Chapter 21

‘It’s too late.’

I should have visited Zachary periodically, but I couldn’t. Contrary to my plan to prevent him from succumbing to the brainwashing spell, I was utterly helpless… It’s a disaster.

Moreover, the fact that the duke showed Zachary to my mother and she described him as ‘well trained’ suggests that Zachary is already…

“I don’t want this, Mother.”

I clenched my fist tightly.

I should have seen him at least once more.

Feeling my heart sink at the thought of Zachary being left to follow the original story’s path, I also realized I didn’t want to have him under me as a servant. He must have been finely crafted into a ticking time bomb by the duke’s horrific torture and spells. How could I bring him under me in such a state?

‘Maybe that’s why I was brutally killed with a kitchen knife in the original story.’

Thinking about it, there was no reason for such a cruel death for a character barely mentioned in the original story. What if all this is flowing according to the original narrative? If in the original, I terribly mistreated Zachary, keeping him under my feet, and he harbored a grudge and gruesomely murdered me in retaliation?

“I don’t want it.”

I’m scared.

Of course, having him under me could make it easier to facilitate his escape. But that strategy only works if he hasn’t fallen under the spell. If he’s lost his sense of self to the extent my mother suggests, how could I possibly extract him?

And I felt too guilty to even face Zachary.

It was miserable enough not to have kept my bold promise to save him from brutal torture.

The mere thought of having such a tormented soul under my feet and commanding him made my hands tremble.

“Are you worried? This is the Serpentine house. His appearance can be easily altered, and if we prevent him from speaking, no one will know who he is.”

“Mother, you weren’t keen on it either. Why this sudden change?”

Her eyes darkened as she looked at me.

I hadn’t intended to question her so aggressively, but the situation was too strange to endure without asking.

When she first learned that the prince was in the workshop, she was very displeased.

Naturally, I wondered why she had changed her stance so drastically, suggesting he become my servant.

“That’s why he should be kept closer.”

Mother stroked my cheek as she spoke.

“It gives you leverage for negotiations with the Empire.”

I blinked at her, not quite understanding, then I saw the crescent shape of her eyes and realized.

Ah.

She didn’t trust anyone here, not even her own husband, the duke.

Indeed, without the king’s command, we couldn’t kill the prince. Doing so without justification would create a vulnerability for the entire family. Since the king hadn’t ordered Zachary’s death when entrusting him to us, he remained alive.

It seemed my mother anticipated that Zachary’s existence might eventually become known to the world. She was picturing a scenario where I could use Zachary as a bargaining chip to survive if the Holy Empire attacked us.

“When I saw him last time, he was ready to die if you commanded it. Just like any other servant, but even more perfect.”

Especially since he was already under the spell.

I knew from the original story that Zachary would eventually awaken and naturally break free from the spell. However, my mother seemed to think that a Zachary who had lost his self and was only capable of absolute loyalty could be a valuable asset in future negotiations.

“Don’t worry. I’ve always said, keep the dangerous things close at your feet. At most, you might lose a limb or two, but you’ll save your life. And that’s not all. Most importantly, I’ll protect you so that no one can even touch a hair on your head. You can rest easy.”

She gently pressed her cheek against my feverishly warm one. Her cool cheek felt pleasant, but worried about passing on a potential cold, I gently pushed her away. Then she started to tickle me.

I’m terribly ticklish, so despite my inner turmoil, I couldn’t help but smile.

The corners of my mouth stretched up as I laughed heartily. Seeing me smile so broadly, mother looked momentarily surprised, then, unable to contain her affection, she hugged me tightly and let out a small cry.

“Oscar. All I want is for you to live a healthy life.”

She had always been obsessively concerned about my survival since I was young.

Apart from my frail body and precarious standing in the royal family, there wasn’t much to me.

‘I don’t understand.’

But how can I command a potential disaster as a servant?

If I had awakened earlier, I might have welcomed this situation. But now, too much time has passed, and I can’t be sure Zachary hasn’t fallen victim to the brainwashing spell.

What good would it do to keep Zachary, who would eventually awaken and potentially wreak havoc, by my side?

Of course, there’s no fault in my mother’s logic.

Using the prince as leverage was a typical and practical piece of advice from her.

‘Keeping a potential disaster as my servant.’

Only if I didn’t know about Zachary’s future.

It’s like in dramas or movies, where extras who treat major characters carelessly often meet a gruesome end.

Fearing I might become the first extra to cross the river of death if Zachary comes, I resolved to use him as little as possible.

But can I really do that?

Even now, without someone by my side, I’m so frail that I could collapse and die at any moment. In short, my body is so unreliable that it’s a miracle I’m still alive.

Consequently, those around me naturally had to endure a lot of hardship. The thought that Zachary would take on all these burdensome tasks in the future left me feeling overwhelmed.

‘But I know the future. Rather than letting Zachary be misused elsewhere, I should keep him under me and try to manage somehow.’

I took a feverish breath and drank some water, thinking about Zachary over and over again. Although serving me might be exhausting and frustrating for him, I was determined to keep the promise I made to him.

Given the circumstances, he might not even know who he is anymore due to the spell… But if I get the chance, I plan to free Zachary and later use that as leverage to ensure my mother’s and my survival.

‘I’m not sure about the duke.’

While it would be nice to survive together, just as my mother is my priority, I am hers. How could I forsake someone who loves me with all her heart and soul?

Even now, she’s anxiously preparing to call the doctor again, fearing I might collapse once more.

Time moved swiftly after that.

Perhaps time seemed to pass more quickly because I was confined to my bed.

My health gradually improved, and I was on the road to recovery. Exactly 35 days had passed since the discussion with the duke about the servant issue.

“……”

I nearly fainted at the sight of a child, about my size, wrapped in bandages all over his body.

Like the other servants, his face was covered with a talisman depicting eyes, but unlike them, his entire body was swathed in dark navy bandages, with intricate gold patterns. The bandages wrapped his arms, legs, and even his neck, leaving only a glimpse of his jawline visible.

Looking at this figure, which resembled a cursed doll, I instinctively felt fear and stepped back. Then the duke gently pushed the boy forward and spoke.

“Oscar, from today, this boy will be your servant.”

My servant?

Was he saying I had to accept this mummy-like figure as my servant?

Of course, I knew I would get a servant following the incident a month ago when my mother made a fuss. But…

I hadn’t expected a servant who looked like a mummified doll.

‘It might not be him.’

It shouldn’t be him. It just couldn’t be.

If this mummy-wrapped figure with spells on his bandages was Zachary… the thought of what terrible things he might have endured was too horrific to contemplate.

If the impending disaster of this world is truly this person before me…

Our family might as well be crafting our own coffin.

I cautiously approached him and gently began to unravel the bandage covering his head. Clinging to a sliver of hope that it might not be Zachary, I watched for the hair that would soon be revealed.

But what appeared through the gaps in the bandage was…

“Ah, if it bothers you, you can undo the seal cloth wrapped around his head. Of course, it must be redone when he goes out to the garden.”

…jet-black hair, like ebony.

‘Zachary!’

He’s really here.

The impending disaster has indeed become my servant.