“I…”
“…”
“I don’t want to act like a fool when it comes to the Crown Princess’s matters, to Cayden’s matters. Like an idiot who knows nothing…”
Facing Assad whose demeanor had suddenly subdued, the chamberlain inwardly sighed.
The regret and sorrow visible on Assad’s face were unfamiliar. It was merely surprising that someone capable of drawing such an expression from the confident and arrogant young man who had stood beside the Emperor looking down at the world had appeared.
Assad had fallen in love.
Saban, who had taken care of him since before Assad could walk until now, could tell. But he couldn’t simply bless it as a good thing. It was clear that Assad himself wasn’t accepting the love he harbored.
The path of an emperor that Assad dreamed of required an absence of love. It was a belief that had followed the young man throughout his short life of merely twenty years.
Assad didn’t know that the Crown Princess would leave Helio in two years, or perhaps even earlier. Among the imperial family of Helio, only he was unaware.
Saban had no way of knowing the Emperor’s intention in creating a secret that only his son didn’t know. It might have been kept secret to prevent the Crown Prince from doing something unnecessary, or perhaps it was to observe the effectiveness of the companion oracle.
But too much had changed in less than a year. What would happen if Assad learned the truth? It would certainly cause a different kind of commotion.
Saban had no idea whether it was right to let Assad, who wouldn’t acknowledge his own feelings, let the Crown Princess go, or if he should help him acknowledge his feelings and accept love…
But he was merely a chamberlain. In the end, he wouldn’t be able to do anything except watch. Saban knew his place well.
“No more medicines now. I can’t let him put such things in his mouth.”
“Pardon?”
“When Cayden’s heat cycle comes, I’ll help him. That person helped me when my heat cycle came and I went crazy. So I should be with him too.”
Oh my. The chamberlain wanted to cover his ears. It was because Assad, who had been calm for a moment, was burning with anger again. It was a loud anger that would devour even the rough sound of rain. Even the light in his eyes was hot.
“Your Highness. Do you know about an omega’s heat cycle?”
“…”
“During that period, the possibility of an omega conceiving a child becomes much greater. Several times more than an alpha’s heat cycle. If the partner is someone the heart doesn’t reject, that probability becomes even higher. Having a child is the omega’s choice, not the alpha’s. Did you sleep during sex education?”
His Highness the Crown Princess wouldn’t reject Your Highness. Keeping that thought to himself, Saban concluded his words.
“…Traits or whatever, such things didn’t interest a child like me. It was too boring a lesson. Counting camels in my head was more fun.”
“Yes, yes.”
Saban, who had given a casual answer, hardened his face again. He looked up at Assad and continued the conversation.
“The Crown Princess’s situation was unavoidable. Still, the long-standing promise of the imperial family had to be kept.”
“…”
“Imagine. You becoming a father. The father of the heir who will someday become the Emperor of Helio. Isn’t that too great a matter to handle at such a young age?”
“Why is that a big deal? What’s the problem?”
Saban had never seen Assad act so foolishly. He thought that the flailing of this young man who didn’t recognize love for what it was, or perhaps was deliberately denying it, was more frightening than puberty. He even thought it might be better to go through puberty twice.
“Saban. Think about it. Children cradled in the Crown Princess’s arms, looking like a mix of me and him. Their appearance would be exceptionally…”
Assad’s words stopped. The excited man’s face suddenly crumpled.
“What… such crazy things am I saying.”
Looking at Assad, who appeared as if he had been doused with cold water, the chamberlain shook his head inwardly.
But he also felt like laughing. Because he thought the child of Assad and Cayden would indeed be beautiful. He even had the pointless thought that he might be able to join in the gossip circles of friends who had seen grandchildren early. It was a fantasy he couldn’t voice aloud.
“Crown Prince.”
“…”
“I am always on Your Highness’s side.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad you know.”
Saban continued speaking.
“Time is not infinite. Whether to fill that finite time with regret or joy. The time for Your Highness to choose… seems to be approaching.”
It was best not to deeply interfere in imperial affairs. That was the lesson Saban had learned from working here for a long time. Still, he wanted to say a word or two to Assad, the child he had looked after for so long.
