“A doctor. I'll call for a doctor. Just hold on a little longer.”
“Don't.”
The instant Leopold rose to summon someone, Teron's hand caught the hem of his shirt.
Leopold was startled that Teron, of all people, had grabbed the cloth first, when he was the one who loathed any contact with him to a sickly degree. Leopold sat back down in the chair by the bed and answered quietly.
“All right. What do you want me to do, then?”
As expected, Teron ignored him and buried his head in the pillow.
“I can't just sit here doing nothing. How am I supposed to watch you suffer and do nothing at all?”
“...”
“Should I at least use healing magic?”
The back of his head bobbed up and down in a small gesture of agreement. With deft hands, Leopold drew out a magic circle. A few minutes later, standing before the now-calm Teron, he started muttering and being a nuisance.
“Does it still hurt? Are you feeling a little better now?”
“Shut up.”
Teron shot back. Leopold spoke in a tone of disbelief.
“Every time I see it, that rude attitude of yours is a wonder to behold.”
You were different earlier, though.
The attitude Teron had shown just before waking, after three days of groaning in fever, was lodged in the center of Leopold's mind like an afterimage.
I'm sorry, so please be quiet.
What? Sorry?
It had never once occurred to Leopold that Teron Meyer was a person capable of apologizing.
Is that how he acts with people he doesn't dislike? So he goes out of his way to be this vicious only with me. Thinking that, for some reason, made his stomach twist.
“Teron, are you asleep?”
Teron had now pulled the blanket over himself too. Feeling like he was only bothering the sick man for no reason, Leopold said nothing more. He took a needless sip of the water sitting on the table.
“I was worried. A lot.”
He gave a light poke to the shape of Teron's hand visible beneath the blanket, but no rejection came back at all.
There was no way he'd already fallen asleep. Rationalizing it that way, Leopold felt his mood lift, and without realizing it, he brushed his own cheek.
After that, Leopold grew even stranger than before.
He had thought Leopold was already the strangest man in the kingdom, and it had never crossed his mind that it could get worse, but it could. By this point it was almost frightening.
When Teron was lying still, Leopold would rush over insisting on feeding him. If Teron showed the slightest sign of discomfort, Leopold would hover right in front of his face, pestering him with questions about what was wrong. When Teron tried to wash up, Leopold trailed after him asking whether anything was bothering him, and Teron nearly attacked him with black magic.
No matter how venomous his words or how foul his behavior, Leopold would not yield. His patience was so remarkable it was hard to believe he was a prince.
Why? Really, why!
The question soon turned to resignation. Was there anyone in the world who could understand Leopold?
Thinking this, Teron quietly watched the First Prince, arms crossed, scathingly criticizing the duke.
“He ought to have a conscience. I personally wrote him a letter asking him to show some restraint, and yet he behaves like this. Even by common sense, shouldn't he think about reviving the territory before plundering it?”
He looked deeply enraged. It was because the duke had shown no interest whatsoever in the full account of the mass killings that had taken place in the provinces. Sadly enough, Leopold was the only one who cared. Even the King of Deluah was indifferent to affairs of state.
By Teron's guess, the king was probably out boating with his mistress right about now. All of this was knowledge Leopold had given him.
“Is that so.”
“I hear everyone in the kingdom is having a terribly busy time. Busy indulging in pleasures at the castle, no doubt.”
“I see.”
“I don't know why I'm even telling you all this. If it bothered you, I'll apologize.”
As he rambled on, Teron scooped up a spoonful of soup, and Leopold's eyes went round.
“So you're eating properly now?”
It was a look exactly like one you'd give a small child, and it soured Teron's mood, so he set the spoon down in the bowl with a clatter. Leopold frowned slightly.
“Don't be rude. What was so upsetting about that?”
“The very sight of Your Highness's face is unpleasant, so please leave this room.”
“...What did I do wrong?”
Ugh. Teron simply could not adjust to Leopold behaving this way. He was acting even more shamelessly than his already-strange personality.
When Teron clamped his mouth shut, Leopold came over to him, pointed toward the door, and said,
“Let's go to the library.”
