TTQI 30

Zizlon, who had been lying there listlessly, raised his head. He saw a forest path that opened up like a long corridor. It was early, so the path was filled with a pale fog so thick he could not see an inch ahead. The dense mist was like a curtain set up on a stage. As he stared at it, a hazy figure formed on the curtain of light.

Rustle. Rustle.

The figure walked on four legs, with a sleek body and a large, long head. For a moment, Zizlon wondered if a forest fairy had come to see him. Like the sacred horse from the Yonaras legends, said to be the incarnation of the forest. But soon, a man on horseback emerged from the fog. The man, with his dignified build and glossy black hair, was Ade.

Ade quietly rode his horse over to the spring, and upon seeing him, he dismounted. He walked slowly to the front of the stump and knelt on one knee before Zizlon’s scarred feet.

At last, Ade looked up at Zizlon. His intelligent eyes were so clear that it did not feel like a dream. Zizlon, believing all of this to be an illusion, simply stared blankly at his friend. Then suddenly, Ade pulled him into an embrace. Two strong arms abruptly seized his frozen body in a tight hug.

In his arms, Zizlon’s body went limp with exhaustion. Despite it being a dream, he could feel a fiery warmth and the texture of rough cloth. Though he could not feel the freezing chill, his friend’s presence was bizarrely distinct. Then, all of a sudden, something hot began to boil in his stomach. It was an overwhelming sensation for the weary and weakened Zizlon. Before he could even feel a sense of doubt, he lost consciousness. He shuddered once as if struck by a chill, then his consciousness sank as if settling at the bottom of a deep spring.

Ade gave an order to the servant who was bowing his head.

“The water he was washed in, put it with the bathwater you washed in and throw it out, and burn the dirty blankets.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“You do not need to report back to me again. Prepare a meal for two at the table. And tell everyone not to enter the room until I say so.”

After nodding to the servant who bowed and left, Ade turned back and grasped the handle of the closed door. As he carefully opened the door and entered, the sight of the bedroom, where the morning sun was just beginning to stream in, was revealed. He could see the window that let in the sunlight, having been left slightly ajar, and the white bed situated in the corner of the room below it.

Momentarily flustered at not seeing the scene he had expected, Ade’s expression returned to one of composure when he discovered a person huddled imperceptibly in the corner of the bed. Hiding his complicated feelings, he entered the room feigning nonchalance and closed the door.

He asked in an indifferent tone.

“Are you awake?”

“…”

There was no answer from the other person. Zizlon, with the blankets pulled over his head like a sulking child, was huddled in the corner of the bed, peeking at him. His eyes were hollow and filled with vigilance. It was a gloomy expression unimaginable for Prince Zizlon, who had monopolized everyone’s affection with his gentle nature. His appearance also contributed to his gloominess.

Up until he was discovered, part of his ear had been torn and was scabbed over with blood. It was not convenient to call a doctor, so Ade had administered simple treatment himself. As a result, a bandage was wrapped around and around his head, along with cotton soaked in medicine. His appearance, with the bandages wrapped around him and dressed in white, was as eerie as a dead man who had just escaped his coffin.

Trying not to show his sorrow, Ade deliberately kept his words to a minimum. Acting composed, he calmly pulled up a chair and sat by the bed. While he was sitting down, Zizlon watched him the entire time. Then, as if to hide himself, he slowly pulled the blankets up to his neck. His gaze was so unstable that Ade was secretly frightened.

“My clothes.”

He had just settled in beside him but could not say a word. Unexpectedly, Zizlon spoke first.

“My clothes?”

This was the first thing he asked upon waking up. Ade, who had expected questions like ‘where am I?’ or ‘how did you find me?’, was slightly taken aback. Moreover, it was rather awkward to tell him the truth, which was ‘you weren’t wearing anything when I brought you here.’ It seemed his mind hadn’t been clear when he was sitting in the forest, so his memory of that time was probably hazy.

As Ade hesitated to answer, Zizlon grew increasingly sharp-edged as he pressed him.

“I asked, where did my clothes go?”

“I had them changed. They were too dirty.”

“…Did you see?”

“See what?”

“My body. I’m asking if you saw it.”

The short but aggressive words flew at him. Ade frowned and lifted his head. For a moment, he was at a loss for words at the sight of Zizlon’s glare, who was staring at him as if he were an enemy.

What was devastating was that Ade himself now knew why he was reacting that way, and what he wanted to hide. As Zizlon said, while personally washing his body, Ade had seen all the marks on his body himself, directly and in their entirety. How many times had he gasped each time he discovered them one by one under the cloth?

Ade gazed sorrowfully at the red handprint left on the prince’s neck. Then he slowly shook his head.

“I didn’t see.”

His throat was tight, making the lie sound somewhat unnatural. Perhaps because of that, Zizlon’s sharp interrogation immediately followed.

“My body has been washed. Don’t lie.”

