TPWTM 20

Karon’s steps were exceedingly slow as he headed toward the Topaz Palace where the First Prince Lazhwell was staying. He was on his way to make a report, but perhaps because it was a place he had visited so often, he felt no pressure or sense of crisis.

This report was concerning the matter of dispatching the Vast Glory Knights, the prince’s knight order, for the rain-making ritual.

At Karon’s visit after a long time, Lazhwell, who was in his office, widened his eyes and welcomed Karon.

“Wow, isn’t this the most famous playboy in the empire who is about to be captured soon?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I am indeed the living romance of the empire, Karon Chevinelle.”

“The Karon Chevinelle who is about to be stripped of that title by his wedding. But what’s this, why the long face today, my friend?”

“What do you mean, long face? Please just read the report.”

Karon stroked his chin and strode up to the desk where Lazhwell was sitting, placing the report on it.

“I have selected a list of those who will attend to Your Highness during the rain-making ritual. The other personnel will be dispatched to the Central Knights and will guard the path to the temple.”

“No, you definitely have an upset look on your face right now. It wouldn’t do for me not to be able to recognize my old friend’s expression.”

“Ha, someone might misunderstand if they heard you. How could the one and only son of the thor.ough.ly pro-empress Chevinelle family dare to be the First Prince’s best friend?”

“I didn’t say best friend….”

“Isn’t it the same thing?”

Karon scowled and replied irritably, scratching his neck aggressively and gesturing with his hand as if to say, ‘Just hurry up and sign it’. At this behavior, Lazhwell let out a scoffing laugh and spoke to Ren, the escort knight standing behind him.

“Ren, you saw him getting annoyed with the prince just now, didn’t you? That’s disloyalty.”

“I will have him kneel and behead him at once.”

Ren took a step forward, grabbing his sword with a fearsome expression. Karon raised one eyebrow crookedly.

“You want a round after all this time?”

“Haha, if that would make you feel better?”

“It won’t, damn it.”

“Ren, he’s swearing in front of the prince.”

“I will cut off his head at once…!”

“Haah….”

With a look that said talking was useless, Karon shook his head and trudged over to the sofa in the middle of the office, plopping down onto it. Still, his conscience kept him from lying down, so in his own way, he was observing the proper etiquette in front of a prince.

Ren took a step forward with a pathetic look on his face, about to say something, but the prince gestured that it was fine and stood up to sit opposite Karon.

“What’s the problem?”

“There’s no problem. Things are going well, too well. Damn it.”

“Then that’s good, so what’s wrong?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

Karon grabbed his forehead. He thought he knew the reason why he was constantly on edge and irritated by trivial things, but Karon tried his best to ignore it. No, the problem was that he knew all too well who it was because of. Yurik Windsor. It was because of that man. Karon took a deep breath as a sigh rose from deep within his chest. Damn it, I really can’t focus.

Lazhwell laughed as he looked at Karon, whose face clearly showed that he was lost in other thoughts. His worries were written so transparently on his face. Then again, it was something only he could see. Lazhwell asked Karon.

“Karon, the wedding is next week already.”

“……Yes. Fortunately, it seems it will be held before the rain-making ritual.”

“And you’ll go on a honeymoon too?”

“To somewhere nearby…… I suppose we will.”

“Oh my, you should be more attentive to things like that. It’s your first honeymoon.”

“We can always set a date and go on a trip anytime.”

“That’s true. The same goes for a second honeymoon.”

At Lazhwell’s meaningful words, Karon, who had been looking out the window, turned to look at Lazhwell. Lazhwell smiled and said.

“You haven’t forgotten, have you? Our promise. To be precise, it would be more accurate to call it a contract, Karon.”

“……I haven’t forgotten.”

“Good. Just because you’re having a wedding, don’t think you’re going to find true love with him. It’s a marriage with conditions. If it’s not that which pains you, but the marriage itself, it’s the same thing. Once the matter is resolved, I can have you divorced easily at any time, so you just have to…….”

“Just have to?”

“Receive his love, and find it.”

Lazhwell crossed his legs, rested his elbow on his knee, and propped up his chin. His gentle smile made him look kind, but listening to his words, he also seemed like a person without emotions. Born a prince, political marriages were a matter of course for him, and strategic marriages were a given. A person for whom love was unnecessary.

And Lazhwell was right. In the first place, Karon and Yurik’s marriage was not one made for love, nor was it one made solely based on the two’s circumstances. One side had another goal.

‘I really had forgotten.’

