Irregular Curved
Chapter 1: Asa and Angan
The castle hallway that stood majestically above the plateau was dark. Although the situation outside was brightly cloudy, the atmosphere seemed to be bounded by the grayish-colored castle walls.
The sound of faint footsteps sounded. Followed by several servants and bodyguards, the boy tried to hold back his footwear from making noises that disturbed the calm.
Steps ceased. It felt like something was distracting her. Likewise with the servants and bodyguards of light temper, they also stopped because they had a duty to serve the boys in front of them.
The boy turned his face to the window that revealed a cloudy blue sky. In plain sight, there is a large shadow whose form is hidden behind the clouds.
"Do you know what that is?" The boy looked at him with great curiosity.
"Ck." One of the maidservants clicked her tongue. It was clear enough even that the boy could clearly figure it out.
"It was a creature called 'Dragon, ' Young Master."
The other servant replied in a sharp tone even though the words he uttered were polite. He wondered if the boy in front of him had never learned the common sense of the world before.
Not that the servants really knew it. If you look back, the shadow is faint enough that it cannot be ascertained if the shadow is a "Dragon."
However, it has become an open secret. There is no shadow hiding in the sky unless it is a dragon. The existence of the creature has also been confirmed, it is not like a legend or a folk tale because this world is a fantasy world where there is magic and magical power, he said, if someone from the earth were to judge the world as a whole.
The boy's eyes stared softly. He hid it so that it could not be realized by the people standing a few steps behind him.
Light Allain, the first son and heir to the House of Allain, a Count's house under the rule of the Corthian Empire.
To his father, Light was a bearer of misfortune. Not only has the crop deteriorated over the years of its birth, the lands dried up, the rivers have also subsided every year.
Light was not only disliked by his father, but the servants and knights were also acting this way. They were blatantly dislikeful of Light due to the orders of Light's own father, Jade Allain.
The economic reasons as well as Allain's deteriorating harvest were enough for them to hate Light after Jade told all the higher-ups of her territory about the calamity that had arisen after Light was born.
The situation gradually improved after Jade's second wife gave birth to her first son, Colin Allain. Be it poor produce or drought that hit the region, all things seemed to improve as before, making Jade know if Light was the child of disaster in his family.
At that time, the only person who gave Light affection was his mother, Elena Allain, who always encouraged him despite the scorn and unpleasant treatment of his surroundings.
However, Light must feel his pain again. When she was young, her mother's house, which had both marquis rank and was the home that protected Count Allain, the House of Renesse, rebelled against the emperor and led to their execution. Not only the main family, but also their entire branch family.
Because of this, Jade hates Light and Elena even more. He pleaded for protection to the Emperor in order to free his family and home from punishment even though they had no connection to the rebellion.
The Emperor granted Jade's request. It was impossible to leave the border region without a single caretaker while the neighboring kingdom was preparing its military might, although that reason Jade was unaware of because of her stupidity.
There was enough of a reason that inside Elena flowed rebel blood to cause her to be executed secretly. Naturally, the Emperor was unlikely to execute him publicly because Elena who was no longer directly tied to her home of origin. It was the Emperor's pride and anger that led to Light's mother's death.
Of course, Light's death was a must. After a long wait, in the end Light can be eliminated without having to cause the good name of the royalties of the Corthia— EmpireThe Nouvelle— family is polluted.
"It's time, Young Master. Please don't keep the Count waiting." The senior-looking female servant no longer hid her impatience.
"Okay, I'm sorry." Light moved back, he lowered his tone for not wanting them to get any more annoyed at him.
Some servants did not hesitate to talk about Light exactly a few steps behind him. Even so, Light only silenced as if those poisonous words were just going into his ear and out of his other ear.
A simple browned door with a gold-colored grip was now right in front of Light. There was fear, Light knew the figure calling him was right behind the twin doors before him.
Geck.
Geck.
"Young Master Light has arrived, sir." The guard knight of the room momentarily gave a murky expression to Light, although he returned his flat face back and did his duty indifferently.
Confirmation has been given. Light came in and stood up straight to receive his father's call. However, Light only finds the back of the chair leading to him. It was accompanied by smoke billowing from one of its sides.
Despite having experienced this every time Jade called Light into her room, Light's heart somehow always felt pain. He knew even his father didn't want to just meet him because of his hatred. Even so, there was a small desire in the depths of his heart for at least Jade to be able to look at him even with a murky expression.
"A decree has come from His Majesty the Emperor to one of his knights, Count Allain, to defend the borders from barbarian attacks." The Count's words were short, yet felt weighty. That action was enough to hold Light hostage to remain under his command just because he still bears Allain's name.
"And you were commanded directly by His Majesty the Emperor to lead the defense forces at the border while I was ordered to greet and organize the troops that were coming from the capital." Jade's words contained thorns.
Light then understood when the end was getting closer. The emperor and his father could not have killed him by sending him to war before Light grew up or turned 15. It would only damage their reputation and good name as savages who sent small children to die on the battlefield.
"Good..." Just as Light was about to call Jade "Father," Light retracted his words in remembrance of his dark past, "I will give victory to the empire and prosperity to the Allain Region."
That sentence vibrated. Despite trying, Light somehow still couldn't hold back his grief. He knows he is unwanted. He understood that the servants and military officers in the room welcomed the edict with joy even though they were not present.
As Light lowered his head, he received a "go" order from his father and left the room quickly, like escaping from the cruel reality that cornered him.
Tears are spilling. Light ran through the hallway with a broken feeling. Perhaps, today was the last day he could meet his mother's grave in the castle cemetery.
As Light stared at the window, the shadow was still visible. Light can only smile, he has the desire that at least he can live freely in his other life.
......................