“It’s true. I didn’t see.”

“Someone changed my clothes too.”

“I had a servant do it. I didn’t see anything.”

“What? A servant?”

The moment he heard Ade’s words, Zizlon’s face turned ashen. Ade thought, Oops, and averted his gaze. Then, hearing a fierce rustling sound, he looked up to see Zizlon jumping out of the bed. Startled, Ade stood up and grabbed him.

“Hey, where are you going? Do you know what condition you’re in?”

Zizlon paid no heed to Ade’s words and shouted whatever he pleased. His distorted face and sharp voice were laced with venom.

“Ade, bring that servant here right now!”

“Calm down and lie still! You’re running a terrible fever right now! You’ll be in real trouble if you keep this up!”

“Is that servant tight-lipped? No, that’s not what’s important. Listen to me carefully.”

It was then. Zizlon suddenly grabbed both of Ade’s shoulders. Pulled by the rough hands to face him, Ade’s image was reflected in pupils dilated like a madman’s.

“Bring that person here right now and kill him! Don’t ask for details, if you care for your friend’s honor!”

“…”

“Quickly! I’ll explain later!”

In his wretched state of mind, Ade let out a low groan. Could this person truly be the friend he knew? The friend who, as a child, couldn’t even kill a small rabbit and had smiled in embarrassment.

At last, Ade slowly took his friend’s arms and pulled them down, murmuring mournfully.

“…I can’t do that, Zizlon.”

“…”

At that, a grim light flickered in Zizlon’s eyes. A solemn voice followed.

“Is that so? Then move. I’ll do it myself.”

Zizlon immediately pushed Ade’s body away. As he tried to go straight out of the room, Ade quickly got ahead of him and blocked the door.

“Zizlon.”

“…”

Zizlon, who had been glaring silently at the closed door, shot Ade a glance. A sneer touched his face as he looked at Ade.

“Forget it. It’s fine if you don’t tell me… if I kill them one by one as I see them, I’m bound to get the right one eventually.”

“…”

Ade knew it was a futile bluff. The brief pause between his words proved it. No, seeing that desperate behavior, he might actually act on it if things didn’t go his way.

Zizlon was provoking Ade with his ghastly threat, and at the same time, he was goading himself. That was how desperate Zizlon was. He was cornered. So much so that he was pushing himself to commit a massacre he did not want.

Zizlon acted blindly, as if possessed by a ghost. As he stared at the door, silently urging him to move, Ade watched him, not with contempt or anger, but with simply troubled eyes. He watched without moving for a long while, until Zizlon came to his senses on his own.

At last, Zizlon, puzzled by the lack of reaction from the other, casually glanced at Ade, and upon seeing Ade’s eyes on him, he flinched.

Seeing Ade’s tormented eyes was the catalyst that brought Zizlon back to his senses. He felt his mind, which had been as murky as if shrouded in fog, finally clear up.

‘What did I just say?’

Only then did his reason return as if struck by lightning.

“…”

For a moment, the two men looked at each other with sad eyes. Zizlon’s face looked as if the sky had fallen, and he staggered backward. The face of Zizlon, who had realized the clear truth, was ashen. The whole time he staggered, Ade watched him with a grief-stricken expression.

Eventually, Zizlon felt tears welling up as if from a broken dam. He moved his trembling lips. And then he whispered as if groaning.

“…Forget… what I said.”

‘To think I would do something so crazy. In front of my departing friend, I finally revealed my lowest depths.’

Unable to bring himself to face his friend, Zizlon turned away. With his face hidden from Ade, he spoke in a listless voice.

“…I didn’t mean it. I wouldn’t have been able to do it anyway. I know, I know you lied. You didn’t have a servant do it. You did it yourself. Right?”

Ade merely watched him in silence. His slumped shoulders and bowed head from behind looked unusually small today. It was the first time in his life that Zizlon had ever seemed so weak.

Zizlon was a person born with a brilliant halo. From a very young age, he was a role model for his peers, and as he grew, he was a perfect friend who served as a guiding star for all. He was the kind of person who gave unconditional faith that it was always good to follow him. What on earth had made this friend so pathetic?

Zizlon returned to the bed in a miserable mood. He sat powerlessly on the edge of the bed like a defeated man and pulled the sheet up to wrap around his shoulders and body. Zizlon mocked himself. How ridiculous must it look to Ade, to be covering himself up now?

But he could not help it. Every second under his friend’s gaze was as agonizing as being on trial. If he did not do at least this much, he felt he could not endure any longer. It was a temporary measure.

“…”

As his mind gradually returned, Zizlon began to feel a surge of fear. As the drowsiness faded and a wider world came into his range of perception, he began to fully realize what kind of situation he was in. Above all, the worry of what his friend must have thought after seeing his naked body belatedly assailed him.

