The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation-Chapter 23 - 22 — Secret

Tobias felt the hammering ache before anything else.

’Damn... what in the Iron Father is this...’

It felt like his body had been tossed around like luggage.

"Urgh... W-where am I?"

He clutched his head as he pushed himself up, wincing.

His vision swam for a moment before slowly clearing. The first thing he saw was the campfire, its light flickering steadily in the darkness.

Three figures sat around it, watching him.

"Uhh..."

Tobias blinked, then froze as his gaze landed on Zephyrion. In an instant, the memories of the ambush came surging back into his mind.

His heart dropped.

’He knows...’

The secret he had tried so hard to hide was now exposed.

’He won’t want me again.’

His chest tightened. Clenching his teeth, Tobias forced himself up and quickly dropped to one knee before Zephyrion.

"M-my lord..."

"You’re awake."

"Y-yes, my lord."

"Good."

A moment of silence passed.

Tobias waited.

...And waited.

When it became painfully clear nothing else was coming, he awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Uh... Mount Ferravyr, my lord... what happened?"

The young heir’s gaze drifted slightly, as if recalling something distant.

"A Herald crashed into the mountain. The impact killed them."

"...!"

Tobias’ eyes widened. He hesitantly glanced at Selis. The Whitesteel didn’t even look up, completely focused on tearing into her meat like nothing in the world concerned her.

’...Yeah. That tracks.’

Tobias felt a wave of relief wash over him.

’It all turned out fine.’

After everything, he had actually survived. Maybe he had really burned through a lifetime’s worth of luck today.

However, he swallowed a moment later. There was still... that.

Slowly, Tobias looked back at Zephyrion, only to pause.

The young lord had already turned away, calmly eating his skewered meat as if nothing of importance had happened.

"...?"

Tobias frowned slightly.

’Does he not know?’

Hope bloomed in Tobias’ chest. If Zephyrion didn’t know about that... then maybe...

A grin began to spread across his face.

"Young lord, I am gla—"

"You fainted."

"...!"

Tobias froze.

"Y-young lord. I-I don’t—"

"You’re scared of blood."

"...Ah."

Tobias’ face went pale. When he met those calm purple eyes, it felt like something inside him quietly collapsed.

’He knew...’

Of course he knew. He had seen everything.

Tobias’ hands slowly tightened.

’It’s the same.’

Just like the others, Zephyrion would cast him away without a second glance. And when that happened...

’It’s all over.’

This had been his last chance. If he was cast away, he would have to find some way, any way, to fend for her without the house’s support.

Tobias shut his eyes, bracing himself for the words that would decide his fate.

"Get me water."

"I understand, you— what?"

His eyes snapped open.

Zephyrion had already turned away, calmly eating his skewered meat like nothing of importance had been said.

Tobias blinked. Once. Twice.

"...My lord?"

"You didn’t hear me?"

"No, no, I did," Tobias said quickly, scrambling to his feet, then pausing again as confusion overtook him. "But... I-I don’t understand. You’re not going to cast me away...?"

Zephyrion glanced at him, expression unchanged.

"Do you want me to?"

"N-no!"

The answer came out far too fast. Tobias froze right after, as if realizing what he’d just said, but Zephyrion had already looked away again.

A small nod, and that was all.

Just like that... it was over...?

Tobias stood there for a few seconds, completely lost.

Wards were assigned to every member of the primary line from a young age. They were meant to grow alongside their lord, to fight for them, to become their blade. Their shadow. Their shield.

Their importance was everything.

And yet... this was it?

No anger. No disappointment. Not even a question.

As someone who fainted at the sight of blood, Tobias had never even been given the chance to prove himself.

Every lord who found out had discarded him immediately, like something defective.

He had believed Zephyrion would do the same. That was why he had pushed himself so hard, why he had tried so desperately to be useful.

But now...

Tobias swallowed. He couldn’t hold it back.

"W-why?"

Zephyrion looked at him again, this time with a faint crease in his brows.

"Do I have to explain myself to you?"

"...Uh... no..."

Tobias immediately lowered his head, but his expression twisted into something between confusion and disbelief.

What kind of answer was that?

A brief silence followed before Zephyrion’s voice came again, slightly firmer this time.

"Water."

"Ah—! Yes, right away!"

Tobias turned and bolted into the forest.

He didn’t know where he was going. Didn’t know how far the nearest water source was. He hadn’t even brought anything to carry it in.

None of that mattered. A wide grin had already spread across his face.

For once...

For once, his lord hadn’t cast him away.

The thought alone sent a rush of energy through him. Clenching his fists as he ran, Tobias felt something fierce rise in his chest.

Even if it killed him...

He would become the greatest ward the world had ever seen.

...

Back at the campsite, Zephyrion’s gaze rested quietly on the water container beside Selis.

It was the same one he had just sent Tobias to fetch.

Selis followed his line of sight, then wordlessly picked up the satchel and handed it over.

"Here... young lord."

"Thank you."

He took it without comment.

Selis’ eyes lingered for a moment before she glanced toward the direction Tobias had disappeared, a faint crease forming between her brows.

"...I’ll bring him back."

Zephyrion gave a small nod.

"...I would appreciate that."

She vanished into the darkness without another word.