TTQI 7

Sensing something unusual in the queen’s demeanor, the prince cautiously asked. The pale, expressionless face seemed no different from usual, but the prince, keenly attuned to others’ moods, had never been wrong about such instincts.

Aion turned his head, avoiding the concerned gaze, and bit his lip. Facing the prince’s gentle eyes, he recalled the teasing remarks Sir Villeneuve had made hours earlier, and a wave of nausea surged within him. A sudden flare of anger rose. After a moment of silence, the queen, resolute, mustered the courage to ask, “Prince, could you spare a moment for me?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected request, the prince blinked. “Pardon? Is there something you wish to say?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… Is it something inappropriate to discuss here?”

“I’d prefer a place where it’s just the two of us.”

The prince was puzzled. Not only was the situation unclear, but he also had no inkling of what the queen wanted to talk about. The queen’s unusual demeanor, evading answers while pressing for a conversation, was far from ordinary. Though he couldn’t grasp what was happening, the queen’s behavior suggested he was about to discuss something very serious.

‘Why do I feel so uneasy?’

It was a strange day. The deer by the blood pool had vanished, his friend had fallen from his horse. As Zizlon looked at the queen, he felt an inexplicable unease. He even felt an odd impulse to send the queen away, but his kind nature suppressed the instinct. As always, he nodded gently.

“Very well. Shall we go somewhere private? To your chambers, perhaps?”

“There are likely attendants there. If it’s alright, perhaps your room…”

“Understood. Follow me.”

Zizlon nodded readily and led the queen to his room. As he walked ahead, the queen followed quietly, but the prince’s unease persisted, causing him to glance back at the queen several times. The queen’s silent steps and blank expression, which he usually paid no mind to, now felt unsettling. The entire way, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was making a grave mistake.

“Here we are. Come in.”

After climbing a flight of stairs and walking down a corridor, they finally reached a room tucked away at the far end. The prince’s room was uniquely situated in an inconvenient corner. It might seem odd for someone of his noble status to use such an inaccessible room, but it was a thoughtful arrangement by the king. The room connected to a secret passage used only by the royal family along the castle’s outer wall, a considerate gesture to allow the crown prince, who had to maintain a public image, to rest without scrutiny. Heavy curtains hung over the windows, and the adjacent rooms were deliberately left empty.

The queen entered the room Zizlon opened, looking around. Befitting a crown prince, the spacious room had a luxurious red carpet. The dark brown furniture was plain, focused on practicality rather than ornamentation. The desk bore traces of the prince’s daily official duties. The room wasn’t lavish but felt cozy and orderly. An attendant must have been there, as a fire burned in the hearth, casting a warm, reddish glow throughout.

Zizlon closed the door behind him and said, his cheerful voice echoing in the somewhat dim room, “Now that I think about it, this is your first time in my room. I’ve always visited you. How about coming over to visit next time?”

“…”

“Will you tell me what’s on your mind now? I’m sorry, but I have urgent matters. Others might be looking for me…”

“Prince Zizlon.”

Suddenly, the queen, who had been surveying the room, turned sharply and stared at Zizlon. The prince, who had been smiling brightly, immediately shut his mouth. The queen’s unfamiliar expression made his eyes waver uncontrollably. The queen stepped closer, and Zizlon instinctively took a deep breath.

“Your Majesty…?”

“How do you think of me?”

Aion, with a desperate, pleading expression, took another step forward. Zizlon, without realizing, stepped back.

“What do you mean…?”

The flustered prince trailed off. Aion, giving him no chance to retreat, pressed again, “Do you hold me dear?”

“Of course I do. Why do you ask?”

“Not like that. I’m asking… do you love me?”

“…As I’ve said before, I care for you like a younger brother. Loving family is only natural…”

“No, that’s not what I mean!”

Something was clearly wrong.

The unusually emotional queen spoke strangely, for reasons unknown. Urging an answer, he seemed fragile and anxious, like a child on the verge of tears.

Zizlon clearly noticed the subtle change but, for some reason, didn’t want to acknowledge it. Even as the queen’s face contorted with longing eyes, he clung to an awkward smile.

Aion, still agitated, closed the distance step by step, while Zizlon kept retreating until his back hit the wall. With nowhere left to go, the queen pressed close. Zizlon’s widened pupils met Aion’s trembling ones. Finally, he lost his smile entirely, his shock plain on his face.

