Little Pink Starfish

After the discussion about marriage, Asher felt deeply dejected.
Forcing himself to maintain a pleasant smile, he mechanically ate his food, barely registering the taste.

What did Theodore think… after hearing that?

Once everyone finished their meal, King Augustin rose from his seat.
Following protocol, the others stood up and bowed, waiting for him to leave.

However, before he could step out, Samuel suddenly called out.

“Father.”

King Augustin turned back, and for a brief moment, Samuel’s gaze flickered toward Asher before he spoke.

“Asher should be sent to the temple. Besides… he does not wish for marriage himself.”
“…I have no intention of forcing Asher to decide anything right away. This discussion is over.”

With that, King Augustin left without looking back.

“……”

Asher remained frozen in place.
Queen Angela placed a hand on his shoulder, making him flinch.
She let out a small chuckle at his reaction.

“…His Majesty said it would not be immediate, so do not worry.”
“Mother…”
“And… about last time, I apologize for losing my composure.”
“……”
“Asher?”
“……”

He couldn’t find the words.

The thing he feared had come true.

“Calm yourself, Your Highness. No such discussion has taken place.”

Asher had known better than to believe those words.
He had always understood that the issue of marriage would eventually come up.
However, he had never imagined it would be so soon.

“…Are you angry?”
“Huh?”

Startled, Asher looked at Queen Angela and saw her sorrowful expression.

“Ah… no, that’s not it.”
“It is only natural… I burdened you with my selfish wishes and caused you pain.”
“That’s not—”
“…His Majesty must have told you.”

She must have meant about Fred.
Asher swallowed hard, unable to respond.

“I pushed you into a corner… and put your life at risk. I have failed as a mother.”
“That’s not true! Mother, you—”

He wanted to say you loved me, but the words would not come out.

What does she think of me now that I cannot be king?
Is she disappointed?

The question he had been too afraid to ask before resurfaced in his mind.

As he lowered his head, Queen Angela gently took his hand.

“…I will not ask for forgiveness.”
“Forgiveness isn’t—”
“I only want you to believe me… My reasons for wanting you to become king were not solely because of Fred.”

Her grip on his hand tightened.

“I wanted to make you happy… more than anything. That will never change, not now, not ever.”
“Mother…”
“…That is why you will not be forced into an unwanted marriage. And as for the temple—out of the question!”

She spat the last words while glaring at Samuel, who let out a quiet laugh.

“…You used to conceal your hostility towards me. Have you decided not to anymore?”
“Why are you so fixated on Asher, Prince Samuel?”
“As I said before.”
“How disingenuous… Do you even refuse to let Asher serve as a vassal?”
“Of course not. In fact, I would rather have Asher as my right hand to support this kingdom.”

Samuel stepped closer, taking Asher’s hand and slowly stroking it.
A shiver ran down Asher’s spine, but he forced himself to keep his expression neutral.

“However, as I said earlier, a being so close to the divine should not be involved in human governance. He belongs in the temple, where he will want for nothing—”
“Hmph… I hear that you and High Priest Reachalf share a rather close relationship.”

A sudden coughing sound erupted from behind them.

“…Hugo-niiue, are you alright?”
“…Tch… Noah, we’re leaving.”

The one who had choked was Hugo.
Grabbing Noah by the hand, he quickly led him out of the hall.

“‘Close relationship’—what nonsense. He is merely an old friend. Besides, I have always been deeply devout.”

The Kingdom of Dias had only one temple, the Fanaara Temple.
The priests who served the gods had their own separate hierarchy, independent of the monarchy.
Even royalty could not easily interfere.

Priests were ranked from First to Fifth Class, with the High Priest overseeing them all.

Since Queen Angela lacked strong religious devotion, Asher had rarely visited the temple and knew little about its workings.
However, he had heard that, despite existing within the kingdom, the temple was like another world entirely.

“…In any case, Asher will not be going anywhere.”

With a sharp glare at Samuel, Queen Angela took Asher’s hand and led him away.

Asher glanced back, only to meet Samuel’s gaze.
Samuel smiled.

Unnerved, Asher quickly looked away.

Why… Why does Samuel-niiue want me so much…?

Upon leaving the hall, Queen Angela came to a stop.

“…This time, I will do what I must as a mother. Listen to me, Asher. Do not get too close to Prince Samuel.”

At those whispered words, Asher lifted his gaze to look at Queen Angela.
However, she simply turned away and walked off, accompanied by her personal guards, leaving Asher behind.

“Your Highness.”

A voice called from behind, making Asher flinch.

“Shall we return to your chambers?”
“……”

Without turning around, Asher gave a small nod.
A heavy feeling sat in his chest, making him hesitant to even look at Theodore.

What is he thinking?
Is he… angry about what I said?

