Little Pink Starfish

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Muffled voices could be heard nearby.

Asher’s mind was hazy.

He couldn’t move his body or open his eyes, so he couldn’t tell whether he had woken from sleep or was still in a dream. How long had it been since he had fallen asleep?

Amidst this, the contents of the conversation gradually became clearer.

“…Is it… my fault that Asher-nii-sama won’t wake up…?”

The anxious whispering voice trembled.

…Noah?

“Asher-nii-sama said he wasn’t angry, but… I… I said so many awful things to him. So maybe Asher-nii-sama doesn’t want to see me, and that’s why he won’t wake up.”

No… Noah, that’s not true. There’s no way I wouldn’t want to see you.

“…It’s not your fault.”

Another voice spoke. Asher’s still slightly dazed consciousness suddenly sharpened at the surprisingly close sound.

“…Asher wouldn’t think something like not wanting to see you.”

“…Really…?”

“Yeah. After all, Asher is kind now, right? The real Asher loves you, Noah. He wouldn’t start hating you.”

A gentle, large hand touched Asher’s forehead and slowly stroked it. His bangs softly fell from his forehead.

“…I love you too, Samuel-nii-sama… And even though he always gets mad, Hugo-nii-sama too.”

“…Oh.”

Hugo’s voice was heard from a little farther away.

Or rather… things feel more cramped than before… Wait… what is this situation…?

Noah hadn’t moved. As before, he was lying right next to Asher, snuggled up against him. But on the opposite side from Noah, there was a warm presence.

Eh… don’t tell me.

Asher strained to listen to the sounds coming from right nearby.

A heartbeat, the rustle of fabric, and a soft chuckle.

“You should come over here too.”

“…Why the hell do grown men have to sleep in the same bed? I get Noah, but still!!”

S-Samuel-nii-sama… eh, he’s sleeping next to me!? Why!?

It seemed Noah was on Asher’s left, and Samuel was lying on his right, sandwiching him between them.

“If you hate it so much, why are you in this room?”

“I was sleeping in my own room, but I felt like my life was in danger!!”

“What do you mean, ‘life in danger’?”

“…It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it, Noah.”

At Hugo’s sulking voice, Asher recalled Reachalf’s face.

Don’t tell me… did Lord Reachalf come to Hugo-nii-sama’s room…

“…Anyway, Noah. It’s alright now… it’s late… go to sleep.”

“…I already slept earlier, so I’m not sleepy…”

“What if Asher wakes up early tomorrow?”

“Okay, I’ll sleep!!”

Once again, Samuel’s laugh was heard, and Asher could tell Samuel was stroking Noah over him.

“Geez… We’re only sleeping in Asher’s room tonight, alright? Go back to your own room tomorrow, Noah. Don’t trouble Mother too much.”

“…But… if he wakes up and no one’s there, it’d be so sad for Asher-nii-sama…”

“It’s fine, having times like this… Let’s all sleep together until Asher wakes up. If you’re gonna say that, then go back to your room alone.”

“…Who do you think made it so I can’t go back?”

“Who knows? I never told Reachalf where your room was.”

“Then why the hell does that pervert know where my room is… Give me a break…”

Hugo let out a deep sigh, and Noah asked curiously:

“Pervert?”

“Don’t worry about it, Noah. Forget it.”

“He means Lord Reachalf.”

“Oh! That pretty person, right?”

“P-p-pretty!?”

Noah’s voice, which had been gloomy moments ago, had regained its brightness before anyone noticed. Samuel and the others continued chatting casually at Asher’s side.

As if… speaking for Asher to hear.

Before long, Noah’s chatter dwindled, and soon soft breathing could be heard. He had said he wasn’t sleepy, but it seemed he still couldn’t stay up that late.

“…What a feast for the eyes. Look—two angels…”

Murmured Samuel. Hugo snorted through his nose in response.

“Don’t sulk.”

“I’m not sulking!? …How do I even look like I’m sulking to you?”

“…You really should do something about that grumpy tone. You used to be as cute as Noah.”

