PSD Chapter 54

From Child to Adult

Sharpeil held out his hand.
“Come a little closer, will you?”

Drawn in as if hypnotized again, Ashdel approached and had his hand taken. Sharpeil fiddled with the wooden ring around the child’s chubby finger and briefly removed it.

“My dear.”

Ashdel felt the magic stirring in his body being drawn out through Sharpeil’s hand. In a daze, Ashdel responded to the call.

“Yes?”

“Are you healthy?”

“Pardon? Yes, I’m healthy.”

Though he had suffered due to unstable magic, Ashdel was a healthy child.

“That’s a relief.”

The gaze that had observed him like prey was interrupted by the arrival of an uninvited guest.

“Uncle? What are you doing here?”

At the familiar voice, Sharpeil quickly slipped the wooden ring back onto the child’s finger. When he let go, Ashdel was already standing beyond the doorway’s threshold.

“Come again, my dear.”

Standing in the bright corridor, Ashdel wore a confused expression. He bowed slightly through the crack of the open door.

“Goodbye, Duke.”

A polite farewell. It sounded as though laughter echoed from within the dark room. Ashdel looked up at Lexion, who was gazing down at him.

“What is it?”

His expression was strangely twisted.
“It’s nothing. Just go. Don’t come here carelessly again.”

“But the Duke told me to come again?”

Lexion’s temple twitched at the child’s rebuttal. Not giving in a single word. He ruffled Ashdel’s black hair mischievously.

“Ow! Don’t do that!”

“Go to your aunt. I bought every kind of dessert from ‘Honeycell.’”

“No way! That’s the dessert shop Jenny talks about non-stop?”

“Yeah.”

Jenny had described the desserts so deliciously that they made your mouth water even without tasting them. She’d said the chef was so proud that even nobles had to queue to get a bite. And he bought from there?

Ashdel’s eyes sparkled as he dashed off. Watching Ashdel’s retreating figure, only showing his childish side in moments like this, Lexion shook his head.

After sending Ashdel away, Lexion entered the family head’s bedroom. Due to a sudden issue at the intelligence guild he ran, he hadn’t seen his brother’s face in days.

“Brother.”

Cough.

“Brother!”

Seeing Sharpeil coughing up blood, Lexion rushed in. He tried to catch him with pale hands, but Sharpeil, even paler than he, held him back.

The room, thick with the smell of herbs, now reeked of blood. Lexion winced painfully.

He had believed that finding his brother’s magic would be enough. He had established the guild for his brother, for their family. Over time, it had grown into a powerful force in the Empire’s underworld.

He had found what he sought for so long. Even entered the revolting ducal estate to retrieve it. But now, a new obstacle — he needed to extract Sharpeil’s magic from a child’s body. Even so, he had hope. Just a little more, and his brother would be well again.

Sharpeil, who had always been frail and lived like a man with a countdown on his life, tightened Lexion’s chest with anxiety. Using the handkerchief he carried, Sharpeil wiped the blood from his mouth. He was nonchalant, as if this happened often.

“Why, why…”

Lexion, uncharacteristically stammering, was answered calmly by Sharpeil.

“I tried to absorb the child’s magic, but it rejected me. The magic doesn’t recognize its original owner anymore. I suppose I’ve been apart from it too long.”

Rejected? This was unexpected. For a moment, Lexion’s mind went completely blank.

“Then… what do we do?”

“Lexi.”

Sharpeil called gently to his trembling, shaken brother. But Lexion couldn’t compose himself under the growing fear.

“Then what?! Do we have to kill the child? Would that bring your life force back? If you die, I…”

What do I do? His red eyes were filled with desperation and tears.

“Lexion Silbert.”

At his brother’s resolute voice, Lexion looked at Sharpeil’s pale face.

“So, in your mind, I’m already dead? It’s like your imagination is killing me. What is it that frightens you so much, my brother?”

“…”

Lexion’s fearful gaze gradually settled. My brother. At those words, he collapsed to the floor, burying his face in the soft blankets.

