Cayden left the bedroom.
He awkwardly returned the greetings from those guarding the corridor who stood facing each other, then quickly moved on. He repeatedly dissuaded the concerned-looking guards who tried to follow him, saying he was just briefly visiting the garden. In the end, he ended up going with them to the entrance of the garden. The young guards who had appeared at some point were just as worried as Assad.
The dogs were waiting for Cayden in a secret clearing beyond the garden pond. As if by appointment, they always insisted on the same spot.
The dogs, quickly spotting Cayden, wagged their tails and rushed toward the welcome guest who had appeared in their territory. They jumped so vigorously that “fierce” would be an appropriate description.
“I didn’t bring any food.”
Cayden’s voice, tinged with laughter, made the dogs’ ears perk up. Suddenly the dogs nuzzled their faces against the crouching Cayden. As if they didn’t care about food at all. Cayden briefly kissed the foreheads of the world’s cutest con artists.
San, who had been poking Cayden’s knee with his long nose, backed away. The dog lightly spun in circles in the same spot, then abruptly changed direction and began walking toward the outside of the clearing. Ran also followed San.
Somehow… their gestures seemed to suggest they wanted him to follow. Hesitantly rising from his seat, Cayden carefully followed the dogs.
It was an unexpected walk. Still, he wasn’t anxious about getting lost. The Garden of Light was secretly nestled in the center of the square-shaped detached palace. No matter where he went, eventually he would reach the palace at the end. Whether it was the east wing or the west wing.
Leaving behind the comfortable walkway, the dogs moved busily along the narrow path between large trees. They occasionally looked back to check if Cayden was following well.
Cayden was busy following the swift-footed dogs. He was so confused that he couldn’t tell whether he was heading forward or backward.
The lightly moving dogs finally stopped when they reached the outskirts of the garden. The dogs, who had been wagging their tails at Cayden for following them without complaint, soon settled down heavily next to a thick-trunked tree. Both of them did.
How did I end up here? Inwardly chuckling, Cayden looked around. Through the gaps of the smooth trees with few branches, unlike the northern trees, he took in everything visible.
A very familiar yet somewhat detached landscape unfolded before Cayden’s eyes.
‘It’s the east wing. In front of the first floor reception room balcony…’
The east wing of the detached palace where Assad resided was a space that seemed only unfamiliar to Cayden. He had stayed there for about two days when Assad’s heat came. Even then, he had spent his time only inside the bedroom.
Whether east wing or west wing, they were both part of the detached palace. Even so, he felt like he had stepped into a place he shouldn’t, making his throat oddly dry.
Sighing softly, Cayden followed the gaze of the dogs, who were now half-lying on the ground. He also took in the sound that would be reaching their cutely moving perked-up ears.
“…”
Ah. Cayden, who had mindlessly looked up, inwardly sighed.
Someone had walked out onto the reception room balcony. The startled Cayden half-hid his body behind a pale-colored tree. It was a reflexive action. But he raised his head again slightly to gaze at the scenery outside the garden.
The person standing on the balcony was a woman who appeared to be angry at first glance. The woman’s figure was clearly visible from the outside.
Just like the first floor of the west wing, the first floor reception room of the east wing could also access the garden through a balcony. But the woman just leaned her arms on the railing, with no apparent intention to proceed further.
Following such a woman, a familiar man walked out to the balcony. He was the cause of Cayden half-hiding behind the tree. His expression was also no less prickly than the woman who had come out before him.
‘Assad…’
Cayden suddenly felt a strange feeling. A premonition that he should leave this place came to him.
The woman, who had been choosing her words, whirled around. She faced Assad who was beside her. Still, both of them had unpleasant expressions.
Cayden immediately recognized who the woman was who had come out onto the balcony. It was because the woman who stood facing Assad like a mirror resembled him so much. They seemed to differ only in gender and build.
The woman was Princess Mat Mekerius, Assad’s only sibling and the owner of the dogs. Mat, only two years apart from Assad, was a beautiful woman with striking features like her mother and brother. But her face still retained a youthful aspect.
“After the rainy season ends, the Princess will return to Helio. She’s returning completely. There might be banquets, but there won’t be any events celebrating her return. The Princess is someone who doesn’t appear at gatherings with more than ten people.”
