To be sincere, when the person launched himself as Arsene, I questioned if he was loopy.

“You’re Arsene?”

“Yeah, it’s been some time.”

Despite the fact that he was the one who handled X, I solely began to query whether or not I may really belief this man now. However once I give it some thought, aside from folks within the Grand Duchy, not many individuals know that I gave the large black canine the title Arsene.

Is that this man in entrance of me actually Arsene?

No, does it make sense {that a} canine has turn into a human?

I laughed self-deprecatingly on the thought. Once I listed all of the issues I’ve skilled to date, a canine remodeling right into a human appeared like nothing.

I couldn’t assist however set free a hole chuckle. The person claiming to be ‘Arsene’ laughed together with me, not figuring out why I used to be laughing.

“Are you actually Arsene?”

“What number of instances are you going to ask me that? What number of instances have I helped you?”

“So far as I keep in mind…….”

I do know it’s impolite, however earlier than my rationality may take management, my gaze scanned him from head to toe.

“Yeah, I didn’t seem like this.”

“…That’s why I discover it laborious to imagine.”

“I saved you so many instances, why can’t you imagine me?”

The person mentioned, sounding actually pissed off.

Even when Arsene the canine had become a human, I used to be nonetheless puzzled by the distinction between the picture I had of Arsene and this man.

I considered Arsene as an affectionate, gentler model of him. Like Gilbert.

However this man in entrance of me……

I can’t say he’s affectionate, however I’d say he’s a great distance from being mild.

Nonetheless, the heat in his brown eyes jogged my memory of the tenderness I felt in Arsen’s gaze, which made me really feel subtly conflicted.

Nonetheless, irrespective of how a lot I thought of it, his light-hearted tone and informal posture had been completely different from the Arsene I had in thoughts, creating a way of disharmony.

Though we couldn’t have conversations when he was a canine, as somebody who had relied on Arsene emotionally for always saving me from hazard, it was barely, simply barely surprising to understand that Arsene was that form of particular person.

“I used to be so excited to lastly discuss to you!”

He mentioned, clearly somewhat offended once I mentioned nothing and checked out him in disbelief.

“Once I heard you had been at risk, I rushed to your aspect! Particularly whenever you had been assembly that half-wit man. I believed you’ll be most happy to see me on this kind, however the reception I obtained was so chilly.”

“I’ve by no means been chilly to you.”

I could not have been hospitable, however I wasn’t chilly.

Startled by the person venting his dissatisfaction in an excited method, I awkwardly patted his shoulder to calm him down.

“I’ve been watching you because you had been enjoying with the ball. How may you do that?”

“I’m sorry, I imagine you!”

“You’re mendacity. I don’t see any religion in your eyes.”

Saying no matter got here out of my mouth to placate him, I abruptly remembered the day I first met him.

I used to be enjoying with a black ball when he made his first look on the Grand Palace.

I ran after him in a frenzy, and that first assembly is one thing solely Arsene and I do know.

“Are you actually Arsene?”

“Do you imagine me now?”

He relaxed, lastly seeing the religion in my eyes that he’d by no means seen earlier than.

I coated my mouth with my fingers. He’s actually Arsene.

Arsene turned a human!

“Once you say Arsene, you imply the black pet, proper?”

“It’s a canine, not a pet.”

As Arsene answered, Rex remained cautious of him. Arsen identified the error in Rex’s phrases, however he didn’t look too upset. Somewhat, he checked out Rex intently, as if he had piqued his curiosity, observing him intently.

Whether or not it was X or Arsene, I felt a mixture of discomfort and satisfaction of their vital curiosity in Rex. That’s my little brother.

“However why didn’t you inform me earlier once I requested?”

“I believed you observed. The snake stored calling me ‘canine’.”

“I believed it was simply an insult…”

I suppose he was stating a truth.

“So that you’re saying that X…… is a snake?”

“Don’t ever meet that bastard once more. He’ll maintain advising you with nothing however unhealthy issues.”

He’s not somebody I can’t meet simply because I don’t wish to.