Karon felt as if he had been struck on the back of the head, his mind snapping to attention. This was not the time to be worrying about other things. Karon stared at Lazhwell, then leaned his back against the backrest and tilted his head to the side.

“Your Highness, there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Your attitude is poor, but I shall hear you out.”

“You asked me to help you, did you not.”

“I did.”

“To become a true partner.”

The nights spent with Yurik…… the many days spent together, none of them were spent for the sake of the contract. He could guarantee that. But in a way, the deepening of their feelings was also proceeding just as Lazhwell had planned. That fact left Karon with a lingering sense of unease. It felt like he was using Yurik somehow.

No, but isn’t that right? Karon’s mood soured again. He scowled deeply and looked at Lazhwell.

“If the other person comes to love me, it will appear. Is that correct?”

“It is.”

“If that person loves me, then I should be able to confirm it with my own eyes in some form. Hmmm……. But what is it?”

Lazhwell stroked his chin. He thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“First, I must say this. It is very related to this.”

“What is it?”

“The sacred relic, Helios.”

“……Excuse me?”

Karon let out a dazed sound without realizing it. The prince’s words were just that sudden. The sacred relic Helios was one of the empire’s oldest and most famous legends, appearing in everything from the founding myth of the Halcon Empire to the fairy tale books of today. Lazhwell chuckled softly.

“You probably think it’s a dusty old legend. Since no one has ever seen if it actually exists. I’ll say it before you do. I’ve seen it.”

“……What?”

Karon looked at Lazhwell with a serious expression. It was the face of someone checking if the other had taken a blow to the head. Lazhwell nodded as if he had expected as much.

“I really saw it. The sacred relic that actually exists. I will name Ren as my witness.”

“Are you joking at a time like this? Please tell me properly what you mean. The sacred relic Helios? You’re not trying to talk about something out of a children’s storybook right now, are you?”

“It’s true. Traces of the old legends still remain on this land. It is very, very old and truly faint…… a piece of rusty scrap metal that is nothing without a key, but.”

“A piece of rusty scrap metal? Are you sure you didn’t mistake it for something else?”

“It’s a treasure that has been carefully preserved since the time of my ancestors and passed down only to the emperor for generations, and they say my father received it. How could I mistake it? He even led his ailing body to the location himself to show me.”

Lazhwell let out a scoffing laugh, as if in disbelief, as he recalled that moment. It was in a nameless forest behind the emperor’s palace, where no one ever visited.

In a hidden basement beneath a small and shabby altar, lay the rusted sacred relic.

It was an object imbued with magic that had only been passed down through sagas and legends. In this day and age, it was so absurd it made one wonder if this was even possible.

The moment he saw the sacred relic, a thrill ran through his entire body, the kind that made him understand why archaeologists traveled the entire continent to find and confirm these things with their own eyes.

Therefore, he had to open the sacred relic. Lazhwell looked at Karon.

“Even if it is a sacred relic, it likely holds no miraculous power. So much time has passed. But one thing is certain. The saying that whoever possesses Helios becomes the emperor.”

“Your Highness…….”

“You must know that this is a phrase recorded and passed down for generations in the secret history of the imperial family. I am not saying I will embrace a mere piece of rusty scrap metal right now. Karon, listen well. I am planning to bring down the empress’s faction, all at once.”

Karon clutched his forehead again. The words he was hearing were grandiose and preposterous, but at the same time, they couldn’t be dismissed as entirely nonsensical.

The history that existed even before Halcon became an empire, and the history of the imperial dynasty, contributed to that thought. In that case, what on earth was Yurik’s family, one of the founding meritorious families, entangled in? Karon’s head was slowly starting to hurt.

Karon’s eyes scanned Lazhwell. Purging the empress’s faction was a step for the First Prince to become the Crown Prince, it was his wish and his long-cherished desire. Karon’s reason for helping the First Prince was not solely because of his legitimacy.

Empress Vistete was a snob. Looking at her political actions, she was showing a tendency to ruin the country by bringing in her maternal relatives and all sorts of nobles. She was a person overflowing with ambition.

If the Second Prince, not the First Prince, became the Crown Prince, she would surely become regent. Above all, if she seized power, she would devour the Chevinelle family, which was closest to her.

The reason she had rather encouraged and fostered the Chevinelle family’s solo run, and on top of that, even granted them the ducal title, was because she intended to bring the Chevinelle family under her thumb.

But Duke Carnes did not let that happen, and now, even Karon was not letting that happen. In that case, what remained was…… a purge.

He did not have proper principles or political beliefs, nor did he have integrity, but to survive, he had to choose the First Prince. So he chose, and later he came to like him, and somehow they became friends.

