The answer that came back choked my throat. Only the thought that His Highness couldn’t possibly have loved me filled my head.
First of all, I wasn’t his type. He spent nights with various omegas during his rut that came every month to fulfill his duty as Crown Prince. They never entered His Highness’s bedchamber twice, but in any case, they all had slender builds and black hair that reached down to their waists. Those were characteristics opposite to mine.
‘His mercy was sending me away each time he spent the night with another.’
Did he considerately understand that I would feel jealousy unbefitting my station while pretending to be unaffected? On days when intimacy was scheduled, he would leave only one knight with the tightest lips.
And that directly connected to the second reason. He knew my long-held feelings and gently rejected me.
‘It was the day after I first attended to His Highness’s rut, a month after becoming a guard knight.’
* * *
His Highness, who rarely showed a slightly tired face, impulsively made the decision to go down to the village. Even to my naive self at the time, I knew that when His Highness left the imperial palace, he would typically make thorough preparations and go through official procedures. Since he had never once broken that rule, the guard knights were quite surprised.
“Wear this. Clothes that look ordinary to nobles’ eyes aren’t necessarily ordinary even in Tenas.”
His Highness mentioned Tenas, the village closest to the imperial palace, and handed me clothes as if prepared solely for this day. The fabric showed many traces of age, and at first glance, they were utterly ordinary clothes. Once I put them on, they fit my body perfectly and comfortably, making them easy to move in.
‘Where on earth did His Highness obtain such clothes? Did the other guard knights all receive clothes as well?’
I had useless thoughts as I quickly changed clothes. Meanwhile, he who had even donned a necklace that could alter appearance couldn’t hide his innate nobility, but in any case, he didn’t look like the Empire’s Crown Prince. The performance was such that even the palace knights wouldn’t recognize him until they heard his voice.
“Then let’s all head out.”
His Highness, who skillfully exited through a secret passage, headed to <Song of the Sun>. Since it was a place information brokers frequently visited, the knights seemed quite cautious, but they dared not go against His Highness’s will.
“Unless you plan to keep looking down at me, sit down.”
The knights tried not to show their discomfort as they awkwardly sat at the table. Though it was terribly awkward to sit at the same table as His Highness, they couldn’t disobey orders, and standing side by side in a tavern like this would be ridiculous.
“It’s dull having no drinking companion.”
However, when even this statement came out, the guard knights could no longer follow the order. Even though no one would get drunk from just one or two drinks, with only the minimum number of personnel present now, someone needed to be able to move quickly in case of an emergency.
“Tiel, will you be my drinking companion?”
When one person was singled out instead, the other knights relaxed. There were even some who looked at me with eyes subtly urging me on without any loyalty.
“I am hon—”
I, who had almost said “I am honored, Your Highness” out of habit, quickly came to my senses thanks to the knight sitting next to me tapping my thigh. Even if it seemed like no one was listening, we had to be careful.
“I will obey the order.”
When I appropriately changed my answer to something a servant or subordinate would say, His Highness smiled warmly. Though it was a completely different appearance from the original His Highness, the captivating smile was identically beautiful enough that I couldn’t mistake it for someone else.
“Will you accept another drink?”
“Yes.”
His Highness constantly offered drinks, and I silently accepted and drank them. His complexion didn’t change at all, but after emptying about four bottles of alcohol, I gradually became dizzy as intoxication set in.
‘This won’t do.’
I must not lose consciousness before His Highness. That was a mission as a knight, but also the desperate struggle of one who harbored feelings he shouldn’t have.
“You drink well, how admirable. Seeing the fellow who barely reached my waist drinking like this brings new emotions.”
“Yes, Your High—no, thank, thank you.”
I wasn’t quite that small when I first met His Highness, but instead of refuting, I simply nodded and accepted the drink he poured. At that moment, a commotion was heard from outside. The momentum of the guard knights who had been pretending to be relaxed changed instantly. The commotion, which I thought would end briefly, didn’t subside but grew louder.
“It’s not simply drunkards fighting.”
“Go outside to check and come back.”
“However……”
Those who had been trained to always answer orders concisely uncharacteristically dragged out their words. It was because the thought that they absolutely must not leave His Highness’s side at such a moment clashed with the deeply rooted way of thinking that they must unconditionally follow orders.
Even knowing that His Highness was strong enough to lead the vanguard in an unfavorable battlefield and perfectly command it to victory, the knights’ worry was close to somewhat instinctive.
“Your concern is useless. Go ahead.”
His Highness, as if well aware of such feelings, issued the order firmly once more. Even with my head buzzing, his clear voice that pierced straight into my ears made me stagger up from my seat.
