Becoming the Terminally-Ill Villain Who Torments His Disciples - Chapter 62.1
Oscar repeatedly clenched and unclenched his palm.
The feeling of suffocation wouldn’t go away. Since Pielago’s ability was said to wear off after a day, he would likely be able to use his powers again soon.
‘Once I’m okay, I’ll treat Master first…’
While thinking this to himself, Oscar quietly observed someone passing by not far away.
“I didn’t expect people to be living together in a place like this.”
Eli, who had just stepped out of the hut, responded to Oscar’s murmuring.
“I thought the same when I first came here.”
“…”
“By the way, is Esteban asleep?”
At that question, Oscar narrowed his eyes. Could he still be interested in Cielo?
When Oscar stared at him with a tense expression, Eli quickly waved his hands in denial. His grumbling manner, as if he regretted asking, was noticeably different from how he’d been years ago.
“Hey, Eli! Did you check the spot where the carriage fell?”
“Hm? Oh, yeah! I did, but there was nothing special there!”
“Got it! Any medicine needed for the injured?”
“We’ve got enough, thanks!”
He even talked easily with people who appeared to be commoners.
“Did he hit his head…?”
Oscar had only ever seen Eli as a child. But since he had persistently bothered Cielo despite being disliked, Oscar’s impression of him had always been poor.
And yet, the current Eli wasn’t even getting unnecessarily close to Cielo. In fact, he was stepping back and trying to ease Oscar’s wariness.
“I didn’t hit my head.”
“…!”
“This environment just… made me feel a little more at ease.”
With that reply, Eli dragged over two chairs that had been carelessly placed against the wall of the hut.
After offering Oscar a seat, Eli sat down on the dusty chair without a second thought.
“How have things been?”
“…?”
“Ah, not you. I meant Esteban. I was wondering… has he been happy?”
Oscar looked at Eli’s face in silence for a moment, then let out a short sigh.
Brushing off the dust from the chair, he sat down and responded,
“He laughs more now than he used to.”
“…!”
“And I’ll make sure he becomes even happier from now on.”
At Oscar’s firm answer, Eli let out a soft laugh.
Well, that must be what allowed Cielo to look at someone with eyes like that.
“A person…”
When he had pushed through the bushes and found Cielo, his appearance had been an utter wreck, beyond what words could describe.
But those bright blue eyes of his had been burning fiercely—so fierce that even a wild beast might’ve hesitated. It was as if he was setting his own body ablaze to protect the man collapsed behind him, no matter what.
Not long after Cielo had collapsed, Oscar had gotten up, and the look on his face as he held Cielo had been so intense, it was as though he’d kill anyone who dared approach.
The way they tried to protect each other with their lives—it was admirable, and at the same time, something to envy.
“…If I had gotten the first button right in that relationship, could I have ended up like that too?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Eli gave a short answer and turned his head away.
Looking as though he was staring off into the distance, Eli heard Oscar speak.
“Do you want to be forgiven by Master?”
At Oscar’s words, Eli’s fingertips trembled ever so slightly. Noticing the movement, Oscar continued.
“Then apologize.”
“…”
“Master will surely accept it.”
“…Aren’t you going to stop me?”
At that question, Oscar quietly looked down at his hand. The stifling sensation he’d been feeling earlier seemed to have lifted. Rising from his seat, he answered,
“As long as you don’t get unnecessarily close.”
“…”
“I’m a dominant type, you see—I get jealous easily.”
With a light chuckle, Oscar snapped his fingers.
A small spark flickered at his fingertip, and with a satisfied expression, he walked back into the hut.
Eli silently watched his retreating figure, a faint smile forming at the corner of his lips.
***
Until he left the Imperial Palace, Eli had never known happiness.
Because he was the Crown Prince, he always had to be perfect. The moment he showed any sign of weakness, everyone was ready to criticize him.
“You’re recessive?”
“…”
“There are already so many people who look down on you. And now you’re not even dominant—you’re recessive?!”
On the day Eli manifested as an Alpha, the Emperor flew into a rage and grabbed Eli by the collar.
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