Karon looked at Lazhwell. He seemed to have more to say.

Karon asked what he seemed to want to say.

“The secret plan to bring down the empress’s faction all at once, what is it?”

“The son the empress gave birth to, he’s not truly my father’s son.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s a suspicion. That’s why I must confirm it. Helios has a rejection reaction the moment it’s touched by someone who does not carry the blood of the Britas dynasty. By opening the sacred relic Helios with the key possessed by the bloodline of the Windsor family. I must prove it officially. And listen Karon, what’s important is.”

“……What else could be more important here?”

“……The empress knows this fact as well.”

Something too big, was coming at him.

• ~ *

Love, he says?

Yurik thought blankly. Is that really true? The feelings that have been building up all this time are really……. Yurik frowned. He couldn’t judge. If that was love, then he, he would have long ago…….

He did not know. Yurik closed his eyes. The maid, while arranging his hair, asked.

“Young Master, how are you feeling today?”

How am I feeling, absolutely rotten. Absolutely. Yurik wanted to answer just like that, but he couldn’t say such a thing in front of the servants who seemed quite excited about the upcoming wedding. Yurik slowly opened his eyes and smiled faintly with a tired face.

“Good.”

“With the wedding just around the corner, you must be excited. We’ll help you with your preparations diligently during this time!”

“We will make you look your best so that everyone in the empire can look up to you!”

“……Good.”

He did not particularly wish for that much, but Yurik played along with their excitement. It had been a long time since he had seen them this happy. To even consider the servants’ feelings. You are overflowing with magnanimity, Yurik Windsor. Yurik clicked his tongue inwardly, but he smiled faintly and received the swift touch of the hands setting his hair.

After tidying up and getting dressed, it was time to go out. Since that day, Yurik had not seen Karon for a full day after the weekend had passed. The one getting anxious was the butler. With just four days left until the ceremony, the butler decided he could delay no longer and contacted the Chevinelle family.

Yurik understood his feelings. He too would have been frustrated if his partner had been this unresponsive before the wedding. Although, he wanted to avoid him a little right now.

“We have boldly omitted the parts that can be omitted, such as the ceremonial flower children that should be included as a matter of formality.”

At the butler’s words, Yurik nodded his head. On closer inspection, he was the one going through the most trouble. His contribution was the greatest in confirming the progress of the ceremony at the villa today. If it were not for the butler, Yurik might not have contacted Karon until before the ceremony. Yurik patted the butler’s weary-looking shoulder.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“I only hope that it will be a success.”

“It will be.”

Yurik, along with the butler, headed to the villa by Lake Nieve where the ceremony would take place. A carriage from the Chevinelle family had already arrived and was there. Yurik had come with a heavy heart, but upon seeing that carriage, he let out a deep sigh.

‘……In any case, it’s right to meet.’

The wedding was just ahead. Nothing was more important than this. Yurik composed himself again and headed inside the villa. The villa was built entirely of marble, a beautiful place with a transparent feel. The lakeside exterior was naturally reflected, creating an even more artistic landscape in harmony with nature.

As he entered the elegant building, Yurik came face to face with Karon standing in the middle and stopped in his tracks.

He had paused for a moment on the central staircase, admiring the fountain. He was wearing a blue uniform, and the sight of him suited the villa’s appearance today like a painting. His burning red hair, too. Karon stood with his arms crossed, watching the fountain, then soon turned his head at the sound of a presence. Yurik swallowed dryly and finally took a step.

“Yuri.”

Karon smiled and called Yurik in an affectionate tone. At his call, Yurik felt a tickle at the entrance of his heart. It was a strange feeling. Karon approached him nonchalantly with a face as if nothing was wrong, making Yurik’s worries over the past few days seem meaningless.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face. Have you been well?”

Approaching with a grin, he familiarly wrapped an arm around Yurik’s waist. Naturally led to move, the two of them passed the central staircase and headed towards the ceremony hall. The butler saw the two and moved to give them space. Karon spoke.

“Why haven’t you contacted me at all this time?”

“……You, were the one who didn’t contact me.”

“Ah, so that’s why you didn’t contact me?”

“What else could it be.”

“Ha, as expected, I have to be the one to approach first for everything. With you.”

“……I thought you were busy.”

“I was busy. I had a lot…… of worries too.”

Karon said so and trailed off. Soon they arrived in front of the hall that would become the ceremony venue, where people were moving about busily. Karon naturally pulled away and opened his mouth.

“It’s Royard Hall. I chose this place because it’s the most splendid and beautiful among the villas I own.”

