Chapter 42 - Blindness

Translator's Note:

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Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

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Aoi's Change

 

And so, the day of Aoi's birthday party finally arrived.

 

That morning, Ren had been at the mansion from the start. With no urgent business to attend to, his work had settled into a calm lull. The mansion was bustling with the preparations for the party, today was a special day—Aoi's birthday, the long-awaited day of his coming of age.

 

Feeling an odd, nervous anticipation building within him, Ren took his time in the shower. Thanks to the restful sleep he'd had the previous night, his body felt unusually light. Wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, Ren glanced at the guest list he'd just received from Seita. Among the names, one in particular caught his eye, and he let out a small sigh.

 

"…I'm going to need a stronger suppressant."

 

Just seeing the name "Haruhito Mikado" made Ren's heart race. Though he'd caught glimpses of Mikado at various parties before, they'd always been separated by a crowd of people, never close enough to interact.

 

But today was different. It was Aoi's birthday, and Aoi and Mikado were close friends. As Aoi's older brother and the host of the event, Ren would naturally be expected to interact with Mikado more than usual. There was no avoiding it. He had to be prepared for at least some conversation.

 

——It's fine, just a quick greeting. I can handle that much…

 

Droplets of water fell from his wet, golden hair, forming small beads along his collarbone before running down his arm and dripping to the floor.

 

Ren lifted his left arm, staring at the small, hollowed-out marks left behind by years of suppressants. The inner crook of his elbow was pocked with numerous injection scars—just like a drug addict, he thought wryly to himself.

 

Walking over to the chest beside his bed, Ren opened the top drawer. Inside was a plastic case containing vials and an unopened syringe. Gazing down at the familiar sight, Ren gently touched the scarred skin on his arm.

 

"It's fine… I can still hide it. From Aoi, and from him…"

 

Murmuring these words as if to reassure himself, Ren slowly took out the plastic case.

 

＋

 

The dazzling party had begun.

 

With Aoi at his side, dressed impeccably, Ren introduced him to the Alpha guests they had been close to over the years. This moment filled him with utter pride.

 

Even through a brother's eyes, Aoi's beauty outshone anyone else in the room, and his confident demeanor was remarkable for someone so young. You wouldn't believe he had been blind until just recently… or perhaps it was precisely because of that past that Aoi now gazed so boldly, meeting every new face with interest.

 

The conversation flowed smoothly, revealing Aoi's intelligence and quick wit. Not every exchange was serious, either—he deftly lightened the mood with humor when needed, displaying an impressive talent for conversation. Each time Ren watched his brother charm the crowd, he couldn't help but feel a bittersweet mix of pride and sadness. "He's so sociable now, but with me, he's always so rebellious," Ren thought.

 

Even when interacting with the proud Alpha women, Aoi remained gentlemanly and poised. Eventually, their gazes turned soft and admiring, clearly captivated by him. Whether Aoi noticed or not, he maintained a polite distance, never allowing his charm to cross any boundaries.

 

Aoi's debut into high society was a resounding success. Feeling relieved, Ren's eyes drifted across the crowd—and there he spotted Haruhito Mikado.

 

Tall and well-built, Mikado stood out even in the crowded, lively party. His well-groomed black hair and expertly tailored tuxedo exuded an effortless elegance. Seeing Mikado laughing with a group of young men and women, champagne in hand, made Ren's heart beat faster.

 

Those must be Aoi's classmates, Ren thought. Mikado's casual smile, so different from the composed expression Ren was used to, stirred something deep within him. He tried to look away, but his gaze kept being drawn back to Mikado, as if pulled by an invisible force.

 

"Brother? Is something wrong?"

 

Up-tempo jazz music began playing from the garden, and the crowd around Ren and Aoi momentarily dispersed. Startled, Ren snapped back to reality, only to find Aoi looking at him with concern.

 

"Huh…? No, it's nothing."

 

"Your face is a little red. Are you feeling okay? Did you drink?"

 

"I'm a lightweight, remember? I don't drink. Anyway... see that man walking toward us? That's Kantarou Shindo, the politician everyone's talking about as the next prime minister. We should definitely maintain good relations with him. Let me introduce you."

 

"Got it."

 

Reluctantly tearing his gaze away from Mikado, Ren led Aoi toward Shindo. However, his heart continued to race, refusing to calm down.

