Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"Fool."

That was what his father had said to him when he was beaten for trying to protect his nanny.

"A tool should be used as a tool. Even if you are only half-blooded, you still carry the Namgung name. How could you act so disgracefully?"

She had been kind to him. Whenever he skipped meals, she would worry and prepare food for him, regardless of the time.

On cold winter days, she would ask if he was freezing and bring him warm clothes and blankets.

If he so much as showed signs of illness, she would place her hand on his forehead with concern.

Even if he had never spoken the words aloud, he had considered her a mother.

Whenever she was punished for failing to serve her master properly, he had stepped in to take the blows in her place.

Each time, she had simply smiled and stopped him.

"It’s fine."

"As long as you’re not hurt, young master, it’s fine."

He didn’t care about the insults he endured while protecting her.

"As long as you’re here, that’s enough."

He didn’t care about the mother who abandoned him or the family that treated him like a fool.

As long as she was there, he could endure.

That was how his days went on.

Until one day.

"…Nanny?"

Namgung Hyung called to the woman in his arms.

No response.

"Nanny, answer me. Please, say something…"

She was growing cold. The warmth that had still lingered was fading, leaving only an unbearable chill.

"Ah… Ahhh…"

All he could do was let out a quiet, broken wail.

His body trembled as the last words of his nanny echoed in his ears.

"Young master… You must eat well…"

Her lips had trembled as she spoke those words, but in the end, she lost all signs of life.

"AAAAAHHHH—!!!!"

A scream tore from his throat. Tears streamed down his face, but he didn’t bother to wipe them away.

And then, someone spoke to him.

"I told you, didn’t I?"

Before him stood the man he called father and the one he called brother.

"A tool should be properly maintained. Tsk, tsk."

His father spoke while holding the sword that had killed his nanny.

"If you weren’t such a fool, she wouldn’t have attempted to poison you."

"…That’s impossible."