Of course, I thought he would refuse saying it wasn’t necessary, but Kalroy unexpectedly asked once more.
“Now that I’m becoming Crown Prince, this will be the last time…”
His expression was so desperate it could be called servile, making Daniel even more troubled.
‘What should I do…’
While Daniel was contemplating, Kalroy suddenly spoke loudly.
“Hey, William. I know you’re listening to everything. Tell him to grant my request, hurry. Or else…!”
“It’s not because I’m afraid of threats, but since you said it’s the last time, I’ll grant your request. However, hugging is not allowed, so just holding hands. Of course, this also requires Daniel’s permission.”
William seemed to be granting Kalroy’s request while remaining calm, but his expression and tone were chilling enough to freeze the surroundings. I needed to read the atmosphere well at times like this. If I readily took Kalroy’s hand just because permission was given, the atmosphere would obviously become more ominous. But if I refused when William had even given permission, Kalroy wouldn’t stay quiet.
Daniel pondered for a moment, then raised his head as if a good idea had occurred to him.
‘Right. That should work.’
Even with Kalroy in front of him, Daniel demonstratively approached William first, placed his chin on his shoulder, and whispered softly.
“As Your Highness’s only concubine, please forgive me for holding His Highness’s hand.”
Hearing Daniel’s satisfactory answer, William thought.
‘He endured well.’
If Danny hadn’t been present when Kalroy said such things, he would have caused a ruckus regardless of war or anything else, but he had been holding back because he couldn’t show such behavior in front of Danny.
In the midst of this, when Danny came to him first asking for permission, his mood instantly improved from rock bottom.
William swallowed the laughter that was about to burst out and whispered in Daniel’s ear.
“Fox! I’ll knowingly be fooled by you again. So don’t hold Kalroy’s hand for too long.”
Daniel smiled and answered.
“Don’t worry.”
Now that William was also appeased, Daniel, feeling much more relieved, went to Kalroy and extended his hand.
Even though Danny had hugged William first before coming to him, which should have made him feel bad, Kalroy joyfully clasped hands as if such things didn’t matter.
“Congratulations on becoming Crown Prince of the Ohariko Empire.”
Kalroy’s face began to turn red, and soon even his ears were flushed bright red. Seeing Kalroy’s face like this, Daniel pretended not to notice and tried to subtly withdraw his hand. Then Kalroy’s grip tightened. He squeezed so hard it was painful.
Not wanting to be caught and make the atmosphere awkward, Daniel smiled awkwardly and offered another congratulation.
“You’re truly amazing. This is all because Lord Kalroy is so excellent.”
If he had any sense, he would understand now and let go of the hand, but Kalroy showed no intention of releasing it.
Then William, who had been watching the situation, spoke in a cold voice.
“Your Highness the Prospective Crown Prince!”
William’s lips trembled as if he was suppressing rising anger.
“Please respond to Daniel Lambert’s congratulatory greeting.”
“Y-yes. May there be blessings for Daniel Lambert too!”
At William’s razor-sharp voice, Kalroy’s tightly gripping hand fell away weakly. William immediately wrapped his arm around Daniel’s shoulders and turned around.
“Then we’ll see you at the investiture ceremony.”
Behind William and Daniel as they walked away determinedly, Kalroy’s voice could be heard saying, ‘How heartless. Lowly and dirty thing. What would it hurt to let me hold it just once more!’ But Daniel only thought it was fortunate that no bigger incident had occurred.
***
The Ohariko Empire was a wealthy and splendid place, making the ongoing border war seem incongruous. Just looking at the accommodations provided to the allied crown prince showed they were as large and spacious as the Stamili Empire’s Crown Prince’s Palace.
Erica, Behern, and the knights were each provided with a room, while William and I were to share one room together.
During our arrival greeting to Kalroy and the journey here, William hadn’t said a single word. I would have preferred if he had at least gotten angry, but he kept his mouth shut, making it impossible to gauge his mood.
I looked at William drinking tea. He seemed angry but also not angry.
Should I humor his mood? Or should I just stay quiet?
Whenever Kalroy got involved between William and me, I strangely felt as if I had committed treason. I acted nonchalant on the outside, but I was actually extremely tense, worried something might happen.
I needed rest and healing, but having to watch William’s mood even while trying to rest was truly exasperating.
Then I suddenly thought – do I really need to go this far? They say everything depends on how you think about it, so even if reality is harsh, as long as I don’t feel that way, isn’t that enough?
Instead of humoring William’s mood, I decided to heal myself by having a conversation with him.
