My chest constricted. Armethians were willing to step down to my level and become murderers like me all in the name of revenge. None of my countrymen were like that before. But the tragedy had changed them, too. Just like me, I know that the wounds in their heart will forever remain.
“You wouldn’t have been this weak right now if only you don’t allow those bastards to attack you, young master. The problem is, you keep giving them the license to hurt you. And they take advantage of it. Because of what you’re doing, it’s like you are proving to them that their accusations about you was right. You could have fought back or you could have just tried to defend yourself at least. They are too much. I don’t know what else they want from you. They already took everything away from you. But why aren’t they stopping yet? Why do they keep on taking more from you?”
“Theron-“
“And you take all the blame! You keep taking the punishment that was not meant for you! What if they succeed in killing you? When that happens, how can I ever face your parents again, young master? And to think that they entrusted you to me.”
This time, Theron did not try to hide how devastated he was.
“Why are you thinking about my parents? You should just think about yourself. We won’t be able to see them again, Theron. We can never go back to Arameth again. We are now stuck in this world forever. Because you ran away only to join me here, the Armethians now treat you as their enemy. Whether I die in this place or not, my parents won’t even know about it. The Armethian officials are too cruel to let my parents know.”
“Don’t say that, young master.”
“I’m just being honest. I know how my previous soldiers and employees think and operate, Theron. I know them more than anybody else.” I let out a hollow laugh. “I know that they would want to make my parents wonder forever whether their only son is still alive or not. That’s their punishment to my parents.”
“That’s the reason why I’ve been working on reopening the case, young master. I still believe that we can find a way to prove to the Armethians that there were many loopholes in what happened in the past. In fact, I’ve already found some wizards who could help us. All I need to do is-”
“Theron, do you even know what you’re saying?” I feel tempted to shake his shoulders. He had been trying so hard to reopen that goddamn case. And I’m worried. In his attempt to dig deeper to gather evidences just for me, he might end up putting his life at risk. I’ve tried to stop him so many times before. But if I’m stubborn, then so was Theron who assisted my parents in raising me.
“Do you even have the slightest idea about what you’re saying? You worked for my family for decades. You should have known that supernaturals outside Arameth are incapable of helping us. You know the policies. And you should also know when to stop, damn it!”
“I will stop only if you also stop in inflicting pain to yourself, young master,” Theron said in a stern voice.
“What else do you want me to do?!” I almost screamed at him.
“I want you to be tired living this way! Until when will you carry someone else’s cross, young master?”
“How about you? Until when will you delude yourself in thinking that I’m innocent?” I shot back out of frustration. He has so much faith in me that I can’t even begin to fathom where it was coming from. “I’m a beast, Theron. I have killed countless of people. I have blood in my hands. You’ve seen that yourself. The enemies that you’re referring to were my victims. They’ve lost their loved ones because of me. The least I could do for them is to let them punish me to somehow appease their pain and-“
“And what about you? What do you think your parents would feel if they found out that the Armethians followed you here only to make your life more miserable?”
I averted his gaze.
“But whatever I say won’t matter to you, right, young master? Because you are determined to believe what you wanted to believe. The council members are fools. That was the only reason why they were able to fool the Armethians who were just as imprudent as them. That’s why I don’t regret not being with them. The officials knew who you really are and yet, they asked you to become their ruler. And then they did this to you. Neither the council nor the Armethians are the victims here, young master. It’s you. Yes, they may have lost someone, but their losses were nothing compared to what you lost. They took away your child, family, position, kingdom, friends, faith, happiness, your whole life, and even the real you. In fact, you should be the one seeking justice right now, and not the other way around!”
“Theron, stop it.”
“I will not stop until I make you understand! Those Armethians are still together until now. They could comfort each other there. But you are alone here. And right at this very second as we speak, you are on the verge of losing something very precious again. And that’s still because of them! Screw them!”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” I said and went to the wine bar. I opened a new bottle of wine and did not bother getting a glass. I drank straight from the bottle.
“I’ve been observing the female mortal these past few days,” Theron told me in a now calmer voice.
I’m sure I’ve pretty much shown him that I wanted to be alone. But the old man still followed me here. He may call me ‘young master’, but there were still days like this when he doesn’t follow my orders. Every time Theron wanted to point out something, he would be unstoppable.