Little Pink Starfish

──────・・・・・・

Asher felt a swaying sensation, strange and unfamiliar. In front of him, a pair of pale legs wavered in the air.
Were those his own legs?

The sound of ragged breathing, the creaking of the bed beneath him.
His entire body burned with feverish heat.

Theo was there, sweat dripping from his body, his face twisted in a pained expression.

“Ah, nnh…! No, ah, ah—!”

A gasping voice rang out.
Whose voice was that?

“Nooo! I-I’m going to— ahh!”
“…Asher…”

The searing mass inside him swelled even further, and just as a numbing sensation overwhelmed him, something hot spilled deep inside.

His strength left him, and he could no longer move.

…My stomach… feels hot…

──────・・・・・・

Asher slowly opened his eyes and blinked.

A familiar canopy, a familiar room.

“…!”

He tried to speak, but his voice wouldn’t come out. His throat ached terribly, raw and burning.

His nightclothes were drenched in sweat.

Huh? What…?

As confusion clouded his thoughts, the door opened, and his maid, Ellie, entered the room.

“Asher-sama…!”

Ellie rushed to his side, placing a hand against his forehead.
Still bewildered, Asher let her do as she pleased.

“You had a high fever for an entire day and were barely conscious… Everyone was so worried about you.”
“…A fever…?”

Hearing his hoarse voice, Ellie quickly poured him some water and urged him to drink.
As Asher slowly sipped the water, Ellie gazed at him with teary eyes.

“You were kidnapped… and after finally returning, you pushed yourself too hard by attending the public trial!”

For the first time, Ellie raised her voice in anger, startling Asher.

“Please rest until you’ve fully recovered. I’ll go call the physician.”

With hurried steps, Ellie left the room, leaving Asher staring blankly after her.

An entire day? A fever…?

Then, recalling the dream he had just seen, Asher suddenly felt an odd discomfort in a certain part of his body.
His face turned red.

That wasn’t… a dream.

He could only remember parts of it, but he and Theo had shared a night together.
Feeling frustrated with his own weakness for falling into a fever afterward, Asher raised a hand to his throat.

“…Ah—”

The sound of his hoarse voice triggered a memory.

『Ahh… ahh, nnh…!』

With a thud, he buried his burning face into his pillow, curling up in embarrassment.

Wait, what happened after that…?
The sheets… my body… did Theo clean everything up…?
And… does Ellie know…?!

But then, he recalled her words. She had said he fell ill because he overexerted himself.

That meant Theo must have handled everything afterward.

Asher’s face burned even hotter, and he pressed his face deeper into the pillow.

Just then, a knock came at the door, and the very person in question—Theo—entered the room.

“…!”

Asher, face still red, opened and closed his mouth like a fish, hugging the pillow tightly as he stared at Theo.

“Has your fever gone down?”
“…Mmh.”

“You still sound like your throat is hurting.”

Compared to Theo’s usual composed demeanor, Asher was acting far too suspiciously.

“Yesterday, the beastman bandits were exiled from the country. During that process, Prince Samuel was taken into custody… His Majesty has already sent envoys to the Clark territory to handle matters with the people.”
“Oh…”
“Queen Angela came to see you, but you were too feverish to meet her.”
“…”
“And Prince Noah as well. He cried because he couldn’t see you.”

Mother… came to see me?
And Noah…

Asher had feared that his mother had abandoned him in disappointment.
But knowing she had come relieved him.

And knowing that Noah had cried for him… made his heart ache.

“…Then, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Huh?”

Theo’s attitude was so normal, so completely unchanged, that Asher was left utterly confused.

It was as if nothing had happened between them.

For a moment, Asher almost wondered if it really had been a dream.

As Theo turned to leave, Asher instinctively jumped out of bed and grabbed his arm.

“Theo—”
“…!”

Asher looked up at him.

Theo’s usual unreadable expression remained unchanged, but…

His ears were bright red.

“…I… I’m sorry. I lost control… and caused you pain.”
“…Ah…”
“I should have no right to face you… Please forgive me.”

As Theo averted his gaze slightly, Asher felt his heart tighten.

So… it really wasn’t a dream.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Asher impulsively threw his arms around Theo.

He didn’t fully understand why—he just couldn’t stop himself.

His body ached, his throat burned, and he still felt an odd discomfort…

But seeing Theo like this, a strange, unfamiliar feeling swelled in his chest.

It was the first time he had ever felt this way.

If he had to describe it… it was something close to happiness.

“Asher…”
“I love you… Theo, I love you.”
“Asher!”

Theo’s voice held a hint of scolding, making Asher flinch.

“…Thank you. I feel the same way.”

Gently, Theo loosened Asher’s arms and gave him a small, troubled smile.

Then, he effortlessly lifted him up and carried him back to bed.

After carefully tucking him in, Theo murmured:

“I will never leave your side. However, there are… complications. You’ll soon understand.”

The warmth of finally having someone to love, of having his feelings returned, had sent Asher into a dreamlike state.

But Theo’s hesitant words instantly sobered him.

Asher had caused a massive scandal and lost his claim to the throne.
He had been so consumed with his parents’ disappointment that he hadn’t thought ahead.

Now that he had no succession rights, what was to become of him?

Unlike Hugo, who had battle prowess, Asher had no useful talents.

If there was anything left that he could do for the country…

────An arranged marriage.

“Am I… going to be married off to some foreign country?!”
“…No, um… Asher…”
“Am I being cast aside—?!”
“Please calm down. That is not happening.”
“…Huh?”
“Just rest for now. You don’t need to worry about that. However… you will be quite busy from now on. So for now—just don’t speak too much. Your voice is hoarse… I’m sorry. Excuse me.”

Bowing slightly, Theo quickly left the room.

Asher quietly watched him go.

…His ears were red again at the end.
And he seemed kind of… dejected.

That strange tightness returned in Asher’s chest.

What is this feeling?

He didn’t know.

But he knew one thing—he wanted to hug Theo again.

His heart ached, squeezed tight.

And what did Theo mean by not needing to worry?
That things would get busy…?

Still lost in thought, Asher absentmindedly rubbed his sore throat.

…He noticed my voice.

Slowly, warmth crept into his cheeks.

If Theo noticed… that meant he must have heard all the embarrassing sounds Asher had made last night.

“…~~~~!”

Asher wanted to scream in mortification.

But with his hoarse throat, no sound came out.

So instead, he flailed silently atop his bed, kicking at the sheets.