Chapter 66 – The Cursed Boy

Only then did I realize how this world perceived demonic power.
Just as faith in Saint Marianne awakened the holy element and opened the path to priesthood, demonic power was only bestowed to demon kin.
In other words, it was proof of being tainted by the demon lord.

It wouldn’t be strange to be struck with fear when you discovered that the captain you trusted and followed possessed demonic power.
However, I already knew about that.
What shocked me was learning that the captain’s hair wasn’t originally black.
I had believed that Mayer would never understand the feeling of being judged by hair color, but I was wrong.
To think that his hair was the mark, the brand of the demon lord that he carried since birth… I sighed and shook my head.
“Because there’s no reason to be afraid.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.
The captain is someone very important to me.
Someone that couldn’t be replaced by anyone else.
There’s no way something like that would make me fear him.” I explained to Vince in a strong tone to alleviate his concern.
When the butler grew wide-eyed, I realized that my words were extremely suggestive.
I made it sound as if Mayer was my precious, uh, special… No, I was talking in terms of ability! “What I meant was, uh…” I hurriedly tried to correct myself, but it was too late.

“…I was afraid.” Vince began speaking hesitantly as if beginning a confession.
I couldn’t bring myself to cut him off to try and make an excuse.
“No, all of Nochtentoria Castle feared His Excellency.
All except for my wife.”

“Your wife?”

“She was His Excellency’s nanny.
Even the duke’s mother, the former grand duchess, avoided him.
My wife had lost our child at the time and so she came to rear him.”

Was this okay for me to hear? I felt it was far too private for me to know.
Deciding that I had nosed in deeply enough, I shook my head rigidly and said, “…I don’t know if it’s okay for me to know this.”

“If it is you, Vice-captain, I think it will be fine.
It is something you must know.” The butler insisted.

“I’m not so sure about that.
Will the captain truly want me to know the truth?”

The past was perhaps Mayer’s sole weakness.
Not to mention, he had yet to reveal to me that he possessed demonic power.
This had to be his sore spot so it was right to approach the matter with utmost caution.
Vince seemed to think otherwise, though, as he desperately clung to the subject.
“I am sure His Excellency will be averse to you learning about this.
He is, after all, a man of strong pride who refuses to show weakness.
However, I still want you to know, Vice-captain.”

“Why?”

“Because you are the only one His Excellency trusts and relies on.”

“Well, that’s…” My mouth went dry.
Trusted and relied on? That was all just pretense.
I fought the urge to tell Vince that he was firmly mistaken.
Unaware of my feelings, the butler continued, “His Excellency shared a glass of drink with you alone, did he not? He is not one to let people get so close.”

Mayer Knox, you rock of a man.
Just how much were you distancing yourself from others? How could I have become the most dependable person just because I drank some wine together with you? Shouldn’t this be the moment where I’m begged to keep a secret? Never did I hear of being begged to know a secret.

“Besides, you are the only one who thinks of the duke the way you do.
Despite finding out that His Excellency has the same power as the demons, you do not mind in the least.
Your strong conviction and faith give you the right to know about his past.” Vince explained.

That was something he had completely misunderstood! I didn’t mind at all because I already knew, but I could not tell him this.
I made one wrong statement and ended up being mistaken as Mayer Knox’s loyal follower.
For a minute, I reminded myself over and over of the saying “weigh your words before speaking.”

While I was biting my lips, distressed by this bewildering situation, Vince let out a deep, remorseful sigh.
“I am old now and do not know when I will leave this world.
And yet, I am the only one left who knows what His Excellency went through.
I am certain that the duke will never speak about it and shall continue to live while harboring that pain alone… Do you not think it too sorrowful? I ask of you, Vice-captain.
Could you please take over this old man’s memory?”

Again, I don’t know if someone who suddenly joined the Dark Knights several months ago should receive that precious memory.
I tried to persuade Vince the best I could.
“…The captain and I could fall apart later, and I could use the past you tell me to threaten him.
You never know what’ll happen.
What is it that makes you believe in me?”

“That would simply mean that I was mistaken in my old age.
But, in my experience, those who would act as you suggested are usually prone to prying in on secrets.” Vince stared at me and his gaze seemed to ask if I really would do such a thing.
“Besides, there would be nothing better to threaten him with than the fact that the captain possesses demonic power, which you already know about.”

I gave up.
Since he wanted to tell me so much then okay.
Outdone by Vince’s stubbornness, I sighed and held up my hands in defeat.
“Alright… But it’s not my fault if His Excellency gets angry later.”

“This old man will take full responsibility,” Vince promised, nodding resolutely.
He then took a moment to steady his breath and began recounting the past with a faraway look in his eyes.