Chapter 21
…What should I do now?
He was desperately curious.
What kind of relationship did those two have?
How had they met?
What were they talking about right now?
Just who was that man?
How on earth did she know him?
What exactly were they to each other?
Every moment he spent wandering the streets felt unbearable.
With each passing second, it felt as though he was drifting tens of thousands of times farther away from her.
…Should I casually go back into the gallery?
He had actually reached the point of entertaining such an absurd idea.
Just as he was sinking into self-loathing over how pathetic he had become—
Someone stopped in front of him.
Through the shadow cast by his cloak’s hood, Adolf saw a pair of polished shoes.
Slowly, he raised his head.
The moment he recognized their owner, his gaze darkened.
“It’s been a long time, Your Highness Prince Adolf.”
Count Allison stood before him.
…You’ve already left the gallery?
The question nearly slipped out before Adolf swallowed it.
Only then did he glance around.
Without him realizing it, dusk had settled, and the evening sky was painted with the last glow of sunset.
It wasn’t that Count Allison had left quickly.
He himself had simply stood lost in thought for far too long.
…Seriously, what is wrong with me?
The realization shocked him.
A faint, bitter laugh escaped his lips.
Then he slowly looked up at Mikael.
“It’s been a while, Count Allison.”
Unlike the days he had lived under the name Arwin, his voice now carried a firm authority.
When he spoke as Adolf, there was no disguising the dignity of an imperial prince.
“I must admit, Your Highness, you gave me quite a surprise earlier.”
Mikael answered calmly.
“I knew you had left the Imperial Palace under the pretense of traveling.”
“But I never imagined you would be here.”
“I only returned to the Empire recently.”
“I spent the last few years wandering overseas so no one could track me.”
Adolf replied casually before asking,
“How are Father and my brothers?”
“…You’re asking me that?”
Mikael looked at him in disbelief.
Ever since childhood, Adolf had constantly caused trouble.
Then, several years after reaching adulthood, he had suddenly announced he was going on a journey—
And vanished.
Using travel as an excuse, he disappeared without a trace and never returned to the Imperial Palace.
“His Majesty has already officially declared you missing.”
“I believe that alone tells you how things have been.”
“The other princes are equally worried.”
“…I see.”
“And Mother?”
“Her Majesty appears to be handling things even more calmly than His Majesty.”
“As expected of my mother.”
A gentle smile appeared on Adolf’s lips.
It was warm.
Almost affectionate.
“If you happen to see her…”
“Tell her I’m sorry.”
“No one else.”
“Only Mother.”
“…How much longer do you intend to keep acting so irresponsibly?”
Mikael asked.
Adolf chuckled.
Watching the fields of grain swaying in the breeze, he answered,
“Count Allison…”
“You may or may not have experienced it yourself…”
“But there are people who simply aren’t suited for noble life.”
“…”
“People like me.”
His tone made it impossible to tell whether he was joking or completely serious.
“Personally…”
“I’m very satisfied with my life as a wanderer.”
“But please remember, Your Highness.”
“No matter how you live…”
“You are still a prince of this Empire.”
Mikael spoke firmly.
“His Majesty worries greatly about you.”
“If not for yourself…”
“Then at least for your father’s sake.”
“It’s time to end your wandering and return to the Imperial Palace.”
“Are you trying to persuade me?”
“I’m simply giving you sincere advice.”
“I see…”
Adolf nodded.
He lowered his head and fell silent.
After a while, he looked up again.
A grin spread across his face.
“But what should I do?”
“I don’t want to.”
He shrugged beneath his black cloak.
“I’m sorry.”
“But I plan to stay here a little longer.”
Mikael narrowed his eyes.
“…Is it because of that woman?”
“And what exactly is your relationship with her?”
“…”
A sharp tension settled between them.
Neither answered the other’s question.
Only silence lingered.
The sky continued darkening as the final rays of sunset faded beyond the horizon.
Mikael quietly observed Adolf with eyes filled equally with curiosity and caution.
Eventually, he let out a small laugh.
Crossing his arms, he asked,
“…Why are you so curious?”
“I listened patiently while you lectured me.”
“I should at least be allowed to ask one question.”
Adolf smiled faintly.
