Little Pink Starfish

A hush spread through the arena as everyone strained to catch Asher’s every word.

“I kissed Theodore to ease his pain. I couldn’t bear to see him suffering any longer…”

Some were confused, unable to grasp the meaning behind Asher’s words, while others—especially among the beastmen—gasped in realization, their eyes widening in shock as they looked at the two of them.

“Why would a kiss be necessary to ease pain…?”

Queen Angela once again questioned Asher.

After a moment of thought, Asher turned to Theodore and took his arm.

The wound Theodore had received from Samuel’s attack was still bleeding. Theodore quickly understood what Asher was about to do.

“…You mustn’t, Your Highness.”

“When I didn’t want it, did you listen to me, Theodore?”

At Asher’s troubled smile, Theodore swallowed his words.

Slowly, Asher pressed his lips to Theodore’s wound, and a murmur of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

Kneeling, Asher kissed Theodore’s injured arm, and no one could look away.

His long lashes lowered, the sight of his rosy lips parting just enough to reveal his red tongue as he softly licked away the blood was both divine and forbidden, sending a shiver of transgression through those who witnessed it.

As Asher pulled away, wiping the red blood from his lips with his fingers, all eyes were still fixed on him.

But in the next instant, the guards of Nadidrew, standing nearby, cried out in shock.

“…I-It’s impossible! The wound—it’s healed!”

“Black Knight Theodore’s wound… What does this mean?!”

“This can’t be… Something like this…”

While the stunned guards exclaimed among themselves, the Black Knights surrounding the kings turned their gazes toward Samuel. At that moment, those who had been present at the royal dining table recalled Samuel’s earlier words about making Asher a divine child.

“I-It makes sense now… That’s why Prince Samuel called Prince Asher a divine child…!”

“Such a power… Prince Asher possesses something like this?!”

The Black Knights erupted into excited murmurs, and even King Augustin’s face showed astonishment. But Asher immediately shook his head.

“That’s not true. I don’t possess any special power. Just as I was able to heal Theodore’s wound, Theodore can heal me as well.”

Firmly denying it, Asher met King Augustin’s gaze.

“…Father, at the royal dining table… you asked me something once, didn’t you?”

“…The royal dining table?”

“Yes. When the topic of my engagement was brought up… You asked if there was already someone I favored… At that time, I answered no.”

Asher then turned his gaze toward the royal princes of other nations seated in the royal spectators’ area, and then toward the noble seats.

“My answer was not a lie. But what I meant was that there was no one among the foreign royals or nobles… And now, I will state this clearly. No matter how many marriage proposals I receive in the future, I will not marry anyone… Because—”

Returning his gaze from the spectators, Asher looked straight at King Augustin.

At that time, he hadn’t been able to say it.

Even though he could have, he hadn’t.

Because somewhere deep inside, he had thought he mustn’t.

──── But now, it’s different.

“Theodore is my fated mate. I love him.”

A collective gasp filled the air.

The murmurs of the crowd gradually grew louder.

King Augustin stood frozen, unable to find words. But beside him, Queen Angela remained composed, her gaze unwavering as she looked at Asher.

“I understand that marriage is a duty of royalty… But I could never be with anyone else… Whether Theodore is a commoner, whether he has beastman blood—none of that matters.”

At that, voices of disapproval rose from the noble seats.

“This is unthinkable…”

“Even if he is mixed-blood, he still carries beastman blood…!”

“This could never be allowed…! And look at them! That display just now…”

“And what does he mean by ‘mate’? And that strange power…? Why does the prince have such an ability?!”

While the nobles began to clamor, voices from the common folk in the audience also rose up—though theirs were not of condemnation.

“Prince Asher and Black Knight Theodore are fated mates!”

“Amazing… Even a human royal can have a fated mate?!”

“They are destined for each other!”

A wave of excitement surged through the beastmen in the crowd.

In the midst of the commotion, King Augustin slowly raised his hand, silencing the arena.

“………Mates. I have heard that beastmen can recognize their destined partner by scent… But Asher, you are human.”

“As a human, I cannot discern scents the way beastmen do. But even so, I know.”

King Augustin could not hide his bewilderment at Asher’s unwavering certainty. He furrowed his brow, as if trying to reason with him.

“…Then what proof is there that he is your mate?”

“The proof… You saw it just now, didn’t you?”

At that moment, Reachalf appeared before Asher and King Augustin, his expression carrying a knowing smile, with the temple knights at his back.

King Augustin narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

“Lord Reachalf…?”

“Beastmen can recognize their mates by scent… The fate of a beastman’s destined mate has been passed down since ancient times. There are many things that we humans do not fully understand, Your Majesty.”

His teardrop-shaped earring swayed as he glanced toward Asher and Theodore.

“…Fated mates have the ability to heal each other’s wounds through their bodily fluids. The fact that Asher’s saliva healed Black Knight Theodore’s wound is undeniable proof.”

“Lord Reachalf…”

Why was Reachalf supporting them?

As Asher pondered the question, the temple knights subtly moved into position as if to shield him and Theodore.

“…What is the meaning of this, Lord Reachalf?”

“This situation has taken an unexpected turn… However, depending on Your Majesty’s decision, we may have no choice.”

An unexpected turn?

That’s my line.

What exactly is Lord Reachalf planning…?

