You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 51

Shadows fell across Asmil’s eyes. At the cold voice, Karhan lightly gripped my shoulder with one hand and shielded me with his body. The back that stood tall before me felt as reassuring as a great mountain. Asmil’s seated figure was obscured, and Karhan’s voice rang out.

“That condition is unacceptable.”

From behind Karhan’s back, I peeked out and nodded vigorously. That’s right! How dare you try to appease me! Seemingly having seen the intense will of refusal, Asmil, who had been sitting with legs crossed, shrugged.

“Suit yourself. It’s not me who’s at a loss, is it?”

Having said that, he made a gesture of lightly dusting off his hands. Asmil gave a crisp smile, then got up from the chair, brushing off his behind. Without any lingering attachment, he immediately turned his back and headed towards the door. True to his words of having no regrets, he made no further attempt to negotiate with us.

As Asmil moved farther away, countless thoughts raced through my mind. Is it really okay to let him go like this? To survive, I would have no other option but Asmil. The fact that various concerns were arising proved that indeed, it was I who was at a loss. I fidgeted with the hem of my jacket, rubbing it between my fingers.

I harbored a small hope that perhaps Asmil might turn back one last time just before leaving the room and reopen negotiations, but he didn’t look back at us even once until the door opened. When the red-haired attendant guarding Asmil opened the door, he walked out of the room without a moment’s hesitation.

As Asmil’s platinum blonde hair disappeared from view and the door slowly began to close, I caught the eye of the attendant called Asdion through the narrow gap. I thought we had met gazes by chance as he glanced back, but his yellow eyes were filled with an inexplicable hostility.

🐤

Asmil walked down the corridor after leaving Karhan’s room, a faint smile curving his lips.

He hadn’t expected Karhan to attend such a boring social gathering. So, just a few days ago, Asmil had no plans to attend this party, but his faithful servant Asdion informed him that Karhan would be attending this social event. He didn’t know how Asdion had found out, but he had no intention of ignoring such interesting information.

He informed Count Husli, who acted as his adoptive father, about his attendance at the social gathering and arrived early. The information must have been accurate, as not long after, the Duke appeared with that bird.

It was truly amusing to see the bird wearing tiny sunglasses that matched its small body. The sight of it strutting about proudly, swaying its hips and taking quick steps with its short legs was laugh-out-loud funny. The “piyo” sound it made with each step was also quite comical.

It would remain a hilarious scene even after thinking about it time and time again. Though the bird seemed completely oblivious to it.

Asmil hummed lightly as he strolled down the corridor. All the nobles were either mingling in the social hall or perhaps enjoying secret rendezvous somewhere in the dark garden, as only busy servants moving about caught his eye. It was a familiar sight to Asmil, who had lived for over a thousand years.

Asdion, who had been walking behind Asmil, carefully observed his mood before speaking.

“Master.”

“Yes?”

He opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, unable to speak after calling out. Asdion blinked his golden eyes meaninglessly a few times before saying,

“…Do you like that bird?”

“That thing? I do like it.”

“It doesn’t seem worth asking for.”

Asmil, who had been walking, came to an abrupt halt. Asdion, who had been following closely behind, quickly stopped as well. He took a step back due to how close they were standing.

Asmil, who had suddenly stopped in place, wiggled his dangling fingers. Then he turned around to look at Asdion.

“Since when did you start making such judgments?”

The usual smile appeared on his face. Then, with a gentle and slow touch, he placed his palm on Asdion’s cheek. Softly caressing the skin with his fingers, he took half a step closer. He bent slightly at the waist, bringing their faces close enough for their noses to almost touch.

“Are you jealous?”

“…No, I’m not.”

“Of course you shouldn’t be.”

Asmil’s red eyes and Asdion’s yellow eyes became intricately entangled. As if entranced by that red light, Asdion gazed into his master’s eyes before slowly lowering his gaze.

Looking at the half-closed eyelids, Asmil quietly smiled. He playfully brushed his nose against Asdion’s as he straightened up.

“Asdion. Do you know why I play with humans?”

“No.”

“It’s because they’re all different. Even if I approach them the same way, help them the same way, and interfere with them the same way, they don’t react the same. That’s why it’s always interesting.”

Having said that, he turned around and slowly walked down the long corridor again.

“It’s the same with that bird. I want to have it because I think it’ll be interesting. There’s no particular reason beyond that.”

Asdion’s steps, following behind Asmil, gradually slowed, widening the distance between them.

Asmil always sought out interesting things. And those interesting things never included himself. Asmil’s soft platinum blonde hair swayed gently as he walked ahead.

