4 Fifth Son

"Am I in trouble?"

As usual, the baron's child remains clueless.

Marquis Oliva pulled an intimidating face and tried to approach Ndulou again.

However, Ernesto swung his body to the side to avoid his father's hand trying to reach Ndulou. The two looked at each other with frowns and sharp gazes.

"No, sir, maybe after he gets treated."

Ndulou flinched when he heard Ernesto not address the marquis as his father.

Ernesto turned his back to his father and started walking up the stairs.

"And oh, send off those useless fools that are waiting for me."

'Fools? Who? the high-ranking noble sons? Just a while ago, he was mocking me for dining with them because I was not on the same level as they were. Why did he become nice to me but hostile to those high-ranking nobles?'

Ndulou is still clueless about his current situation and thinks that Ernesto is a lunatic.

'Is he bipolar?'

"..."

The Marquis was speechless and just watched them go up the stairs. However, Ndulou saw him clenching his fist.

Ndulou flinched as they made eye contact again. He subconsciously bowed his head and wrapped his arms tightly around Ernesto's shoulder.

'At least I cannot see this vicious son's face because I am still on his back.'

Ernesto silently carried him to the guest room and put him down gently on the bed.

Ndulou was expecting Ernesto to at least throw him on the bed once they reached the guest room, but he put him down gently instead, which caused him to feel suspicious as he thought, "Is he going to kill me after this?"

Ndulou anxiously formed many scenarios in his head because he could not accept the gentleness with which Ernesto behaved.

Ndulou asked Ernesto in confusion, "W-what's going on?" to which Ernesto replied with a grunt, "What? Just rest there. Wait for the physician and don't move around."

Ndulou insisted, "But I am fine." but he ended up just keeping his mouth shut because of Ernesto's annoyed expression.

Knock, knock, knock.

After a moment, Ndulou finally felt relieved after hearing someone delicately knock on the door.

"Young Master, the physician is here." The knight stationed outside speaks loudly to notify Ernesto.

Ernesto ordered, "Come in," 

He immediately stood up, but not to greet the people who wished to enter but to get closer to Ndulou and check his pulse.

Ndulou flinched at this sudden action. He looked at Ernesto's face, which looked very serious. He was about to ask questions again, but the people entering the room perplexed him.

Eight people silently entered the room.

To be specific, there were three maids, a butler, two people wearing dark blue robes, and two people wearing white doctor robes.

"Eh? What's with the group of people?"

Ndulou tried to get up to greet them, but Ernesto pushed him back to bed.

"Greetings, young master Ernesto. I am the mage from Toré, and he is my assistant." The mage respectfully introduced himself and his assistant, then bowed down to Ernesto.

Ndulou was surprised by the sudden appearance of great individuals. He perked up, "Wait! They are from Toré! that well-known magic tower"

The Toré is one of the four main towers in the Sibol Kingdom, representing the highest-leveled mages that are rare in other kingdoms.

It's the doctor's turn to introduce themselves, "Young master, I am a Phys-" but Ernesto blatantly interjected.

"Stop your useless introductions and check on him already." Ernesto shakes his hand and acts indifferent to the poor physician. He then focused his gaze on Ndulou, which caused him to flinch again.

He can feel his hair stand up, and he broke out in a cold sweat when they made eye contact.

"Y-young master?"

Ernesto sat down at the side of the bed where Ndulou was lying. His eyes turned larger when Ernesto unbuttoned his shirt. Ndulou immediately stopped him by holding both of his hands, which were still holding Ndulou's buttons.

"T-this is—" He tightened his grip on Ernesto's hands.

"Oh, no! You haven't realized it yet?"

"Realize what?"

Ernesto smirked before he completely opened up Ndulou's shirt.

"What the fuck!" the always-tactful fifth son of the baron could not help but curse.

Yes, he cursed. He doesn't care about noble etiquette anymore because he is too shocked by what he saw in his body after Ernesto completely removed his shirt.

Ndulou's eyes opened wide after he saw that his skin had turned bluish-purple.

"No, it's a darkish blue! Is it bruised? No, it is all around my upper body! But I don't feel any pain. Did I get this because I was strangled? No way! This is too much! I cannot see my original skin color!" he panicked internally.

"What the fuck is going on?" he asked while trembling as he touched his weird looking upper body. "Am I going to die?"