Chapter 219
The shelter that Trevan guided them to was farther than expected, and surprisingly decent. It held scenery that made it understandable why the 3rd Prince liked it, though it didn’t seem to be simply a place to come and rest.
Animal bones and torn leather scraps that couldn’t be used were scattered across the ground. It seemed to be a place for processing hunted beasts. Because of the smell of blood, it was probably positioned at an appropriate distance from the village—close enough yet far enough away.
“I want to paint.”
The 3rd Prince babbled childishly with a happy-looking face.
“Ah! That’s right. You couldn’t have brought anything. I’ll go get it for you right now.”
Trevan stood up as if he had seized an opportunity. The flustered 3rd Prince flailed his hands in confusion.
“No, no! I didn’t mean it like that!”
Doesn’t he find this strange?
His words and actions have changed compared to earlier, but isn’t he suspicious? He said they needed to move together for escort duty, but now why is he being so favorable toward someone who says he’ll go to the village? I can’t understand it.
“I’m worried about the village situation, so I’ll go check on things while I’m at it. Since Lucas is here, it should be fine for a while.”
The belated excuse sounded like he needed to go inform them that the meeting place had changed.
In any case, since I had to pretend not to know, I followed only Luwen with my gaze as if I couldn’t hear anything. Trying to look like someone who was completely infatuated with their lover and floundering.
“More than anything, I’m worried about the boss too. I want to confirm whether he arrived safely, whether he encountered any attackers on the way. If I meet the boss, I’ll let him know that Banya is here.”
“Ah… Yes. Then I’ll ask you to do that. Thank you.”
Is he thinking about the boss? The 3rd Prince slowly nodded with slightly wistful eyes.
“I’ll be back soon, so don’t go anywhere and stay here. Lucas! I’m counting on you to take care of Banya.”
Luwen looked at me. It seemed like he was asking how to respond, so I slowly blinked inconspicuously to give him an affirmative signal.
“Understood.”
Luwen, who properly read my signal, answered briefly and turned back toward us. Rustle, rustle. The sound of stepping on a path full of fallen leaves gradually grew distant.
“Did he leave?”
“Yes. He’s gotten quite far, so conversation sounds shouldn’t be heard.”
“Luwen probably guessed it too, but there’s going to be an attack here.”
“…!”
I ignored the 3rd Prince’s shocked reaction. He’s truly a stupid and useless person.
Is he really going to be helpful? I went through all the trouble to bring him, but I’m starting to worry that he’ll just spout nonsense in Tuaso too and then be unable to do anything because people stop him.
“Is this person really going to be helpful?”
Sometimes Luwen would blurt out words at similar timing to me, going through similar thought processes. But of all times, why now? I almost burst out laughing.
“We have to trust His Highness the Crown Prince.”
More precisely, it’s the abilities of the subordinates he’ll attach.
“I’m someone who does things when I need to…”
I also casually ignored the 3rd Prince’s unconfident grumbling. No, I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t. I irritably swept my hair back while looking at him.
“Honestly speaking, you probably won’t be helpful. The throne doesn’t just appear for free. You have to fight against the forces supporting Tuaso’s current Crown Prince. You need to overcome them with logic and persuade the Emperor for the war to end.”
“I know that too.”
“But right now you didn’t even notice that Trevan was suspicious.”
“…No, I knew that too. I just lack confidence, but my head isn’t bad. I have sense too. That’s why I deliberately pretended not to know anything and sent him away. Because you wanted that.”
“…You knew my intention? Then why were you so surprised when I mentioned the attack?”
“I know that this place isn’t appropriate for the current situation. There’s no way you wouldn’t know, but you obediently followed, so what else could it be but deliberately being lured?”
The 3rd Prince’s voice, which clearly showed a gloomy mood, was mixed with a sigh.
“And… actually, I thought Trevan was going to kill me directly. Since people are getting endangered because of me, I thought he was going to take my head and end it…”
Was he trying to romanticize Trevan’s intentions even a little? He seemed to have a nature that believed in people in a positive direction. But I had driven him into a corner as someone who didn’t know anything, so he must have felt wronged.
For a moment, the campfire’s light reflected in the 3rd Prince’s pupils and flickered. …Don’t tell me he’s going to cry again? He’s not going to cry, is he? Ah, really. Did I make him cry?
“I’m royalty too. I can’t help but know about things like this. But… I didn’t want to feel again the emotion of knowing that someone I trusted had the intention to kill me…”
The 3rd Prince’s moist voice was trembling.
