Assad Mekerius was not one to look back and dwell on the past. But… he kept recalling the nonsense his cousins had said earlier that day, and the words of his mother Heset.
His mother’s warning not to do unnecessary things unless he intended to make Cayden the Empress wasn’t wrong. After all, his current situation—sitting across from Cayden in the guise of a servant—was part of a scheme to have Cayden quietly step down from the position of Crown Princess.
Still, this…
Amun, head bowed, irritably ruffled his hair. Some inexplicable rebellious feeling was boiling up inside him, to the point of making him feel sick.
“Amun.”
The foolish man called his fake name. It was embarrassing that he had been lost in thought in front of Cayden.
Although Assad was well aware that he was in Amun’s form, he didn’t immediately respond to Cayden. He merely raised his head slightly and met the gaze of the person who had spoken to him.
“You don’t look well. Would you like to go inside and rest?”
Cayden asked in a quite caring voice. His eyes were filled with concern.
Assad had met many gazes at the outdoor banquet. The rotten eyes of fools with nothing but dung in their heads, the snake-like eyes of those hiding sinister intentions, the curious eyes of those always looking for something to gossip about, the knife-like eyes filled with hostility, and the beautiful yet stern eyes of the Emperor…
But among all the eyes Assad had faced, none were like those of the man sitting before him now.
Warm eyes that revealed emotions without restraint. Assad had never seen eyes that were so human—or perhaps lacking—he couldn’t decide which.
Meeting Cayden’s transparent gaze made Assad feel unexpectedly at ease. He smiled for no reason. It seemed the man’s foolishness was rubbing off on him.
“If you’re confused about how to think of him, well, consider him as an omega hired for your rut period.”
Cayden was a strange omega whose pheromones couldn’t be sensed. Besides his clean face, he didn’t have a single attractive quality. He was so timid he could barely speak properly, and was lacking in every possible way—a pathetic man.
But even so, Assad didn’t want to treat Cayden that way. An omega hired for his rut period? That wasn’t possible.
As for the rut, it was a problem that could be suppressed one way or another. He just needed to safely get through the first rut period, which would be completely mind-numbing.
On the battlefield, he had endured for three days and nights while bleeding. He didn’t want to become someone who couldn’t endure a mere two days of rut through mental strength.
Cayden was someone who would help him circumvent the prophecy. He should be treated well. Assad also disliked the idea of using him, someone who would eventually step down from the position of Crown Princess, to satisfy his immediate sexual desires. Even a beast with some sense of propriety wouldn’t do such a thing.
‘…I also dislike others looking down on my bride. How absurd.’
Having such thoughts brought back the disgusting faces of his cousins whom he had met at the noon banquet. Indeed. Throwing them into the pond wasn’t enough. They probably just enjoyed swimming in the cooled water thanks to his magic.
They deserved to have their tongues ripped out. But such a cruel punishment couldn’t be administered. Instead, perhaps pulling out their teeth would suffice? No, he should immediately change his appearance and go find them…
“Amun. Your complexion seems to be getting worse.”
Cayden’s voice struck Amun again.
“I… was lost in thought. I apologize.”
Amun, regaining his senses, smiled slightly. He could feel the worry and anxiety that had settled around Cayden’s eyes diminishing slightly.
“No, Amun, why are you apologizing?”
“Today’s lesson should probably end here.”
“Okay. I’m fine though.”
What would happen if he took away the word “fine” from his bride? Would he be unable to speak at all? A childish spite rose in Assad’s heart.
“Even if I can’t act as a teacher, I can still be Cayden’s companion. Today, I’ll stay with you as a companion.”
“No, go in and rest now. I’m worried about you.”
“Even if I rest, I’ll rest by Cayden’s side. While letting you hear the imperial language like this.”
Amun said primly.
It was clear that whether lying in bed, opening a book, or even swinging a sword at the training ground, he would keep thinking the same thoughts over and over. Rather than that, it was better to have Cayden in front of him like now—the culprit who was twisting his mood in strange ways.
Silence settled peacefully between Assad and Cayden. The irritation that had been nudging Assad gradually lost its strength.