“Your Highness.”
William looked at me with slightly surprised eyes.
“What?”
“Would you like me to tell you the story of a baby bear who lost his mother but bravely survived and conquered the forest?”
William’s eyebrow twitched as if intrigued, then he immediately changed his expression and chuckled.
“It’s admirable that you’re trying to humor my mood, but do you think I’ll be appeased by just that much?”
I just smiled broadly without showing any agitation. William looked at me with an expression that seemed to say ‘What’s this?’
“I’m grateful for the compliment that I’m admirable, but you’ve misunderstood. I haven’t done anything wrong, so I have no reason to appease Your Highness’s mood.”
At my words, William’s expression became strange. His face showed he didn’t know what to do with my boldness.
“What did you say?”
I continued speaking calmly without showing agitation.
“Telling Your Highness stories is something that gives me peace of mind too. I’m a bit tired from coming so far, so I thought I’d relax by chatting intimately with Your Highness, but if you don’t like it, well…”
“You’re becoming more and more of a fox. But Danny, you know I’m turning eighteen soon, right?”
“Yes. But you still like stories, don’t you?”
“I can’t tell who’s the concubine and who’s the Crown Prince.”
William grumbled and lay down on the bed, stretching out his arms. I immediately lay down next to him and hugged William.
“The service is excessive…”
“We’ve been together for years now, and you still doubt me?”
“Do I seem like I’m doubting?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“It doesn’t sound like the service is excessive, but rather like you’re asking for more because it’s insufficient.”
William burst into loud laughter. Although I had started this to improve my own mood, it felt good to see him cheer up and laugh heartily.
“So this baby bear, you see, lost his mother and…”
Now that the atmosphere had improved, I began carefully unraveling my treasured collection of stories. There weren’t the cute reactions of swallowing nervously in amazement at every word I said like when he was young, but just watching William nod seriously and listen attentively, sometimes adding his own opinions, was healing in itself.
When did you grow up like this, our William?
Having finished the story, I buried my face in William’s embrace. As his large arms wrapped around my body, sleepiness immediately washed over me.
***
At that moment, Kalroy and Rob were in the room next to where William and Daniel were staying. Kalroy’s face was filled with rage as he peered through a small hole drilled in the wall at the two people visible through the gap.
“It will be dinner time soon. How about returning now?”
“Shut up!”
Already irritated to death, Kalroy was going crazy because of Rob constantly nagging beside him.
‘So what happened after the baby bear conquered the forest? Did it fight with a tiger or something?’
In Kalroy’s opinion, Daniel was truly a fascinating person. Not only did he know many stories that couldn’t be heard anywhere else, but his attitude toward him was also different. While other attendants were busy avoiding his arrogant self in disgust, Daniel didn’t do that and even embraced and comforted him despite his misdeeds.
‘I just wanted to hug him once, just like that time…’
He was angry at his situation where he couldn’t even be permitted that brief embrace. This was all because of William. He wanted to start a war as soon as he became Crown Prince, but the problem was that his position in the Ohariko Empire wasn’t yet solid enough for that.
‘It was good that I drilled the hole in the wall in advance. At least I can hear stories this way. Since he won’t tell me stories.’
However, the problem was that Daniel’s face couldn’t be seen clearly through the narrow gap. As he struggled to see even a little more, Rob grabbed Kalroy’s shoulder and suggested.
“You want to see Lord Daniel, don’t you?”
He wanted to insist that wasn’t the case, but when Rob said such things, he usually offered good methods along with them, so it was better to be honest.
“So what if I do?”
“Then I have a good method.”
When Kalroy turned his head with delight, Rob smiled slyly and said.
“Instead of struggling to peep like this, how about formally inviting them to dinner tomorrow evening?”
“An invitation…”
It was an appealing proposal. Since this was an occasion to celebrate the prospective Crown Prince’s investiture, they couldn’t refuse a formal invitation.
“Now that I think about it, it seems like a good idea.”
“Then shall we return to the Crown Prince’s Palace now?”
“…Well, fine.”
Rob’s face was full of bitter smiles as he barely managed to appease Kalroy and leave the room. Ascending to the Crown Prince’s position wasn’t the end but rather the beginning, as Kalroy’s position within the Ohariko Empire was precarious. Therefore, he couldn’t remain childish forever.
‘This won’t do. Even if it’s a bit difficult for me, I need to quickly find a good Omega to stay by his side.’
That was the only thing Rob, as a Beta, could do for his lord.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
