“Just one more bite.”
Radan’s face had perplexed expression at Leshak’s words.
“You really can’t eat it?”
“Well…….”
“Just a bite. This is the last one.”
“Okay.”
Radan opened his mouth reluctantly. The last piece of meat Leshak put in his mouth melted without even having to chew it.
“Great, now you eaten the whole piece.”
Leshak smiled contentedly. No matter how you look at it, Radan was too small and too thin. They must have been feeding him strange foods, such as dried snakes, on purpose to make him look three or four years younger than his actual age.
Whenever Lashek thought about it, he became obsessed with feeding Radan. Perhaps he just wanted to make up for all the things that Radan was denied immediately. Even he knew it was absurd to obsess about something that was impossible.
Radan licked the sauce on his lips. It was something that a person unfamiliar with using napkins would do, but as Leshak watched it absurd thoughtsran throughhis head.
‘Damn it! I missed it, I should have gotten that.’ He thought to himself. Then he was surprised by himself…… what am I thinking now…he imagined what the lips with sauce mixed with saliva would taste like. It wasn’t difficult to imagine the taste. Even so, Leshak felt his hands twitch because he wanted to experience the taste.
“Now that we have finished eating, why don’t we go for a walk?”
Leshak said as he got up in front of the table. He suggested it because he was concerned about what would happen to his head if they continued to stay together in the narrow barracks.
“It’s a mourning period, but that’s okay. It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day.”
“Go for a walk?”
Radan pursed his lips a little, and asked. It didn’t seem like he meant anything by it. He seemed surprising by it, but it was just a walk.
But, why? Leshak licked his dry lips. But why does it seem like that gesture means you can kiss you?
“Do you not want to?”
Radan bowed his head for amoment and pondered. Leshak did not know that he was contemplating for such a long time was, what the meaning of ‘a walk’ was.
“You are too pale. Sun exposure will be beneficial to your health, so would walking.”
“Ah… ….”
Radan finally understood the what he meant by a walk. He fumbled around and got up.
“Yes, that’s g…… good.”
Saying no is just as good as making you feel bad, as dangerous as it sounds. If you like walking, wouldn’t it be nice to kiss you? Leshak pounded his forehead against the barracks pillar. Calm down, damn it! At the unfamiliar sound, Radan lifted his head. Leshak approached and held out his arm to Radan.
“Take my arm.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Radan’s hand stuttered up and grabbed his arm. Leshak saw Radan’s cheeks turn red. He had no clue, but it was the first time Radan had gone for a walk. Radan was overjoyed to his own surprise. He was so happy that he couldnt afford to judge how absurd this situation was.
His heart was beating loudly. The hand that was holding Leshak’s arm was full of strength.
“Th, thank you… …Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
“A walk, th, thank you so much…….“
Leshak’s patience ended there.
“If you are grateful, how about giving something in return Radan?”
“Return……?”
“Yeah.”
“What can I do?”
There was alot he wanted him to do, it was just that Leshak couldn’t ask for it.
“For now, I would be satisfied with a kiss.”
Leshak wrapped his other arm around Radan’s waist. His back bent slightly and his feet were slightly raised, and then Leshak’s lips came down on his. It was an impeccable kiss from the courter to the courted. It was soft and polite. The moment Radan cluelessly opened his mouth, the kiss deepened. It was skillful and restrained, yet passionate and quick.
“Ha, uh… …”
Radan let out a choking sound. Hearing that sound, Leshak smiled.
“That’s enough.”
At least Radan didn’t hate the kiss. Radan’s hand, which had been holding his arm tight before the kiss started, never let up or pushed him away.
This will be the beginning… Leshak pulled Radan’s shoulder and kissed him briefly on the forehead.
“It was a good response. | like it.”
“… … .”
“Then, let’s go.”
“… … .”
Before taking a step, Leshak turned Radan to face him in the right direction.
“Don’t let go of my arm, if you want to let go, tell me and i’ll hold on to you. Do you understand?”
”… … Yes, my lord.”
Rathan’s voice in reply was very low, and the blush on his cheeks never stopped. Leshak, who was unconsciously about to reach out and caress his cheeks, tightened his jaw and moved instead. He knew if he kept touching him like this, the would never make it on their walk.
