“I’m sorry. It’s just me, your older brother.”
It would have been better if he had said this earlier.
Did he think anyone would be moved by such words just before death?
A little bit.
Just a little bit.
If he had opened his heart even a little bit sooner.
Nothing would have changed.
“Brother.”
-Click.
As he gently set his cup down onto the teacup, ripples swayed.
The contents of the cup soaked the teacup with anger-tinged force.
“Have we not grown too distant to even say such sentimental words? Please tell me the solution first.”
Their relationship had been broken long ago.
There may have been a time when it could have been repaired.
No. There definitely was.
When their mother, the empress, who was also the wife of the emperor, ascended to heaven, and the three men decided to go to war, their relationship slowly drifted apart. But until that point, there had still been a chance to maintain the system of ‘family.’
However, as time passed, the focus on the war gradually turned into growing anger towards their father for not being able to protect their mother. The noble factions supporting each prince created unnecessary troubles, making each other’s positions difficult, leading to clashes due to differing opinions.
It has already been seven years.
When they asked if it was okay that their lives were on the line, their relationship had become worse than that of strangers.
“I don’t know either. So you need to find out.”
“What nonsense is this? I’m not a wizard or an alchemist. How can I solve your state that is being consumed by the winter blizzard? You’d be better off asking the Imperial Court Mage Society to do some research.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I will. I’m not sure why you think I would know, but I don’t.”
“…”
Gerard smiled faintly.
Elius, annoyed by the smile, furrowed his brow as he looked at him.
“I see you have a new attendant.”
Gerard casually gestured toward Fiona, who was standing beside Elius.
Elius’s brow furrowed even more.
“…What is it to you about my attendant?”
“I was just curious. I honestly thought you would keep the same attendant from the palace for over a decade, given your unique perfectionism.”
“She’s an attendant I hired at Count Austin’s request.”
“Seems like she hasn’t shaken off the rookie look yet…”
“She will grow someday. Everyone has their rookie days.”
“I never imagined I’d hear such words from you.”
“…If there’s nothing else, please leave. I have much work to do.”
“Alright.”
Gerard answered readily and stood up.
He was only here to deliver news, not to make threats.
However,
“I just hope you realize this. Whatever I do from now on will not be carried out in accordance with your brother Gerard Grandeum’s wishes.”
*****
-Whatever I do from now on will not be carried out in accordance with your brother Gerard Grandeum’s wishes.
Gerard conveyed his intention with all his strength one last time.
From now on, he would not be Gerard Grandeum.
So if he took actions that would harm the Empire, Elius, you must protect the Empire.
“You’re giving me a difficult task, aren’t you… huh.”
Isn’t he telling him to become the Emperor?
His brow involuntarily narrowed.
“Surely this Empire won’t go smoothly this time.”
With the continuous wars, the land was becoming barren, and the people were starving.
Just when it seemed like there might be some relief, the hero and first prince Gerard was consumed by the essence of the Demon King.
Those who only saw the surface of the Empire would praise the continuous victories in the conquest wars.
Thinking about it made him feel sick.
“…Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
“Are you having dinner tonight?”
“I’m fine. I’ll skip it today.”
“…Just in case, I’ll leave something for you. If you’re hungry, please be sure to eat it.”
“Alright.”
Fiona placed the covered dish down and left the room.
“…Was my expression that bad?”
Even when he was feeling down, Fiona would try her best to sound cheerful.
However, there was a time when she almost exclusively shrank, and that was when he was dealing with a significant dilemma that crossed a certain line.
At that moment, the chamberlain asked.
“…Do you really think so?”
“Huh?”
“Fiona is not such a remarkable child that she can sense the prince’s darkened mood.”
“…?”
Elius’s eyebrows curved in surprise.
“If Fiona had the perception you think she does, I wouldn’t be struggling like this.”
“…Then why is Fiona acting like that?”
“Your Highness tends to become more gentle in his speech when he is troubled by something no one can help with.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yes. I’ve taken care of you since you were a baby. I’m certain of it.”
“…”
Elius learned a new fact.
He was unaware that his mind was now filled with thoughts about Fiona and his own personality.
*****
Elius was gradually falling for Fiona.
The scary part was that he didn’t even realize it.
He took their informal conversations for granted.
He naturally admired her face.
Whenever she wasn’t around, he’d shake his head like a lost puppy.
What is love, really? It was just a gentle, persistent descent, like being soaked by a light rain.
Elius felt very naturally that Fiona was more than just a mere attendant.
And on this day, it became a turning point.
The moment when the boy who had been a man recognized his feelings.
“…It’ll be hard to get out. It’s too cramped to use magic recklessly.”
“True. Moreover, in this state…”
Inside the narrow, dark closet.
Elius and Fiona were squirming, their bodies pressed against each other.
The reason the prince and his attendant ended up trapped in such a place is a bit complicated.
One could say it was an unavoidable coincidence, like a miracle of overlapping chance.
While Fiona was organizing the old closet, Elius had visited her as usual, but the rotting bottom of the old closet collapsed, tipping over onto Fiona’s head. Elius, trying to save her, ended up falling with her…
“Who would have thought there could be such coincidences? The moment we fell, the door closed behind us.”
“Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket tomorrow.”
“The Empire’s lottery wouldn’t pay out much, would it?”
“Still, it would be enough for my salary.”
Now the question was how to get out of here.
Using magic would be simple, but if they raised their mana while their bodies were pressed together, there was a high chance Fiona would get hurt.
So.
“Since there was a loud noise, someone will probably come.”
They decided to wait quietly.
After all, it was the prince’s palace; someone would come to help.
“We’ll have to wait a bit.”
“Indeed.”
“…”
“…”
For a brief moment, a very short silence lingered.
Waiting for a helping hand had left them with nothing to say.
Feeling the awkwardness, Elius turned his gaze to the wave patterns of the old closet.
But soon, he shifted his eyes elsewhere.
‘…I don’t know where to look.’
No matter where he focused, Fiona’s face and form were in his line of sight.
Every time he looked at her, a burning thirst swelled within his heart.
An emotion he had never felt before in his life.
Like a child who had simply grown older and wandered aimlessly, Elius made a decision and moved his arm.
His arm wrapped around Fiona’s back, which was squirming restlessly.
“Stay still.”
“Ah. I’m sorry. Did I make you uncomfortable?”
“…”
“Are you perhaps angry?”
It wasn’t discomfort. He wasn’t angry either.
Fiona was just trying to find a way to get out a little faster.
It was just that.
“Do you want to get out quickly?”
“…Huh?”
He felt a bit dissatisfied.
She was trying to escape from this moment.
Fiona spoke calmly.
“Of course. Who likes being trapped in such a narrow and dark place?”
Elius fell silent at her utterly reasonable comment.
Sometimes, Fiona spoke as if she were a completely normal person.
Whenever she did, Elius found himself resenting her.
“…Clueless.”
“…? Why are you suddenly insulting me?”
“Take a guess. Why are you clueless?”
Elius gently tightened his grip around Fiona.
He was beginning to understand why he couldn’t find a place to look.
Why he felt dissatisfied with Fiona’s desire to leave this place.
Every time he felt her through his hands, a new emotion took root in his heart, as if he were gaining enlightenment.
Whenever their bodies touched, and the scent of her skin wafted in, this new feeling continued to expand in volume.
“Your Highness! So this is where you were!”
As they finally emerged, Elius could define this somewhat ambiguous feeling, if only in a trivial way.
Yearning, or perhaps affection.
He couldn’t bring himself to call it love; it felt too shameful to even think of it that way.
