PASP Chapter 17

With those cold words, D’Élysée approached the office door. Through the slightly opened door, a friendly conversation could be heard. Soon after, a man who appeared to be a dedicated servant bowed and walked away.

“Why did His Holiness take your blood, brother?”

D’Élysée asked as he closed the door. The generous smile had already disappeared from his face.

“He said it’s a necessary procedure to meet y-you…”

At Egru’s words, D’Élysée touched his chin with a somewhat serious expression.

“Let me give you a piece of advice. Don’t get too close to His Holiness. In the basement of the Papal Headquarters… no, I can’t say that.”

“?”

“Anyway, especially not you. Because you’re a mixed-race hybrid. Don’t make His Holiness interested in you, understand?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“Then, then I…”

Egru closed his mouth with a face on the verge of tears.

‘Then who can I be close to?’

The sentence he couldn’t bring himself to utter lingered on the tip of his tongue. He was already no different from a loner. Both Levian and D’Élysée had repeatedly told him to stay away from each other.

“……”

D’Élysée watched Egru, who had suddenly become quiet. His pale green cheeks were protruding. It seemed like he might burst into tears that he had been holding back, or maybe he was simply upset. Whatever it was, he had reached his limit.

“More importantly…”

The pale green eyes glanced at the carpet. More precisely, at the remains of the cheesecake on the carpet.

“Do you like cheese that much?”

It was clearly an intentional change of subject.

Egru nodded slightly. Although there was still no verbal response, D’Élysée continued leisurely.

“You always seem so sincere about cheese. Remember that time I said I wanted to eat cheese once, and you came back with your eyes all swollen?”

D’Élysée said as he opened one of the desk drawers.

“You must have been beaten quite badly at the cheese shop, I couldn’t tell if you were laughing or crying. But you still made sure to bring the cheese.”

D’Élysée closed his eyes as if reminiscing about the past.

“It wasn’t a lot, but that made it more precious. You even peeled the surface of each piece of cheese that had fallen on the ground. The taste of it warmed on that cheap stove is still vivid in my memory.”

Egru couldn’t tell. Was he saying it tasted good, or bad? If it was the latter, he might feel a little sadder.

“But you know what? That cheese shop is gone now.”

D’Élysée grasped something and closed the drawer. It was a silk pouch about the size of an adult male’s fist.

“Wh-what happened?”

“Who knows.”

D’Élysée opened his eyes wide as if he had no idea himself. On the other hand, he seemed satisfied that he had piqued his brother’s interest.

“I guess it went out of business because the taste got worse after the owner changed.”

“R-really? That’s too bad.”

“Yeah, it really is.”

“The old grandmother who owned it cherished that shop…”

“Well, what can you do? Her grandson had such a nasty temper. They reaped what they sowed.”

“But still…”

Egru’s gaze suddenly passed over D’Élysée. Beyond his broad shoulders, an antique grandfather clock was visible. Below the round clock face, a heavy pendulum swung in a steady rhythm.

‘Has it already gotten so late?’

Egru was quite surprised. Why hadn’t the bell rung? The long hand was almost pointing to twelve.

“Um, D’Élysée. I think I need to go now…”

“What are you talking about? Is it because it’s late? I’ll have an escort accompany you, so eat something before you go. I just ordered it.”

“W-well…”

Egru mumbled in an uncertain voice.

“The repayment deadline is midnight today…”

“Ah.”

D’Élysée’s brow furrowed.

“…Then it can’t be helped. I’ll write you a check, so wait.”

D’Élysée gripped a quill pen while standing in front of the desk. A thin sheet was torn from a bundle of blank checks. The beautiful feather pen moved smoothly like flowing water. It seemed he was writing the amount first, then adding a simple signature.

‘So, so that’s a check.’

How fascinating.

It was just ink scribbled on ordinary paper. Yet in an instant, it transformed into a meaningful asset.

It was when the carelessly dancing quill pen finally put down its full stop.

“Wh-what’s this, D’Élysée?”

Egru asked. In his hand was not only the check worth 300,000 gold, but also the silk pouch from earlier.

“Truffle cheese.”

“T-truffle cheese?”

“Yeah, try it sometime. It doesn’t taste bad.”

Egru swallowed hard. His heart trembled at the name of a cheese he had never heard of before. Meanwhile, D’Élysée was busy carefully brushing down Egru’s shaggy bangs.

