The Count Family's Young Master
Chapter 23 - Must (2)

"Your father? Who did your father dare to infiltrate the palace like that?"

The boy who gave Valias his robe spoke. Which actually sounds hypocritical because he himself came with his friends to infiltrate the palace. Even had the intention to kill the future king Hayden.

No one responded. Valias was still too confused by the sudden presence of Hadden's figure with that many people.

Let's meet them first.

Valias turned around to approach Valias' father and his subordinate.

"I'm coming along."

Frey already had a guess as to why Count Bardev had come to the palace.

Why else if not for worrying about her child? The news must have reached Hadden's ears somehow that the palace was visited by intruders while his son had not returned to the Bardev residence.

While Frey is more or less the cause of concern for a father that feels himself to be responsible as well.

After all, today was the first time Valias had entered the palace. Frey thinks of the possibility of Valias getting lost. Even he had not understood why the palace building which is his home had to be so large with many twists and turns of the hallway.

But it seemed natural as its status which was the building of the ruler of a great empire.

The two of them came out and crossed paths with Hadden and the army of knights he had brought with him. "Valias!!" Hadden ran over and directly held Valias' shoulder.

"Oh god. This blood! You injured? Does pain? Oh god what am I supposed to do?!"

Hadden was so hysterical to see the bloodstains on Valias' clothes. While Valias and Frey immediately remembered the fact that Valias was still wearing blood-stained clothes.

Valias is completely fine. And Frey was already too preoccupied with his thoughts after the huge boulder that Valias dropped on him for the second time. The rush to meet Hadden and how Valias also went hand in hand with him made him forget about the fact that Valias was spitting out so much blood from his nose.

"You're gonna be fine! I will definitely take you to the doctor! Oh gods. I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have let you go alone. You promised you wouldn't do anything!"

Hadden was so worried that his eyes began to glaze over while Valias and Frey were too confused what to start talking about. "Dad. I'm doing fine. It's just–"

Just what? Just blood?

Valias was confused what to say. He was fine so Hadden's worries made him feel guilty. This is his son's body. The real Valias Bardev. And Valias has used the body to make the father of the body so worried. "...I wasn't hurt. Doesn't hurt at all. It's just blood from my nose."

"You're bleeding again?! I heard you lost consciousness in the reading room because of the same thing! Should we check it out? Oh gods. Please don't do anything!"

Valias felt his shoulders held so tightly as if Hadden was so afraid he was going to leave. "Dad.. I'm doing fine. Sorry to make you worry."

Valias could not say that it was just blood and that he was not injured at all because after all it was not his body but the body of the boy in front of him.

"T- But. This much blood.." Valias saw Hadden who still refused to believe his words.

Frey listened to the interaction of the worried father and the child who had bloodstains on his shirt without being able to think straight.

Such a condition ever happened?

Hearing Hadden's words made him think that Valias was someone with a severe illness who would die at any moment. Hence he decided to dismantle his existence as a child in the Bardev family even if he knew it could provoke bad rumors about his family.

Then Valias Bardev decided to do some things he had never done before before dying.

Frey had no idea what expression was on his face at the moment and what expression he should have for next.

..This brat.

Frey feels as if she is looking at her sister Wistar who lost a lot of blood due to her illness but is still trying to prove that she is okay.

Frey is still alive and managed to convince his half-brother thanks to the red-haired man nearby. "Dad. There are things I have to do. ...I thought I'd asked the mage at home to deliver my message to you?"

"Dad was so worried! I heard the palace was attacked. Whereas you said you were still in palace–"

Hadden recalled how he did not sleep because he thought of his eldest son until he decided to go to the palace even if it was midnight in the morning. Then the head of the kstarian commander who used to not sleep to get drunk told him that there was news of the palace being attacked.

Hadden immediately asked the commander of the Bardev residence to prepare an army and force the mage living in the mansion to take him to the palace.

Even the commander and the mage were among the troops behind Hadden. "Then now.."

Hadden still could not help his regret.

"Master Count."

Frey finally made a sound. Hadden immediately raised his head and realized the existence of the future king Hayden.

"Your highness. My son's.." Hadden clasped Valias' shoulder and carried her to the back of his body.

Frey understands Hadden's attitude. "Master Count. Ii'm sorry. I was the one who asked Valias to come with me. The identity of the attacker that night has been found. And they're the ones who infiltrated the palace tonight."

Hadden rolled his eyes.

"..Is that so? But.." Hadden glanced slightly back. His hand was still gripping Valias' shoulder. "Why my son.."

It's only natural that Hadden wondered. Frey Nardeen has not seen his son. But in such a time of danger, the crown prince chose his son over others.

Moreover, his son is still so young. "..What noble suspects Valias? His Majesty the king died, but my son survived. Your Majesty wants to interrogate him?" Hadden clutched Valias' smaller body. "My son has nothing to do with them. I beg you to stop being suspicious of him."

Hadden looked Frey in the eye. No matter the status of that silver-haired man who would become the next ruler of Hayden kingdom.

"The old man is right. That skinny, pale man is not our part."

A familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind Frey's body.

The boy in Kei's group spoke. I don't know since when Kei and his friends arrived near them.

"Protect Count!" The commander exclaimed and the entire army scattered to form a formation in front of Hadden as well as Frey. Take out their swords and point them towards the group that is considered a threat.

"Ho. You guys want to fight? Be able. I'll play with you!" The big man exclaimed.

The troops strengthened their horses. "No. Daddyh. Tell them to leave. They don't have to do this." Valias looked at Hadden from below.

