Count's Youngest Son is a Warlock// novel translation

Chapter 237

Why.

Why would Lucion apologize.

The question blossomed in Heint's throat as he felt a surge of remorse.

"No need to... feel guilty, I tricked you. I......."

"Lucion!"

Heint exclaimed, his voice rising.

"Why."

His own lips quivered.

"Why... why didn't you... tell me?"

"If I had told you, would you have... believed me?"

Lucion offered a sheepish smile.

"If I had told you I was a warlock, would you have believed me?"

"Of course not. If you......."

"I have done many things for you as a Hamel, for the Empire, but even you, knowing that, would not have doubted me?"

At the look of understanding in Lucion's eyes, Heint felt the ground give way.

It was he who had created that look now.

He felt a sinking feeling in his gut.

"You look at me differently because I'm a warlock, and you want me to trust you. Please, believe that I'm not like the other warlocks in the world. You doubted me, even though I was begging you."

Lucion's words, every word, hurt so much.

"I couldn't... tell you. Even if I said I was different, I'd already be torn apart for being a warlock, and even if I denied it, even if I wasn't like them, I'd be alone, and there are many who would tear me apart."

Lucion closed his mouth for a moment and shuddered.

Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke again.

"Brother, do you know that, the truth doesn't really matter, because it's not for me to judge, and if I'm already known as a warlock, I'm a bad person no matter what I do, which is why I kept silent, ...which is why I hid it."

-By the way, I'm not wearing this shitty mask and playing the puppet master like an asshole! I want to live, too. Don't kill me. Don't hurt my people because of me.......

Heint knew now what Lucion had been feeling that day when he spat out those words.

He must have been coughing up blood.

His world must have fallen apart.

It must have been more painful than he dared to imagine.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Lucion. I'm sorry,  and I'm disgusted with myself for saying it, but I'm so... sorry."

Heint hung his head, unable to look at Lucion any longer.

He was so ashamed that all he could do was apologize.

"Brother."

Heint couldn't speak at Lucion's call.

Too ashamed.

For being sorry.

Too sorry.

"Are you going to... kill me?"

A single tear slipped down his cheek as Lucion's question was carefully worded.

This wasn't pity.

The question sounded so desperate, so pitiful, that he could no longer contain his emotions.

"Never. Never."

Heint swallowed hard, his words deeply sincere.

How could he kill Lucion?