He did not know how Ade had discovered him. In any case, Ade had found him when he was defenselessly unconscious. And though he might have saved him without knowing the circumstances, he must have seen the marks on his body in the process, and no matter how little he knew, he would have surely figured out what kind of acts he had been engaged in. How could one not recognize the traces of being held by another man?

I’ve been found out! That was the thought that struck Zizlon’s mind at that moment. His mind instantly went blank. Regret followed. He thought that he should have died sooner. Now that they were parting, he realized that he had failed to be remembered in a good light.

It was all Aion’s fault. That person had sickened his body and mind with wicked spells and poisons. It was all his fault that he had lost his self-control, gotten angry, and flustered Ade. Wicked, cruel Aion. Aion, who had destroyed even the sublime friendship he had tried to protect until the very end.

The very next moment, something crossed Zizlon’s mind. It was the ideal he had always dreamed of. His fantasy of confessing everything, being forgiven, and becoming free. When that came to mind, Zizlon thought that this was the perfect opportunity to make that fantasy a reality.

He had to explain. Yes, it was the perfect moment to confess everything. Hadn’t he already hit rock bottom? Could things get any worse? Now was the time to reveal everything and leave his fate to the other’s judgment. A more suitable opportunity would never come again. Surely, at this final moment, God had given his weak back a push.

The trembling Zizlon finally moved his lips. But what came out of his mouth was a completely different story from what he had hoped for. A ridiculous excuse.

“…You, you understand… you, you heard it too, right? That my mind isn’t right… Sometimes things I don’t mean just come out. I think I must be going crazy.”

And he finished his words with a pathetic, hearty laugh. It was a laugh that came out on its own because his appearance, smiling as if to curry favor, was so hideous. In contrast to that, tears welled up in his eyes from self-loathing. To the very last moment, he was so busy avoiding the issue because he lacked that paltry bit of courage. To admit that he was a madman for that purpose. How could I be so servile?

But when he tried to say Aion’s name, his lips would not budge, as if they were under a curse. Zizlon thought. Could it be that he really cast a spell on my lips?

How many times had he dreamed? Of himself confessing his sins in a fantasy. And of someone shedding tears of sorrow with him, without casting any ethical judgment. But in reality, Zizlon could not even get to the scene of confessing his sins, the prelude to his fantasy. All because of his dull and pathetic nature that couldn’t even take a risk. Zizlon shed tears of grief.

All this time, Ade had just been watching him silently. Suddenly, a question arose in Zizlon’s sad heart.

‘Why isn’t he saying anything? What is he thinking?’

Even though he had claimed to be a pathetic madman to escape the crisis, Ade said nothing. Zizlon was on the verge of going crazy with anxiety and fear. Words like ‘you disgusting bastard’ or ‘I’m disappointed in you’ did not come. To make the frozen time move again, he had to lift his head and check Ade’s expression himself. He had to raise his head and face the judgment passed down upon him. He was afraid to imagine the expression, whether it would be one of sorrow, contempt, or pity. Zizlon realized. He still had not let go of his vain expectations. He was shamelessly hoping that ‘the him in the fantasy’ would be Ade.

Zizlon was thirsty to hear even formal words of comfort like ‘it’s okay’ from his friend’s mouth. A thirst arose as if he were in the middle of a desert, and his tongue went dry. A disgusting emotion, trembling with fear yet fluttering with hope, muddled his mind.

Meanwhile, Ade, oblivious to the hell unfolding in Zizlon’s mind, stared at Zizlon’s back. He was not despising his friend. He was simply at a loss for words at the tragedy of the situation. Though he was known in high society for his fluent eloquence, at this moment he was silent as if he had become a mute. In the face of overwhelming tragedy, his flexible tongue had stiffened. He just could not think of the right words.

There were many things he wanted to ask. ‘Why are you trying to hide the truth to the point of blaming yourself like that?’, ‘Don’t you trust me?’, ‘Were you always that kind of person?’, ‘No matter how weak-willed you are, were you the kind of person who couldn’t even resist once, while being beaten until you bled? The kind of person who just stupidly takes the hits?’ These were words he would have said without reservation if Zizlon had not been so precariously on the verge of collapse.

“Ah!”

It was then. Zizlon suddenly turned around and rushed at him like the wind. Ade, confronted by Zizlon’s tear-stained face, froze like an idiot, and had the sword at his waist snatched away by the fiercely charging man.

In the blink of an eye, he had drawn the sword from Ade’s scabbard and immediately pointed it at his own neck. Just as he was about to put force into it and slit his throat, Ade, snapping to his senses, miraculously stopped him.

Ade struck Zizlon’s wrist with all his might, making him drop the sword. ‘Clang!’ The sword fell to the floor, and Zizlon, who had tried to slit his throat, clutched his reddened wrist and staggered back. Ade, who had hastily retrieved the sword, was so shocked that he yelled at him.

“What are you doing!”