Arsene’s expression of shaking her fingers was not good, as if he felt unhealthy simply fascinated by X.

He even set free a pissed off sound as if he was bored with him. However Rex’s expression was equally sad.

“How can we imagine you’re that canine?”

“Does your capability make sense?”

As quickly as the person completed talking, I examined Rex’s expression.

Rex appeared detached, however his face had turned pale. Blue veins stood out on his hand resting on his thigh.

“Nicely, I don’t care. I simply want you to care for Mary.”

Tensions rose between Rex and Arsene. Rex was utterly silent. Because of the awkward silence that ensued, I prayed for a well-known scene to look shortly.

Within the orange sundown, I may see Conler Fort. I used to be away for less than about half a day, nevertheless it was nonetheless good to see it. 

I can’t wait to get residence, bathe and lie down, after which run to Logan and inform him what occurred immediately. Can I take Arsene with me? I used to be fearful as a result of I didn’t notify them prematurely that I used to be bringing a visitor. I observed earlier, he appeared very glad to be served.

I checked out Arsene sitting in entrance of me. He was searching of the window along with his chin resting on his proper hand. As I checked out him, I remembered what he had mentioned about excellent news and unhealthy information.

“You mentioned there was excellent news and unhealthy information.”

“……Did I say that?”

“I heard it, too.”

As Arsene tried to feign ignorance with a nonchalant angle, my face started to scrunch up, however Rex, who had remained silent, fired again.

It appears now we have the numerical benefit right here. Arsene set free a heavy sigh that appeared to raise the burden off his chest.

“I’m in your aspect, Mary.”

“I’m on my sister’s aspect, too.”

“That’s not an issue. Are you saying that you just’re on her aspect unconditionally?”

“I’m on her aspect it doesn’t matter what.”

“It’s not getting by way of.”

As Arsene tried to talk severely, Rex interjected from the aspect.

Arsene appeared displeased, however I discovered Rex’s actions cute, so I gently patted the again of his head. In response, Rex smiled for the primary time since he obtained into the carriage.

“… Anyway, don’t fear. If something occurs, search for me immediately. Similar to you all the time have.”

Arsen concluded with these phrases. In his ultimate comment, he checked out Rex, and there was a wierd sense of superiority in his gaze.

Rex checked out me like a pet who’d been disadvantaged of a deal with, however there was nothing to be mentioned for that, contemplating that I typically considered Arsene relatively than Rex when confronted with a tough process.

“I’m residence!”

And similar to that, the breathtaking journey was over, and we arrived at Conler Fort. Lucas was ready for us in entrance of the citadel.

I anticipated to see at the very least two of the three brothers, however I used to be disenchanted to see the entrance of the citadel empty.

“I’m again!”

I shouted as brightly as I may to cover my disappointment, however Lucas’s expression, as he hugged my waist and lowered me to the bottom, was not very nice.

“Why didn’t you come again sooner?”

The reproachful tone made me confused.

Was he that fearful? It had solely been half a day, and I had clearly mentioned that it may take longer.

“The Grasp is awake!”

I jumped on the sudden phrases and ran straight to Grand Duke Estin’s aspect. Lucas known as my title repeatedly from behind, however I used to be in a rush.

Come to think about it, I ought to in all probability clarify to Lucas about Arsene behind him, however all I may take into consideration was Grand Duke Estin.

The considered him waking up in my absence was unthinkable. My coronary heart was racing that no tears got here to my eyes.

“Father!”

Once I reached his room, I noticed him leaning in opposition to the pinnacle of the mattress.

He seemed a bit frail, however his distinctive and intimidating presence was nonetheless as robust as ever, to the purpose the place you couldn’t see him as somebody who had been bedridden.

I rushed to him, calling him “Father,” however my jaw dropped once I noticed his face. Contained in the room had been the three brothers and…….

“You’re right here? Father has woken up.”

There was Tia Bluea. Grand Duke Estin was taking a look at Tia Bluea with such a pleasant gaze.