Pr/editor: Helen, Raven
The way he held the pen was somewhat sloppy, yet his expression was serious. He wanted to write a letter to His Majesty. As soon as he said the words, Jurgen immediately prepared parchment, pen, and ink.
As learned through sidelong glances, Rayan took the quill, dipped it in ink, and hesitated for a moment.
Jurgen took his hesitation as a sign that he was conscious of other eyes on him and stepped aside.
“…”
He had no idea how to begin.
He didn’t know how to tell him that the first thing he’d see when he returned from the hunt would be his empty seat. He talked about parting with him so many times in his life, but he never realized how difficult it would be to put it into practice.
But he knew he’d have to do it eventually.
The end was becoming more apparent, like a noose around his neck. There was no foreshadowing, no transparency in his fingertips, but he knew instinctively. The end was indeed at his feet. The moment he sensed it, he tipped the pendulum of conflict to one side, and waited only for today, when Erich would be away.
It was now or never. Rayan put pen to parchment with a determined expression. The jagged lines created, which ultimately became sentences. Despite his lack of words, he bid goodbye to Erich with confidence. It was the perfect balance of lies and truth.
He told him that he was going to find El, that Erich would not find him if he arrived at Arhen, and that he would never see him again. He couldn’t bring himself to say that he loved him, so he settled with parting words. The moment he folded the parchment and placed it in the center of his desk, it was truly over.
After looking at it for a long time, wistfully, Rayan gathered his things. It wasn’t much, really. The most meaningful thing he brought back from Arhen was his bracelet. In the end, it was all he could take with him.
As he held the bracelet close, he thought for a moment.
It was not about getting out of here. It would be tricky, but not impossible. It wouldn’t be difficult to watch the people, to find where their defenses were weak. Even as an empty shell, bereft of a guardian stone and near death, Rayan’s senses were far superior to those of a human.
His ultimate concern and source of distress was Asha. He didn’t believe he had the ability to restore someone’s memory, but his mouth was the problem. It was impossible to predict what he would say or how he would communicate with Erich. However, he did not believe he would be as relentless in his interest in him if Rayan was no longer around.
“…”
Rayan’s expression stiffened as he continued to ponder.
He was listening for any sign of movement outside, hoping to find a way out. No chatter, no footsteps, nothing. Nothing except for one distinct step, heading this way.
With a click, the door opened.
It couldn’t be Jurgen because he always knocked and croaked before entering. He wouldn’t try to force his way in unless Rayan asked him to, and he wouldn’t open the door so casually.
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.
“Qtb?”
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“Dfjealoei Lflg ab Calrj.”
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Calrj…Lflg.
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“Asha is…”
“It is his call.”
“No. I have nothing to say to him.”
Listening to Asha would only add to his confusion. Rayan remained adamant. On the one hand, he wondered what to do with a man who was clearly obsessed with him. Perhaps a simple slap could bring him back to reality.
“Even though it’s about your lover?”
“…”
Rayan froze. His light green eyes turned to the man, who was still staring at him with emotionless, jet-black eyes.
* * *
Spring hunting had many meanings.
It was a celebration of the bounty of the new season, a demonstration of the health of the imperial family and, by extension, the empire, and an opportunity for young men to showcase their abilities.
It was also a time for young men to show off their prowess, as they were ranked, and the noble young men who made it to the top of the list were proud of their accomplishments and were known to be extremely desired in social circles. As a result, unmarried young men from modest backgrounds were eager to participate in the spring hunting season.
“It’s a beautiful day today.”
Erhart was the winner of last year’s hunt, and he was in the spotlight again.
Until last year, Erhart didn’t think much about winning. What’s the point of winning when he didn’t even have a lover to give a wreath to, he thought, but he did it to prove his worth to the nobles. He wanted to prove his importance to the aristocracy, to rub it in the faces of those who thought he was merely a youngster with magical abilities.
However, this year, he was serious in more ways than one. He needed to keep the nobles under his feet, and there was someone he wanted to give the wreath to.
Rayan. He thought of his green eyes which had folded in on themselves. He suspected they’d widen and shine when he tells him that he won, and then he’d call him a genius.
“I see.”
Erhart glanced at the cloudless sky. It was indeed a beautiful day but not a good day for hunting. He could see clearly in all directions, but good visibility wasn’t his strong suit. This was why he didn’t know if the harvest would be good today.
Erhart, gripping the muzzle of his rifle, sized up his surroundings and let out an exclamation.
“If you see a deer, don’t kill it, but signal to me.”
“A deer?”
“Yes.”
Rayan didn’t finish saying which animal he wanted. Erich thought about it and decided on a deer. He had originally considered a rabbit, a fox, or a bird, but they were too small.
Too small to fit in Rayan’s arms. He could see how he would love to hold them in his arms, and Erich didn’t really want to see that.
A deer wasn’t such a bad option, since it could be set free in the gardens of Renee Palace to wander, and they were larger than the smaller animals, so they were good for assortment.
“Something small and pretty.”
The aide gave him a confused look, but said he would pass the word along.
“And the rumors?”
“It has subsided significantly since the crackdown, but I think it is because of what happened in Arhen, and the fact that His Majesty once opened his library and gave away a manuscript, because of it, people no longer regard the existence of mermaids to be entirely fictitious, and they are mostly curious rather than anxious.”
“…”
“They’re not fairy tales, for one thing.”
He did as he was told, but the aide didn’t seem to believe the rumors. Rather, he was curious as to why Erhart would be so sensitive to such rumors.
It was not unreasonable. There are ancient texts and legends of mermaids in Arhen, but until one saw one with their own eyes, it was hard to believe.
“Yes.”
Overwriting the fantasy was for later. For now, it was more urgent to nip the negative rumors in the bud. Erhart nodded and yanked hard on the reins, and as he gained speed, his aide followed suit.
Erhart picked a deserted spot and concentrated on the hunt. With each puff of smoke from the muzzle of his rifle, the birds perched on the branches swooped down to feast.
It hadn’t been long since the hunt had begun, but the hands of the servant following him were already full of those who had died from his shot. His Majesty would indeed win this year. The aide lifted Erhart.
Erhart frowned at the praise. Each time he loaded and fired his gun, his anxiety flew into overdrive. All the sounds around him appeared to blend into one. He heard rustling in the bushes, and it was getting closer.
He pointed the gun in that direction. His finger curled as far as it would go, ready to pull the trigger at a moment.
“…Your Majesty.”
His cold eyes softened, albeit only little.
“Your Majesty.”
“I didn’t expect to see you here. Isaac.”
It was off the beaten track. Besides, it was a route only Erhart knew, and he hadn’t seen a single nobleman’s face during the hunt. Karel laughed a bit sheepishly at that time.
“It’s black out, so I traveled the route I took with His Majesty last year…”
He fidgeted. Erhart glanced at him as if he wanted to make him leave at once with a wave of his hand.
“No, since we’ve met, it wouldn’t hurt to keep you company.”
In social circles, it is known that they’d been separated, and he could only imagine how the nobility would react if they were seen together again.
“I have questions.”
Knowing that, there was only one reason Erhart had agreed to accompany him, he said,
“Anything. I can answer anything, Your Majesty.”
“Isaac. It is a question you are fully capable of answering.”
“…”
“For starters, I’d like to ask you what was the intent of that rumor in the capital?”
Karel, dragging his horse clumsily, paused. Erhart gave him a cold stare.
Thanks for the update 🌹
What is Asha planning now???
I can’t really remember anymore, but didn’t Asha stay at Karel’s house?
Thx for the ch ٩(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )و