Chapter nine: Silver-Haired boy.
The War Heroes of the Continent, consists of the most talented people around the land 30 years ago, when the western part was invaded by demons and powerful magical beasts.
Around that time, the War Heroes from the East, my Grandfather and his close buddy, the former Archduke Isolde took the major role in the battle, with the assistance of his aides, the witch of the mountains, one of the geniuses who have 2 auras, the Elf guardian from the west, and the Holy Priest from the Imperium continent.
Sadly, the former Archduke Isolde died from a chronic illness just 10 years after that war, in which his son took over the title, they became close buddies since my Grandfather helped and assisted him all the way. As for the witch, well, she was retired now and was still hidden around the west area so I have no idea where the heck she is. For the Elf Guardian before, he is currently a lord or the leader of the Colossus Empire, and lastly, the Priest from the Imperium empire is now a Holy Pope.
From what I know, Valentes and Isoldes shared land in the East, which it was the request of the Isoldes who wanted it in the first place because the land of the East was big, Grandfather happily accepted it in the end after all.
As for me today, a few days have passed since Grandfather told me to prepare myself for the important guest to arrive, all I did was just rest and read books about magical beasts in the east. The guest that will arrive soon, for what I know, that eldest son of Isolde, Alpin Boris, was a supporting character in the novel 'The Chosen Love Rival', for some reason, every route I have read so far, always got him disappeared after my bad ending, for example, the Crown Prince's route, after the female lead was rescued from my evilness, he was just gone after they got married to the Crown Prince. All other routes were the same, he just left the scene after I got 'killed' or something.
This guy, his role here is unknown, but for some reason, the readers suggested making him one of the male leads in the story, because not just of his loyalty, and talent of swordsmanship, but also his looks as well. The author describes him as a 'silent but deadly look', readers want his cold and silent attitude, and he doesn't speak much well, he just glares when he is annoyed and nods when he receives orders from his superiors.
Well, Alpin has this silver hair, beautiful dark brown colored eyes, a fair complexion, well-built muscles, and has no sense of humor. He wants everything in order, and everyone tried not to annoy him because of his cold looks and the scary environment around him, they called him the 'icy prince' for nothing.
When the Crown Prince asks him why he doesn't speak much, he would just stare at him for no reason, but his close aides, like his nanny and his assistant, only know him well of his actions and his personality.
Not for me anymore, this boy today is annoyingly staring at me for too long, I don't know why but he finds me very confusing. Right now, me and Grandfather are greeting the guests that have arrived in the household for some important matters related to their lands.
"Ah, my dear friend! How have you been?"
"Archduke! It's been like 6 months eh? Thank you for welcoming us and apologies for the sudden notice, I have also brought my son in my visit, Alpin, greet the Archduke"
"........" He just bows down and continues to stare back at me, ugh.
"What a cute boy, anyways, this is my only granddaughter, Cadyssa Von Valente" I bowed down with respect when Grandfather mentions my name.
"Hmm, I see, so this is what you have input in the letter, isn't she the former…Uhm…. You know…"
"HAHAHAHA! You prick, of course, a former Bloodhound, but now I adopted her as a Valente, I still not forgive that bastard yet" Both of them laughed in unison, I just shrugged and continue to look at this lad in front of me.
"Oh dear, how disrespectful of me, please come inside and have some warm tea and snacks, Cadyssa, please guide Alpin around the castle, me and your father will just discuss some adult things," Grandfather added.
"Yes, Grandfather"
"Meet us before dinner, you have some time to tour around, and be sure to let the twins know that it is time"
I just nod and bowed in response, while Alpin was just staring at those two men who walked away and head straight to my Grandfather's office.
"............…."
"............…."
"............."
"............."
Ugh, annoying, it is so quiet, I don't know how long we stand and just looked at each other, but this is getting irritating. I grabbed his hand and walked directly to my private garden, it was made for me by my Grandfather since I was studying poisonous plants, the old man doesn't agree at first since I am experimenting with poisons for my own use, of course, for my safety purposes as well because I am the sole heir of the Valente, the threats like poisoning is not an easy case for the enemies within the household, I should be preparing in the event this happens in the future.
We arrived at the entrance of the garden, but we can't just go inside because it reeks of poison smell, it will just harm him. I just pointed him out the sign that was beside the entrance door saying 'Casa de Venenum', he just nodded in response and waited for my hand to grab him to the next location which he finds amusing for some reason, weird.
Next was the Knights Training ground, where I trained mostly after studying in the morning, I think I was here mostly around afternoon until the evening before I headed out to the border to kill some magical beasts for my past time. Alpin looked around the area, went to the supplies, and took out the wooden sword, for some reason, he also looked at my hands in which he knows that I handed swords very well because of the scars I have on them. He returned the sword and smiled at me, waiting for me to move out to the next location.
We just walked around the area until we reached the Grand Library building, next to the garden. This is where I read and study most of the time, judging by his looks, he somehow likes this place, he went to some of the bookshelves and finds an interesting book. For some reason, he went walked toward me and handed me the book that interests him.
"The origin of the Magical beasts and their weaknesses?" Alpin nods.
