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Chapter 12 The Runaway Bride (11)
The nobles knew that Count Augustine had no children and no lover.
This is very rare. These days, almost every noble has two or three lovers-they are basically the courtesans of the upper class, and each one is more beautiful than the other.
But the count was alone, and he didn't even see the shadow of a woman beside him.
Bachelors, especially wealthy and high-status bachelors, are undoubtedly extremely popular. The Earl of Cumberland, who often associates with him, was also moved, and wanted to marry his sister to him, and secretly hinted to Augustine many times.
But the count didn't seem to understand at all, and didn't even respond at all. He was as unsmiling as ever to the dainty Miss Cumberland, who couldn't even get a look from him.
The Earl of Cumberland was very troubled, and finally his wife made a suggestion for him: "It's better to invite Augustine to come and sit at the manor. He rarely visits other people's homes, and I'm afraid he doesn't know the benefits of having a wife and children."
This makes sense. The Earls of Cumberland have just given birth to a boy who has yet to be baptized. He looked at the sleeping face in the nanny's arms, and reached out to tease the child's cheek.
The next day, he invited Augustine to the door.
That was also the first time Augustine saw the child.
The child was different from what he imagined, and also different from those painted on the church murals. In fact, in Augustine's view, such a delicate and small group is more polished and jade-carved than the Holy Son on the fresco. He slept so soundly in that little bed, his breathing was too light, and his little body was undulating, and Augustine had to reach out and probe the child's nose to make sure he was alive.
His eyes stayed on the top for a long time, the countess noticed it, winked at her husband, and then smiled and asked him to hug.
Augustine's brows furrowed.
"Can you hug?"
"Of course," the Countess laughed more deeply, and gently placed the child in his arms. Seeing that the adult's movements became stiff, she seemed to have turned into a wooden sculpture, and she couldn't find a place to put her arms, and then gently instructed him, "You can hold his back."
It was soft, with a smell of milk, as if it could melt in his hands.
Thin and weak, the neck is so thin, and the exposed hands are so small that they are not much longer than his thumb.
It took Augustine a while to learn how to shake him gently, watching the boy put his face to his chest and sleep soundly alone.
"I've never seen Young Master Nolan so well-behaved," the nanny said by the side, "I don't cry much, I sleep after eating..."
The countess smiled, but looked at Augustine's face. After a long while, she said, "I see that you like this child too."
"Little Nolan doesn't have a godfather yet, if you don't dislike it..."
Augustine's movements paused. The Earl of Cumberland didn't actually expect much. He knew that Augustine was outlier, taciturn, and outstanding. He didn't even give the face of the royal family, so he probably wouldn't agree.
But Augustine lowered his head and looked at the person in his arms without blinking, but replied, "Okay."
The earl and his wife were stunned.
"You mean—"
"Okay," Augustine repeated, grabbing the little hand lightly and shaking it, "I'll be his godfather."
Augustine has since had a godson.
To him, this child was different from everyone else. Augustine's parents died early, and he had no relatives. He fought for the royal family in his early years, and his hands were stained with blood. Most people regarded him as a god, and ordinary people feared him to some extent. Maybe they would love his wealth and his status... ...the only one who doesn't really love him.
If he wants love, he can only seek it from such a pure, ignorant child. He often visited the Earl of Cumberland's estate, and with all the playthings he could find, he spent his days in the nursery. Even the Earl of Cumberland himself said that their couple was far from the godfather's heart - after all, at that time, noble couples would only spend an hour a day with their children, how could they be with Augustine as often as they were.
Augustine watched with secret joy as he grew up, as he waddled and babbled. Seeing him staggering into his arms, he could wrap his arms around him lightly.
There is only one thing in his heart, this child does not belong to him.
Augustine didn't want anyone else. It doesn't matter how bright the eyes of the child next to him or how handsome his appearance is, he only needs this. He wanted to be the closest person to the child.
But Little Nolan still has his own biological parents.
Until late at night when little Nolan was five years old, a servant hurriedly knocked on the door of Augustine Manor. The Cumberland Manor caught fire, the Countess could not escape, the castle was in chaos, and the young master had to be handed over to his godfather for the time being.
The child, still holding the toy that Augustine made for him, stood at the door, looking terrified, but he kept from crying. It wasn't until he saw the godfather who was close to him that he rushed over and buried his head in the other's lap, sobbing in his voice.
"godfather……"
Augustine patted him on the back, but his heart was quietly relaxed.
He did not let his godson go back, and has since left him in the castle to look after him. A month later, when the Earl of Cumberland also died of a genetic disease, there was even less reason for the godson to go back.
Augustine raised him personally.
He watched the child grow from a child to a teenager, and the whole castle was brought to life because of him. The godson was getting better and better day by day, and Augustine gradually began to see him in a different light.
However, these are just germs, and the godfather does not dare to really think about them.
He knew he loved the child. But what kind of love, what degree of love, he couldn't tell.
In the year of Nolan's adulthood, Augustine had an unusually large number of guests. His godson advanced and retreated at the banquet in a dignified manner, with a humorous personality, which attracted many people's attention. Before the banquet was over, someone had quietly asked Augustine if Nolan had a crush on him.
For some reason, this question was like stuffing the godfather with a green olive. He chewed the sour and bitter taste, and it stuck in his throat, unable to get up or down.
