From the moment he received the news that Sid had decided to drop out of school, Aeneas's heart felt like it had fallen into hell, constantly being licked by the flames, as if they would burn him to ashes.
Even when his trusted confidants in the territory wrote that his lecherous father was preparing to strip him of his inheritance in order to appease the anger of Alchemy City, he was not in such pain. It was just a mere earldom; he was confident that his stage was far beyond that.
But Sid dared to leave him so decisively! How could Sid dare?
Was he the only one these past few days, like a pervert, masochistically experiencing the bittersweet mix of love and hate in his heart?
Yes, of course not out of a guilty conscience. He has long since lost his conscience; having grown up in a family environment surrounded by wolves, he has long since abandoned any superfluous morality or pity.
Therefore, he was initially very jealous of Sid. This magician from the Alchemy City was always unkempt, buried in piles of books that he couldn't even understand, low-key and quiet, without any airs of nobility.
But no one dared to question Sid's glory and prestige; just hearing his magnificent surname was enough to make people flock to him.
Gilded.
Heh, gilding, melting down rare and expensive "kryptonite" into liquid, carelessly splashing it onto the floor, discarding it like trash into the dust, letting it flow freely, filling every gap on the surface...
How could any family in this world dare to flaunt its wealth so openly?
Aeneas couldn't help but recall the moment they first met. Her emerald green eyes were innocent and clear, as if none of the world's filth was worth a moment's attention.
In that instant, he bit his lower lip hard, as if a wicked fire was ignited within him.
He wanted to taint the other person's eyes with filthy desire, and to make that clear gaze linger only on him.
So when those foolish nobles egged him on to play a trick on Sid, he agreed without a second thought.
He did it perfectly.
Sweet talk, a tough guy with a tender heart.
A combination of kindness and severity, maintaining a delicate balance between closeness and distance.
These methods were far too easy for him, having been exposed to them since childhood, so much so that he didn't even feel much sense of accomplishment.
As the other person whimpered silently beneath him, he fiercely licked away the tears welling in their eyes, his movements becoming even more savage and brutal. The salty, bitter taste chilled him to the bone, yet it brought a long-awaited sweetness to his parched heart.
Only the bittersweet taste was one he dared to savor.
But when he coldly recited the lines he had prepared beforehand, for some reason, seeing the other person's stunned expression, his own heart began to ache.
A chorus of cheers and whistles erupted from all around, and the entire class erupted in uproar. If nothing unexpected happened, this incident would soon become the talk of the town among the nobles of the entire continent.
He stood proudly among the noisy crowd, like a victor.
But when he saw Sid's stubborn smile through his tears, a sudden surge of anxious fear welled up inside him. This feeling was so unfamiliar, as if he had made some irreparable mistake.
He would never forget the way Sid looked at him back then.
You've won, Aeneas! Rejoice for this insignificant victory! But at that moment, he so naively comforted himself.
After deeply hurting Sid, he thought he had left an indelible mark on the other's heart, making the other love him but unable to have him, to the point of life and death.
He was even somewhat smug. He thought that if Sid was willing to abandon his dignity and obediently beg him, he would go along with it and agree.
When you think about it carefully, the feeling of being in love isn't so bad after all.
The other person was so innocent and gentle that it made his long-dead and numb heart pound. Sid was like an angel specially sent for him by the Lord of Light, redeeming him from the mire of hatred and scheming.
He silently counted down in his mind, arrogantly waiting for the other party to come to him.
But things didn't go as planned.
What happened next completely exceeded his expectations.
A dying body cannot be brought back to life, and a carriage that has fallen off a cliff cannot be returned.
The bleeding wounds did not heal on their own, and love withered quickly in the fleeting arrogance.
He heard the news from others that Sid had refused the exemption the academy had secured for him, resolutely announcing that he would no longer continue his studies and would return to Alchemy City.
It turns out that the other person traveled a long way to study here simply to fill a void in their heart.
It was at this moment that he learned that the other party was already a candidate for the next governor of Alchemy City.
Sid Gold was, in fact, the most talented alchemist in the history of the Continent of Elements, without exception. While Aeneas was still haggling over a small piece of count territory, Sid's vision had already transcended all worldly concerns.
This left him in a state of fear and despair, and suffocated him in that despair.
He had once naively believed that he had victory in his grasp.