“Speak out if I’m walking too fast. If your feet start hurting, tell me, wecan stop walking anytime.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“If you want to do something other than a walk, just say it.”
“Yes, my lord.”
It seemed that the requests became longer than the walk.
Leshak walked through the entrance to the barracks and put Radan ahead of him. The clear morning sun with nothing to cover it, pierced the blindfold.
“Ah… ….”
Radan opened his mouth. Today was the first time Radan had ever out without a reason being, to kill someone. The world beyond the iron gate was here.
Outside, was the military camp and “the walk’ consisted of going all around it. There was nothing to show off, and nothing to entertaining.
Leshak was in a very bad mood because of everyone gaze was on Radan. Radan’s wardrobe problems hadn’t improved since yesterday. The only real difference was that the color had changed from white to blue, but it was still precariously hanging off him, ready to fall off at any time.
“I can’t really call this a walk.”
Leshak muttered with an involuntarily frown on his face. He wasn’t really walking with him so much as he was monitoring him. He was busy worrying that he may he step wrong and fall, or maybe his shirt wouldn’t slide off and his bare skin would be exposed, and other people would see him. The more he worried, the more his steps were slowed down.
Each time Radan’s steps outpaced him, his legs would tangle. Leshak was holding onto Radan as if he was about to fall, he thought about asking him if he would like to stop their walk for now.
However, it was not easy to speak because the blush on both his cheeks was getting darker, and was too clear. A brisk breath flowed from Radan’s mouth, who held him with all his might. This reminded him of feeding him the lamb, and his surprise at how delicious it was, the walk must have be so much fun for him as well that he couldn’t help going on.
“Radan, walk a little slower.”
Contrary to Leshak whose pace continued to slow, Radan’s pace grew faster and faster. Leshak couldn’t stand his worries any longer and when he spoke out, Radan asked with a puzzled expression.
“Ah… …? Y, your Majesty, are your legs sore?”
It was a weird thing to hear. Leshak’s army could walk from sunrise to sunset, while wearing full armor and helmets heavier than Radan’s weight.
“No, not at all.”
“Well, then why…… ?”
“I’m afraid your leg will be sore.”
Radan spoke very quickly. “Oh, no. They’re not, not at all.”
It was too obvious that he was trying to convey that his legs weren’t sore.
“Well, then.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Radan grabbed Leshak’s arm with an impatient gesture. There was no bitter laughter at such an action. Just as Leshak was about to say, that the road wouldn’t run away even if they didn’t see it today, someone came running from behind.
“Your Highness!”
It was Karum. From the sight of gasping, it seemed to have run from far away.
“Where are you going without an attendant. Haaah-.”
Karum hurriedly asked, wiping the sweat on his forehead with his forearms.
“I was taking a walk, and I don’t need you guys disturbing it.”
“No, taking a walk in a place like this?”
Karum looked around with a puzzled expression. In the place there were barracks lined up here and there, and the smell of sweat and people, mixed with horses. It was nothing more than the battlefield, where luckily no battles had been fought yet.
“It’s because we didn’t have to go far.”
“Still, there’s nothing to see here, and it smells bad, too.”
Leshak showed a little irritation.
“It is more important for Radan to go out for a walk in the sunshine, than to care if it’s on a battlefield. Let’s go, Radan.”
Radan nodded, and the walk began again.
“I’ll take you there.”
Karum followed three steps away. Leshak immediately threw out an angry voice.
“Your not coming.”
“What……?”
“Do not disturb us.”
Karum paused for a moment and said. “But I know a nearby brook, Your Majesty.”
“So?”
“Isn’t it worth walking a little father, than it is to walk here?”
Even if there was a stream, there was nothing particularly good about this type of terrain. Rather, it was just an old unused path, at least that’s what Leshak thought.
“Br, brook…… what’s that?”
Radan had never seen the flowing water. He held Leshak’s arm with both hands now. Radan didn’t realize that he was still pulling Leshak’s arm.
