# 9
The Crown Prince’s public image was truly a perfect role model. He always ranked first in the Imperial Academy he attended as a teenager, his character was excellent, and his physical beauty was without question.
Kaisa Rihart observed that Sion wasn’t much different in person. That’s why, even though this marriage was somewhat bitter, he entrusted his son to him.
But…
“Your complexion… doesn’t look good.”
He muttered in a low voice as he examined Ash’s face from different angles.
“I know the first night is like that, but how could you make a child’s face look this bad…”
His hair color, which had been dark in his younger days, had faded to a grayish color after weathering the winds of time. His strong-willed nose bridge, firm lips, and bold features bore no resemblance to Ash.
Unlike the Rihart family men who were generally sturdy and rough, Ash strongly resembled his mother and had a more delicate appearance compared to them, making him a son that always worried Kaisa.
And now that he had become an Omega, he was even more concerned.
His worried eyes moved from the split corner of Ash’s mouth to the reddish marks on his chin and neck.
“Hmm…”
Kaisa’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Did the Crown Prince treat you roughly?”
“No. It’s not like that, Father.”
Ash gently pushed away his hand and pulled his shirt collar up to the top of his neck to hide the marks.
However, Kaisa’s concern did not easily subside. This was because his son’s appearance resembled not so much a bride after her wedding night, but rather a street ruffian who had been beaten up.
“It’s not like that? You two aren’t the type to fight without discretion.”
“…I just bumped into something by mistake.”
“When I see the Crown Prince, I’ll have a word with him. What is this, taking an inexperienced child and…”
He stopped speaking. This was because he discovered Sion approaching from behind Ash’s shoulder. The wrinkles on Kaisa’s forehead twitched. He momentarily forgot what he was going to say.
The Crown Prince’s face…
“Why is His Highness’s face like that too…”
It was identical to his son’s.
“Duke Rihart.”
Sion, who approached him, gave a formal greeting. Kaisa blankly stared at the two of them, both with split lips on the left and right sides of their mouths. Due to the usual temperament of the two, he never thought that his son and the Crown Prince would have beaten each other up from their very first night.
Excessively intense lovemaking is sometimes not much different from a physical fight. Kaisa, at an age where he had seen enough of the world, didn’t ask any more questions.
“…Your Highness. Was your night comfortable?”
He belatedly offered his greetings. True to his reputation as being like the frost of the North, his deeply wrinkled face did not easily reveal his inner thoughts.
Sion’s blue eyes glanced at Ash and then turned straight ahead again.
“…Duke, were there any inconveniences staying in the annex?”
“None, Your Highness.”
An awkward silence followed. Kaisa, with the chill of the North to his bones, was not an amiable character, and even less the type to win favor with flattery like other sociable nobles.
And Sion was the same in character. Like a gloomy cloud descending, Duke Rihart and the Crown Prince, who seemed to be surrounded by a burning sun, faced each other without words.
It was Ash’s turn to oil this dry atmosphere, standing between them. Unfortunately, however, Ash was also not a charming personality who would take the initiative to liven up a subdued atmosphere.
“…Please sit, Father.”
Ash, pointing to a chair that a servant had pulled out, broke the silence.
Thus began the luncheon of these three taciturn individuals. A terrible silence flowed between the dishes that the servants set down.
Ash quietly looked at the two of them while moistening his burning throat with water. When he had met with Adeline and the two of them before, the atmosphere wasn’t like this… It was a moment when he suddenly realized that was all thanks to Adeline’s efforts.
“I plan to leave the capital within three days.”
Surprisingly, the first to break the silence was Ash’s father, Kaisa. Unlike the noble way of speaking where they exchange meaningless greetings and praises in a roundabout manner before finally getting to the point, this was a typical conversation starter from someone who goes straight to the core.
Ash, who had been watching a servant clearing his empty appetizer plate, turned his head.
“What do you mean so suddenly?”