A slightly faded memory from long ago briefly flashed in Saban’s mind.
“Saban. I won’t do foolish things like Uncle Jahan. I won’t share my heart with anyone else.”
“Why do you think that way?”
“Because I need to become a perfect emperor who will remain in history for a long time.”
“What if you receive a companion oracle? It’s like colliding with a massive destiny with a bang.”
“Hmph. It’s the same even if a god arranges it.”
“What if the most beautiful bride in the world suddenly drops in front of Your Highness?”
“Would they be more beautiful than me? That would be difficult.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. No one can set foot in my heart. I have no intention of becoming a fool who can’t look around at the world because he’s blind and deaf.”
The smile of the cheeky 10-year-old boy who had answered was superimposed on the face of the young man now immersed in silence.
“Regarding the heat suppressants, I will follow Your Highness’s words.”
“…”
“If you provide countermeasures. I have concerns, but what can I do? Even His Majesty said to most highly honor the commands of His Highness the Crown Prince, the master of this detached palace. It’s not even a law recorded in the law books.”
Saban’s words instantly brightened Assad’s expression. Finding that sight pleasing, Saban smiled along with Assad. It was a very gentle smile.
Assad was revering the former emperor’s curse like a sacred text. Saban prayed to the goddess Tara, who was taking care of the desert in the rain, that the day would come when Assad would tear that sacred text with his own hands.
* * *
The banquet hall on the first floor of the mansion was filled with a sweet flower scent strong enough to make one’s nose tingle. Even the flowers carefully decorated by the mansion’s employees seemed to be in a good mood, embracing the beautiful melody created by the small musicians.
On the fifth day of the rainy season, a small concert was held at Minister Kuram’s mansion. It was a concert featuring young musicians sponsored by Heka, the minister’s precious second son. It was also an event with dual purposes: half aimed at finding sponsors to invest in the future of poor but talented boys and girls, and half aimed at showing off the excellent young musicians.
The Crown Prince couple of Helio set foot in the minister’s mansion after receiving Heka’s invitation.
Assad was one of the sponsors of the art foundation operated by Heka. It was very natural and expected for Assad to attend a concert hosted by the foundation. But at least for Cayden, it was a very sudden event.
“We have to go to a concert.”
Assad, who had been acting awkwardly toward Cayden lately, had abruptly said without even meeting his spouse’s eyes.
“A concert?”
“…I don’t want to go alone.”
What could he do when Assad said he didn’t want to go alone? Cayden had to obediently follow Assad, who had suddenly invaded his bedroom.
There was no time to mentally prepare. Lihet’s voice, grumbling with the attendants in charge of clothing that Assad wasn’t giving them time to leisurely choose clothes, was still clear in Cayden’s ears.
A concert wasn’t a place that suited Cayden. He didn’t know what good music was or what bad music was. He also couldn’t distinguish between things with artistic value and those without. He simply thought the performers were amazing.
The sponsors gave enthusiastic applause to the young musicians, saying the performance was of a higher level than in previous years. Cayden also applauded. He put his heart into it, not for the music that didn’t enter his ears well, but for the lovable passion of those who played instruments unfamiliar to him.
After the concert ended, a short reception followed.
Naturally, Assad became the center of the reception along with the young musicians. People circled around him like bees, hoping to greet Assad at least once.
Conversations sometimes continued for a long time and sometimes ended briefly. Throughout, Cayden stood guard by Assad’s side, just smiling slightly. The curious gazes of people were burdensome, but he couldn’t turn his head away first. He was worried Assad might look foolish because of him.
“…”
“…”
When there was no one in front of them, an awkward silence fell.
Cayden, who had sneaked a glance at Assad’s profile, soon turned his eyes toward others. As he did so… he felt Assad looking at him again. It was a blatant gaze. But if he turned his head toward Assad, the gaze would disappear as if it had never been there.
Cayden found Assad’s silence awkward. In the past, he would have just thought, ah, he must be in a bad mood, and kept his mouth shut accordingly. But now, not hearing Assad’s voice made him strangely anxious.
It wasn’t just Assad’s silence that bothered him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
