“Yes. I’ll definitely attend. His Highness will be coming too.”
Cayden spoke up in place of Assad, who was silent with a sullen face. He did so while holding Assad’s hand. It was a gentle touch that instantly made Assad’s sunken heart float up.
“It’s a shame that Heka and my child, Nef’s child, can’t marry the one who will be Helio’s new heir. If only they weren’t related by blood, we could try to bring the two children together in love. I’m serious about this.”
Titi spoke playfully, winking slightly at Cayden.
“Thankfully they’re bound by blood. I wouldn’t want in-laws like you.”
“Haha, our Crown Prince makes good jokes too!”
Assad decided to ignore his cousins who took his sincerity as a joke. Instead, he maintained a forced smile.
Facing the excited twins who looked like well-fed desert monkeys, Assad shifted his gaze slightly toward Cayden. Cayden was attentively listening to the uninteresting twins’ words. He even nodded with a kind face that could melt roadside stones.
Cayden had become able to understand most of the imperial language. Only excluding particularly unusual accents or dialects. It was a good thing.
But as the goddess Tara said, it seemed that light and shadow coexisted in all things in the world. It was good that Cayden’s imperial language skills were improving. But because of that, wasn’t he now able to fully take in such nutritionless, low-quality words? Assad found this lamentable.
‘A person who should be hearing only straight, refined, beautiful words, only words uttered by Assad Mekerius, having to listen to such…’
Assad sighed inwardly as he dismissed the thought that had come to him.
“…”
It was just the right time to move on.
Assad, who had briefly glanced over Cayden’s shoulder, immediately changed his expression. With a gentle smile, he put a little more strength into his hand that Cayden was holding. Then he intertwined their fingers more firmly than before.
We should move. Assad casually delivered parting words to the twins. It was accompanied by a remark that they would be together anyway when Heka returned to the courtyard. The twins lightly agreed and let the Crown Prince couple go.
Leaving Titi and Nef behind, Assad moved with slow steps while holding Cayden’s hand. His uncle Jahan became their new destination.
Jahan and Marju were in the shade under a screen spread between trees. The guests who had been in front of Jahan and Marju saw Assad and Cayden, greeted them, and immediately withdrew.
Just yesterday, Assad had received a request from Jahan. Actually, it wasn’t even a request, but asking for a small favor.
“Assad. Help me out at tomorrow’s banquet. I’m not asking for anything major, just come over if Marju looks troubled.”
“Me?”
“Yes. If you come, everyone will flee. I’m trying to borrow the power of the Crown Prince, whom everyone knows to avoid and make room for.”
It was an extremely simple task.
So now, Assad was helping Jahan with a light heart. He would have gladly done it even if it had been a more difficult request. Because Cayden thought well of Jahan and Marju. They had also received help, albeit unofficial, from them during their sudden visit to Pima.
Through Jahan’s gentle whisper, Marju noticed Cayden and Assad’s visit. Marju’s face brightened as he shifted his gaze towards the faintly visible figures.
The Crown Prince couple had become welcome presences for Jahan and Marju, pleasant to encounter any time. It was all thanks to Cayden.
“The Crown Prince Consort shines the same both yesterday and today.”
Jahan said with a slippery smile. Cayden pondered how to respond, but soon found it unnecessary. Jahan was faster to speak again.
“If you had come to Pima alone, it would have been really interesting. Alphas, regardless of gender, would have lined up wanting to talk to the Crown Prince Consort. I guarantee it.”
“Jahan, such words…”
Regardless of whether Marju next to him was scolding him, Jahan continued playfully.
“Though it’s already over, I was sincere when I said I would introduce suitable alphas. It’s fortunate our nephew came to his senses. I’m truly happy.”
Assad smirked in response to Jahan’s hearty laughter. He couldn’t show himself confronting his uncle in front of Cayden, who wished he would be a little kinder to those around him. Confrontation could be done where his bride couldn’t see.
Cayden, who had briefly stolen a glance at Assad’s profile, soon smiled following his partner. Assad, forgetting that he should pretend not to notice Cayden’s gaze, completely turned his head to look at him. With a face that would certainly appear quite foolish.
…I wish Cayden would smile only at me. I wish he would be affectionate only to me.
