TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 64

“No.”

The moment Edward’s words fell, Zeman almost instinctively blurted out his refusal.

His voice was urgent and cuttingly clear, like an icicle crashing down inside a frozen cavern—sharp, resonant, and unyielding.

Edward stared at him in shock.

Yet even Zeman himself was stunned, realizing what he had just said. In the depths of his crimson eyes flickered the same surprise, and the snow-white hair at his brow swayed with his shaken heart, slipping down before his lashes, shielding him from Edward’s questioning gaze.

As if afraid he might speak again, Zeman pressed his lips tightly together.

His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists, the joints stark, veins standing out coldly across the backs of his hands—as though suppressing something deep within.

He should not have answered like that.

He was a dangerous monster, who could lose control at any moment and destroy everything around him. A prophecy, true or false, had even foretold that he would kill Albin. He ought to let Edward take Albin to safety, far away from himself.

Whether by reason or emotion, that was the right choice.

Compared with the tyrant Sutanlai, Edward was clearly the better option.

If left alone, Zeman could devote himself wholly to handling the matter of the Sun God’s fragment and the rats.

But why, just now, had he spoken so impulsively?

Why had he even felt, in that instant, a flare of irritation at being challenged by Edward?

Some strange emotion sprouted in his heart, as if vines had wound around his feet, binding him tight, leaving him unable to escape.

—“Daddy!”

That clear, bright voice rang in his mind, and the vines’ pull only grew stronger.

He had long foreseen that he would part from Albin, only he hadn’t expected the day to come so suddenly.

Had Edward not mentioned it, he could have continued deceiving himself, clinging to the excuse of “sending Albin to the Rose Kingdom,” staying by the child’s side a while longer.

But now, caught off guard, he was forced to face this moment head-on, his excuse crumbling in an instant.

If it had been the reverse—if Albin might harm him—he would have remained without fear. But reality was the opposite.

He feared harming Albin.

Apart from that first outburst, Zeman said nothing more. As though it had been a mere illusion, he tacitly permitted Edward’s decision.

Edward noticed his uncharacteristic silence.

“…I’m sorry.” He sighed again, apologizing, his short pale-gold hair seeming dimmer than before.

It had been he who nurtured this father-son bond, and now he was the one to break it apart.

Yet better a quick pain than a long one—taking Albin away early was already the best course.

Zeman did not lift his eyes. Maintaining a flat tone, he instructed:

“Albin wants a power and a status that can help many people. His talent is like mine—perhaps even greater. The Sun God once chose him as a holy son. I’ve already spoken with the temple: if Albin wishes, he may become the Sun God’s holy son.”

He cast Edward a glance, adding:

“If he chooses otherwise, then let it be by his will.”

“This child often sacrifices himself to save others. You must slowly guide him away from that.”

“When it’s cold, he likes to linger in bed. Don’t rush him when waking him. Use magic to warm the room a little first, and he’ll get up on his own.”

At this point, he remembered Edward had no fire affinity, and his brows knit.

“He likes apples the most. He has a sweet tooth, but don’t give him things that are too sweet.” Edward was a prince—sugar was no rarity for him. Yet if things were flavored to noble tastes, overly cloying, Albin might not enjoy them.

“His guard against monsters is too low. He’s always befriending them… Perhaps because he has too few friends his own age. Find him more companions. One of his friends has gone missing—he’s been anxious about it all this time.”

“He always draws a crowd around him. You’d best—” Zeman paused.

Why should he be advising the man who was taking his son away?

He let the thought drop and continued with something new:

“He’s rather clingy, but very obedient…”

Usually taciturn, now he spoke endlessly.

All he wanted was for Edward to treat his child well.

“…All right.” Never before had Edward felt so keenly that he was playing the villain.

“…You’ll grow to love him.”

At last, Zeman fell silent.

He looked toward the tightly closed door, standing wordless and still, as though his gaze pierced the wood to see the innocent child sleeping soundly within.