“…”

Ade sheathed the sword and rushed over. His heart was pounding as if it would explode from the aftershock of seeing the touch-and-go moment. When he roughly grabbed his friend’s hand, he saw red blood. In that moment, Ade’s mind went dizzy. His neck was fine, but his hand had been scratched in the process of dropping the sword. Blood was seeping from the shallow cut, and seeing it, Ade was so angry it felt like his vision was turning red. He hastily wrapped Zizlon’s hand tightly with a blanket.

“Are you out of your mind?!”

Ade demanded, enraged. Zizlon, his spirit broken, mumbled in a powerless voice.

“You don’t have to worry. It’s just a small cut.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about! A suicide attempt! Were you really trying to die? In front of your friend, no less?”

Ade was on the verge of wanting to beat his friend to a pulp. But as the agitated man shouted repeatedly, Zizlon’s breathing became more and more unstable. Ade belatedly realized his mistake.

“S-sorry.”

Zizlon panted. His gaze darted left and right nervously, and he smiled servilely even as tears welled in his eyes. At that moment, a look of bewilderment spread across Ade’s face.

“My mind is… no, I’m sorry. I always seem to make mistakes around you.”

“…Zizlon.”

Belatedly realizing what he had done, Ade let out a groan and covered his face with his hands. Zizlon continued to mutter in an unstable voice.

“I-if I die here, you’ll be framed… especially with your sword… why did I do such a crazy thing… Ah, maybe this is someone’s scheme too…”

“Zizlon. Stop it.”

“Ah, this won’t do. I really shouldn’t be here. Let me go, Ade, leave the royal castle quickly. There’s someone in the castle who hates you. Nothing good will come from being associated with me, so hurry before you come to harm…”

“Damn it! I told you to shut up!”

“…”

At that moment, Ade suddenly roared, and Zizlon fell silent. Then he watched Ade’s reaction without a word. Ade, whose face was beet red with anger, glared at him for a long while, panting, before his face contorted wretchedly.

“…”

Overcome with emotion, Ade silently gripped Zizlon’s shoulders. Zizlon, with a confused expression, met his eyes, which were contorted and looking at him pleadingly.

He moved his lips for a long time as if he were about to say something. But he could not say anything. Instead, he suddenly pulled Zizlon into a powerful embrace. He held Zizlon so tightly it was suffocating and said nothing for a long while.

At last, the bewildered Zizlon called out to him repeatedly. “Ade?” But Ade did not answer at all, and when Zizlon squirmed in his arms, he only tightened his hold. Zizlon’s eyes darted around in confusion. For a long, long time, he was trapped in his embrace. And finally, a low, trembling voice reached his ear.

“Stop it, please…”

“…”

“I know. What was done to you…”

At that moment, Zizlon inhaled sharply.

“…You know?”

“Yes.”

Zizlon, who had been still, stirred. He urgently hit Ade’s chest as if to say, ‘let go of me.’ But Ade stubbornly tightened his arms. Inside his embrace, Zizlon’s breathing grew louder and rougher.

“H-how much? How much do you know?”

“…Last night. I happened to see inside your room.”

Zizlon’s complexion turned white. His hands hitting Ade’s chest grew more urgent. When even that did not work, Zizlon began to claw at Ade’s back. But Ade absolutely would not release his arms. He knew all too well that Zizlon would run away the moment he let go.

“…Let go! Let me go! How much? How much did you see?”

“Zizlon…”

“You, you don’t know anything. You… you don’t know anything about him! Let go, let’s talk!”

“…Yes, maybe so.”

“Let go! I said let go! Let me go!”

“But I can still comfort you.”

At that moment, Zizlon’s struggles stopped as if by magic. He ceased his resistance all at once and looked at his friend’s back with surprised eyes. Only then did he realize that Ade’s back was trembling slightly.

“Please…”

From some point on, Ade’s entire body, pressed against his, was trembling intermittently. Zizlon, realizing his voice was tinged with moisture, wore a dumbfounded expression.

“Please… stop blaming yourself…. Is that your fault…? It feels like I’m doing something awful to you… Damn it….”

Muffled words spilled from his shoulder. As if to mock the long time he had spent choosing his words, what Ade offered was pathetic. He muttered a quiet curse and stopped talking. Then, Zizlon could hear a small sob and feel his shoulder growing damp.

“…”

Zizlon, having stopped resisting, relaxed his body and went limp. Ade’s sobs were as sweet as he had heard in his dreams. The pressure of the firm arms holding him and the trembling of the body were a sweet miracle he had not felt even in his fantasies.

While wondering whether this was a dream or reality, tears once again welled up in Zizlon’s eyes. The tears gradually formed into drops, then, unable to bear their own weight, they streamed down his cheeks. Tears traced a path once more on his red, chapped cheeks.

Unconsciously, Zizlon was crying. While he cried, Ade held him and silently cried with him. Zizlon, shedding tears blankly, thought. Now that he saw it, that Villeneuve was a hopeless crybaby too.

After crying for a long while, Zizlon fainted again. When Ade caught his body, it was as hot as a ball of fire.

Ade, who had sent a message to the castle that the prince would be resting for a while, laid Zizlon on his own bed and nursed him. Fortunately, perhaps thanks to the physical strength he had cultivated for a long time, Zizlon was able to regain some of his energy by the afternoon. When Zizlon opened his eyes again as the noon sunlight poured in, Ade was sitting beside him, watching over him. Zizlon held Ade’s hand, reconfirming that what had happened to him was not a dream.

For Zizlon, who had regained his strength, a simple table was set up on the bed. A bowl of porridge and a glass of water was a humble menu to serve the prince of a nation, but it was rich in care and nutrition. Not only did Ade allow Zizlon to eat on his bed, but he also personally placed the tray on his lap, willingly taking on the role of an attendant.

While eating, Zizlon explained to Ade what had happened in the meantime. Once his secret was discovered, he was able to confess everything with a calmness that surprised even himself. Of course, he appropriately omitted the parts that were too explicit. It was mostly about his body. That story was not only unnecessary but also too unpleasant for others to hear.

“…”

Although he had to stop Ade about three times when he suddenly grabbed his sword and tried to run out with an ominous expression during their conversation, Zizlon’s confession came to a surprisingly calm end. In the silence of the day, the sound of Zizlon setting down his cup was heard, and Zizlon finally finished speaking. His expression was surprisingly serene.

Ade was staring at Zizlon’s face with a solemn expression. Seeing the prince wearing a calm expression as if nothing had happened, he felt an uncomfortable sense of dissonance. The prince’s intense state he had seen just a few hours ago seemed like a lie. But in truth, that was probably his real self. He even felt a small sense of awe. Because it occurred to him that even though his spirit was in tatters, he had managed to act so composed.

“Um… so.”

A moment later, Ade opened his mouth with difficulty. But he could not bring himself to say anything and hesitated before closing it again. What he had just heard was so devastating that it was hard to speak easily.

He was blackmailed. So he gave his body. And consistently at that. It was summarized in dry, brief words, but the content was by no means light. He could not even imagine how horrible the pain must have been in that process. It was dumbfounding that a person who was the crown prince of a nation could be trampled so ruthlessly.

It was then. As Ade remained silent, Zizlon let out a low laugh instead.

“I know. I’m so foolish, aren’t I?”

“What are you talking about.”

Ade’s face immediately hardened as he listened. As he was about to jump up from his seat, Zizlon calmly pressed his shoulder to stop him.

“—Those kinds of words.”

“Don’t say them. I get it.”

Zizlon responded with composure. After a nod, he placed the tray on the nightstand next to the bed, which Ade watched with a sharp sideways glance. Fortunately, the bowl was empty. ‘That’s a relief, he seems to have gotten some energy back,’ Ade thought. He had been worried because Zizlon couldn’t even hold his spoon properly with his injured hand, but he had eaten to some extent and was speaking quite well. Although he did cough frequently. Still, he looked much more spirited than at dawn, when he had seemed so precarious he might collapse at any moment. It was just as Ade was inwardly letting out a sigh of relief. The prince, who had been coughing with difficulty, carefully brought up a topic.

“Um… anyway, I have to go back to the queen.”

“What?!”

This time, Ade shot up from his seat. He could see Zizlon flinch in surprise at the loud noise. But Ade was so angry that he did not even notice his reaction. After he went to the trouble of rescuing him, barely calming him down, and feeding him, what did he say? That he would go back to that place? It was so absurd he felt a sense of betrayal.

“What… did you just say?”

“I’ve been away for too long… and if you sent word to the castle, they’ll know I’m here. It will attract attention in many ways. You might fall out of the queen’s favor…”

Zizlon, who had shrunk back from Ade’s roar, answered as if making an excuse. As soon as he heard the answer, flames erupted in Ade’s chest.

“Me? So what if it’s me? Do I look so unreliable that I’d lose to a disgusting lecher like that?”

“Calm down. I didn’t mean to insult you. I just mean, it’s better to be safe if possible…”

But Ade cut him off and declared firmly.

“No.”

“Ade.”

Zizlon called him in a placating tone, but Ade looked very resolute. Rather, he seemed so angry at Zizlon’s words that he did not know what to do with himself. Unable to overcome his boiling anger, he stood up from his seat. Then, with a stride full of rage, he paced restlessly around the room. It was obvious that he was holding himself back from shouting at his friend in a fit of anger.

“Are you in your right mind right now? To go back on your own two feet to the one who put you in this state.”

“That’s… true. But the situation can’t be helped. He is more cunning than you think. And…”

He is more obsessed with me than you can imagine. Zizlon swallowed the words that were to follow. His face grew hot at the thought of saying such a thing himself. Even though he knew Ade would not laugh at him, he was too ashamed of himself to say it.

