“Did I use some difficult words?”
Assad ran his fingers through his innocent hair. The soft platinum-colored hair seemed indifferent to the rough touch, standing up or curling regardless. It was a self-assured confidence befitting someone who would remain beautiful no matter how his hair looked.
Cayden was simply stunned. For me? That thought circled around in Cayden’s mind.
The reason Assad had sought out the magicians was merely to obtain this tiny stone. Just because Cayden seemed to be feeling hot, he’d gone through unnecessary trouble. This fact left Cayden feeling dazed.
When he first met Assad face to face, when they first exchanged words, he never thought Assad would show him such consideration. Initially, he expected they would barely see each other after the wedding ceremony.
But the Assad he came to know over time was someone who showed such thoughtfulness even to a temporary replacement who only had about two and a half years left of the original three years.
‘Then, to someone he truly loves…’
How kind must he be?
His heart felt ticklish. It was a sensation that would soon spread throughout his body. Cayden had to make an effort to calm his excitedly stirring heart.
“I would have felt betrayed. If I were the Crown Prince’s consort. That the Crown Prince, Assad, my husband… I would have seriously misunderstood that he liked me.”
The words Jahan had spoken earlier suddenly passed through Cayden’s mind.
He wondered how many people had lived in that misunderstanding Jahan mentioned. It was too gloomy a thought and not his business to interfere.
Cayden hastily erased the thoughts that were trying to extend further. Imagining Assad in front of his lover was not his place.
“It’s really cooling.”
Cayden smiled as he bravely met Assad’s eyes.
“Thank you… for always taking care of me like this.”
Cayden inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. What was so difficult about expressing gratitude? He’d momentarily tensed up to the point where his chest felt chilly. Thump, thump, thump. The sound of his heart beating echoed inside his ears.
Then Cayden quickly stiffened his face. Having spoken with a more elevated mood than usual, he must have made a foolish expression that would be unpleasant to see. He wanted to erase it quickly.
Cayden merely rolled the stone in his palm. The pleasant coolness felt as though it was embracing his hand.
“…There’s no need to be so grateful. It’s nothing special.”
A brief silence wrapped around the two of them.
Cayden glanced furtively at Assad. Assad likewise stole glances at Cayden.
“Your Highness, aren’t you feeling hot?”
After hesitating, Cayden barely managed to pose a question.
“Why?”
“I thought… it might be good to share this.”
Assad’s eyebrows raised upon hearing Cayden’s words.
“That’s yours. If you’re really hot, I can just hold your hand. With or without the magic stone, your hands are colder than mine.”
The casual words Assad uttered brought embarrassment to Cayden who heard them.
Amun was like that, and Assad too… It seemed that Helio people didn’t consider holding someone else’s hand to be a significant matter. It was different from the people of Elba, who attached great meaning to hands touching.
“What, you don’t want to hold hands with me?”
“…No, that’s not it.”
Cayden, having nothing to say, just smiled. Seeing Cayden like this, a satisfied smile appeared at the corners of Assad’s mouth. As always, it came with a self-assured gaze.
They encountered Heka just as Assad extended his hand toward Cayden.
The smile vanished instantly from Assad’s face as he lazily waved his hand toward Cayden, as if urging him to quickly take it. His hand also slowly lowered before Heka.
Heka was not far from the screen where Cayden had gone with Jahan. He appeared to have been waiting to meet Cayden.
“Good afternoon, Crown Prince. And Crown Prince’s consort.”
Heka offered his greeting. A smile as bright as sunshine and as gorgeous as flowers spread across his face.
Cayden knew that Heka and Assad had once been promised in marriage. But the fact that the two would become a couple after he left was new information he’d learned today.
Watching Heka and Assad exchange greetings, Cayden felt troubled. He felt as though he had tactlessly stepped into a place he shouldn’t be, where he shouldn’t exist.
“It seems you received an invitation from Jahan.”
Assad gave a light smile. It was a mature face Cayden had never seen before.
‘…So this is the face an alpha shows when in front of the person they’ve promised a future with, the person they like.’
It was so fascinating. Come to think of it, the young master had been the same with his fiancée. Unlike when he was with Cayden, in front of that person, he had portrayed himself as a kind gentleman, as if painted.
