“I once went to a farm in eastern Elba with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
So Amun decided to change the subject. He brought back a topic that had briefly appeared earlier.
“It wasn’t structured with workers’ quarters gathered outside the farm to create a small village, but rather it was a place where the workers’ quarters were attached behind a large villa no less grand than any mansion. The party held in the rear garden of that villa was quite noisy.”
“The place where I worked was like that too. Many parties were held at the master’s villa…”
“Then you’ll quickly become accustomed to the Imperial banquets.”
Amun said. It was a deliberately, somewhat impulsively uttered remark.
No matter how much the Crown Prince Consort was in name only, Cayden couldn’t be kept confined to the separate palace forever. Assad planned to take Cayden around to various places. He intended to show his face at least enough not to be disrespected by others.
The Emperor intensely disliked those who stole his time, people who tried to get close to him. That was true even if they were family. So if Assad went to bother him, he would likely wash his hands of Cayden’s affairs, saying to do as he pleased.
What if that didn’t work? Then he would hold his own banquets. He was determined to host whatever—banquets, gatherings—again and again.
Assad knew his choice was foolish. He knew he had reached a conclusion worthy of shaking one’s head. But what could he do? It was what he wanted.
However, Cayden’s reaction was quite dismal. Unlike Assad, whose previously stifled mind had brightened, improving his mood.
“No.”
“…”
“Far from getting used to it, no, I can’t go to such places.”
“You must go now.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I shouldn’t create situations that would embarrass the Crown Prince. And Amun, don’t say such things to other people either. What if you get scolded for it?”
“Who exactly would scold me?”
Cayden was truly a man with many worries. If Assad were to scold someone, he would, but what reason would he have to be scolded by others? If anyone grumbled about hearing that the Crown Prince Consort would attend a banquet, he would appreciate their courage and bury them in the middle of the desert.
“Before, when I worked at the farm… once, I briefly entered the hall where a party was being held. They said they were short of men to act as servers.”
After hesitating, Cayden revealed the words that had been circling in his mouth. His complexion was pale as he traced the memories of the past.
“Even though I didn’t stay long, it was really just for a moment… because they had me serve the guests, the butler was severely scolded by the young master. To the point where everyone was surprised…”
In that moment, Amun forgot what he had been about to say. His relaxed posture, with his chin resting on his hand, had long since collapsed.
“I don’t understand why that would be cause for scolding. Is my Kingdom language skill insufficient to properly understand?”
It seemed strange no matter how he thought about it. Cayden’s face, which had become gloomy just from recalling that time, made it even more apparent. What kind of world had this man lived in?
“Serving staff are usually good-looking and pretty people, right? But they assigned such a role to someone like me… I think he thought it lowered the host’s dignity.”
Cayden continued speaking with an awkward smile.
“After that, on days when there were parties or balls, I had to hide in my room.”
“You hid in your room?”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t tell me, were you forbidden from showing your face to people?”
Cayden did not respond to Amun’s excited question. Instead, he just nodded. Soon, embarrassment tinged the tips of his ears red.
It was bewildering. Was he saying that this ‘young master’ person actually threw a fit, saying how dare someone like you show your face in front of people? Cayden’s story seemed unbelievable.
The more the conversation with Cayden continued, the more Amun’s mind transformed into a labyrinth without an exit.
He couldn’t help but think it was strange.
The host’s dignity? His bride’s face could only elevate the dignity of a party, not lower it. Why would they hide him away?
If they were concerned about faces affecting dignity, most of the imperial family of Helio should be wearing masks right now. To avoid lowering the dignity of the empire. The same went for the royalty and nobility of northern Elba where his bride had lived.
“Do you think you’re ugly?”
Amun asked Cayden.
The bluntly posed question was somewhat inappropriate for a mere attendant to ask the Crown Prince Consort he served. But it didn’t matter. What could he do? I am actually that man’s spouse.
Cayden’s cheeks flushed as red as his ears. It was due to embarrassment, not irritation or anger.
Lowering his gaze slightly, Cayden again awkwardly nodded. His face was docile, as if resigned to being teased by a young kid like Amun.
“Do you live without looking in mirrors?”
Amun asked.
“Do you live without looking in mirrors?”
And he posed the same question once more, switching languages. The frustration made him keep spitting out words.
“I do look…”
A bland answer came back.
Amun felt an indescribable frustration. It was the first time in his life he had felt such frustration.
He thought he wouldn’t feel this way even if he were surrounded by walls on all sides. Walls could at least be broken, but this… Assad, in Amun’s guise, suffered.
