“So… you decided to run away?”
Should I say that I walked out of my independence from the Emperor?
Hearing the phrase ‘run away’ made me feel like I was ungrateful. It would be the first and last time.
No, was the intricacies of my escape that interesting? Wasn’t there at least one person who wanted to flee their house?
“Yes, that sums it up.”
I was tired, and my words were low.
Was I experiencing regret?
Once the next day came, Ahin entered the inn where I was staying, he did say that he would come over, but I didn’t expect him to really do so. I came to Sherto City and met him.
No, why did it have to turn like this?
If Havel were the one asking it, I would have just laughed out loud.
For some reason, Ahin sat down and smiled; he asked every question very calmly, probably why I couldn’t answer. It was my first time being questioned like this like I was under some kind of mind trick.
We only met once in our childhood; it had been so long that I didn’t even know if he still wanted to help, so why was I being treated like this? Ah, of course, if Ahin informed my father that I was here, I was done for…
Still, my attitude of not being able to answer irritated me. Ahin laughed as he saw me struggle.
… huh?
A sudden laugh, I didn’t know what it meant; he was staring at me. Ahin quickly covered his face and laughed.
‘What? What’s so funny? Why is he laughing?’
I wondered.
Ahin, who was laughing hard, lowered his hand.
“So where are you heading to?”
… now he acted normal; it didn’t work like that. If he were someone I knew well, I would have humiliated him, but unfortunately, he was someone I couldn’t deal with.
Hmm, I lost.
“I’m thinking of going over to Bureti.”
“Bureti?”
Ahin’s expression stiffened. I wondered why and remembered that Sherto and Bureti were hostile countries.
Right.
If one said they wanted to leap from one hostile country to another, that kind of response was to be expected.
However, that didn’t mean I could cancel my plans, and Bureti wasn’t an enemy to me; it was an ally to Agrigient. I just sat there and fiddled with my fingers to think of an answer. I hated the atmosphere.
“I will accompany you.”
“Sorry?”
I was shocked at the answer. My mouth went shut, but I was already feeling voiceless. However, I was appalled at what I heard.
‘So, what do you want to do?’
“Even though it looks like this, the North is a dangerous place. I cannot send the princess into such a place all alone.”
It was his firm declaration; I couldn’t say anything and sat there.
Instead, it was Havel’s reaction which brought me back to reality. He asked with a sneer.
“Why are you so worried when she has me?”
“It is because Your Majesty is with her that I am worried.”
“Don’t you think coming into a hostile country is more troublesome?”
“This is Sherto; she has a better shot with me than Your Majesty?”
I stood up with shocked eyes after hearing their debate. I was angry.
“STOP IT!”
Fortunately, both stopped right away. I walked in between them and looked at their faces alternatively.
“If you are going to fight, I will leave both of you.”
“Right!”
I used to deal with such situations between the twins.
Any argument had to cut end in the initial stages.
Both of them went silent. I was looking at the one in the middle of them. They seemed too lively when they were supposed to be arguing? Things would have been a mess if they went further?
I was glaring at them, and they both stepped back to show how relaxed they were. With a grim expression, Ahin asked.
“I can’t come?”
… if he asked me with such an expression, I couldn’t possibly refuse.
Oh, my mind was getting blown over; I wanted to say, ‘Don’t make trouble anymore, so no.’ Refusing him would be a problem; that would be the worst answer I would give in my life.
“You aren’t going to stop me from helping the Princess, right?”
A threat.
I couldn’t do this, and I couldn’t do that; I was fucked. Valer, who was behind me, raised his hands.
What now?
“I am in favor of my brother; our travel in Sherto would be easy, but bro, would it be okay if you left so soon?”
“I already reported my intent to travel more, so there wouldn’t be a problem with that.”
Oh, he took care of everything before coming over.
I smiled because I couldn’t even refuse. Even Assisi didn’t seem to hate it. He objected when Havel joined us; I wondered why he didn’t object when Ahin wanted to join. Above all, should I say that the beast behind me was really growling?
Ha, all I could do was sigh.
Well, everyone in the room did.
“Then, thanks for joining us.”
“Me too.”
Ahin smiled happily. I thought his smile was pretty, but now, I hated it; I didn’t like it anymore. How could he smile like that? That was when he said.
“You have grown a lot.”
“Your Majesty too…”
Honestly, Ahin grew up more than me, so much so that he wasn’t even bothered when Havel and I were standing together.
Yesterday, I was shocked when I saw him; I totally thought of him as a playboy. Ah, why did this continent have so many pretty boys? Perhaps the pretty ones just gather around me? Right, when could I ever go on a trip with such beauties? It was a good thought.
“I thought I would see you one day, but I never imagined I would see you like that.”
“… uh, that.”
“it is fine. I am glad you weren’t returning.”
Ahin smiled.
He was glad that I was not returning; what did that mean? Did he think about seeing me someday? Ahin couldn’t leave Sherto, so he couldn’t come over Agrigent. He thought I would come.
Oh well, he sent invitations to me every year. Thanks to the invitation, I managed to pass the border screening safely.
When our eyes met…
Ahin’s ever-glowing eyes and silvery hair wavered as he smiled.
“You haven’t changed… I am glad.”
Regardless of his smile, I was confused—a trip between the heir of the Northern Empire and the heir of the Southern Empire.
‘This trip, is it really worth it?’