PASP Chapter 9

“H-Hello. Um, my name is Egru. I don’t have a surname.”

Egru managed to introduce himself. He scraped up every last bit of courage from the bottom of his gut.

He couldn’t look like an idiot in front of his brother’s acquaintance. It wasn’t just about him; D’Élysée’s reputation was at stake too.

“I’m good at cleaning and odd jobs. I wash thoroughly every day, so I haven’t caught any infectious diseases.”

It was the same introduction he always gave at the labor office. Meanwhile, his feet dangling in the air flailed about, trying to find ground to stand on.

“Nice to meet you, D’Élysée’s friend. Oh, I look forward to getting along with you.”

“……”

Gavin didn’t answer for a long time. For some reason, he looked very displeased. While Egru was cautiously reading the mood, Gavin roughly got up from his seat.

“Come over here for a sec, D’Élysée.”

“Why?”

“Just come here, will ya!”

At the serious call, D’Élysée obediently let himself be pulled away. Egru, who had been put down behind the sofa again, anxiously fiddled with the seat. His face, barely peeking out, was ringed with anxiety.

‘Was, was there something wrong with my introduction?’

Egru, who had secretly hoped to hear Gavin’s introduction, became dejected. The most intimate friend of his beloved brother – he couldn’t help but be curious about many things.

“Hey, D’Élysée. I’m asking this just in case. By brother, do you mean that bastard who abandoned you at the orphanage overnight?”

“That’s a bit harsh.”

“Damn it, am I wrong then?”

Their private conversation flowed from a few steps away. Gavin cupped his hand as if whispering, but it was of little use. At the curses leaking out, Egru tightly gripped the velvet seat.

“He didn’t show his face all this time, so why the hell did he choose to come on your inauguration day?”

“He says he needs money.”

“Money? Ha, how does his repertoire never change!”

Gavin shouted loudly as if for everyone to hear.

“Dammit, how dare he come here! The nerve of him!”

Startled, Egru immediately lowered his head. This time, he looked ready to burrow under the sofa.

“How the hell did we endure that hell! Years of crappy meals three times a day, stacked up like canned goods on a shelf! And now all he has to say is money?”

“Calm down, Brother Gavin. You’re very drunk.”

D’Élysée was composed. Instead, it was Gavin who was raging furiously.

“Damn it, you’ve got some stomach! How could you let something like that into your office!”

Gavin glared at the opposite sofa where Egru was hiding with blazing eyes. D’Élysée laughed with a deflating sound.

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

The monotonous reply hit Egru’s chest like a nail.

‘Stomach…’

Was that a word to use towards family? Egru didn’t know. It felt like his brain was turning completely rigid. And this was a head already criticized for being dimwitted.

The carpet under his worn boots became soaked with steadily falling droplets. If he was hated by his only family, that would truly mean the end of any meaning in his life.

“People are so disgustingly easy! They come running like moths to a flame when they see money!”

Gavin shouted as if utterly disgusted.

“Has he never thought about earning money himself? He doesn’t know how hard it is because he’s never worked his ass off!”

“Gavin.”

“What, man! You stay put next to me!”

“Get out now.”

“What?”

Gavin turned to look at D’Élysée, panting heavily. D’Élysée continued calmly.

“I’ll interview the kids who got disciplined today separately.”

“Hey, that’s not the issue right now!”

“Take the bottle of alcohol you brought.”

D’Élysée slowly nodded towards the office door. That much meant it was over.

“You… sigh…”

After an unsatisfied silence, Gavin held his forehead. Gavin, who had swept his rough hand upwards, messed up his hair vigorously. The sigh he heaved reeked of alcohol.

“Don’t be fooled, D’Élysée. Don’t get caught up in the sentimentality of meeting after a long time.”

“As if you would.”

“That’s why I’m telling you not to make a mistake.”

“The bottle.”

“Ah! I’m not leaving trash behind!”

Despite bursting out angrily, Gavin tapped D’Élysée’s arm.

“I’m going.”

Instead of answering, D’Élysée just shrugged his shoulders once. Gavin, who was heading out of the office, suddenly came back with big strides.

Thud―!

He kicked the sofa where Egru was hiding hard before leaving again. With the sound of the door closing, a deathly silence followed.

“Brother, what are you doing?”