“… …”
“… …”
Leshak and Karum made a similar expression at the same time. It was an expression that said, if Radan’s family was in front of them right now, they would do more than just cut off one arm or one leg.
“Karum.”
“Yes, my lord.”
No other words could have been said in this situation.
“Guide me there.”
“Yes, my lord. I will take the lead.”
So, Leshak and his party, including Karum, headed to the stream on the nearby hill.
The basement room with no light was always cold. The iron gate was always cold, and even the food that was served once a day, although it was freshly made, was never served warm.
He’d always been skinny.
Radan spent most of the day crouching in front of the iron gate. What he was most familiar with was the temperature of the iron. Radan distinguished the change of seasons by the temperature that touched this skin. The coldness of the iron gate was changed subtly in the upper and lower seasons.
Occasionally, the guide came to pick him up and he was able to go outside. There were times when the guide taught him something, saying it was necessary. Radan faithfully absorbed the knowledge that was helpful in assassinations. Radan, who was as empty as a blank sheet of paper, learned everything he was taught very quickly.
Radan’s knowledge was very disproportionate. He didn’t know obvious facts such as the flow of stream water, or that the cooked food was hot, but he did know things that were completely unexpected. For example, he knew all twelve language systems of the continent. He didn’t know the words that refer to things he was unfamiliar with, but he instinctively distinguished the uses of those words. And once he heard it, he never forgot it.
He didn’t even know the word brook, but Radan was able to correctly distinguish the first pronunciation he heard. He was always alone in the dark, and he would close his eyes and listen, so his ears were very sensitive. There were few sounds that Radan could not distinguish.
The walk was a feast of all kinds of sounds and temperatures. There were other sounds as well, the sound of Leshak’s breathing, footsteps, and the sound of licking his lips for some unknown reason. Radan heard the sound of the wind very clearly, he felt the warmth of the soil and rocks where where the sun was shining, on his skin.
As a wave of all kinds of knowledge and sensations suddenly rushed in, Radan was unable to come to his senses. Every time he heard or smelled something new, Radan shook his head in surprise. At first Leshak stopped one by one, but he soon understood Radan’s reaction. Each time he did, he noticed that Radan grabbed his arm very tightly as he bit his lip to focus. Now Radan was immersing his hands in the running water, and quietly engravingthe new sensation in his memory.
“Ah… ….” He didn’t know what to say.
The slow flowing stream was very smooth. But the movement could not be stopped. No matter how you moved your hand, the water continued to stay in the same direction and the same softness. This new knowledge was inspiring. The grassy soil was a little damp, but because it ot plenty of sunlight it was warm. What he touched and what he felt on my skin were new. Radan opened his lips, something kept leaking out. He continued to laugh.
“He doesn’t know what to do with it all.” Leshak said as he sat on a rock a little farther away from Radan.
At first his was by Leshak’s side, but when Radan became so enchanted and curious, he thought it would be good to let him enjoy it alone. So he purposely distanced himself from Radan. Karum, who was standing next to Leshak and looking at Radan together, nodded.
“Yes, keep smiling.”
Leshak’s forehead was subtly distorted.
“I never thought that there were people who would see a stream for the first time in their lives.”
“Me too.”
“And i never thought I would be so upset by that fact.”
“… …”
Karum didn’t know what to say to that, so he just shut his mouth. Leshak’s continued to gaze at Radan.
“When you look at him, I feel my emotions coming to a boil. Why do I feel like that guy’s misfortunes are somehowmy responsibility?”
“That is wrong…… what your are thinking, My Lord. Your Majesty has done nothing wrong.”
“Alright, I haven’t done anything wrong, other than my inability to end the war for seven years. I’m angry though at myself.”
“Don’t do that, my lord. You don’t have to feel that way. No matter how strong the empire is, it’s hard to deal with five countries at once. It will never be easy.
“i don’t like the unexpected casualties and damage brought on by war.”
Even after saying that, Leshak was confused. Was it the really the death of people he didn’t really care about, or was it that the past had made Radan’s life like this, that he didn’t like?
Karum opened his mouth in embarrassment. A feeling of sadness came over him. It was as if he felt that if Sidris or Abadd, instead of his dull self, were here, they would have said things better.
