“I didn’t spirit away the Crown Prince’s consort. I merely made him disappear.”
“The Emperor of Helio I know is cold but benevolent. He’s not someone who would hurt a powerless person. So, I’m not worried about my bride’s safety.”
“…”
“Please just tell me where my bride, where Cayden is.”
Assad spoke, looking up at Heset seated above him. His face was more unsettling because he wasn’t showing his anger. The Emperor liked that expression on his son’s face.
“Why should I tell you that?”
Emperor Heset said, running his fingertips across his forehead.
“Just as the previous Emperor, my father, restored Jahan to his original position after he lost his senses to improper emotions, I too am trying to help the Crown Prince regain his senses.”
“…Ha.”
“Assad. He’s gone. That’s the end of it.”
“…”
“The farewell came earlier than planned, but what can we do? I’ll have to find a new bride candidate to replace him. It’s unfortunate for Kuram, who was struggling to make his son the Empress, but Heka won’t do. The twins are completely infatuated with him.”
An exaggerated sigh flowed through Heset’s lips.
“What kind of bride do you want? A beautiful, intelligent, and decisive noble’s child? That’s the ideal bride that you wanted before you became an adult.”
“…”
“In terms of appearance, the Crown Prince’s consort was handsome too. Though he was far from being intelligent or decisive.”
“I don’t need another bride.”
“I wonder if your taste changed in just a year, or if you’ve reached the stage of denying your previous ideal type after growing attached to the Crown Prince’s consort. I’m curious.”
“I didn’t expect you to play word games like this.”
“Really?”
“I’m just wasting time here. I need to leave now.”
With cold eyes, Assad glared at Heset.
A waste of time. That was all he could think of. He had a rough idea of where Cayden might have briefly stayed, or perhaps was still staying. It was clear that his mother, who was now smiling with an inscrutable face in front of him, had helped with Cayden’s movement.
Whatever the outcome, he had to set out first. Assad decided to leave the audience chamber and the imperial palace.
“How rudely you behave toward your only mother. It’s quite surprising.”
Heset clicked his tongue and rose from the imperial throne. Only after descending the low steps did he speak again.
“I had a first love too. My father found out and made us break up. That person was far too inadequate to be the partner of me, the future Emperor, and such childish love didn’t suit me who would lead the empire. It was the natural result. It would be a lie to say I felt nothing. For a while, the world seemed only gray to me.”
“…”
“But Assad, you won’t have such a hard time. He’s just a bride you were bound to by a prophecy. Since your condition has been capricious, causing you to become physically attached, you should be able to let him go easily. Even your current anxiety will soon subside.”
Heset now stood in front of Assad. The Empress, who had been standing at a distance from the mother and son, exhaled another silent sigh.
“Why would you refuse the perfect bride, the beautiful bride you’ve always wanted… to the point of wrinkling your face as if disgusted? I’m really curious.”
“…”
“Has it become comfortable to have a partner you can control as you please?”
“I have no intention of controlling him as I please.”
I won’t do that again. Assad said. His calmly subdued voice was as cold as his gaze.
“Alright. Let’s say that’s true.”
Looking up at his son, Heset smiled.
“Assad. You’ve learned repeatedly. An emperor shouldn’t take love. What you should take are weapons and shields that will benefit you. Do you think that man’s existence will be beneficial to you?”
“…”
“Or do you actually love the Crown Prince’s consort?”
“Do you think I have an obligation to answer Your Majesty?”
“How disappointing.”
With a face showing not even the slightest hint of regret or disappointment, Heset spoke.
“It seems you don’t think the Crown Prince’s consort left the palace on his own. Interesting. Why can’t you imagine that he might have fallen out of love with you? He might have found himself matched with a kind, older alpha, not someone young and arrogant like you. He left holding that alpha’s hand. What do you think?”
“Another alpha… Then I’ll just take the place beside my bride who’s deep in grief after that alpha dies.”
“Hmm.”
“If such a far-fetched story of Cayden meeting another alpha were to actually happen.”
