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At that time, I couldn’t understand why Edgar acted that way, but as the time we spent together increased and we got to know each other well, I was gradually able to figure it out.
Edgar, who liked Riette, was jealous every time the story of ‘another male friend’ came from her mouth.
Since he changed the topic every time to prevent that story from continuing, he didn’t know the fact that I was a child of the Soliwen family.
Of course, Edgar only blatantly avoided Cedric right after their reunion, but he didn’t particularly dislike him. Although there were things that made him uncomfortable, he got along well in his own way, and even when he was reluctantly together with him often, he was still kind to him.
No, perhaps that was even more cruel. Edgar’s kindness that came down like sweet rain and his actions of caring while pretending not to kept adding fuel so that Cedric’s emotions wouldn’t dry up.
He wanted to know more, to get closer.
Edgar was special to Cedric.
As days passed and the form of his soft emotions gradually hardened, Cedric’s love for Edgar transformed into something resembling slightly deeper feelings.
He wanted to touch, to embrace, to kiss.
…But the distance between the two only grew farther.
Cedric even learned how to deliberately act cute to fill even a little of the distance with him, to gain Edgar’s attention.
Still, in the end, the crack that had once begun to form grew uncontrollably large and their relationship became so distant that it could never be reconnected again…
“I’ve never not liked you for even a moment.”
Cedric calmly conveyed his true feelings at the end of the old story. I listened to that story while recalling forgotten memories and pondering the moments when we had different thoughts.
“Yet you arbitrarily made me your rival and hated me like that. But I actually had no feelings for Ret at all.”
“……”
“I’m not trying to blame you. Since I wasn’t confident enough to speak directly, it was natural that you didn’t know.”
“……”
“I just want you to know that all the feelings I conveyed to you were sincere.”
Cedric, who had been hugging me, lifted his head to meet my eyes. When he was earnestly asking me to believe him with all his heart, how could I say I couldn’t believe him?
“…Yeah. I’ll believe you.”
Now, I won’t doubt anymore.
I slowly lowered my head and pressed my lips to his. My breath stopped short and my heart pounded the moment warm warmth approached.
Cedric parted between my lips and put his tongue in to sweep inside my mouth. As our tongues crushed and tangled together, my body naturally heated up.
At first I was in a position with my head bowed, but at some point I felt Cedric climbing on top of my body. Cedric, who supported my waist while leaning his body, laid me down on the bed.
I met the adorable gaze looking down at me from above, then playfully poked his straight nose tip.
“Stay for dinner tonight.”
At that, Cedric also seemed to relax, smiling faintly. It was the same handsome smile as when he was young.
That day our family had a dinner table with Cedric, and Castian and Terion, who were staying at the mansion, also joined the meal.
It would have been something Cedric didn’t want.
Still, since it was a seat with our parents, he was trying his best not to show discomfort… but the problem was Castian, who immediately noticed and unnecessarily provoked him from the side.
“Looks like you made up from your fight?”
That’s what Castian said seeing us sitting close together. Cedric furrowed his brow. While Terion quietly looked back and forth between me and Cedric, and Castian smiled meaningfully, Mother asked happily.
“Did you two reconcile again?”
“…Yes.”
I answered with an awkward smile. At that, Mother and Father also smiled broadly as if things had worked out well.
Since Cedric came to visit every other day and our parents welcomed him so we somehow met in the room, but they must have guessed that a cold war had continued after that as well.
“They say you become close by fighting, but don’t worry us too much. This time it lasted quite long, so I was anxious wondering if you’d go back to how you were before.”
Father said while winking one eye.
…Actually, we really almost did.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Alright. Apologies are done, so hurry up and eat.”
At that, Cedric and I started eating without objection, and Mother looked at us with a loving face.
After breaking up the dinner table and returning to the room, I looked out the window and saw it was raining much more than before. The sound of thunder rumbling could be heard from far away.
Since there had been a lot of various conversations at the dinner table, too much time had been delayed, so it seemed dangerous to send Cedric back in a carriage like this.
“You should just stay the night today.”
“Yeah.”
Cedric, who had been standing beside me looking out the window, dropped a plain answer, then slipped behind my back and hugged me.
“Eddie, I’m scared to be alone.”
“What are you scared of?”
“I’m scared of thunder and can’t be alone.”
He’s lying.
When he was obviously acting cute and leaning his cheek against the nape of my neck, I glared at him and Cedric quietly asked for permission.
“So can we sleep together?”
That’s definitely what he was getting at.
But I decided not to point out his sneaky intentions. Today is a joyous day when we cleared up misunderstandings and reconciled.
“Fine. Do whatever you want.”
I tapped the front of Cedric’s shoulder, who was standing behind my back, with my fist and moved my steps. I could hear the light footsteps of Cedric following behind.
After arriving at the room with him, I washed first and vacated the bathroom, then enjoyed some rest time until Cedric went in and came out.
Soon our eyes met as he came out of the bathroom.
I patted the spot next to me with my hand.
“Come here.”
Then Cedric quickly climbed onto the bed and kissed my head. I liked his expression of affection that he unfailingly poured on me, so I grinned without realizing it.
Just as Father had, I too once really wondered if my relationship with Cedric would end like this, if it would go wrong…
All those worries now feel like things of the past.
When I wordlessly burrowed into his embrace and hugged him, Cedric gladly embraced me back. As I was enjoying the coziness in his broad embrace, my heart tingled.
‘…This is good.’
I hope we won’t fight anymore. Then Cedric’s gentle voice fell over the top of my head.
“Eddie, you know.”
“Mmm.”
“I… want to know if I understood correctly.”
Wondering what he was talking about, I escaped from his embrace and met his eyes. Deep, dark pupils held me completely.
“You told me to take responsibility for you.”
“Yeah.”
“That meant let’s get married, right?”
Cedric has a very serious face.
“…Ah, that.”
So that’s what he wanted to confirm.
It was a bit embarrassing when he asked so directly, but I know it’s a matter where I need to clearly convey my intention. I slyly avoided his gaze while still faithfully delivering my answer.
“Yeah. That’s right.”
When I glanced at him, Cedric pulled up the corners of his mouth in a graceful smile.
Heat rose to my face so I turned my head away completely, but Cedric leaned his head in front of me and persisted.
“Then when we tell our parents about our relationship, I should also say we’re thinking about marriage.”
“…Actually, I’ve been thinking about it from the beginning.”
The problem was always whether our parents would allow it.
“Still, vaguely guessing and hearing it directly are very different. I’m fine with it, but I was a bit worried because I didn’t know how you were thinking about it.”
Just from his voice, I could feel that Cedric was excited. Finding that endlessly cute, I quietly laughed and looked at him.
“Will our parents… allow it?”
“They will.”
He answered firmly while hugging me and added, “Even if they don’t, I’ll make it so they have no choice.”
I felt great reassurance from that.
“Let’s set a date soon and talk to your parents. Hmm, to our parents… actually, we could tell them right away tomorrow after His Highness and Mr. Terion leave.”
It was a story briefly mentioned at the dinner table.
The Emperor had sent a letter to Castian, saying that if he promised to hide his identity and visit the Imperial Palace once every few months, he would allow his willfulness.
Since he was also an Alpha, had superior swordsmanship skills compared to most knights, and was a prince without succession rights, it seemed the Emperor judged there would be no major problems if he just hid his identity while traveling.
So Castian said he would send a reply letter to the Imperial Palace and leave with Terion first thing tomorrow morning.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