On the way back to his chambers, Asher stole a quick glance at Theodore.
His expression was as calm and unreadable as ever, making it impossible to tell what he was feeling.

If only I had been able to say it then… that I love Theodore…

Asher clenched his fists tightly.

Once again, he had been unable to speak his true feelings.
This time was different—he was no longer being manipulated. Nothing was stopping him.

And yet, he had still been unable to say it.

Upon reaching his room, Asher stepped inside.

For a moment, Theodore hesitated before the doorway, pausing just outside.

“…Your Highness.”

Hearing his voice, Asher turned back to finally meet his gaze.
Theodore’s face was the same as always, but… were his dark eyes tinged with sadness, or was it just Asher’s imagination?

“…W-What?”
“……It’s nothing. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Eh…?”

The door shut behind him.

Asher stood there, frozen.
He had thought Theodore would enter the room as he always did.

The realization that he hadn’t sent a wave of panic through Asher.

…He’s angry after all, isn’t he?

Pressing a hand against his lips, his heart pounded with anxiety.

Of course he is… I practically said I didn’t have anyone I loved… But…

Unable to bear the uncertainty, Asher quickly opened the door.

Standing just outside was Theodore.

Without thinking, Asher reached out and grabbed his arm.

The sudden touch made Theodore blink in surprise as he looked down at him.

“It’s not like that! …Theodore, I…”
“…Your Highness?”
“I… I love—”
“Your Highness!”

The sharp tone in Theodore’s voice made Asher startle and fall silent.

“Lady Ellie will be arriving soon for your nightly preparations.
This is not a conversation to be had in the hallway.”
“Ah…!”

Asher’s face burned with embarrassment.

Only now did he realize how reckless he had been, not even considering their surroundings.

With everything that had happened, the royal dinner had lasted longer than usual, making it later than he had realized.

“S-Sorry, I…”
“…We will talk later, Your Highness.”
“…Okay.”

As Theodore had predicted, Ellie soon arrived to assist with Asher’s preparations for bed.

“I’ll stay up a little longer, so I can change by myself. Thank you, Ellie.”
“As you wish, Your Highness. Then, I shall take my leave.”

After she bowed and exited the room, Theodore stepped in.

As the sound of Ellie’s footsteps faded into the distance, Theodore finally spoke.

“…You seemed shaken earlier. Has something been troubling you?”

How can he be so calm?

Asher felt a strange sense of unease.

“…The talk of marriage… it finally happened, huh?”
“……”

He forced a small, bitter laugh, but Theodore said nothing in response.

“…I’m sorry… that I couldn’t say it back then.”

If he had been able to say it at that moment, he would have.

That he loved Theodore.
That he wanted to be with him, and no one else.

But he couldn’t.

Why?

“…It cannot be helped. I am a knight, but in the end, I am still a commoner.”

Theodore’s dark eyes narrowed slightly, a quiet sorrow flickering within them.

“That doesn’t matter! I love you, Theodore!”

Then why?

“I won’t marry anyone else…!”

Then why couldn’t I say it back then?

His own heart questioned him relentlessly.

I wasn’t being controlled. There was nothing stopping me. And yet…

“…A commoner and a member of the royal family cannot marry, Your Highness.”

Theodore spoke gently, yet his words struck Asher like a blade.

Slowly, Theodore gazed at him with his unwavering, midnight-colored eyes.

“That’s not true…! Maybe long ago, there was someone…”
“I’ve looked into it.”
“Huh?”
“I studied the history of Dias… but in all records, a royal has only ever been permitted to marry another royal or a noble.”

He had known this truth all along.
But hearing it from Theodore himself made it hurt so much more.

Asher lowered his gaze, biting his lip.

Then, unexpectedly, Theodore let out a soft chuckle.

“Please, don’t look so sad. I made peace with this a long time ago.”
“…You accepted it…?”
“I wondered… if perhaps there was some precedent, some loophole. I spent what little free time I had searching through old texts, but… it was pointless.”

That was when Asher realized.

That’s why Theodore had been away so often recently…

“…I thought I might find something, but reality is not so kind.”
“Theodore…”
“I once… tried to give up on you, Your Highness.”
“You tried to…?”
“But then… it was you who stopped me.”

Theodore’s voice softened.

“You allowed me to touch you.”

The memory of that night surfaced in Asher’s mind, making his face flush.

“That is why… no matter what happens, I will always stay by your side.”

Gently, Theodore cupped Asher’s cheek and pressed his lips to his ear.

A soft, lingering touch.

Asher’s body trembled at the sensation, his hands instinctively gripping Theodore’s sleeve.

Theodore chuckled at his reaction, reaching up to stroke his hair.

“…Aren’t you… mad at me?”
“Why would I be angry?”
“…Because I said I didn’t love anyone…”
“I understand your position, Your Highness.”
“…But what if…”

What if it had been the other way around?

