TOFOML 14

Chapter 14

“More… more.”

“Your Highness, you should stop changing positions now…”

“Hold me… please hold me.”

The more vivid the swirling thoughts became, the clearer they were.

“What on earth have I done!”

Blood rushed to his face.

Shabiyan pressed his blazing hot cheeks against himself.

“At that moment… my whole body felt like it was on fire…”

He just wanted to cool down his body.

It seemed that, in the midst of it, the Duke had been flustered and tried to stop him.

Even so, whenever he touched something cold, the pain subsided, and he kept clinging and fussing.

“I want to escape… anywhere. Right now.”

Shabiyan tiptoed across the floor so as not to wake the Duke. But then—

“Ah!”

The moment he put weight on his foot, a sharp, piercing pain surged, and he screamed.

He quickly bit his lips, but—

Click.

The Duke, awakened from a light sleep, startled and sat up.

His reflexes were astonishing.

“Are you alright?”

The Duke approached the collapsed Shabiyan. When he tried to touch Shabiyan’s swollen leg, he hesitated to remove his gauntlet.

“….”

After a pause, he carefully touched Shabiyan’s leg without taking off his gauntlet.

“He’s avoiding me.”

Shabiyan recalled the memory of the Duke running his bare hands over him, soothing him.

The Duke had been careful to avoid him.

“You’re not fully healed yet, so you must be careful when moving. Still, your fever seems down, and the swelling in your leg has gone down considerably.”

The Duke’s tired voice came from beside him.

“I cannot delay any longer, so we will depart shortly.”

The Duke straightened one of Shabiyan’s legs as he knelt.

Then he supported Shabiyan, who had slumped to the floor, and helped him sit on the bed.

Then—

“What is he planning?”

As the Duke briefly scanned the cabin, Shabiyan’s gaze followed.

There were well-used utensils, firewood set by the stove, ready to be lit.

It seemed whoever lived here had temporarily fled because of the war.

Clink.

The Duke opened the cupboard and placed something in a bowl.

A gold coin sparkled briefly. The Duke had paid for one night’s stay on behalf of whoever owned the cabin.

“A true knight among knights!”

Knights leave no debts behind.

Duke Berwen was the very embodiment of the upright, honorable knight found in heroic tales.

Shabiyan’s eyes shone brightly.

“So the rumors were true!”

Among the knights of the Bahart Empire, many secretly admired Duke Berwen.

A knight with both valor and spirit—that was the common praise for Duke Berwen.

“However…”

Suddenly, Shabiyan felt melancholic.

He remembered what he had done in front of the one he so admired.

“…Ah… great.”

Shabiyan curled up in despair.

He was male, and moreover, the Duke already had someone.

Unaware, he had been dragged into the battlefield and overheard Bahart soldiers gossiping about Duke Berwen.

He remembered tales of Berwen punishing soldiers of Hailen who had mockingly linked the Duke with the Emperor of Hailen as lechers.

“The Duke might hate me…”

He liked the Duke. He wanted to resemble him, to be praised by him. And yet, this person might hate him?

Shabiyan’s nose tingled.

He wiped the moisture from his eyes on his knees. His eyes were naturally red, so it looked like he had cried.

“…Once you are ready, please come out.”

Shabiyan buried his face between his knees and just nodded.

What? Why is he crying?

I just made the person I’m supposed to seduce cry the moment I saw him for the first time?

I pressed my forehead against the tightly twisted knot of my thoughts.

“What did I just say?”

I only asked if he was alright and mentioned we would depart. That was all.

Was my tone too harsh? No, I don’t think so.

“Maybe he’s scared I’ll take him away.”

No, that’s reasonable. I am an enemy knight. From Shabiyan’s perspective, he could think I’m kidnapping him!

Squeak—.

Just as the old door of the cabin creaked open, Shabiyan emerged, his nose red.

I wanted to correct the mistake and asked him about his intentions.

“Your Highness, if you wish to return to the Bahart camp, I can send you back…”

…but there’s something else.

Before I could finish, Shabiyan lowered his head, and tears, as small as chicken droppings, fell from his eyes.

Seeing the muddy floor getting wet with his tears, I thought: He really doesn’t want to go. I shouldn’t have asked.

“Do not cry.”

I had practiced various modes just for times like this.

I tried to use lines I had learned from Rozalin, but—

“…You’re ruining that beautiful face.”

While wiping his tears, I was unsure about what line to deliver next…

Wait. In this setup, I’m supposed to be in a relationship with Rozalin. If I mess with him like this, I’m a cheating scumbag!

“Here, cover yourself.”

Acting is all I have to do. Just act. Leave the script to Rozalin.

