Chapter 99: So be it
"You know, when you left for the battlefield, Oliver cried for weeks," the count says, his voice soft but insistent.
And what exactly am I supposed to do with that information? My expression must have given away my thoughts, because he quickly adds, "Don’t be so mean."
I bite back a sigh, turning my gaze to the chessboard between us, though my mind is far from the game. The count’s words linger in the air, and I can feel his eyes on me, waiting for some kind of reaction. But what am I supposed to say? It’s not the first time I’ve heard something like this, though the detail about Oliver crying for weeks is...new.
"To be honest," the count continues, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort, "I thought it was just a childhood crush at best. You know how kids are." He smiles a little, a hint of nostalgia playing at the edges of his expression.
"But when you came back from the battlefield, all cold and cruel, and Oliver still looked at you like you hung the stars in the sky...I realized it was more than that. Unfortunately."
I blink, trying to process the sudden turn this conversation has taken. What am I supposed to say to that? I don’t know how to deal with people’s feelings for me—never have. And now he’s bringing up his son’s infatuation like I’m supposed to do something about it?
The count sighs heavily, as if reading my silence. "I know you might never feel the same way," he admits, his voice tinged with resignation. "But as a father, watching my boy suffer like that...it tears at me."
What can I possibly say?
Instead, I keep my mouth shut, letting the silence stretch between us. The weight of his words lingers in the air, but I can’t bring myself to offer him any comfort.