It wasn’t just Assad’s silence that bothered Cayden.
Sometimes, the subtle awkwardness between Cayden and Assad would suddenly ease. At those times, Assad would grasp Cayden’s fingers for no reason, or squeeze his entire hand. Then he would startle and let go of the hand he had grabbed.
Assad was acting strangely. He had been like this in the separate palace too, but in this mansion, he was behaving even more peculiarly.
‘…Is it because Heka is here?’
That must be it. Looking at Heka, who seemed more alluring than usual perhaps because of his red clothes, Cayden thought to himself. Conveniently, Heka was approaching with a smile spread across his face.
Heka, who had come to find the guests of honor, first offered a courteous greeting. Expressing his delight, he even shared a light embrace with Cayden—not too excessive. It was an unexpected welcome.
“They say meeting the Crown Prince is more difficult than plucking stars from the sky. I felt that keenly today as well. Even the hyenas circling around His Highness wouldn’t yield their place to me, the host of the event.”
Heka, speaking playfully, seemed to be in a good mood. His cheerful voice was pleasant to hear as well.
“It’s not easy to move about during the rainy season when rain is pouring down, so thank you for visiting the children again this year. It’s truly a great honor.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“And to think that the Crown Prince’s consort would also grace us with your presence…”
“While the god purifies the desert, Your Grace cleanses people’s hearts.”
With a gentle smile, Assad interrupted Heka. Heka didn’t seem to mind. Instead of continuing what he had been about to say, he chose to smile again.
“Such high praise. I must boast about this to the children.”
“The deity would also have looked favorably upon the young friends’ concert.”
The conversation flowed without a hitch, as if there was a prepared script. The subtle smiles lingering on Assad’s and Heka’s lips seemed as soft and fluffy as well-dried bedding. They were truly beautiful people. Cayden had to admire them inwardly.
But his idle thoughts were soon shattered, thanks to Heka turning his gaze toward Cayden.
“I can’t tell you how delighted I was to see that the Crown Prince’s consort had come all this way. Really.”
“Ah, I see.”
Assad, answering on Cayden’s behalf, smiled once more along with Heka.
“I was especially pleased because I had something I wanted to say to the Crown Prince’s consort.”
“…To me?”
“Yes. I’ve been wondering when I might see you again, pacing with impatience. Would you grant me just a brief moment of your time? If you would be so generous.”
Heka, who had glanced at Assad’s face, addressed Cayden. His large eyes held a gentle anticipation.
“…Of course.”
How could one refuse a request from someone with puppy-like eyes? Surprised, Cayden found himself agreeing without thinking. He didn’t even have time to check Assad’s reaction.
“Is this something that cannot be said here? Or is it difficult to say in front of me?”
“How could that be? Rather, should I say it’s something only those with the same traits can understand…?”
Heka, lowering his eyebrows as if regretful, offered an ambiguous expression.
“If that’s the case, I have no choice. I’ll have to let go of the Crown Prince’s consort for just a brief moment.”
After finishing his words, Assad slightly bent toward Cayden. Then he whispered in Cayden’s ear.
“If he says anything unnecessary, I’ll skin your shins.”
“What?”
“I’ll take responsibility if any problems arise.”
Assad’s face, as he withdrew, looked disgruntled.
Skin my shins… Considering Assad’s words, an awkward smile appeared on Cayden’s lips. He worried whether Heka had heard Assad’s voice.
Assad and Heka were destined to hold a wedding ceremony someday. But at the banquet for Jahan and today as well… both Assad and Heka seemed strangely on edge with each other.
Cayden found their feelings difficult to understand. Did those who had promised to become spouses use harsh words and looks to hide their true feelings? Cayden couldn’t grasp the inner thoughts of the two acting like angry cats. He couldn’t even guess.
“I’ll be back shortly. I can’t monopolize the Crown Prince’s consort just because I’m the host of the event.”
Heka, who had abruptly closed the distance, said as he carefully linked arms with Cayden. It wasn’t intimate contact that crossed boundaries, but rather stepping forward to escort the Crown Prince’s consort. At least from Heka’s perspective.
Assad’s brow furrowed at the sight of the suddenly narrowed distance.
‘Is he angry?’
Cayden felt his mouth go dry. Since Heka was beautiful enough to attract even those of the same trait, it made sense for Assad to be wary of him.
Still, Cayden didn’t want to become an object of jealousy for Assad…
It was a complex feeling.
Cayden gave Assad, who was now a bit further away, an awkward greeting. He ended up with a stiff expression due to nervousness. And Cayden turned completely away, unaware that Assad’s face had grown even more fierce at the sight of him.
