“His Highness will protect you, Cayden.”
“…”
“So that no one, no matter who they are, would dare treat you carelessly.”
This too was an inappropriate conversation between a servant and the Crown Princess. The same could be said of Amun holding Cayden’s hand. But what did it matter? Right now, there were only two people here—an oblivious man and his spouse.
“Soon, there will be a small but lively event. It’s not within the palace, but beyond the civilian quarters.”
Amun changed the subject and released Cayden. As he straightened his posture and stepped back, Cayden, with a bewildered expression, quietly hid his hand under the table.
“Once every four months, merchants from across the Western Continent gather in Acro to sell their goods. The tents and stalls they set up encircle the entire outer wall. After two nights pass, they pack up and leave Acro.”
“I-I see.”
“I hear that those living away from their homelands in Acro eagerly await this market day. Many merchants selling northern goods and food will come too.”
Meeting Cayden’s attentive gaze, Amun continued speaking.
“Tomorrow… I plan to go beyond the outer wall where the market is held. Just the two of us, you and me.”
The proposal Assad made through Amun’s lips was utterly spontaneous and irresponsible. The disparaging remarks about the Crown Princess he had heard at the noon outdoor banquet, the meeting with his mother, and the stories of a man who seemed to have suffered all sorts of mistreatment in what might have been a farm or a garbage dump—all these fueled Assad’s impulse.
At least while Cayden was by his side, he was determined to ensure that no one would look down on him.
That wasn’t all. He would let Cayden do whatever he wanted to do and experience whatever he could experience. Assad wondered how much time he and Cayden would have together. Probably just a few years at most. He felt there was no need to spend that short period only in unpleasant ways.
No one would dare interfere with Assad Mekerius, chosen by the gods, wanting to please his companion. Even if someone tried to meddle, he could silence them.
“They’ll spread false rumors that what I hid away because I didn’t want to see it might actually be the Crown Prince’s treasure. Will such stories help you?”
He understood his mother’s concerns. But rumors that would spread and settle throughout the royal family would remain as one of the Emperor’s anecdotes about the late Crown Princess whom he had cherished. It wouldn’t be a bad thing.
“Am I allowed to go outside?”
Cayden carefully asked Amun, whose expression had softened. His eyes showed no trace of a smile. It was the look of someone with many worries.
“We’ll go secretly. As it happens, there’s a pointless gathering that will make the entire palace busy, so it would be appropriate to leave during that time.”
“Amun, we shouldn’t.”
“I’m not saying we won’t get His Highness’s permission. Instead, we should keep it a secret from others. Unless you want to be followed by a dozen guards.”
“…”
“One guide and guard—myself—is enough.”
A smile spread across Cayden’s lips as he faced Amun’s confident expression. It was a smile that flowed like a sigh, as if he couldn’t help it.
Seeing such a Cayden, Amun’s left eyebrow rose. Again. He was definitely thinking that Amun was cute. He was truly… an irritating man.
“Think of it as part of your imperial language lessons. A time to learn by interacting with people. Just carefully listening to the voices of passing people would be of great help. Since the language used inside the palace differs from that used outside, you can enjoy comparing those differences too.”
Amun dangled a carrot in front of Cayden, who was hesitating for fear of being scolded. It was a carrot heavily seasoned with the spice of imperial language study.
“Visually, you can familiarize yourself with the geography outside the imperial palace. In many ways, it will be beneficial for you, Cayden.”
What’s the big deal about going outside for a while? Cayden needed to know that the person he would be spending time with was not the young master, the head of the garbage pit, but Assad Mekerius, who had decided to get along well with him without noisy friction.
“Will His Highness permit it?”
“Yes. I’m certain.”
Assad, in the guise of Amun, answered.
“What if we’re caught being away from our places after going outside?”
“That won’t happen. And even if we are discovered, it’s fine. Who would dare say anything against what the Crown Prince has permitted?”
Facing Amun, who appeared carefree and unconcerned, Cayden continued his silent deliberation. But soon, as if having made some decision, he spoke again.
“I’ll go.”
“You’ve changed your mind.”
“When I’m with you, Amun, I feel like nothing bad will happen. That’s what I think.”
Amun felt bewilderment at Cayden’s words. No, it was too light and floating to be called bewilderment… it was a strange feeling.
What was this feeling? Amun couldn’t understand.
“Do you trust me?”
Amun knew it was amusing to entice someone to go outside the palace and then suddenly ask such a question. But he found himself asking Cayden without realizing it.
“Of course I trust you.”
“Why?”
“Because you, Amun… have always taken me to good places. I know you’ll take me somewhere really nice this time too.”
He’s insane.
Having heard such soft, almost ticklish words, Amun abruptly turned his head away from Cayden. It was only about two minutes later that he uttered the conventional closing phrase, “Thank you.”
What if he took him to the desert beyond the Iaro River instead of the marketplace? What if he secretly abandoned him on a sand dune? Amun silently muttered words he couldn’t speak out loud.
He should have taught Cayden common sense before teaching him the imperial language. He wondered if he should tell him, even now, not to trust people too much.
Amun glanced at Cayden. While he disliked being treated like a cute child, it wasn’t bad to see that gloomy face with a smile on it.
‘Tomorrow… I’ll have to hold his hand.’
Because he mustn’t lose that fool.
As Assad gazed at his one and only bride, with his back to the deep-colored desert sunset, he thought.
* * *
The area beyond the outer wall, which had been silent under strict security, became bustling. The main characters of this noisy activity were the merchants.
Once every four months. Merchants from the Western Continent flocked to the capital Acro on the day when trade routes were unconditionally opened. From the far northern edge to the southernmost port cities of the continent, and even merchants from the exotic lands across the sea in the Eastern Continent. Everyone came to Acro, fully prepared to sell their goods and secure new trading partners.
It wasn’t just merchants who were numerous. Between the tents and stalls of the merchant groups, which encircled the capital’s outer wall with plenty to spare, countless people with various appearances and attire passed by busily. People selling cold drinks with ice also moved quickly between merchants and spectators.
Cayden, whose hand was firmly held by Amun, was also diligently looking around various parts of the chaotic marketplace. His heart was excited as if he had stepped into a different world.
“Amun, look at that.”
Slightly shaking his captured hand, Cayden whispered.
What he pointed to with his free hand was the tent of a merchant group dealing with ancient books. Under the tent with its cover raised upward, a white peacock stood in the shade instead of books.
The peacock, standing on a high platform, was looking down at the children who had come to see it with a haughty face, while a magician guarded next to the peacock, adjusting the surrounding temperature. This was to ensure the bird’s mood wouldn’t be disturbed.
“Seems they came all this way to show off the bird.”
Amun laughed as he observed the ancient books pushed aside behind the glossy-feathered peacock.
“If you want it, just say so.”
Amun said to Cayden, who hadn’t given him a single glance since entering this massive marketplace. He moved his body even closer as he spoke.
“The books?”
Cayden looked at Amun with a puzzled face and asked.
“No. That peacock.”
Cayden found it difficult to determine whether Amun’s response was serious or a joke. Surely it was a joke, but his expression was too solemn.
“It’s okay.”
No matter how much it was a joke, he couldn’t say he wanted to take that well-loved peacock.
“Let’s keep walking.”
Cayden smiled slightly as he comfortably met the eyes of Amun, who was shorter than him.
He gently added pressure to the hand holding his precious guide. It was because he was worried about losing Amun’s hand. The process of coming outside the palace together had been quite challenging, and the scenery he had witnessed during that process was also incredibly unfamiliar, so he relied on Amun in this way. Especially since he couldn’t return to the palace without Amun.
Amun had come to find Cayden at an early hour, before it was close to noon.
Cayden, who had changed into clothes Amun had prepared, was immediately led by his hand and had to walk aimlessly. At times they hid their bodies behind corridor pillars or garden bushes, occasionally they ran, and when they happened to encounter the head servant, they offered obvious lies.
As he stepped into the dark space that appeared when they touched a statue standing alone in a corner of the spacious garden, Cayden wondered if he was dreaming. As he descended the dizzy spiral staircase, relying on the dim light of lamps, he was convinced he was wandering in a dream.
By the time he came to his senses, they had already arrived at the civilian housing beyond the inner wall of the imperial palace.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
