68
That day, although it was a sudden request, Arpel reached his own conclusion. The conclusion that everything he thought was strange originated from Rohan. The clear, even tooth marks remaining on his finger proved it.
Everything was strange, and there was nothing he could understand. Nevertheless, Arpel didn’t have much complaint about Rohan being the cause.
They continued their dinner as usual, and that day too, the carrots accompanying the meal became Arpel’s share. Rohan’s shy reaction when Arpel gently pushed the carrots away with his fork was still the same, and just as cute.
“Rohan.”
It was when they had returned to the inn where they would stay after finishing their meal. Arpel, who was sitting on the bed having completely finished preparing for bed, suddenly called him. Rohan, who had been gently drying his hair with a towel, immediately turned his gaze to face Arpel.
Rohan always stayed slightly apart when drying his hair to prevent water from splashing. Every time Arpel carefully observed this unchanging behavior, he felt a strange stirring of emotion.
It might seem insignificant to some, but Rohan always gathered these small considerations to treat Arpel preciously.
Perhaps that’s why Arpel deliberately brought up the previous topic and asked,
“Aren’t you going to tell me what your wish is?”
All the nonchalant actions suddenly stopped. The gaze that met his without even blinking was intense.
“…What do you think I would wish for?”
It was a similar question to when he first said he would grant a wish.
The voice that came out belatedly sounded almost strained. Although he was smiling, there was a strong sense that he was holding something back. Arpel could only stare blankly at him, unable to say anything.
Whatever thoughts he had for a moment, Rohan, who had been standing still in his spot without moving, suddenly moved. Arpel didn’t even think to retreat as Rohan took large strides, closing the distance in an instant.
Rohan didn’t stop at just coming close. As he tilted his body slightly and lowered his head, the towel draped over him made a sound as it brushed his shoulder.
“Arpel.”
Just calling his name softly was enough to feel his breath at such a close distance. Arpel, neither pushing him away nor stopping him, fixed his gaze on Rohan as if entranced.
The brilliant golden eyes kept flickering. Each time, clear and sometimes breathtaking emotions of longing for love were expressed. He thought that even if not now, he would have eventually come to know these emotions someday. The feelings residing in those eyes were too vivid.
Even though he hadn’t done anything, he felt somewhat overwhelmed. As the face he thought was already close enough came closer and closer, that sensation intensified.
Rohan’s head tilted slightly. Arpel’s mind went completely blank. Excitement, trembling, and tension mixed with the affection that filled him completely.
Once before, Rohan had said his wish was a kiss. Arpel had kissed him then without much hesitation. But now, he felt he absolutely couldn’t do that.
What had changed? Was it because he was now conscious of Rohan’s feelings? Or if not that…
At that moment, Rohan suddenly pulled his head back.
“…Rohan?”
“I’m just kidding.”
And what appeared was a smile full of mischief. Arpel had no idea how to respond to this sudden change in attitude. It was even more so because Rohan really seemed completely unfazed.
After blinking silently for a moment, Arpel grabbed Rohan’s retreating hand and pulled him sharply. The distance between them closed again quickly.
“…Why?”
Arpel couldn’t understand his own actions, why he had grabbed Rohan. Even though a part of his mind knew this was irrational, his outstretched hand didn’t stop.
Rohan, who had been blankly looking down at Arpel, moved his lips slightly. Soon, some emotion flashed across his eyes.
Joy?
As Arpel was quietly gauging this, Rohan’s hand, which had come close, gently settled on his cheek.
“Arpel, what I wish for…”
“……”
“It’s something we can only do if we become a slightly different kind of relationship.”
Meeting the slightly trembling purple eyes directly, Rohan showed a gentle smile. Arpel was momentarily dazed by the brilliantly blooming smile.
A slightly different relationship. Hearing those words, Arpel couldn’t speak anymore. He even let go of Rohan’s clothes that he had been tightly gripping.
His aimlessly wavering eyes, though he might not have been aware of it himself, showed various emotions rising and falling repeatedly. Looking at Arpel, who was still unable to find his bearings but was clearly more shaken than before, Rohan felt a strange satisfaction.
In the end, nothing happened that night. Saying he would postpone telling his wish, Rohan only carefully tidied Arpel’s disheveled hair. Arpel could do nothing but endure this action, unable to say anything.
With his face burning for reasons he didn’t understand, he buried it in the pillow, praying to fall asleep quickly due to his complicated feelings.
For the first time, Arpel had a restless night.
