Side Story 1.2: The Past of the House of Nightingales (Part 2)
Whether an adult or a child, people tend to act like this when they’re extremely scared or nervous. They either become speechless or start talking non-stop. That boy was clearly the second type. Unless he calmed down soon, he was going to keep rambling.
So now, all the young man could do was ignore everything and everyone. He just wanted to curl up in his corner alone and enjoy this rare “vacation.”
After trying so hard to be friendly and still getting ignored, the boy realized he wasn’t welcome. He had no choice but to lean against the iron bars alone, spending every second in fear.
Furst Talia, just the name of an ordinary boy from an ordinary family. Even his last name was something his parents made up without much thought. He had no background at all.
But even a kid like that was chosen.
The Second Queen liked beautiful children, whether boys or girls. Other than their talent, the first thing she cared about was looks.
In those chaotic times, everyone lacked money. Everyone needed money. Many parents, after “accidentally” having a child, thought about abandoning that little life that felt like a “money-eating monster.” The Second Queen gave them that chance.
By buying them.
That’s how she got Furst. Maybe she liked his face a bit, so she placed him with Aegmed, another child she had personally chosen.
Aegmed Scassia, a knight’s son. Technically, because his family had chosen the wrong side in politics, he and his father were supposed to be “silenced” quietly. But the Second Queen chose another way, she turned the child of a knight who once opposed her into her loyal little “dog.”
She truly enjoyed that process. If she could, she would’ve dug up that knight’s grave just to show him what his son had become. That was the kind of twisted joy she liked.
So, in a way, the meeting of Furst and Aegmed was arranged by her personally.
To her, both boys were quite talented. Even though Aegmed alone was already enough to serve her, she thought, maybe she could give Furst to her own son, Eric. As the King’s second prince, her son needed a capable and loyal “guard dog.” And Furst might just fit the role.
For a clueless child to survive this long, even without real combat skills, was impressive. His courage alone was worth praising. A normal child at his age would’ve been scared to death in just a few days, or killed off for crying too much. That had really happened before.
But if we say Furst is “very brave”… that might not be true either.
Because ever since he came here, he’d been afraid of the young man in the next room. And during the time Aegmed was away on missions, Furst heard all kinds of scary rumors about that young man, some nasty, some terrifying. That made him even more frightened.
But if he really had no courage, why would he keep trying to talk to the one everyone called the “black demon”? Why did he keep trying to get a little closer to him, every day?
Maybe it was because Furst had no other choice.
And after really being around him… even though they hadn’t had a single real conversation, even though that black-cloaked youth made him feel pressure… Furst still felt an odd kind of safety around him. It didn’t make any sense, even to Furst himself. He couldn’t explain why he felt that way.
As for where that strange feeling came from, Aegmed might say it’s because he’s always been watching him.
The reason Aegmed lived next door wasn’t just because Furst was someone the “master” had her eyes on. It was also because the Second Queen wanted Aegmed to observe the boy, to see if he was worth training. In a way, Aegmed was like a watchdog, to see if this kid could also become, like him, a “good dog.”
So even though Aegmed was lying in the dark trying to relax, maybe sleep a bit. His attention was still on the boy next door. Even if he found him annoying.
But he had to keep watching him. Watching him slowly change, until he became like Aegmed is now. No longer fully human… no longer really alive.
...Right?
That question suddenly popped into Aegmed’s mind.
It was the first time in all these years that he had ever questioned it.
When was the last time he had thoughts like this? How long had it been since he started obeying the Second Queen?
While thinking, and hearing that the boy had gone quiet, Aegmed glanced over, slightly worried.
…What am I even thinking… This has nothing to do with me…
Maybe it was because a small part of his real self still remained deep inside. When he realized that the boy named Furst might end up just like him in the future, a strange feeling quietly rose in his heart.
…But… does it really have to be this way? He's just a child.
— That’s an order.
…That child is even younger than I was when I first came here…
— Orders must not be disobeyed.
…If I allow what’s happening to him now to continue…
— Don’t say such rebellious things again.
But…
— It has nothing to do with me.
Those seven words in his mind completely blocked his thoughts. He was left speechless. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down again.
………………………………
...So annoying.
But the noise from his "true self" kept going. Those inner voices were fighting against the version of him that obeyed orders. He couldn’t even tell which voice truly belonged to him anymore.
“Hey, um, are you okay?”
Then, a young, innocent voice broke through his messy thoughts.
“……”
He still didn’t say anything. But this time, he didn’t close his eyes. Instead, he looked at the boy.
“…Aeg.”
After a few seconds of suffocating silence, he finally said his name. Of course, not his full name. Except for the "Master" who already knew it, he would never tell anyone his real name.
“…Aeg? Is that your name?”
The boy looked much happier now that the older boy had finally responded after so many days.
“Then… my name is Furst Talia—”
“Furst.”
Just like how he had shortened his own name, Aegmed shortened the boy’s name into one simple word. It was easier to say and easier to remember. Also, in this place, it was better not to share your full name so casually.
“From now on, you’ll just be Furst. Don’t tell anyone your full name.”
Their conversation ended there, with his warning as the last word.
Even when Furst kept mumbling something after that, Aegmed didn’t respond again.
Damn it…
What am I even thinking…