SLDS 67

Alexis lowered his gaze and thought calmly. An uncomfortable silence continued for a while, then he delivered his notice in a low voice.

“I will take it into consideration. You may leave now.”

“Is that… all? Then what will happen to me?”

“By the authority of the Crown Prince, I will not question you for your crime. Consider it thanks to your late but honest confession.”

Only then did Johannes feel like he could breathe again. He had done the right thing by mustering his courage. As if freed from his guilt, a bright light spread across his tense face.

“Thank you. May God’s blessings be with you.”

After he left his regards and departed, only the sound of Alexis’s breathing drifted through the quiet office. Unlike Johannes, who had left with a relieved face, the Crown Prince’s expression was filled only with worry.

Alexis had to lean his head back and spend a long time organizing his chaotic thoughts.

He swept his bangs back. His hair, like it was woven from golden thread, tangled between his long fingers, completely revealing his neat forehead. The dark eyebrows below were deeply furrowed, as if reflecting his current mood.

“Ha, this is so absurd I’m actually laughing.”

Alexis clenched and unclenched his fist, calming his excitement. This was another first. It felt like his emotions were changing with every breath.

He felt a sense of relief that Cecil had not betrayed him, but on the other hand, he was irritated that Cecil had abandoned him just to protect a friend.

He didn’t think the recent confession was a lie. The confession offered by the Prince of Temion was highly credible, and besides, there was no reason to bring up a case that had already been concluded and punished.

This incident began with Cecil’s false oracle. The fact that Cecil had told the Prince of Temion about the future, using Yuria’s name, was something he couldn’t comprehend with common sense.

‘I felt the aura of the Goddess Gaia.’

‘Could it be that Mr. Cecil has the same ability as I do?’

Suddenly, the words Yuria had let slip came to mind. Could it really be that Cecil had the ability to predict the future?

“No, that makes no sense.”

Alexis strongly denied it.

He had come into contact with Cecil several times but had never felt any sort of divine aura. If there had been even a little of that kind of energy, there was no way he wouldn’t have known.

But there were a few things that bothered him.

The fact that he had told Johannes Albrecht IV of future events, pretending it was an oracle, and the incident where he had predicted Duchess Vandel’s carriage accident. And even the fact that he had provided information to several nobles that would bring them financial gain.

If Cecil possessed the ability of foresight, it would be a plausible explanation for everything.

Alexis clutched his forehead, tormented by the unsolvable puzzle. If he interrogated Cecil, it was clear he would just deny it, given his personality, and he himself knew what a preposterous assumption this was.

He did not like ambiguous speculation. It was enough to watch and wait until solid evidence appeared. After all, Cecil would exist where he could see him for the rest of his life.

“He said he would die on October 16th, was it.”

Alexis closed his eyes and deeply engraved the date of the Prince of Temion’s death into his mind.

There was no need to rush. Don’t jump to conclusions. If the prophecy was true, it was a matter that would be revealed soon enough.

✽ ✽ ✽

Two days later, Cecil prepared to enter the palace. He set off on horseback with Knight Commander Claude. He deliberately aimed for the dawn when everyone was asleep, and thanks to their diligent pace, they were able to arrive before the sun rose.

The closer he got to the towering castle walls, the darker Cecil’s expression became. Even the clopping of the horse’s hooves sounded weak and slow.

Thanks to arrangements made in advance, the Royal Guards protecting the castle gates had all been replaced by the Imperial Knights.

The knights exchanged glances with Claude and secretly opened the gates for them. And so, Cecil Adrian, who had secretly run away from home, was able to return safely.

To his surprise, Alexis was there to greet him as he passed through the gate.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince standing alone under the dark sky where the morning star still lingered, Cecil was so startled that he reined his horse to a halt. Without a moment to think, he hurriedly dismounted.

Cecil was about to hand his horse to Claude, but Alexis couldn’t wait even for that brief moment and walked over.

Without any warning, he snatched Cecil’s wrist and pulled him toward himself.

“Your Highness!”

“…You.”

Alexis, unable to contain his agitation, almost raised his voice but managed to swallow his words.

In the quiet dawn, the Imperial Palace was filled only with the chirping of insects. He couldn’t make a scene in a place like this, so he had to be patient, no matter how urgent he felt.

“Your Highness, what is the matter?”

“Shut your mouth and follow me.”

