Last Born Of The Desdemona

Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Shepherd

Chapter 151 – Shepherd

Cassius, Isolde and Sarah made their way back to the Royal Palace after the meeting concluded with Cassius sleeping soundlessly, for once, in his wife’s arms.

That sight only deepened the longing already stirring inside Sarah. She began to imagine what it might look like to be in that position with her beloved Prince.

But it was difficult to picture. The mind struggles to vividly imagine what the heart itself cannot quite believe. Eventually, Sarah let it go and allowed her thoughts to drift toward the conditions for evolving her Aspect instead.

They were staggeringly difficult. She doubted she would be able to complete even half of them before the Academy began in three weeks. That was definitely beyond her reach for now.

But making a start on the ones she could manage, and gathering information about the others, was already meaningful progress.

’I want to ask for help, but I have nothing of value to offer right now.’ She grumbled inwardly, boarding the carriage alongside Isolde and the sleeping Cassius. ’The only information I could share concerns the Hood. I can’t do that. I don’t want to anger my Lord. And I don’t want to put Raven in a difficult position either.’

Caught in that dilemma, Sarah arrived at the only reasonable conclusion: she needed to know more.

She would start reading books, records, anything. She would spend more time with the other servants and soldiers, listening. And once inside the Academy, she would make a point of being among the students, mingling, absorbing.

She would be careful to conceal the true nature of her Aspect so that no one could guess at it. If she played things well, Sarah believed she would never lack something to offer as compensation. She would always have information to give.

Always.

With that thought settled, she looked one last time at Isolde — eyes closed, Cassius at rest in her lap — then closed her own eyes, eager to arrive at the palace and see her Prince.

’Despite everything...despite the tainted parts of my love. Despite your heart belonging to someone else... I love you so much, you know, my Prince?’

She hoped he knew that.

So while Sarah, Isolde and Cassius made their way back, Meadow walked to her own personal room inside the villa.

There, she found herself standing before two teleportation circles engraved into the floor, pulsing with purple light on every breath.

She ignored the one on the right and stepped onto the one on the left. She channelled her essence into it, activating the teleportation. A flash of purple light erupted and enveloped her in a warm yet faintly nauseating embrace, carrying her into her personal realm within seconds.

...

Meadow appeared inside a small, peaceful realm.

The ground was lush and green, carpeted with weeds and various nourishing flowers, while the sky was a soft blue with gentle clouds drifting through it, carrying a quiet, unhurried tranquility through the space.

Yet to Meadow, the most peaceful thing in the entire realm was the sight in front of her.

A few metres away, a young man wearing simple, stitched clothes lay on his back in the grass, looking up at the sky with a thoughtful expression. Several sheep were arranged around him — some nestled close to him and dozing; others pressing their heads against him persistently; and a few, performing a studied nonchalance, sitting at a slight distance yet near enough to flick their tails at him every so often.

Usually, her arrival in the realm would send all the sheep rushing toward her with enthusiasm and affection. But now...

’They have completely abandoned me.’ Meadow grumbled inwardly, her lips twitching at the profoundly indifferent looks the sheep were giving her.

Fortunately, a few of the more gracious ones acknowledged her with a small sound enough to finally break Omm out of his reverie and draw his attention to her presence.

He immediately rose from where he was lying, turned toward Meadow, and walked over quickly.

Arriving a couple of paces from her, he stopped and bowed deeply.

”Good evening, Miss Wealth.” Omm greeted. ”I apologise for not noticing sooner. Are you here for the regular check on the sheep, Miss?”

”Why would I care about these ungrateful creatures anymore?” Meadow huffed, visibly irritated, drawing a faint, wry smile from Omm.

”They still care about you very much, Miss Wealth.” He tried to appease her.

”That is their problem. In any case, lately I have been craving soft meat.” She grinned coldly, her gaze sweeping over the sheep who shivered at the look from their benevolent lady, who did not look particularly benevolent at that moment. ”Perhaps I will choose one from here. What do you think, Shepherd?”

”They belong to you, Miss Wealth. It is entirely your right.”

”But would you want me to?”

”I would not, Miss.”

”Why?”

”I have come to love each of them.” He replied with a quiet smile. ”So it would grieve me to see one of them go. The others would feel the absence too. It could affect their growth.”

”They are simple animals, Shepherd.” Meadow pressed, her pink eyes narrowing and taking on a subtle glow that Omm didn’t notice. ”Why care so much? They will die one way or another.”

”Perhaps you are right, Miss.” Omm nodded slowly. ”They will die sooner or later. And so will we — we humans. And yet we cannot help but care for one another. Yes, they are animals, and their intelligence is limited. But they remember every act of kindness and mercy shown to them.”

