The subjugation force safely entered the campsite before noon. The Crown Prince and his consort, warriors, magicians, and… several royal family members and nobles who wanted to participate in the grand event marking the beginning of the monster subjugation were together. Hunters from the monster hunting team who had been guarding the campsite since the previous night greeted them.
Assad ordered rest for those tired from travel. The high-ranking individuals glanced at Assad’s reaction briefly before pushing aside their attendants and quickly entering the tents. All of them were people far removed from wielding weapons. Naturally, they had no plans to participate in the hunt.
“Stupid and lazy creatures.”
Assad, watching them from the outskirts of the campsite, clicked his tongue. It was directed at his useless cousins and nobles who had reluctantly followed him here. Even when Titi, who was checking the defensive barrier of the campsite with Assad, giggled and agreed with his words, his face remained tightly creased.
Cayden sat alone on Assad’s cherished black horse with an awkward expression. He was looking at Assad and Titi, the two people standing below.
Behind them were gathered magicians. The embarrassment of riding a horse alone made Cayden restless.
Only after Assad thoroughly inspected the campsite’s barrier again and gave his complete approval could Cayden finally dismount from the horse. Along with a sigh of relief from the magician who had been watching Assad.
People who had finally gathered at the campsite prepared for the hunt, moving in and out of the tents. They ate and rested. They waited for the hottest sun to pass.
Assad and Cayden, like others, had time to relax. It was inside the largest tent in the campsite.
As if unaware of the hot conditions outside, the air inside the tent was cool. It was thanks to the magic stones left by the magicians. But to some extent… Cayden thought it might also be due to the awkwardness circling between him and Assad.
Throughout the morning, Cayden had to be held in Assad’s arms.
“We’ll ride the horse together. I can’t trust your horseback riding skills.”
It was a time when he realized that Assad’s declaration before departure was not a joke but serious. It was also an awkward time when only the sound of breathing circled around his ears.
But being held by Assad and looking only forward then was better than sitting face-to-face with him now in the enclosed tent. He thought it might be better to go back to that time.
Heavy silence filled the tent. A solemn atmosphere surrounded them, making the small table placed between Cayden and Assad look pitiful.
Ignoring the discomfort that pricked at his fingertips, Cayden only watched Assad’s reaction. Assad, like someone who had been feverish for the past few days, didn’t look well. To Cayden’s eyes, he even looked gaunt.
He was concerned.
Since that day when they faced each other in the Garden of Light, Cayden hadn’t had a proper conversation with Assad. Visits to the east wing had been blocked while Assad was suffering from fever.
After Assad had fully recovered, they set foot on the sand desert to announce the beginning of the monster subjugation. It was a tight schedule that made it impossible to make time or express feelings.
Previously, Cayden had heard about monster subjugation from Amun. However, he hadn’t thought that he would join this initial journey. Even if there was an implicit promise that the heir’s partner should also set foot on the land of the scorching sun.
But in the end, Cayden also departed the palace with the subjugation force. He was informed that he just needed to stay at the campsite and wait for Assad to return.
He didn’t know if his participation was by Assad’s will. But seeing that he wasn’t the only one acting awkwardly… it seemed that Assad didn’t accompany him by his own will either.
Assad was anxious in many ways. It was close to being restless.
Assad, who had been continually checking his bride’s face while pretending not to, quickly turned his head toward empty space when Cayden reflexively raised his gaze. He also fidgeted meaninglessly with the thin cloth in his hand that had been shielding his hair from the sun’s harsh gaze.
Then suddenly, he corrected his posture. Assad moved his chair, narrowing the distance between himself and Cayden. He came closer. Startled, Cayden could only blink, unable to avert his gaze.
“I heard Mat… went to see you. He didn’t bother you, did he?”
After hesitating, Assad finally succeeded in asking Cayden a question. It was a topic that didn’t fit the atmosphere at all.
Mat, Assad’s brother and Helio’s only prince, disliked being noticed by people. Even a small-scale banquet, reduced in size repeatedly, eventually couldn’t be held due to Mat’s refusal. They couldn’t proceed without the main protagonist of the banquet.