“…Dias is a nation that prohibits discrimination against beastmen. Because of that, Fana’ara Temple has maintained friendly relations with only this kingdom… But it seems that this principle has yet to take root among Dias’ nobility. A most unfortunate reality.”

With an exaggerated sigh, Reachalf cast a sidelong glance at Samuel.

“Originally, I came here at Prince Samuel’s request…”

He trailed off.

Samuel, who had been silent until now, remained motionless, his gaze fixed solely on Asher.

“…Hm.”

Suddenly, Reachalf stifled a laugh, covering his mouth.

The surrounding crowd was left stunned. How could he possibly be laughing in this situation?

Approaching Samuel, Reachalf spoke with a mischievous smile.

“To be struck down so pathetically by your own beloved little brother… You must be devastated, Prince Samuel.”

“…Shut up.”

Samuel finally spoke, his sharp glare cutting toward Reachalf. But the moment he met Asher’s gaze behind him, his expression faltered.

“Asher… I—”

“…No matter your reasons.”

Asher’s cold stare made Samuel’s face twist.

“I will never forgive you for what you did to Theodore.”

Samuel stiffened as if struck by lightning. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, no words came out.

Reachalf leaned in close to Asher, whispering in an overly familiar manner.

“Hey, hey, this is getting way too interesting, but don’t shock Samuel any further, okay? If his beloved you says something like that, he might just die.”

“Die… That’s an exaggeration.”

“Well… Poor thing. Asher, you might not know, but that guy had things he had to do for your sake… Though, it’s not my place to explain.”

Muttering the last part quietly to himself, Reachalf glanced at Asher, whose expression was still troubled, before turning back to King Augustin.

“…What did you mean by ‘depending on my decision,’ Lord Reachalf?”

King Augustin asked, his face clouded with uncertainty.

“Your Majesty, now that we know Prince Asher and Black Knight Theodore are fated mates… what do you intend to do with them? Will you separate them?”

“…A royal marrying a beastman… There has never been such a precedent. Moreover, Theodore holds no noble title.”

Asher had known this was coming.

But hearing it directly from King Augustin’s mouth still made his chest ache.

The nobles nodded in agreement, as if this were only natural. Among the commoners, however, some murmured in dismay.

“Fated mates…”

Reachalf muttered quietly.

“Fate… is divine will, Your Majesty. If the gods have destined these two to be together, then no one has the right to tear them apart. To deny divine will itself is an act of grave sacrilege against Fana’ara. As High Priest of the Fana’ara Temple, I cannot allow such a thing. Our original plan has shifted slightly, but… if not as a divine child, then as one under the temple’s protection, I will take Asher and Theodore to Fana’ara.”

At Reachalf’s declaration, both Asher and Theodore were taken aback.

“…Why?”

Why was Reachalf protecting them? No one could have expected that he, who had been called here to take Asher to the temple, would say something like this.

The temple knights had already taken a defensive stance. The entire arena held its breath.

At that moment, King Augustin spoke.

“…Asher.”

Hearing his name called, Asher flinched.

The king’s golden eyes were fixed on him.

“…I told you before, didn’t I? That we needed to talk.”

Then, with a slightly troubled smile, he softened his gaze toward Asher.

“Father…”

“Lord Reachalf, I don’t know what you’ve misunderstood, but who said anything about separating them?”

“…Just now, Your Majesty stated that there was no precedent for a royal marrying a beastman and that Theodore holds no noble title.”

“I was merely stating the facts.”

“Then…”

King Augustin turned to Queen Angela, meeting her gaze. Asher followed his father’s line of sight, looking at her as well. She stared at Asher with an unreadable expression.

“…Mother?”

Slowly, Queen Angela stepped forward.

The hem of her crimson dress swayed as she walked, her golden hair—so much like Asher’s—fluttering in the breeze.

She moved through the formation of temple knights and stopped right in front of Asher.

Something had been bothering Asher.

When he had declared his love for Theodore, Queen Angela hadn’t reacted with anger or shock—she had simply looked at him.

“Mother…”

She leaned in close and whispered softly.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“…!”

“But knowing you, it wasn’t that you didn’t want to tell me—it was that you felt you couldn’t, isn’t that right?”

Her expression was filled with sorrow as she gently caressed Asher’s cheek.

“If this will make you happy… then I will do anything. As your mother, this time, no matter what happens, I will protect you.”

“Mother…”

Upon hearing Queen Angela’s words, Reachalf gave a subtle signal, and the temple knights lowered their hands from their weapons. Seeing the knights relax their guard, murmurs of relief spread through the audience.

Asher looked around in disbelief.

He had been prepared for this—for King Augustin and Queen Angela to reject him.

But instead, they weren’t even angry. The only thing they seemed to feel was sorrow that he hadn’t confided in them sooner.

“…Then… you two… you’re not against me and Theodore…?”

Unlike the confident stance he had taken before, Asher now hesitated, his voice unsure.

Queen Angela gave him a small, knowing smile. King Augustin, meanwhile, let out a deep sigh.

“…A royal marrying someone without a title… and a beastman, at that… will come with countless complications.”

For a brief moment, King Augustin shot a sharp glance toward the noble spectators. Those who had earlier shouted in outrage paled and shrank back.

“…Father…”

A warmth spread through Asher’s chest.

His voice trembled, struggling to find the words. But even without speaking, King Augustin seemed to understand what he wanted to say and responded.

“…Those who love each other should be together. That is something I know very well.”

He smiled softly, his golden eyes tinged with sorrow.