But in the end, he turned away, ready to leave.

His back looked especially frail. Edward called after him:

“And you? Zeman, what do you plan to do next?”

Watching him walk away, Edward thought of that monster who, unwilling to harm humans, chose to take its own life.

Would Zeman do the same?

The question had scarcely formed before his heart supplied the answer—yes.

A flicker of fear rose within him. Gently, he urged:

“I heard Jacques isn’t dead, only unconscious. I believe you weren’t the one who hurt him. That day, there must have been more to the story. When he wakes, he’ll surely want to see you. I’ll wait for you to explain everything to me.”

“There’s no need to rush off like this. Won’t you at least say goodbye to Albin? You should tell him yourself.”

“…No.”

Zeman dared not face the child. He feared those scarlet eyes—feared that once he saw them, he’d never be able to leave.

“Don’t worry about me. Just take good care of that child. If he asks about me, give him my apology.”

He strode forward, his scarlet-lined white cloak trailing behind him, his retreat more like a desperate flight. In the blink of an eye, he vanished around the corner.

Albin awoke from his nap, yawning as he sat up. A warm towel was handed to him to wipe his face.

“Thank you, Daddy!”

After wiping his face, the drowsiness vanished at once.

He looked up to return the towel, only to be startled when he saw that the one standing by his bed was not Zeman.

“Uncle Edward?”

He was a little puzzled, but didn’t think too much of it, hurrying instead to get dressed.

The ever-perfect Edward, however, seemed strangely unfamiliar—almost clumsy—as he helped him.

His odd demeanor and actions made Padma narrow his eyes in suspicion.

Albin packed up his little bundle of belongings. From the desk, he picked up the missing-person flyer for Xiao Hei, holding it up expectantly for Edward to see.

“Uncle Edward, have you seen this child?”

Edward studied it for a moment, then shook his head. “I haven’t. He’s your friend, isn’t he? I’ll send people to help you look for him.”

Albin felt a pang of disappointment, though by now he had slowly grown used to such disappointments.

“Thank you, Uncle Edward!”

He rolled up the flyer, planning to go outside and continue asking around.

Before leaving, he still hadn’t seen Zeman’s figure, and couldn’t help but ask with a hopeful curiosity: “Where’s Daddy?”

Edward’s eyes flickered.

“He’s gone.”

Albin tilted his head in confusion, not quite understanding. “Daddy has something to do again? How long will he be gone this time?”

He was used to Zeman leaving from time to time, though he always missed him and looked forward to his return.

“…He won’t be coming back.”

Albin was completely stunned.

He blinked, as if not comprehending Edward’s words. “What do you mean, won’t come back?”

With a faint sorrow in his eyes but forcing a smile, Edward bent down to ask him, “Albin, from now on, can I be your father instead? I can swear to the Goddess that I’ll take good care of you.”

But Albin only looked at him with greater bewilderment.

“But I already have a daddy. Uncle Edward, you know that.” Anxiety pricked at his heart as he asked urgently, “Where is my daddy? Did I do something wrong, and now he’s angry at me?”

“He left.” Edward’s smile faltered, slipping away entirely. He sighed. “It’s not because of you. Something happened to him, and he doesn’t want to drag you into danger. So he entrusted you to my care.”

“He asked me to apologize to you in his place. I’m sorry.”

Albin listened blankly, the childish face filling with helplessness and growing panic.

His father had left him. He didn’t want him anymore.

That cruel realization threw him into indescribable fear, as if his whole world were collapsing. Tears welled up and streamed down his cheeks.

“You’re lying, aren’t you?” His voice trembled as he clung to one last shred of hope, wiping his tears with his little palm, forcing himself not to cry, and gazing up at Edward with desperate expectation. “Is today some kind of day just for telling lies?”

But he knew in his heart that neither his father nor Edward was the kind of person who would joke about this.

“…I’m sorry.” Edward’s voice was unbearably heavy. His head drooped, not daring to look at the child before him.

