A true hero marries a man by his appearance [Comprehensive]

Eddie really didn't keep Solomon in Papara all the time.

After all, he is someone else's son and the future king of Israel. My father has given me enough maintenance, and I should pay it back when the time is right.

"Bathsheba is making a fuss with me, saying that Solomon has disappeared, and she will cry all day long..."

David took a sip of his wine, and judging from his expression and tone, he seemed quite helpless.

Obviously Solomon has been "missing" for four years, and his mother came to him crying as if she had just found out, so it's no wonder that David was helpless.

During these four years, Eddie occasionally came to the royal palace in Israel.

The purpose was no longer to ask for compensation for raising Solomon, but to chat with King David.

David is a very interesting person. Although his personality is the opposite of Eddie's, and the age gap is still so large—not only in his inner life, but also in his appearance—Eddie and him are quite congenial.

Therefore, it is not bad to come and drink with David when the whim arises.

After dismissing others, they chatted while drinking, and the one who talked the most was of course Solomon.

"With you, he could just be Jedidiah."

This is a sentence that David slipped out drunkenly after a certain drunkenness.

At that time, Eddie paused with his hand that was about to be raised, and looked sideways, only to see an old man sighing faintly on his face, the sigh was so soft that he could hardly hear it clearly.

David, maybe there is a little bit of regret in my heart.

Let a good son become like this.

This point of remorse is absolutely invisible at ordinary times, and only in the middle of the night, after getting drunk, can he barely confide a trace of the truth.

When Eddie heard it, he withdrew the hand that was about to pour David's wine, and turned to drink in silence.

When David woke up, he would not mention such a slip of the tongue at night, and he had the right to pretend nothing happened.

However, it's not good to pretend that I really didn't hear it.

David's true thoughts touched him more or less, so that when he went back and looked at this "Jedidiah" who showed no emotion from the beginning to the end, he always felt a little uncomfortable.

"Okay, then I'll throw him back tomorrow, and it will save me a big trouble."

Hearing David's early words today, Eddie's hands paused imperceptibly again, but he still said it indifferently.

"No." David said again: "Just let him come back to show his face. If you have nothing to do, come and have a look, or pick him up again, and send him back after a while."

Eddie: "...Your calculation is really good"

David has no humility: "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay."

Eddie used a cold snort to express his contempt for such a shrewd David, but unexpectedly, he did not refute.

Because that's what he wanted to do.

Sending Jedidiah back doesn't mean his plans are coming to an end.How could he give up halfway if he hadn't snatched away the "God's favored child" from God.

At least so far, his sudden interest has not shown any signs of fading, and maybe it can last longer.

Before they left, Antaxia heard that the king was going to send Jedidia back to her relatives, so she couldn't help but be reluctant.

"I thought that the king wanted to train Jedidiah to be your successor, but in the end... he was going to be sent away."

"However, since he has not been abandoned. Then, it is a good thing to be happy for him to be able to return to his relatives."

"How is it possible, I said at the beginning that I won't keep him forever. Well, don't dawdle."

Eddie watched Antasia crouching down and braiding Solomon's hair with the thought that this was the last time, and he said nothing to stop him.

She finally stopped braiding Solomon's long and shaggy hair like that thick braid, but followed Eddie's way of doing it casually, first dividing the white hair into thirds, and then braiding a third one.

The end of the hair was folded back and tied with a silver ring, which became a knot that would not be easily loosened.

Antaxia originally wanted to use a gold ring because she thought it matched Yedidia's complexion, but thinking that the king didn't like gold, she changed it to silver.Although the silver ring is inconspicuous in the white hair, the overall effect still looks very good.

"I hope that after you leave, you will still remember this place and everything Papara left in your heart."

Two years later, at the age of 19, the consul Papara, who could no longer be called a girl, whispered his last expectation to Solomon.

In the four years of getting along, even though Solomon was so indifferent to everyone, to Antaxia, "Jedidia" was her most beloved brother, and she sincerely hoped that he would be happy.

However, did Papara really leave traces in the heart of "Yedidia"?

If there is, it's probably pretty weak.

But here, whether it's Antasia or Eddie, they all have hopes for him that can make others very puzzled.

To turn an empty shell that was born as a tool of God into a true "person" with feelings and a heart——

It is simply an impossible dream.

But they just want to do it.

"It's not that we won't see him in the future, I will bring him back. Probably, after a while." Eddie spoke again.

"I was also negligent before. If you decide to take over this business, in addition to letting him learn feelings, you must also teach him about other aspects."

