The Servant in the Horror Game is Suspicious Chapter 54

They bought three skewers and sat side-by-side on a central village bench to eat them. In front of the bench, a tiny fountain featuring a cherub spraying water trickled softly; a single sparrow landing on the rim and the gentle sound of the flowing water made for a very relaxing atmosphere.

“…”

Ian watched the fountain, then Jade, then the bustling crowd in turn.

There had been a fountain at the Linwood family’s main estate too. That one featured a massive, intricate sculpture, surrounded by endless rows of perfectly manicured gardens and flower beds.

And yet, sitting on this rickety bench watching this simple fountain felt far more comfortable than sitting in those sprawling gardens ever had. Jade was right. People-watching was actually quite fun. Crude simplicity could be better than elaborate perfection. For the first time, Ian realized that truth.

“Ian, the sky looks just like your eyes,” Jade said suddenly, looking up. Following his lead, Ian looked up at the sky as well.

It had been like this lately. If Jade said a flower smelled nice, Ian found himself sniffing the scent; if Jade said something was pretty, Ian looked in that direction too. Even if the food was nothing special, if Jade said it was delicious, it truly started to taste that way.

“…”

Does the sky really look like my eyes? Personally, Ian didn’t see the resemblance. If anything, Jade was the one who resembled the sky. Brisk and free, a man who felt like he might drift away at any moment like a floating cloud.

“…Yesterday you said they looked like a stream.”

“They look like that, and they look like the sky too.”

As he spoke, Jade looked back into Ian’s eyes.

Ian’s eyes really did look like a stream, a lake, and the sky. Specifically, a spring sky like today’s.

It wasn’t like the piercing blue of a summer sky. It was that pale, grayish-blue hue seen only in spring or early winter. That was the color of Ian’s eyes.

“Shall we have these skewers again tomorrow?” Jade tossed his finished stick into a bin with a bright smile. It had been a satisfying snack.

“Yes.”

“Meow!!”

Buster answered so loudly it nearly burst their eardrums. Ian ate the last piece of his skewer and looked back up at the sky Jade had mentioned. The three of them sat by the fountain until the sun began to set.

Back at the inn, the two washed up and got ready for bed. Even after finishing, Jade had a lot to do. He asked the innkeeper for information on carriages and organized the luggage they had bought today. Since there was so much, it took a while to sort through. He also had to calculate the remaining money.

As Jade moved around the room tidying up, he suddenly felt something strange. Ian was sticking right to his heels.

Come to think of it, Ian had spent the entire day following Jade like a shadow. Of course, it made sense to stay together while sightseeing, but this felt like it went beyond that.

Thinking back, it had been the same at the villa. Aside from the hours spent reading in the study, Ian was always with Jade.

At the villa, the space was large enough that he hadn’t fully noticed, but in a single room, it was painfully obvious that Ian was trailing him.

Compared to other boys his age, Ian was small with delicate, doll-like features. There was a melancholy air about him that naturally pulled at one’s heartstrings. That must have been the problem. In his desire to look after Ian, Jade had inadvertently let him get too close.

I didn’t think this through.

Despite his appearance, Ian had a prickly, cynical side. There were many parts of him that didn’t seem like a child at all.

Moreover, Jade knew all too well how cruel the boy in front of him would eventually become. That was why he hadn’t realized just how deep their bond had grown.

Perhaps because he always kept his eventual departure in mind, Jade had even felt relieved when he faced Ian’s cynical side. He figured it would mean no wasted emotions on the day he left, and the kid wouldn’t have to suffer.

“…”

“Is something wrong?”

When Jade turned around to stare, Ian was the one who asked if there was a problem. It seemed Ian himself didn’t even realize he was following Jade around like a puppy.

When exactly did they start spending every waking moment glued together? In the beginning, Ian had been busy ignoring Jade’s kindness. Even thinking back, it was hard to find a specific turning point.

“It’s nothing. Let’s get some sleep.”

Jade blew out the light and lay down on the bed. He felt a lingering gaze from somewhere. It wasn’t Buster. Buster was the first to pass out and was already snoring softly.

That left only one culprit. Turning toward the nightstand, he locked eyes with Ian.

“Can’t we sleep together?”

“Wha—?!”

Jade blinked, caught off guard by the bold suggestion. Was this really coming from Ian, the boy who used to blush and flee if they so much as brushed shoulders? Ian was acting very strange today.

“Where on earth would a nobleman sleep with a servant? Absolutely not.”

Jade rejected the offer quite firmly. He had to leave the villa within this week, or next week at the latest. He couldn’t afford to get more attached. Not for his own sake, but for Ian’s.

