Chapter 1120: This is what matters now to me.

After having a good laugh, Zoren found himself lying on the grass again, while Benjamin stayed where he was. They shared a quiet moment of peace. The weather was perfect, with the soft wind lulling Zoren into the possibility of a nap.

Zoren wasn’t sure if it was because of last night’s activity or just the ambiance, but he wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually drifted off to sleep.

Benjamin, on the other hand, glanced at his boss and smiled subtly. Looking away, he appreciated the beauty and serenity of their surroundings. It was far different from the city, indeed. In the main city, everything was just too fast—the people, the time, the cars, and everything else. One would quickly lose track of time if one wasn’t paying attention.

"Tell me about that time." Suddenly, Zoren’s cool voice snapped Benjamin out of his thoughts. He still had his eyes closed, his lips curling slightly. "That time you were talking about. I don’t think I’d remember, but I’m intrigued."

"Sir, I don’t think I should talk about that."

"And why’s that?"

"Because back then, I..." Benjamin trailed off, mentally wincing at the thought of the past. "I didn’t like you."

"Oh?"

"I was young back then, so I was careless. But I promise now, I like you very much from the bottom of my heart!" Benjamin panicked, thankful that his boss was Zoren and not Atlas. For sure, Atlas would’ve taken that the wrong way. Yes, Allen had told Benjamin all about it.

Zoren chuckled, still keeping his eyes closed. "It’s okay. You don’t have to be so defensive about it. After all... you wouldn’t be the first."

"..." Benjamin pursed his lips, his eyes still on his boss. Hearing that made him frown a little as his heart sank. He knew who Zoren was talking about — that woman.

Another minute of silence passed as Benjamin hugged his knees a little. He glanced at Zoren again before setting his eyes on the castle, then at the flower bed of roses near it.

"I was angry, and I had to blame someone," Benjamin’s quiet voice broke the silence. "Back then, I had to watch my father stay up late and worry a lot about the young master of the Pierson Family. That’s all he talked about, and as that happened, I felt like he was starting to prioritize someone else over me. It made me very unhappy. And from what I knew, I thought you were a brat."

"That’s why I didn’t like you back then," he continued in the same quiet tone. "I thought you were like those bullies at my school — the ones who would throw a tantrum if they didn’t get what they wanted. Those kids who think they own the world and that the world should revolve around them."

Since the Vitt Family was close to the main branch of the Pierson Family, particularly the Old Madam, Benjamin’s father had been able to send his son to prestigious schools. Hence, he’d met a lot of young masters and misses; some were good kids, but most were spoiled rotten.

Not that the Vitt Family couldn’t afford it, considering they were part of the government. Their status was enough to afford a good and comfortable life. It may not have been as luxurious as the Piersons or even the Bennets, but it was certainly a comfortable one.

"So, when my father took Mint and me to this castle for the first time, I had an evil plan," he added, almost laughing as he recalled the young Benjamin. "I thought they were bringing us here to be your pets, so I planned to confront you. But then, I saw you... right over there."

Benjamin’s eyes softened, his face relaxing. "Then all that planning went to waste. I couldn’t even say a word. If anything, I felt embarrassed for even thinking such malicious thoughts."

Even though there hadn’t been any words exchanged between them at their first meeting, Benjamin knew he’d been wrong. As the son of an upright man, who had always stood by the side of the weak, he was able to recognize his mistakes quickly.

Zoren didn’t seem like those kids he thought he was.

In fact, Zoren was a very pitiful child. Benjamin had done a little digging back then, asking his parents some questions and even talking to the helpers in the castle. They might’ve spared him the more painful details, but they told him that Zoren had recently lost his father. And while they didn’t tell the young Benjamin everything, he overheard some conversations about Zoren’s mother.

"Sadly, even when we were here, you wouldn’t come out," Benjamin sighed. "I would sometimes see you at the window, but whenever I looked up, I only saw you walking away. Mint and I would often play loudly so you could hear us and maybe join us."

Unfortunately, Zoren never did.

"When I finally got the courage to come to you, you suddenly got sick," Benjamin frowned at the memory. "Then I never saw you here again when I visited. When I asked my father, he said you were in the hospital getting treatment."

"That’s why I told myself that once I’m capable enough, I won’t hesitate anymore and I’ll cheer you up! Not that I’m thinking of being your friend; that never crossed my mind. But I thought, if you had someone you could trust around you, maybe... you wouldn’t feel as alone as you think you are." He scratched his head a little, embarrassed, glancing at Zoren.

Deep lines formed on his forehead. "Sir, are you... awake? Did you hear what I just told you?"

But Zoren didn’t respond.

"Goodness," Benjamin clicked his tongue and pouted. "This is the first time I’m making this confession, and he fell asleep."

Leaning against the trunk, Benjamin looked up at the sky and smacked his lips. "Oh well. Not that it actually matters now!" He grinned.

Little did he know, Zoren wasn’t sleeping. He just had his eyes closed, but he had listened to everything. All the heaviness in his heart slowly disappeared with that story.

’He’s right,’ he thought. ’Not that... that woman matters now either.’

"Guys~!"

Suddenly, Penny’s faint voice was heard, making Benjamin perk up. Even Zoren’s brows twitched a little before he slowly opened his eyes. Propping his elbow on the grass, Zoren leaned up slightly, only to see his wife and everyone waving at them as they carried things for a picnic.

’She... doesn’t really matter now,’ Zoren repeated to himself as a subtle smile appeared on his face, watching the lively group approach. ’This is what matters now to me.’