Having such an extremely childish thought, Assad chewed on the inside of his mouth. It was because he was trying to resist the urge to hug Cayden right away and kiss him.
Like someone who had committed a crime, Assad was startled and hastily turned his gaze away. Following his heart filled with heat, his ears reddened.
“The Crown Prince is lucky in many ways.”
“I know.”
“It’s good that you’re well aware of that.”
Jahan, who shrugged his shoulders, laughed loudly again. It was because he found his nephew cute. Even if he was somewhat brusque.
“…”
The dark shadow that had long been cast over one side of Jahan’s face had disappeared like a lie. The Jahan he had faced at the previous banquet and the Jahan now looked like completely different people. Suddenly, Assad had such a thought.
“Commander. And Marju.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’m glad to see you two standing together here in Acro as well.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Assad spoke to Jahan. Jahan momentarily forgot his words. It was because he had read sincerity in Assad’s eyes, which at first glance appeared only cold. He wondered where his cynical nephew had gone.
“I will help whenever you need it. Just say the word.”
“Are you sincere?”
“What else would it be if not sincere? Would I have lied?”
Receiving the playful question, Assad’s face became sullen again. Unlike Jahan and Marju, who looked very happy.
“My goodness… Now that Your Highness has become my ally, I have nothing more to envy in this world.”
“I’m glad you know.”
Assad, who returned to Jahan the exact words he had heard earlier, smiled. Although it looked somewhat crooked, it wasn’t a forced smile.
“If you wish, I too will always stand by Your Highness’s side. No, should I say I’ll stand by the Crown Prince Consort’s side? And incidentally, I’ll be on your side as well.”
“…Thank you.”
To Jahan, who was looking back and forth between Assad and himself, Cayden inadvertently expressed gratitude. Though he seemed to regret it as soon as the words left his mouth.
Clearly, he would be regretting that he should have asked him to stand by the Crown Prince, not himself. Gauging Cayden’s inner thoughts, Assad smiled again. His heart was too ticklish to bear.
“Yes. Always stand by that person’s side. From now on, Commander, you will be the Crown Prince Consort’s backing.”
Meeting Jahan’s eyes, Assad spoke. It was words delivered sincerely, hoping his uncle would become Cayden’s strength. If the problem was that Cayden had no backing to support him, then the solution was to create one. If that backing was the empire’s commander, so much the better.
“Do I need to be told explicitly? Ah, we already…”
“Uncle!”
A familiar voice was heard from behind. It was a very resounding shout, enough to cut off Jahan’s words.
“It seems our Imperial Prince’s voice has grown even louder after studying abroad. I wonder if we should have made him a singer rather than a scholar.”
Jahan, who had been reciting words with a serious face, lightly waved his hand toward Mat, who could be seen in the distance.
“The Imperial Prince… wants to make a good impression on Marju. Yesterday too, he spent all day worrying about choosing clothes and accessories, waiting for the time to dine together. It must have been the same today.”
Cayden lowered his voice and quietly conveyed a message to Marju. Assad was dumbfounded, wondering when he had become close with Mat. Surely Mat had first sought out Cayden and enthusiastically delivered unsolicited words.
Well, it was like Mat to want to appear proper even in front of a blind person. He would think there were things one could feel with the heart even if one couldn’t see.
“If it’s alright, please talk with him for a long time. He was really regretful that you couldn’t have a long conversation.”
No sooner had Cayden finished speaking than Mat arrived in front of Jahan. He had literally come running in an instant.
The Crown Prince couple, after exchanging greetings with the brightly smiling Mat, tactfully withdrew. It was with the brief parting words, see you later.
Assad was glad to part with his family members. Because he was alone with Cayden again. It had been becoming too difficult to hide his yearning for Cayden, who naturally stood close beside him and held his hand.
“Cayden.”
“Yes.”
“Shall we move elsewhere? Outside the banquet hall. My body feels hot and my head is dizzy. The sun must have been too strong.”
“…”
“…That’s right. Don’t worry. I made that up because I wanted to play around with you.”
Assad, who readily admitted his lie, pulled up Cayden’s hand that he was holding. Then he repeatedly kissed the back of his bride’s scarred hand. The face of the beautiful man smiling with crinkled eyes looked quite playful.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