He started walking without a destination in mind. Cecil, with his wrist still in his grip, had to be dragged along by Alexis. A sudden fear gripped him, and his already fair face turned pale.

The place they arrived at was Alexis’s bedchamber. After dismissing all the attendants and securely locking the windows, Alexis finally seemed to feel at ease and leaned against the wall, letting out a long sigh.

Cecil, having no idea of the reason, quietly lowered his gaze to his own wrist.

Alexis was still gripping it tightly. He was using so much force that the knuckles of his fingers looked white.

“…It hurts.”

“…”

“Please let go.”

Cecil said with difficulty. But far from letting go, Alexis’s fingers wrapped around his wrist even more forcefully. A throbbing pain made him frown automatically. When Cecil raised his head, he was met with Alexis’s face, which looked just as tormented as his own.

“Why are you angry?”

“You think I’m angry?”

“Didn’t you bring me here to scold me?”

Cecil replied as if he had expected it. But unlike his calm voice, a tremor was transmitted from his wrist. He was trying his best to act fine, but facing an angry Alexis was still scary and difficult.

Alexis looked down at Cecil for a moment, then gave a short tug at the corner of his lips. He could now see right through Cecil’s expressions. It was useless to try to hide them in front of him.

Instead of letting go of his wrist, he turned his body and pinned Cecil against the wall. As his arms instantly formed a barrier, Cecil, now trapped within, grew tense without realizing it and backed away. But it was no use; blocked by the wall, there was nowhere to run.

Alexis tilted his head and asked.

“How long do you plan on lying?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re not the one who attacked Yuria.”

Cecil was struck speechless by the sudden accusation. He was so shocked that he just blinked his eyes, not even registering how close Alexis’s face was.

His masterful control of his expression crumbled, and as the raw Cecil Adrian revealed his flustered state, Alexis began to press him more earnestly.

“The Prince of Temion confessed everything before leaving the Empire. The fact that you took the blame for him.”

“…”

“Such a tear-jerking friendship. One of them plays the villain for his friend, and the other confesses late in the game to clear his name. The ones who got played in your little friendship game are the only ones who look ridiculous. Including me.”

Hearing those words, Cecil squeezed his eyes shut. At that point, his whole body was trembling so much that it wouldn’t have been strange if he had collapsed on the spot.

“Did Johannes… really tell you everything?”

“Yes.”

“Did he perhaps say anything else?”

“What else?”

“For instance… about why he hurt Yuria.”

As he finally managed to force out the question, Alexis wiped the smirk from his face and looked down quietly at Cecil. Cecil’s every word, his tense breathing—all the worries contained within were readable.

“He said it was because of a superstition in the Kingdom of Temion. Something about gaining eternal life with holy blood; it was a pathetic reason.”

Alexis spoke indirectly.

The reason Cecil was so frightened was obvious, but it was still too early to press him. Fearing he would run away again, he kept his own suspicions tightly hidden.

“Cecil Adrian, so what do you plan to do from now on?”

“…”

“Will you continue to live at odds with me?”

Only then did Cecil slowly raise his head.

When his own sharp face was reflected in Cecil’s empty eyes, Alexis felt his heart grow impatient. He caressed Cecil’s cheek and demanded an answer once more.

“Stop resisting and tell me the truth.”

“Don’t you already know since you’ve heard everything?”

“I’m telling you to confess with your own mouth. Think carefully. This is the last chance I’m giving you.”

Cecil clenched his trembling hands into fists.

Could there be a sweeter persuasion? Honestly, he didn’t want to miss this chance. If he turned away now, Alexis would not extend his hand to him again. He wanted to grab on, to cling, to embrace.

“It was not… me.”

Finally, his stubborn lips parted. Cecil lowered his flushed face and let out a ragged breath.

“I lied to you, Your Highness. I am sorry.”

“Yes, well said.”

As soon as he answered, Alexis pulled Cecil’s waist into an embrace. He, too, let out a long breath with a weary face, as if he had been through a difficult time as well.

“Don’t you ever do that again. This is the last time I will forgive you.”

Cecil, buried in his embrace, nodded. The heaving of his chest and shoulders was far from ordinary. Alexis pretended not to notice and stroked the back of Cecil’s head. His left shirt grew damp with Cecil’s tears.

“You exasperating brat. Why is some friend so important that you’d sacrifice yourself? You were devilishly selfish, yet you did something so needlessly kind.”