Asdion admired Asmil. From the moment Asmil had saved him, he had vowed to stay by his side for life and serve him. But the heart was a willful thing. Jealousy and hatred sprouted towards the things Asmil showed interest in.

He shouldn’t have shown such feelings. Asmil disliked forming deep connections with anyone. If Asmil discovered that he harbored any emotions towards him, Asmil would surely abandon him someday. He stuck out his tongue between his parched lips to hide his tension.

Asmil, who had been walking alone, turned back when he noticed the presence following him was getting farther away. Asdion was standing still in the distance.

“Come here, Asdion.”

He called out to him as usual. Asdion, who had been standing in a daze, suddenly lifted his head and quickly approached Asmil’s side. To avoid being abandoned, he had to hide it. As he always had. He blinked, concealing the longing in his heart.

As he walked quietly with his gaze lowered, Asdion felt a gaze upon him and lifted his head to look around. A servant with a familiar face was standing in a corner of the corridor.

“Master.”

“Yes?”

“I think I need to step away for a moment on some business. Would that be alright?”

Asmil, who had been walking ahead, raised his right hand and waved it gently. It meant he could go. Recognizing the familiar signal, Asdion bowed his head slightly and turned around.

The busy people of the palace paid no mind to a servant or two slipping away somewhere.

After walking for quite some time across the garden, they arrived at a dark, secluded spot away from people’s eyes. After confirming that there was no one around, Asdion finally stopped walking and turned around. The bright moonlight in the middle of the pitch-black night illuminated a servant breathing heavily. Only the sound of insects crying softly while hiding in the grass filled the silence.

The servant who had followed Asdion was neatly dressed in a white shirt and black jacket, but he was sweating profusely from his forehead, apparently very nervous. Seemingly anxious about something, he gnawed on his fingernails while his eyes darted about. When his gaze met Asdion’s, his body trembled. After observing for a moment, he quietly opened his mouth.

“S-see? The Duke came, didn’t he…?”

“There haven’t been any problems, right?”

“None…! He’s staying quiet and behaving well.”

He nodded his head vigorously with his hands clasped tightly together. Then, when a drop of sweat fell to the ground with a ‘plop’, he jumped in surprise and trembled, then wiped the sweat running down his cheeks with his sleeve. The servant couldn’t stand still, as if he had taken some kind of drug, anxiously watching his surroundings and shaking his legs.

Knowing that keeping such a person for long would be of no help, Asdion took out a white envelope from his breast pocket. The servant’s eyes widened at the sight of the envelope emerging from inside the jacket. He breathed heavily and raised the corners of his mouth in a grin. He hurriedly reached out to snatch the envelope from Asdion’s hand, but the firm hand holding the other end didn’t let go.

“What’s wrong! I’m doing well, hurry up and give it to me…!”

The servant protested to Asdion with his eyes narrowed fiercely. He seemed quite irritated, but he kept his voice down, apparently mindful of his surroundings.

As he pulled on the envelope with both hands, the paper crumpled and let out a rustle, as if screaming. However, Asdion didn’t waver in the slightest. The servant glared at him for a moment before flinching on his own, avoiding eye contact and trembling while holding the white envelope with both hands.

Asdion raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the sight with contempt. He bent down, bringing his face close to the servant who was exerting all his strength. Their eyes met as the servant’s gaze wavered pathetically.

“Just follow my words quietly like this.”

“Ugh…”

“There’s plenty of money for you to live on.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Asdion released his grip on the envelope. The servant, who had been desperately pulling on the envelope, tumbled into the dirty grass due to the recoil. Fallen on the cold grass, the servant blinked his eyes with a bewildered expression, as if unable to understand the situation, then gasped for breath. He lifted his reddened face to glare at Asdion.

“If you treat me like this, it won’t be good for you guys eith- Ack!”

Asdion raised his foot and stepped on the servant’s clenched fist. Then he twisted his leg, grinding the back of the hand. The servant screamed “Aagh!” as his fragile flesh was crushed under the hard shoe. Nevertheless, he bit his lip, startled at the thought of someone nearby hearing.

In the pitch-black space where only faint moonlight seeped in, the uniquely yellow eyes flashed. Even though it was too dark to distinguish objects, why were those eerie eyes so visible? Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, the servant opened and closed his mouth before firmly shutting it.

Asdion lifted his merciless foot, as if praising him for doing well. The stepped-on hand had its skin scraped off, with droplets of blood pooling in between. As the pain subsided, the servant quickly hid his hand and curled up his body.

Asdion’s eyes narrowed as he watched this scene. Why did his master take interest in these humans who were so pathetic?

“When backed into a corner, they only care about themselves.”