Cayden recalled what Amun had told him recently. It was an announcement that Helio’s only princess would return to the capital after completing her short study abroad in the Eastern Continent.
But Mat was already in the imperial palace of Helio. Apparently, she had returned earlier than scheduled. Even before the rainy season had ended.
“…Did you want to show me your precious person?”
Cayden, bending down, whispered to San and Ran. He couldn’t read the true intentions of the dogs who had brought him here. Still, whatever their intentions were, they would obviously be lovable.
After gently stroking the dogs’ necks, Cayden stood up again. He intended to return to the west wing. He planned to leave before becoming someone who secretly spied on Helio’s Crown Prince and Princess hiding in the garden.
If it were Assad, he would quickly detect his presence too. This thought made him anxious. But he couldn’t immediately walk away.
The clear voice that suddenly reached his ears held Cayden’s ankle.
“…What kind of prank are you… why… doing this. You, brother…”
“…”
“You know my ability. My… no matter how much you lie… it won’t work! Who’s listening… sending everyone away, what are you. Tell me!”
What’s going on? Unable to move either way and rooted to the spot, Cayden cautiously watched Mat, who wouldn’t even know him.
It was disconcerting.
He didn’t know what words were being exchanged between the two. But the atmosphere around Mat, who was pouring out words one-sidedly, was hostile. Worried that they might notice his presence right in front, he became cautious even about moving his steps.
He had merely followed the dogs here. Yet his heart pounded as if he had committed a crime. He even had the suspicious thought that his existence shouldn’t be discovered by them.
Until just a moment ago, the sound of Assad and Mat speaking was barely audible. Only a few words reached his ears before quickly fading away. But now… almost entire sentences were clearly reaching his ears.
Cayden found this situation burdensome. He didn’t want to hide like a rat and eavesdrop on a family conversation. Especially if that conversation was mixed with intense heat, he should certainly leave.
Carefully bracing against the tree, Cayden tried to silently change direction.
At that moment.
“…How would that person feel if they knew you were this brother.”
Mat’s voice, reaching out with particular clarity, caught Cayden once more.
“How would they feel if they knew Amun was you, brother!”
“…”
“Amun…!”
A familiar name flowed out repeatedly through Mat’s voice.
“I’m going to tell.”
Assad gave an irritated answer to his sister. In a somewhat agitated state, Assad would speak with Mat, then stop, then speak again. Mat was the one getting angry, and Assad was the one staying silent.
Cayden couldn’t properly understand the words passing between them. His mind had hardened as if he had gone back to before learning the imperial language. It was difficult to interpret the words reaching his ears. Their voices were no longer clearly audible. It was as if invisible raindrops had hidden the siblings’ voices.
Amun is Assad. That’s what Mat said.
Silently repeating the names of the two men he knew, Cayden blinked again.
Short fragmentary memories swirled in Cayden’s mind. And Cayden realized that Amun and Assad had never stood in the same place until now. He realized, far too late, that they had never met even once.
That’s impossible.
Cayden denied it again and again. Yet, in one corner of his heart, he recalled Assad when he had played the role of his junior, borrowing Amun’s name. His golden eyes had shone a dark brown with magic overlaid. Looking at such an Assad, Cayden had thought that he resembled Amun very much.
Magic could transform anything impossible into possible. And Assad… was the most amazing magician Cayden knew.
Cayden’s mind, which had been rummaging through memories, turned black.
“…Be quiet. Someone’s here.”
Assad murmured. His sinking voice felt distinctly clear, as if he were whispering right beside him.
The startled Cayden swallowed his breath. He had no idea what to do. Both his head and legs had stiffened completely and felt heavy. He couldn’t think properly or move his steps.
“It must be the dogs.”
Mat, speaking curtly, whistled toward the garden. The dogs, who had been perking their ears, quickly stood up. They ran toward their owner in an instant.
Mat didn’t notice Cayden’s presence hidden behind the tree. Still, he couldn’t feel at ease. Cayden could only bite his lips while holding his breath.
Slowly, slowly. Raindrops began to fall again. Even with the sun shining so brightly, it was starting to rain as if it were a lie.
“…”
He had to leave. Whether to avoid the rain or to avoid Assad, he needed to get out of the Garden of Light.
But Cayden ultimately couldn’t move. His legs had completely stiffened, as if he had been struck by a terrible curse.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
