CH 14

*******

「Yulif!」

The vivid memories, as if they had happened just yesterday, were cut off by Canaren’s cry. Canren, who had gone all the way in front of him, was waving her hand towards him.

「Come over here! A lot of flowers bloomed…」

「Canaren!」

In an instant, Canaren’s body fell backwards.

She was so engrossed in waving at Yulif that she couldn’t see the cliff. In fact, it was the starting point of a steep slope.

‘What do I do? Should I spread my wings?’

It was a little quicker for Yulif to react than for her to make her decision.

Just before she fell, Yulif hugged her.

Two entangled people rolled down the slope. Petals and blades of grass jumped out.

Yulif held her tightly and deeply within his solid arms. She felt warm, delicate, and soft. If a canary bird grows to the size of a human, would it feel just like this? If he gave a little more force, would it burst? Not her thin dress, but his own heart.

It was the first time. That he came this close to her.

「Wow, I’m out of breath. That’s enough… Let me go…」

「…I’m sorry.」

Even though the slope was gone, Yulif, who was holding her, regained his consciousness. When the strength from his arms was released, Canaren quickly escaped.

Yulif closed his eyes and sighed. It was to calm his heart rate that was beating like crazy.

It’s dangerous like this. The Canaren he felt with his whole body was so fascinating. The nape of her neck was hot as her breath that touched him, they were burning. Even though he only touched her like this. If her lips even touch his lips…

「Yulif! Are you hurt? Are you okay?」

A light weight fell down on him. Yulif opened his eyes in surprise.

Canaren had climbed onto his body and she was looking down at him.

It was only for a moment that his heart was warmed by her gentle eyes filled with worries. A slowly rising heat from his body was something Yulif was unfamiliar with.

Canaren’s expression grew more serious as she looked at the corners of his reddened eyes as his fever rose.

「Your eyes are red. Maybe your eyes are hurt…」

Her slender fingers caressing his eyes felt like strange kindness. He couldn’t stand it any longer.

Yulif carefully grabbed Canaren’s wrist.

His long fingers slowly climbed up her wrists and palms and wrapped around her hands. As if she couldn’t find anything to say, her red and thick lips were slightly gaped, and it naturally drew attention. Yulif tried to forcefully shift his gaze and look into her eyes instead, but he was unsuccessful.

「Canaren.」

A hot impulse engulfed him.

Yulif was a thoroughly rational person. It was good in a way, but in a bad way, his emotions were lacking. And he seldom showed interest in others. It was also due to his natural personality, but it was also because he reached a transcendental level before becoming an adult.

After his mother, who had taken care of him, passed away, nothing touched his feelings. He was neither happy, nor sad, nor in despair; he just spent each day quietly doing the task entrusted to him. He didn’t want anything, so he didn’t have any major complaints.

Until he met Canaren.

From the first meeting with her, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He thought it was natural.

Her unique appearance, her voice like a chirping bird, and the way she made close eye contact while shrugging her shoulders were eye-chating. Was there anyone who wouldn’t look at her when she was right in front of them? He thought it was just that much of a feeling.

He foolishly didn’t even know it was love.

It seemed that regret was not the only thing left behind by belated regrets.

Yulif desperately suppressed the urge and heat in his body. He didn’t deserve Canaren. He couldn’t or he shouldn’t want to. Nevertheless, he still wanted her.

An uncontrollable impulse ran through his veins and spread throughout his body. Yulif wrapped his arms around Canaren’s waist. With just a little bit of strength. With only a slight touch, he pulled her soft body into his arms once more. His head was dizzy at the scent of her mixed with the fragrance of the flowers.

And her lips. His eyes caught sight of her lips, which he had never coveted to his heart’s content. Yulif gently wrapped one hand around the back of her head. He wanted to press down on her head like this and kiss her lips deeply. Playing with the tongue, sharing their saliva, and taking her breath away. Then he wanted to swallow her from her head to her toes.

Canaren’s chest, softly pressed against his own chest, was warm and soft. Though she had her clothes in between them, it felt transparent. Just imagining burying his face in her chest that was as if it would melt when touched, blood rushed between his legs.

But just before becoming a beast that succumbed to desire, Yulif returned to reality. Then came his intense self-hatred.

If it weren’t for Canaren, he would be in so much pain that he wanted to slap himself on the cheek. He thought, as if brainwashed.

‘Don’t forget your purpose, what you have to do.’

「Yulif?」

Canaren called him cautiously. Yulif didn’t open his mouth. An awkward silence passed.

Yulif was silent. It hadn’t been a day or two since Yulif’s was silent, but this silence was a little strange. His hands wrapped around her waist were too hot.

Canaren moved her body like a dream. The two’s bodies became closer, and her thighs wrapped by her dress rubbed against Yulif’s legs. At that moment, Yulif mercilessly released her hand. It was such a cold action that Canaren opened her eyes wide in surprise.

「Get away from me.」

「Yes? Oh… Yes. I’m sorry.」

Canaren got off hastily from Yulif’s body.

