Pr/Editor: Helen, Raven
It was unexpected for Erich to recover his memories of Rayan at the same time he disappeared. Either he would never remember it like he did previously, or he would gradually discover it long after Rayan had vanished.
Nevertheless, Rayan was anxious.
‘If he remembers you at the same time as your disappearance, will he be able to endure it?’
Asha’s foul and immoral whispers and his laughter consumed his thoughts day and night and did not dissipate. When Rayan was alone, he kept thinking about those words all the time, and wanted to go back to Asha and ask him what he meant. What on earth was he going to do to Erich? He wondered what kind of despair he was going to bring to that child.
But in the end, he couldn’t say anything.
He was worried that he might provoke Asha. He said it without any intention, but he was also afraid that it might give it some meaning.
He did not want to be swayed.
However, he didn’t know much about Asha. He couldn’t tell what the cold face with the constant smile was thinking. Even though he was the master of the Black Sea, he saved Rayan.
‘Shall I grant you one wish?’
Even though it seemed that he was on his side,
‘You have to give me something that will interest me. For example… Can you offer your guardian stone?’
In the end, he got Rayan in trouble behind the scenes.
‘… Will he be able to endure that despair?’
Also, even though there was no reason for them to meet again, he insisted on coming to land to show him favors and attempted to manipulate him with ambiguous words.
The end was still lurking at his feet. Thanks to Asha, his body had improved, but it had also increased his worries. Rayan tried to act calm when he was with Erich, but when he was alone, he groaned at the thought.
‘What would he do if he couldn’t bear the endless despair?’
The only thing he had to carry with him was himself, and his longing and despair were the same. Erich should not know anything. What lay in his life had to be tranquility. Rayan only desired that.
“I am coming in.”
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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“This is a doctor sent by His Majesty out of concern for Rayan’s health. There is no need to be nervous.”
When Rayan showed signs of reluctance at the unknown behavior, Jurgen noticed and gently comforted him.
To conclude, it was useless. Rayan grew weaker, but that was because he lost his guardian stone, not because of illness. As if to prove it, the physician was unable to pinpoint Rayan’s ailments.
But if Erich could feel at ease like this, he could at least follow his wishes until he left this palace. On the other hand, he also had in mind the calculation that if he was told that there was nothing wrong with him, even if it suddenly disappeared one day, no one would think that it was disappearance.
“Are you experiencing any inconvenience? Even in small ways.”
Of course, if he disappears in front of Erich and he regains his memories, the whole arrangement will be useless.
“No.”
The physician looked at the young man who responded by shaking his head slightly in denial. The beautiful young man with gorgeous and delicately shaped features was already a rising star, even though he had never appeared in social circles.
The title of the emperor’s new lover alone was enough to attract attention, and he was even the new owner of Reneé Palace. Considering that this was the former emperor’s wife and the current emperor’s biological mother, Olivia’s residence, it was impossible not to attach significance to it.
A mere commoner was the new owner of Reneé Palace. Was that even possible? The young man living under the emperor’s care would have no idea, but members of the social world couldn’t contain their curiosity, so their eyes widened. If the fact that he was visiting Reneé Palace every day had spread throughout the palace, they would have been anxious to find out his true identity.
If he thought about the emperor’s death and survival during the few days he was unconscious, there was nothing he could not understand. The physician, recalling his past memories, trembled as he remembered the emperor who had set him up. The emperor was more grim and cold-hearted in the past when he purged the nobles in one go.
“If you have any inconvenience, please call for me through the servant at any time.”
The emperor was not this extremely devoted to Karel Isaac. He was more reserved towards others, and at the time he considered that was a sign of great favor. But if one saw him do this to this young man even once, one would think that the Emperor had never actually loved Karel Isaac. It’s to the point of making it seem like it wasn’t a big deal that he was allowed the Reneé Palace as his residence.
“It’s okay even if it’s very late at night.”