“…”

“Remember this. From now on, the only people you will prioritize are you and me.”

“…Yes.”

“And if you ever run away without my permission one more time, just you try it. I will hunt you down and give you a proper scolding.”

Cecil could no longer hold it in and cried out loud. Having no way to release his feelings of injustice and sorrow, everything he had been bottling up finally burst. Now, even if he tried, he couldn’t put it back together.

Alexis tilted his head and looked down at Cecil, who was clutching his clothes and sobbing his heart out.

Seeing him express his emotions so honestly made even his crying look beautiful. His lips curved into a smile without him realizing it.

“Well now, I can’t even scold you when your crying is this scary.”

A large hand gently patted Cecil’s back. The comforting gesture continued for a long time.

✽ ✽ ✽

The large conference hall was filled with elders. They had gathered to attend the tea party hosted by the Imperial Family once a month.

Emperor Arnold, seated at the head table, scanned the faces of the nobles gathered in one place.

The faces of the nobles he had seen for a long time were somewhat stale. The Emperor, already twisting his body sideways in boredom, suddenly realized that someone who was often at these gatherings was absent.

The Emperor asked, showing his curiosity.

“So what happened to Marquis Valery? Is there still no news of him? It’s already been a week since he disappeared, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. His ex-wife, whom he divorced, said she hasn’t been in contact with the Marquis for a long time, and even the servants who worked at the Marquis’s estate do not know their master’s whereabouts… It is a truly baffling matter.”

The news of Marquis Valery’s disappearance was the topic of the day. Since a person had suddenly vanished like smoke, everyone couldn’t help but have questions.

Some claimed he must have gone on a trip, while others said he might have been in an accident.

What was certain was that no one had seen Marquis Valery.

Alexis listened attentively to the conversations going back and forth. Most of them were baseless speculations, but he paid close attention so as not to miss a single trivial detail.

Originally, the tea party was a place to casually discuss the current state of affairs, but in reality, rumors and the private lives of the nobility were often discussed. Above all, His Majesty the Emperor particularly enjoyed such gossip. Naturally, he had expected talk about Marquis Valery to come up.

As he took a sip of the fragrant tea and subtly shifted his gaze, the pale face of Cecil, sitting next to him, came into view. His period of self-reflection had ended the day before, and he was now properly occupying a seat.

Even as Marquis Valery’s name was repeatedly mentioned, Cecil maintained a calm expression.

He really is a master of controlling his expression, Alexis thought with a smile, hiding his curved lips with his teacup.

“You all know that the Marquis had a dirty hobby, don’t you?”

“Of course, we know. Isn’t that why he got divorced?”

“Perhaps he’s holed up in a brothel somewhere. I hear he especially likes pretty-looking young men!”

At some point, the topic of the tea party had shifted to the Marquis’s sexual hobbies. Amid the loud laughter, Cecil secretly bit the inside of his lip.

He tried his best to compose his expression, but he couldn’t stop his hands from trembling. Cecil inconspicuously lowered both his hands below the table. He was desperately wishing for this time to end quickly when it happened.

“……!”

The warmth of another person touched his listlessly hanging right hand. It was Alexis, who had firmly gripped Cecil’s wrist. He looked at the nobles and said in a calm voice.

“It is truly unfortunate that Marquis Valery has disappeared. Above all, I am concerned that the position of Minister of Finance has been vacant for so long. Since we cannot leave it as it is, would it not be best to elect someone to fill the role, at least temporarily?”

“The Crown Prince has a point. We cannot leave that position empty.”

As the Emperor agreed with his words, the excited nobles, not wanting to miss the opportunity, all stepped forward. Before long, Marquis Valery’s name was completely forgotten as they were all busy looking out for their own interests.

“My, I didn’t realize there would be so many volunteers. Alexis, it seems I will need your opinion. Who do you think would be good to replace the Minister of Finance?”

“In my opinion…”

While Alexis added his opinion in his characteristically low and clear voice, Cecil quietly lowered his gaze.

Below the table, he could still see Alexis’s hand holding his wrist. Long, neat fingers were patting the bone of his wrist. Tap, tap.

It’s alright, don’t worry. I will take care of everything.

Even without words, it felt as if his feelings were being conveyed, and a faint smile spread across Cecil’s lips as well.

He straightened his back a little more and looked forward with confidence. After all, the most dependable person in the world was right beside him. There was no need to be afraid at all.