SLDS 92

After finishing his night walk, he returned again to the Peridot Palace.

Leo, who had finished all his tasks in the meantime, greeted the crown prince. It was already well past midnight, so most of the candles inside the bedchamber had been put out. Of course, whether it was dark or light, the master of the Peridot Palace was simply sleeping soundly.

“The night air is quite cool today. Cecil must be feeling cooped up, being confined to his room, so it would be best to leave the window open a little.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

While Leo moved about diligently, Alexis approached the head of the bed. The single-seat sofa placed right next to it was his designated spot, and keeping watch over Cecil here had become a natural part of his daily routine.

“Uhm….”

Leo approached hesitantly. It was no exaggeration to say they had been together all day long recently, but the crown prince was still a difficult person to deal with.

As if sensing the other’s discomfort, Alexis spread a document on his lap and replied in a calm tone.

“I will remain here. You may go now.”

“Are you planning on staying up all night again today?”

Blue eyes turned to look at Cecil, who was lying in the bed. He was looking at the face he longed to see, but seeing him unconscious did not put his heart at ease.

“We’ll see.”

“If there is anything you need, please call for us at any time. We will be waiting outside.”

Leo bowed politely and left the bedchamber. With just the two of them left, a quiet silence descended. Alexis watched the sleeping face for a long while before turning his attention back to the document.

Cool night air rushed in through the crack of the open window. The canopy, as thin as a dragonfly’s wing, swayed gently with the breeze.

It was a peaceful and cozy night, but it was also a night in which he could not possibly sleep.

The next day, Sir Claude Vandel, the Knight Commander, visited the Peridot Palace as soon as the sun rose.

As expected, the person he wanted to meet was here. Even though it was very early in the morning, Alexis was already dressed and sitting leaning against the sofa next to the bed.

Judging by the lack of any sleepiness on his face, it seemed he had stayed up all night again today, but Claude deliberately did not point it out. Instead, he stood before Alexis with a stiffer expression than usual.

“Your Highness, all preparations have been completed.”

It was finally the day of departure.

Alexis, who had stayed by Cecil’s side until the very day he was to go off to war, pressed his deeply fatigued eyelids with his fingertips.

“There will be no setbacks, I trust?”

“Of course.”

A resolute answer followed. Claude had been in charge of the war preparations in Alexis’s place all this time. He too, as the commander of the empire’s representative Imperial Knights, had a grave responsibility.

“Bring my uniform. I will change here.”

As Alexis rose, gripping the armrest of the sofa, servants presented the uniform they had prepared in advance and the crown prince’s longsword on a golden tray.

While he prepared to depart, Claude stood guard in front of Alexis the entire time. Watching the crown prince, who was gradually transforming into a dignified figure as he put on the crisply ironed uniform, he moved his lips as if he had something left to say. Claude was not the type to keep secrets to himself.

“If you have something to say, say it now. There won’t be time later.”

Alexis was unusually perceptive. He had figured out Claude’s inner thoughts just by reading his expression.

“……”

“Will you be alright fighting a war in that state? I don’t mind, but.”

“Alexis, it’s just….”

It was the first time he had called him by that name in years. Claude let out a long breath and clenched and unclenched his trembling hand several times. It was a topic that was just that difficult to bring up.

“I… what I mean is.”

In the meantime, Alexis was perfectly attired in his uniform. Unlike Claude, who was so nervous he could not even speak properly, he calmly straightened the shirt cuff that had gotten tucked inside his jacket.

“I’m listening, speak.”

Claude ducked his head low. Then, a sigh-filled confession flowed out.

“I… have committed a great sin against you.”

“A sin?”

“I kissed Yuria last night.”

“……”

“I’m sorry. But it wasn’t a mistake. I don’t want to lie to you. I was clearly aware of the repercussions my actions would have. Nevertheless….”

“I know. You’ve had Yuria in your heart for a long time.”

At the calm voice, Claude’s head shot up. The color of his face was extremely pale.

“You knew?”

“How could I not? We’ve known each other for years.”

By then, Alexis had assumed a clean and dignified posture and was facing his old friend and foster brother. A faint smile spread across his face.

“What about Yuria? Does that child feel the same as you?”

“……”

“Can you take responsibility and make her happy?”

Claude could not believe it. Although he had worked up the courage to say it, he had thought it was a feeling that would never be permitted.

“Alexis.”

“We were both so ignorant. We should have realized sooner. If we had, we wouldn’t have wasted time like this.”

Alexis slowly took a step. He approached the bed, smoothed Cecil’s messy hair once, then pulled the thin blanket up to his chest with delicate care.

“It’s a relief that at least now, a lost heart has found its way.”

“Then who in the world are you… Don’t tell me.”

Claude let out a short gasp. Seeing the actions Alexis was showing, he understood the meaning behind his words.