Royard Hall, which was attached to the villa, was a hall that sparkled as much as the Luminous Palace of Light. As preparations for the ceremony had begun, it was being decorated even more lavishly here and there. Fluttering fabrics draped all around and ornate silver decorations. Silver candlesticks and blue roses. And even the prepared and arranged Pleonia flowers.

Just looking at it as it was, it seemed it would be a very splendid ceremony. Yurik looked over everything one by one with Karon.

What pattern would be on the tapestry, the location of the orchestra and the guests’ seats. The order of the ceremony. From the officiant to the wedding vows. As they checked this and that, Yurik was able to naturally reduce his focus on Karon.

“Archbishop Andrea will come and give a congratulatory speech……”

“Chancellor Evan will be officiating the ceremony.”

“The wedding rings will be separate……”

“The preparation for the formal attire is……”

The things they had put off were now being checked and received one by one by Yurik’s butler and Karon’s butler. Yurik checked things distractedly, nodded his head, and proceeded with the work step by step. When they had finished checking even the seats for their adoptive parents, Karon grabbed Yurik’s arm.

“This is the aisle of vows we will walk down.”

Standing in front of the flower aisle for the entrance, Karon looked at Yurik and said. Yurik looked at the aisle where flower petals were scattered splendidly. The path stretching in a straight line to the front of the officiant’s platform seemed more than enough for the two of them to walk down.

Normally, Karon would have walked this aisle with an omega……. If Sehil had been here, he would have walked with Sehil. The thought occurred to him for the first time in a while. And then another thought intruded again.

‘……Is this really right.’

Is it right for him and me to walk down this aisle. Really……. Yurik bit his lip, then feeling Karon’s gaze, he forced himself to turn his head and said something else.

“The ceremony hall is splendid.”

Unable to say anything else, Karon chuckled at the words he barely managed to get out and replied.

“Did you think I would do it shabbily? No matter how rushed, we have to take care of what needs to be taken care of. It’s a union with whose family, after all.”

“……Are there no other things that need to be checked?”

“Don’t worry. Ash is an excellent butler.”

“Ah…… you mean that butler.”

“He’s going to be our butler from now on.”

Our. At that word, Yurik felt a strange and subtle feeling. Our, he says.

Yurik looked at Karon. Karon was looking at the aisle of vows with an impassive face. Looking at that face, Yurik thought.

Did he say what we did was love? Clashing, bumping, fighting, bumping again…… is that process love? This unknowable pain and the heart that makes me think of Karon…… does it all stem from there.

Yurik calmly reflected on his own state. Seeing himself constantly unstable, constantly trying to fathom Karon’s intentions, and becoming smaller in front of him…… he might have been breaking the rule he set from the very beginning. The first rule. Do not fall in love.

He was already drawn to him. Even when he tried hard to divert his attention, his heart went to him, and no matter what happened, he ended up trying to understand him, forgave him, and found it pleasant to be with him. Even when he tried hard to avoid him, he couldn’t, and even when he tried not to face him, he was held back.

Yurik tried not to. This is a contract marriage, and he chose the family for money, and he for honor, he had repeated to himself countless times, but it was no use. There must be a reason. Or, for such a relationship to form just for that was too shameful, and he felt sorry. But Karon kept coming on aggressively…… as if emotions were all that mattered, he treated Yurik.

Kissing like someone with feelings and like someone with feelings…….

“……Are you happy with this marriage?”

At Yurik’s question, Karon’s gaze, which had been sweeping over the ceremony hall, returned to Yurik. Karon slowly tilted his head.

“Are you trying to say you’re not happy with it at this point? It’s no use now, Yuri. It’s too late to break it off here.”

“That is not what I am saying. I am just asking. If you are happy with it.”

Karon looked at Yurik silently. Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“And you, Yuri, are you happy with it?”

“I asked first, did I not.”

“I’m asking too.”

Yurik closed his mouth. To be honest, he couldn’t think of anything and it didn’t feel real. At this rate, it seemed it would only feel real on the day of the actual ceremony. As Yurik remained silent, Karon smiled slightly.

“Yuri, I….”

He recalled. Yurik Windsor from their first meeting.

How those cold blue eyes had changed. This man, like a delicate work of art, was someone who required more and more attention the more you looked at him. He made you want to keep seeking him out, made you yearn for him. If Yurik Windsor knew of this teeming desire to possess everything about this man, he would run away. Karon was certain of it. That was why Karon extended his hand first. So that even if he ran away, he would run away into his arms.

“I’m sorry for breaking our promise before the wedding has even begun.”

“Karon, that is,”

“But I am confident I can be faithful to the rest. Yuri, I.”

Karon held out his hand to Yurik. Yurik looked at Karon’s outstretched hand, then met Karon’s eyes. Those golden eyes were sparkling exceptionally under the sunlight. Karon looked at Yurik with a firm expression.

The voice of Prince Lazhwell echoed in his mind.

‘Get married, and be loved to the point where you can have that family in the palm of your hand.’

For a moment, Karon squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them. Could he really, without a second thought, say those words, do that thing, to Yurik?

“I, will take your hand whenever I get the chance.”

Karon snatched Yurik’s hesitating hand and held it tight. They had met in a tangled mess like a skein of yarn, but in the end, he had given his heart. The voices of those who had told him never to fall in love echoed in his ears, but his eyes were still fixed on Yurik. Karon smiled and kissed the back of Yurik’s hand. Since things had come to this, there was no other way. He was going to hold on to Yurik.

“If this isn’t fate, then what is?”

• ~ *

The sky was blue, and the sunlight shone down warmly. The rich scent of Pleonia flowers pleasantly spread throughout the ceremony hall. Karon and Yurik, dressed in splendid formal attire, stood before the aisle of vows, which was heavily sprinkled with flowers.

Ha!

Knights dressed in white full-dress uniforms raised their swords, forming a ceremonial arch over the path. The two passed through that aisle of vows and headed to the officiant’s platform.

Chancellor Evan recited the officiating words for the wedding ceremony. After the blessing from the temple’s archbishop was finished, Karon and Yurik exchanged rings. Karon placed the ring on Yurik’s hand, then grinned, pulled him in by the waist, and kissed him. Everyone watching cheered and applauded.

The wedding of the two was a great success.

[Karon Chevinelle and Yurik Windsor! Finally married!!!]

[The day of blessing! The two families have achieved harmony!]

[The birth of a new couple in a new era! A new wind for the empire!]

[The birth of a new noble alpha couple!]

On that day, the imperial capital was heated up with talk about the marriage of the two.

After the wedding, the two immediately left for their honeymoon. A mountain of things needed to be sorted out before and after, but people around them pushed them to go and rest first, and fortunately, Karon and Yurik had also worked hard to clear their schedules in advance to take a vacation while preparing for the wedding, so they were able to take about a week off.

They had to bring a pile of documents with them as a major imperial event, the rain-making ritual, was scheduled two weeks after the honeymoon ended, but a trip was a trip, after all.

The place they chose for their honeymoon was the southern Minerta region, close to the capital. It was a distance that could be reached in four hours by train, and with a large mountain and lake nearby, it was also a rather quiet resort city. As befitting the Chevinelle family’s reputation as the richest in the empire, Karon booked the suite of the finest hotel and arrived in front of the hotel, dragging Yurik who had been wrestling with documents since the train ride.

“Welcome.”

“Oh, Verdein. It’s been a while.”

The hotel manager himself came out to greet Karon and Yurik. Yurik, who had always stayed in villas and was visiting a hotel for the first time, which were becoming fashionable these days, was slightly nervous. With the advent of trains, various hotels were being built throughout the empire, but as a native of the capital, he was a capital bumpkin who didn’t know much about such things.

‘……It’s magnificent.’

Yurik finished his assessment as he looked at the lobby, which sparkled as splendidly as a noble’s villa or a palace’s banquet hall. The scale was much larger than he had thought, and there were a great number of people coming and going from the hotel. The staff seemed to have been properly trained, as their posture was impeccable. The manager named Verdein was no different.

Manager Verdein familiarly ordered the bellboys unloading their luggage from the carriage to move it to the suite and began to guide the two with a smile.

“We have been eagerly awaiting you both. I have met the young Duke Karon several times, but it is my first time meeting the young Count, and it is truly an honor.”

As the white-haired old man greeted them with graceful movements and dignity, Yurik found himself taking a strong liking to him. After always dealing with Karon, who threw dignity and formality to the wind, he felt good meeting a proper person. Yurik smiled slightly and replied.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Yurik Windsor.”

“I am the hotel manager, Verdein Ernst. Indeed, you are as handsome as the rumors say. The two of you look truly wonderful together.”

“Is…… that so?”

“Minerta may be a step behind on the capital’s news, but we still hear things. Haha. It was the wedding of the century, I hear. As expected of Sir Karon, I suppose.”

Karon, who had been yawning, grinned and looked back at Verdein.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“The young Count must have a hard time.”

“Is that a compliment too?”

Verdein smiled playfully. Yurik also smiled slightly.

