Little Pink Starfish

The next day, Asher’s sore throat had finally subsided, allowing him to leave his room at last.

Yesterday, after that, Ellie had brought a court physician to examine him. He had been advised to rest, so he hadn’t been able to visit Queen Angela or Noah.

“…Alright, let’s go.”

After asking Ellie to deliver a message to Queen Angela, informing her that he would be visiting, Asher got himself ready. Ellie had tried to help, but when he joked that he needed to move his body after two days of lying down, she had laughed and stepped back.

As he opened the door, he found Theodore waiting for him, as expected.

“…Before I go see Mother, can I stop by the garden for a bit? I just… want to get some fresh air.”

“Of course.”

Asher touched his cheek, feeling as though it had grown slightly warm.

Ugh, it’s not like we’re alone right now… Stay calm, stay calm, don’t think about it—don’t remember it…

Trying to hide his embarrassment, he started walking a little faster. Theodore followed closely behind.

Up ahead, three soldiers were waiting. Vex, a beast soldier with a hyena’s face, Wylde, a human soldier with short black hair, and Zettam, a man with chestnut-brown hair. As they spotted Asher, all three beamed at him.

“Prince Asher! We’re so glad to see you well again. We’ll escort you!”

Vex greeted him cheerfully, his ears twitching excitedly. Behind him, Wylde and Zettam struggled to suppress their laughter, pointing at something below Vex.

Curious, Asher followed their gaze and saw that Vex’s short tail was wagging so hard it looked like it might come off.

“Thank you, Vex.”

Asher smiled brightly, feeling genuinely happy at Vex’s obvious joy.

Receiving Asher’s direct smile, all three turned red with embarrassment.

“Heh, then let’s head to the garden first.”

In perfect unison, the three responded with a loud, “With pleasure!” and began walking ahead, looking strangely proud. Asher tilted his head in confusion at their behavior.

He also didn’t notice the cold glare Theodore was casting at them from behind.

As they walked through the corridor toward the garden, Asher felt something odd about the gazes directed at him.

Of course, people had stared at him before, but somehow, this felt different.

Why does it feel like… everyone’s looking at me with sparkling eyes?

Moreover, the three ahead, who had already been acting proud, were now puffing out their chests even more, walking with a strange sense of dignity. Some people gave him inquisitive looks, but none of them carried the hostility or fear from before.

“A-Ah, Prince Asher!”

One of the beast soldiers, a canine-type, who had been watching from a distance, hesitantly called out. He approached slowly, fidgeted, then spoke in a small voice.

“A-Are you feeling better now?”

“Huh? Yes, I’m fine.”

“T-That’s good… U-Um… please don’t push yourself too hard…”

Asher noticed the soldier’s tail twitching slightly, just like Vex’s earlier, and smiled.

“Thank you.”

“…Your Highness, let’s go.”

“Huh? Ah—”

Theodore, standing behind him, placed a firm hand on Asher’s waist and guided him forward at a brisk pace.

“Hey, Theodore—”

“This will never end otherwise.”

“Never end?”

When Asher glanced back, he saw the canine soldier wagging his tail enthusiastically. Behind him, more soldiers stood around, looking like they wanted to speak to him as well.

Asher accidentally locked eyes with some of them, and they all gave him regretful, longing looks. Feeling guilty, he lowered his head in apology.

“…Your Highness.”

“Huh? …What?”

Theodore called out to him in a slightly chastising tone, but Asher had no idea why.

“…No, let’s just go.”

His face remained composed as usual, but Asher thought he looked slightly tired.

Did I do something wrong?

Still confused, Asher finally arrived at the garden. At the entrance, Theodore instructed the three soldiers to remain outside, causing them to look dissatisfied.

“Normally, only a select few are allowed in this garden. It’s natural.”

Theodore… kind of seems mad? No, he’s not mad, but… something feels off.

Tilting his head in thought, Asher entrusted Vex and the others with guarding the entrance and stepped into the garden with Theodore.

Once they were deep inside, Asher slowly looked around at the flowers, taking a deep breath.

Theodore silently observed him.

Asher tried not to think about it, but as soon as they were alone, he couldn’t help recalling that moment.

The heat of Theodore’s body, his gentle voice, the sweat on his forehead, those black eyes staring at him—

“…Your Highness?”

Hearing Theodore’s voice, Asher turned around and stared at him.

