Theo finished all the food I gave him for the first time, eating it deliciously. It wasn't so much that it actually tasted good, but more that he liked seeing me happy.
Still, he'll get better and better over time. Won't there come a day when he'll be the first to say he wants to eat something?
Before I knew it, it was almost bedtime, so I quickly washed up, got into bed, and buried myself in the soft blankets.
Then, I turned to my side and looked at the bookshelf that didn't quite fit in the bedroom. The bookshelf next to the bed, which had appeared at some point, was now filled with children's books.
Now that he could speak normally, except when he was excited, he didn't really need reading practice. But I just enjoyed watching Theo fall asleep and the peaceful time passing by, so I kept practicing under the pretense that there were still many words I didn't know. Of course, Theo probably knew that there were no more words in children's books that I wouldn't know.
He came out of the bathroom after washing up and got into bed, hugging me like a body pillow as usual. I also fidgeted for a moment, finding a comfortable position, and then lay down, resting my head on his arm.
"Were you very surprised earlier?"
By earlier, he must mean what happened at the exhibition. Thinking about the scene where demonic beasts burst out of the narrow space made me angry again, but on the other hand, I was happy. I remembered the multiple layers of protection that surrounded me as soon as the demonic beasts appeared.
"I was a little surprised, but I'm okay."
Theo nodded slightly at my answer and asked again.
"Are you very angry with the humans?"
I don't know if it's because I'm a divine beast, but I felt deep-seated hatred and anger from the demonic beasts. Even though no one had ever taught me, I also felt a sense of rejection, as if I had encountered a taboo that should never exist.
So, I couldn't look kindly on the humans who had brought in those demonic beasts. Especially since I thought they were targeting Theo.
"A little."
"What about me?"
"Theo is... Theo."
Theo was always Theo. The exception was ultimately something like that. Something that deviated from any standards or rules.
Theo, who knew best what kind of answer I would give, pouted and added.
"Why do you keep asking when you already know?"
"I know. But I always want to hear it."
"Why?"
"I'm anxious about whether your heart is still the same, and I'm happy when I'm reassured that I'm special."
I looked up at him quietly. Theo was undoubtedly handsome, but he certainly had a sharp and fierce impression. However, I, who spent the most time with him, had rarely felt that way.
The moment he met my eyes, his fierce eyes softened and his cool mouth curled up beautifully. The way he looked was so affectionate and tender that I wanted to capture it in a photo. That was the face I saw most often, and at the same time, the one I loved the most.
"Theo, Theo is..."
Theo looked down at me and met my gaze. I ended up facing the moment I loved the most once again. It was like magic, making me think that even a terrible day wasn't so bad, and sometimes even making me want to reveal secret truths I had kept hidden in my heart.
So, I suddenly wanted to ask if he liked me, and I impulsively opened my mouth as if swept away by a flood...
"Huh?"
"It's just, it's a useless thing to say, but... I like Theo much better now than when he's dressed up like a prince."
-In the end, I give up. Even though I knew that the excuse that it wasn't the right time was pathetic. So, I reveal another truth instead.
"Why?"
"You're handsome no matter what, but this is a side of you that only I can see."
His fancy appearance, with his hair perfectly styled and a perfectly tailored suit from a designer, was of course dazzlingly handsome and pleasing to the eye. But it wouldn't be as special as Theo's face, with his hair naturally down and that affectionate look he only showed me.
"That's why I like it."
That's why I like Theo. I snuggled into his arms.
"We're skipping the children's book reading today. As a reward for being so good."
"Okay."
He answered with a sigh, hugging me tightly as if he really didn't want to let go. He hugged me so tightly that I felt dizzy even though not much time had passed, and I couldn't tell if I was falling asleep or if I was lacking oxygen. Theo mumbled something, but I was already on the verge of falling asleep, so I couldn't hear it properly.
"I thought I was pretty good at waiting..."
It didn't seem like he was talking bad about me, so I smiled, and something warm and soft landed on my forehead.
It was a perfect night.
ꕥ
Several days had passed since the Elmore Count's exhibition incident. It was the first time demonic beasts had appeared at an event attended by many nobles, and since they had appeared artificially rather than through a rift, the investigation period was prolonged.