There was a rare displeasure in his cold voice.

Was he mad at her for touching his body recklessly?

Canaren looked into his eyes.

Yulif didn’t even look at her. Canaren’s ears burned red at the sight of him blatantly ignoring her.

She was ashamed.

「Is someone coming?」

「What should I do? Should we go somewhere else?」

「Too late. From now on, don’t use the Whira language.」

Canaren bit her lips gently. She had no idea why Yulif’s attitude suddenly changed.

Was it because of the person who was approaching? Who the hell was it?

She was very nervous and looked in the direction Yulif was looking.

*******

Lucian, the Crown Prince and the only child of the Emperor, was very busy from morning to evening.

Deltinus had a splendid appetite for women, but he did not bring in another queen or concubine, and did not create more heirs with them. His theory was that one child was enough to hand over the throne. He often complained that it was an unnecessary bother to have many children.

For this reason, Lucian had been educated to become a king from a very young age. Fortunately, unlike the Deltinus, he was intelligent and had a good heart.

Though he was mature, he was still just a child who had just turned 10 years old.

As the hectic schedule continued for several days, Lucian was looking for an unexpected escape opportunity.

According to his schedule, Lucian was to take a nap right after afternoon tea. Because it’s part of his daily routine, the surveillance network was not tight around the crown prince’s bedroom. He put a pillow under the duvet to make a convex body shape, and then quickly got out of the bedroom.

His destination, of course, was the detached palace where the Empress Palace was located.

‘Can I meet Uncle and Miss Canaren like last time?’

Oddly enough, he hadn’t seen Canaren since that day.

Yulif was such a busy person, and it was not hard to see him for a while when Lucian tried to meet him, but there was no way to meet Canaren.

It wasn’t that he didn’t think about asking the attendant for Canaren, but… For some reason, he thought he shouldn’t ask, so he gave up. Because he felt that Uncle Yulif was trying to hide Canaren.

A child who grew up watching Deltinus’s moods change from time to time especially developed this intuition.

‘I want to repay her for finding my handkerchief…’

“…Oh!”

He was lost in thought, and as he walked around the corner he bumped into someone. Lucian, upon discovering the other person’s black shoes, instinctively shivered. Black shoes were obviously the most fearful thing in the world.

“Y-Your Majesty… I didn’t look ahead. Sorry… Uncle?”

Lucian, who had slowly raised his eyes, also raised his head, knowing that it was not polite to keep it down.

Yulif was looking at him with his usual expressionless face. He was surprised to learn that it wasn’t Deltinus, and his heart, which had been pounding, quickly returned to calmness.

Lucian’s face visibly brightened with relief and joy.

“Uncle! Where are you going?”

“This is the way to see His Majesty. But, why are you out here? I know it’s nap time now.”

“Well… that.”

“You came out secretly.”

“Oh, ah, no! Mother… I was going to see Mother! I can’t say hello in the morning!”

Lucian exclaimed desperately. He had a swordsmanship class from early in the morning, so it wasn’t a lie.

Yulif stared at Lucian, who was restless and bewildered, without a word.

Soon, his hand rested on Lucian’s head.

“Your Highness has no talent for lying.”

“I’m sorry, Uncle… Okay. I’ll go back to my room right now, so please, to His Majesty… Please keep it a secret!”

“Are you afraid of His Majesty?”

Lucian did not answer easily. It reminded him of Yulif’s words that the emperor’s eyes were everywhere in the palace.

‘If someone hears this conversation and tells it to the emperor…’

Yulif nodded his head as if saying it’s okay for him to tell him. Lucian hesitated and opened his mouth.

“A little… He’s scary.”

“Are you not scared of me?”

“My uncle is not scary. His Majesty suddenly gets angry, so I’m scared. It’s also sad that if I do something wrong, my mother will be scolded instead. His Majesty doesn’t seem to value my mother.”

“Is that so.”

A blunt answer came back.

Lucian liked the large hand that stroked his head as if comforting him.

Come to think of it, it was the first time Yulif had stroked his hair. And that was one more strange thing.

“Uncle.”

“Yes.”

“Is it okay if I call you ‘uncle’ today? Didn’t you always ask me to call you ‘duke’?”

Lucian’s eyes, who quickly recovered their energy, shone brightly. It was quite pleasant to see Yulif stroking his hair.

Yulif made an expression that was hard to read and shut his mouth. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, so Lucian patiently waited until he opened his mouth again.

“Sometimes there are days when I want to act my own way. Just as how Your Highness made an escape.”

“My uncle, too?”

Lucian smiled broadly, apparently happy to find a comrade.

In the child’s mind, the scene where Yulif secretly escaped from the Imperial Palace was drawn. It was swift and cool, like a knight on a secret mission.

Unable to even dream of what Lucian was imagining, Yulif turned towards the detached palace.

“I’ll take you to the detached palace.”

Lucian was delighted to go to the private palace with his favorite Yulif. He might be able to meet Canaren if he was with Yulif.

The overjoyed child did not see the man’s smiling lips.