That's why Eddie readily agreed to David's tactful request.

His ambition was too great, thinking that since he decided to do it, he had to achieve the most perfect level.It wasn't enough for Solomon to learn about human emotions. A more interesting idea suddenly occurred to him.

Solomon will become a "qualified" king, this is already an indisputable fact.So, what Eddie really wants is to let Solomon, who has learned human emotions, completely break away from God's control.

He responds to others with his own will.

He wants to rely on his own will to become a wise king.

Obviously, he hasn't received much effect yet, but the goal is getting higher and higher.Eddie couldn't help but smile when he thought of this.

This smile is not a self-deprecating nor a wry smile, but a haughty chuckle that can't be restrained for a while, so that people can get a glimpse.

"Got to go."

Eddie took Solomon from Antaxia's hand, and raised the kid who had grown in size so that their eyes could be parallel.

"Although you are not my citizen, you have heard those words. Therefore, it also applies to you."

"Remember. You are not allowed to forget at all. These four years have not been wasted. You have to slowly let me feel that this pleasant fact really exists."

what do those words mean

Solomon didn't recall it at first, but after a while, inexplicably, he stared blankly at the fiery golden pupils of the man who was close at hand, and his chest began to feel hot again, as if being caught by the never-ending fire in these eyes. The flames are burning.

Only a little, but the flames really got into his chest.

He understood what "those words" were.Perhaps, it was the declaration Eric made in public at the enthronement ceremony two years ago.

— Whenever, do what you really want to do.

This "you" actually includes Solomon who is not from Papara.

Today, the declaration has become a reminder of temporary separation.

Eddie would definitely not allow Solomon to easily forget what he said so important, so, remind him again, he must be deeply engraved.

"Probably so. Jedidiah, do you understand?"

"..."

If Solomon had followed his heart and answered meticulously that he didn't know, it would obviously cause something not so wonderful.

And he originally wanted to follow his heart, but before he said those three words that would definitely make the man angry, his eyes crossed the man's face, and he saw the purple-haired woman standing behind the man smiling and watching them .

Where the king (probably) could not see, Antaxia silently mouthed and taught Yedidia to say "know".Otherwise, the child will be pinched fiercely by Wang in the next moment.

good.Solomon replied, "Yes."

Eddie: "Huh."

Pretending not to notice that the two little guys were playing tricks in front of him, Eddie told Antaxia and took Solomon away.

Just like David said when he was drunk.

Solomon could have been Jedidiah in Papara.

But when he left Papara and returned to the royal palace of Israel as if nothing had changed, he could only be Solomon.

……

……perhaps.

There is only a very short time, and he can temporarily change back to "Jedidiah".

After a few years, returning to the place where he should have been inseparable, Solomon's daily life still has not changed much.

Day after day, without any setbacks.

He stayed in the study and studied alone from the morning, guarding the brick-thick book, really seeing the night from morning to night.

During the period, the servants delivered lunch and dinner on time, and every step I took seemed to be stepping on the rhythm of time, without any deviation or change.

Solomon himself also lives in this invisible barrier that does not change day by day. After a few years in an extremely free environment, he does not need to adapt at all. After all, he himself was born for this boring and dead space.

However, this hood covered him so tightly that everyone who saw it couldn't help shutting their mouths and moving their eyes away, but they couldn't stop it—a man who acted recklessly ignored this obviously fragile barrier and arbitrarily break in.

Under the deliberate connivance of a certain king who knew everything but pretended to be ignorant and his own father, every ten days and a half months, or a month longer, the king of the neighboring country would show up at Solomon's residence. in the palace.

No one noticed, he picked up Solomon easily, and led the not cute child over the high wall that seemed to be covered with thick shadows outside the palace.

Eddie would sometimes take Solomon straight back to Papara for a few days before sending him back.

Sometimes they would not run that far, and would take Solomon to wander around the capital outside the palace, looking for Lucas who had gone somewhere.

"Do you know why I brought you out?"

do not know.

"Hey Jedidiah, guess where I'm taking you today?"

Can't guess.And, why guess?

Solomon found more and more that when he was with this man, he always had such "confusion".

"Confusion" is also increasing.

"So, even if you don't know, you have to tell me something and tell me what you're thinking..."

I heard this sentence again.

The location is the roof of the palace, and the time is the night when the moon is sparse.

It was bedtime, but Solomon was sitting on the roof—or, to be precise, on the man's lap.His whole body can just be blocked by the man's broad chest, and will not be blown by the cold night wind from behind.

