“You can say it’s a mess. I won’t be hurt. I’m not upset about not having talent. Having something you’re not good at is what makes you human.”
Assad’s words continued with a hint of laughter. Though his expression became more serious.
“…In the Garden of Light, there was a time when I talked to you about dogs. When I had Amun’s appearance. Looking at Mat’s dogs, I told you to talk to Assad Mekerius if you wanted to raise a dog.”
“…”
“At that time, you were reluctant.”
“Yes. I remember.”
Cayden became embarrassed. Literally, his response to Assad back then came back to him, albeit faintly.
“I can’t raise one. No matter how much I like them… if I can’t stay by their side for life, I shouldn’t. We might suddenly part ways. The dog would be hurt.”
It was an answer he had given because he expected he wouldn’t last long in this desert, in the royal family. Because dogs are affectionate enough to love even someone like him. He thought they would be too sad if someone they had become close with suddenly disappeared.
“But… the situation has changed now. Cayden, you and I will be together for life. We’ll be able to take responsibility for that dog’s lifetime too. Our child will also become friends with that white one…”
Assad finished his words while slightly gauging Cayden’s reaction.
It seemed Assad had kept what he said back then still in his heart. It made sense, as he was someone who secretly worried about whether Cayden would leave Helio even now. That worry had deepened after learning that Cayden had been a three-year Crown Prince Consort whom only Assad didn’t know about.
Cayden felt sorry for Assad. It was as if he had known about Assad’s anxiety but pretended not to notice. He had thought it wouldn’t help to pretend to know and tell him not to worry…
It seemed the time had come to gather courage. Whatever it was, it was time to give Assad reassurance.
“Your Highness.”
Once again, Cayden met Assad’s gaze.
“Yes?”
“Shall we go see the puppy together?”
“Now?”
Meeting Assad’s gaze as he asked with round eyes, Cayden smiled. He placed his other hand on top of the strong hand that held him. Although he was reluctant to show the scars engraved on the back of his hand in the light, he no longer felt ashamed of them. It was all thanks to Assad.
“Yes. It’s going to be a family member, so we should meet.”
“…”
“I’ve taken care of dogs before, but I’ve never been responsible for raising one, so I’m worried. But it’s okay. Now… we won’t suddenly part ways with it.”
“Right. We won’t part ways. Don’t worry about that. It’s a useless worry, not even as significant as a grain of sand.”
Assad’s body leaned forward as if wanting to convey his voice closer. As always, a gentle kiss was added to Cayden’s cheek.
“Will we need a meeting to name the puppy?”
“Of course. I’ll have to stay in your bedroom all week.”
Assad quickly gave an answer to Cayden’s casually thrown question. It contained a very definite plan.
“For life.”
“What?”
“I really like that phrase.”
“…I like it too.”
Meeting Assad’s gaze once again, Cayden answered. It was an affirmation that colored Assad’s face with joy.
Unable to hold back, Assad kissed Cayden. They went to meet the white puppy from the North after the long kiss ended.
Side Story 4. Eternity
All the royals residing in the capital gathered in the Emperor’s Garden. It was thanks to a banquet held to welcome Jahan, the Emperor’s youngest brother and commander of Pima, who had visited Acro along with his lover Marju.
The spacious Emperor’s Garden changed its appearance into a splendid and beautiful banquet hall. As always. But this banquet was different in nature from previous ones held for Jahan. Because Jahan had come to the palace with a different purpose than usual.
Jahan’s lover, whom he had been searching for for nearly 10 years, returned to set foot in the palace after a long time. Unlike when he had to stand alone before the previous emperor, this time Jahan stood by his side.
Emperor Heset personally wrote invitations to the royals of Helio and the nobles and officials residing in the capital. It was to hold onto the ankles of those who were likely to try to slip away making all sorts of excuses and pretending not to know. The only ones who didn’t receive Heset’s invitation were the guardians who protected the four corners of the western continent.
How many could refuse an invitation written by the Emperor himself? Everyone from those living in the palace to those living beyond the walls guarding it responded to the Emperor’s call without a single person missing. However, they entered the banquet hall unable to hide their gloomy faces, like people who had been given their death date.
