“Yes. I knocked on the door very loudly, but there was no answer.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear it. But… you come in well on your own even when I don’t answer. Like now.”
“I was stamping my heels on the floor while walking so you wouldn’t be startled. You didn’t hear that either?”
“No.”
Cayden answered straightforwardly. Embarrassment mixed with the smile hanging on his lips.
“Do you have something troubling you?”
“No.”
“I think I should show you a mirror. Then your answer will change.”
“Why?”
“Because you look like you’re carrying all the world’s worries by yourself.”
Amun, sitting with one knee raised, slightly tilted his head. He wore a stubborn expression that suggested he didn’t need an answer, but would wait until he got one.
“I was just thinking a bit. What I might be doing later… thoughts like that.”
Cayden, who had been hesitating, told Amun.
Cayden wanted to share his concerns with Amun. But thinking that those concerns might burden Amun, he said something else instead. No matter how useless his request might seem, Amun would try to fulfill it.
“Later?”
“Roughly a few years from now… about 2 years, no, a bit more than 2 years from now?”
“Why specifically 2 years? It seems oddly specific.”
“I can’t imagine too far into the future.”
Cayden evaded the question.
Assad and Amun were close. Amun might already know that he was a three-year bride. He regretted speaking without thinking deeply.
Amun remained silent. With eyes that made it impossible to know what he was thinking, but somehow sharp, he chose silence. Then suddenly he met Cayden’s eyes. He immediately locked gazes as if he knew Cayden had been watching him. It felt unusually intense, unlike the normal Amun.
“…Well, I’m sure you’re getting along well with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
After finishing his words, Amun relaxed his expression and smiled brightly. He smiled playfully as if the subtle demeanor he had shown earlier was actually nothing.
It seemed Assad hadn’t given Amun any separate notification. That was fortunate. Cayden thought it would be better to leave Acro alone without saying goodbye. A face-to-face farewell would be sad and regretful. It was better to quietly disappear.
“How do you envision that time, Cayden?”
“As you said, Amun, I think I’ll be getting along well.”
“With His Highness?”
“…Yes.”
Amun nodded his head in place of Cayden. He had a face that seemed greatly satisfied with Cayden’s answer.
“Hmm. Did you receive the letter well?”
“Letter?”
“The letter from Elba.”
“…”
“I heard from the temple official of the main palace that you received a letter from a friend even when I wasn’t taking care of you.”
Assad’s words continued.
“I know you might feel uncomfortable that I’m keeping track of your every move. But I’m trying to look after everything for your safety, so please understand with an open mind.”
“No, I’m fine. I’m not upset.”
He was sincere. Isn’t monitoring him one of the things Amun has to do? He was a bit surprised that Amun brought up the letter, but he didn’t think it was something to be upset about.
The temple official who had visited him early in the morning had told him that he had opened the letter first. From the outer envelope to the dried flower. He said it was unavoidable to check if there was any magic or poison somewhere. Cayden wondered if Amun had also participated in that process.
If so, perhaps…
“I know the contents of the letter as well.”
Amun quickly answered as if he had read Cayden’s mind.
Cayden felt embarrassed as he took in Amun’s voice. He had been worried about what to say to Assad… but now there was no need. He thought that a report would soon reach him too.
Cayden was anxious. He was also worried about how Amun would think about the content of the letter that had flown in from the north, the enclosed wedding invitation.
“Do you miss Elba?”
But the question Amun raised was different from Cayden’s expectation in direction. Longing. Amun had put a very strange word in his mouth.
“No.”
Caught off guard, Cayden inadvertently gave a negative answer. He had blurted out the truth.
“But it’s your homeland.”
“I… don’t seem to have much attachment to my homeland.”
Amun didn’t add any unnecessary words to Cayden’s response.
With his mouth closed, Amun looked like someone deep in thought, or someone struggling with some problem. Whether it was Emma’s letter or Cayden himself that had caused him trouble was unknown. Though the probability was highest that it was both.
“I don’t think it’s strange to have no attachment to your homeland.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Honestly, it’s hard to say that Elba is a good place to live. Compared to Helio here.”
It was a statement that subtly revealed his affection for Helio. Inwardly agreeing with Amun’s words, Cayden smiled.
“Amun, is Helio your homeland? This Acro?”
“Yes. I’ve lived in the capital all my life. I’ll probably continue living here.”
“While helping His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Probably. Although right now I’m only helping you, Cayden.”
