to bother growing anything to live on.
"Desmond–"
"Oh yeah, Mom is also good at various magic tricks!"
"Magic trick?" asked Hadrian, not understanding.
"If a plant dies and Mom waters it with water, the next day the plant will come back to life. Mom can always gather the fish near her, so we can fish easily," Desmond explained enthusiastically. "Only Mom can do that. Dad had to try it before but always failed."
"Magic trick, huh?" Hadrian muttered. He still didn't understand. He didn't understand Desmond's late mother anymore. Was he a member of the circus troupe, so Desmond's late father hid his wife's identity?
"I-I still like Mother and Father even though you can't do magic tricks!"
"Uh? Yes–erm. I know it…"
Desmond kept saying his fondness for Hadrian and Rheannon until it was almost time for dinner. Hadrian just listened out of embarrassment.
Hadrian could never replace Desmond's biological parents. He has also often made Desmond sad and feel uncomfortable. So how can Desmond tell if he likes him as a father? Moreover, Desmond's late father was a very kind person.
Good people with bad luck, Hadrian thought guiltily. His hand reaches out to Desmond, asking him to join hands on their way to the dining room.
Desmond greeted him happily.
The abyss where Desmond's late parents fell is bottomless. So deep that it was impossible to evacuate their bodies. From when they fell into the abyss until now, Desmond's parents, coachman, and horse were still there. They were buried with several people who had fallen into the abyss.
Hadrian could do nothing other than scatter flowers and hold a simple death ceremony there.
Hadrian subconsciously tightened his grip on Desmond's hand. "Are you going to pray for your late parents?" he asked.
Desmond turned his head quickly but immediately looked down too. "M-may I?"
"Of course. We can do it on a sunny day. If you have time, before winter comes," Hadrian said. "Your parents have to watch you age, right?"
Desmond returned Hadrian's grip a little tighter. "Yes. I want to pray there."
"Later we will bring lots of flowers for them." Hadrian was silent for a moment. "We can also invite Mother."
"Really? Okay!"