The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 43
“Hah…”
Aseph sighed in frustration, running his fingers through his hair.
“So what about that?”
His next words were quite cold.
“Reviving the dead is something not even the current Emperor of Frieblanda can do. If it hadn’t been me who needed to be hidden and was saved at that time, a religion would have been founded in her honor, and temples erected. But why should one mere guardian of this small country be treated so importantly, while she’s being disrespected?”
Though it wasn’t a small country, and the term ‘mere’ was not fitting for the Guardian of Vilkanos.
Aseph’s words were not just blinded by love; they carried a real possibility.
Mages held power due to their transcendent abilities, and they were in direct opposition to the alchemists, who disrupted the mages’ hierarchical system. No matter the pretext, those who knew understood the truth.
And as Aseph said, reviving the dead was something not even the most powerful magician, the current Emperor of Frieblanda, could achieve.
In reality, when Aseph Vilkanos was missing in the war after being hit by a powerful spell, everyone was searching for his body, not expecting him to be alive. The fact that he returned alive was astonishing, especially since it was an alchemist who had saved him.
Moreover, Aseph Vilkanos had a body impervious to magic. His anti-magic nature, which repelled all forms of magic, made it difficult for him to heal from severe injuries. The former guardian had died in a similar manner.
Yet, for some reason, Aseph returned in much better physical condition.
He then hastily concluded the war. He could have pushed further to completely destroy the empire, but he chose to stop. Initially, people thought it was to minimize the casualties, but the real reason was that he needed to find someone.
Specifically, the alchemist who had saved him.
After such an event, the butler thought nothing could surprise him anymore, but he was shocked again.
That alchemist was none other than Zephyr—the west wind of Myron Devesis.
“And I’m younger than her, too.”
“…”
“…”
“That’s impossible.”
For the first time, the butler, who had been maintaining his composure, was at a loss for words.
“I thought Your Highness was a thief…”
“Do you realize you sometimes blurt out exactly what’s on your mind?”
Aseph was about to snap in irritation but decided against it. It was a waste of time.
“Who would treat the person they love like that?”
Ruslan just refilled Aseph’s glass in response to his irritable reaction.
The reason Aseph had taken the time to talk to the butler was to ask him to choose some accessories.
He didn’t entrust this task to another servant because he knew the butler had been quite popular with the opposite s*x in his youth, and he had tolerated the butler’s nagging because there was a difference in what the butler approved of and what he didn’t.
Moreover, since the butler was from the West, he would presumably know the tastes there as well.
After trying on the jewelry recommended by the butler and inspecting himself in a full-length mirror, Aseph finally nodded in satisfaction.
“…Anyway, make sure she lacks nothing in her treatment in this mansion.”
“Understood.”
No matter how worrying the issue was, the butler had no choice but to follow his obstinate master’s orders.
It wasn’t just because of the master-servant relationship.
Once Aseph set his mind on something, there was no changing it.
❖
Contrary to Aseph’s worries, Bea was quite comfortable in the mansion.
She had initially come to collect reparations, but instead of money, Aseph provided her with alchemical materials and a laboratory. In fact, she needed the money to buy expensive materials, and Aseph had even started to take care of the homunculus that had been ruining her progress and materials. So in a way, her goal had been achieved.
She quickly adapted to having her bed made every day and receiving proper meals at the right time, which was initially unfamiliar.
However, Aseph gave her everything except money.
He seemed to think that she would immediately leave if she received money.
And he always wanted to create a point of contact, insisting that she personally tell him what alchemical materials she needed.
Today as well, Aseph personally brought the materials requested by Bea instead of sending a servant. After transferring the boxes, Aseph finally presented Bea with a single flower, a pale beige rose.
“I brought this because it reminded me of you.”
“…I didn’t ask for this.”
The flower was of no use in her research. In the past, she would have thrown it away, but Bea made a nutrient solution in a flask and placed the flower in it on the windowsill.
Such behavior was new to Aseph, who tilted his head in curiosity. It was usually Aseph who did such things, and in fact, he had thought Bea would simply discard it.
“It seems you like it.”
Bea shook her head.
“He used to bring these too. It mimicked what you did.”
The homunculus, now big enough to play outside on its own, often brought flowers to decorate the laboratory. She remembered being very annoyed when she had to throw away too many flowers and it cried and sulked.
As she finished arranging the vase and turned around, Aseph was standing right behind her. He leaned in closer, bringing the scent of his cologne with him.