However, the night breeze blew a stronger aroma of wine to the tip of his nose.

The aroma of wine that Solomon smelled naturally came from the man close behind him.

Ever since Antasia gently suggested "don't take Yedidiah who hasn't grown up to drink in taverns", Eddie didn't go to those places when there was a brat by his side.

Instead, he drank his own, and only put the quiet Solomon on his lap.

"Jedidiah."

"Ah."

"In the few days since I haven't been here, has anything interesting happened here?"

"..."

"As long as you find something interesting, or just feel a little strange, you can tell me about any kind of things. Come on, quickly recall, remember?"

"..."

This time the silence lasted quite a long time.

Eddie always had an unbelievable patience with Solomon, probably because Solomon was the only child he took the initiative to take care of, not even Ozymandias.

But he was so patient, and after waiting for so long again, Solomon still didn't answer him.

He didn't respond, and his expression didn't change, as if he didn't hear it at all.

"...Tsk. Is it still not working?"

"I have to wait a little longer."

Solomon actually heard it.

——Still, can’t you?

I have heard this sentence countless times.

The very light breath after the ending seems to be called "sigh". Solomon's face didn't change, but he said it silently in his heart.

He recalled it seriously, but he still couldn't find anything to say that met the standard that the man said, so he didn't say anything.

Even when the man told him to speak his mind whether he knew it or not—he still didn't.

Very strange.

"Confusion", is this strange feeling again.

Hearing the man's sigh, Solomon felt a little more puzzled.

He obviously couldn't detect the source of his confusion, but the truth was—deep in his heart, although it was only a tiny bit, he really chose not to speak to prevent the man from sighing.

I don't know what the thing quietly growing in my heart symbolizes, and I don't know what measures I have to take so that this man will stop saying "Is it still okay?"

Under such circumstances, Solomon could only grope slowly and subconsciously.

After this night.

Coincidentally, the man may have encountered something, and he came back after a much longer time than before.

There is a full year.

After a year, Eddie reappeared in front of Solomon.

Before he came, he was ready to explain why he had come here after such a long time—he encountered a relatively troublesome matter that had to be resolved by him, so there was no way, didn’t he rush over immediately after the resolution was over? .

For this reason, explaining is equal to not explaining.But since Eddie doesn't want to say much about what's going on, that's all.

So, can you satisfy Jedidiah, who has been pigeonholed by him for so long?

In fact, he still harbored such a slight hesitation in his heart.

"Shall I send something to coax him? Is it necessary? No... Well, let's give it away?"

Eddie is used to giving gifts to people who are pleasing to the eye, which is his usual way of expressing love and appreciation.

however.

About Jedidiah, probably, maybe, didn't feel that he was let go of the dove - and Eddie didn't know it.

He selectively ignores it.

After hesitating for a while, he finally prepared a gift for Jedidiah who hadn't seen him for a year.

As for what the "gift" is, I won't disclose it here. He really wants to surprise Jedidiah.

According to the usual practice, Eddie entered the palace in a big way, first greeted David who had become a good friend, and then went to find Jedidia in a leisurely manner.

Because he seemed to be a little anxious in his heart, he failed to notice David's hesitancy to speak in time, as well as the flash of complexity in his eyes.

"Jedidia! People, here I come."

Eddie didn't expect Solomon to give him a warm welcome either, because all along, it had been himself.

but.

The moment I saw Solomon who I hadn't seen for a year.

On his face, the faint smile that had appeared since he stepped into the palace suddenly froze.

The next moment, the smile disappeared completely.The light that could be called "gentleness" in his eyes also faded immediately, as if ice was quenched in his pupils.

"What are you doing."

Eddie asked.

The voice was inexplicably cold.

"what happened?"

The answer sounded immediately.Moreover, this voice is not yet out of immaturity, and a hint of doubt is also mixed into it.

This is what Eddie saw.

Sitting behind the desk, the white-haired boy whose feet were already on the ground raised his head in time when he appeared.

Solomon caught sight of him.

Then, before Eddie gave him an explanation and handed him the gift—the boy who always had only one expression in his impression raised the corners of his lips.

He flashed him a particularly bright smile.

"Long time no see, I miss you very much."

He still said so.

As far as expression is concerned, this smile is indeed perfect, and the arc of the corners of the mouth is just right.The following words are also most suitable to be spoken at this time, and there are no loopholes.

— except for one thing.

His smile is not a smile from the heart, but just the purest "expression".

He said he missed him, but failed to show even the slightest similar emotion.

Just pretending.

"..."

Eddie couldn't speak for a moment.