"Master Count. His majesty. Please leave. We'll hold them." The commander standing near them spoke.

"What's? You think you can do that? You've never seen the boss's power!" The boy exclaimed.

"..No. gabe. Command them to lower the sword."

The soldiers heard Hadden's words and lowered their swords.

Frey came forward and stood in between the two groups. "They are people from the Valias family. Mr. Count. These people will be on our side. Your son has spoken to them and I will make them stay in the palace."

"What?? Living in a palace? I don't want to live with a hypocrite like you! Isn't that Kei?"

The big man said in a loud voice. Glanced at the leader of the group.

But Kei did not respond to anything. He could even see how Kei attached his eyes to the figure of the red-haired boy who was far behind the people who had pointed the sword at his group.

That person, Radja, did not believe the scene he had just witnessed "..Seriously?"

"I'm sorry for getting your son involved in this. I'll let you bring Valias back. And I'll prepare a gift as a thank you." Frey points his body at Hadden and the soldiers step aside to make way. Hadden could see the expression of the future king clearly.

Valias listened to Frey and agreed that his role was over. Hadden turned to Valias and the boy gave him a small smile.

Seeing his usual smile, Hadden's heart began to feel more relieved. "..We're going back. You need to rest."

"Sorry to worry you, Mr. Count. You and the Bardevmu people can come back now. I'll take care of the rest." Frey brings his eyes to the mage. "Bring them back."

"Yes. Your honor."

A circle of light surrounded everyone and Frey watched Valias with his father disappear from the palace hallway.

...Nowow.

Frey turned his body to face the group led by his half-brother.

Speak up after preparing. "..It's early morning. At the palace, or back to where you live, it's up to you."

Frey looked at the group before putting his eyes on Kei. Seeing Kei watching him back.

Now only he faces a group of people who infiltrate the palace and intend to kill him.

Frey was tense but forced herself to remain calm. He will become king and he has already done what he can with the help of Valias. If they still decide to kill him..

The silence lasted for a few seconds. Frey and Kei continued to share their gazes until Frey began to feel awkward but still did not take his eyes off.

Suddenly Kei moved towards him. Without Frey realizing his brother had already walked past him without saying anything. Then the men followed their leader.

"Wait!"

Frey was about to call but a sword was pointed towards his neck.

"Boss will come back to see you if he wants to. Shut up and don't bother him." The man wearing the nose and mouth and hood lowered his gun and turned to leave Frey alone.

Although it feels embarrassing, but Frey was relieved by their departure. They disappeared behind the turn of the aisle and now Frey is completely alone there.

"..Hah.." Finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and rub his chest. He observed the hallway where Kei and his comrade disappeared before turning around deciding to return to his room.

***

At Valias's place, he and everyone else had already returned in front of the Bardev mansion and Hadden immediately brought his son in.

"Sorry for interrupting your rest. You guys can come back. Miss mage."

Hadden gave his gaze to the female mage from the palace. "Thank you." He said it earnestly.

"..Absolutely not, Mr. Count."

Mareen, though not expecting the Count to call her received a thank you from the middle-aged man, felt his heart ache. He watched Hadden enter the mansion building with Valias in his hand.

He was sent from the palace to live in the residence of Bardev to serve Valias Bardev. And not long after he stayed, he had seen a father's concern for his son even with him not sleeping and went straight to the son when he heard that the palace was attacked.

Even though Mareen had to wake up in her sleep and receive a cry from Hadden, Mareen was not angry at all. Mareen could imagine what kind of concern Hadden felt for his son.

"Dad.dad rest. I'm going to go to my room."

Valias made a sound as he and Hadden entered the building with the door closed again by the man who had been named commander by Hadden. "Let me check on you."

"Hadden."

Ruri stood on the side of the hallway still in her dress waiting for the return of her husband and eldest son. Her husband told her of the worry he felt and went straight to the palace with the knight who trained the Bardev residence. Telling Ruri to stay in the mansion.

When they returned, the sight that Ruri saw was Valias whose clothes were stained with blood up to her pants. "Valias!"

Just like Hadden, Ruri directly held onto Valias' shoulder and wondered what was really going on.

"Tabitle.."

The thing that immediately occurred in Ruri's mind was to call the healer.

But it was still dark and they could not call the physician to check on the state of his son now.

Valias gets himself in the same situation again feeling like he wants to sigh tiredly. "Dad.. Mother.. I'm it's okay. I wasn't hurt at all. There's no pain. It's just blood from my nose before. Now I'm fine. Y'all rest. I'm going to my room to sleep too. Okay?"

Valias felt his sleep was not enough despite having fainted for several hours and wanted to rest. Moreover, Hadden and Ruri who Valias guessed had not slept at all. "Valias.." Hadden called slowly but Valias raised his hand. Feel enough with all that endless headwind. Valias will go to his room.

"I'm going to my room. Good night, father, mother," Valias leaned over and walked away.

"Valias!" Hadden called again but his son did not stop.

"Haddie.." Ruri started touching her husband's shoulders. "Maybe Valias won't be comfortable if you act like this to her either. ...Let him rest. We don't know what happened but he must be tired. In the morning we'll call the healer to check his body."

Hadden still could not make his worries lift at all. But he felt Ruri's words had a point. If her son keeps saying that he's okay, maybe he's okay.

Hadden lowered his shoulders and let Ruri take him to their room.

Valias opens the door to his room and finds a nightgown folded over his bed.

Valias smiled wryly.

Is alister?

It was not usual for Alister to put clothes that Valias would not have worn in his room like that. But maybe Alister is indeed an over-sensitive waiter than the average person.