His face gradually turned red, and he lowered his gaze.

“A-Ahaha… I thought I’d clear my head before seeing Mother, but… well…”

He had tried to keep his composure, but it was impossible.

He couldn’t stop remembering.

How this man had held him. How he had completely lost himself in his embrace.

Asher looked up again, staring at Theodore.

Just as Theodore parted his lips to speak—

“Asher nii-samaーーー!!”

A loud cry rang out, followed by the sound of someone running at full speed.

A figure with fluffy red hair came barreling toward him.

“Noah—?! Whoa!”

With all his strength, Noah crashed into Asher’s waist and clung to him tightly.

“Uwaaah! Asher nii-samaーー!!”

“Eh? Wait, Noah, don’t cry!”

Noah buried his face against Asher’s waist, rubbing against him desperately.

“Huh?”

From the direction Noah had come, Hugo approached at a slow pace.

“……”

“……”

“Ash-… Asheuu… nii-sama… uuehh…!”

Asher, stroking Noah’s head as he sobbed, found himself locking eyes with Hugo. Both of them froze.

Hugo opened his mouth, seemingly trying to say something, but no words came out. His gaze flickered uneasily before Asher noticed something in his hand. A small bouquet of flowers.

Realizing Asher was looking at the flowers, Hugo finally spoke.

“…These were supposed to be a get-well gift.”

“Huh?”

“It wasn’t my idea. Noah picked them for you.”

“Noah did…?”

Noah, still clinging to Asher’s waist, remained silent. Despite being just a child, he held on with incredible strength, as if refusing to let go.

“Thank you, Noah. I’m sorry I couldn’t see you sooner. I’m fine now.”

“Ugh… Liar… Ashe nii-sama is… not fine at all… and yet… you say you’re fine…”

“It’s true. My fever’s gone now.”

“Ugh… uuuu…”

Noah sobbed uncontrollably, and Asher knelt down to hug him.

“…Are you really okay?”

It was Hugo who asked this time.

“You’re insane, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“You were kidnapped and treated horribly. Why did you save them?”

“…Treated horribly?”

“We heard the report from the forest people. Even Sam was angrier than I’ve ever seen. Sure, they were exiled, but…”

Hugo turned away, scowling.

“You act like some saint… They say it was the drugs. But what do you expect us to do with that information? Sam insists you were being controlled, but…”

Hugo clenched his fists.

“Noah clings to you now, but when he was younger, you were cruel to him… Was that also Clark’s doing? For what purpose?”

“…That’s—”

“Brother! Don’t be mean to Asher nii-sama!”

Noah glared at Hugo, his teary eyes full of anger.

“You threw a tantrum about picking flowers for him and dragged me along, and now you’re saying this?”

“You’re mean! You’re the worst!”

Asher watched the two of them argue.

Suddenly, a scene flashed through his mind.

A much younger Noah was crying, and Hugo held him carefully in his arms. And from the shadows, Asher had been watching.

For what reason…?

Just like how he had been hypnotized to hate beastfolk and distrust those around him, Asher had also been strangely aggressive toward Noah.

─── Wait… I feel like I’m about to remember something.

“Enough, do what you want. I don’t care anymore.”

Hugo shoved the flowers into Theodore’s hands and turned on his heel.

“Ah! Wait—”

Noah, who had been about to chase after Hugo, suddenly stopped, tears welling up again.

Hugo halted in his tracks, then immediately turned back and walked over to Noah.

“Sigh… Come on, don’t cry.”

“You said… you didn’t care…”

“You’re the one who said you hated me.”

“…But…”

Scratching his head with a deep sigh, Hugo gently picked Noah up.

“Fine, I was wrong too. So stop crying already… You’re too spoiled.”

Asher watched as Hugo gave Noah a troubled yet gentle smile.

─── …Ah.

That was right. Back then, I…

“…Clark didn’t control me.”

At Asher’s words, Hugo, who had been stroking Noah’s back to comfort him, froze.

“…What?”

His eyes widened in surprise. Noah, too, looked up at Asher in concern.

Asher had tried countless times to recall how he had felt back then, but no matter how hard he tried, the memories had never surfaced. It was partly due to Clark’s mind control.

But had all of his thoughts really been controlled? Surely, somewhere in there, his real feelings had existed.

The faint emotions he had felt back then…

They were…