“What kind of relationship do you have with her, Count Allison?”
Though phrased as a question…
His tone carried the unmistakable authority of a prince issuing an order.
Mikael answered without hesitation.
“She’s my lover.”
Thump.
Adolf felt as though his heart had dropped.
His expression froze.
Lover?
His heartbeat exploded wildly in his chest.
Watching his reaction, Mikael smiled before calmly adding,
“…That’s the relationship I’d like us to have.”
“…”
Slowly…
Adolf’s heartbeat returned to normal.
Ha…
Without realizing it, he let out a breath of relief.
Then he frowned at Mikael.
Wait…
Was he making fun of me just now?
…More importantly…
Why am I so relieved by what he just said?
“She’s a woman I’ve loved for a very long time.”
“I’d rather not discuss the details.”
“So…”
“You intend to date her?”
The thought displeased Adolf immensely.
His voice came out noticeably colder.
Mikael merely shrugged.
“That would certainly be my wish.”
“Unfortunately…”
“It’s not something I can decide on my own.”
“Just who is she…?”
The question nearly escaped Adolf’s lips.
No.
He didn’t want to hear about her past from someone else.
Even if he learned it someday…
He wanted to hear it directly from her.
Besides…
For some reason…
He didn’t want to know her true identity yet.
He liked the relationship they had now.
If he asked who she really was…
It felt as though everything between them would shatter.
Someday…
When the time was right…
He would naturally come to know.
Until then…
He wanted things to remain exactly as they were.
The only problem…
Was that an incredibly irritating obstacle had appeared between them.
“So…”
“If what you’re saying is true…”
“I suppose my visiting her gallery every day must bother you.”
“I doubt someone with Your Highness’s personality would leave because of that.”
Mikael replied calmly.
“Will you report my whereabouts to the Imperial Palace?”
The conversation continued without either side yielding an inch.
Then Mikael smiled.
“No.”
“I won’t.”
“…”
“I’ll continue pretending not to recognize Your Highness in front of her.”
“I’ll behave as though nothing has happened.”
Adolf’s eyes widened slightly.
Why?
He pondered the meaning behind those words.
It didn’t take him long to understand.
“Honestly…”
“I have considered doing it.”
“But…”
“She asked you not to.”
Mikael remained silent.
Adolf continued,
“That thoughtful woman…”
“She asked you not to reveal my identity.”
“Didn’t she?”
So…
She was thinking about me.
The realization made it impossible for Adolf to suppress his smile.
Even he found it ridiculous…
Yet for the first time that evening, he finally felt relieved.
All the agonizing time he had spent wandering the streets…
During all that time…
He had actually been part of their conversation.
And…
Even if only for a single second…
She had thought about him.
That realization filled him with indescribable happiness.
Just as I thought…
She was still thinking about me.
She hasn’t abandoned me.
Just because that man appeared…
She didn’t push me away.
Without noticing, Adolf lowered his head to hide the smile spreading across his face.
Watching him, Mikael finally spoke.
“I have one warning.”
Adolf raised his head.
Their eyes met.
“I’ll respect her wishes.”
“I won’t interfere in your relationship with her.”
“But…”
The smile slowly disappeared from Adolf’s face.
“Please…”
“Do not cross the line.”
“…”
“The only reason I won’t interfere…”
“Is because Your Highness continues to respect that boundary.”
Slowly…
Mikael stepped forward.
Standing directly before Adolf, he spoke each word with unwavering clarity.
“Stay away from that woman.”
Adolf stared silently at him.
More precisely…
At his eyes.
“To you…”
“She may be nothing more than someone interesting.”
“But to me…”
“She is not.”
“…”
“Don’t approach her out of passing curiosity.”
“Don’t hurt her.”
“She’s already suffered enough.”
As firm as Mikael’s gaze was…
Adolf could also feel the emotions contained within it.
He saw…
The sincere determination of a man willing to protect someone with all his heart.
A love he had nurtured alone for many years.
A feeling so precious…
So desperate…
That it could belong to no one else.
“To the person I am now…”
“She is someone I wouldn’t trade for anything in this world.”
For just a brief moment…
Adolf caught a glimpse of the profound, unwavering depth of Mikael’s love for her.
