Little Pink Starfish

──────・・・・・・

Drifting in a dreamy daze, the surrounding scenery came into view.

Everyone was smiling and clapping, looking at Asher. Standing beside him was Theodore—expressionless as usual, but with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

──── The sound of cheering echoed.

When Asher gave a stiff smile, Theodore, noticing it, also returned an awkward smile.

I don’t need to hide my feelings for Theodore anymore.

His chest grew warm, and then────

“………………Ah”

When he opened his eyes, Asher was lying in his bedroom bed.

He slowly sat up, recalling the dream he had just seen. No—it wasn’t a dream. It really happened.

“Are you awake?”

“…Ellie, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

Ellie smiled brightly, wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes.

After getting ready for the day, Asher energetically burst out of his room.

Theodore wasn’t outside the room—but he already knew that.

Instead, standing guard outside was the beast soldier Vex.

“Good morning, Prince Asher.”

“Ah, good morning.”

“…Are you heading to see Lord Theodore?”

Asked this, Asher nodded with a slight blush. Vex mumbled around his mouth.

“…Uhh~~ I’ll accompany you.”

“Thank you.”

After that, Theodore’s beastification had not yet subsided, and since he had taken Notovis, he had to be taken to a physician.

Asher tried to accompany him, but that wish was not granted and he was returned to his room.

At first, he felt uneasy about being separated, but it turned out he was overthinking it. Once Theodore’s examination ended, Asher was allowed to see him.

When they met again, Theodore had returned completely to his human form and was insisting on returning to his role as Asher’s guard, to the doctor’s dismay.

“…I heard Theodore tried to escape the infirmary again?”

“So it seems. Well, it’s only natural that he wouldn’t want to be separated from his fated partner.”

As Vex answered with a grin, Asher averted his eyes in embarrassment again.

No, this isn’t the time to be embarrassed—and it’s not like I regret what I did, but still…!

“I mean—seriously, it was really moving. Fated partners… and a prince with a mixed-blood knight… a romantic healing kiss in front of the people… Everyone’s talking about your love story.”

“…!”

Asher froze in place.

“Apparently poets are already rushing to create works based on the two of you, and they’ve been singing them at taverns! The bards who gathered for the exhibition matches are all—”

“Waaaaaaaahh!”

His face felt like it was about to burst into flames, and Asher covered it with both hands.

“Prince Asher⁉︎”

“…I-it’s nothing… S-sorry for yelling…”

But he couldn’t help it.

Because that deep kiss with Theodore had been seen by so many people.

It was only natural to want to scream out of sheer embarrassment.

Back then, he couldn’t think about anything else but Theodore… but now that he’s back in his room and calm again…

They had kissed deeply, intertwining their tongues several times—even if it was to heal his wounds.

And it was Asher who initiated it.

“……”

In the end, King Augustine and Queen Angela didn’t scold them—they welcomed it.

Even though Asher had suffered and agonised so much, it was all accepted so easily and unexpectedly.

If only he had been honest at the royal dinner, things wouldn’t have become such a spectacle.

There was no need to display a kiss with Theodore in front of the people, and royalty from other nations, drawing everyone’s attention.

No good… I can’t keep thinking about this…

“Oh! And that playwright, Piasharon, was also moved and apparently shouted at the arena that he’d turn it into a play. With all the rumours flying around from yesterday to today, I don’t know what’s true anymore…”

“Uuuuuuuuugh…”

“Eh, Prince Asher? Are you okay⁉︎”

Turning bright red and letting out strange noises, Asher had Vex worried—but the soldier had no idea that it was his words causing the outburst.

Burning with shame, Asher rushed down the hallway toward the infirmary.

“Hey, Asher.”

The moment he opened the infirmary door, Asher’s eyes widened in surprise.

Sitting face to face with Theodore, wearing a bright smile, was Samuel.

“Why are you here!?”

With a sharp look, Asher glared at him. Samuel gave a slightly troubled smile. And he wasn’t alone.

Behind him stood a forestfolk, and—

“…Brother Hugo?”

Hugo, waving lazily, quickly dropped his hand when Samuel glared at him.

“Why… are you here… Don’t tell me you did something to Theodore again…”

Asher turned to Theodore.

To his surprise, Theodore wore a grim expression. Asher glared back at Samuel.

“…T-then I’ll stand watch outside the door.”

Feeling the tense atmosphere, Vex quickly exited the room and closed the door.

Once it was shut, Samuel gave a gentle smile.

“Could I speak with you for a bit?”

His golden eyes narrowed beautifully as he turned them toward Asher.

“…………Before that, don’t you have something to say to Theodore?”

“What? I can’t think of anything.”

“You used Notovis… You forced him into beastification! That was cruel…”

“If it wasn’t cruel, it wouldn’t be a punishment.”

With a cold expression, Samuel turned his gaze to Theodore.

“First of all, while Theodore is currently serving as your guard knight by our father’s orders, the one who knighted him was me. His true lord is me. At the knighting ceremony, he swore to serve me without lies or deception. Yet he hid the fact that he was mixed-blood. That is his wrongdoing.”

Asher tried to object—but no words came out. Samuel’s logic was correct, from a royal standpoint.

Then, as if to stop him, Theodore looked at Asher, stood up from his chair, and bowed his head to Samuel in apology.

“You’re right… I’m sorry.”

Samuel didn’t even glance at him, remaining silent.

“…B-but… why did you have to do that… in public…”

“Now that I know Theodore has beastman blood, I, as the crown prince, cannot keep that hidden. And since he swore to serve me, it’s only natural he reveal his true self to all. I reported everything to Father yesterday. Since Theodore showed himself in front of the people, Father agreed that he has atoned for the crime of deceiving his origin.”

Asher’s mouth, which had begun to open, stopped. His mind went blank.

After understanding what was just said, Asher stared at Samuel.

Wait… he said atoned?

That means… he’s forgiven Theodore for lying…?

Falsifying one’s identity to royalty is a crime punishable by death.

Even if King Augustine forgave it, it should’ve destroyed Samuel’s honour. Yet Samuel reported it that way himself.

That the crime had been atoned for.

“However, as expected, the House of Lords raised objections. So an emergency assembly was called among the nobles of Dias to discuss the status system for beastmen. Naturally, Theodore’s attendance is mandatory.”

“Uh—”

“And… Asher will likely be required to attend as well… Since you’re seeking marriage with a beastman, even if only half.”

Up until now, Samuel had worn a faint smile—but now his face was unreadable. His calm words carried a hint of anger.

Asher recalled the reactions from the nobles at the arena.

Most had shown open disgust and muttered heartless words.

That was only natural. After seeing how King Augustine, Queen Angela, and the people had reacted, Asher had nearly let himself believe otherwise.

But this wasn’t a simple issue.

And clearly, Samuel didn’t approve of Asher and Theodore’s relationship either.

Samuel continued.

“The House of Lords will likely condemn Theodore for being mixed-blood and demand the stripping of his Black Knight title…”

“…!”

“But don’t worry. That’s why Asher, you won’t be attending the assembly.”

For a moment, Asher couldn’t comprehend what he’d just heard. Then he raised his voice.

“Wha—why not!?”

Samuel, without changing his expression, replied.

“I’m saying leave everything with the House of Lords to me.”

“Leave it to you…!?”

There’s no way he could leave it to someone who didn’t even approve of them.

What on earth was Samuel planning?

Asher was about to refuse outright—when Theodore suddenly spoke.

“…Your Highness. Please do as Prince Samuel says.”

“Eh, Theodore!?”

Shocked, Asher turned to him. Theodore was staring seriously at Samuel.

“…That’s all I have to say.”

Samuel smiled again, then lowered his eyes slightly in thought.

“…It’s true that using Notovis to force a transformation was harsh… I do think I went a bit too far.”

Showing slight remorse, Samuel’s apology shocked Hugo and the forestfolk behind him.

As he apologised, his eyes finally met Theodore’s—but only for a brief moment.

“What’s going on? What were the two of you talking about just now?”

“In any case, you don’t need to do anything for the assembly with the nobles. I promise nothing bad will happen.”

Standing from his chair and heading for the door, Samuel was stopped by Asher’s desperate shout.

“Wait, brother‼︎ Explain yourself‼︎”

Seeing Asher’s panicked expression, the forestfolk quietly spoke.

“Lord Samuel… Asking him not to explain anything and just leave seems a bit too much…”

“Silence. Let’s go.”

Cutting him off coldly, Samuel quickly left the infirmary, saying only what he wanted. Hugo sighed at his retreating figure.

“Forestfolk, follow Sam. That was too harsh. Asher still doesn’t understand anything. I’ll give a quick explanation and catch up… Calm down, Asher.”

After bowing, the forestfolk left. Hugo slumped into the chair Samuel had been sitting in and sighed again.

“…Sigh, Sam really hates involving you in this matter… Just don’t tell anyone what I’m about to say.”

“What have you all been talking about? And what did you say to Theodore?”

“I just explained before you came. About us, and what we’re about to do.”

…You talked?

Talked about what?

Asher glanced toward Theodore—his expression was tense, eyes burning with anger.

“About to do…?”

What were they planning?

He had no idea.

After a short silence, Hugo spoke.

“…There’s someone in the House of Lords we want to catch.”

“Eh…?”

The unexpected words shook Asher.

“There’s a mastermind behind a case Sam and I have been chasing for years. The exhibition match was basically a trap to lure them out.”

“A case…? A trap…?”

“It’s not public knowledge. But if left alone, it could lead to riots. It’s a major issue for the country.”

Asher’s face grew grim.

A major issue for the country…

“In any case, we’re going to use this marriage talk between you and Theodore… Though originally it was just going to be a discussion about Theodore’s future.”

“So either way, you were going to use Theodore…”

“…Yeah. Like I said—it’s a national crisis. Asher, for now, just listen to Sam. Trust him.”

Unable to accept it, Asher shook his head. Seeing this, Hugo sighed and scratched his head.

He wanted to trust them. But what was he supposed to trust?

After doing something so cruel to Theodore—and offering no proper explanation—they were asking Asher to stay silent.

There was no way he could trust that.