There wasn't any particular reason to refuse. Absurdly enough, thanks to Leopold's orders, he had been forcibly cooped up in a corner of the room for two days.
On the way out of the palace, Leopold came to a brief stop.
Thinking it might be a royal minister, Teron kept his head bowed and stayed still, but unexpectedly the First Prince's bright voice rang out.
“Lea! Did you have a good trip?”
Teron made the mistake of lifting his face slightly without meaning to. His eyes met those of a girl with long, glittering blonde hair.
Large, clear aqua-colored eyes stared fixedly at Teron. He instantly bowed his head and greeted her.
“I greet Her Highness the Princess.”
The girl with long, curling golden hair had, by anyone's estimation, an appearance similar to Leopold's.
Sunlit blue eyes attentively observed Teron.
Even with his head bowed, he could feel her gaze lingering on him.
“Brother, is that man Teron?”
The clear voice rang out on the path before the palace flower garden.
Why did the Second Princess know the name of one insignificant commoner?
There was only one reason. Inwardly, Teron heaped curses on Leopold.
“That's right, Lea.”
When Leopold answered, the princess gave Teron an order.
“I see. Teron, you may raise your head.”
“Yes. That's not like you. Why are you standing like that?”
Damn bastard.
When Teron raised his lowered head, the two royals were looking at him.
Their outward appearances were similar, but the man's face held a faint mischief, while the woman's expression was prim.
“I've heard a great deal about you.”
the princess said.
Heard what? Without meaning to, Teron ended up shooting a fierce look toward Leopold. Catching the glance, the First Prince played innocent and turned his head to the side.
“I hear you're producing such good results at the academy that the sponsorship has proven worthwhile.”
“It's an honor that you think so highly of me.”
“Yes, they say you're that talented.”
“That's far too generous an assessment. I'm always striving in many respects.”
“You have a good attitude.”
The princess, smiling with her eyes, was quite beautiful even at a glance. And there were aspects of her that resembled Leopold far too closely. For that reason, he had no desire to converse with her any further.
“Let's go.”
Fortunately, Leopold gave the order to depart. Teron resumed the steps he had halted. They walked along a flower path where blossoms of every color bloomed. Aside from one thing, it was an unremarkable scene.
“Did your visit to Lady Caroline's estate go well?”
“Yes.”
“And you just went and buried yourself in books again?”
“There were barely any books to speak of. She cried all day long, and I was worn out just trying to comfort her.”
“Well, how hard must it be, at that young age, to leave for a foreign country to be married.”
“Mm, it felt just like my own future.”
Teron Meyer trailed gloomily after them as they chatted amiably. Absurdly, they were both heading toward the Grand Library together. No longer wanting to be in this space, Teron looked at Leopold and asked,
“Would you like to chat? I feel I'd be in the way, so may I return to the bedchamber?”
Leopold shook his head.
“No, you may not.”
“...”
Teron looked furious to the very roots of his hair, but he pressed his lips tightly shut and said nothing more.
Judging that he shouldn't cross the line any further, Leopold brought his face close to Teron's. Just before Teron could recoil in alarm and dodge away, he whispered at once,
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't just spout words. I'm going back.”
“Can't you come along with me? Would it really be that hard?”
“Of course it would...”
Teron trailed off as he caught sight of Lea gazing at him with wide, guileless eyes. Leopold let out a dry laugh and then pressed him in an aggrieved tone.
“Are you really going to keep this up? You treat me like this, yet you're so careful about how Lea sees you?”
“Hm? Did you call me?”
Leopold smiled with his eyes.
“Yes. Teron says he doesn't want to be with you, Lea.”
“I never said such a thing.”
The words burst out almost simultaneously. The golden-haired girl rolled her eyes for a moment, then answered.
“But I want to be with Teron.”
“...It's an honor, Your Highness.”
“How ridiculous.”
When Teron glared, all but baring his eyes at the provoking Leopold, the prince burst into laughter. Teron, who found the whole situation preposterous, could bear it no longer. The last remaining thread of his social restraint snapped clean.
