■ Meltreza of Woodstock’s POV
“Zzz… Zzz…”
Hugh had cried himself to sleep and now lay breathing peacefully on my lap. Learning about the psychic spell placed on him must have come as quite a shock…
“I should have chosen my words more carefully… Now look what I’ve done…”
My crimson eyes had the power to see through malice and lies, and as a vampire, I could also perceive the flow of magic and read the composition of spells and techniques.
The traces I detected on Hugh’s back were old, their effects already beginning to unravel. Perhaps it was because he had given up on everything after his sixth life that the spell had lost its potency.
“…Unbelievable! How could anyone do such a thing to their own son…!”
My heart flooded with grief and hopelessness at the thought of everything he had been through.
Why did those people insist on making such a kindhearted boy suffer…?! All Hugh wanted was the love and affection from his family that all children deserve! Why did he alone have to endure so much…?!
If I could, I would tear those wretched Grenvilles apart with my own two hands.
Consumed by rage, I gently stroked Hugh’s hair as he slept.
Knock-knock.
“Pardon me…,” said my grandfather as he stepped into the room. “Huh?! H-Hugo?! What in blazes happened?!” Seeing Hugh asleep on my lap, he began to make a fuss, but I raised my finger to my lips to silence him.
“Shhh… He cried himself to sleep, that’s all.”
“I—I see… But what do you mean, ‘he cried himself to sleep’? He didn’t…?” My grandfather paused there, his expression turning grim. He probably thought Hugh had collapsed in fear upon learning my true nature.
“…It isn’t what you’re thinking, Grandfather. He… He…!”
“M-Mel?!”
Tears welled up in my eyes at the mere thought of Hugh’s many hardships. I told my grandfather everything I had learned about the boy sleeping on my lap—the injustices thrust upon him without end and his six lifetimes of despair.
“Hmm… It beggars belief, but if that’s what you saw, then it must be true…” Stroking his beard, my grandfather cast his sharp gaze down on Hugh.
“He told me himself that the reason Marquis Grenville proposed this arrangement was to seize control of House Woodstock.”
“Oh…? So you’re saying Hugo is only here at that weaselly Marquis’s behest?”
“No!” I shook my head. “There’s more to it than that.”
“More, you say?” my grandfather repeated dubiously.
“Yes… Marrying into our family was originally Hugh’s idea.”
“Wh-what now?! You’re telling me he wanted to seize our family’s power for himself?!”
“No! Hugh knew he would be in danger if he stayed with House Grenville, so he chose our family, thinking we’d be the most likely to accept him and that the Grenvilles wouldn’t dare touch us.”
“I—I see…” My grandfather nodded, finally comprehending.
“But as far as I’m concerned… I couldn’t be happier that he chose us… It’s a blessing…”
Yes, a true blessing… How lucky I am to have met you—to have you accept me not as a monster, but as myself…
“Ha-ha! I never thought I’d see you look at a man like that, Mel!” my grandfather bellowed, stroking his beard and beaming at me.
“I’d like Hugh to stay here tonight, with me. Could you let House Grenville know, Grandfather?”
“Th-that’s all well and good, but you two aren’t even properly engaged yet…”
My grandfather, it seemed, was concerned about how precisely we meant to spend the night.
“It will be fine. Hugh is a man of integrity. I’m sure he would never violate our trust.”
“I—I see…”
“What is it, Grandfather?”
“…N-no, I’m quite sure you’re right!”
Though I sensed he was skeptical, once I fixed him with a sharp glare, he hurriedly agreed.
“In that case, Grandfather—would you mind leaving us for now?”
“Oh, I suppose so…” With that, he slumped his shoulders and headed for the door.
“…Grandfather?”
“Hmm?”
“Tomorrow…would you hear him out for yourself…?”
“Ha-ha. Of course.” Then, with a quick wave, he left us to ourselves.
“Now, then…” Gently lifting Hugh up from my lap, I carried him to the bed and laid him down on top of the sheets. “Ho-ho… I wonder if my strength would intimidate him…,” I murmured as I watched his sleeping face. But deep down, I knew that Hugh would never feel that way.
“S-still…”
“Zzz… Zzz…”
My chest tightened, my heart racing as I peered into his face, still puffy from crying.
“P-pardon me…,” I murmured as I lay down beside him.
Then all of a sudden—
“…?!”
“Ugh… Ugh…!”
—he reached out and clung to me. He was still shedding tears even in his sleep.
“Hugh…” I stroked his hair with the gentlest of touches.
…I prayed he would find solace in his dreams, at least.