“Yes. Since my mother has a close relationship with Jahan, fortunately, I, as her son, was also able to attend the banquet for him.”
“You’ll be staying at the imperial palace until tomorrow. I hope you enjoy your stay. And have a pleasant conversation with… Jahan, who’s over there.”
Assad said, accompanied by a soft smile. Though only his mouth was smiling.
A few more words were exchanged afterward. Cayden belatedly realized that he had somehow ended up standing beside Heka. But not wanting to disturb the conversation between the two with unnecessary movement, he remained still.
Cayden observed Assad and Heka conversing. He took in the sight of such a beautiful scene.
It was just like watching the children of gods exchanging words. Cayden almost inadvertently let out a gasp of admiration. But after meeting Assad’s eyes, he tactfully closed his mouth again.
Though still appearing mature, Assad’s face looking at him seemed oddly pouty. Cayden felt as if he’d done something wrong when he hadn’t.
Was standing next to Heka the problem? He was blocking Assad’s view, who should be able to fully take in Heka.
‘That must be annoying.’
He had ended up interrupting a meeting with someone who was rarely seen.
Cayden slightly moved his body. But Assad’s disapproving gaze continued to follow him. Thinking it meant to create more distance, Cayden moved completely to Assad’s side. He thought this way, only Heka would be visible to the two eyes.
But… seeing Heka’s face, it seemed he had made another wrong choice. He wore a face just as enigmatic as Assad’s. Cayden wondered if having another man stand beside Assad was bothering him.
What on earth should he do? Cayden, unable to do either this or that, smiled awkwardly.
“You managed to come to my side.”
Assad bent down and whispered in Cayden’s ear. His voice was somewhat playful.
Straightening up, Assad began exchanging words with Heka again. But contrary to Cayden’s expectation that the conversation would be lengthy, the two promptly ended the conversation with appropriate farewells. Thanks to Heka, who even looked after the man standing there stupidly like a sack after harvest, they were able to exchange awkward but cordial goodbyes.
“Take it.”
Assad tossed the words at Cayden with a “thunk.” It was as he extended his hand toward him again.
An undisguisable smile jutted out on Heka’s face as he waited for Assad to leave first.
There was no way to know what Heka’s smile meant. Cayden took Assad’s hand while watching Heka’s reaction. He wondered if it was alright to hold hands. But then again, he couldn’t refuse Assad’s words either.
‘Is he trying to provoke jealousy?’
If I were Heka, I’d just find it unpleasant, let alone jealousy. It would surely be sad too. But since he didn’t understand what situations lovers find pleasure in, he shouldn’t jump to conclusions based solely on his own standards.
Cayden found it difficult to understand the silent communication between lovers stimulating each other in various ways. He couldn’t comprehend it.
Assad, who had started walking first, gently pulled Cayden along. As he had said before meeting Heka, he led Cayden to the center of the banquet hall. It was a place from which they could look down on the stage where the dancers and musicians were.
Returning to their designated seats, Cayden sat awkwardly close to Assad. All while avoiding the gazes of people who were stealing glances at him and Assad, just as before.
The same was true for the Emperor and Empress, who were openly looking in their direction. Despite not being dazzled at all thanks to the light white cloth canopy, Cayden had to pretend his eyes were stinging from the sunlight. He did so out of fear of making eye contact.
Thanks to the dancers moving to the music of the musicians drawing attention, they were only receiving this level of gaze. Fortunately, there was a stage for them just below.
However, Cayden’s uneasy calm began to crack as Assad’s arm wrapped around his shoulder. He raised his head again, startled.
“Why are you so surprised? Just lean on me.”
“…”
“Shouldn’t we respond to the expectations of those watching you?”
“Understood.”
Even though showing such an appearance would be pointless… While thinking this inwardly, Cayden followed Assad’s wishes without protest. He obediently relaxed and released the tension in his body.
The position of being half-leaning against Assad was only embarrassing. With his body awkwardly pressed against Assad’s hot body, Cayden needlessly fiddled with the magic stone in his hand.
The magic stone was still ice-cold. Yet, the heat that had suddenly risen wouldn’t subside. The trembling he felt when first receiving the magic stone returned to Cayden.
In Assad’s embrace, Cayden noticed the abnormality in his heart.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