Without noticing Zizlon’s anxious gaze, Ade was now glaring at the innocent window. He scowled at the sky, which was only blue.

By nature, he detested fussily calculating gains and losses, so he had long had no interest in politics. Sycophants who fawned over power were the type he hated most, so he made a point of keeping his distance. Because of that, he was a layman in politics to a degree that did not befit his status, and was ignorant of political schemes. Therefore, it was also true that he did not know how much influence the queen had been wielding recently.

However, no matter how uninterested he was, he was the son of Grand Duke Villeneuve, who was said to be among the top ten most influential figures in the kingdom. He was of a superior lineage that had never needed to bow to anyone except the royal family since birth, and thus, he had no reason not to act as he pleased his entire life. His indifference was not laziness but power.

Being born of such a lineage, his mere existence could have a massive impact on the political world. It was not that he was ignorant of reason or arrogant either. He just had not had any interest in politics until now, but Ade did not doubt for a moment that he could use his status for the right cause if he put his mind to it.

“If they’re going to notice, let them.”

Therefore, he answered confidently. His friend Zizlon seemed to be scared and trying to overprotect him, but Ade was convinced that a new phase of his life would now begin. Because he had finally realized his friend’s hardship and had decided to stay by the side of the friend he had only thought of leaving. From now on, he would have to actively jump into the vortex of power.

“Ade.”

Hearing a worried voice, he turned around to see Zizlon looking at him with a tormented face. Ade stared blankly at his weak expression. It was absurd to think he had tried to leave such a friend behind. At the same time, he was angry at the other. He was on the verge of death himself, yet he had tried to bear it all alone.

Thinking about what he must have been thinking in front of that cold spring in the Caritas Forest a few hours ago sent shivers down his spine. He was certain that if he had not found out first, this frustrating friend would not have told him the truth even at the moment he gave up his own life. That was the kind of person his friend was. Unless someone pushed him from behind, he would never indulge himself.

Ade decided to do what he did best. And that was to be stubbornly insistent for his indecisive friend. Since they were children, Zizlon had never been able to win when he pushed his opinion. Even if he was working diligently, he would eventually raise both hands in surrender and drink or go to sleep early.

‘You’re going to deeply regret that I found out your secret. Had I not known, it would be one thing, but now that I know, I’m going to meddle so persistently you’ll be sick of it.’

At last, Ade’s eyes shone as he declared resolutely.

“Zizlon, I have now sworn to protect you. Do you want to make me a man who breaks his oath as soon as he makes it?”

“That’s…”

“You understand? A knight’s oath carries the weight of his life. If you refuse it…”

Ade let his words trail off, and Zizlon’s complexion turned pale as he noticed him meaningfully stroking his scabbard. He knew better than anyone that his friend was a man of his word. Moreover, the son of the proud Villeneuve family would not make empty promises. His father, Duke Villeneuve, was a man who would not hesitate to cut off his own son’s head if he broke an oath.

As Zizlon fell silent, Ade, noticing the atmosphere calming down, put down his sword and smiled gently. He returned to sit by the bedside and changed the subject in a deliberately cheerful mood.

“Well, it’s too late to go back to the castle today anyway. I’ve told them you went out hunting with me early this morning, so it should be fine. It’s happened often, right? It’s a bit of a shame that the schedule you were supposed to attend today will be canceled because of me. What were you planning to do originally? Go to a public hearing? Attend a class? Or maybe training?”

“I don’t know. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to go to training. As for classes or public hearings…”

“Oh, shoot, I was only thinking of boring things. Talking about work and studies to a patient. But you’re usually such a stuffy guy. Anyway, for the time being, don’t think about anything troublesome. Just leave it to me. I have to pay the price for making my poor friend suffer.”

Zizlon, sensing his friend’s intention to lift his spirits, smiled gently. Ade chattered away, trying to keep him from having other thoughts.

“Just for today, don’t worry about anything and focus on getting better. To be honest, you look like a mess. Ah, what I mean is your complexion is like a corpse’s. You’re a patient, so for today, just quietly accept the food I feed you. Like a baby bird eating its feed. Whatever it is, just skip all the annoying stuff. Put all the blame on me. You’re good at making excuses that your bad friend tempted you.”

“You’re really too much. You, who actually used to tempt me onto the wrong path all the time.”

“Oh, listen to you. You enjoyed it deep down too. And if it weren’t for my efforts, you would have died from overwork a long time ago.”

Ade put on a whole act, then got up with a show of being busy and approached the pot boiling on the hearth. Then he personally poured a cup of hot milk and placed it firmly in Zizlon’s hand. He even draped a thick blanket over his shoulders.

Zizlon felt as if he had become a child. The unfamiliar side of his friend was so awkward that he found himself scratching his arm. Finally, unable to bear it, Zizlon glared at the bustling Ade.