Aion muttered in a voice laced with resentment, “Why were you so kind to me?”

“What… what?”

“Didn’t you ever feel something more for me?”

“What are you saying? Please move.”

“You brought this on yourself, Prince. I tried to stop. Why didn’t you leave when you had the chance?”

“Your Majesty! Someone might see! Step back and calm down!”

“But was I really nothing to you? Did it mean nothing to leave me behind?”

“I…!”

Just as Zizlon, losing his composure, was about to shout, Aion lunged at him. In the next moment, Zizlon’s eyes widened in shock. Aion had embraced him and stolen a kiss.

For a moment, unable to process the situation, the prince stood frozen like a statue. But when the queen, tears streaming, bit his lip, Zizlon snapped awake as if struck by lightning. He pushed the queen away forcefully. Aion stumbled back five or six steps.

“Your Majesty…”

Zizlon, horrified, covered his mouth and muttered. The queen, head bowed, gave a bitter smile, unable to meet the prince’s eyes, standing there motionless.

For a while, the prince was silent. Aion waited like a prisoner awaiting judgment. The brief silence felt like an eternity. Still, Aion held a sliver of hope—until the prince’s cold voice broke it.

“What is this?”

When Aion looked up, the prince’s usual warm smile was gone. Zizlon stared at him with a chillingly stern expression, his blue eyes shimmering with betrayal, shame, and disappointment.

He muttered, as if lamenting, “I showed you kindness with a pure heart. And this is how you repay me?”

“…”

“There are sacred principles and norms in this world. The feelings you harbor are perverse and taboo. Did you think this could be… permitted? I’m disappointed in you. I never thought you’d be so shortsighted.”

Aion clasped his trembling hands together. Silent and head bowed, he heard Zizlon’s words like a final verdict: “We’ll pretend this never happened.”

Zizlon turned away, drawing a cold line and walking off without hesitation. Aion, shocked, instinctively rushed forward and clung to his back. It was a final act of desperation born of fear. The prince stopped abruptly, hand on the doorknob. Clutching his back, Aion pleaded, “Prince! I tried to hold back. But… I love you, and I couldn’t help it. Zizlon, please look at me again. Forget about principles and norms, just think about it seriously once. Please. Don’t you feel anything when you look at me?”

Aion’s voice, clinging desperately, trembled as if he might burst into tears. The frail voice momentarily softened Zizlon’s heart.

“…You can’t do this to me!”

But he steeled himself. What was wrong was wrong. Zizlon had no intention of giving false hope.

“Let go!”

Determined to be resolute, the prince forcibly pried off the arms clinging to him and pushed the queen to the floor. Aion, legs giving out, collapsed helplessly. Seeing his pitiful state, Zizlon’s heart wavered again, but he thought of his father and hardened his resolve.

“Cool your head. I hope this never happens again!”

Glancing at the queen once more, Zizlon walked away firmly. The queen lowered his head. B**g! The door slammed shut, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps fading away.

The queen sat on the floor, head bowed. His expression was hidden by his drooping hair. A chilling silence settled over the room where shouts had echoed. Aion sat there, wordless, for a long time.

*

That night.

The king, exhausted from riding during the day’s hunt, was more tired than usual. Though he usually devoted excessive time to state affairs, tonight he changed into nightclothes early and returned to his chambers.

He had heard from an attendant that the queen seemed upset, likely shocked by Sir Villeneuve’s sudden injury. The king was waiting for the queen, whom he had summoned to comfort.

Soon, the queen knocked. Dressed in the king’s favorite light, flowing white garments, he stepped softly into the room. His porcelain face and emotionless expression were as unreal as ever.

The queen’s eyes met the king’s, who smiled and opened his arms. As if animated, the queen moved lively, approaching and leaning into the king’s embrace. But his eyes were cast down somberly, avoiding the king’s gaze, his face unusually pale. The emotional display was strikingly different from usual. The king, patting his back, asked, “My queen, why so somber? Is something wrong?”

In a subdued voice, the queen said, “Your Majesty, are you aware that Sir Villeneuve was injured?”

“I heard from an attendant. But it wasn’t a serious injury, was it?”

