Chapter 67

After waking up, Fania couldn’t get rid of that feeling of fluffiness. He still couldn’t believe that he didn’t have to leave Alfred.He was even proposed to. He was so happy he couldn’t handle it.

When he heard the announcement on the balcony that His Majesty and Princess Caroline would be married in July, Fania was so surprised and panicked that he missed the rest of the announcement. It was announced that the investiture would take place next March along with Alfred’s graduation from the academy.

So why was Fania, who had nothing to do with royalty, dragged along to their public appearance at the balcony?

In the following year, at the same time as Alfred’s investiture, his engagement to Fania would be official. Although this was not announced on the balcony, the fact that Fania was standing next to Alfred was intended to suggest that he was a potential fiancé and to impress upon everyone that he had already been accepted as a member of the Royal Family. Fania himself didn’t seem to realise that the people thought he was a very cute guy when he appeared on the stage in Alfred’s embrace and then bursting into tears when His Majesty’s marriage was announced.

Fania passed out on the balcony and woke up with no home to go back to. Alfred had proposed to him, but the engagement was scheduled for another year. As for the marriage, Fania had no idea when it would take place. Until then, Fania himself didn’t know where he was supposed to stay. Jane’s hideaway had been disposed of, and Fania had no option of returning to the duke’s residence, even if he did make peace with his father.

Fania was wondering what to do, but until now he had been living in the Royal Palace. He was there from the age of twelve to learn good manners, where he had been allowed to use one of the palace’s guest rooms. When he tried again to ask his Majesty to let him use the same room, Alfred quickly rejected his request. By the way, the room in which Fania had slept after passing out on the balcony was originally prepared for him—Fania found this out after he regained consciousness.

The new room was next door to Alfred’s private quarters. More accurately, the two rooms were for the prince and his consort, whose bedrooms were connected by an inner door. This was where the prince’s consort would reside. Fania was surprised and tried to decline, but in the room were all of Fania’s personal belongings, which he thought Jane had disposed of as he could not take them with him on the trip. The items that Fania had given up in tears were neatly laid out.

“This…” Tears welled up in Fania’s eyes.

A pressed flower he made from the first flower he received from Al, a strange doll that Jade had given him as a birthday present, the wooden sword he snatched from Zernite when they were little and the mitten gloves Bailard knitted for him. All the things he was crying his guts out about letting go of were there.

And on the table, a letter.

It was from Jane. Jane was in a neighbouring country. Her journey would later end at an island country across the sea, and she would set up a new home there. She wrote in the letter that since her youth, she had longed to go to that country, where the fish was delicious and the sweets plentiful. She also said that she would make a good living in her new family register and invited Fania to visit her whenever he wanted.

Fania burst into tears. Alfred, who had been by Fania’s side since he awakened, held him by the shoulders. Alfred, too, could not see his mother as easily as he would have liked.

“Let’s go see my mother as soon as possible.”

“Yeah.” Fania replied with a smile, even though tears were running down his cheeks.

Looking at Fania’s smiling face, Alfred thought: It’s been hard. It was really hard.

What made it so difficult was that he was pressed for time and was unable to see Fania. In addition, there were people who wanted to harm Fania, so he could not ask Fania to come and see him. Until then, he had been wary of the Fania opposition in the second prince faction and of the movements of the Agrid State; he had to conceal his movements and watch out for others, making each action a time-consuming one.

At last, however, the opposition was dissolved and, by making everything public, the Agrid country could no longer interfere. Alfred now had a little more time. Besides, he had become a little more accustomed to his official duties and was able to delegate tasks to his subordinates. It became possible for him to be with Fania.

Fufufufu. Alfred’s beautiful face almost drooped, and he hastily tightened it. However, it was impossible.

Fania’s room, where they were at the moment, and Alfred’s private room were connected by a door in the bedroom. From now on, he could share his bed with Fania every night. If this did not please him, what would?

He gently peered into the face of Fania, who was standing next to him. Alfred’s face approached and Fania’s face flushed as she realised his intentions.

”

”

So cute.

Then he gently approached Fania’s lips…

*Ba-dum!*

The door suddenly swung open and they were almost at each other’s lips when Fania, startled, tried to pull away from Alfred. Well, Alfred’s arm of steel never let go of Fania.

“Fania, I’m ready.” A beaming Bailard burst into the room without knocking.

Of course, there were knights guarding both sides of the door, inside and out, but they were of little use.

Could it be that they are all Bailard’s believers? We need to review our personnel for once. Alfred considered it seriously in his heart.

“Bailard, what is it you’re carrying?”

“Well, don’t you know by looking at it? It’s a pillow.”

“Why do you need to hold a pillow?” Alfred had a bad feeling when he saw Bailard holding a large pillow in his hands.

“Oh, I can’t sleep without my own pillow. I’m not going to sleep, though. Now that I’m with Fania, I’m going to spend the whole night talking to him, shouldn’t I?” Bailard smiled with such a beautiful face.

“Wow, Bailard, you can sleep over?”

“Of course. I’m sleeping over starting today…”

“Fania, don’t act so happy. Bailard, I will not allow you to stay.”

Bailard smiled like a loving mother at Fania’s innocent joy. And Alfred was beside himself with fury all on his own.

“I don’t suppose I need Your Highness’s permission to spend the night chatting amiably with Fania, do I?”

“No, no, no, no! From today onwards, Fania is sleeping with me.”

Alfred’s strong words made Fania blush at once, as he realized what Alfred meant.

“Humph. I don’t know what Your Highness is talking about when you’re not even engaged.” Bailard sniggered at his own Lord.

“Oh, Fania and I are lovers, you know. Bailard, you have no right to interfere.”

“Let me tell you, it will be two years before my child will get married. Until then, don’t expect to be able to do as you please.” Bailard smiled wickedly.

Behind him Fania could almost see a swan with its wings spread wide (it looks very strong). Of course it’s not visible to the eyes.

“I shall never be disturbed.” Alfred retorted vehemently.

But the ears of the golden wolf in his back were down. Obviously the wolf was invisible.

”

”

“His Highness can’t win, can he?”

“Well, Fania is likely to innocently side with Bailard.”

Jade and Zernite were just peering through the door. They had no intention of taking part in the ridiculous quarrel of the other two.

They both also brought pillows, and it wasn’t long before Alfred fell to his knees when he found out.