CPG | Chapter 13

Rayyan lay on the bed, awkwardly scanning the ceiling. It was a perspective he rarely had, except when cleaning, so his fingers kept fidgeting on his stomach.

“It’ll take longer than the first examination, so just relax.”

Rishman, who was arranging the examination tools beside him, spoke calmly to Rayyan. With the prince’s orders, he had the duty to thoroughly examine Rayyan’s body. Considering the prince’s temperament, he had at most two days, maybe even less.

Though he was one of the people who felt sorry for the prince, receiving such orders brought up conflicting feelings of resentment.

Rishman, having finished all preparations, looked down at Rayyan. When his face was half-covered by his black hair, it was hard to tell, but lying down revealed quite a face.

With refined facial features, detailed eyes, a graceful nose, and distinct lips, he could easily be mistaken for a noble’s son.

Wasn’t he a servant at the Imperial Palace? He wondered why he hadn’t noticed him before, recalling the morning they met. Rayyan’s presence was so unassuming that he hadn’t thought to look closely at his face.

As Rishman just stared without doing anything, Rayyan’s gaze slowly shifted from the ceiling to him. He seemed like an ordinary middle-aged man at first glance, but his eyes, which had endured the time in the Imperial Palace, were unreadable.

“Do you know why His Highness gave such an order?”

At Rishman’s question, Rayyan recalled his conversation with the prince. The prince had asked if he’d had a second examination and had seemed deep in thought after hearing the answer.

Every time Rayyan touched the prince, he felt a tingling sensation. If he wasn’t the only one feeling it, and if the prince had sensed something strange, he might have been curious about the second examination results.

“I’m not sure.”

But Rayyan couldn’t be certain of anything, so he held back his words.

“Alright, let me ask something else. Is there anyone in your family who has manifested as an Esper or a Guide?”

Rayyan’s lips thinned into a line and then returned to normal at Rishman’s question. He quickly composed his expression to hide that he had tightly closed his mouth.

However, Rayyan’s heart couldn’t hide its surprise and pounded loudly. He hoped Rishman wouldn’t notice…

Rayyan’s family had produced Guides for generations, and Rayyan, who showed no abilities, was treated as an oddity.

“There is.”

He didn’t mention that the family head had always been a Guide, but it was the best answer he could give. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be an important question for Rishman, as he didn’t ask further.

“Then let’s begin. I’ll first flow the energy of an Esper into you. Just relax and see if you react. Think of it as a long-awaited rest.”

As Rishman spoke while holding his arm, Rayyan slowly closed his eyes.

Receiving an examination for the first time in a while since the initial one, various emotions surfaced within Rayyan. At one time, he never doubted he would become the family head, embracing everyone’s expectations. Rayyan worked hard to meet his father’s expectations.

All of that crumbled in a single moment. When the result showed he wouldn’t manifest as a Guide, Rayyan, along with his mother, was gathered and expelled for the sin of giving birth to him. If they had been completely expelled, it might have been better, but being pushed to an abandoned mansion within the family left a vivid memory.

A sibling took the place he vacated. The rumors of that child, who couldn’t even be considered a second son due to being illegitimate, confidently taking the position of heir, hurt Rayyan more and more.

But Rayyan couldn’t show his pain. For the sin of falling out of his father’s favor, he wasn’t assigned a single servant, and with his mother and grandmother in a poor environment, there was no one else to care for them.

At first, he didn’t want to move. It hurt his pride that he, who had lived as an heir, had to do things himself. But that soon turned into resignation. Pride couldn’t fill an empty stomach.

From that day, Rayyan picked up a rag instead of a book. He swept and cleaned the dirty mansion and somehow managed to cook with a knife that didn’t fit his small hands. At first, everything was difficult. No matter how much he was praised for being smart, his body was too young and small.

The time he endured passed cruelly as his grandmother and mother left his side one by one. No matter how hard it was physically, Rayyan could endure because they were there, but now there was nothing left to hold on to…

“Shouldn’t you get a second examination?”

