#042

Kiyen, who Cullen thought would leave, remained on the bed. Cullen held his breath, trying to remain as still as possible while watching Kiyen’s face. He couldn’t understand why Kiyen had come here when he had his own room.

Cullen suddenly wondered.

What Kiyen thought about at every moment. Why he had come to see him, what he had been about to say, whether he was more comfortable with Cullen than in an unfamiliar room.

When he threw away his shoes… had he thought of Cullen?

The last thought lingered, refusing to disappear. Kiyen’s sleeping face, bathed in moonlight, his robe unstained, and the white feet beneath it, were as beautiful and elegant as if they had always been that way.

As if to say that what Cullen had given him had never belonged to him in the first place.

The sight, like thorns in his eyes, evoked a myriad of emotions. Feelings Cullen himself had forgotten were rekindled whenever he touched Kiyen.

A faint disappointment, relief that Kiyen was here, and a joy that the distance between them had narrowed, all mixed together.

Cullen quietly reached out a hand towards the emotions that felt foreign, though they had once belonged to him. His pale hand, unlike Kiyen’s smooth skin, was covered in faint scars. His hand, which had moved close as if to touch Kiyen’s hair, stopped. He slowly withdrew his hand, as if admonishing himself.

Separate from trusting Kiyen, how did he feel about him?

His mind in a whirl, he silently got off the bed. Kiyen’s eyes were closed, as if he were truly asleep, or perhaps pretending to be. There was no movement to stop him.

Leaving the room, Cullen began to walk down the corridor. From beyond the window, he could hear the strange cries of the dead.

Yes, the matter was not yet resolved, so these useless thoughts were a luxury.

Cullen glanced down at the window for a moment. He could see knights patrolling the castle’s main gate in shifts. He felt like leaving the selfish people inside the castle to die, but then innocent people would die with them.

He changed direction. Pellar Exion had been taken to the top of the castle, not the dungeon. He had one more question for Pellar.

Had all of this truly been Pellar’s sole doing?

It was certain that Pellar had actively managed and escalated things, just as Martin’s memory suggested.

However, the mine was a critical issue involving the entire Marquessate. If the curse plaguing the entire territory was linked to those who harbored resentment, then those involved deserved punishment.

There weren’t many knights patrolling the corridors. Only a few brought by Silfir. Their forces must have been deployed outside the castle. Cullen, avoiding their notice, climbed the stairs.

There was only one room at the top of the castle. The stairs leading to the narrow corridor were also small. No one was guarding the entrance. Even if Pellar tried to escape, he clearly couldn’t get outside, but his treatment was entirely different from Arne’s. He would probably be given proper food.

At least the door was locked. It was secured with a chain on the outside latch. There was no need to cut through the joints with a sword.

“Who is it? Silfir? Irene?”

Pellar, not asleep, immediately approached from beyond the door. Cullen, having released the chain, quickly opened the door. As the door swung open, Pellar stumbled backward. Cullen immediately drew his sword and closed the door.

“Hick!”

He stumbled backward and collapsed onto the floor. As Pellar was about to scream, Cullen approached and bent over him. Pressing the tip of his sword below his Adam’s apple, Cullen threatened him softly,

“If you scream, I’ll cut your throat right now.”

“Y-yes, I understand.”

Pellar, perhaps due to Cullen’s identity or being apprehended alone, was more compliant than before. His wide brown eyes trembled nervously. He was a disappointment compared to Silfir’s bloodline.

“From now on, I will ask you one question. I know what you have done, so do not dare to lie.”

“Y-Your Highness, I truly never did such a thing.”

The word “Your Highness” trembled, as if he couldn’t quite believe it. Seeing him deny it even in this situation, Cullen thought he would act the same way at the trial. Cullen tightened his grip.

“Do nobles always lie so well?”

“I-I am truly wronged!”

Having said that much, Pellar glanced around, then began to threaten Cullen instead.

“Y-You, Your Highness, shouldn’t be doing this to me. What will you do if I tell Lord Silfir that you came and threatened me? Ah, no. If I say it at the trial, everyone will question you.”

“You still don’t seem to understand my position.”

Cullen met his gaze coldly and said,

“I am the Crown Prince. There is no one higher than me. There are no witnesses, so I merely have to deny your words.”

Sweat beaded on Pellar’s forehead. He seemed to have grasped the situation and opened his mouth.

“…What do you want to know?”

“When the trial begins, confess everyone who cooperated with you. The owner of the orchard is already dead, but he was Jerome, wasn’t he?”

At the mention of Jerome’s name, Pellar’s complexion finally changed. He visibly flustered and gasped, asking Cullen,

“W-who told you?”

“One of the boys you kidnapped told me. A boy named Martin, whose family was alive and well.”

Pellar wouldn’t know that name, but…

“That’s impossible, surely no one escaped…”

Hup. Pellar shut his mouth. Cullen smiled coldly.

“Who else cooperated? Someone within the castle? Or…”

He recalled Duke Exion, trembling in the palace. Given his demeanor at the time, he had thought it unlikely, but… it was worth confirming.

Cullen brought up a question he had been holding back.

“Did Duke Exion also know about this?”

Although he had been visiting the palace frequently recently, it was unlikely the lord of the territory would be unaware of such a major undertaking. If disappearances continued, there would have been reports from his family, and even if not, he would have noticed discrepancies by examining the ledgers related to the mine and production volumes.

Pellar’s lips were sealed shut. Cullen brought his sword closer, whispering with murderous intent,

“If you don’t speak, I will personally execute you right now.”

“Y-you think you’ll get away with it…”

“I appreciate your concern, but I will be fine.”

With a voice full of killing intent, Pellar parted his lips. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a small sound, as if making a decision.