“I also put in a magic stone. It should keep the remaining cheese from spoiling. The silk pouch also has some preservation magic on it. It won’t be cut by blades or burn in fire.”

“I see…”

“Don’t sell it anywhere. Keep it safe and return it to me later.”

“Of-of course!”

Egru fiddled with the cloth pouch with trembling hands.

“I’ll, I’ll eat it well. Thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

D’Élysée firmly rubbed Egru’s slightly reddened eyes with his thumb. Then the dark brown hair completely covered the pale green whites of his eyes.

“More importantly, why don’t you try some now?”

“Ah, I want to save it…”

“Why?”

“Because you gave it to me…”

“Huh.”

D’Élysée, who had been grumbling to himself with his arms crossed, turned his head needlessly.

“…Next time, let’s meet at a dessert specialty shop. I’ll make a reservation in advance.”

“Th-thanks, but I won’t be able to enter…”

“You will now.”

“?”

“There’s something like that. Weren’t you in a hurry? Go on now.”

“Mm, okay. See, see you next time, D’Élysée.”

“See you soon, brother.”

Egru’s steps, as he was about to turn and leave, suddenly stopped.

“D-D’Élysée.”

“?”

Egru turned back again, taking in his brother’s entire figure at once. Though brief, Egru gazed at his brother endlessly, as if etching it into his mind.

“It, it probably won’t happen, but even if you lose everything, don’t forget that you have a place to come back to. I’ll, I’ll make sure of it.”

“…That’s very different from when you abandoned me.”

D’Élysée smiled with his thick arms still crossed.

“I don’t particularly believe it, but well, alright.”

“This, this time I’ll definitely…”

“That’s enough. If you say more, I think it’ll actually reduce my trust.”

Egru sniffled. For some reason, he just couldn’t bring himself to leave.

“Are, are you eating your meals well?”

“You always talk about meals. Don’t worry, I’m eating better than you.”

It was then that D’Élysée’s lips moved slightly. He seemed to be hesitating, which was rare.

“…Let me ask one thing too, brother.”

“?”

“Was I a burden? Is that why you sent me to the orphanage?”

“Of course not!”

Egru exclaimed, jumping up in shock. He waved his hands frantically and even stamped his feet.

“It, it was because I was lacking! You did nothing wrong!”

“Really? It’s hard to believe.”

“It’s, it’s true, D’Élysée!”

Egru’s eyes reddened instantly.

“I, I never forgot about you for a moment. No matter what anyone says, you were the best gift of my life…”

“Oh, Lord! You were still here! I’m so glad!”

It was then that the office door burst open.

A man in a neat uniform strode in. His gait was confident, as if the office were his own home. D’Élysée’s expression instantly contorted.

“I’m Gavin, Deputy Commander of the Papal Holy Knight Order. I feel I was too rude earlier due to the alcohol. I came to apologize properly.”

“Ah, it’s, it’s okay…”

“Let me greet you properly once again. You’re D’Élysée’s older brother, right?”

A hand so large it was almost threatening grasped Egru’s hand and shook it vigorously. Egru’s entire arm, including his hand, fluttered like a paper doll.

“Oh! That’s right! Since it’s already late, how about I personally escort you? As a way of apologizing!”

Gavin said, unconsciously wiping the hand he had shaken on his trouser leg. D’Élysée watched the entire scene intently without missing a detail.

“Brother, just go back alone. You can do that, right?”

“Wait, D’Élysée! How can you do this to us!”

Gavin grabbed both of D’Élysée’s shoulders and shook them violently.

“Give me a chance to make amends! Your family is practically my family now…”

“No.”

“What?”

“That’s not the case.”

“…Sigh, fine then.”

Flatly denied, Gavin pulled in his chin like a turtle. He looked thoroughly disgusted.

“Go now, brother.”

“Okay.”

After hesitating in place for a while, Egru finally asked.

“Um, D’Élysée…”

“What.”

“Can I hug you just once?”

“…Not now.”

“Th-then when?”

“Wait and see.”

“For how long?”

D’Élysée smiled faintly.

“Well. As long as I waited for you?”

“……”

“I’m joking. Why do you look so shocked? Did you really want to hug me that badly?”

Egru nodded. Tiny teardrops welled up in his amber eyes.

“Now go on. If you’re late and your debt increases, I won’t help you then.”

“Okay, take care of yourself, D’Élysée. It, it was nice to meet you, Mr. Gavin.”

Egru turned away, sniffling. The sound of Gavin questioning D’Élysée loudly faded behind him as he left.