Thinking that, I draped my cloak over Shabiyan’s head.

“You mustn’t be recognized. Use my cloak to at least cover your face.”

It was a black cloak embroidered in grand silver thread with the Berwen family crest.

Shabiyan peeked out from under the cloak, fidgeting with it.

“Then we shall depart.”

I put Shabiyan on the horse, only letting his face peek out from the cloak. Then I mounted gracefully myself.

“Graceful mounting. I’ve practiced this countless times.”

Normally, the final touch would be the cloak fluttering dramatically after mounting, but… the cloak was with Shabiyan. Still…

“Was it pretty good?”

Thanks to training with Rozalin, Shabiyan’s eyes gleamed as he tightly held the cloak. His flushed cheeks suggested the effect worked.

“Hold on tight.”

Feeling Shabiyan’s breath on my back, he hugged my waist tightly.

The position was uncomfortable, and I was slightly embarrassed by the earlier incident, so I subtly pulled away.

“Hmph.”

Shabiyan sniffled as if trying to suppress his crying.

What a crybaby… a crybaby. I don’t know why he’s crying, but—

“In situations like this, running is best.”

To prevent Shabiyan from thinking about anything else, I increased speed.

The sound of hooves pounding the pasture and the flapping of the cloak mixed with the wind, striking our ears.

By the time we approached White Castle—

“Your Highness!”

A mounted group of knights gathered at the gates of White Castle of Hessen galloped toward us.

“You’ve been missing for so long, we were about to come find you.”

“It’s fine now that you’ve arrived.”

The Berwen knights, relieved at my appearance, simultaneously—

“….”

Their eyes all shifted toward Shabiyan behind me.

Sensing their gaze, Shabiyan pressed his face into my back.

“Could it be… him?”

“Yes.”

The knights glanced nervously at Shabiyan.

A few at the back whispered quietly.

“Why is the 8th Prince on this battlefield?”

“Surely Bahart brought him here as a hostage.”

“But the agreement isn’t even finalized yet. This could cause problems for the Duke…”

I could hear it.

Shabiyan seemed uneasy, unconsciously clutching my waist.

Poor thing.

This isn’t gossip behind anyone’s back—nor in front.

Ihihing-.

I didn’t hide my annoyance, raising the horse’s front hoof.

Suddenly, the chatter stopped instantly.

“Immediately send a messenger to the Crown Prince of Bahart. I am holding the 8th Prince.”

At my command, the knights bowed simultaneously. Click—the sound of armored joints echoed together.

‘Huh?’

Shabiyan, who had pressed his face against my back, flinched slightly. He even turned his head to watch, as if curious.

Does he like this?

Well, Rozalin said he worships turnips…

“And though I’m late—”

Then I would show him. I lowered my voice.

“You all played a major role in this war. Without you as my shield, the edge of my sword would be useless.”

This was high praise.

The knights, moved, dismounted, and kneeled on the mud-stained ground. Drawing their swords, they shouted,

“All glory and honor to our Lord and Hailen!”

Driving their swords into the sticky mud, they bowed their heads.

Normally, I’d feel embarrassed and avoid such display, but—

“…They like it.”

Shabiyan was delighted.

Excited, he even stomped his feet. Rozalin called this fangirling.

It was a magnificent sight, yet I just sighed, looking at the knights’ mud-stained knees.

“Again, thank you all for your efforts.”

After comforting the knights once more, I prepared to enter the castle.

Ah, wait. I can’t go in.

Shabiyan mustn’t be seen here.

If I take him in, it could be misinterpreted as kidnapping an enemy prince.

Even though I saved him from Kelien, within Bahart it could be claimed as an abduction. I’d have no way out.

Moreover, the count captured by Kelien might have set some trap at White Castle.

At that moment—

“Your Highness.”

A knight, noticing I had stopped, cautiously approached.

“What shall we do with him?”

“……Set up a military tent.”

Yes. We’ll stay outside.

Phew. Since we can’t enter White Castle, Shabiyan and I will have to stay separately outside.

The Count knows I dislike him, so it won’t seem odd.

“Your Highness, but—”

The knight trailed off.

“There is only one military tent.”

“….”

Huh? Why just one?

Ah. I had minimized luggage to travel quickly.

“Even the Count’s estate…”

There wouldn’t be a military tent there. The castle gates were sold off anyway.

I let out a short sigh.

“Fine. Then just set up the one.”

The drama I’d laughed at where only one room was available at the inn now made sense.

Still, this is extreme. I haven’t even known Shabiyan for a full day!

And what’s even crazier—

“Shall I help you take off your armor?”

Shabiyan was overly eager.