D’Élysée asked, peeking behind the sofa. Egru was lying flat as if he had been bombed.

“You, you don’t have to lend me money, D’Élysée. I’m sorry. I’m, I’m really sorry. I won’t, I won’t come again.”

“Don’t say such hurtful things. How did you come to feel that way?”

D’Élysée sat down leisurely on the sofa. His bright green eyes looked up at the ceiling.

The soft seat comfortably embraced his body, tired from the day’s inauguration ceremony. Above all, his nose, which had been aching from all kinds of pheromones, was finally at ease.

“Come in front of me, brother. I’m feeling unusually weak today.”

D’Élysée closed his eyes. A faint sobbing sound echoed from behind the backrest.

“Come on.”

It was a calm urging.

The sound of rustling clothes being straightened came from behind. The sound of hesitantly standing up and taking steps, all slow and easy like a turtle.

Soon, a presence was felt in front. D’Élysée’s eyelids slowly lifted.

“I always had to look up at you… but not anymore.”

The empty bright green eyes filled with a small figure.

“You don’t have to hide in front of me.”

Fingertips covered in calluses touched Egru’s dark brown hair. His shaggy bangs were very slowly tucked behind his ear. Swoosh, a few strands fell forward again. Nevertheless, his lime-green complexion was revealed much more clearly than before.

D’Élysée smiled brightly like a child.

“Your face looks just like butter stepped on by a foot. Did you cry just now?”

“N-No. No way.”

Egru quickly shook his head. His amber eyes were directed towards the floor as if that was their rightful place.

D’Élysée’s gaze slowly moved up and down. Egru’s eye area was red, as if he had rubbed it vigorously. His skin, chapped enough to be clearly visible to the naked eye, was rough.

“Even an eagle wouldn’t eat you. You’re nothing but skin and bones.”

He looked much more emaciated than in his memories.

“What have you been doing to get so many small injuries? Your hands and feet are full of blisters.”

“It’s, it’s nothing.”

D’Élysée, who had been scanning his brother’s entire body, suddenly frowned.

“…You smell.”

“Oh, really?”

Egru was startled. Heat rose to his nape from the rush of embarrassment.

“S-Sorry, I washed before coming…!”

The movement to step back immediately stopped abruptly. His frail arm was firmly grasped in D’Élysée’s hand.

“No. Actually, I can’t smell you at all. Looks like Levian really made up his mind.”

“Huh? Perfume?”

“No, something more terrible and filthy than that.”

“?”

D’Élysée buried his nose in Egru’s collarbone. Due to his skinny build, his bone structure was so prominent it almost hurt to touch.

“This can’t be right. How can there be no scent at all without an imprint? You’re an omega, brother. I definitely smelled it. When we lived together.”

D’Élysée looked down at the lime-green nape, lost in thought. Come to think of it, why hadn’t he been imprinted in the first place? He wasn’t the type to leave it alone for no reason.

“Did you take pheromone suppressants? They must be much more expensive than heat suppressants. It must be hard to get reagents without side effects, too.”

“Uh, what are you…”

At the clueless response, D’Élysée changed his question.

“Have you had a trait test? You’re supposed to take it mandatorily before you’re fourteen. There was no record of you at the Papal Headquarters, what were your results?”

Egru’s eyes blinked heavily. He still seemed at a loss.

“Do you understand what I’m saying? This is basic sex education.”

“Ba-Basic…”

Egru swallowed dryly. An unprecedented earthquake occurred in his amber eyes.

“I, I think I did take the test, but I’m not sure about the results.”

As D’Élysée’s expression hardened, Egru hurriedly explained.

“I, I’m not infected with any disease, D’Élysée. Really, believe me. I am taking one medicine, but Levian said it’s definitely not contagious.”

D’Élysée suddenly stood up. There was little space left between the sofa and the low table. Pushed back as he was, Egru’s knees hit the low table.

He couldn’t bring himself to sit on the table. After staggering for a while, Egru barely managed to collapse sideways. D’Élysée left his side without caring.

“I’ll give you the money, brother. It’s no big deal to give you that pocket change.”

“……”

“When did you abandon me, and now you’re living so pathetically? It breaks my heart to see you like this.”

However, he didn’t look heartbroken at all. D’Élysée was smiling.