Little Pink Starfish

At the public trial, Asher had been stripped of his right to the throne. Now, back in his chambers, he sat in a daze, alone.

In the chaotic square, he had been unable to do anything except watch as Samuel gave orders to the soldiers, all while being supported by Theodore.

The moment he realized the beastmen would not be executed, he had felt relief. And yet, at the same time, he found himself regretting it.

──Ah, Father has lost all hope in me again.

Slumped shoulders, he sat on the bed. Theodore, watching him with concern, quietly left the room.

Left alone, Asher simply stared into space.

Then, suddenly, the corridor outside grew noisy. Asher frowned, puzzled.

Curious about what was happening, he stood up and cracked the door open slightly.

From the far end of the hallway, he heard the voices of the soldiers.

“Hey! Queen Angela’s in trouble again.”
“What?! I just heard she finally calmed down…”
“Seems like she found out about Prince Asher’s loss of succession rights…”
“Which idiot told her?! “
“How should I know?! I’m going to check on her—”

Before he could process the conversation, the door was suddenly thrown open.

Standing there was Theodore.

“Your Highness, is something wrong?”
“Ah, no… I just…”

Seeing Asher hesitate, Theodore glanced toward the bustling soldiers.

“There is nothing to worry about.”
“But…”
“Your Highness has already overexerted yourself today. Please, rest.”

With that, he gently but firmly ushered Asher back inside and closed the door.

But… I don’t want to be alone.

He wanted to say it.

That being alone made him feel like he was being crushed by an unbearable weight.

But the words wouldn’t come out.

Alone in his dimly lit room, Asher sat curled up on his bed, head bowed.

The soldiers had said that Queen Angela was distressed. That she had found out about his loss of succession rights.

King Augustin had denied it at the trial, but Asher couldn’t shake off the words of Marquis Clark.

“No, I was merely offering my thanks… for being shown the hidden passage leading to Prince Asher’s chambers.”

And then—

“Thanks to Queen Angela’s assistance, we were able to successfully abduct Prince Asher.”
“Why would my queen aid someone attempting to kill her own son?”

At the king’s demand, Clark had simply smiled.

“Who knows? Perhaps she wished for Prince Asher’s demise.”

Impossible.

It was impossible.

And yet… he couldn’t stop the anxiety from creeping in.

Why… hasn’t Mother come to see me?

After the beast bandit attack… after I snuck out of my room… she was always worried about me.

Or… did she really want me dead?

That couldn’t be true, and yet, doubt continued to gnaw at him.

A sharp pain stung his cheek. Asher gingerly touched the spot. His skin was red and swollen from where the king had struck him.

“Prince Asher’s right to the throne is permanently revoked!”

He recalled the thunderous voice of King Augustin.

Now that I have no right to the throne… perhaps neither Father nor Mother… will need me anymore.

I’m just a useless prince.

Dark thoughts swirled in his mind, growing and growing.

Finally, Asher shut his eyes and lay down on the bed.

---

He must have fallen asleep while lost in thought.

When he came to, the room was shrouded in darkness.

Looking around, he noticed a meal had been placed on the small table beside his bed. Likely left by his maid, Ellie, for when he woke up.

“…”

In the dim light, Asher stared blankly at the ceiling.

“I’m… so tired.”

Of everything.

Things kept moving forward too fast for him to keep up.

His mind and heart were always struggling to catch up, but no matter how hard he tried, he never could.

He began to wonder if he was the most unnecessary person in the world.

His father had stripped him of his succession rights. His mother hadn’t even come to see him after his return.

The captured beastmen—how were they now?

Even if he had been manipulated, they couldn’t possibly forgive him so easily.

It wasn’t atonement, but he had managed to save their lives.

Yet, if Asher had never allowed himself to be controlled by Marquis Clark, the whole incident would never have happened.

Surely, there were still those who resented him.

“…!”

Suddenly, Asher shot up from the bed and rushed to the door.

He had to make sure.

He had to confirm that someone was still there.

“Your Highness? You’re awake? However, walking around at this hour—”
“Theodore…”

Just seeing his face brought relief.

The fear had been suffocating him. Dark thoughts refused to leave his mind. If he stayed alone any longer, he felt like he might break.

“You don’t look well. Shall I call the physician—”
“No, it’s fine… I just had a bad dream…”

He averted his gaze.

Without a word, Theodore gently lifted him and carried him back inside.

“Please, rest a little longer.”

Laying him back onto the bed, Theodore turned to leave.

Panicked, Asher grabbed onto his mantle.

“Wait! …Ah, sorry.”

Even as he apologized, his fingers refused to let go.

“Don’t go… Just for a little while…”

“…”

He didn’t want to be alone.

The moment he was left alone, the crushing weight of his fears would return.

Noticing the silence, Asher looked up—and saw that Theodore wasn’t looking at him.

“Theodore…?”

The knight’s expression was conflicted, his brows furrowed, as if troubled.

…Did I do something wrong?

Did I… do something to Theodore…?

Then, the memory flashed in his mind.

Ah… of course.

Before they returned to the castle… That moment between them.

Theodore must have felt awkward about it too.

“I-I see… After that… of course you’d feel awkward… I’m sorry. I just… I was scared to be alone and I relied on you too much… I’ll be fine on my own.”

Embarrassed, Asher released his grip on the mantle, his cheeks burning.

He always pushed his feelings onto Theodore, never considering what Theodore thought.

“Haha… Sorry.”
“…Your Highness always apologizes so quickly.”
“Eh…?”

For the first time, Theodore looked at him directly.

“Why do you think you are at fault?”
“…B-because… It must be awkward for you after seeing me like that…”
“Why do you assume I am the one who feels awkward?”

The seriousness in Theodore’s gaze made Asher’s heart pound.

The knight turned away, walking toward the door.

Then, without looking back, he spoke.

“It is not you who should be embarrassed… but me.”

In the dimly lit room, his expression remained unreadable.

“I… desired you, even when you were suffering. In that moment… I thought about making you mine. Even now, that desire hasn’t faded.”

Asher felt a shiver down his spine.

“That is why… I cannot stay by your side for long. Forgive me.”

With those final words, Theodore exited the room.

Asher stared at the closed door in a daze.

---

Leaning against the door, Theodore let out a long, deep sigh.

The memory of those blue eyes looking up at him made his chest tighten.

That prince—who had stood against King Augustin, shining like a divine being.

So radiant, so pure, so untouchable.

Yet… I…

I nearly tainted him with my desire.

He had to keep his distance.

And yet—

A gentle tug at his mantle.

A small, trembling hand.

“…Even so… please stay.”

The hand pulled just a little harder.

“…Please.”

---

A sharp thud echoed through the corridor, and a soldier came to a halt.

In the dark hallway, a sentry turned back with a puzzled expression.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“I thought I heard something…”
“That’s the passage near Prince Asher’s chambers. If you go poking around there at this hour, Sir Theodore will glare you to death.”
“Haha… no doubt about that. But still, when did he start acting like that?”
“He’s always been a hard one to read.”
“The security around here has been tighter than ever. Nobody would dare sneak in at this time of night.”

Their footsteps faded into the distance.

Darkness reclaimed the empty corridor, with no sign of anyone remaining.