He smiled shyly.

”In a way, they are more grateful than us humans. That is why I care about them. And besides, Miss—” he scratched the back of his cheek lightly, his voice going softer, his head dipping a little lower ”—it is my job to care for them. I am a shepherd, after all.”

Meadow was quiet for a moment, gazing intently at Omm, watching once again the intense White Light of Truth that coated every inch of him without exception.

But now, after receiving the Epithet of Sun, she was able to look deeper than before.

She could look into the very heart of any being and see what they concealed within.

So she focused and looked into the heart of Omm.

She nearly staggered backward.

’How is this possible?’ She thought in a quiet daze, staring at a heart so immaculately white it made her own eyes ache.

Not a single stain. Not a single blemish.

It was as if Omm was inherently incapable of thinking, saying or doing anything that violated his own values. Anything at all.

And from everything Meadow had observed of him, she had never encountered a young person raised with such extraordinary values.

She felt the urge to ask, her voice slightly more rushed than she intended.

”Who are your parents?” She asked directly, unable to help it. ”What do they do? And what kind of culture were you born into?”

Omm was mildly surprised by the sudden questions, tilting his head briefly in silent wonder at why this was of interest to his Miss.

But that thought dissolved immediately, replaced by a clear and unguarded pride; an eagerness to speak about his parents and his village, Jambar.

”I am not sure what to say about my culture, Miss. It is difficult to put into words, it can only truly be lived. Please forgive my inadequacy.” He smiled shyly. ”As for my parents...their names are Ali and Maryam Jambar. My father is without work at the moment, but he rises every morning to look for something.”

His voice softened considerably.

”He is the most resilient man I have ever known, Miss. The most resilient, and the most honest.”

”More honest than you?”

”Huh?” Omm exclaimed, visibly startled, then shook his head quickly. ”Oh, no no, not at all. I mean, my father surpasses me by far, Miss. He is the person I aspire to be, every single day.”

”And your mother?” Meadow pressed, taking a step closer to Omm, causing the young man to instinctively step back, his expression going completely flustered.

Only then did Meadow stop, realising she had been pressing forward without thinking. She coughed awkwardly. ”I apologise. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable.”

”Oh no, please, it is me.” Omm bowed his head quickly. ”I was simply caught off guard. I am genuinely happy you are interested in my parents, Miss.”

He smiled — wide, bright and completely unguarded. A smile so pure and open that Meadow’s heart stopped for one full beat.

’Queen above...’ She muttered internally, startled by her own reaction.

”You asked about my mother, Miss?”

”Oh?” She nodded a touch too firmly. ”Y-Yes, yes!”

’Queen!! Why am I stuttering?!’

”Well, Miss, my mother cleans the streets for work.” Omm said, his voice entirely free of embarrassment, carrying only pride. ”She is the softest, sweetest woman I have ever seen. And yet, Miss, I can say with certainty that her heart is the strongest. Stronger than even my father’s. Because it takes extraordinary strength for a woman to support eighteen years of living in these conditions with a smile, and still hold onto her dignity and her pride as a wife and as a mother.”

He lowered his head, concealing the faint trembling at the corners of his eyes.

”If my father is my values and my role model, my mother is my heart and my soul. And I...”

He stopped abruptly, then let out a soft, embarrassed laugh. ”I apologise, Miss. I seem to have been rambling.”

”You were not.” Meadow answered, looking at him with a quiet smile. ”With everything you have told me, one day I would very much like to meet your parents, Shepherd.”

”Oh no—!”

”And right now, I am even more certain of my decision.” Meadow cut in, and stepped boldly toward him.

Omm retreated again, as he always did whenever she closed the distance. Not fear exactly, more like a deep-seated shyness. Or perhaps humility.

It was only then that Meadow noticed he almost never looked directly at her face when they spoke. He always kept his gaze respectfully lowered.

Not submission. But respect.

And Meadow knew it was true, because her power now let her see falsehood in everything.

Even in her own thoughts.

At that moment, her Aspect confirmed it. And she found herself even more pleased with him because of it.

”You have been my Shepherd for barely a week.” She said, stopping herself from advancing further, not wishing to make things harder for him. ”But I have seen enough to make this decision.”

”I am afraid I am not quite following, Miss.”

”Omm Min Jambar.” Meadow said his name with a wide smile. ”Tell me something.”

”Yes, Miss?” He said, hesitantly.

”Would you like to be a merchant?” She asked, and stepped toward him again, almost without realising. ”A merchant of my newly founded Company?”

Omm went still, his eyes widening fully.

Then...

”...I beg your pardon, Miss?”

—End of Chapter 151—