Cayden was equally puzzled. It was because he couldn’t understand the true meaning behind Amun’s question.
In Helio, Cayden had to look in the mirror every day, whether he liked it or not. He inevitably met eyes with the shabby man reflected there. He was forced to grudgingly check the red scars that remained below his right cheek and on his neck and shoulder.
“Lord Cayden…”
Amun, who had trailed off, waited for Cayden to look up at him. Only after confirming that their eyes had met did he speak again.
“You are handsome.”
That single statement brought silence. A very long silence.
“I said you are handsome.”
Growing impatient, Amun spoke again. This time using the Kingdom language.
Cayden, who had opened his eyes wide, quietly raised his hand to cover his face. It was because laughter erupted. That alone wasn’t enough, so he had to lower his head deeply.
“Why, why are you laughing like that?”
Amun shouted at Cayden, who was struggling to contain his laughter. He even stuttered in his surprise.
“I’m sorry.”
Afraid that another burst of laughter might erupt, Cayden continued without daring to meet Amun’s eyes.
“When you, Amun, say I’m handsome with your face all red… it just looked like you were trying so hard…”
“…”
“But I don’t think you’re lying. Really.”
Cayden hurriedly added.
“I can see that you think it’s a lie.”
Amun, who had instantly become sulky, muttered. No, really, how has he lived that he neither listens to nor believes what people say? He kept grumbling inwardly.
“Ask Lihet too. She will surely give the same answer as me.”
She would recite praises as if she had been waiting for the question. Let’s see what face you make when confronted with such a Lihet. Amun inwardly gnashed his teeth.
“No. Amun, I truly understand that you think well of me. I’m sorry for laughing. I shouldn’t have teased you.”
Cayden apologized to Amun, who clearly seemed upset. A caring smile accompanied his words. It wasn’t a forced smile, but one that came naturally.
“How do you know my heart? You who don’t even believe my words.”
“I can tell just by looking at your eyes, Amun.”
The eyes of Amun, sitting across from Cayden, narrowed. His lips, which had seemed like they would continue grumbling, formed a faint curve. You can tell by looking at my eyes? I can’t believe he’s saying such embarrassing things that I would never utter in my lifetime.
“It seems His Highness is embarrassed to attend banquets and dinners alone. After holding such a grand wedding ceremony, entering a banquet without his partner—of course it’s embarrassing.”
Amun, smiling crookedly as if it couldn’t be helped, continued.
“Commander Jahan of the Pima, who is also His Highness the Crown Prince’s maternal uncle, stays in the capital city of Acro for exactly two weeks, twice a year. Perhaps… the banquet held then will be the first one Lord Cayden attends.”
“…”
“There’s about two months left. You have plenty of time to mentally prepare.”
After being lost in thought for a moment, Amun immediately added.
“We people of Helio don’t dance strange dances like the nobles of Elba, so you don’t need to worry about learning to dance.”
“But if I attend the banquet…”
“I’m not expressing my personal opinion, but conveying the will of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Amun emphasized. Seeing Cayden’s face quickly darken after he had been smiling just moments ago, he felt the need to make things clear. For the Crown Prince Consort to have so little confidence—there was still a long way to go.
“You will experience many new things. Not just banquets held inside and outside the palace, but also useless gatherings, dinner parties, all kinds of festivals…”
Amun roughly cut his words short for Cayden, whose complexion had worsened. He did so out of concern that Cayden might faint.
“Are you worried?”
“…Amun. I lack confidence.”
“…”
“I won’t even be able to properly exchange a single word with people. I’m sure to make His Highness angry.”
Cayden, who had been hesitating, revealed his honest feelings.
“It doesn’t matter if you can’t speak Imperial language. His Highness the Crown Prince speaks it well. Just trust him.”
“You know it’s not about the Imperial language.”
Truly, his bride was clumsy in every way. The more he got to know him, the more he felt that way. He wondered how the man had grown up.
It was fortunate that he had come to be by his side, where he was relatively open-minded. What would have happened if he had married a monster no different from the madman called ‘young master’? It would be fair to say that the goddess Tara had saved that man.
“Think about what I told you before. Lord Cayden, you are His Highness the Crown Prince’s one and only partner. Here in Helio, there is no one who will look down on you or consider you ridiculous.”
Reaching out, Amun placed his hand on top of Cayden’s hand that was resting on the table.
“His Highness.”
Firmly holding the hand that tried to pull back in surprise at the sudden contact, Amun continued.
“His Highness will protect you.”
“…”
“So that no one, absolutely no one, can treat you carelessly.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
