Curil walked to the young master's room at a snail's pace. He did not want to go anywhere near the young master but he had made up his mind a long time ago. As he wondered how best to persuade the young master, he suddenly glimpsed a familiar figure and felt his face turned white as if the figure was a malicious ghost.
What was she doing there? Did she also visit him? Since when did he allow visitors? The questions swarmed through his head but he tried to reassure himself by remembering that Jia was utterly helpless. It wasn't in her blood to plot against anyone either. He sighed, almost feeling sorry for the two of them. They were both going to have to suffer a second time as the trusting young master would surely be gotten rid of somehow.
Jia disappeared from view and he ducked into a side corridor just in case. It looked like she was going to visit Masin- most likely to talk about Azil. It was a relief to know she was the same as always.
When the coast was clear, he stepped out but coming closer to the location of the young master filled him with foreboding. Was the anxiety he felt out of obligation or because he had betrayed the actual lord? He didn't know but the aura around the room felt different.
Curil didn't know it at the time but he was a man with a poor imagination and sharp intuition. The foreboding he felt was not a random coincidence but his instinct telling him to stay as far away as possible from the 'young master' in the room. Alas having a poor imagination caused him to ignore his intuition in favour of loyalty and he knocked on the door.
There was a rustling sound inside and a long pause.
"I told you I needed some time alone." A quiet voice said and all Curil's fears evaporated. The young master sounded forlorn and clement just like how he used to be.
"Did you? But this is my first time visiting." Curil remarked as innocently as possible, mood suddenly uplifted. He could put on a pretense and make the young master feel sorry for him and then he could ask him for a favour which he would never deny.
"...Come in." Was it just his imagination or did the voice sound harsher?
He opened the door and entered the dark room. Why were there no lamps inside? He blinked, trying to adjust to the darkness.
"Young master, is that you?"
"Did you want something?" His tone was cold, indifferent and resolute. "I remember saying I needed some time alone."
"Ah well..." Curil scratched his neck awkwardly. Was he dreaming?
"It's just that everyone is worried about you. We're all waiting for you to recover but you won't even let us see you-"
"If you truly wanted me to recover then would you disturb me like this?"
Who in the world was this? He spoke so curtly and impatiently. Curil felt like falling to his knees and giving up on his attempt to subtly persuade him to stay.
"Is something wrong? You seem to be in bad spirits today."
"Really? It's just that my head hurts and my memory is bad."
Curil nodded. Did the poison have those kinds of effects? Well it was supposed to be lethal so it made sense if that was the case.
"Tell me again, what is your name?"
Curil's eyes widened. Did he have memory loss? Was that why he was acting so rude? His heartbeat was erratic and he felt a sense of achievement. If he had memory loss then it would be even easier to manipulate him.
"My name is Curil." He said, too excited for his own good. "I'm your uncle's aide but I serve you and the lord as well."
"Ah Curil, I remember now."
Curil's hopes fell again.
"You were unimportant so your name slipped my mind."
"Excuse me?" And now Curil felt like he was being attacked.
"My apologies Curil, I meant I had many things on my mind so I forgot your name. It's funny how I only forgot the names of some people but everything else is crystal clear."
"I-it is?" Curil stammered. So he didn't have memory loss in the end?
"Yes. You know me, I always had a good memory. You caught me in a bad mood so if I offended you then forgive me. Besides, I should ask you how my uncle is doing."
"Ah right." He had lost his pace completely and Curil felt more like he was being dragged around by the kid before him. "Your uncle is well. He's busy on a trip right now but he should be back soon."
"I guess he isn't looking forward to seeing me."
There was a piercing pause.
"W-what?" Once again, he was swept up. Curil did not know how to answer because the question felt intentional but unknowing at the same time. Did he know more than he was letting on? No, that was out of the question...
"I mean if he was looking forward to seeing me then he would have returned earlier, right? I understand that uncle is busy but he hardly ever takes the time to meet me."
"He's just like that." Curil pronounced weakly. He wanted to leave the room as soon as possible.
"What about my father? How is he?"
'Why don't you ask Jia?', he almost said but caught himself in time. He couldn't let Azil know that he had seen Jia there or else he would come across poorly.
"Your father...he wants to send you away for a while. He thinks it would be best if you spent some time in a new place." But still the words came out.
Azil's eyes widened this time and he frowned. "That's strange. I'm already feeling much better and I don't think travelling will help me."
A small voice in Curil's mind was telling him that it was his chance to turn the tides and bring the conversation to what his original purpose for coming there was.
"That's right but your father treasures you a lot. He wouldn't listen to anyone of us even if we disagreed..."
"Then I'll talk to him myself." The words were instant. Azil smiled at him. It was a blinding smile. "Thank you, Curil. If you hadn't told me this then my father would have sent me away on short notice."
"It was nothing, young master. I just did what I was supposed to."
"You did? Of course, you seem to be the kind of person who is so good that you put your values above loyalty. That is truly wonderful."
"I-I suppose so..." It was a compliment but it felt backhanded.
"You're dependable, Curil. I'll be counting on you in the future too." Azil had been sitting upright on his bed but now he leaned back. "Now then, would you mind giving me some time to rest?"
Curil didn't know what to say so he nodded and bowed before closing the door. He stood there for a few seconds staring at the closed door, wondering what just happened. He had won, right? Then why did he feel like he lost?
Curil walked away from the room feeling a strange apprehension and chill in the air...It must just be a stray wind.