“…Is it true? You and Cecil?”

“Yes.”

A level voice readily admitted his feelings. Alexis, who had finished all his preparations, muttered somewhat weakly.

“Give me a moment to say goodbye. Ten minutes is all I need.”

“I will be… waiting outside.”

Claude, who had reverted from friend back to his position as Knight Commander, immediately excused himself. Once the door closed, only Cecil and Alexis remained in the quieted bedchamber. The bright morning sunlight was dyeing the room white. The day Cecil had designated for the departure was also blessed with perfect weather.

Alexis sat lightly on the edge of the bed. The formal uniform he had made an effort to wear was getting creased, but he paid it no mind.

“I had hoped you would wake up before I left. Was I asking for too much?”

A slight sigh escaped him. The war was not frightening, but the fact that he had to leave Cecil behind was like a shackle clamped on his ankle.

“I know it’s already irreversible, but… I regret many things. If I had accepted your feelings back then, would we have been a little better off?”

There was no answer to his desperate confession. Alexis smiled faintly and cupped Cecil’s cheek.

“I will be sure to return victorious.”

“……”

“So you, too, must do your best to come back to me.”

I love you. He whispered it in his ear, so that Cecil might hear it, at least in his dreams. A sincere kiss briefly touched his dry lips and then pulled away.

Then, Alexis returned to his original form as the dignified crown prince and left the bedchamber.

✽ ✽ ✽

It was a long time after that when Cecil regained consciousness.

When he opened his eyes, his surroundings were completely bright, and he could hear the familiar, murmuring voices of the servants.

He had to blink his eyelids several times to adjust to the brightness. His limbs felt stiff, but he also felt refreshed, as if he had woken up from a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

“Some water….”

At the faint voice, the servants’ movements came to a temporary halt. Immediately following, with a crash!—the sound of a bowl shattering—the startled people came running in one step.

“Mr. Cecil!”

“Are you awake? Do you recognize us?”

Cecil answered by nodding his head. His mind was so hazy that it took a bit more time to regain his sense of reality.

When he made a motion to get up, faltering as he pushed himself up with the bed, many hands rushed in to assist Cecil. Soft cushions were piled up in layers behind his lower back, and water in a teacup was presented on a silver tray.

The news that Cecil had woken up had even brought Ethan running like lightning. Cecil, while being examined, let out an exhausted sigh.

“…How long was I out?”

“Two weeks have passed. You did show signs of waking up from time to time, though… do you have no memory of it at all?”

Cecil just shook his head from side to side. Two weeks may have passed, but to him, it was as if that time had been snipped away with scissors.

The only memory that came to mind was Alexis’s face, which he had seen in the strategy room. A sigh escaped him automatically as he recalled that face, which had turned ashen with shock.

“The crown prince?”

“The Imperial Army is in the midst of battle right now. His Highness the Crown Prince is also participating in the war.”

“I want to hear the details. I need someone to give me the news.”

A short while later, one of the staff officers visited the Peridot Palace.

Only after receiving a report from him for about an hour was Cecil able to grasp the current situation. The battle had been at a stalemate for a week, but fortunately, the Imperial Army was said to have a slight advantage.

He put his worries aside and focused solely on recovery. It was one day, while he was gradually regaining his health under the servants’ devoted care, that Ethan, after finishing the morning examination, said in a firm tone.

“I can no longer prescribe you the medicine.”

“……”

“I am advising you as your personal physician. From now on, please, take care of your body. If you are going to ruin your body again, I will have no choice but to tell His Highness the Crown Prince the truth.”

At Ethan’s earnest plea, Cecil felt utterly miserable. If it were Leo, that would be one thing, but for even Ethan, who had no deep relationship with him, to step up and stop him meant the situation was serious.

“I understand. I promise.”

Cecil, too, was feeling that his body was already damaged beyond repair. He had realized a great deal after spending two weeks in his sickbed. It was foolish to waste the rest of his life in bed.

That afternoon, Yuria visited the Peridot Palace. Her arms were full of a bouquet and cookies. She had shown her face, more overjoyed than anyone, upon hearing the news that Cecil had woken up.

“I’m so glad you’ve recovered your health. You have no idea how worried I was. Especially His Highness, how concerned he was….”

Yuria shed a few tears out of joy and sympathy. She also relayed the fact that while Cecil was lying unconscious, Alexis had stayed by his side and nursed him with extreme devotion.

It was a story he had already heard through the servants, but he still could not believe it.

Could they all be lying in concert for my sake, since my mind and body are weakened? Cecil wore a bitter smile along with his pointless conjecture.

“Mr. Cecil. I have something to tell you.”

“Yes.”

As if it were a difficult thing to say, Yuria took a deep breath.

“I think I will be getting married soon.”