MMBMGAP CH 25

Chapter 25: Life’s Changes

After that official announcement, the sun still rose and set as usual. Life seemed to continue on like normal—but in reality, many things had already shifted, most notably Sade’s mood and daily routine, which were significantly affected.

“Father, I always thought you would be the heir to the throne…” Sade said in surprise after receiving the notice. He went to the study to speak with Lieutenant General Allen.

“I discussed this with the Queen,” Allen replied with a smile. “You’re young, capable, and more gifted than both Her Majesty and myself. So why take a roundabout path?”

Sade hesitated. His father wasn’t surprised—he knew his son had always been warm-hearted. By this age, Allen no longer sought the crown. His life had always been devoted to the Empire, and whether or not he became monarch wouldn’t affect his love or loyalty to it.

“But… I still…” Sade was about to say he was still too young—but as the words reached his lips, he realized he wasn’t a child anymore.

He had always known that one day he’d inherit the throne. He understood that this was both his responsibility and duty. But with the Queen and his father still in their prime, he had assumed his father would inherit it first. It all felt so distant.

And then, like a sudden thunderclap from a clear sky, the imperial announcement dropped without warning, shattering all those naïve thoughts.

“As the commander of the military, I’ve always charged at the front lines,” Allen said solemnly.

“Every mission, I go in fully prepared never to return. The Queen and I share one wish—to hand this Empire over to you intact.”

“That’s why, as the heir to the throne, you must never take unnecessary risks on the battlefield. From now on, staying alive is your highest priority. Understood?”

“…Father…” Sade didn’t want to hear these words. How could he hide away in safety while his father charged into danger?

“Say you understand,” Allen ordered firmly.

“…I understand,” Sade finally agreed, looking at his father’s face.

That night, Sade stayed at the shooting range for a very long time. He started with long-range sniper rifles, then moved to close-range pistols, and finally to assault rifles—firing round after round to release the turmoil inside him. It was already late into the night when Lady Resa couldn’t stand it anymore and had someone go stop him so the household could rest. Only then did he finally stop.

When Sade returned to his room, he was surprised to find Lin You still awake.

“Yuyou…” Sade felt strangely guilty seeing Lin You still waiting up for him.

“Let me see your hands,” Lin You said softly.

“I should shower first,” Sade replied. He was reeking of gunpowder and didn’t want to suffocate Lin You with the smell.

He quickly finished his shower and stepped out of the bathroom.

“Come here…” Lin You, seated at the edge of the bed, called to him.

Sade approached, and Lin You gently took his hand. Sure enough, from his shoulder down to his palm, the whole arm was red and swollen, with scrapes and raw patches in some areas. Without saying much, Lin You used a healing spell to treat him. Thankfully, Alphas had strong constitutions, and the wounds healed fairly quickly.

“You didn’t need to go through all that trouble,” Sade said with an awkward tug at the corner of his lips. He wasn’t some delicate type—these weren’t serious injuries. The swelling and redness were just muscle strain, nothing that couldn’t be ignored.

“………” Lin You glared at him in silence.

“…Sorry. I was in a bad mood,” Sade said, sensing the mood and feeling he should apologize.

“Is it… because you don’t want to get married?” Lin You asked, eyes lowered. He couldn’t hold back his uneasiness and, swallowing his pride, asked quietly. His voice carried a trace of sorrow.

“How could that be?! Of course not!” Sade quickly denied it in surprise. How did Lin You even come to that conclusion?! He immediately realized Lin You must’ve misunderstood, and these two things weren’t even remotely connected. He rushed to explain.

“I actually just talked with my father. He and my aunt—Her Majesty—agreed that since I’m now Crown Prince, even if I serve in the military in the future, I won’t be allowed to go to the front lines during wartime. I’ll have to stay in the rear and command from a safe position,” Sade said gloomily, like a big dog who’d been scolded.

“But I’ve never been one to fear battle. To hide behind the lines while watching my father fight on the frontlines… I just can’t do that…” His final words came out in a low, anguished growl.

“Sade, you can do anything you want to do. Go wherever you want to go. If you want to charge into battle, then charge. As long as I’m by your side, I won’t let you die. Let me support you.”

Lin You paused his movements and looked Sade straight in the face, eyes locking onto him with unwavering determination. His gaze was serious—serious enough to leave no room for doubt. He wanted Sade to know just how much he meant what he said.

“Yuyou…” Sade’s heart softened. His Yuyou was so strong.

“You’re just like your father—you don’t want me to go to the battlefield either,” Lin You suddenly said, as if something had occurred to him.

“Uh… you’re not wrong, but the two situations are different,” Sade replied. He hadn’t expected Lin You to point that out. He wanted to argue, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized the outcome was the same. Lin You was his most precious treasure—someone he wanted to protect and cherish. There was no way he’d allow Lin You to go to war.

“Just like you, I’m not afraid either!” Lin You said earnestly.

“Okay, okay, I know. Our Yuyou is really strong. But Yuyou, let’s go to sleep now, alright? Thinking too much about the battlefield and all that will just make it harder to sleep. Besides, we’re in peacetime—worrying about these things is just overthinking,” Sade said in a coaxing tone, quickly steering the topic away. He felt there was no point in continuing the discussion—better to rest first.

“Mm, you should rest early too,” Lin You finally let him off the hook.

The night was already deep—it was long past Lin You’s usual bedtime. He had waited up just for Sade. Originally, he had thought the royal proclamation was something to celebrate. After all, everyone in the estate had shown genuine joy. But Sade, upon receiving the decree, had chosen to spend the whole night at the shooting range in the freezing cold.

Before Sade returned, Lin You had been overthinking everything. He wondered if it was because Sade didn’t want to marry so soon, or didn’t want to be tied down—more precisely, tied down by him—and that’s what made him upset. Lacking any confidence in their relationship, Lin You had assumed everything was his fault. After all, becoming Crown Prince should have been a great honor. He never imagined the real reason for Sade’s distress was something completely different.

Now that the truth was clear, the heavy burden in Lin You’s heart finally lifted. Then he began blaming himself again—for not trusting Sade enough, for letting his insecurities take over. His emotions grew more tangled and restless.

The two of them lay side by side on Sade’s large bed. Lin You turned to glance at the gentlemanly Alpha sleeping beside him and couldn’t help but sigh.

This holiday felt way too long.

(To be continued…)