“This is making me so antsy I can’t stand it. What are you doing that’s so out of character?”

Ade’s eyes widened as if he had heard an absurd accusation.

“Shut up. I’ve always been a considerate man. Ask my ex-lovers. You wouldn’t believe it even if you heard how amazing my manners were.”

“Then why have I never seen this considerate man’s kindness until now?”

“Because it wasn’t necessary. Why would I take care of a guy built like a mountain?”

“Aha, so you’re saying you used those skills to seduce the fine men and women of the capital.”

Zizlon snorted loudly as if to make sure he heard, and brought the milk to his lips. Ade, even after being insulted, seemed pleased and kept chuckling. It seemed he was that happy to be joking with his friend for the first time in a while.

Then, Zizlon, with a white mustache around his lips, raised his head as if he had realized something.

“Wait a minute, you said ‘ex-lovers’? Are you not seeing anyone right now?”

“I’ve been single for ages, you’re asking awfully late.”

Ade rolled his eyes in a delinquent manner and clicked his tongue loudly. Zizlon scratched his head, embarrassed. It was true that he had been indifferent to his recent affairs.

“What about Lady Linshel, whom you were so hung up on? Sir Leonard?”

“We broke up a long time ago.”

“Huh, I can’t believe it. I must have been quite indifferent to your news. No lover. The world’s greatest playboy knight.”

“Shut up. My love life is on temporary hiatus. Would you mind not damaging my reputation by talking as if my being single is something special?”

“But it is strange. You being single. I don’t think your lover’s spot has been vacant since you were twelve.”

“Well, that’s why I’m doing this with you, isn’t it.”

“Doing this with me? What…?”

It was the moment Zizlon trailed off in confusion. Ade’s eyes widened and he clamped his mouth shut like a clam. Then, for some reason, he suddenly turned his head and looked at the distant sky.

Zizlon, bewildered, rolled his eyes, then a moment too late, covered his mouth as he realized his mistake. He realized that his question could be interpreted in a strange way. And he praised himself for not asking back, ‘What do you mean?’ One more word and he might have made the atmosphere weird. It would be strange from Ade’s perspective for a friend who had just been held by a man to ask such a question.

‘I almost made a blunder. I hope Ade doesn’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean to say I feel romantic feelings for men.’

After a sheepish laugh, Zizlon remembered an important matter and changed the subject.

“Ah, right. I have something to say.”

“I have an idea.”

“What do you mean?”

Ade, sensing that Zizlon’s mood had changed considerably, pulled his chair closer.

“Are you aware that the queen’s influence has reached a dangerous level recently?”

“I don’t know the details, but I have sensed that his name comes up often among the celebrities of the capital.”

“It’s beyond anything you can imagine, Ade. I don’t know what wicked means he used… it’s shameful to say, but for a long time now, his will has been the will of the royalist faction. The one who allowed it to become this way is, of course, His Majesty.”

“…Could it be, the reason you and His Majesty have seemed on bad terms recently is…”

“That’s right. It’s because I opposed the queen’s decisions on every single matter.”

“Hmm…”

While Zizlon sublimated his shame into a bitter smile, Ade let out a groan and clasped his hands together.

Zizlon decided not to mention that the queen seemed to have used sorcery to bewitch the king. The fact that the time his father began to treat him coldly roughly coincided with the time the queen began to show his true colors. Because he knew it would sound like crazy talk to someone hearing it for the first time.

“But it’s not yet at a point where it can’t be reversed. It’s true that his moves are unusual, but it doesn’t seem like he has started to act in earnest yet. Because of that, his goal is still a mystery. Anyway, young nobles, including myself, are gathering our wills for the purpose of checking his influence before he acquires dangerous power. Well, not all of them have joined with such pure intentions, but for now, most of them are righteous people who are worried about the future. As it happens, I have a meeting with them tomorrow.”

“Aha. I see what you’re trying to say.”

Ade, who had been listening, smiled brightly and snapped his fingers with a ‘click’.

“You’re asking me to join, right? I haven’t been involved in politics until now, but if it’s a meeting with such a good purpose, I’ll gladly join. Above all, I trust your judgment.”

Instead of answering, Zizlon stared at Ade’s face, lost in thought. Of course, it would be a great help if he joined the noble faction. Although he was a layman in politics, he was the son of one of the country’s only three dukes, and moreover, that Duke Villeneuve was one of the traditional and representative royalist nobles.

Currently, Duke Villeneuve had taken a step back from the scene and was remaining silent, but if his son Ade got involved, one could expect that it would add strength to the noble faction’s moves, and even if not, he would at least not actively cooperate with the royalist faction.

In the latter case, there was an additional effect. Those who were afraid of falling out of the duke’s favor would watch their own step. Also, if things went well, it might provide an opportunity for the king to reconsider his choices. Either way, Ade’s joining was a huge gain. However, that was not what Zizlon wanted. At last, he shook his head.