‘Hmm…’
I judged him based only on his outward appearance. Was I being impatient? Or was his social maneuvering so incredible that I didn’t notice? Whatever the reason, it’s my mistake.
“Sorry.”
“…What?”
“I’m sorry. I misspoke. Judging based only on what I could see outwardly was clearly my fault. Even while doing that myself, I arbitrarily judged you.”
The 3rd Prince blinked rapidly. The tears that had gathered at the corners of his eyes fell pitter-patter.
“I’m, surprised… sniffle“
He put his hand on his chest and swallowed through his nose while staring at me with a dumbfounded face.
“It’s the first time anyone has apologized to me.”
“That can’t be. You’re royalty?”
“I’ve heard apologies for survival, apologies for evasion. But those weren’t consideration for me, they were actions for themselves. Different from what you did.”
A faint smile spread across the 3rd Prince’s face.
“It feels really ticklish. Thank you. Young master of the Empire.”
His cheeks were wet with tears, and his eyes were still brimming with tears, so maybe that’s why. His smiling face looked quite pitiful. Like a small puppy that had gotten completely soaked in the rain and become dejected.
“We’re going to have to run a lot soon, so stop crying. Don’t waste your stamina for no reason.”
“Okay. But it won’t stop easily. What should I do…”
Crying while smiling. There couldn’t be a more piteous smile than this. I approached the 3rd Prince and pulled my sleeve to wipe his tears.
“There’s no handkerchief right now, so bear with this.”
“Uh, u, uuh!”
“No, I told you to stop, so why are you crying more?”
“It’s just, hic, sob. This kind of kindness has been, been too long since I’ve felt it…”
Now his crying face was so prominent that his smiling expression couldn’t be seen. I turned my head in panic to ask Luwen for help, but…
‘Ugh, how menacing.’
It was a terrifying expression. It looked calm at a glance, but I knew he was displeased. It seemed he didn’t like that I had wiped the 3rd Prince’s tears.
I noticed my lover’s feelings, so I can’t continue like this.
I slowly lowered my arm while inwardly smiling. It was nothing special, but I felt good thinking that he liked me enough to be jealous even over such trivial things. Perhaps because of that, my voice became gentle without me realizing it.
“Hurry up and stop crying and get up. Let’s start moving.”
In case Luwen got jealous again, I quickly went to his side and took position.
“Where are we going?”
“We’ll go in a straight line.”
“…Again?”
It took a day to get from the main base to the vicinity. It was possible because I could leap up steep paths that I wouldn’t normally be able to climb, and jump over narrow gorges.
‘Is it possible while carrying two people?’
It’s the fastest method, but it’s not safe. Well, where would be a safe place in the current situation anyway? Ah, no. Now that I think about it, it might actually be safer. Who would expect someone to run around carrying people on paths that are hard to travel alone?
‘What I don’t like is… that Luwen has to hold the 3rd Prince?’
Just a moment ago I found it cute that he was jealous over trivial things, but now I’m the one being jealous. This is even just a means to achieve our purpose.
“Yeah, if that’s the fastest and safest method, let’s do that.”
Even though I repeated to myself to get a grip, instead of just saying let’s do that, I ended up adding unnecessary comments.
“Did the plan change again? We’re going right away?”
The 3rd Prince asked, still sniffling.
“Since Trevan kindly disappeared for us, we’re going according to the original plan. Come here. Let’s go.”
He approached hesitantly while gauging Luwen’s reaction.
“Please come closer.”
Luwen held me on his right and the 3rd Prince on his left. Because he embraced him face-to-face, the 3rd Prince’s and my arms overlapped.
‘Ugh. I want to pull away.’
Realizing again that my possessiveness was considerable, I just turned my head away.
“I won’t drop you, but hold on tight.”
“Okay.”
“Yes, yehe-! Yes!”
The 3rd Prince’s voice cracked, probably because he was very nervous. If being carried by someone else for travel is unfamiliar, that could happen. I’m comfortable because I’m used to it.
As Luwen began to run, the surrounding scenery flowed by rapidly. Even carrying two people, it was as fast as when I was held alone. I could feel as if I had become the wind.
The path toward the main base went smoothly. Perhaps because the starting position was different, there were no particular hardships except having to detour around a gorge that was absolutely impossible to cross.
Whether it was because I was thinking hopefully that we’d arrive if we went just a little further, or whether fate had caught us.
Shreeeeeeek-!
Clang-
Clang clang clang- Clang clang clang-
The moment we passed through thick bushes, a terrifying sound of tearing air began to echo loudly in all directions along with noisy sounds. Flap flap- Birds flew up all at once.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
