The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 45
In the empire’s high society, Aseph used to scoff at all kinds of wealth and beautiful daughters presented as dowries, yet he was now pursuing someone who rejected such things. That person was the alchemist known as Zephyr. This seemed odd to Ruslan.
“From my investigation, it seems she was the alchemist who spent the most time with Myron Devesis. So… she essentially spent most of her life as Myron’s subordinate.”
“What about before that?”
“There’s hardly any record. But it’s not impossible to infer.”
Ruslan paused for a beat before continuing.
“It’s suspected she was a slave.”
At these words, Aseph, who had been busily changing into his fifth outfit, suddenly stopped. His eyes narrowed.
As both a servant and a friend, Ruslan had always been against Aseph’s connection with Zephyr. Now a concrete reason seemed to have emerged.
“Are you wary because of her social status?”
“No, if it were just that, it would be a relief.”
Ruslan sighed and continued.
“Records of her started appearing around the time Myron Devesis’s influence began to stir. So, maybe Zephyr is even more dangerous than Myron Devesis. That’s what I’m trying to say.”
Alchemists existed before Myron gained prominence. However, they were nowhere near the status and wealth of established mages.
Myron’s name gained prominence because, from the time he began his machinations, the alchemists started posing a real threat to mages. Of course, various inhumane human experiments contributed to their notoriety.
If Zephyr’s records started with Myron, it suggested that all those heinous deeds might not have been Myron’s alone but could have involved Zephyr as well.
“…Even if that’s true, it’s all in the past. It does not change the fact that she is my savior.”
However, hearing this, Aseph remained stubborn.
“And… she’s not really that bad a person.”
“That’s your hope speaking, Your Highness. You haven’t known her for long. I’m speaking from what I’ve seen directly.”
Ruslan sighed.
“Even from what I saw, and more so after investigating her past, it’s clear. Zephyr is ‘alchemy personified’. I’ve met many other alchemists, but I’ve never seen anyone as archetypal as Zephyr.”
The butler might have mentioned both the good and bad impressions of alchemists, but Ruslan clearly had more reservations.
This was a marked change from his previous stance of supporting the relationship as a friend. This time, he opposed it even from a vassal’s standpoint.
“In fact, if it weren’t for the child, I would have taken action myself. The butler, who has met Zephyr before, is still observing, so I couldn’t step in.”
“Ruslan.”
“I’m serious. I’m saying this because it’s me.”
Given the difficult times they had gone through together, the loyalty of both the butler and Ruslan was beyond doubt. In fact, aside from the emotional aspect that Aseph alone held, their suspicions based on the recorded facts were valid.
“One good thing is that the child doesn’t resemble Zephyr at all. The child really looks just like you when you were young. Though it seems like Zephyr doesn’t have any affection for the child at all.”
That was a consensus among all the servants who had seen Homun.
As for Zephyr, it didn’t matter.
The child, bearing the blood of Vilkanos, must be taken away.
It was fortunate that Zephyr would probably leave the child and go away as long as she’s compensated.
But all these were things Aseph could not accept.
He couldn’t believe that Zephyr could have been so cruel.
“How can you see it that way when the child resembles her so much in my eyes?”
The butler was usually cautious. He knew Zephyr from the days when she was active with Myron Devesis, and his judgment that she had changed was not necessarily wrong.
What Aseph couldn’t understand, however, was the butler’s speculation that she might have changed after having a child.
To Aseph’s eyes, Bea was the same as she had been before Homun even existed.
The butler’s judgment that she changed because of the child.
Ruslan’s judgment that she looked at the child with the cold detachment of an alchemist.
Both opinions were too extreme to accept.
“She’s just a bit awkward, that’s all.”
“Understood. If Your Highness says so, then I will trust your judgment.”
Ruslan was somewhat skeptical, but he still chose to trust Aseph’s instincts.
“Then, as you instructed, I’ll go ahead and inspect the site first.”
Though he complained a bit, Ruslan faithfully followed Aseph’s order to check the mine before their visit.
“But don’t completely let down your guard.”
His final advice as he left was still out of concern as a friend.
Once Ruslan had left, Aseph ran his hand over his face.
“Haa…”
He just wanted to love, but it was proving to be anything but simple.