“Cayden…”
“…”
“Doesn’t it get boring, spending time only in the palace annex like this?”
Receiving this sudden question, Cayden just blinked quietly as if puzzled. Despite looking like someone who would move quickly no matter what he did, he had a sluggish aspect. Finding it both silly and amusing, Assad couldn’t help but laugh.
“I don’t know why you’re asking that. I’ve… never thought about being bored. How could I think that when you come to see me every day?”
A sheepish smile appeared at the corners of Cayden’s mouth.
“And I don’t just spend time in the palace annex. You take me out. You show me what it’s like outside the palace.”
“…”
“His Highness also visits frequently. I really don’t have time to be bored.”
Cayden continued slowly, meeting Amun’s silent gaze.
“Sometimes Lihet comes to see me too. We leave the bedroom and explore the garden together, or tour various parts of the palace annex.”
Lihet and Cayden seemed to have a fairly good relationship. Assad wasn’t worried about Lihet developing inappropriate feelings for Cayden. The Lihet that Amun—not Assad—knew was just a beta woman who enjoyed looking at handsome faces.
“Seeing her reminds me of my friend, which is nice.”
“Your friend?”
“Yes. Emma… a bright friend like Lihet.”
Emma. Amun rolled the name around in his mouth. It was a dull name he had come across while reviewing Cayden’s personal information, which had been handed over before the marriage. That woman had apparently introduced Cayden to a new job after he was expelled from the farm.
“Did you meet Emma at your workplace?”
“Yes, when I was about 18.”
“I see.”
After a brief silence, Assad opened his mouth again. He spoke slowly in the language of the kingdom, which would gently relax Cayden’s mind.
“I’m curious… how the two of you became friends. Since I have no experience making friends at work, I can’t help but wonder.”
In truth, he wasn’t interested in the friendship story at all. What he most wanted to know about was Cayden’s life at the farm where he had spent a long time.
Even though it was information he had discovered by revisiting the documents he had previously skimmed through, there was nothing special about it. The actual owner of the massive farm isolated on the outskirts of Elba was the trash Cayden called “young master.” The count and countess, parents of that young master, had exploited Cayden and then suddenly forgiven his debt. Then they had driven him out. That was all.
He couldn’t abruptly question Cayden about his past. Even if he did, he wouldn’t get a proper answer. It would be fortunate if he didn’t cause unnecessary pain. So for now, it might be good to listen carefully to the surrounding stories first.
“We just happened to become close. You see, I was alone…”
“…”
“She spoke to me secretly, perhaps because I looked pitiful walking around alone. She stayed friends with me until she quit her job before I did.”
“You were alone?”
“Everyone disliked me…”
Cayden, giving a half-answer to Amun’s question, smiled awkwardly.
Everyone disliked me. It was a puzzling statement.
That man was indeed foolish. But he didn’t have a personality that would make people dislike him. It was clear that people who resembled the farm owner or manager in character had gathered together and ostracized one innocent and kind person.
“Um, Amun…”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
Though Cayden called to Amun carefully as if he had something important to say, he couldn’t easily continue. He seemed to hesitate about revealing his complete thoughts.
“Never mind. I’ll tell you next time.”
“Alright.”
Amun nodded to the embarrassed Cayden. They saw each other every day anyway. There was no need to press someone for one more word. It’s best to speak when one wants to.
“…Aren’t you annoyed that I stopped mid-sentence?”
“You said you’d tell me next time. I’ll listen then.”
“Thank you.”
With a bewildered expression, Cayden’s dry hand brushed the scar below his cheek. By now, Amun had become quite accustomed to seeing that strange habit.
‘I also learned that his hands have many scars.’
His bride’s hands were covered with small old scars from cuts and burns. Most were likely acquired while working.
But hidden among them were wounds that had clearly been inflicted by another person. There were more than a few scars of the same shape, suggesting deliberate intent.
‘Could it be related to the bullying he experienced?’
Well… it wasn’t his business. What did it have to do with him? Perhaps it was the heat—his breathing became rough as if he had encountered flames, which only irritated him further.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