“Your Majesty is doing great, the forces lead by his Majesty Leshak, have never been defeated in any battle. But war and battles are different…… I don’t have the talent to say anything well, but I think it’s probably in God’s hands. Your Majesty is doing well! We all believe and follow you your Majesty…… we know you’ll do what’s right.”
“I also know that you guys have been doing great for the past seven years. I’m not talking about that. What I’m trying to say is…… Damn, I feel like an asshole saying it, but it’s Radan’s past that I can’t do anything about. Why do I want to touch him even though I know I can’t? I feel dirty wanting to, knowing I can’t.
Karum finally understood Leshak. Even if he was always told that he was dull, he could understand Leshak’s meaning now.
“It means……you love him, my Lord. You want to do things that are impossible for him.”
“Does it?“
“Yes.”
Leshak smiled bitterly.
“Yeah, I know I’m losing my mind. I even think, I wish I wasn’t at war. If it were at the Kratis Palace, I could make sure there was nothing lacking for him.”
“Then if the war ends quickly, I think it’ll be alright, Your Highness.”
“Yes. I’m desperate for that, too. When the mourning period is over, I’ll have to raise my sword in earnest.”
“I’ll get ready, too.”
and Radan, who unwantedly listened to their conversation, was at a loss.
And Radan, who unwantedly listened to their conversation, was also confused. You’re a good person. Radan, who was still dipping his hand in the stream, became absent-minded.
He said he loves me. He said it’s because he cares about me a lot that he wants to do a lot for me. Even now…..so much.
But he is Prince Leshak. I’m Laud’s brother. I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I can kill him. I’m sorry, Laud.
It was when Radan, who was weighed down by guilt, wasn’t paying attention.
Slither.-
Something dark red glimmered over the water of the stream. With a pointed triangular head and a long body like a branch, it was an unknown snake.
Slither.-
The serpent cut through the waters current, straight towards Radan. When the snake finally lifted its head out of the water…
“Damn! Radan!”
…Only then did Leshak find the snake.
“Just one more bite.”
Radan’s face had perplexed expression at Leshak’s words.
“You really can’t eat it?”
“Well…….”
“Just a bite. This is the last one.”
“Okay.”
Radan opened his mouth reluctantly. The last piece of meat Leshak put in his mouth melted without even having to chew it.
“Great, now you eaten the whole piece.”
Leshak smiled contentedly. No matter how you look at it, Radan was too small and too thin. They must have been feeding him strange foods, such as dried snakes, on purpose to make him look three or four years younger than his actual age.
Whenever Lashek thought about it, he became obsessed with feeding Radan. Perhaps he just wanted to make up for all the things that Radan was denied immediately. Even he knew it was absurd to obsess about something that was impossible.
Radan licked the sauce on his lips. It was something that a person unfamiliar with using napkins would do, but as Leshak watched it absurd thoughtsran throughhis head.
‘Damn it! I missed it, I should have gotten that.’ He thought to himself. Then he was surprised by himself…… what am I thinking now…he imagined what the lips with sauce mixed with saliva would taste like. It wasn’t difficult to imagine the taste. Even so, Leshak felt his hands twitch because he wanted to experience the taste.
“Now that we have finished eating, why don’t we go for a walk?”
Leshak said as he got up in front of the table. He suggested it because he was concerned about what would happen to his head if they continued to stay together in the narrow barracks.
“It’s a mourning period, but that’s okay. It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day.”
“Go for a walk?”
Radan pursed his lips a little, and asked. It didn’t seem like he meant anything by it. He seemed surprising by it, but it was just a walk.
But, why? Leshak licked his dry lips. But why does it seem like that gesture means you can kiss you?
“Do you not want to?”
Radan bowed his head for amoment and pondered. Leshak did not know that he was contemplating for such a long time was, what the meaning of ‘a walk’ was.
“You are too pale. Sun exposure will be beneficial to your health, so would walking.”
“Ah… ….”
Radan finally understood the what he meant by a walk. He fumbled around and got up.
“Yes, that’s g…… good.”