What if it had been Theodore in his place?
What if he had to watch the person he loved be given to another?

What if he had been the one standing there, hearing that the person he cared for most… didn’t love anyone at all?

The very thought crushed his heart.

“Don’t look so sad. I made peace with this a long time ago.”

Theodore had smiled as he said that.
He had already accepted it.

As if he had always known it would come to this.

“……”

Asher loved Theodore more than anyone.
More than anything.

And yet, he had hurt him.

Wouldn’t it be easier if he threw away his status?
Abandoned everything and ran away with Theodore?

Wouldn’t it be better if they disappeared somewhere, just the two of them?

But even as the thought crossed his mind, another voice inside him whispered—

You know you can’t.

The faces of King Augustin and Queen Angela flashed through Asher’s mind.

I… how selfish am I?
But…

“…I will never marry anyone but you, Theodore.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”

Theodore smiled as he replied.

Did he truly believe Asher’s words?
Or had he already resolved himself to forgive Asher, even if those words were to become a lie?

Asher didn’t know.

Theodore had said he would do anything.
That, as his fated partner, he would do anything for Asher.

“……”

Surely, Theodore would ensure that Asher never suffered.
If it was for Asher’s happiness, he would do whatever was necessary.

Even if Asher was forced into marriage with someone else.
Even if, in the future, Asher had to share his body with another.
Would Theodore still remain by his side without resentment?

Because I am royalty?
…Because he has already accepted this?

Overcome with emotion, Asher threw his arms around Theodore’s neck and pressed a kiss to his lips.

The sudden force made their teeth collide, a dull sound echoing in the quiet room.

“…Ah.”
“Your Highness…!”

Despite the dull pain, Asher refused to stop.
He sealed Theodore’s lips once more, desperately intertwining their tongues over and over again.

When they finally parted, Asher looked up at Theodore with a determined glare.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Theodore’s arm and forced him to sit down on the bed.

“Uh… Your Highness…”
“…Take it off.”
“……”
“Take off your clothes.”
“W-Why…?”
“Just do it!!”

Without waiting for a response, Asher roughly unfastened the buttons at Theodore’s collar, tearing away his knightly adornments and tossing them carelessly onto the floor.

“…Back then, I… I didn’t know… that you had already made up your mind like that, Theodore.”
“Made up my mind…?”
“I was just… scared. I was terrified of being alone… I was only thinking about myself… even though you were always thinking about me.”
“Your Highness… that’s not true.”
“I just… I just wanted to be sure that you loved me…”

Asher hadn’t thought about being royalty, or about Theodore being a commoner.
He had only wanted to feel that he was loved by someone. That was the only reason he had sought him out.

Without hesitation, he stripped away his own clothing and adornments, tossing them aside until his upper body was bare.
Then, he straddled Theodore.

“…I won’t marry anyone else. I swear… I will never do something like this with anyone but you. I will choose my future with you, Theodore… I will make that decision myself… s-so…”
“……”
“S-So…”
“……”
“That’s why… I want to make that choice with you… and…”

Asher realized that what he was saying sounded ridiculous, even to himself.

He simply wanted to relive that night—just like how Theodore had embraced everything about him, surrounding him with warmth.

But when he thought about it rationally… he was basically asking Theodore to share his body with him again.

And in the most awkward, clumsy way possible.

Flushing red, Asher furrowed his brows.

Unable to hold it in, Theodore suddenly burst out laughing.

“…Pardon me.”
“…I’m being serious! And stop using formal speech when it’s just the two of us!”
“……”
“And… call me by my name. Call me Asher.”
“…If that is what you wish, Asher.”

Theodore gently placed a hand on Asher’s chest, stroking it softly.

“I don’t know what misunderstanding you’ve gotten into, but…”

The moment Theodore’s fingers brushed against the small bud on Asher’s chest, his body jolted in surprise.

“I have no intention of letting anyone else touch you, Asher.”
“…Huh? Ah—”
“I told you before, didn’t I…?”

Pressing the pad of his finger against Asher’s nipple, Theodore leaned in and placed a kiss on the nape of his neck.

“I’m warning you… if we continue, there will be no turning back.”

“Theo—ah…!”

Theodore silenced him with a deep kiss, his tongue forcefully invading Asher’s mouth.

“Nh… fuh…”

“I was planning to hold back for a while… since I had already pushed you too far before.”

With a smirk, Theodore suddenly pushed Asher down onto the bed, his weight pinning him beneath him.

“This is your fault, Asher.”

“…W-Wait—ah!”

Theodore’s mischievous smile lingered as he captured Asher’s lips once again.

As he leaned over him, the warmth of his body pressing down, Asher’s heart pounded wildly.

Unconsciously, he reached out—grasping at the presence he could never let go of.