As the nobles knew, Count Augustine had no children and no lovers.
This is extremely rare. These days, almost every nobleman has two or three lovers—they are basically courtesans in the upper class, and the one born is more beautiful than the other.
However, the count walked around alone, and he didn't even see a woman around him.
Bachelors, especially wealthy and distinguished ones, were undoubtedly very popular. The Earl of Cumberland, who was often in contact with him, was also moved and wanted to marry his sister to him, and secretly hinted to Augustine many times in private.
But the earl didn't seem to understand at all, and didn't even respond at all. He was as stern as ever to the pretty Miss Cumberland, who couldn't even get a single 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 the manor. He rarely visits other people's homes. I'm afraid he doesn't know the benefits of having a wife and children."
This makes sense. The Earl and Earl of Cumberland have just conceived a boy and are yet to be christened. He looked at the little face sleeping soundly 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 had imagined, and from those painted on the church murals. In fact, in Augustine's opinion, such a delicate and weak mass is more polished than the Holy Son on the mural. He slept extremely soundly in that small bed, breathing too lightly, his small body undulating, Augustine had to stretch out his hand and probe the child's nose to confirm that he was alive.
His gaze stayed on it for a long time, and the countess noticed it, and she winked at her husband, and immediately smiled and asked him to hug him.
Augustine frowned.
"Can you hug me?"
"Of course," the Countess smiled even deeper, and gently placed the child in his arms. Seeing that the adult's movements suddenly became stiff, as if he had turned into a wood carving or stone sculpture, and he couldn't find a place to put his arms, she gently instructed him, "You can support his back."
It was soft, with a milky aroma, as if it could melt in his hands.
Thin and frail, with such a slender neck, and so small exposed hands, not much longer than his thumb.
It took Augustine a while to learn how to rock him gently, watching the child sleep soundly alone, with his face pressed against his chest.
"I've never seen young master Nolan so obedient," the nanny said from the sidelines, "he doesn't cry very much, he sleeps after eating..."
The countess smiled, but was looking at Augustine's expression. After a while, she said, "It seems that you like this child too."
"Little Nolan doesn't have a godfather yet, if you don't mind..."
Augustine paused. The Earl of Cumberland actually didn't expect much. He knew that Augustine was outlier, reticent, and made great achievements. He didn't even give the royal family face, so he probably wouldn't agree.
But Augustine lowered his head, looked at the person in his arms without blinking, and replied, "Okay."
The Countess was stunned.
"You mean—"
"Okay," Augustine repeated, gently grabbed the little hand and shook it, "I will be his godfather."
Augustine has since had a godson.
To him, this child is 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 regard him as a god of evil. Ordinary people are more or less afraid of him. Maybe they will love his wealth and status... The only thing that doesn't really love him is this person.
If he wanted love, he could only seek it from such a pure, ignorant child. He used to visit the Earl of Cumberland's estate, and took all the playthings he could find, and spent his days in the nursery. Even the Earl of Cumberland himself said that their couple was far less caring than the godfather—after all, at that time, aristocratic couples would only spend an hour a day with their children, so how could they be by their side like Augustine.
Augustine watched him grow up, toddler and babble, with secret joy. Seeing him staggering and throwing himself into his arms, the whole thing can be surrounded by a light hand.
There is only one deficiency in his heart, this child does not belong to him.
Augustine wanted no one else. No matter how clear-eyed and handsome the child next to him is, he only wants this. He wants to be the closest person to this child.
But little Nolan still has his own biological parents.
Until the late night when little Nolan was five years old, a servant hurriedly knocked on the door of Augustine Manor. Cumberland Manor caught fire, the countess could not escape, the castle was in chaos, and the young master had to be temporarily handed over to his godfather to take care of.
The child was still holding the toy that Augustine had made for him, and 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 on the other's leg, with a weeping sound in his voice.
"The Godfather..."
Augustine patted him on the back, but felt a little more relaxed in his heart.
He didn't let his godson go back, and left him in the castle to care for him ever since. 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 himself raised him.
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 sprouts, and the godfather doesn't dare to really think about it.
He knows he loves this kid. But what kind of love, what degree of love, he could not tell.
During Nolan's adult year, Augustine entertained a rare number of guests. His godson advances and retreats properly and politely at the banquet, and has a humorous personality, which has attracted many people's attention. Before the banquet was over, someone had already quietly asked Augustine if Nolan had someone he liked.
For some reason, this question seemed to give the godfather a green olive. He chewed out a sour and bitter taste, which stuck in his throat, unable to come up or go 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."