“No, I want you to treat me coldly, just as you have been doing.”

“What do you mean?”

“You heard me. I don’t want the fact that we have reconciled to be known to the outside. What happened today is only for us to know.”

Ade looked as if he could not believe his ears. Wiping the smile from his face in an instant, he put on a terribly fierce expression. Zizlon calmly watched the anger-filled eyes turn towards him, and him resolutely clamping his lips shut.

“You… let me say it again. I…!”

“This time, it’s no use no matter what you say.”

The moment Ade tried to protest, Zizlon cut him off firmly. His will was frighteningly firm. He was not anxiously watching his friend’s anger like before. On the contrary, he faced Ade directly with a face as firm as steel. Ade, seeing him staring into his eyes, was so dumbfounded that he let out a small, mirthless laugh.

Ade asked sarcastically.

“Why should I listen to you? What’s in it for me? I don’t want to take my anger out on you for no reason anymore. Do you know how much I regret what I did to you during those few short days? And yet, what?”

“It’s different from then. This time, it’s an act.”

“That’s ridiculous. You’ll get hurt even if it’s an act.”

“…I’m not that weak, Ade.”

“What? Not weak? Ha! That’s quite a spectacle! Well now, this is very funny!”

This time, Ade could not hold it in and burst into a mad laugh. He was so dumbfounded that he was past the point of being angry. The one who was withering away, unable to confess the truth while his insides were in tatters, was now speaking so glibly! It was like seeing a con artist telling a ridiculous lie to his face.

‘A person like that is enduring such an act? The one who was groaning and bottling it all up until he lost his mind, and then ran away naked like a madman from the crack of dawn, is what? Not weak?’

While Ade was so furious he was momentarily at a loss for words, Zizlon calmly continued his explanation.

“There would be many good things if you joined our side. But in return, it brings great danger. It will draw too much attention. Because your presence is so great, it could excessively provoke the queen’s faction. The atmosphere will become even more grim than it is now, and more than anything, it will provoke the queen too much.”

“So what if it provokes him. I’m not scared at all.”

“Ade.”

Ade was being stubborn like a child. While Ade was angry, Zizlon was anxious in his own way.

“To be honest, I’m not confident I won’t kill that bastard the next time I run into him.”

“Please don’t, Ade… I don’t want any more conflict.”

“You just stay still. I’ll take care of everything…”

“Please. I hope to see as little blood as possible……. I’m so tired.”

As Zizlon smiled feebly, Ade, who had been pacing the room, stopped in his tracks.

“…”

Ade, who had been staring at Zizlon’s bitter smile for a moment, finally pressed his lips together firmly. And then he quietly returned to his seat. He still had a dissatisfied expression, but he no longer got angry or raised his voice. It seemed that the fact that he had made Zizlon’s life difficult had been quite a shock to him.

“…Damn it.”

At last, Ade let out a sigh along with a single curse. It was a sign of surrender.

“…Alright. But only as long as you are safe. I don’t want to go along with your ‘great’ plan while pretending not to see your danger.”

“Thank you. That’s enough.”

Zizlon smiled gently, and Ade watched it with a reluctant expression. For some reason, he could not shake the feeling that he had been tricked. As Ade sat there with a sour look on his face, Zizlon continued his explanation.

“There’s one advantage we can expect when you don’t reveal our reconciliation to others. The Villeneuve family isn’t particularly involved in this matter, but the Duke is a royalist noble in both name and reality. If you say nothing, you will naturally be treated as being half on the queen’s side, and the royalist faction won’t find your approach strange either. No, they’ll welcome it. In other words, you can use your position to bring us good information.”

“What kind of information do you want?”

“The one final blow that can finish him for sure.”

Zizlon murmured grimly.

“I need definitive proof that he is making a mockery of the king and the state affairs. Petty things won’t do. His Majesty will protect him. But if we catch definite proof, even my father, who has been defending him until now, will think differently. Because he is a resolute man when it comes to matters of the state. He may have been temporarily deafened, but he is fundamentally a person who knows how to separate public and private affairs.”

Then Ade, who had been listening quietly, carefully suggested.

“…Have you no thought of telling His Majesty what you’ve been through?”

But no sooner had he heard those words than Zizlon’s face hardened frightfully.

“No. Something like that is not an option. It’s an easy method, but there’s a reason I haven’t done it until now. First of all, by the time I realized what he was doing to me, my royal father had already developed a dislike for me. If I confess now, there’s a high chance he will doubt my purity, and I also have the sin of hiding the circumstances from His Majesty multiple times, so I cannot reveal it with a clear conscience. Moreover… my father’s judgment is clouded, and there is a possibility that he will become enraged just by the fact that I have come into contact with the queen. That is why the queen’s downfall must be achieved through political means.”