Roman let out a sigh. Though he had used Kailton in a pinch, he had forgotten that Kailton was someone with perception just as sharp as his own. Sure enough, a question that mercilessly touched on a sore spot followed.
“It’s because of that guy just now, isn’t it? Your suddenly saying you’d go to Eslen.”
“…Would you believe me if I said no?”
“……”
Kailton looked at Roman with a rarely serious expression. Even with himself, the third in line to the throne, sitting before him, Roman was someone who could casually crack jokes—he was more relaxed than anyone Kailton knew, yet also someone whose inner thoughts were difficult to guess. He was someone who could easily slip away if he put his mind to it, but seeing him answer in such a self-abandoning tone, he must have been quite mentally cornered.
Kailton rose from his seat. Walking to the display cabinet behind the Master’s desk, he scanned the expensive bottles displayed like replicas with his eyes. Taking out one of them and grabbing glasses as well, he returned to the table.
As he tilted the bottle toward the glass, a rich wine aroma rose up. After filling Roman’s glass as well, he took a sip of alcohol and continued again.
“Did you cheat on him or something? Or did you take his money?”
Roman let out a chuckle. If it had been something like that, he would have given him a good beating and parted ways without any lingering attachment.
“No.”
“Then catch him.”
“…!”
“You’re head over heels for that guy. Enough to use even me as an escape.”
It was a tone that was both relaxed and certain. Knowing that denying it wouldn’t work at all, Roman let out a deep sigh and answered in a tone feigning indifference.
“He was a partner, and I just ended it as promised.”
“……”
“…I can’t say it’s not at all the case, but it’s not entirely because of that reason that I’m going to Eslen either.”
‘Sure, that’s likely.’ The words rose to Kailton’s throat, but he swallowed them down with the alcohol. As he’d said repeatedly, it had been truly a long time since Roman had revealed his inner feelings like this. Though they were close enough not to spare each other from directness and advice, seeing him sitting there with that expression made it impossible to carelessly poke at him as usual.
“Well, let’s say that’s the case. Anyway, I greatly welcome it, so stay as long as you want. Or you can even stay permanently.”
“What will you do if I really settle down and live there permanently?”
“Would you really do that?”
Looking at the person answering composedly, Roman smiled.
“When are you planning to leave?”
“I plan to depart tomorrow.”
“That works out well. Take this.”
Kailton held out an envelope he took from his breast to Roman.
“When you get there, show it to the butler. He’ll naturally recognize your face, but just in case.”
It seemed he had even written a letter. Seeing him go this far, what he said about greatly welcoming him didn’t seem to be empty words. Roman carefully tucked the received envelope into his breast.
“When does Your Highness plan to leave for Helaon?”
“We’re going tomorrow too. I’ll send Ruth over around lunchtime, so at least say hello.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, right.”
Kailton, who had been about to stand up, added one more thing.
“Has your Bloody Cycle schedule changed by any chance?”
“It’s a temporary symptom.”
Well, is that really so?
The reason Kailton knew Roman’s Bloody Cycle date was because their dates were the same. Because of that, there had been amusing gossip in their younger days, but… anyway, that wasn’t what was important. It was extremely rare for a dominant’s Bloody Cycle date to change. Even then, the cycle changed either due to imprinting or resonance caused by another person, and if so, the reason must surely be…
‘His feelings must be complicated.’
Letting out a soundless sigh, Kailton rose. Fixing his gaze on Roman, who also stood up, he offered a brief greeting.
“Then I’ll see you in Eslen.”
“Yes. Please go safely.”
After Kailton left first, Roman plopped back down in his seat. He took the glass he hadn’t touched and brought it to his lips. Though it was obvious that drinking this would make his stomach hurt again, he couldn’t bear it without drinking.
Naturally, Diego’s face came to mind. It wasn’t as if he himself had intended to end things from the beginning. As far as he knew, it was Diego’s first time with a man, but their blood compatibility was better than expected and their physical compatibility matched well too, so it was true that he had thought it might be okay to develop into something deeper. However, an undeniable reality grabbed Roman by the ankle.
‘You don’t look so well?’
‘It’s my Bloody Cycle.’
‘Really? You’re seeing someone, right?’
‘No.’
‘No? Why on earth not?’
‘I don’t have anyone because I don’t.’
Half a year ago, a few days after recruiting new guild members. At the voices coming through the open window, Roman raised the corners of his mouth in a smile. Seeing them chattering without knowing that the Master’s office was right next door, they must have been the new recruits who had joined this time.
He didn’t know who one of them was, but he thought he definitely knew the other one. It was because his particularly low voice stuck in his memory.
Meanwhile, the conversation continued. Though he didn’t particularly want to eavesdrop, if he closed the window now, he could clearly picture their startled faces.
‘I do want to get married soon though.’
‘Oh, you look like you’d play around a lot, so that’s unexpected.’
‘…I want to get married soon and have lots of children. It’ll be difficult right now, though.’
It was a little while later that Roman learned Diego had an idealized vision of a harmonious family. That his parents had passed away early, and that the only blood relative he could trust and rely on was his still-young younger sister.
So it wasn’t strange that he would long for a bustling family, and even then Roman hadn’t cared at all. He had been confident that since he was only attracted externally, once he enjoyed it enough, he could cleanly sort things out anytime.
Never dreaming that those feelings would change into something deeper and more desperate.
***
Day after day, the dazzlingly clear weather continued. In contrast, Diego’s mood was utterly gloomy. He had been confident that he could feign composure outwardly in any situation, but lately he absolutely couldn’t manage his expression. So much so that Emily showed concern almost every morning, asking if something was really wrong.
The reason was, of course, Roman. From that day, the day he was unilaterally notified that their relationship had ended, Diego couldn’t sleep properly. It was absurd, it was outrageous, and then whenever the Grand Duke’s face suddenly came to mind, his self-esteem plummeted endlessly and despair would come. After several days like that passed, a sense of exhaustion resembling severe lethargy washed over him.
If only he could work frantically, it might be a bit better, but unfortunately today of all days he was given an unwanted vacation. When he went to the Viscount’s estate in the morning, he was notified to come tomorrow because the young lady’s condition wasn’t good.
Thanks to that, he suddenly had nothing to do. With a heavy heart, Diego was on his way back when he changed his destination upon reaching the vicinity of the plaza. If he went home, only silence would linger, and even if he lay in bed, it didn’t seem like sleep would come. Since he had been given this free time that wasn’t quite free time, it seemed better to at least get some fresh air.
The place he headed to was Blusa Hill behind the guild. Perhaps because it was a time when everyone would be busy working, he didn’t encounter anyone while climbing the hill. After a while, when he reached the summit, an open vista spread out before his eyes. Diego, who walked all the way to the end, rested both arms on the stone wall piled up to chest height. The distant blue sea and the sailing ships lined up and anchored near the faraway harbor came into view at a glance.
It was an utterly peaceful landscape. After enjoying the cool sea breeze for a while, he leaned his back against a large tree nearby and sat down. His eyes naturally closed. Listening to the sound of leaves rustling against each other and the cries of birds flying through the sky made him feel somewhat at peace.