 

Now wasn't the time to let his guard down, though. Maintaining connections with influential politicians was essential for his work in trade. Smiling affably, Ren shook hands with Shindo, the middle-aged politician who seemed to be in his fifties.

 

At that moment, the sound of glass breaking reached Ren's ears. It was a faint noise, barely noticeable amidst the party's lively chatter, yet it struck Ren with unsettling clarity, stirring a strange unease in his chest.

 

"Hmm? What's going on?" Shindo asked, his amiable face clouding with confusion as he turned to Aoi.

 

Ren followed Shindo's gaze, only to see that Aoi's polite expression had completely vanished. Aoi's face, cold and unyielding, was like a beautiful, lifeless doll. His eyes were fixed on a point in the distance, his senses seemingly sharpened as though listening intently to something distant, something imperceptible to anyone else. Ren found himself captivated by this sudden transformation in Aoi's demeanor. And then—

 

"…Yuto…!"

 

In the next instant, Aoi's eyes blinked rapidly as he whipped his head toward the backyard. Without warning, he turned on his heels and darted out of the party, moving with a speed and urgency that took everyone by surprise.

 

"Aoi…!" Ren called out.

 

He wasn't the only one shocked. Shindo and his secretaries, who had been standing nearby, were also left stunned, watching as Aoi disappeared into the distance.

 

——Yuto? He means Yuto Fukaya… that servant?

 

An ominous suspicion crept into Ren's mind, darkening his expression.

 

Yuto Fukaya. He was a Beta boy Ren had taken pity on due to his unfortunate family circumstances, bringing him into the Kunishiro household. At the time, Ren had been looking for a servant close to Aoi's age. Yuto had made a strong impression on Ren with his large, earnest eyes and the desperation that laced his plea—he needed money to pay for his grandfather's hospital bills. Ren had decided to hire him, and since then, Seita had reported that Yuto was doing well, especially in his relationship with Aoi. But… Aoi's behavior just now…

 

Ren quickly composed himself and bowed deeply to Shindo.

 

"My deepest apologies. My brother's behavior was unforgivably rude."

 

"No… it's fine. But, what on earth just happened?"

 

"There must be some reason behind it, but I assure you I will reprimand him later," Ren said, his voice calm despite the storm brewing inside him.

 

Glancing around the party, Ren spotted Suno Masami nearby. He gestured for Suno, who had been keeping a polite distance, to come over.

 

"What's the matter, sir?" Suno asked, having immediately left the Alpha executive he had been conversing with to come to Ren's side. Seeing the tension on Ren's face, he quickly sensed the gravity of the situation.

 

Suno gave a small nod to Ren before turning to Shindo with a charming smile.

 

"Mr. Shindo, we have the pleasure of hosting Mr. Masami Suno tonight, the 26th head of the renowned Suno school. He's come all the way from Kyoto to grace us with his art and add a special touch to the evening."

 

"Ah! The famous Master Suno!" Shindo's eyes lit up with delight.

 

Ren smiled affably, having anticipated Shindo's reaction. He already knew that Shindo was an admirer of Suno's performances.

 

As expected, Shindo's face broke into a mixture of awe and glee, the kind of expression one wears when encountering a long-admired figure.

 

"It's an honor to meet you. I'm Masami Suno. If you'll allow me, I would be delighted to perform a small dance for everyone tonight. Please, come closer to the stage," Suno said, gracefully extending his hand toward Shindo.

 

"A-ah, I see…! What an unexpected honor. Hahaha," Shindo chuckled awkwardly, blushing as he let Suno guide him toward the outdoor stage. With a brief nod of thanks to Suno, Ren instructed Seita to come immediately.

 

——Aoi… what are you thinking? You ignored my orders and yet… you've gotten involved with that Beta boy? Or… was it the other way around…?

 

Ren's chest tightened with a bitter, gnawing sensation. Was this frustration directed at Aoi? His suspicions toward Yuto? Or perhaps both?

 

The sound of court music* drifted from the garden. Ren, his face dark with anger, didn't bother to hide his displeasure as he strode quickly after Aoi.

 

[T/N: Gagaku is ancient court music of Japan. The name is a Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese characters for elegant music (yayue). Most gagaku music is of foreign origin, imported largely from China and Korea as early as the 6th century and established as a court tradition by the 8th century.]

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