Verdein guided them through the hotel while making simple small talk and then led the two to the suite. The suite, which required taking an elevator to a high floor, was so large that it took up half of an entire floor.

Yurik saw that it was luxuriously divided into a large living room and a bedroom. Everything was decorated in a very elegant and tasteful manner. The view from the window was also magnificent, being on a high floor. It was a space for just Karon and Yurik, as they had not brought any servants with them. Karon looked out the large glass window, stretched his stiff shoulders from the long journey, and then spoke leisurely.

“Yuri, it’s our first rest in a while, so let’s have a cup of coffee first and relax….”

As he said that and turned his head, Karon was momentarily taken aback. Yurik, who he thought would be next to him looking out the window, was nowhere to be seen. He looked around to see where he had gone, and after confirming that his jacket was on the sofa, he went to the bedroom right next to it, only to find Yurik sprawled face down on the bed, not even having properly taken off his clothes. Seeing this, Karon leaned against the doorframe and laughed under his breath.

“Were you tired?”

There was no answer to his question, only the sound of even breathing could be heard. At the sound of the soft, even breathing, Karon leisurely went over to Yurik’s side and plopped down. He turned his head to the side and looked at Yurik’s face, his eyes tightly closed. Long eyelashes cast shadows beneath his tightly shut eyelids. After examining them as if to scrutinize every detail, Karon muttered leisurely.

“Alright. Then shall I sleep too?”

It was a long-awaited rest. He knew they hadn’t been able to sleep well while preparing for the wedding. Karon wriggled, pulled out the blanket without waking Yurik, and covered him with it. And so he wouldn’t be uncomfortable, he untied the cravat he was wearing and unbuttoned a few buttons of his shirt. The exposed nape of his neck was white and straight, making him want to stroke it, but he held back and lay down next to him, closing his eyes.

The even breathing seemed to make him sleepy as well.

• ~ *

When he woke up from a deep sleep, the sun was already setting. Yurik slowly opened his eyes and blinked at the wide-open window. Where was this? He was disoriented for a moment before he belatedly came to his senses. Ah, right. We came on our honey……moon.

He was lying alone in the bedroom. Yurik stared blankly at the sunset outside the window for a moment before collecting himself and coming out to the living room. But Karon was not in the living room either. Where did this man go? As he was thinking that and looking around, he heard the sound of a door opening from the inner bathroom, and Karon came out with only a towel wrapped around his lower body.

Yurik, who turned his head and saw him by chance, was startled and turned his head away, covering his mouth.

“What, what are you doing?”

His voice tone went up without him realizing it. Karon, who was coming out while drying his hair with a towel, saw Yurik frozen and stuttering and chuckled.

“Why are you acting so reserved, suddenly? Like you’ve never seen me before.”

“Wh, what do you mean never seen you before?!”

Yurik turned his head away in embarrassment. Karon, who had approached in an instant, caught him as he was about to stride back into the bedroom in a flurry and prevented him from entering. Karon dragged Yurik to the sofa and made him sit, then leaned his freshly washed, dewy face on Yurik’s shoulder and smiled slyly.

“Ah, why. This is nice, isn’t it.”

“Haah…… Just dry your hair.”

“Mmm.”

“……Stop with the cringey cute act.”

“Can’t I?”

“……”

With his dripping wet hair leaning on his shoulder and looking up at him, Yurik felt like his face was about to explode. In reality, only his ears turned red, but Yurik did his best to avoid Karon’s eyes and shrugged his shoulders. Karon laughed out loud, used Yurik’s lap as a pillow, and lay down completely.

His clothes got a little wet from the remaining moisture, but he didn’t have the luxury to care about that. Yurik flinched and looked at Karon. His reddened earlobes were clearly visible, but Karon smiled leisurely.

“A little…… why are you being like this. Go get properly dressed.”

“We had our wedding,”

“Karon.”

“When you look at me with those eyes.”

“What’s wrong with my eyes.”

“My heart feels strangely ticklish.”

“Ha, Karon….”

“Is it a signal to spend a hot night together already?”

Karon tilted his head and winked at Yurik. The strong scent of Pleonia from his wet hair was shockingly overwhelming. And the movements of Karon, who was sprawled out on his lap. Yurik looked down at Karon, swallowed dryly, and turned his head away.

“Talking nonsense is quite a talent of yours.”

Yurik helped Karon up and shot up from his seat. As he tidied up his disheveled appearance using his reflection in the glass while looking out the window, Karon, who was lounging on the sofa, grinned and asked.

“Yuri, are you going out somewhere?”

“……Since we’ve slept until now, I think it would be good to go out before the sun sets completely.”