Cullen felt something in that instant. A chill ran down his back. A warning instinct screamed, and he withdrew his sword, rolling his body to the right.

CRASH!

With the sound of the door shattering, a thick arrow pierced through the wood. The arrow, flying at high speed, pierced Pellar’s chest.

“Gak!”

A short, gasping sound echoed, and blood splattered. Pellar was impaled on the long arrow and pinned to the footboard of the bed.

What is this…?

Cullen quickly got to his feet. He glanced at Pellar. It wasn’t an ordinary arrow, but a heavy iron one. Kicking the door open quickly, he saw someone in a black cloak wearing a strange mask. They were drawing a bow.

“Damn it!”

The moment the opponent released the bowstring, Cullen shifted his body a step. The arrow, narrowly missing him, struck Pellar’s body again.

Turning back, Cullen forcefully threw the dagger in his hand. While the opponent dodged it, Cullen lunged at him.

Instead of engaging Cullen, the intruder turned and began to flee. Cullen followed, running down the stairs. Descending to the lower floor, he expertly navigated the path, running faster than Cullen.

“I heard a noise from upstairs. Go up and check!”

Just then, knights appeared. The sound of them ascending from the lower floor echoed. Cullen, losing sight of the opponent who had instantly vanished into the darkness, hid in an apparently empty room. Leaving the door slightly ajar, he observed the movements outside. After a short while, someone shouted.

“Lord Pellar has been murdered!”

With that single shout, the castle erupted into chaos. It was too risky to go into the corridor. Since he seemed to have lost the opponent, he had to return to his room for now. Once Pellar’s death was known, Cullen’s group would be the first to be suspected.

Cullen approached the window of the small, closet-like room. Looking down, he saw protruding stones forming a ledge. He thought he could jump down onto them.

Fortunately, one floor down was the floor where his room was located. He supposed he was lucky.

Having made his decision, he opened the window. The narrow window was just large enough for him to squeeze through by crouching.

Taking a deep breath, he gripped the windowsill. Holding the rough wood tightly, he looked down. Jumping to the ground was easy, but landing on the thin stone floor required caution.

The footsteps of the knights spread to this side. As their footsteps scattered quickly, as if searching the entire floor, Cullen took another deep breath. Then, he let go. A cool spring breeze blew. His body swayed slightly in the wind.

His foot slipped, failing to land properly on the stone wall. Damn it. Muttering a curse, Cullen hastily grabbed the stone wall with his hand.

His reflexes saved him. With one hand gripping the stone wall tightly, his palm stung. Cullen briefly wondered if the descendants of Larkan were meant to die like this, and if there was a reason for Guardian Dragons.

“What are you doing there?”

Cullen looked up. He saw blue eyes looking down at him. Kiyen was watching Cullen calmly, as if observing a spectacle. As he leaned out the window, his blonde hair fluttered softly.

“…Are you just going to watch?”

“I thought I should leave you to escape like a hedgehog on your own.”

As Cullen scowled, Kiyen leaned down. His white hand grabbed Cullen’s wrist and pulled him up in an instant. Given his appearance, the strength was utterly unbelievable. Cullen sighed and descended the window.

“Did you kill him?”

Naturally, Kiyen seemed to have heard the question.

“No.”

“Then who…”

Kiyen’s words were cut off by a knock from outside the door.

“Your Highness, excuse me! I will enter for a moment. There is an intruder in the castle.”

“There is no disturbance here, so return!”

Cullen replied in a dry voice. However, the knights did not retreat.

“We apologize, but it is the Marquess’s order. For your safety, please understand.”

Without waiting for his permission, the doorknob turned. As Cullen was about to speak, Kiyen’s action stopped him.

Kiyen pushed Cullen onto the bed. Quickly climbing on top of Cullen, he removed his robe and covered Cullen. His heavy weight was felt throughout Cullen’s body. Kiyen lowered his upper body. Their faces became close in an instant.

“Kiyen, what are you trying to…?”

Cullen’s words were again cut off by Kiyen. He grabbed both of Cullen’s wrists, pinning them to the bed. Covering Cullen completely with his body, Kiyen brought his lips to Cullen’s neck.

A soft sensation touched his nape. His lips tickled Cullen’s straight, long neck. The moment a gasp escaped, the door opened completely.

“Excuse me….”

As if certain of something, the four knights who entered stopped abruptly. The light from the hallway spilled in, half-illuminating the bed. The yellow light, entering at an angle, revealed Kiyen and Cullen. The knights discovered Cullen lying down, his wrist held.

Even Cullen was slightly flustered in this situation. The moment his purple eyes clouded with embarrassment, Kiyen licked his neck with his tongue. Ugh, a ticklish sensation spread, and Cullen winced. Witnessing Cullen’s face flush with a strange heat, one of the knights hastily lowered his head and retreated.

“S-s-sorry.”

After a few seconds of stunned silence, the knights quickly prostrated themselves in unison. Kiyen, revealing his white shoulder due to his robe being half-undone, slowly lifted his head. He covered Cullen’s face with his robe and opened his mouth languidly.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but….”

The posture of him, with his bare upper body, straddling Cullen’s body, conjured up an even more suggestive scene. The knights’ faces turned red.

“I am helping His Highness relieve his fatigue, so you should leave.”

“Ah, yes. We are truly sorry, Your Highness!”

The door quickly closed. The sound of the closing door echoed particularly loudly. In an instant, the room grew dark.

Cullen realized then that he had been holding his breath. His breath escaped in a thin, ragged sigh. The neck where Kiyen’s tongue had touched felt hot.

The sound of rustling fabric could be heard, and Kiyen brought his face close to Cullen’s nose. His golden pupils, like a cat’s, and his blue eyes gazed steadily at Cullen.