"Of course not."
He said lightly.
The man didn't believe it, "Why are you so sure? It's a good time for a child of this age..."
The godfather said coldly, "He won't have it."
These words were cold and hard, like a piece of iron, which suddenly made the face of the person questioning pale, and turned his head in embarrassment.
How could he have?
The godfather thought, his godson—
His godson, of course, should only love him.
He stood in front of the window with a calm face, and the godson realized something and came over.
"Are you unwell?" said the godson. "You look ugly."
He looked at the godfather, a little worried.
"You didn't eat anything, would you like to drink some water?"
He personally poured a glass of water, and even if Augustine didn't want to drink it, he wouldn't refuse his offer. The godfather lowered his head, but across the wall of the cup, he could vaguely see a green mark on the boy's hand, like a meandering snake, lying on the inner blood vessel.
He frowned suddenly and asked, "What is this?"
The godson followed his gaze, but didn't care, "Maybe you accidentally bumped into something. You—"
When he looked up, he was frightened by the look in his godfather's eyes. His eyes were shocked and heavy, a look he had never seen before.
The godfather wasn't even here for a second. He hurriedly stepped up and went to the doctor.
He remembered that Earl Cumberland had such a blue mark at this location before he fell ill.
The doctor looked at Nolan's current physical condition in the name of an ordinary visit.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to survive this year..." he said to the godfather, "Even if you take good care of it, you won't be able to fully recover..."
There is no cure for inherited ailments, which the church calls the hand of the devil.
Count Augustine's chest heaved a few times, but he didn't answer.
The doctor had no choice but to persuade him gently, "If you are willing, you might as well prepare for the funeral earlier for the young master."
...after events.
What's next?
The godfather didn't want such a funeral.
His godson became his with great difficulty, how could he be reduced to bones in the coffin at such a young age?
He couldn't sleep all night, and several times when the godson opened his eyes, he could see the godfather standing at the head of his bed. The man held the candlestick in his hand and looked at him by the candlelight.
Since he is a close person, Nolan will not be frightened, but he is inevitably confused, "Godfather?"
"..."
Count Augustine did not answer, but stroked his forehead with his hand.
He finally made up his mind.
The church couldn't save his godson, he had to find a way out of hell.
Then, after searching for several months, he finally found a way to summon the demon from the possessed farmer. The housekeeper helped him draw the magic circle with blood, and the godfather waited alone in the middle of the night to see if any demons responded to his request.
After a long time, a voice answered him lazily: "You called me?"
The godfather replied, "Yes."
"So, what do you want?"
The godfather's voice was cold.
"...I want my godson alive."
"Then there is nothing I can do," the devil said sweetly, "what is living?"
In the magic circle, a person gradually walked out. The godfather knew at a glance that this was not a living person. This person had pale skin and no breath. There were very obvious suture marks at the connection between the neck and the head, and there was even a long thread on the outside.
But this man bent down at him, and his voice was nothing out of the ordinary, "Sir."
"Do you want to live like this?" the demon said, his voice full of bewitchment. "I can make your godson like this. He will never rot, and even after a thousand years, he will still be like this."
"But on the contrary, you have to agree to my request."
"I like your godson's eyes, and I like your godson's soul—"
He said slowly, and finally a pair of blood-red eyes emerged from the array. The eyes peeped maliciously, and before the godfather knew it, they had appeared on the wall of the godson's room. They surveyed the face greedily, and glanced up and down at him.
Unprecedented deliciousness, something that even the devil wants to own. From the first moment saw it, wanted to swallow it directly.
"If he hadn't been obedient..."
"Then he will be mine."
The godfather closed his eyes and replied, "Okay."
"Fine," the demon chuckled, drawing his voice, "but I need something else—"
"It's been a long time since I made such a toy. I need to practice my hands."
"Do you have anyone who can train me?"
When he talked about people, it was as if he was talking about the livestock that were raised in the circle, and he didn't care about the life and death of people at all.
The godfather smiled and replied, "Me."
The demon was startled, obviously not expecting this answer.
"you?"
"—I," repeated the godfather, "I will be your test subject."
"And me," someone suddenly said from behind, lighting a cluster of candles, "For the sake of the young master, I am also willing to be your test object..."
is the housekeeper.
He came down the stairs, his eyes burning with abnormal love.
"Please agree to..."
So they all lay in the circle.
"I will make him very beautiful," said the demon, hollowing out their flesh and blood a little. "He is suitable for weddings. He must be more beautiful in his wedding dress than he is now."
He hummed a little tune and pulled out a thin needle and thread.
"For the best tailor, the softest cotton—"
The count became new little by little. He closed his eyes and said, "He's afraid of pain."
The demon laughed and said warmly, "Don't be afraid... If it was him, I would use my fangs."
"He will be unconscious and become my bride."
so.
The godfather closed his eyes and thought, that would be the best.
When that day comes, he will also tell his godson, don't be afraid...
It won't hurt.
Open your eyes again and they'll all be the same "people" that never rot.
The author has something to say:
Godfather: I love you, so dear, do you want to be a puppet? I accompany you.
Demon: I love you, so dear, have I eaten it? I'll be gentle, I won't let you hurt.
Kou Dong: …
Go away, who wants this kind of love!