They stayed up all night. Erhart stayed with Rayan until the violent showers thinned out and the raging winds subsided and became calm. He held his hand and kissed him every time their eyes met.
His lips were biting sweet, and he could feel his thumping pulse under the palms wrapped around his neck. In the end, Rayan’s lips tingled.
‘It hurts. Let’s stop.’
Rayan pursed his swollen lips and pulled his face back. At that time, Erhart had no choice but to let go.
“Your Highness. Are you awake?”
Just before the sun rose, Erhart sent Rayan down, leaving his lingering regret behind. He said that he would come back tonight, and even kissed his cheek lovingly. He had to rub his face to hide the corners of his twitching mouth.
“Your Highness?”
Just when Leah was about to barge in having received no reply, Erhart called for her to come in only after taking off his robe and hiding it under the bed.
“Were you sick last night?”
Leah was clearly worried that he might have been sick all night. He had not been able to sleep well, and his eyes were dark underneath. He felt guilty because he lost track of time when he was with Rayan, but he soon put those feelings behind him.
“I’m fine.”
“Fortunately, it seems so…”
Erhart brushed his cheek for no reason because she was examining it carefully. He was needlessly conscious that his lips might look swollen.
“But what brings you here so early?”
The sun had just risen, so it was still too early to start the day. Especially for Erhart. These days, he had aligned the timing with the Emperor, but it was still early after taking that into account.
“His Majesty is looking for you.”
“His Majesty is?”
“It’s probably because of what happened yesterday.”
Last night, Erhart’s stubbornness briefly covered it up, but nothing was fundamentally resolved. Also, he apparently was not able to sleep all night worried about his son. Wasn’t that funny? If he was really worried about his son, he wouldn’t have waited until his frightened mind calmed down.
“Alright.”
He couldn’t not go. Erhart waved the bell. The attendants who had been waiting outside came inside with food and clothes. Leah’s face watching the preparation process was not good.
She knew that Erhart could not accidentally fall into the water. Besides, when he said yesterday that he felt like someone pushed him from behind, she recalled a face. The person who gave Erhart poisoned tea through a maid two years ago… The owner of the golden throne.
When Erhart finished his rough preparations and reached the bedroom where the Emperor was staying, he saw Olivia beside him. When she saw Erhart, she half-raised her body and sat down again.
“May all the glory reach His Majesty.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“Sit comfortably.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, there was no other discomfort.”
Erhart, with his eyes half-lowered, selected the appropriate words and continued his answer. His mind was full of thoughts of Rayan. It was half intentional. If he couldn’t think of anything else, he couldn’t bear being in the same space as the Emperor.
“That’s fortunate. Liv couldn’t sleep last night because she was worried about you.”
“Your Majesty is exaggerating.”
Olivia quickly denied his words. As if she was afraid that her worries and anxieties would worry the Emperor.
“Let me speak, Your Majesty. It’s okay because I saw the child’s face. I’m going to have to go because Marie is looking for me.”
“So be it.”
“I’ll look for you soon, Mother.”
Olivia nodded her head and lightly patted Erhart on the shoulder. thud. The massive door opened and closed afterwards, and the faint smile that had been on the Emperor’s face disappeared. He felt rather comfortable with a face that wasn’t even covered with fake affection.
“Prince.”
“Please speak. Your Majesty.”
“I brooded all night. Is it really true that someone pushed you? Attempting to murder the imperial family is a crime worthy of treason. Did you see their face? Can you be sure?”
There was a flash of glint in his cold, gray eyes.
The intent of the question was too clear. He probably picked out nobles who were mostly friendly to Erhart, and thought of putting the blame on one of them. And the most annoying family to the Emperor must have been the Margrave Canavan.
“Because I was drunk, I mistook being pushed by the wind for someone. Besides, it rained all night long and the wind and waves were very rough.”
“…”
“With Your Majesty openly present, who would have dared to do such an outrageous thing to Your Majesty’s son? Besides, all those present are honored to know that they belong to Hesseles.”
He had to say that in front of everyone, purely to provoke him, but Erhart did not intend to let the Emperor go as he wished.
“Do not dishonor anyone for my sake, please.”
“Prince.”
“Didn’t you come here to rest and forget about state affairs? Since I am safe, I don’t want to become your Majesty’s concern. Also, Arhen is where I recovered my health. Everyone was kind to me, so I was able to recuperate comfortably. I hope only peace dwells here.”
The Emperor’s thin lips were tightly shut at the smooth and excellent speech.
He must have thought of various things throughout the night, brooding over Erhart’s words, but since all of them were about to fall apart, his mind would not be entirely peaceful.
“I apologize for making Your Majesty worry.”
“… There’s no need for that. It’s just devastating that this happened at a party celebrating your birthday. Didn’t the long-awaited event almost turn into a tragedy?”
“Since you think of me like this, I look forward to seeing you after returning to Djerba.”