".........."
".........."
".........."
"So, would you like me to read it for you?
".........."
".........."
"Nonsense, I already know the contents, I'll just explain it to you in simplest form, c'mon"
I took his hand and went straight to the table beside the window, this is my favorite spot of all since I can just watch outside when I got bored here. At first, he was just standing there for a few minutes, waiting for me to say anything, I just facepalmed and grabbed his shoulder and moved him to the chair in front of me. This is getting infuriating the longer I am together with this guy.
"Can you just say anything other than nodding? You sure are good at keeping your mouth shut somehow"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Ugh, fine, I'll just continue, anyways...…"
I told him the contents of the book, every simple detail that was understandable for his age, as I was discussing, I took a glimpse at his face, he was amazed at how I explained it to him thoroughly, looks like he really did want to study magical beasts, same as me, huh, looks like I have a bookworm friend.
A few hours have passed, Rebecca went in and informed me about the dinner meeting with the Archdukes, Me and Alpin didn't realize the time, I think we overenjoyed the moments with the books, looks like we have to continue this tomorrow, what a bummer.
I stood up and turned around, and was surprised to see him face to face, what in the world was that? I didn't realize that he was already there behind me.
I shrugged as if nothing happens and grabbed his usual hand, I am getting used to this holding shit part, I don't why and I don't care anyways, I am fucking tired not just physically, but also mentally because of this kid.
We arrived at the dining hall, the two Archdukes were laughing and talking much about their youthful days, I let go of Alpin's hands and went straight to my chair, and for some reason, Alpin was just staring at his hand where I held it beforehand. Archduke Norman stops and called his son, Alpin snaps out of it and walked to where his father is and continued eating.
"How was your tour children, do you have enjoyed it together?" Grandfather asks while he was sipping wine.
"It is somehow enjoyable, Grandfather, I discussed it with Sir Alpin regarding magical beasts at the Grand Library."
"Really? Alpin does wants to read, but I didn't expect that it was Magical beasts he's interested to together with a friend, that's new" Archduke Normal replied, somehow he knows his son was all alone mostly his lifetime.
"It's manageable, Sir Norman"
"HAHAHAHAHA, I like this kid! I can't wait to…"
"Now now, Norman, the children are here, let's discuss it at the later date." Grandfather interrupted.
"Oh dear, Apologies Senior, Let's just wait for them to enjoy this area for now"
"Ah yes, yes, regarding the...."
"Apologies, Grandfather, but I have to leave early as I have to deal with 'something' as per usual." I interrupted Grandfather, I wonder what kind of deal they are talking about a while ago.
"Dear me, it's this time alright, go on, I can't stop you anyway, be careful on dealing with them, Cadyssa" Grandfather said while he waves his hands.
"Yes, Grandfather, Sir Archduke Norman, apologies, I'll get going then, please continue on your discussions"
"Oh? Sure sure, Little lady."
As I left the room, Rebecca and Leika were waiting at the doorway of the hall, waving at me. That deal I was talking about was just a night patrol on the border. I asked my Grandfather beforehand while we are having a conversation over a tea if we can have permission to go on training outside the castle, dealing with all kinds of magical beasts around scouting as well, the old man doesn't agree at first because he was worried of my safety since it is not easy to kill some them, but when I showed him the souvenirs of those dead monsters, especially the dragon skin that I killed before, he laughed so hard that he can't believe that I did those.
Well, in the end, he agreed, I also told him that no one, especially the knights and the shadows should not interfere with our training and just let it slide, he immediately informed the head butler to pass the message to the commander regarding this.
"Huff, huff, fucking cold as shit," Leika said while he was trying to warm up his hands by rubbing them, we are currently outside the border, scouting the area.
"It's night alright, usual cold, even in the morning as well," Rebecca replied.
"I think I'm gonna die with the cold here, Cady, how'd you manage to not freezing here, holy crap"
"Stop being a bitch again, Leika"
"What did yo-"
"Shut up, Leika" I interrupted, he is getting annoying, I was trying to scout out the area for the magical beast's den location, these two idiots are fighting over nonsense again.
"Say something again or else I'm going to make you a beast's food, scout the area over the south for me and report immediately"
"Ugh, fine" Leika left in a hurry while scratching his head. Good, now one person is gone, I can finally concentrate on finding the beasts.
Over the course of the days, we usually did stuff like training and dealing with the magical beasts, however, there are times that I went out alone and didn't bring the two, since they have their own tasks, Rebecca had her own trainer in which I didn't know it was the commander itself that Grandfather recommends, I was shocked at first as to why he was chosen, the old man told me that the Commander volunteered to teach her the basics since he saw the potential talent within her while watching from afar.
These past few days ago, remember when Rebecca told me that she was going to train alone despite the incident that happened before, from that day she was always alone at the knights' training ground, the Commander saw her doing basic dagger techniques and controlling her earth attribute skills.
About Leika? I don't know where he was headed, but I do remember he was always in and out of the castle for some 'work', he can manage to live somehow, I trust him.