The way he looked at him was so complicated that Solomon, who was maintaining the most perfect smile, couldn't understand why a man should look at him like this.

There is no sigh, and there is no "Is it still okay?"

However, the man said:

"What are you doing, Jedidiah?"

"In front of me."

Sure enough, there was no sigh.

But what was revealed in the man's eyes was a "disappointment" that made Solomon feel more at a loss than a sigh.

"—Do you want to pretend too?"

"..."

Solomon didn't know why.

Because no one can teach him the right way, all his subtle changes are hidden in his heart, and even the man who wants to see his changes the most cannot notice.

All he knows is to observe and learn.

The ability that men call "disguise" is a recent acquisition.

Solomon learned quickly, and in less than a year, he became what he is today, which is almost the same as a normal human being.

However, he still doesn't know.

--why?

The smile that Solomon had learned from others disappeared, and became the most familiar calm like a mirror without waves.

——Observation mistakes, or in the process of learning, there are problems that cannot be found.

The man walked over. Affected by his steps and the blurred expression on his face, the cloak swung back in a condensed arc.

——Why on earth did not satisfy this man.His current emotions are incomprehensible again, it doesn't seem to be disappointment.

——Then, what shall we do?

- What to do to be able to...

Solomon always does.

If he uttered these confused feelings and let the man know, he would definitely get a completely different treatment... No, it should be said that he would be treated more gently and warmly.

He always doesn't respond, it's okay if the time is short, but if the time is long, he will be given up by those who cared about him at the beginning.

Assuming that one hundred people want to show kindness to him, then after that, there will be 99 people who will be disappointed with such a humanoid tool that cannot be warmed or changed, and will not care about him anymore.

but--

Solomon, who has been abandoned countless times, is so lucky.

The only person among the hundred who would not give up on him had already been met by him.

Eddie strode over, staring at this stinky boy who just learned to do crooked tricks after a while, but he couldn't beat his raised fist for a long time.

It cannot be said that he is soft-hearted.

I can only blame this brat's eyes, it's so innocent.

He didn't know what he had done wrong, let alone where he was wrong, so he stared blankly at the angry man with blank eyes.

"Bastard boy, let you not learn well!"

Scolding must be scolding, but then Eddie stretched out his hand.

He grabbed Solomon's confused and innocent face, pulled his cheeks, and pulled them aside fiercely.

"What are you worrying about? What kind of expression should you show when you are happy, and what should you do when you are sad, disappointed, or angry... These things can't be learned in a short while, let me teach you slowly ah."

Like countless times before, he picked up the kid whose face was red from being pinched, walked straight out, and left the oppressive palace.

I still remember that when Solomon was picked up by him for the first time, Solomon was only very small and could be easily carried in his arms.

The back has grown a bit, but it can still be tucked into the bosom, at most a furry head leaks from the neck.

Later, later.

Eddie was going to have to use some strength to pick Solomon up again.

Moreover, the previous posture of supporting him with one hand can no longer be used, and it will look very strange.

Because the current Solomon just turned 17 not long ago, he has already grown quite tall, and he is quite strong.

The white-haired and brown-skinned young man has completely broken away from his infancy, and he has the outline of an adult no matter his body shape or appearance.The robe he wears has a lot of weight and is so complicated layer by layer. If Eddie hugs him like this again, he will step on the corner of the robe mopping the floor within a few steps, so he can only change his position.

Of course, the most important thing is... Solomon has already passed the age suitable for being hugged like a child.

Although Eddie was taller and stronger than him, the feeling was still very strange.

--All right.

Neither party found this problematic.

Solomon wouldn't have any thoughts about it, but Eddie felt that Jedidiah was a child he raised well, what's wrong with hugging him, shouldn't he be hugged?

Although, after changing his posture, he still said to Solomon: "You know, in my hometown, the posture of hugging people like this is called 'princess hug'."

Solomon, who was hugged by Eddie sideways, had a wrong focus: "But, I'm not a princess."

"It's just a name, it's not aimed at you."

Eddie didn't take it seriously, and said by the way: "Well, you are much heavier than I thought... What a trouble."

"..."

Solomon still didn't speak.

However, looking up from this novel perspective, there was a faint flicker of surprise in his amber eyes.

Because he is heavy, it feels troublesome - the meaning of this sentence.

Are you feeling tired?

Well, got it.

When Eddie came again next time, Solomon, who chose to respond to the man's "request", hugged him just like that.

Because it was unprecedented—a surprise initiative, luckily.

He was not beaten.