TBMGW 29

Chapter 29

The devil’s name.

The name dwelling within Ian Brighton that Cecil uncovered in the original work was……

I can’t remember.

Even though that was the most important element. My mind was a blank sheet—only for this part.

Perhaps that, too, was a law set by this world.

Unless the devil himself speaks it, you cannot know his name.

Maybe that was how it worked.

I silently stared out the window.

Rain poured down as if a hole had been punched through the sky.

Just as the steward had warned, the river overflowed, and the bridge leading to the village was submerged before anyone could do a thing.

At least we had reinforced the windows with wooden boards in advance to keep the glass from shattering in the wind.

If we hadn’t prepared so thoroughly, there would have been a terrible flood.

Throughout the torrential downpour, the villa was quieter than ever.

The servants could not easily speak to me, and even less so to Ian.

As if by unspoken agreement, no one brought up Cecil’s visit, yet it was clear they were strangely afraid of Ian.

The way they treated me had become exceedingly cautious, and whenever they needed to hand something to Ian or ask for his opinion, they invariably went through me first.

They seemed deeply worried that if they provoked Ian, something like that time might happen again.

However, as if all those worries were meaningless, Ian remained calm.

Like the saying “the calm before the storm,” I worried for a moment that it was the stillness just before disaster—

—but seeing him shut up in his room for three straight days, it was hard to find any will at all in him.

I deliberately went to see him regularly.

I was afraid that while I left Ian alone, the devil might whisper temptations to him.

In the past, Ian had “used the devil’s power of his own accord.”

Up until now, two personalities—the devil and Ian—had alternated in occupying his body, and every deed had been carried out by the “devil.” But in the recent incident, it was clear that Ian had recognized the devil dwelling within him and had used it of his own volition.

The first time is difficult, but the second and third would be easier.

Once I had started to concern myself with exorcising the devil lodged inside Ian Brighton, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

So today as well, I took a tray with a teacup and tea foods and headed for Ian’s room.

Then, suddenly, I stopped in the middle of the corridor.

Rain heavy enough to submerge the bridge to the village, ceaseless thunder and lightning, waves rising as if to threaten the mansion perched atop the seaside cliffs—and even the servants subtly avoiding Ian.

And in this ominous situation, the duke and duchess are scheduled to visit the villa.

That visit would decide whether Ian returned to the main house or not.

Is returning the better choice, or is it better for him to stay here…?

Which path would be for Ian’s sake?

With a faint sigh, I started walking again.

At last, I reached Ian’s door and knocked carefully.

“Young master.”

As always, there was no response.

Ian never tried to stop me from visiting him, but neither did he welcome me.

“It’s Sissy. Excuse me.”

Still silence.

When I carefully opened the door with a creak of the hinges, a swarm of rats carpeting the floor caught my eye.

And now there wasn’t even sunlight to drive them away.

But who do you think I am? Sissy Grington, a seasoned attendant hardened by long experience—this much was nothing.

I extended the familiar lit lamp forward, and the rats scattered from where the light reached.

Even so, they would soon gather again in the dark corners and wait for their chance to roam free, but considering the gloomy weather, I decided to let it be for today.

Because Ian was……

“It’s too dark in here, young master. May I turn on the light?”

“I don’t want that.”

He’d been stubborn like this for days.

I really wanted to turn on every single light there was.

And as a bonus, throw open the curtains and ask, “Are you some child of darkness or something?”

Though if we’re being technical, a devil is a child of darkness.

With that silly thought, I blankly stared at Ian’s back as he lay sprawled on the bed.

“Young master.”

Silence.

“Young master, aren’t you hungry? It’s already lunchtime, and you haven’t eaten anything.”

Silence again.

“I asked them to cut the sandwiches into bite-sized pieces. They’re all freshly made, so they should be very tasty.”

When I kept talking persistently, Ian finally gave a dry reply.

“Eat it yourself.”

Which literally meant, If you want to eat, go ahead, Sissy. I don’t care.

I’d perfected the Ian translator this well—so why wouldn’t he give me more chances to use it?

Holding the lamp, I crept closer to Ian’s bed.