Saying no is just as good as making you feel bad, as dangerous as it sounds. If you like walking, wouldn’t it be nice to kiss you? Leshak pounded his forehead against the barracks pillar. Calm down, damn it! At the unfamiliar sound, Radan lifted his head. Leshak approached and held out his arm to Radan.
“Take my arm.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Radan’s hand stuttered up and grabbed his arm. Leshak saw Radan’s cheeks turn red. He had no clue, but it was the first time Radan had gone for a walk. Radan was overjoyed to his own surprise. He was so happy that he couldnt afford to judge how absurd this situation was.
His heart was beating loudly. The hand that was holding Leshak’s arm was full of strength.
“Th, thank you… …Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
“A walk, th, thank you so much…….“
Leshak’s patience ended there.
“If you are grateful, how about giving something in return Radan?”
“Return……?”
“Yeah.”
“What can I do?”
There was alot he wanted him to do, it was just that Leshak couldn’t ask for it.
“For now, I would be satisfied with a kiss.”
Leshak wrapped his other arm around Radan’s waist. His back bent slightly and his feet were slightly raised, and then Leshak’s lips came down on his. It was an impeccable kiss from the courter to the courted. It was soft and polite. The moment Radan cluelessly opened his mouth, the kiss deepened. It was skillful and restrained, yet passionate and quick.
“Ha, uh… …”
Radan let out a choking sound. Hearing that sound, Leshak smiled.
“That’s enough.”
At least Radan didn’t hate the kiss. Radan’s hand, which had been holding his arm tight before the kiss started, never let up or pushed him away.
This will be the beginning… Leshak pulled Radan’s shoulder and kissed him briefly on the forehead.
“It was a good response. | like it.”
“… … .”
“Then, let’s go.”
“… … .”
Before taking a step, Leshak turned Radan to face him in the right direction.
“Don’t let go of my arm, if you want to let go, tell me and i’ll hold on to you. Do you understand?”
”… … Yes, my lord.”
Rathan’s voice in reply was very low, and the blush on his cheeks never stopped. Leshak, who was unconsciously about to reach out and caress his cheeks, tightened his jaw and moved instead. He knew if he kept touching him like this, the would never make it on their walk.
“Speak out if I’m walking too fast. If your feet start hurting, tell me, wecan stop walking anytime.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“If you want to do something other than a walk, just say it.”
“Yes, my lord.”
It seemed that the requests became longer than the walk.
Leshak walked through the entrance to the barracks and put Radan ahead of him. The clear morning sun with nothing to cover it, pierced the blindfold.
“Ah… ….”
Radan opened his mouth. Today was the first time Radan had ever out without a reason being, to kill someone. The world beyond the iron gate was here.
Outside, was the military camp and “the walk’ consisted of going all around it. There was nothing to show off, and nothing to entertaining.
Leshak was in a very bad mood because of everyone gaze was on Radan. Radan’s wardrobe problems hadn’t improved since yesterday. The only real difference was that the color had changed from white to blue, but it was still precariously hanging off him, ready to fall off at any time.
“I can’t really call this a walk.”
Leshak muttered with an involuntarily frown on his face. He wasn’t really walking with him so much as he was monitoring him. He was busy worrying that he may he step wrong and fall, or maybe his shirt wouldn’t slide off and his bare skin would be exposed, and other people would see him. The more he worried, the more his steps were slowed down.
Each time Radan’s steps outpaced him, his legs would tangle. Leshak was holding onto Radan as if he was about to fall, he thought about asking him if he would like to stop their walk for now.
However, it was not easy to speak because the blush on both his cheeks was getting darker, and was too clear. A brisk breath flowed from Radan’s mouth, who held him with all his might. This reminded him of feeding him the lamb, and his surprise at how delicious it was, the walk must have be so much fun for him as well that he couldn’t help going on.
“Radan, walk a little slower.”
Contrary to Leshak whose pace continued to slow, Radan’s pace grew faster and faster. Leshak couldn’t stand his worries any longer and when he spoke out, Radan asked with a puzzled expression.
“Ah… …? Y, your Majesty, are your legs sore?”