“Let’s go together.”

“Did you think I would go alone then?”

“Ah, yes, yes. Of course. We should go together.”

“Get dressed first.”

At Yurik’s words, Karon jumped up and headed to the bedroom. The rustling sound of him getting dressed could be heard, and soon Karon came out. His hair was still wet, and he was only roughly dressed in a shirt and pants. The buttons on his shirt were not even properly fastened.

Yurik, who was sitting on a chair by the table and looking out the window, sighed and beckoned to Karon with his hand. Karon, with a quizzical expression, obediently followed Yurik’s gesture and sat in the chair opposite him.

“You should dry your hair properly first.”

“Ah.”

Karon still replied perfunctorily. Yurik let out a small sigh, picked up the towel Karon had thrown on the sofa, and began to dry Karon’s hair. Karon was slightly taken aback by the sudden action but soon smiled faintly and accepted Yurik’s touch.

Yurik, looking at Karon who had meekly entrusted his head to him, felt the urge to hit himself for thinking of a puppy…… getting its fluffy fur dried. Karon closed his eyes, raised the corners of his mouth, and said.

“Yuri, are you my mom?”

“What are you talking about.”

“You’re doing something even my mother hasn’t done since I was seven, Yuri.”

“Doesn’t a nanny usually do that?”

“She does.”

“You should speak properly. Do you think the Duchess would do something so frivolous?”

“Frivolous? I think you’re so lovely right now, Yuri?”

At Karon’s natural flirting, Yurik looked at him with a reluctant face.

“With all that grease on your lips…… tell me honestly. All that talk about being the living romance of the empire, you seduced them all with that mouth, didn’t you?”

“Are you jealous right now?”

“Do I look jealous?”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m cursing you. Slander, curses, criticism about your promiscuous and low-class private life. Don’t you know?”

“If you put it that way, I’ll mistake it for you loving me too much. You’re so interested in me, Yuri.”

“Ha……”

There’s no getting through to him. Karon smiled leisurely and raised his head to look up at Yurik. Seeing his golden eyes crinkle with full leisure, he wanted to retort, but the words wouldn’t come out. Yurik quietly met his gaze, then pushed the back of Karon’s head to lower it again and continued to dry his hair.

After it was somewhat dry, Karon urgently grabbed Yurik’s arm as he was tidying up the towel and urged him.

“Let’s go out quickly, the sun will set at this rate.”

“Just a moment. Let me just put this away. And your hair needs some styling……”

Karon shook his head vigorously like a real puppy, scattering his hair. Then, after roughly sweeping his disheveled hair back, Karon grinned at Yurik.

“Good now? Let’s go.”

Really, what is he…… not even a large dog. Yurik was reluctantly led outside by Karon’s hand.

• ~ *

The view of the resort town at sunset was quite leisurely, serene, and beautiful. The people on the streets had a relaxed air about them and walked at a leisurely pace, and because the weather was good, the outdoor terrace seats at every cafe and restaurant on the street were fully occupied.

The two, who were walking around the hotel, entered a quiet alley and found a cafe with a nice atmosphere. The cafe, with its sparkling orange lights, seemed to fit well with the mountain view in the background and looked charming. The two entered the place and took a seat at the end of the outdoor terrace.

Karon ordered a glass of beer, and Yurik ordered a cup of coffee. The two sitting at the outdoor table were excessively conspicuous, to the point that people passing by would glance at them and whisper.

“Yuri, you’re on vacation and still drinking coffee? On times like these, it’s polite to have at least a glass of wine with alcohol.”

“Polite my foot. You just want to drink it, don’t you.”

“You drank just fine at the banquets, why not in front of me?”

“That’s because I have to match the atmosphere then.”

“Can’t you match with me now?”

“Why are you suddenly so…… whiny now that we’re here?”

“Don’t you know what being cute is?”

Even with the blatant stares, Karon was unbothered and continued to joke around. Yurik was so dumbfounded he let out a laugh. Cute my foot, a mountain-sized alpha male.

When Yurik was incredulous, Karon took it a step further, resting his elbow on the table and cutely propping up his chin with his hand. Because he had a handsome face, whatever he did was tolerable, but winking and biting his tongue to act cute was cheesy.

Yurik sighed and lifted his coffee cup.

“Please maintain some dignity.”

“I’m maintaining plenty right now. Look how it overflows. My mere existence overflows with dignity.”

“Ah…… yes. I’ll give you extra points for that confidence.”

“Did I finally get a plus score? Yuri, give me more. Look. I’ll be prettier if you look more closely.”