The corners of Amun’s sullen face turned upward. His voice, which somehow felt refreshing, was pleasant to hear.
“…Amun. Thank you for helping me.”
Cayden, who had hesitated for a moment, carefully spoke.
“Being with an uninteresting man like me can’t be enjoyable. I’m also grateful for you being here with me like this.”
“Why do you say such things?”
“What things?”
“It’s enjoyable.”
Amun blurted out. He was tousling his innocent hair with his hand as he spoke.
“Being with you, Cayden, is enjoyable.”
His short, fluffy hair shot up toward the sky due to static electricity. It was a very cute appearance that should be kept secret from Amun himself. Looking carefully, it seemed neither Assad nor Amun could leave their hair alone.
“Yes. I’m always happy because of you too, Amun.”
Cayden smiled. Worries were still circling at his feet. Yet it was amazing that he could smile like this.
“You should think of Helio, this Acro, as your new homeland. Isn’t it strange to call a place with no attachment your homeland?”
“…Alright.”
“And regarding your friend’s wedding issue, I’ll speak to His Highness the Crown Prince about it.”
“No! I’ll tell him myself.”
Cayden hastily interrupted Amun’s words. He had no intention of asking Amun to stand in for him. He didn’t want to push his own affairs onto him.
“I know you won’t be able to say anything to His Highness. I know you’ll just pile worries like mountains inside.”
Cayden was embarrassed. It was shameful that Amun knew him too well.
“I’m sorry. I’m… too indecisive and pathetic.”
“It’s better to see it as being cautious and careful.”
“…”
“Given that His Highness has a foul temperament, it must be all the more difficult for you to deal with him. It’s not just you. Everyone feels that way.”
“Amun. You really shouldn’t say such things when other people are around. It could cause big trouble.”
Cayden lowered his voice considerably as he offered advice that wasn’t really advice. He was worried about Amun being too honest. Moreover, he had even exaggerated Assad’s strong personality to say he had a bad personality.
“Yes. I’ll only say such things in front of you, Cayden.”
Amun’s voice, mixed with laughter, brought silence to the balcony. It was a clean stillness as clear as the bright sky.
“Amun.”
“Yes.”
“…Thank you.”
“…”
“Thank you for understanding my feelings.”
And Cayden expressed his gratitude to Amun once more.
“I’ll deliver the message well, so don’t worry too much.”
“…Okay.”
“In return, I’ll take the position of servant attending to Cayden. If we go to Elba, that is. While any capable person can serve as a guard, it’s a different story for a servant who must stand right beside you. Not just anyone can be assigned.”
“I would really like it if you came with me.”
“Well, roughly, if we consider ourselves as seniors and juniors working in the same merchant guild… it wouldn’t seem strange for us to stay together.”
A smile gradually bloomed on Amun’s lips as well.
Cayden suddenly imagined Amun dressed like the noble sons of the kingdom. He thought Amun would look really cute and smart if his cravat knot was tied like a ribbon. Though Amun would hate it.
“It seems like you’re having strange thoughts.”
“No, what do you mean strange thoughts?”
“…”
“Really. I wasn’t having strange thoughts. I was just imagining you dressed like the young masters of the kingdom… I thought it would really suit you well…”
Cayden’s voice faded. He said he wasn’t having strange thoughts, but when he actually voiced that thought out loud, it somehow felt strange.
Still, he genuinely meant that the kingdom’s attire would suit Amun well. It was clear that everyone would regard the clever-looking Amun as either a noble’s son or a merchant guild heir.
Cayden mentally counted the money he had. If he could really go to the kingdom, if he could attend Emma’s wedding, if Amun accompanied him… Cayden wanted to gift Amun a formal suit that young gentlemen would wear. It was a suddenly rising wish.
When working at the farm, he hadn’t received proper wages because he was paying off his own price. But at the merchant guild master’s mansion, he had received his wages regularly. Though he had just ignorantly saved up because he had no reason to go outside the workplace or spend money on meeting people or buying things.
It seemed he had been saving money more frugally for occasions like this someday.
Since he needed to prepare for the time when he would have to leave Acro, he wouldn’t be able to spend all his saved money. He wouldn’t be able to buy really nice clothes for Amun. Still, if possible, he hoped his wish would come true.
“Well, I think so too. That whatever I wear would really suit me well.”
Amun spoke lightly with a confident face. It was brazenness that had now become too familiar.
“If by the attire of kingdom gentlemen you mean constricting formal wear, it would suit you well too, Cayden.”
“Me?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