“Mind your own damn business.”

The two spoke softly, clearly trying not to wake Noah.

…Everyone’s worried about me. Even though I’m conscious… I need to wake up soon and put their minds at ease.

He tried to get up, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t even open his eyes. How long would this last?

No way… I won’t stay like this… right…?

A sudden wave of fear ran through Asher. No way, he thought, shaking his head mentally, but his back remained frozen with dread.

“…Why do you think Asher won’t wake up?”

…That’s what I want to know.

He couldn’t respond aloud, but in his mind, Asher answered Samuel’s question. Hugo didn’t reply.

“…If we had properly explained everything, maybe it wouldn’t have come to this.”

Samuel slowly stroked Asher’s cheek. The hand that touched him gently, as if he were fragile, seemed to tremble slightly.

“…Back then, I thought it would be best to wait until everything was over. I didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily. We already knew who the culprit was, so I thought it wasn’t too late to reveal the truth after exposing and capturing them… But that was just my selfish reasoning…”

“No point regretting it now. I agreed with you too. How could we tell Asher that someone who helped Clark might still be targeting him…? Thinking how he’d react…”

Hugo trailed off. Samuel gave a bitter laugh, almost mocking himself.

“Maybe it’s a punishment… For not even realising my younger brother was crying out for help… On top of that, I even considered killing Asher if necessary.”

Thump.

Asher’s heart gave a jolt.

In the past, Samuel and Asher had been on opposing sides—the Crown Prince faction and the Queen’s faction. Though Asher had been manipulated, he remembered acting in a way that could have easily earned hatred. It wasn’t Asher himself giving the orders, but Samuel had faced multiple assassination attempts. The Queen’s faction nobles were always suspected, but in hindsight, it was likely Clark’s plot to cause division.

…Why… Samuel-nii-sama…

They were supposed to be enemies until not long ago, yet Samuel now cared so much for Asher. Why did he try to protect him so earnestly? Even though Samuel had once considered killing him, even if it was a misunderstanding.

When Hugo found out Asher had been manipulated, he’d shown hesitation. The anger, sadness, and inevitable guilt he must’ve felt wouldn’t vanish easily. That was why Hugo, despite trying to bridge the gap, still had a wall between them—it was only natural.

…I don’t understand Samuel-nii-sama.

Wise and acknowledged as the Crown Prince within the castle. He even participated in the Black Knights’ training, holding his own, and led forces in war with distinction. In Asher’s memories, Samuel always wore a calm smile, but his eyes towards Asher had been cold.

And yet, once the misunderstanding was cleared, Samuel showed an unbelievable level of attachment to Asher. It made no sense.

“If Asher had stayed the way he was, under that control… I definitely would have done it.”

Samuel’s lifeless murmur sounded pained.

“Lord Geoffrey said I always paid attention to young Asher… But in truth, I didn’t care at all… I abandoned him.”

“…Abandoned him?”

“I remember the first time I saw Asher. I really thought he was an angel… Like an angel who had stepped out of the only painting Mother left behind for me…”

Asher recalled a room filled with paintings.

That room… Wasn’t it Lord Fred’s…?

Samuel fell silent after that. Perhaps growing impatient, Hugo let out a small sigh and prodded him.

“Come on, just say it already.”

Samuel exhaled with a faint smile at Hugo’s urging tone.

“…No, perhaps I shouldn’t.”

“You started saying it, so finish. Besides… Father said it, didn’t he? That we need to talk about these things.”

“……”

Silence followed for a while.

Creak. Hugo shifted, and the sound of the chair groaning echoed in Asher’s ears.

Just as Asher wondered if they would say nothing more, Samuel sighed.

“When I became aware of things, our mother had already passed… All I remember is a little you… and Lord Geoffrey…”

Though it sounded no different than usual, Samuel’s voice held a note of sadness.

Asher hesitated slightly—was it alright for someone who was supposed to be asleep to hear this? But in this body, he had no choice.

He listened intently to Samuel’s story from the past, slowly unfolding.