I heard the rats skittering away from me.

If an ordinary servant had been standing here instead of me, they would have fainted on the spot.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“…….”

“Does it hurt a lot? Should I call a doctor… Ah, but the bridge is flooded right now……. Shall I have them brew you some tea good for headaches?”

“Go.”

Stubborn as ever.

“Up until now, you were desperate to keep me from leaving.”

“You’ve gotten pretty cheeky.”

“Y-you used to let this much slide, too.”

This time as well, I thought he would persist in silence—

—but unexpectedly, there was a reaction. He grabbed my hand—the one not holding the lamp—and yanked it toward him.

I nearly collapsed onto Ian’s body, but I barely managed to keep my balance along with the lamp.

In the dim light, half of Ian’s face was revealed.

Having turned his upper body toward me, Ian’s face was unnaturally expressionless.

His red eyes, so empty it was hard to find any glint in them, were directed at me.

Something dropped heavily in my chest at the sight.

I couldn’t pinpoint a specific reason.

But my heart definitely skipped a beat. Why was that?

“It’s all because of you.”

Ian’s low voice mingled with the sound of rain and echoed dully.

“Me?”

“If you hadn’t met that bastard…….”

“That wasn’t intentional on my part…….”

“If you hadn’t received that damned consecration.”

“T-that… He offered to do it, and I didn’t really have a way to refuse.”

“Shut up.”

Suddenly, Ian sat up.

In an instant, his face was close.

Because Ian, having risen from the bed, leaned his head toward me.

The eyes that had been empty just moments ago suddenly blazed.

“I’m sick of the scent of lilies.”

I quietly met his gaze.

“When the weather clears, shall we go on a picnic again?”

“At a time like this, that’s all you have to say?”

“Young master, do you know which is greatest among faith, hope, and love?”

“What……? All three are garbage.”

Still, it seemed he was doing all right. If he could complain like this.

Relieved inside, I smiled brightly.

“There’s no such thing as a ‘greatest.’ All three are important. And in that sense, young master, you need to trust me a little.”

“Shouldn’t we first confirm whether hope and love even exist?”

“Young master.”

“…….”

“When you told me to come back, have I ever once disobeyed that order?”

Ian’s eyes sank once more.

Like impurities floating on the water’s surface quietly settling onto the gravel at the bottom.

“What are you so afraid of?”

“Who knows.”

Ian Brighton’s cracked voice drifted through the air.

At its end, Ian’s hand slowly lifted.

Soon, that hand touched my cheek. His palm was strangely cool.

Instead of adding any words, I quietly watched what Ian Brighton did.

For the past three years, I was the only one who had stayed by Ian Brighton’s side.

The only one who guarded his side, and the only one he allowed there.

Worried by how he voluntarily chose isolation, I had tried to introduce him to various people, but every attempt ended in failure.

Though he had spent three years quietly and obediently, Ian Brighton still hated humans.

He was the type to shut the world out.

Somehow, I’m the only one he tolerates.

The sole servant of the devilish young master—and perhaps his friend.

With his attachment fixed on just me, how could his heart not be burdened?

I can understand why this half-human, half-demon, utterly inept at forming relationships, would develop a strange obsession.

Separate from that, I wasn’t sure what I should say to reassure him.

Should I say I won’t leave until he grows into a fine adult and is purified?

Or maybe, for the sake of keeping my job, I’ll faithfully remain by his side?

As I racked my brain to no avail, Ian slowly parted his lips.

“Everything.”

His red eyes gleamed for an instant in the darkness.

I stared blankly into them.

“Whenever I get tangled up with you, I’m afraid of everything. I’ve never felt this way with anyone else.”

This was……

Could this be some kind of confession for a devil?

A devil and confession—there couldn’t be two words that matched less.

The strangely heavy atmosphere and the rain pouring down outside the window.

After taking in Ian Brighton’s subtle air, I thought:

Ian Brighton becoming an adult and gaining independence still seems a long way off.

And I became half certain.

What should I do?

It seems our young master is starting to evolve into one of those obsessive, dark-behind-the-scenes male leads.