The banquet hall, grandly erected in the Emperor’s Garden, came to contain a mysterious atmosphere. Curiosity, expectation, and anxiety toward Jahan’s lover coexisted. Some chattered while laughing, and others circled the corners of the banquet hall with blue faces.
Jahan, who always showed up late at banquet halls despite his sister’s admonitions, somehow revealed his face early. Naturally, it was with his lover Marju whom he had recovered. The two people with their arms firmly linked looked quite affectionate.
Those who hadn’t thought that the current Emperor would come forward to protect his brother during the time when Jahan and the previous emperor were in conflict were busy watching Jahan and Marju’s reactions. Those who had most actively sided with the previous emperor couldn’t even properly raise their faces for fear of meeting Jahan’s eyes. And they moved in the opposite direction of Jahan and Marju after identifying their movements. Like worried small animals gathering in small groups.
But the guests seeking Jahan didn’t stop. For the ambitious, Jahan was always a useful card. Young men who had just begun working for the empire wished to become close to Jahan. They believed that the trust of someone close to the Emperor could be beneficial to them.
Those innocent toward Jahan wished to have a private audience with the commander and his lover, and those with many sins lowered themselves accordingly. Emperor Heset nodded his head seeing that scene. It meant he was pleased.
Sitting cross-legged at the head table prepared under the sunshade, the Emperor laughed while looking at those busy avoiding Jahan. The laughter that appeared on the woman’s sharp face was cheerful. The Empress sitting next to him was also laughing.
There were also those for whom the banquet was simply enjoyable. The only pair of twins in the royal family, Titi and Nef.
“Finally, you’ve arrived.”
The twins, who had been waiting for Heka who had briefly left his seat, went toward Assad and Cayden who appeared a step late at the banquet hall. With excited faces like dogs in front of snacks.
“Ah, it’s so good that Your Highness has a large build. We can find Your Highness at a glance no matter where you are. Like now. The Crown Prince Consort won’t lose Your Highness whether outside or inside. Right?”
Hearing Titi’s words, Assad inwardly clicked his tongue. Both Titi, who was laughing rather frivolously, and Nef, who was laughing ignorantly beside her, were equally annoying.
But he couldn’t openly show it. Because Cayden wished for him to get along closely and well with the twins.
‘If I openly ignore those things, Cayden will be upset.’
Assad didn’t want that. At least to Cayden, he didn’t want to appear as a Crown Prince with rough edges.
Reluctantly, Assad continued the conversation with the twins. With a face like someone trying to chase away fruit flies attracted to sweet fruit. He also glared at them with a warning, in case the twins might say nonsense to Cayden and bother him.
“Is the wedding preparation going well?”
Assad asked the twins who were trying to interfere with his and Cayden’s intimate time. While forcibly raising the corners of his mouth.
Regardless of that tearful process, the twins finally received permission for marriage with Heka even from Chancellor Kuram. The preparation for the wedding ceremony, which wasn’t far off, would also be proceeding without a hitch. So, it was no different from asking just out of courtesy.
“Ha. It’s going very well. It will be a truly magnificent wedding ceremony. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.”
Titi, who exclaimed while holding her forehead, continued to ramble on. It was about the wedding ceremony of the twins and Heka, which Assad wasn’t curious about at all.
“Crown Prince, Crown Prince Consort, we hope that both of you will come together and grace the occasion.”
Nef, who had only been giggling next to Titi, presented a brief request emphasizing each word. It was while looking at Cayden, not Assad. It was a very cunning and sly action. At least that’s how Assad felt.
“It’s going to be a bustling wedding ceremony. It won’t be boring for even a moment? We’re going to be so loud that no one will be unaware that Heka is our twins’ partner.”
Titi added. To Assad, it sounded somewhat bitter.
“…”
If he could go back to the past, he would also hold a very grand wedding ceremony with Cayden. He wanted to erase from Cayden’s memory the wedding ceremony held with just a few royal people, a few priests, and the high priest beside them. If that was possible. Assad, whose heart had grown heavy, began to grumble inwardly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