“This is my first time escorting someone other than myself, so I’m feeling shy. I’m also worried you might think I’m being too familiar.”
Heka addressed Cayden while walking with their arms still linked awkwardly.
“Not at all.”
“I’ve been saying I should meet the Crown Prince’s consort again, submitting visit requests to the imperial palace several times. But approval never came. So I haven’t been able to visit until now.”
“Me? I… really didn’t know.”
“But I’m glad we’ve met again like this. It’s fortunate. I did see you at the banquet for Jahan, but then both you and I were so preoccupied that we could hardly exchange words properly.”
Heka, making eye contact with the flustered Cayden, stopped in a secluded corner where no one else was present. Their arms were still linked. Despite the height difference making his arm look like it might be getting numb.
After taking a deep breath in and out, Heka opened his mouth again. Cayden uttered words he had never expected.
“Crown Prince’s consort, I do not share my father’s intentions.”
“What do you mean by that…”
“I’m saying I’m not fixated on marrying the Crown Prince.”
“…”
“There was a time when I prepared to become the Crown Prince’s spouse. But that’s all in the past now. My pride was slightly hurt, but I quickly overcame it. I’m too bright a person to become a protagonist of tragic love.”
Ahem. Clearing his voice, Heka added more.
“I have no desire for the position of Crown Prince’s consort. I don’t have any lingering feelings for His Highness either. No, we weren’t even in a relationship where feelings could remain. So, even if something happens that might cause misunderstandings regarding me… please know it’s not my intention.”
Heka’s face, which had been pouring out words without even breathing, suddenly frowned. There was a displeasure in his eyes that suggested he had clearly recalled something.
“Though that misunderstanding… probably won’t happen.”
“…”
“My father has lost his will. Because of a mistake I made… he’s been confined to his bedroom for two weeks now, just drinking. Today is no exception.”
Heka’s clear, crisp voice instantly changed color to a calm whisper.
“What happened?”
A mistake? Cayden asked back in surprise. It was difficult to readily accept Heka’s statement that he didn’t want to marry Assad. But one thing Cayden could clearly understand was that Heka had driven his father to alcoholism.
“Should I say I committed one of the many accidents that occur between alphas and omegas?”
The alpha Heka mentioned didn’t seem to be Assad. If so, who exactly was he referring to?
Cayden was confused. But he tried not to show his bewilderment. He had to be careful, as his unconscious expressions and reactions might hurt Heka.
Worried about making a slip of the tongue, Cayden kept his mouth shut. Despite not fully understanding the stories Heka had shared with him.
“That…”
Heka, who had been pondering, opened his mouth again. But he couldn’t complete his sentence. It was because of those who had suddenly attached themselves to Heka.
“Honey. Why are you linking arms with the Crown Prince’s consort? Are you trying to make someone jealous? Hmm?”
“It looked good.”
A woman’s and a man’s voices reached Heka’s ear in sequence.
“We know you like handsome people, but being so obvious makes us sad. We’re good-looking too.”
Eek! Heka, letting out a strange scream, regretfully unlinked his arm from Cayden’s. He pushed away the man and woman who had approached him, like someone trying to remove insects stuck to their body.
“…Ah.”
Cayden, who had reflexively grabbed the shoulder of the man approaching Heka, also slightly withdrew his hand after identifying those who had sought out Heka.
Outside the imperial palace, in the mansion, Cayden met members of the imperial family. Titi and Nef. They were twins with identical faces and Assad’s cousins.
Cayden awkwardly greeted the twins. In his shock, he blurted out a greeting first. If Amun had been beside him, he would have been upset that Cayden had greeted those of lower status first.
“Oh, we should have greeted you first. Our Crown Prince’s consort looks handsome today too. Well, beautiful.”
Titi, smiling brightly, hugged Cayden tightly and then immediately backed away. It was because she was pulled by her brother Nef’s hand.
“I didn’t even invite you, so why are you here?”
Heka, who had been fuming, lowered his voice considerably and said.
“Because you might miss us.”
“Why would I miss you?”
“Think about just a few days ago. You said you hated it, but that day too, with us…”
Heka quickly covered Titi’s mouth. But it was useless. Titi continued speaking, laughing frivolously. Instead, she addressed Cayden, not Heka.
“I didn’t know our desert flower was acquainted with the Crown Prince’s consort. You’ll soon be living together, rubbing shoulders in the imperial palace, and I was a bit worried that the relationship between you two might be awkward. But seeing such a harmonious scene, ah, I’m truly relieved. It’s a delightful thing, isn’t it?”
Cayden looked at Titi, and Nef who was just smiling with his mouth shut, and at Heka’s angry face one by one. He did so because he kept doubting whether his understanding of the situation was correct.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
