“Long time no see.”
The voice was unhurried yet gentle, oddly out of step with the situation. When Riu turned toward the mild tone, there stood the second son of Count Davir’s house, Kian.
“…Kian?”
At Kian’s sudden appearance, Riu glanced around. He was checking in case Matthew might be nearby, but thankfully, Kian seemed to be alone.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
The mischievous look Riu had seen the first day he visited Matthew’s home was gone; Kian’s expression was set and rigid.
“How the hell does a punk like you even know Kian?”
Jealous at the fact Riu was talking with Kian, Sehironz jabbed a finger at Riu. But that finger was promptly folded back by Kian, and Sehironz let out a scream.
“Agh!”
“Count yourself lucky it’s only one finger broken.”
Kian took a handkerchief from his inner pocket and gave Sehironz a bright smile. As if he’d done nothing of harm, he wiped his hand with that artless smile, then flicked the handkerchief toward Sehironz.
“Send the bill for treatment to our family for as much as you like. Unless you don’t care about keeping the rest of your fingers intact.”
With a face that radiated menace, Kian spoke. As if he had no desire to continue the exchange, he turned his body toward Riu and curled his lips up.
“I never imagined I’d run into you in a place like this… Should I be pleased?”
Speaking vaguely, Kian smiled, his eyes curving into crescents. But something in the air felt off, and Riu swallowed dryly without meaning to.
“So Kian means you’re Matthew’s younger brother?”
At Albert’s interjection, Kian gave a slight nod.
“Riu… Hyung, I’d like to have a word for a moment. Could you take care of those two?”
Even at the friendly address, Albert’s brows twitched. Judging by his face, he didn’t like this.
“Albert, I’ll just talk for a minute and be right back.”
“Are you sure you’re okay going alone?”
“Yeah.”
It seemed the business with Sehironz had put Albert in a foul mood. But Riu signaled him to relax and quietly stepped away.
“What is it… you wanted to talk about?”
Riu spoke first as he widened the distance between himself and Kian. Now that things with Matthew were over, being together felt awkward.
“I figured you wouldn’t like places like this. Meeting here of all places… Does my brother know?”
At the word brother, Riu felt his heart drop with a thud to the floor. As if someone had their hand around his windpipe, a suffocating tightness pressed in, and he worried his lip.
“Um…”
“It’s Kian. A moment ago you called my name just fine.”
Trying to shift the mood, Kian wore a gentle smile. The atmosphere loosened a little thanks to that, but Riu couldn’t smile back. He at least knew he wasn’t strong enough to face Matthew’s brother with a smile.
“I’m guessing you haven’t heard it from Matthew yet… We agreed to go back to being strangers.”
“Why?”
“…Up to now, circumstances being what they were, we ended up spending time together. But there’s no need for that anymore.”
Like someone who’d swallowed sand, Riu made a bitter face. There was no need to tell Kian all this… Maybe it was the alcohol, but what was in his heart came out against his will.
“Do you regret it?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s just… your face looks like someone who’s regretting it.”
At his words, Riu’s eyes trembled faintly. Seeing how he looked like he might burst into tears at any moment, Kian slipped his hands into his pockets.
“He’s been in a terrible mood lately. I guess that’s why.”
“…Matthew has?”
“Yes. He’s so sharp that one day I told the wrong joke and honestly thought I’d be paying my respects to the next world.”
With a voice that held a hint of laughter, Kian slowly shook his head. As if the memory alone made his skin crawl, he rubbed his arms and let his lips stretch into a faint line.
“So don’t make it too complicated. The answer’s already decided anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“More importantly, don’t come to places like this again. It’s lucky I was the one who found you. If my brother had… The thought alone is awful.”
Whatever he pictured in his head, it left Kian visibly pale.
“So what I’m saying is… could you please keep this from Matthew?”