“You trust the Crown Prince’s consort’s love too much. While you don’t give your heart to him. I wonder who you take after, you’re so selfish.”
The crooked smile that had been spreading on Assad’s lips hardened. Assad couldn’t understand what Heset was talking about. For a moment, his mind went blank.
“Does the word ‘love’ annoy you? What can I do? The Crown Prince’s consort says he loves you.”
“Loves me? Who does?”
“Why are you acting stupid? Just now, it seems like he said he loves you.”
“…He can’t possibly love me.”
Assad muttered. He was dazed, like someone who had just awakened from a dream.
In a corner of his heart, the pale face of Cayden he had encountered in the Garden of Light remained painfully vivid. Cayden, disappointed in him, looked not like someone drenched in rain but someone shedding tears.
Even in the moonlit desert night, Cayden was only thinking about leaving him. To him, who threatened that Cayden should stay by his side forever, who clung to him crying, Cayden reluctantly allowed him to stay. He had only embraced him in return tenderly because he pitied him as he forced himself into Cayden’s arms, because his heart had softened.
Such a Cayden… loves me?
What on earth did that mean? His stomach churned with an impossible sense of expectation.
“What can I do, that’s what I heard.”
I heard it. Those words made Assad’s face stiffen even more. Though he kept moving his lips, no proper voice would come out.
“…I’ll be going now.”
With difficulty, Assad murmured a single sentence.
The confusion Assad felt mixed with his pheromones and spread in all directions without a chance to hide. Assad knew his mother would mock him for not being able to control his pheromones. Yet, he didn’t care. Because what he needed to do right now had become even clearer.
“The Crown Prince of the empire is trying to run away from the palace saying he’ll do something worthless. Do you think I’ll allow it?”
At Heset’s question, Assad burst into laughter.
“My bride and the Crown Prince’s position. Must I choose only one of the two?”
“If so?”
“Then I’ll give up this position. Make Mat the new heir to the empire.”
“…”
“I’m going to the Crown Prince’s consort, no, to Cayden.”
Assad said. Following the smile that spread across his face, a flame also bloomed in his golden eyes, which had been frozen until now.
“I’m going to meet him and convey my feelings.”
Assad cast aside an old curse. Leaving behind the ancient curse that had sealed his eyes and mouth, he tried to move forward.
“Mother.”
“…”
“You asked me about love. Yes. I love that person. I love my bride, Cayden.”
A brightness more radiant than the midday sun enveloped Assad. Irrepressible joy poured out.
“Assad. You’re overly excited. You’re not even hiding your irrational thinking and spewing nonsense. It’s pathetic that you’re the Crown Prince of a country.”
“I don’t care.”
“Well, that’s not bad.”
As if no longer wanting to argue, Heset stepped back.
“I’m somewhat proud of you.”
The Emperor’s eyes, folding his arms with a nonchalant face, showed no lingering attachment. Assad realized that Heset would neither hold him back nor stand in his way.
“…Did you do this on purpose, knowing my heart?”
Heset didn’t give Assad an answer. He just smirked.
Assad couldn’t fully understand Heset’s intention. Whether he wanted to teach him a lesson, or if he truly tried to separate him and Cayden, or if he was just doing this to tease him. He couldn’t be certain of anything.
But he didn’t want to dwell on what Heset’s true intention might be. Nothing mattered right now. First, he needed to meet Cayden. The rest… could wait until after he returned to Acro.
“I’m going to Pima.”
“Pima?”
“It wasn’t for nothing that Cayden, who had an audience with Your Majesty, mentioned my uncle to me. He looked awkward. That person is terribly bad at lying.”
“You’re confident. But your hardship is not my concern. Handle the issues related to the Crown Prince’s consort yourself from now on. I want to drink with your father, so leave quickly.”
Heset waved his hand toward Assad. That short gesture became the signal to end the conversation between the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
Assad left the audience chamber without looking back even once. His white uniform, which he hadn’t had time to change, reflected the midday light coming through the windows, making it shine even more brightly.
With a loud sound, the door to the audience chamber closed completely.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