It was a weird thing to hear. Leshak’s army could walk from sunrise to sunset, while wearing full armor and helmets heavier than Radan’s weight.
“No, not at all.”
“Well, then why…… ?”
“I’m afraid your leg will be sore.”
Radan spoke very quickly. “Oh, no. They’re not, not at all.”
It was too obvious that he was trying to convey that his legs weren’t sore.
“Well, then.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Radan grabbed Leshak’s arm with an impatient gesture. There was no bitter laughter at such an action. Just as Leshak was about to say, that the road wouldn’t run away even if they didn’t see it today, someone came running from behind.
“Your Highness!”
It was Karum. From the sight of gasping, it seemed to have run from far away.
“Where are you going without an attendant. Haaah-.”
Karum hurriedly asked, wiping the sweat on his forehead with his forearms.
“I was taking a walk, and I don’t need you guys disturbing it.”
“No, taking a walk in a place like this?”
Karum looked around with a puzzled expression. In the place there were barracks lined up here and there, and the smell of sweat and people, mixed with horses. It was nothing more than the battlefield, where luckily no battles had been fought yet.
“It’s because we didn’t have to go far.”
“Still, there’s nothing to see here, and it smells bad, too.”
Leshak showed a little irritation.
“It is more important for Radan to go out for a walk in the sunshine, than to care if it’s on a battlefield. Let’s go, Radan.”
Radan nodded, and the walk began again.
“I’ll take you there.”
Karum followed three steps away. Leshak immediately threw out an angry voice.
“Your not coming.”
“What……?”
“Do not disturb us.”
Karum paused for a moment and said. “But I know a nearby brook, Your Majesty.”
“So?”
“Isn’t it worth walking a little father, than it is to walk here?”
Even if there was a stream, there was nothing particularly good about this type of terrain. Rather, it was just an old unused path, at least that’s what Leshak thought.
“Br, brook…… what’s that?”
Radan had never seen the flowing water. He held Leshak’s arm with both hands now. Radan didn’t realize that he was still pulling Leshak’s arm.
“… …”
“… …”
Leshak and Karum made a similar expression at the same time. It was an expression that said, if Radan’s family was in front of them right now, they would do more than just cut off one arm or one leg.
“Karum.”
“Yes, my lord.”
No other words could have been said in this situation.
“Guide me there.”
“Yes, my lord. I will take the lead.”
So, Leshak and his party, including Karum, headed to the stream on the nearby hill.
The basement room with no light was always cold. The iron gate was always cold, and even the food that was served once a day, although it was freshly made, was never served warm.
He’d always been skinny.
Radan spent most of the day crouching in front of the iron gate. What he was most familiar with was the temperature of the iron. Radan distinguished the change of seasons by the temperature that touched this skin. The coldness of the iron gate was changed subtly in the upper and lower seasons.
Occasionally, the guide came to pick him up and he was able to go outside. There were times when the guide taught him something, saying it was necessary. Radan faithfully absorbed the knowledge that was helpful in assassinations. Radan, who was as empty as a blank sheet of paper, learned everything he was taught very quickly.
Radan’s knowledge was very disproportionate. He didn’t know obvious facts such as the flow of stream water, or that the cooked food was hot, but he did know things that were completely unexpected. For example, he knew all twelve language systems of the continent. He didn’t know the words that refer to things he was unfamiliar with, but he instinctively distinguished the uses of those words. And once he heard it, he never forgot it.
He didn’t even know the word brook, but Radan was able to correctly distinguish the first pronunciation he heard. He was always alone in the dark, and he would close his eyes and listen, so his ears were very sensitive. There were few sounds that Radan could not distinguish.
The walk was a feast of all kinds of sounds and temperatures. There were other sounds as well, the sound of Leshak’s breathing, footsteps, and the sound of licking his lips for some unknown reason. Radan heard the sound of the wind very clearly, he felt the warmth of the soil and rocks where where the sun was shining, on his skin.