As a result, Count Elmore was sentenced to death. And today was the day of his execution. There had often been nobles with unusual tastes who tried to raise demonic beasts, and since the Count was a high-ranking noble who had connections with the Empress, I thought he might avoid the death penalty. However, it was revealed that he had repeatedly traded with black magicians and had even contacted the Erebus Order, so he could not avoid execution.
"But why didn't the Empress help him? If it was the Empress, she could have easily destroyed or fabricated the evidence."
"She abandoned the Count."
Theo replied calmly. When I gave him a puzzled look, Orca, who was going to see the Count's execution, explained instead. He was dressed up more than usual, but he looked pale and tired. It was a different feeling from being exhausted due to excessive workload.
"The Empress periodically replaces her subordinates. The Count was a high-ranking noble who was difficult to deal with easily, and the task entrusted to him was important, so he survived for a long time. Perhaps the evidence of collusion with black magicians or priests was fabricated."
"But even so, would the Count just quietly accept his execution?"
"Since the Count had demonic beasts, it's difficult to argue his innocence based on the circumstances. And above all, he can't speak, so it's difficult to testify."
"He can't speak?"
"I heard that he made a contract with a black magician that his tongue would stiffen if he revealed the details of the transaction, but the Empress's side probably just took care of it. She probably didn't want him to say unnecessary things."
Instead of answering, I tilted my head. How did Orca know that?
"How do you know that?"
"The Empress often cuts off tongues, making excuses such as trying to commit suicide by biting off the tongue, or the tongue shriveling up from eating poison. Wouldn't it be troublesome if he said unnecessary things?"
Orca was trying to act calm, but there was self-mockery and anger in his tone. Before I could ask anything, he got up from his seat and straightened his clothes.
"Then, I'll be going."
I nodded, seeing that he was clearly trying to leave in a hurry. Was he in a bad mood today? Well, he's a person, so it could happen.
But contrary to expectations, Orca looked depressed and dazed even after the Count's execution.
ꕥ
Orca's condition had not been very good for several days after the execution. The Empress had cut off one of her close subordinates, so she would be quiet for a while, and thanks to that, he had more free time than before. Nevertheless, he couldn't sleep properly and had to suffer from headaches all day long.
He was in bad shape and was wondering if he should rest today when he suddenly received information that the priests of the Erebus Order were moving. He had no choice but to get up with his heavy body to report.
Black magicians and priests of the Erebus Order were all lunatics, but the priests were on a different level. Black magicians were mostly eccentric people with academic interest in 'chaos', 'magi', and black magic using them, so most of them studied alone. But the priests of the Order were more vicious.
They believed that a new world would begin after the complete end brought about by 'chaos', and they were so blindly devoted that they would do anything for their twisted beliefs.
Moreover, due to the nature of religion, they acted in groups, which made them even more troublesome.
"Why are those crazy people suddenly..."
Orca sighed deeply and muttered in despair. He found Shuian in the garden of the Second Prince's Palace. After revealing his identity to the people, Shuian was now able to walk alone in the small garden of the palace with a guard, without Theodore.
When he occasionally came out for a walk in nearby places like this, the guards who protected Shuian were selected only from those who had been indebted to Theodore or had weaknesses that made it impossible for them to betray him easily.
"Such a fuss..."
As if a divine beast would be a being that could be harmed by humans. Thinking it was really a fuss, he approached closer. Shuian was staring intently at something, not even noticing that Orca had come close.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
"Ah, Orca. Where are you going?"
"I'm going to His Highness. I have something to report."
"I was looking at clover."
The clover didn't seem to be particularly unusual or pretty enough to be staring at for so long. As if reading the question in his head, Shuian added.
"Do you know how to make a flower crown or flower ring with clover?"
Ah, was that why. Orca nodded casually.
"Yes, I know."
"Really? Is it difficult to make?"
"It's not difficult. You just have to weave it well."
"But how did Orca know? Who did you learn from?"
Orca suddenly thought of a face. The owner of the face, who was still so vivid, beautiful, and innocent, was his beloved younger sister, Melisha Abel, whom he missed so much that she appeared in his dreams several times.
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