Tears spilled endlessly from Albin’s eyes, no matter how he wiped. His sobs broke loose, like a breached dam.

“L-liar!” he sobbed, fear and anger tangled in his cries. “Big liar!”

The emotions in his little chest crashed against him, knotting his heart with grief.

“He promised—he promised to be my daddy for three months! It’s only been half that time!” His mouth puckered in wounded defiance, his chin scrunched like a walnut as he wailed.

“Liar! Villain! Liars have to swallow a thou—” He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

He didn’t want his daddy to swallow a thousand needles.

“…I want Daddy!” His tears flooded forth, his sobs sharp and sorrowful. His body shook with grief, hiccupping uncontrollably.

Edward and Padma hurried to wipe his tears, holding him in their arms, patting his back to soothe him.

Even Jade was startled awake by his cries, flustered, coming over to perform backflips or twist its body into knots, trying desperately to make him stop crying.

Padma went along with Albin’s words: “Yes, he’s a big liar, a rotten scoundrel. Don’t be sad over him.”

“I won’t!” Albin shot back stubbornly, nearly crying himself hoarse. “I just—hic—I just want Daddy!”

Padma shot Edward a fierce glare, then quickly agreed: “All right, all right, only Zeman can be your daddy.”

Albin immediately looked up at him, hiccuping as he asked, “Then—hic—where’s Daddy?”

Edward shook his head. “I don’t know either.”

Albin wailed again, even louder, his cry shriller with despair.

Hearing that sound, Padma’s heart nearly broke. He scooped Albin up, patting his back and coaxing, “Don’t cry, let’s go find him together, okay?”

Albin nodded hard, forcing himself to stifle his sobs.

“Let’s go find Daddy!”

Before his nap, Daddy had still been here—he couldn’t have gone far!

Padma wiped his face with a handkerchief, carrying him out the door.

But Albin felt he wasn’t moving fast enough. He struggled down to the ground, insisting on going by himself.

His body was weak from crying so hard, his arms and legs still shaky, yet he stumbled forward as quickly as he could, terrified that if he was a step too slow, he would never see Zeman again.

He asked everyone he met: “Have you seen my daddy? White hair, red eyes, just like me—he’s easy to recognize!”

Some people pointed the way, while others deliberately gave him the wrong directions.

Wandering in circles, he gradually became separated from Padma.

“A white-haired man? Wearing a cloak? I saw him leaving through the south gate.”

Hearing this, Albin rushed off at once.

But outside the city, there were fewer people to ask. Before him stretched only the dense forest. Like a headless fly, he darted about aimlessly, plunging into the woods.

He kept using wind magic, trying to sense Zeman’s location.

He soared upward on the wind to scout from above.

Winter evenings darkened quickly, and the light was fading. He strained his eyes in the twilight, searching for that familiar white figure.

But he never found the one he sought. Instead, he spotted a massive silver-white figure in a mountain valley of the forest.

He froze.

Why was Mr. Dragon here?

Since there was at least someone he knew nearby, Albin decided to go forward and ask.

The moment he appeared, the great dragon fixed him with an incomprehensible look, tinged with anger—as if scolding him for running here alone. The white flame-like mane at its neck flared more brightly.

Albin met those enormous star-bright, blood-red eyes.

“Mr. Dragon, have you seen my daddy around here?”

He was about to describe Zeman’s appearance when the dragon hastily answered:

【I haven’t.】

【Go back!】 the dragon roared fiercely at him, then shut its eyes, as though refusing to speak further—or as though hiding from something, not daring to look at him again.

Albin grew suspicious.

He hadn’t even said what his daddy looked like. How did Mr. Dragon already know he hadn’t seen him?

He stared into those brilliant starry eyes, that strange suspicion stirring in his heart again.

“…Daddy?” he tried softly.

The dragon instinctively opened its eyes to look at him—just as his father always did whenever he called.

Albin’s lashes trembled.

The dragon paused, then coldly said again:

【I told you, I haven’t seen your father.】

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