At him cupping his cheek with one hand and blinking his eyes, Yurik turned his head with a sour face. Karon giggled and gulped down his beer. They were talking about trivial and absurd things, but strangely, the conversation didn’t break, and the joking was fun. Yurik took a sip of his coffee and belatedly let out a chuckle.

“By the way, once we go back, we’ll be busy with preparations for the rain-making ritual, won’t we.”

“That’s why we have to enjoy it more. Once we go back, we won’t even have time to see each other’s faces like this. And we’re newlyweds.”

“……The eastern region is in a precarious situation due to the drought.”

“That’s why I expect it to be held on a pretty large scale this time. Preparations have already begun. Hasn’t the report been submitted already?”

“The budget plan has already been finalized. The Chancellor has also confirmed it. I’ve heard that communication with the temple has also progressed, so I can roughly guess the scale.”

“I’m worried. You worked without sleeping at night during the victory banquet, I wonder if you’ll be living in your office during the rain-making ritual.”

Yurik slightly raised his eyes and looked at Karon. It was a look that said, ‘how did you know,’ and Karon, reading that gaze, let out a hollow laugh.

“Still, I’d like you to come home from work. We’re newlyweds.”

“Is being newlyweds more important, or is state affairs more important? The east is in a drought.”

“No, I know. I know, but……”

“It’s also important for the people of the empire to gain hope by watching the rain-making ritual. The price of grain has skyrocketed recently…… oh, by the way, there was something I wanted to ask about this too.”

“What did you want to ask?”

Yurik glanced around for a moment, then lowered his voice a notch and asked.

“The price-fixing of grain…… are you sure it was led by the empress’s faction?”

“Ah, that.”

Karon leaned back deeply in his chair and tapped the table with his fingers. The matter Yurik just mentioned was one of the more sensitive issues these days. It was a topic that was also being discussed in the council of nobles, and it was a matter that Prince Lazhwell was also watching with interest.

Half of the eastern nobles were of the empress’s faction, but the other half were divided between neutral and the prince’s faction. Since the pie they were eating was large, there were rumors that they were the ones leading the situation, but in fact, if this were to come to the surface, it would become something for which the empress would be criticized by the entire empire.

The drought in the east caused the price of wheat to skyrocket, leading to overall price inflation. One might think they could just lower the prices, but it wasn’t a situation as easy as it sounds, so it was a problematic situation in many ways. It wasn’t something that could be easily caught just by trying to catch it.

“There are also rumors that the amount of grain the middle-management nobles are siphoning off to sell separately is twice the amount they are supplying.”

“Haah……. As expected of an adjutant, you’re quick with the news.”

“Since I have a husband from the empress’s faction, I thought I should know, so I listened carefully.”

“Thanks to having a neutral husband, I got to listen carefully too.”

Karon chuckled. What Yurik was curious about was how the empress would act in this situation. Prince Lazhwell was in a situation where he was trying to win the hearts of the people through the rain-making ritual. Then what about the empress? How would she move. That was what he was curious about. Yurik traced the rim of his coffee cup with his finger and thought deeply.

“I don’t think the empress will give up the profits she gains from the grain. It’s hitting a new high every day, after all.”

“I think so too.”

“But to quell the angry public sentiment and restore her image, she’ll have to offer something. She can’t give up the profits, and she can’t break the eastern union’s price-fixing, so she probably won’t be able to lower the prices. They are the empress’s power, so there’s only one thing she can do.”

“What do you think that is?”

“Getting rid of one of the easy-to-handle families. By pinning various charges on them.”

An easy-to-handle family. Yurik said it easily as he lifted his coffee cup, but Karon paused and tapped his beer glass. Even if it wasn’t easy-to-handle, only the empress knew what name could be fitted onto that family. It meant that the Chevinelle family was not safe either. No, it was rather dangerous.

When Karon held his wedding with Yurik, the empress sent no word. Even though the only son of Carnes, the biggest figure in the empress’s faction, was getting married. Both Carnes and Karon were taking this point a little cautiously.

‘……Perhaps Yurik knows about that point too?’

Karon’s gaze swept over Yurik’s face. Yurik, who was drinking his coffee nonchalantly, looked at Karon with a sullen expression and said.

“What’s with that look?”

“No. It’s nothing. I just thought you had great foresight.”

“An adjutant should be able to see this much.”

“Right……”

Karon chuckled. Even if he could see a thousand miles from where he sat, there was something he couldn’t see, as it’s dark under the lamp. Karon felt a pang in his stomach.

Karon felt a sudden thirst and chugged the rest of his beer in one go.