‘I must follow orders.’
“I’ll also go……”
Not knowing when he had come beside me, he grabbed and pulled my arm. I was helplessly drawn by that force.
“Tiel, stay still. You must protect me.”
A hot hand covered my eyes, then I felt warmth behind me. Though I couldn’t see because my eyes were covered, it seemed His Highness was hugging me from behind. My head thought I should pull away, but my body melted by alcohol didn’t listen. No, perhaps I wanted to enjoy this warmth under that excuse.
“Yes, Your—no. I will protect master.”
I didn’t know if I could do anything knightly in my current bodily state, but if something happened, I could at least serve as a shield once. I heard the sound of fellow knights going outside. Yet His Highness didn’t readily remove his hand.
“Master? Um, your hand……”
“I like hearing the word ‘master.’ Will you call me that once more?”
I didn’t know what part of it sounded good, but I obediently followed those words. Then a low, soft laugh rang out from above my head. Realizing it was his laughter, my chest felt ticklish. I wiggled my fingers, wanting both to scratch it with my hand and to savor this sensation as is.
“Tiel is so good and dense. Perfect personality to become a scapegoat.”
I was debating whether to say I was honored or apologetic at the words somewhere between praise and insult. The hand covering my eyes slowly slid down and cupped my cheek. Through my hazy vision, I saw his face.
‘Is it because I’m drunk?’
His Highness was no longer smiling. Yet a familiar gaze overlapped with the unfamiliar face. Eyes that made a person unable to move. Looking at those eyes that seemed to know everything about me made me want to spill everything I was hiding. Originally, reason would stop the impulse, but now the lock I had tightly secured seemed rusted because of the alcohol.
“I revere……”
However, before the sentence could be completed, the noble one’s hand covered my mouth. His Highness smiled affectionately while looking troubled. Even if I was dense, I wasn’t so stupid that I couldn’t recognize his kind rejection from just that.
“Oh my, it seems like words you shouldn’t spit out here and now.”
The shock of my confession being blocked was less than the shock that I had almost shamelessly conveyed my feelings. His Highness, realizing his foolish subordinate had come to his senses, slowly removed his hand.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Once I regained my senses, however faint, my whole body trembled. He kindly patted and soothed me.
“Alright. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it, so you don’t need to make a face like the world has collapsed.”
“Thank you.”
My voice as I gave thanks trembled miserably enough for even me to feel it.
“Saying those words now wouldn’t be very good for either you or me, so I stopped you. I wasn’t trying to blame you, so don’t be so frightened.”
Though I knew it was rude, I silently nodded. I couldn’t help it because tears burst from anger at my own foolishness and no voice came out.
“Alright. The knights will come soon, so pretend to sleep.”
His Highness’s hand covered my eyes once more. Though sleep didn’t come at all, I couldn’t act any more presumptuously, so I obediently followed the command.
* * *
After recalling the past when the confession itself was rejected, disbelief rose even stronger.
‘Actually, that’s not the only problem.’
I tried to recall his fiancée, then shook my head. There was no need to needlessly remind myself of the past and gouge out wounds, nor to blame myself for being hurt and sink down.
“That’s absurd. It’s impossible.”
“Why? Wasn’t His Highness famous for cherishing that knight quite a bit?”
“I don’t think there’s a reason to explain to you. If there’s no more information, I’ll get up now.”
My head ached just from the information I heard today. Since it didn’t seem like any more useful information would come from Kevin, who was clearly being wary of me, it was better to just get up.
“I see. You’re quite different from the rumors, how interesting. However, shouldn’t you keep what you promised earlier?”
He meant to tell him who gave me information about this place. I opened my mouth obediently.
“Sir Tienas.”
“What? Why would he tell you… Besides, didn’t he pass away?”
“I didn’t lie. Didn’t I draw a magic circle in this place from the beginning that prevents lying?”
Kevin’s mouth gaped open as if asking how I knew that too, but I wasn’t obligated to explain that far.
“I never said I’d explain the detailed circumstances of how I obtained the information, so think about it yourself.”
“What? Sir Aila! Aila Caesius!”
When I ignored him and left, Kevin shouted loudly from behind me, “Hey! Aila! You scoundrel bastard!” But I didn’t care.
On the way back to the residence, I pondered the possibility that Kevin had brought incorrect information. Since he also couldn’t lie in that place, it would be either true or he had obtained contaminated information.
However, the very next day when I went to work at the knight order, no matter how much I wanted to deny it, I had to acknowledge that Kevin had obtained correct information. Because rumors with even more shocking facts had spread.