What fascinated the emperor so deeply? A beautiful appearance that no one could match?
“I will do so.”
Or was it the captivating voice that couldn’t help but possess one?
“Ahem… Physician.”
The gaze lingered for too long. As if to prove it, the chamberlain cleared his throat and reminded him. The latter hurriedly took a last look, grabbed his bag, and retreated.
He had no idea until now that the emperor was extremely jealous and possessive. How much he disapproved of his paramour being touched simply for palpation. If one could die with a glance, he would have died several times. If he wanted to live a comfortable life, he had to watch himself.
“It’s a warm day. How about taking a walk for a while?”
As soon as the physician left, Jurgen looked at Rayan’s intentions.
“I just want to rest for a bit.”
He knew he had to comply if he wanted to look okay. But he needed time alone to unravel his thoughts, which were tangled like strands of thread. When the sun sets on the spire, Erich will return. To pretend like nothing happened in front of him. And so to speak, he didn’t feel the need to take a walk until daylight.
Fortunately, Jurgen did not recommend otherwise again.
“…”
He stared blankly at the dust floating in the air like light powder. The corners of Rayan’s mouth dropped back.
* * *
The sun set quickly. With the darkness hanging like a curtain, Erich returned to Reneé Palace, covered in the smell of faint ink and early spring.
“Jurgen.”
He glanced at Rayan, who was sitting in front of the desk, and called Jurgen, who was standing in front of the open door.
“I will step away. May the peace of the night be with you, Your Majesty.”
He simply called his name, but Jurgen hurried away. The signs that were felt beyond the closing door disappear like the ebb of the tide. It was always like that. The people who had been watching Rayan’s surroundings while the sun was up disappeared into the distance at the same time that Erich arrived.
“What were you doing?”
Erich quickly closed the distance with his long legs and became interested in what Rayan was doing. Rayan quickly closed the book and hid it to the side, but Erich was eager to see what it was.
“I guess it is more interesting because it is a story about someone of the same race.”
“Shall I get you more?” There was a hint of playfulness in his tone of voice. He was just habitually reading the children’s book he gave him some time ago to get rid of his distracting thoughts. When Rayan waved his hand and said that it was enough, he handed him the storybook and then held Rayan’s hand and helped him up.
He was led into the hallway by him. He couldn’t find a single person until he passed through the hallway and went to the back office. There were only two people here.
“What about your body?”
“It’s okay. I’m fine.”
Erich tried to monitor Rayan’s condition every day, just like a doctor would. It was as if he couldn’t bear it without being repeatedly reassured that everything’s fine. Even after hearing the answer, he continued to glance at him from head to toe without giving up his suspicious expression.
“Why don’t you believe me, Your Majesty?”
“Because you do not show anything… Alright, go in quickly.”
Erich frowned for a long time before gesturing towards the lake. He must have heard what he said last time about the mermaid Rayan needing water. Erich was anxious about not having Rayan enter the lake. He didn’t have to have water every single day like this, but he did get better when he got in contact with the water.
Rayan hesitated and entered the lake.
His ears become pointed, and small gills appear. The shallow webs between his fingers were opaque. Rayan completely transformed into a mermaid and waved his fins gently as he dug into the dark lake. Rayan, who had been swimming in the lake for a while as if it was his territory, filled up the water and rose to the surface. The water droplets that spattered when kicked, scattered in the moonlight.
Rayan inadvertently turned his head.
“…”
Erich had a serious expression on his face and one knee on the ground, but when he made eye contact with Rayan, who had emerged from the lake, he appeared relieved.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Uh… well. I don’t know. It’s so strange that it cannot be explained or understood.”
He frowned, unable to clearly define his feelings.
“Well, never mind. Come here.”
“Why?”
Rayan obediently swimmed towards him and looked up at him with the twitching gesture.
“Just because.”
“…”
“I want to see you up close.”
Thx for the ch ٩( >ヮ<)۶