2 weeks have passed, and those days were just normal for me as usual, reading, killing, eating, resting, and repeat. While I was cleaning my wooden sword and dagger, I sense an aura of someone I knew just a few steps away from me, ah, behind the tree.
"........"
"........"
"Come out, I know you are there, little Archduke"
"........"
I heard the silver-haired boy saying 'tsk' and come out from the dead tree, well currently we are at the entrance of the Elite Knight's training ground, I took a glimpse of this boy who was still staring at me close, this is getting irritating, why can't he say something?
-*GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOWL*-
-*GROOOOWL*-
"..."
"..."
"Fuck"
I took his hand and went straight to the kitchen for some food, I forgot that it was past lunchtime, I was so focused on experimenting with my skills that I didn't mind my own health, for sure Rebecca will be mad at me for this and she will be lecturing me nonstop.
When we arrived at the kitchen, the chefs and the maids were confused as to why we were there, I asked them to prepare us some food for lunch, since we forgot to eat breakfast this morning, the people around immediately cook some leftovers and guide us to where the table is. I turned around and see Alpin still looking at our hands, and glanced at his face turned red, weird boy.
We headed to the table, as we were about to sit down, I removed my hand from Alpin's and headed to the chair, he was staring at his hands for a few seconds and went to sit near me. After a few minutes, the food was done and we started eating.
After a while, we went out and proceed to the free ground near the garden, this place is where I concentrate because the area here is so quiet, despite the cold from the snow. I can focus on controlling my mana, but for some reason, Alpin was with me all the time and was watching from the seat afar from me.
Alpin, this guy, has some weird aura around him, despite the rumors around that he is the son of the dark witch, according to the novel, their parents loved him so much, but for some reason, he doesn't speak much to the other people, he only has some few lines though and he is good at observing. Not gonna lie, he was so talented, I think I remember that he was one of the geniuses, the one that I read in the book wherein the blurred ones are the one that has ice and Dark attribute.
In the novel wherein Alpin was there in one scene, wherein he was assisting the Crown Prince in clearing the beasts when they ambushed them. He used Dark magic to lure them out from the Royal Prince, then proceed on killing them by using Ice. Knights were afraid of him because of his attribute skills, and hence, he didn't care much as he was so loyal to the Royal Family.
I don't know much of the story related to this guy, after all, maybe he is one of the hidden male leads that was about to release in the novel itself. Well, now I think this world has changed ever since I left the Bloodhound house. I'll just live the way I wanted after all.
After some time, Alpin still didn't leave beside me, even tho he was shivering because of the cold. I got irritated because I can't take him because of his stubbornness. Also, I don't want to talk as well since it is so annoying. If this guy felt sick, I'll be responsible for what happens next, ugh.
"Aren't you cold?" I walked towards him because he was sitting there for I-dunno-how-long-it-has-been-since-then.
"..."
"..."
"...."
"I know you are cold, you are shivering, you can leave me here alone" I and Alpin are still staring at each other.
"…"
"…"
"Don't blame me if you're sick after this"
"..."
"Oh, for shit's sake! Please talk, you are not even a mute"
"….."
"ugh.." I messed up my hair, goodness, this boy is so annoying, how many people are like this in this household.
"….."
"….."
"pffft"
"...."
"did you just laugh?"
"...."
"...."
"Fine, let's head inside, I'm going to ask the maids to get us some warm tea as well"
I grabbed his cold hands and headed inside the mansion, as we are walking to the study room, I asked the maids to grab us some snacks for the two of us and assist Alpin to the room near the fireplace and get him some warm clothes as well since we were out in the cold for too long, I told him to wait for me since I need to get change too.
After a while, I went inside to where Alpin is, I saw him reading a book near the fireplace. I offer him a warm tea with a butter cookie on the side to freshen up. He saw my hands that were turned red because of the cold, he quickly grabs them and just holds them for some reason, I was confused at first and tried to remove them but eventually, I can't because he was enjoying it so I just let it slide, I just took a random book and read it together until we are tired.
After a few hours, Grandfather and Archduke Norman went inside the study to discuss some territorial matters, as they took a glance at the two kids near the fireplace, they both smiled to see the children that were sleeping near each other. They left the room instead and order the knights and maids not to bother the kids as they were resting for the whole afternoon.
2 months has passed, the usual morning comes by, for some reason, after we had breakfast with Grandfather, the servants and maids were all flustered to prepare and clean the whole castle for the upcoming celebration for the next few days, my birthday, ah, I will turn 8 years old this year.
"Dear, how was your training?"
"It's fine at first, but not until Alpin appeared out of nowhere and annoys me"
"Pfft. I see, do not worry about that boy, he can handle the weather"
"That is not the case, Grandfather, he was watching me all the time, how can I focus on controlling my skills?"
"Is that why you were out to the border all this time?" I saw Grandfather smirked, this old man, really?
"No? not that…."
"HAHAHAH, it seems that you were worried about him, huh? Ah, puppy love…."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing dear, don't mind this old man of yours"
"Erm, as you were saying, Grandfather, why does Archduke Norman want to meet us later?"
"Ah yes, now that you were old enough, we were gonna say that…"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"…??"
"We decided that you are going to be Alpin's fiancé"