Erhart said with a smile that he would come back when the time came, since he had come for the purpose of recuperation, and continued to offend the Emperor. He lowered his gaze. A tendon bulged in the back of his hand resting on his armrest.
“Since you say it was just an accident, I’ll leave it unresolved. Shall I do that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Also, it is better to refrain from drinking too much. It could have been a really bad accident.”
Erhart laughed crookedly. Who coerced him to drink that day? The first taste was sweet, but the alcohol that left the throat warm was not an ordinary alcoholic drink. He couldn’t come to his senses even after he fell into the water, so he even mistook Rayan for an illusion.
“I will take this incident as a lesson.”
The Emperor beckoned. Erhart went back after a light formality. It sounded like something broke when the door closed. Erhart did not dare to turn around to check the closed door. He walked slowly down the long hallway.
Erhart blinked his stiff eyes heavily. There were many things that happened, but he stayed up all day, so he was tired. After he closes his eyes for a bit, it would be time to meet Rayan. But by the way, why was his body so hot?
He would have to ask him when they meet today.
If he kissed him first, he might lose his mind and forget to ask… After thinking that far, the tips of his ears tingled. Erhart fanned his hands to cool off, fearing that no one would see him. A small smile crept across his lips as he turned the corner.
* * *
The Emperor looked at the shattered teacup with cold eyes. The chamberlain looked at the Emperor without even knowing what to do. The Emperor gestured as if he was annoyed and sent him away.
“Did the prince sense the magic?”
The Emperor, who had been gasping for breath for a long time, threw words at someone in the empty room. Then the one inside the curtain emerged and bent one knee to the ground.
“There was no noticeable wave.”
The Emperor lowered his eyes and saw the magic tool in the man’s hand. He was silent, unmoving.
“Then how did he come back alive?”
There was a slight nervousness on his disapprovingly frowning face. They were in the middle of the sea. The wind was also strong. But how did he come back alive? He couldn’t explain it unless he used a magic stone.
“Also, even if there is a magic stone, it is rare to be able to activate movement formation, Your Majesty. Especially while submerged in the middle of the sea.”
Then, was Erhart’s survival a miracle? Luck? The Emperor snorted. With each struck to the armrest, the sorcerer lowered his eyes.
“That magical tool cannot carefully capture natural innate magic right?”
“Yes, but Your Majesty… There is no such person who can do that anymore.”
“I don’t know. How can you be sure of that?”
The wizard didn’t say anything to the sharp refutation.
“As expected, that child is unpleasant to me.”
He could overlook it moderately when he was young, but now there were only a few years left before he became an adult. Besides, that arrogance and greed. The passing of time made him nervous. The prophecy was not forgotten and gnawed at his nerves every minute.
“It’s uncomfortable to see the prince come back alive. As I thought, I shouldn’t keep him alive for long.”
He had come to estimate how much longer he could keep Erhart alive, but the decision was made quickly. It was a beast hiding its claws. In Erhart’s eyes, whose face reflected Olivia’s brilliant features, ambition and hatred that could not be hidden shook.
He had that thought the day he came and met him, and today he became more convinced.
“However.”
The sorcerer blurted out his words.
“Her Highness Olivia…”
He was meaning to ask whether Olivia would be able to tolerate it. And he was well aware of the Emperor’s obsession with Olivia, and that is why Erhart has continued to live on that flimsy lifeline.
“Liv will not forgive me. She will hate me.”
Even so, he looked up with eyes wondering if he could kill Erhart.
“So I can’t let her hate me.”
“…”
“I can’t even let her resent me.”
The Emperor muttered meaningfully and rose from his seat. Shards of broken glass were trampled under his feet and crumbled to powder. The Emperor lightly brushed it off and called for the chamberlain.
“This much is enough for the trip. I was happy to see the grown-up prince, and Liv would be the same. However, I am extremely concerned about state affairs, which must have accumulated while I was away, so I will return to the palace as soon as everything is prepared.”
The stern voice was a supreme command. The Emperor turned around.
Bro, every time the Emperor makes an appearance I have to restrain the urge to smack the shite out of him 💀 He irritates me on a fundamental level.
Thank you for the chapter 😊
»Hee had not been able to sleep well..« He had
».. on the shoulder. thud. The massive door opened..« Thud (?)
».. brooding over Erhartt’s words, but since..« Erhart’s
Okay, either he also plans to kill off his wife first then his son, or he won’t tell her her son is dead? But the second one will be more impossible? Whatever, he has the nerve to call Erhart arrogant and greedy? Sure he isn’t talking about himself? lol Whatever will happen to you in the future is just your own fault, dear emperor :3 And you deserve it :3
Thx for the ch ٩(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )و
Erhart’s blush is so cute! Ugh emperor is so annoying, the prophecy he mentioned sounds like trouble but he still can’t kill our Rayan’s beloved human 😤
Thanks for the chapter! 🌹