As a wave of all kinds of knowledge and sensations suddenly rushed in, Radan was unable to come to his senses. Every time he heard or smelled something new, Radan shook his head in surprise. At first Leshak stopped one by one, but he soon understood Radan’s reaction. Each time he did, he noticed that Radan grabbed his arm very tightly as he bit his lip to focus. Now Radan was immersing his hands in the running water, and quietly engravingthe new sensation in his memory.
“Ah… ….” He didn’t know what to say.
The slow flowing stream was very smooth. But the movement could not be stopped. No matter how you moved your hand, the water continued to stay in the same direction and the same softness. This new knowledge was inspiring. The grassy soil was a little damp, but because it ot plenty of sunlight it was warm. What he touched and what he felt on my skin were new. Radan opened his lips, something kept leaking out. He continued to laugh.
“He doesn’t know what to do with it all.” Leshak said as he sat on a rock a little farther away from Radan.
At first his was by Leshak’s side, but when Radan became so enchanted and curious, he thought it would be good to let him enjoy it alone. So he purposely distanced himself from Radan. Karum, who was standing next to Leshak and looking at Radan together, nodded.
“Yes, keep smiling.”
Leshak’s forehead was subtly distorted.
“I never thought that there were people who would see a stream for the first time in their lives.”
“Me too.”
“And i never thought I would be so upset by that fact.”
“… …”
Karum didn’t know what to say to that, so he just shut his mouth. Leshak’s continued to gaze at Radan.
“When you look at him, I feel my emotions coming to a boil. Why do I feel like that guy’s misfortunes are somehowmy responsibility?”
“That is wrong…… what your are thinking, My Lord. Your Majesty has done nothing wrong.”
“Alright, I haven’t done anything wrong, other than my inability to end the war for seven years. I’m angry though at myself.”
“Don’t do that, my lord. You don’t have to feel that way. No matter how strong the empire is, it’s hard to deal with five countries at once. It will never be easy.
“i don’t like the unexpected casualties and damage brought on by war.”
Even after saying that, Leshak was confused. Was it the really the death of people he didn’t really care about, or was it that the past had made Radan’s life like this, that he didn’t like?
Karum opened his mouth in embarrassment. A feeling of sadness came over him. It was as if he felt that if Sidris or Abadd, instead of his dull self, were here, they would have said things better.
“Your Majesty is doing great, the forces lead by his Majesty Leshak, have never been defeated in any battle. But war and battles are different…… I don’t have the talent to say anything well, but I think it’s probably in God’s hands. Your Majesty is doing well! We all believe and follow you your Majesty…… we know you’ll do what’s right.”
“I also know that you guys have been doing great for the past seven years. I’m not talking about that. What I’m trying to say is…… Damn, I feel like an asshole saying it, but it’s Radan’s past that I can’t do anything about. Why do I want to touch him even though I know I can’t? I feel dirty wanting to, knowing I can’t.
Karum finally understood Leshak. Even if he was always told that he was dull, he could understand Leshak’s meaning now.
“It means……you love him, my Lord. You want to do things that are impossible for him.”
“Does it?“
“Yes.”
Leshak smiled bitterly.
“Yeah, I know I’m losing my mind. I even think, I wish I wasn’t at war. If it were at the Kratis Palace, I could make sure there was nothing lacking for him.”
“Then if the war ends quickly, I think it’ll be alright, Your Highness.”
“Yes. I’m desperate for that, too. When the mourning period is over, I’ll have to raise my sword in earnest.”
“I’ll get ready, too.”
and Radan, who unwantedly listened to their conversation, was at a loss.
And Radan, who unwantedly listened to their conversation, was also confused. You’re a good person. Radan, who was still dipping his hand in the stream, became absent-minded.
He said he loves me. He said it’s because he cares about me a lot that he wants to do a lot for me. Even now…..so much.
But he is Prince Leshak. I’m Laud’s brother. I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I can kill him. I’m sorry, Laud.
It was when Radan, who was weighed down by guilt, wasn’t paying attention.
Slither.-
Something dark red glimmered over the water of the stream. With a pointed triangular head and a long body like a branch, it was an unknown snake.
Slither.-
The serpent cut through the waters current, straight towards Radan. When the snake finally lifted its head out of the water…
“Damn! Radan!”
…Only then did Leshak find the snake.