These words were cold and hard, like a block of iron, which suddenly made the questioner feel ashamed and turned his head away embarrassingly.
How could he
thought the godfather, his godson—
His godson should naturally only love him.
He stood in front of the window with a calm face. The godson realized something and came over.
"Are you uncomfortable?" said the godson, "You look ugly."
He looked at the godfather, and was a little worried.
"You haven't eaten anything, would you like some water?"
He went to pour a glass of water himself, and even if Augustine didn't want to drink it, he wouldn't refuse him. The godfather lowered his head, but through the wall of the cup, he vaguely saw a blue mark on the young man's hand, like a winding 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 I bumped into it by accident. You—"
When he looked up, he was frightened by the godfather's eyes now. The eyes were shocked and heavy, a look he had never seen before.
The godfather didn't even stay here for another moment. He hurriedly raised his feet and went to the doctor.
He remembered that the Earl of Cumberland also had such bruises at this location before the onset of the disease.
The doctor took a look 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 with the best care, it is impossible to fully recover..."
There is no cure for diseases that come from heredity, and the church calls them the handiwork of the devil.
Count Augustine's chest rose and fell violently, but he didn't answer.
The doctor had no choice but to persuade him tactfully, "If you are willing, why not prepare for the young master's funeral earlier."
... funeral.
What's next
The godfather did not want such a funeral.
His godson became his with great difficulty, at such a young age, how could he be turned into bones in the coffin
He couldn't sleep all night, and several times when the godson opened his eyes, he could see the godfather standing by his bedside. The man held a candlestick in his hand and looked at him steadily 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 could not rescue his godson, he had to find a way from hell.
Then, he searched for months, and finally found a way to summon the demon from the possessed farmer. The butler helped him draw a magic circle with blood, and the godfather waited alone in the middle of the night to see if any demon responded to his request.
After a long time, just now a voice answered him lazily: "You called me?"
The godfather replied: "Yes."
"So, what do you want?"
The godfather's voice was cold and hard.
"...I want my godson alive."
"Then I can't help it," the devil said sweetly, "What does it mean to be alive?"
In the magic circle, a person gradually walked out. The godfather knew at a glance that this was not a living person. This person's skin was pale and lifeless. There were very obvious stitches at the joint between the neck and the head, and there was even a long piece of thread dragging outside.
But the man bent over him, but his voice was normal, "My lord."
"Do you want to live like this?" the devil said, his voice full of delusion, "I can make your godson like this. He will never rot, even after a thousand years, he will still look like this."
"But relatively, you have to agree to my request."
"I like your godson's eyes, and I like your godson's soul—"
He spoke slowly, finally revealing a pair of blood-red eyes from the magic circle. Those eyes peeped maliciously, and before the godfather knew it, they had already appeared on the wall of the godson's room. They studied the face greedily, scanning him up and down.
Unprecedented deliciousness, something even the devil wants to monopolize. From the first time I saw it, I wanted to swallow it directly.
"If he doesn't obediently..."
"Then he will be mine."
The godfather closed his eyes and replied, "Okay."
"Fine," the demon chuckled, drawing out his tone, "but I need something else—"
"It's been a long time since I made a toy like this, I need to practice my hands."
"Do you have someone who can practice for me?"
When he talked about people, it was as if he was talking about the livestock raised in the circle, and he didn't care about people's life or death at all.
There was a little smile on the corner of the godfather's lips, and he replied, "Me."
The devil was taken aback, obviously not expecting this answer.
"you?"
"—I," repeated the godfather, "I shall be your guinea pig."
"And me," said someone from behind, lighting a cluster of candles, "for the sake of young master, I am also willing to be your test subject..."
It's the housekeeper.
He came down the stairs with unnatural love burning in his eyes.
"Please agree to..."
They all lay down in the circle.
"I will make him very beautiful," the demon said, bit by bit, hollowing out their flesh and blood, "He is suitable for a wedding. His appearance in a wedding dress must be more beautiful than now."
He hummed a little tune and pulled out a thin needle and thread.
"For the best tailor, the softest cotton—"
Little by little the Earl becomes new. He closed his eyes and said, "He is afraid of pain."
The demon laughed and said softly, "Don't be afraid... If it's him, I will use my fangs."
"He will be my bride without knowing it."
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 will all be the same "people" who will never rot.
The author has something to say:
Godfather: I love you, so honey, be a puppet? I am with you.
Demon: I love you, so dear, are you eaten by me? I'm gentle, don't let you hurt.
Kou Dong: ...
Get lost, who the hell wants such love!