Honestly, Riu didn’t care if Kian told Matthew he’d met him at a bar. But the incident with Sehironz—that, at least, he didn’t want reaching Matthew’s ears. Thinking of how stupidly he’d stood there unable to say anything, Riu looked up at Kian with earnest eyes.
“If you put it that way, fine. By the way, those two from earlier… they’re not friends of yours, right?”
“…No.”
“And you won’t be getting chummy with them in the future either?”
Riu didn’t know what he was driving at, but he nodded to Kian’s words.
“Good. I was briefly wondering what I’d do if they were friends. Now I don’t need to trouble myself with a conscience.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s late. How about calling it a night and going home? I’ll explain things properly to your friend.”
Smiling, Kian applied a pressure that needed no words. With an implied air that refusal wasn’t an option to begin with, he flicked his hand behind him.
From somewhere in the shade, a man stepped out. As the man bowed his head, as if awaiting orders, Kian said,
“See that he gets home safely and without a scratch. He’s a guest of my brother, Matthew Davir.”
Hearing him even speak Matthew’s full name gave Riu a chill.
“I hope we meet next time together with my brother. Get home safe.”
Riu watched in silence as Kian bowed courteously and disappeared. Maybe there’d be a chance of meeting together with Matthew as he’d said, but the sight of the man falling in step behind him pushed such thoughts away.
“Do you still enjoy painting these days?”
Count Carter asked as he sliced bread. Riu glanced at the count’s expression, then set down the fork he was holding.
“Yes…”
He knew well enough that, given the family’s finances, they weren’t in a position for him to sit around idly painting. So Riu lifted his water glass, wet his lips lightly, and waited for the count to continue.
“Are you afraid I’m about to scold you?”
“No…”
“As you know, our family’s finances aren’t in good shape.”
At the count’s words, Riu chose silence over a reply. Once the Carter family’s fortunes had declined, they never recovered; the little territory they still had had been sold to pay his late mother’s medical bills. They might wear the title of count, but there was nothing left to the Carter name.
“I’ve always worried I’d placed too heavy a burden on you, but it seems a good opportunity has come your way, and I’m glad.”
“…A good opportunity?”
“The Imperial Foundation saw your paintings, Riu, and decided to sponsor you.”
At the word sponsor, Riu’s eyes went round. He’d always loved to paint, but he’d never formally shown his work to anyone.
“How did they even know about my paintings…”
“Well, they didn’t say that much, but I think it’s fortunate.”
“…”
“We don’t know how long the family can keep going like this. More than anything, it’s a relief that you can paint without worrying about my gaze.”
The count had known Riu had been painting out of his sight. The reason he’d pretended not to notice was the look in Riu’s eyes when he faced his canvases. Talent was talent, but when it came to painting, Riu was always sincere, and the count hadn’t wanted to break that will.
“I want you to do what you want to do. That’s what I wish for.”
“But…”
“Do what makes you happy, Riu Carter. That’s surely what your late mother would want as well.”
For a moment, Riu couldn’t say anything. He lacked ability, yet the count was always kind to him. Quietly, from behind, the count had always looked after Riu so the absence of his mother wouldn’t feel so stark. Knowing that, Riu felt one side of his chest fill with a heavy ache.
“…Thank you.”
Forcing down the swell of emotion, Riu smiled at the count.
“But… is it really okay to accept something like this?”
“It should be fine. If you feel that grateful, later on you can paint a fine picture and send it as a gift.”
At the count’s words, Riu bit his lip. The Imperial Foundation had offered sponsorship, but they hadn’t said who, exactly, would be acting as his patron.
Unaccustomed to kindness, Riu fretted, worrying at his lips. There was no such thing as pure goodwill in this world. As if he’d read Riu’s thoughts, the count dabbed his mouth with a napkin and spoke softly.
“Sometimes, no matter how desperate and hard the world may be, I think you have to know how to accept a kindness without any suspicion.”
“…”
“If you keep your guard up and your hackles raised too much, you end up missing the truly important things you ought to see.”
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