“…”

Unlike his usual self, Jade’s reaction was stern, and Ian’s eyes narrowed.

Jade’s vibe had changed about two days ago. No, to be precise, it had started bit by bit after the day they ran into Victor. He couldn’t put his finger on exactly what was different, but he felt a constant, subtle sense of distance being created.

The room was warm, but a chilly wind seemed to brush against his heart. Every time it did, anxiety would rear its head and shake him. He couldn’t even tell exactly what he was anxious about, but he felt a desperate sense of urgency.

In truth, there was no reason for him to care about Jade’s subtle shift in behavior. He had only kept the man alive because he was useful, rather than killing him as intended.

Even as he reminded himself of that, the anxiety wouldn’t fade. Ian was mature for his age, but he was still too young to handle the restlessness rising from beneath his feet.

‘Potatoes taste great with a bit of salt. And you have to keep onions in the shade.’

‘I’ll get mine next month.’

Why? It bothered him that Jade was teaching him how to use herbs and store onions. The contradiction of preparing for next winter while refusing to buy his own coat stood out glaringly. Lately, Jade had also been brushing off Ian’s questions with awkward smiles more frequently.

“…”

The candle on the nightstand flickered. With every flicker, the anxiety grew like an elongating shadow.

Click, click. Ian tapped his fingernails together. In the midst of that, he suddenly thought of Buster.

Whenever Buster acted silly and pretended to be cute, Jade would give in and do whatever he wanted. Even today, the creature had managed to get a skewer out of him. And that was despite being a monster who didn’t even need food.

Come to think of it, Jade hadn’t been able to leave Buster behind when they set out, either. Buster had spent the whole trip tucked inside Jade’s backpack, being carried along.

“Jade…”

Ian curled his body up just like Buster did and looked up at Jade.

He had never tried to act charming for anyone, so it felt incredibly awkward. But it wasn’t that hard. Jade always called his looks angelic. Ian knew well enough what he looked like.

He decided to make full use of his advantages. He slumped his shoulders to look pitiful and made his eyes look soft and gentle. He didn’t forget to place his dainty hands on the pillow where Jade could see them.

“Then I’ll be a servant too. I… I just want to cuddle with Jade…”

As he said this, Ian pointed to the bed with a small, pale hand. He even pouted his lips like a very young, innocent child who knew nothing of the world.

“But, Ian…”

Sure enough, Jade couldn’t bring himself to refuse coldly. He was definitely weak to small, fragile things. That was why he had taken in everything from a monster to a Bluewood without distinction.

At the time, Ian hadn’t liked that about Jade. But the story changed if he was the pitiful target. He didn’t hate it. In fact, he liked it. He could play the role of a sad, miserable child as much as necessary.

“Sigh…”

In the end, Jade nodded reluctantly. Ian smiled as bright as a flower and scrambled over to his bed.

Hadn’t Jade said it yesterday while looking at the flower girl? That a smiling face was pretty. It seemed he was weak to pretty things in addition to small, fragile ones.

“Well, what story should we do today?”

Having failed to break Ian’s resolve, Jade lay down beside him and picked out a story for the night. Since this was practically the first time Ian had ever been this affectionate, Jade found it impossible to say no any further.

“Should I recount one of the fairy tales we’ve read?”

“Not those. The Little Prince.”

“Again?”

“Yes…”

Ian liked that story. He especially liked the part where the Little Prince, having left his star, returns to his rose. it was much better than the boring fairy tales he’d heard so far. He could listen to it ten more times. Maybe even more.

“Jade.”

“Yes, Ian.”

“I want to sleep together like this forever.”

“Where did that come from?”

Jade asked back, sounding troubled. He knew in his head that he had to keep his distance before leaving, but looking at the child lying beside him, gazing up at him, his heart filled with pity again.

I shouldn’t do this…

The thought that a deep loneliness might be hiding behind that cynical exterior made his sympathy double. He saw his own younger self, who had been desperate for a single spark of warmth, reflected in Ian.

“…I want to sleep together forever.”

Furthermore, despite his cute face, this little master had a stubborn streak. When the answer he wanted didn’t come from Jade, he repeated himself with more emphasis.

What was a man to do?

“Yes, yes. Let’s do that.”

After a moment of agonizing, Jade gave the answer he thought Ian wanted to hear. Surely just once wouldn’t hurt. Ian had never acted this spoiled before.

“Okay, Jade.”

Having secured his answer, Ian’s eyes curved into a soft smile as he drifted off to sleep. At this moment, Jade had no idea. He didn’t know what kind of repercussions this answer would bring later on.