***
The address Lexia had written separately was a small mansion located in a bustling part of the territory. They had always stayed in inns before, never in a mansion that nobles or wealthy people would use. It was only natural that their eyes held unfamiliar emotions as they gazed at the large walls.
“We’ve been waiting for you.”
The one who greeted them was none other than Owen. Rohan had thought there might be one familiar face, but when an even more familiar face than expected appeared, he couldn’t help but make a subtle expression. Arpel seemed distracted by something completely different.
Inside the walls they followed as guided, there was a small but eye-catching garden beautifully arranged. Rohan, who only glanced at the garden, firmly held Arpel’s hand as he moved into the mansion.
“We plan to stay here for just one day, then head straight to the capital. The rooms are this way, pull the bell rope if you need anything. When it’s mealtime, the butler will inform you, so please come downstairs.”
A flurry of explanations came. Owen, who had been explaining various things in an emotionless tone as if reading from a book, suddenly shut his mouth. It was because an elderly man in neat attire approached and stopped him.
“Young master, such an unfriendly explanation. I’ll take care of introducing the mansion to these two.”
“…Please do.”
Although his gaze was displeased, Owen eventually withdrew. It seemed like he was quietly avoiding the old man who didn’t look like he would budge at all.
“Ahem, ahem. Hello. Though I’m unworthy, I work as the butler for the Viscount Fides family. Please call me Oliver.”
His wide smile was like that of a kind grandfather. Rohan awkwardly nodded at the unexpected kindness. More precisely, he felt perplexed by Owen being called ‘young master’.
“Oh my, he hasn’t told you yet? That young master… Although he’s active as a priest, he’s the precious youngest son of our Fides family. I came down personally because he said he had business in the capital. I wanted to secure a better mansion, but he kept insisting it wasn’t necessary…”
A flood of detailed information poured out. Despite the soulless nodding that suggested he wasn’t really listening, Oliver steadfastly explained about the family.
Thanks to this, the two learned information they didn’t particularly want to know. Among them, the most memorable was the fact that Owen was currently the youngest son of the Imperial Chancellor’s family. Arpel recalled something Dionel had said once.
Being the Chancellor’s family, they inevitably had to be close to the imperial family. Yet, why did he choose to become a priest? Having rarely had proper conversations with him, there was no way to know. This was the consequence of his lack of interest in people other than Rohan.
Oliver didn’t seem to like this mansion very much, but it was still a place with plenty of amenities. The two people, who were belatedly shown to their room and allowed inside, finally caught their breath.
Meanwhile, Arpel was concerned about Oliver’s expression. When they said they would be sharing one room, his expression became extremely ambiguous. After wavering like a disturbed water surface for a moment, what finally appeared on his face was a pleased smile.
‘Ho ho, that’s very good!’
His voice as he answered was full of excitement. Only after bustling about the room, saying he would bring better blankets, did he finally leave.
Arpel frowned at the incomprehensible behavior, but his attention soon returned to Rohan. More precisely, it was because of what Rohan said with a gentle smile.
“The bed is incredibly wide. We could roll around on it together.”
“Roll around…?”
Arpel stopped, unable to fully repeat the latter part. Either not noticing or pretending not to notice Arpel’s strange expression, Rohan looked quite pleased as he patted the bed.
Finally giving up on asking further, Arpel approached the window. The spotlessly clean windowsill without a speck of dust was quite impressive. The view beyond, seen as he lightly leaned against it, was dense.
“Will it really be okay?”
“What wouldn’t be okay?”
As if he had been waiting for Arpel to speak, Rohan, who had been standing near the bed, quickly approached the window. His sudden approach created a brief gust of air. Rohan’s unique scent mixed with the outside smell flowing in through the open window.
“…I mean the Emperor.”
“What about you, Arpel? You were the one who suffered at his hands.”
“Suffered…?”
Arpel blinked in confusion before belatedly realizing. He had been diverted from the temple and experimented on due to the Emperor’s schemes. It’s just that Arpel didn’t remember it. Although he shook his head as if it didn’t matter, Rohan only smiled bitterly.
“I thought so. You always only worry about me.”
“Because you’re important.”
Rohan was the only one important to Arpel. Reminding him once again of this unchanging fact, a faint smile played on Arpel’s lips.
“…Then for my sake, you must continue to stay by my side.”
Rohan stared as if entranced at what was merely a slight change. The words he belatedly uttered were deeply immersed as if buried in numerous emotions.
Rohan’s hair was disheveled by the wind. His light brown hair, tinged with the setting sun, even appeared golden.