“You don’t understand how I feel.”

Sharpeil smiled tenderly at his sulking brother. Though well over thirty, to him, Lexion still seemed like a child.

“You’re married? Didn’t even introduce her to me. That’s disappointing.”

“There were circumstances…”

“And pregnant too?”

“Didn’t that quack tell you? It’s just carriage sickness.”

“Since you brought Luxen’s child, I assume your wife is related to them too.”

“Milenna is the Grand Duchess’s sister.”

“Did you bring her for your own purposes?”

“…”

Lexion answered smoothly until that question stopped him. At first, yes, he had a purpose. But now?

“I approached her as part of a deal… but now, I don’t know anymore.”

Sharpeil chuckled softly, pleased.

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s something worth celebrating.”

Still lying with his head buried, Lexion quieted at the warm touch. A withered hand gently stroked his fine silver hair.

“My little brother. You’re finally becoming an adult.”

“Your brother is an adult.”

Sharpeil chuckled at the sulky Lexion.

“Luxen’s kid seems more mature.”

“I can’t deny that. You felt it too, right? That lunatic injected your magic into his own son.”

“…Yes.”

Sharpeil’s blue eyes sank deeply, but Lexion didn’t notice anything odd.

“You must’ve seen Calion, then.”

Seen was an understatement. He’d taken a proper beating. But there was no need to tell Sharpeil that and make him worry. He had even instructed Gerard not to report all the details to the head of the family.

“That cursed face is the same as ever.”

“…”

Lexion’s hatred and fury toward Calion were beyond imagination. As a child, he often said he’d kill him if he could.

As he grew up, he had layered mask after mask, becoming an adult who could hide his true self. It was heartbreaking, but even so, he was still Sharpeil’s little brother.

“Lexion, do you still not want to be Duke?”

Lexion, who had been quietly letting Sharpeil touch his head, looked up sharply.

“Don’t say ridiculous things. I’d never covet your position.”

“Lexi. This position is becoming too much for me.”

At his brother’s pained admission, Lexion grimaced and clenched his teeth.

“Just rest. I’ll introduce Milenna to you once she recovers.”

“Alright.”

After Lexion left, Sharpeil was alone in the dark room. As the thick herbal scent began to fade, he moved his bony hand and called for his physician.

“You called for me.”

Soon, a burly man large enough to fill the doorway entered.

“Hector.”

“Yes, sir.”

Sharpeil’s cold eyes sharpened.
“So, you finally revealed it.”

At the abrupt statement, Hector scratched his bearded chin shamelessly.

“You know how the young master is. When it comes to you, he stops at nothing. It was only a matter of time before he found out.”

“He never would have, if someone hadn’t egged him on.”

There was reproach in his gaze. He had known that Lexion was seeking the source of his illness, but he had remained silent. Yet this mage-physician had let something slip — a secret only the two of them shared.

He should’ve stopped Lexion from going north. He’d expected him to return empty-handed, not to bring back a child. And now, even a wife through marriage.

“Still, since it’s been found, wouldn’t it be wise to try?”

Sigh. These cursed mages. They were always obsessed with experimentation.

“If I try, will it extend my life?”

Sharpeil’s voice was cold, calmly aware of his condition. Hector’s thick eyebrows twitched.

“Just pretend to draw the magic out of the child. Show Lexion that it can’t be done, so he can let go.”

“My lord…”

“I wasn’t going to live long anyway. I’ve come this far because Lexion couldn’t let go. But now, he’s met his match. He’ll be fine even if I go.”

It had been over twenty years since his power was stolen. He had barely clung to life. Sharpeil closed his eyes, sinking into thought.

He had known that his stolen magic was in the Grand Duke’s hands, but never intended to retrieve it. His will to live had not been strong. It was only for Lexion’s sake that he hadn’t died easily.

Until Calion came to him seven years ago, Sharpeil had forgotten about the power that had been taken from him.