Even If Everyone Hates You - Chapter 7

Being on the same side was not necessary. However, Sjoerd had to mend his relationship with the Second Prince to the extent that he would receive purification.

Certainly, the Crown Prince was his Guide, but the Crown Prince’s power was not enough to stop his rampage. Therefore, he had to trust in the power of Reuschers, who was said to be the strongest of all.

Of course, the aversion he had towards Prince Reuschers did not disappear instantly due to the conclusion he had reached. The animosity he harbored for a long time, seeing him as an enemy and hating him, was stained throughout his life.

But his hatred for him didn’t burn as intensely as before. Whether the cold blade cooled his anger, or the being who granted him death felt less hateful than before, perhaps due to remembering their past before dying, or maybe due to the regrets he felt just before death, he didn’t find the prince’s actions hateful.

Because the prince was merely doing what he had to do.

Sjoerd, as he fell to rampage, was a villain who killed innocent lives, and the prince stopped him. Even in the midst of life-threatening battles, he did not retreat but protected his Tudur as a Guide.

Regardless of how much Sjoerd might have hated him, the prince was always a noble and righteous being. Having observed and clashed with him the longest, he knew that well.

And even as he stood against him, he couldn’t criticize the prince’s actions. He knew they were right.

Yet, he followed the orders by the Crown Prince’s side, ignoring the sacrifices of the powerless in the process of killing the Nirah.

It was for defeating a greater evil, so he believed the Crown Prince’s words were not wrong. Because, to him, the Crown Prince was also a good person.

But now, too much blood was on his hands.

He looked down at his hands, from which blood wouldn’t stop flowing.

These pale hands, marked with scars and calluses, were coated in the blood of others. The pleas for life and screams of terror and hate-filled curses seemed to pool in his hands.

His hands trembled slightly, so he clenched them into fists.

Hell wasn’t somewhere else; it was right there. He was hell, he was the demon. Such things must never happen again…

Shedding his mother’s disgrace was still his mission, but more importantly, he had to control himself to ensure no innocent lives were taken.

“There’s one thing that must be changed.”

After some contemplation, he handed the documents back to Callahan, stating his decision. The butler, waiting for confirmation, listened attentively.

“It seems there was a mistake regarding Prince Reuschers’s accommodation. Provide him with the eastern bedroom in the main building. Make sure he is attended to adequately.”

Surprised by the unexpected command, a look of astonishment briefly crossed Callahan’s always smiling face. However, the experienced steward quickly composed his emotions without any further comments.

“As you wish.”

As Callahan was about to leave, he issued one more command.

“Also, Quilly will stay at the mansion during this Origin Festival. No need for other servants either.”

The butler’s face shadowed over at the instruction to leave his son at the mansion.

Participating in the Origin Festival had always been considered an honor for those from the Axid territory, so the sudden prohibition must have been shocking. However, like before, Callahan composed himself professionally.

“Are you sure that’s wise? Perhaps taking a mute servant might be better.”

“It’s fine.”

An Origin Festival where many would die, the casualties had to be reduced by at least one.

Callahan, met with his silent insistence, watched him for a moment before courteously bowing and leaving the room.

Sjoerd was about to say one last thing to the butler, however he soon decided against it. Telling him not to participate because ‘many might die’ would be unbelievable to anyone in their right mind.

It was only after Callan’s footsteps had faded away that Sjoerd headed to the study connected to his bedroom.

Before opening the door, his mother’s portrait hanging on the wall suddenly caught his eye. Silently gazing at the painting, he opened the door and entered the study. Then, he picked up the paper and quill pen on the small desk and sat by the window.

Below the window, the patrolling knights were visible. All were fine knights of the family, but not all were loyal to Sjoerd. And among them, some would die today due to the events that would unfold.

Holding the quill, Sjoerd intended to write down the complicated past events on paper. Memories always scatter and become unclear, so it seemed better to write down what he could clearly recall.

The most significant event that came to mind was undoubtedly what would happen today.

The Origin Festival, a celebration wishing for a safe passage through the harsh winter, was held in the Axid territory, where winter arrives first. The first day’s ritual was the most crucial part of the Origin Festival, where the royal family’s Guides and the Tudur from each territory gathered here to kill the Nirah on the border of the night forest.

The Nirah, ancient monsters emerging from the forest surrounding all ends of the Solias Kingdom, were isolated yet perpetually threatened the kingdom.

As winter approached, the Nirah, crawling from the center of the forest, harmed all humans in sight. Their size and strength varied depending on where they lived.

Nirah living near the forest’s edge were usually monstrous beings between the size of a wolf and a fox, which well-trained knights could easily kill. Though Nirah, monsters emerging from the shadows of the night, did not have a fixed form, those near the border mostly took the shape of night creatures. The difference was that they moved only in darkness and consumed human minds.

For generations, the Origin Festival had been safely conducted without accidents. Originally, it stemmed from the Tudur of other territories coming to assist the northern territory, where winter arrives three months earlier than other regions, but it has now settled as a ceremony symbolizing unity.

However, this Origin Festival faced a disaster when Nirah from the deeper parts of the forest escaped the boundary. Knights with no experience against mid-level Nirah died due to inexperience, and there were casualties among those who fled in panic. Even more were sacrificed to evacuate the royal family.

Because of this, the Origin Festival was canceled from this year onwards, and Prince Reuschers lost one of his closest companions—an old knight who had protected the prince since childhood.