“But… I’m frightened that something like that happened to someone with me. Did you hear? An arrow came out of nowhere.”

“Ha, you must have been very startled. But I know Villeneuve isn’t the type to make enemies. It was probably a stray arrow. Don’t be too alarmed.”

“But… that could have happened to me.”

“That’s true. That’s why I assigned the prince to protect you.”

“But the prince left me. And Sir Villeneuve was injured and had to return. I was so scared.”

The king’s smile faded, replaced by concern. He rubbed the queen’s arms, as if ensuring he was unharmed.

“That was… my oversight. I thought that responsible boy would protect you well, but I didn’t expect him to act so carelessly. I’ll reprimand him sternly, so please rest easy.”

In the shadows, Aion’s eyes glinted momentarily.

“No, the prince isn’t at fault. I only wish… Your Majesty, please protect me well. I feel like someone hates me and wants to harm me.”

The king chuckled at the sudden plea. “It’s not like that. The arrow was an accident, wasn’t it?”

“Still…”

“Alright, alright. Shall I make a promise? I’ll protect you no matter what. Even if everyone else turns against you, I’ll be on your side. No matter what.”

“You must keep your promise.”

As the queen gave a faint smile, the king’s eyes wavered. Even an old king felt his heart race before the queen’s beauty, as if he were a boy again. Unable to believe such a person was by his side, he stroked the queen’s back repeatedly.

Yet the queen still seemed unsatisfied. Tilting his head and glancing at the king, his inner turmoil was evident. Seeing his emotions so openly, the king found it endearing and asked, “My queen, is something still troubling you?”

“Your Majesty… may I make one request?”

“Ha, why so hesitant? Speak freely. What wouldn’t I do for you?”

Despite the king’s urging, the queen hesitated. Only after the king promised not to be angry did he cautiously speak.

“I… I want to make medicine for Sir Villeneuve.”

The king’s gentle smile stiffened slightly. His hand, stroking Aion, paused, and he asked in a serious tone, “Do you mean you wish to perform magic?”

“It’s just making a simple salve… but yes.”

“But didn’t you promise your father in Komnena that you’d never practice magic again?”

The king of Yonaras had always viewed Komnena’s magic as sinister and inauspicious. Aion, who had seen the king’s wary gaze toward Komnena’s royal sorcerers, knew this well. Though his promise not to use magic was due to his father’s fear of a foreseen tragedy, even without that, the king of Yonaras would not tolerate magic in his castle. But Aion was determined to make him allow it.

Aion looked away, as if hurt, and asked, “Are you going to scold me? You promised not to be angry.”

The king, slightly flustered, softened his expression. “I’m not angry, but that request…”

“Please, Your Majesty. I can’t shake the thought that Sir Villeneuve was injured in my place. That arrow was surely meant for me. Thinking that, I feel responsible for his injury and can’t just do nothing.”

“But… must it be that way?”

Tears rolled down Aion’s porcelain cheeks. As he wiped them with his sleeve, the king’s eyes wavered—a sign his heart was softening. Seizing the chance, Aion drove the point home.

“It’s just a simple salve. It’s hardly even magic. Just mixing and setting good herbs.”

“…Hmm…”

The king embraced Aion’s waist again, deep in thought. Aion knew he had won. Sure enough, the king reluctantly nodded. “If it will truly ease your mind, I’ll allow it. What do I need to do?”

“Please make a small garden for me. And provide an empty room in the castle with tools to prepare the medicine.”

“Hmm… Is that really all?”

“Yes. I only need to make a salve for Sir Villeneuve.”

“Alright. But since the vassals might gossip, try not to get caught.”

“Oh! You’re allowing it? Thank you, Your Majesty.”

As Aion smiled like a flower and clung to the king’s neck, the king’s stern expression melted. Though he tried to be strict, he couldn’t suppress his smile and laughed, stroking Aion’s head.

“My queen, I’m not done. You must make a promise with me. Swear this will be the last time you use magic.”

“…Of course, Your Majesty. I promise.”

Aion nodded readily and kissed the king’s cheek. With that kiss, the king forgot his remaining worries. Satisfied with comforting his beloved queen, he smiled more contentedly than ever. Aion’s eyes glinted. In the shadowy embrace, his eyes were as dark as marsh reeds.