His mother’s words, full of lingering attachment, and

“I believe you will manifest.”

His grandmother’s vague belief kept him from collapsing. In the end, Rayyan severed all ties with his family to avoid dying.

He moved secretly at night, but surely his father’s knights had discovered him. Yet no one stopped him.

He had expected that, as his father had always watched whatever happened to him without intervening.

“…Iyan!”

Suddenly hearing his name, Rayyan opened his eyes wide and looked at Rishman.

“What were you thinking about to get so worked up?”

“I’m sorry.”

Unknowingly recalling the past, his emotions seemed to have surged. As Rayyan took a deep breath, Rishman offered a cautionary explanation again.

“When emotions fluctuate, the body reacts. Then it takes even longer. Right now, it’s best to rest without thinking about anything.”

“Understood.”

“You’ve been attending to His Highness and taking care of the castle alone, haven’t you? When will you get another chance like this? So just rest well.”

By now, he should be cleaning the castle or watering the crops… Contrary to his thoughts, Rayyan slowly drifted into sleep.

***

When the distant sound of dripping water grew closer, Rayyan opened his eyes.

“Awake?”

Rishman, who was sitting and reading a book, spoke to him. Rayyan turned his head to look at him and checked his own condition.

“Don’t get up.”

Seeing the wires attached all over his body, Rayyan lowered the hand he had slightly raised.

“What time is it…?”

At Rayyan’s question, Rishman picked up his pocket watch and opened the lid.

“It’s past two.”

At his answer, Rayyan’s eyes moved up to look out the window. Seeing the completely dark sky, he realized it was early morning.

“His Highness…”

“Hmm?”

“Never mind.”

Rayyan mumbled unconsciously and then closed his mouth at Rishman’s response. He had been worried about whether the prince had eaten well or if he was uncomfortable while he slept.

He had been taking care of him every day… He couldn’t imagine that someone who had always been served could manage on his own.

“If you stay uneasy, the examination will be delayed.”

Watching Rayyan’s twitching reaction, Rishman approached. He checked the wires transmitting the Esper’s energy and looked down at Rayyan.

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but finishing quickly is the best.”

“Understood.”

Rishman was right. Staying anxious would only delay the time he could serve the prince, so Rayyan forced himself to calm down.

Seeing Rayyan’s expression improve, Rishman turned his head to look out the window. The rain, which had started in the evening, showed no sign of stopping as it steadily tapped against the window frame.

“It seems like it’ll rain all night.”

Rayyan also focused on the sound of the rain. It was the first rain since he arrived at Sanges Castle. He wondered if it would affect the ingredients he left outside, but Rishman’s words interrupted his thoughts.

“When it rains, His Highness’s mood becomes more unsettled.”

“…”

“It seems his body aches more on rainy days than on clear ones.”

Rishman clicked his tongue and sat on a nearby chair.

“Everyone lowered themselves, fearing they might upset His Highness’s mood, and I did the same.”

The story Rishman told about the prince wasn’t much different from the rumors Rayyan had heard, but he listened intently. The prince, whom he once thought had nothing to do with him, now piqued his interest as he spent every day by his side.

“So you should be especially careful on rainy days.”

Rishman warned quietly.

“Be particularly cautious not to touch His Highness’s body.”

Rishman offered his advice, considering that a fifteen-year-old boy was serving the prince alone. Unaware that Rayyan had been frequently touching the prince’s body.

Recalling the past few days of serving the prince, Rayyan cautiously spoke.

“When His Highness asks me to use my hands…”

“That won’t happen.”

Rishman cut him off, as if it wasn’t even worth considering. He went further, strongly denying that it would ever be allowed.

“No one has ever touched His Highness’s body and gotten away with it. So don’t think you’re different and be careful. Right now, you might feel like you’re special because you’re handling everything for His Highness, but if you make a mistake, they’ll just bring in another servant.”

Rishman repeatedly warned Rayyan, telling him how to endure a little longer. Rayyan, faced with his firm response, couldn’t bring himself to ask more and kept his mouth shut.