What Mat wanted was just to have a meal with his family. Due to Assad, who had ridiculously gotten soaked in the rain and fallen ill, even the family dinner schedule had been pushed back.
Growing tired of waiting, the prince chose to seek out Cayden himself. Mat simply wanted time to talk with Cayden alone. And that wish was fulfilled.
Sitting face-to-face with Cayden, Mat continued the conversation incessantly in a very bright voice. He spoke so interestingly that to Cayden’s eyes, Mat looked like a peddler carrying a bundle of stories.
From stories that felt close to tales of the far eastern continent and stories from so long ago they seemed distant. Throughout the conversation, Mat changed topics without a break.
However, he never mentioned, even by accident, what had happened in the Garden of Light when the rain had briefly stopped. Cayden also didn’t ask Mat about that day.
“He was pleasant. Just as you had told me before… he truly was.”
Cayden’s words lost strength and became blurred at the end. The one who had told him about Mat was not Assad but Amun. Since Assad also knew this, the tent fell into awkward silence once again.
“I need to go back out.”
Assad, his face hardened, met Cayden’s eyes.
“The campsite will be safe. Besides setting up a tight defensive barrier, several capable combatants will remain. There are the guards those fools brought, and guards I’ll leave behind.”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t worry too much.”
Hearing Assad’s subdued voice, Cayden smiled inwardly. Assad seemed to think that the anxiety that might have briefly crossed his face was concern for the monsters said to be swarming in the desert.
‘I was worried about you, Your Highness.’
Erasing thoughts he couldn’t voice, Cayden felt an emotion that could be either relief or disappointment.
“Even people who have held swords for quite a long time freeze before monsters. They make mistakes they’ve never made in their lifetime. So, the number of people who can go hunting has to be limited. My leaving you behind isn’t like exclusion… don’t misunderstand.”
“I understand.”
“It’s dangerous. That’s why I can’t take you with me. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t leave you alone like this. I would have found a way to keep you by my side.”
After finishing his words, Assad stared at Cayden intently. He sent an ardent gaze as if he didn’t remember acting awkward all along.
“I won’t… misunderstand such things.”
Even under the tent where sunlight didn’t fully reach, Assad’s golden eyes didn’t lose their light. Cayden’s gaze was caught in that gold. Due to all his attention being focused on Assad, his speech slowed frustratingly.
“I’ll finish quickly. I’ll return before nightfall.”
Having finished speaking, Assad immediately took out something from his chest. He examined the leather strap he had produced for a moment. Then he bent toward Cayden. Instantly, they became close once more.
Assad’s hand touched Cayden’s nape. Cayden was startled by the unexpected, sudden contact. He even had to bite his inner lip to avoid showing his surprise.
“…You’re really surprised.”
But he was immediately caught.
Assad put a strap around Cayden’s neck. Attached to the sturdy leather strap, which seemed like it would never break under ordinary circumstances, was a whistle shorter and smaller than a grown man’s finger joint. It was a whistle with nothing but a place to blow air into.
“Well, no matter how safe it is… unforeseen things can happen.”
With a somewhat exaggerated expression, Assad continued.
“If something happens, blow this. You need to blow three long breaths into it.”
“……”
“The scouts that I’ll have in the sky will hear the whistle sound and find you. They’ll return and tell me about you. They’ll also let me know where you are.”
Having finished speaking, Assad regretfully pulled back. He also withdrew his hand that had been needlessly fiddling with the strap.
“Yes. If something happens, I’ll definitely do that.”
After hesitating, Cayden answered with strength in his voice.
Trying to dissolve the awkward atmosphere, Cayden gave a slight smile. It was a somewhat clumsy smile. But he immediately regretted it, realizing it wasn’t the right choice. It was because Assad’s face suddenly darkened in response.
Cayden hastily erased the smile that had appeared on his lips.
“Your Highness… please be careful not to get hurt.”
Even so, he forcefully uttered words that might not be welcome. Using Assad’s concern for him as an excuse, he added words that might have been better left unsaid.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