“It’s not sudden; it’s a schedule I’ve been preparing for beforehand. Now that your wedding is over, there’s no reason for me to stay any longer.”
Kaisa continued with an indifferent face.
“I need to quickly nurture your brother’s qualities. It’s time for me to retire as well.”
“Leonil is already doing well on his own.”
“He still has many shortcomings. I need to help him. Just being responsible for the North alone must have been a great burden for him until now.”
“…”
Ash felt a bit downcast. He didn’t think his father would stay here forever, but he didn’t know the parting would be this soon.
“And… as an adult, let me say one thing.”
The silence that had persisted for a while was broken again by Kaisa. It was around the time when the main dish had been emptied and the dessert was almost gone.
“…No matter how vigorous you may be, anything excessive becomes harmful, so you should do things in moderation.”
Though his gaze was directed at Ash, it was a message for both Sion and Ash. Knowing this, Sion responded.
“I will keep it in mind.”
“…Yes, Your Highness. I would appreciate that. My son is still a child who has only recently manifested.”
After finishing his words, Kaisa quickly averted his eyes from his face. This was because his gaze kept going to the split corner of his mouth. Ahem… The fake cough that sounded from within his tightly closed mouth was full of embarrassment.
The meal, which had continued awkwardly with unsmooth conversation, ended like that. Sion offered tea and asked him to stay a bit longer, but Kaisa resolutely refused, using the excuse of a prior appointment, and left.
Despite having been in the South for several years, Kaisa was someone who didn’t smoothly follow the court customs of this place. In the North, tea was just a nutritional activity for maintaining body temperature, not for sitting around and sipping for social purposes as in the South.
“Ash.”
Taking his son’s hand as he was about to see him off, he lowered his voice. After checking again that Sion, standing far away, wasn’t listening to their conversation, Kaisa opened his mouth.
“As I said earlier, since you’ve only recently manifested, you need to pay special attention to your health.”
“Yes, I will.”
A father’s concern for his son, who had thrown himself into an unwanted marriage simultaneously with his manifestation, was immense.
“Whether the Crown Prince wants it or not, make sure to practice contraception thoroughly until you’re ready. You are no longer a Beta male. That will bring an enormous change to your life.”
“…I know, Father.”
Ash pretended to be nonchalant while unnecessarily rubbing the back of his neck. However, even hearing such words from his father was too unfamiliar to him.
“I believe you’ll do well on your own as you have done so far. If any trouble arises, send an urgent message through Ramon immediately.”
“…Do you really have to leave so urgently? The wedding was just yesterday.”
At Ash’s words, Kaisa exhaled a deep sigh and wiped his face with his large hand. After quickly glancing at Sion, who was still watching them from a distance, Kaisa turned his body, his back to him, and said quietly.
“That’s why I have to go. For your sake too.”
There was no other explanation attached, but Ash simply nodded. It seems that there are more complex reasons for his father’s hasty return than he knows.
It had already attracted considerable attention that Duke Rihart, a pro-Emperor faction, had left his territory to his son and stayed here for several years, and now his second son had become the Crown Prince’s consort, further solidifying that alliance.
In this situation, what could be more threatening to the opposition nobles than the ruler of the North, who is also the father of the Crown Prince’s consort, continuing to exert influence in the capital?
That was the reason for Kaisa’s sudden return. It was a step back to indirectly show the world that there was no political intention in the marriage of his second son and the Crown Prince, that it was merely the result of the Crown Prince’s deep devotion that had continued since childhood.
It was an effort to somewhat reduce the opposition nobles’ check on Ash.
“But don’t worry too much. This father is not withdrawing without any defense.”
His large hand gripped Ash’s shoulder firmly, carrying a weighty meaning.
“There will always be Northerners by your side.”
“Yes, Father.”
Ash, not unaware of his father’s inner thoughts, felt newly bitter.
Now he would be left alone in the capital. Inevitably, he felt gloomy at the thought that his life as the Crown Prince’s consort would officially begin.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