At this point, he had to wake up from his fantasy and recognize the cruel reality: once Sid returned to the Golden Cloud Kingdom, this long-abandoned and farcical relationship would come to a tragic end.
No, perhaps he drew that period himself, absurd and hasty.
He pondered the matter deeply and couldn't sleep at night.
He was unwilling to accept it, but there was nothing he could do.
When the first rays of dawn bathed everything in golden light, and the world was bathed in gilded glow, Aeneas finally realized what was happening.
Without realizing it, he fell in love with Sid.
He was once incredibly wealthy because of her affection, but now he is penniless because he has lost her.
When he finally mustered up the courage to approach Sid, wanting to try to win him back and make amends, Sid smiled as always, his emerald eyes as clear as ever.
“Aeneas, you don’t need to apologize to me. Although the time I spent with you was short, it made up for the regrets in my heart.”
The other person's words were flat, reverting to the original politeness, instantly creating a distance. The rationality in their eyes cut him to the bone; his heart felt frozen.
He knew that the other person had actually let go.
This made him both angry and annoyed.
A dense, inexplicable roar filled his world, but the other person's gentle words were more deafening than any of the roars. He heard Sid say:
"I've never been in a relationship, so... I've always longed for it. Although after experiencing it, I feel, well, it's just so-so. It's not even worth writing a paper about it."
It turns out that the other person once cherished this relationship so much. But now, the disappointment in their eyes is also obvious.
A sharp, persistent pain suddenly surged in his chest, as if he were about to suffocate.
He opened his mouth helplessly.
Aeneas wanted to comfort her, saying, "No, love is more than that. Love should be sweet, and you too can have sweet love..."
But he was immediately struck by a painful realization that he was the least qualified person to offer such words of comfort.
However, the other's gaze did not linger on him for even a moment. Aeneas could only passively listen to the other's verdict:
"However, I've heard that it's generally difficult for lovers to remain friends after breaking up. So I think... we shouldn't see each other again in the future."
“Aeneas, anyway, thank you. I'll go through the withdrawal procedures tomorrow and then return to Alchemy City.”
"That's all. I have nothing more to say. Hmm? Your eyes...you, why are you crying?"
He listened blankly as the other person calmly bid him farewell, the other person still maintaining composure despite their disheveled appearance. Sid's words were so cruel, directly banishing him from the other person's world forever.
This is a fair and square battle between nobles.
Without a blade in sight, it kills without wounding the soul.
It seemed as if unfamiliar liquid was surging and overflowing from his eyes.
The other party noticed this and showed concern for him, but it was only out of polite distance between nobles.
At that moment, his rationality finally collapsed completely. He wanted to hug the other person tightly without hesitation, but the other person calmly used lightning magic to push him away.
He collapsed to the ground, caught off guard, his body wracked with pain from the electric shock, but the pain and humiliation in his heart were far greater than his physical pain. His attacker had clearly shown mercy, even displaying the condescending pity he loathed most.
This is a level six lightning spell, "Curtain of Majesty." With just a thought from the caster, no one can get even a fraction of a step closer.
Through the deep purple lightning barrier, Aeneas finally understood the vast difference between them. Perhaps, from beginning to end, he had only been a research subject for the other's occasional whims.
So all he could do was roar helplessly in self-loathing, venting his resentment and fear in vain. He glared angrily at the other person's calm, pretty face, but when he noticed a single tear quietly sliding down her cheek, he shut his mouth in embarrassment.
My heart is breaking, I am in unbearable pain.
In their panic, they fled without thinking.
...
As Aeneas stood on the arena's ring, the thought that Sid was leaving him without a second thought filled him with an almost boundless fighting spirit.
It was as if only by constantly wielding his sword and fighting could he briefly forget those emerald green eyes in his mind.
After easily defeating the senior students, a freshman from a lower grade walked onto the stage.
The other person's face was just as ugly as his, but Aeneas understood the look in the other person's eyes.
Like a caged beast, it felt unwilling, frustrated, indignant, and fearful.
Both of them were troubled by love.
The noisy whistles all around him reminded him of that day he was filled with regret.
Aeneas raised the enchanted greatsword on his shoulder and slammed it hard into the ground protected by a magic circle, leaving a light white mark.
He said fiercely, "I am Aeneas, and I will not show mercy just because you are a new student."
The other party, however, took out an ordinary greatsword from that simple and inexpensive spatial ring and bowed respectfully.
"My name is Isaac, please guide me."
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