Little Pink Starfish

──────・・・・・・

Tears streamed down Asher’s cheeks, falling uncontrollably.

Holding him gently, Theodore wore a troubled expression as if trying to soothe him.

Just moments ago, Asher had been crying like a child, wailing without restraint. Now, he had finally begun to calm down, his sobs subsiding.

“Your Highness, have you settled down?”

The moment Asher blinked, another large tear rolled down his cheek. Seeing this, Theodore reached out and softly wiped it away with his fingers.

“…It’s alright. I will protect you, Your Highness.”
“Don’t protect me. …Don’t try to protect me like that again.”

At those words, Theodore’s hand froze.

Slowly, Asher reached out and took hold of Theodore’s hand, tracing the sharp claws with his fingers.

“…This is…”

The underground prison was dimly lit, barely allowing them to make out each other’s silhouettes.
But being this close—touching him directly—Asher could tell that something about Theodore was different from usual.

────And more than anything.

“…I heard it. Theodore’s voice.”
“Your Highness…!”
“…Am I really…?”

Asher tilted his head up, looking into Theodore’s confused gaze. With trembling hands, he cupped Theodore’s cheeks.

“Am I really your mate?”

Even through the searing, burning pain that had torn through his back, Theodore’s voice had reached him.

His consciousness had been hazy, yet Theodore’s voice had echoed clearly in his mind, alongside a surge of overwhelming anger and sorrow.

Theodore’s black eyes wavered.

Asher’s hands moved down, slowly trailing toward his lips, where his fingertips brushed against something sharp.

A long, pointed fang.

Asher’s body flinched instinctively. Theodore grabbed his hand, attempting to pull it away—but his grip was weak, lacking strength.

“I don’t really understand what being mates means… But I know that I care about you, Theodore. …I don’t want you to be in danger. I…”

In Theodore’s black eyes, Asher was reflected.

In Asher’s blue eyes, Theodore was reflected.

“I love you, Theodore.”

Theodore didn’t move.

So Asher closed the distance himself, pressing a soft, fleeting kiss against his lips.

Then, without hesitation, he threw his arms around Theodore’s neck, clinging onto him desperately.

“So, please… Leave me and escape.”

Whispering weakly into his ear, Asher’s words made Theodore’s vision go white with rage.

“…That… That is impossible!!”

Avoiding Asher’s wounded back, Theodore tightened his embrace around his waist.

“How can you say something like that?!”
“…If you’re alone, you might be able to escape. The beastmen didn’t even bother shackling you because they knew they wouldn’t leave their mate behind.”
“Of course they wouldn’t! There’s no way I would ever leave you!!”
“I can’t bear the thought of you being killed!!”
“I don’t care about myself!! What matters is that you’re safe—!”

Asher cut him off with a desperate cry.

“Why don’t you understand?! If I die, how do you think you would feel?!”

Theodore fell silent.

Still trembling, Asher clung to him even tighter.

“It’s the same… If you die, how do you think I would feel? …Because I’m your mate, right?”

Asher didn’t know exactly what being mates meant.

But he knew what he felt toward Theodore.

Slowly, he loosened his hold and pulled back, meeting Theodore’s gaze.

Theodore’s brows were furrowed, his expression on the verge of tears.

“I could never leave you behind.”

Hearing that frail voice—something he had never heard from Theodore before—Asher’s chest tightened painfully.

Just as he reached out to embrace him once more—

“…Ah—Sorry to interrupt your touching moment.”

A voice suddenly broke through the darkness.

Both Asher and Theodore startled, turning toward the source.

Beyond the iron bars, a hooded man sat, watching them.

“So it’s true… You really are together. Now, what to do with this information… Should I report it?”

“You… You’re from Notvis. Why are you here again…?”

The man muttered something under his breath but, in response to Theodore’s question, he removed his hood.

His green eyes locked onto Asher, and he knelt down.

It was the same man who had come earlier with the feline beastman to inspect their captives.

“Asher-sama, I am relieved to see you safe. Please forgive my past discourtesy.”

Bowing his head abruptly, the man left Asher bewildered.

He continued speaking.

“I promise to rescue you. Please endure a little longer.”
“What do you mean…? Who are you?”

To Theodore’s question, the man offered a gentle, reassuring smile toward Asher.

“I serve Lord Samuel. To infiltrate this group without suspicion, I have spent years under a false identity, making contact with the beast bandits. When your disappearance was discovered, your elder brother immediately took command of the search.”
“Brother Samuel…”
“I have already sent a secret message revealing this location. Help will arrive soon.”

Hearing this, Asher shook his head.

“No… That’s not good enough. Please! Help us now!”
“Asher-sama?”
“If we just sit here and wait for help, Theodore will be killed…!”

Frantic, Asher explained everything about Marquis Clark to the man.

The man furrowed his brows in thought.

“…Currently, Marquis Clark and the beastmen leader, Art, are in negotiations. However… it seems they are at odds. The beastmen outside were restless, unable to participate in the discussion… Most likely, they are debating what to do with you and the Black Knight. If what you say is true, the Black Knight is in grave danger.”
“That’s why…!”

The man fell silent.

Indeed, if Theodore remained here, his life was at risk.

However, in contrast, Asher was safer inside. He was still valuable—likely to be used rather than immediately executed.

Remaining here and waiting for help was the safest option.

But trying to escape could lead to pursuit, and injuries would be inevitable.

Watching the man hesitate, Asher suddenly dropped to the ground, pressing his forehead against the cold floor.

“Your Highness?!”
“Asher-sama?!”
“Please… Save Theodore!”

A prince bowing his head, prostrating himself on the ground—such a thing should never happen.

“Asher-sama! Please, stop this!”
“Please…”

The man clenched his jaw.

“…We need a key to escape. These iron bars are made for beastmen. They won’t break easily… I need time.”

Theodore pressed him further.

“…Can you manage it?”
“You saw it earlier—most of these beastmen are brutes. Not all of them, but many are careless. And only a handful have the key to the underground cells.”

His green eyes hardened with determination.

“Asher-sama, I will find the key. So please, raise your head.”
“…Really?”
“A prince bowing his head like this… I cannot refuse.”
“…I’m sorry. I know I’m asking you to risk yourself… But… but…”

“…”

The man stared at Asher.

Since going undercover, he had never personally met the royal family.

And yet, even in exile, he had frequently heard rumors about the Third Prince.

A cruel and ruthless prince—a demon in human form.

But now, looking at the boy before him…

Was this truly the monster people claimed him to be?

“…Rumors are unreliable.”

“…What?”

“Nothing. Now then—”

The man turned to leave.

Asher reached through the iron bars, grabbing his hand.

“W-Wait…!”

The man stopped.

Asher smiled at him.

“…Thank you.”

Looking at that smile, the man scratched his rough chin awkwardly.

Then, he took Asher’s hand and bowed slightly.

“I will return.”

“Um… wait. Your name…?”

At Asher’s hesitant question, the man smiled.

“I am a forest dweller. Just a forest dweller.”