“No. I want you two to be happy. I mean it.”
“Kyle…you can’t succeed to the throne and then hand it back to me.”
“I won’t ask you to ascend the throne. I know it’s not possible with Leorino. I will be king in name only.”
“You have all the qualities of a king. Is that not enough?”
Kyle clenched his fist, the one he wasn’t resting his chin on. “No. I know I’m going to bring this country to ruin… It’s a country that my father, unaware of our grandfather’s betrayal, worked so hard to protect. It deserves a better fate than that.”
Hearing that, Gravis’s chest ached. Both father and son were trying to protect the other. Kyle thought that his father, King Joachim, knew nothing.
But the king knew. Not only did he know, he was one of the first to experience that hell.
But what Joachim had suffered was a secret that Gravis and the queen dowager should take to their graves.
“In my absence, you can place a body double on the throne if it so pleases you. In reality, you will be the one in control, Uncle. You can even pretend I’m dead when the time comes. I’ll give you an heir, so please raise him well… Those are my terms.”
“Will that make you happy?”
Kyle smiled. It was a bright, cheerful smile. “Yes. I’ll be free of this country in a way my father and mother never could.”
The father Kyle was referring to was Joachim.
“Kyle, I want you to be happy.”
“That’s none of your concern, Uncle. I will fulfill my obligations. Just let me go once I’m done.”
“I will. But I’m saying you don’t need a queen to ascend the throne. Simply wear the crown as a formality. If you need the outside world, then do what you must. I will take care of the country in your absence. But when you…have completed your soul-searching…then and only then will you come back as king.”
Kyle was blindsided by his uncle’s words.
“Why? What is the point of a king with no heir? …Why would you allow it, Uncle?”
“For the honor of my brother and Queen Emilia.”
“The honor of Mother and Father…”
Gravis continued. “For the two people who have devoted their lives to this country. I want you to succeed to the throne and protect their honor. Please.”
“…You truly don’t need me to get married?”
“I do not. No man or woman should have to be miserable to extend the bloodline. And if you wish to leave this country, you are free to do so. Wear the crown, but be free to live however you please.”
“Uncle…do you mean it? In return, you will be bound to this country for the rest of your life while I escape my responsibilities.”
Gravis laughed bitterly. “It will be a burden on Leorino, but…it will be my atonement as well.”
“I don’t want to make Leorino’s life more difficult.” Kyle looked regretful, but Gravis smiled at him.
“Leorino will be there for me. So, Kyle, except for wearing the crown, you are free to live your life and find someone you truly love.”
“…Someone I love.”
“Yes. I know you’ll find them. Just like I have.”
Kyle rubbed his eyes.
“Ha-ha… I never thought I’d hear you speak so fondly of someone.”
“I’m a newlywed. I’m allowed to do that now.”
His dark hair swayed.
“Even if you never have children of your own, you can raise a child from some branch of the royal family with the right qualities and give up the throne to them… Well, I’m certain we can work something out. Just like you said, no one in this country can oppose me.”
“Huh. So the royal house of Fanoren may end with me.”
Gravis approached Kyle, as he lay facedown on the desk, and stroked his head. His black hair was composed of loose curls. It was much like his own.
“I will protect this country for however long it may take you to reconcile with your wild soul.”
“…It might just take the rest of your life.”
Gravis smiled. “I’m only nine years older than you. I think I’ll manage to hang in there a little longer.”
Kyle also smiled at that. He looked up at his uncle.
“…Without ever telling my mother anything.”
“Yes, I suppose so. Queen Emilia should be free to pursue the path of honor and happiness. I want her to live out the rest of her life happily with my brother.”
“…I really don’t want this cursed blood to survive.”
Kyle stood up and buried his face in Gravis’s shoulder.
“…Do we have the right to be happy, Brother?”
“Yes. When you find someone you love, you’ll understand.”
Gravis hugged his strong shoulders tightly.
“Kyle, you’re my nephew… My brother. Please be happy.”
They were the same words Joachim had spoken to his half brother.
And so a secret lifelong pact was made between uncle and nephew, between two half brothers.
Gravis returned to his palace long after nightfall. It was almost dawn.
But to his surprise, Leorino, whom he had assumed had long been asleep, was awake and waiting for him. He ran up to Gravis with an excited look on his face.
Gravis smiled back at his ever so healing smile and picked up his spouse.
“Welcome home.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping? What is Hundert doing?”
“No, I was asleep. But I woke up, so I got up and decided to wait for you. Besides, I wanted to give you some happy news.”
“Happy news?” Gravis’s eyes seemed to ask.
“Here. Look…! My nails have begun to grow back.”
Leorino held up a slender fingertip in front of Gravis’s eyes. Indeed, a slightly hardened cuticle was peeking out from the base of the nail.
“This is a fingernail?”
“Yes, they are soft, but they are nails. If they continue to grow properly, they will likely return to normal. Dr. Sasha said that in about six months, my fingers will be back to their original shape.”
“I see. You’re nearly healed, huh?”
“Yes!”
When he replied happily, Leorino offered Gravis a radiant smile. He adored that smile.
“Is your body all right now?”
Gravis’s worried tone also made Leorino smile.
Both of them knew that the weight he had lost had still not fully returned, but Leorino still nodded that he was fine. Gravis accepted his smile without saying anything more.
They could practically communicate without words by now.
Although Ionia had been avenged and his nightmares of Zweilink had been few and far between, Leorino was still unable to regain his full strength.
Even now, when he pushed himself too hard, he tended to fall ill.
Theodor, Hundert, and Josef were careful and meticulous in their daily care of Leorino, keeping a close eye on his physical condition.
But while Leorino’s body remained weak, his heart grew clearer, and he had developed the strength and flexibility to be unaffected by trivial matters. He was steadily growing as Gravis’s spouse.
Gravis thought about the secret agreement he had made with Kyle.
The burden Gravis would have to carry from now on. The sacrifices and devotion he would require of his spouse, who still looked like he could vanish at any moment.
Still, Gravis could never let go of his hand again.
And Leorino would never let go of Gravis’s hand, no matter how difficult it might be for him.
He would fight alongside him, using his flexible, open mind as his weapon. That was why Gravis would continue to protect Leorino with all his might. He would continue to fight in order to walk hand in hand with this irreplaceable soul.
This was the life to which Ionia and Leorino had devoted their blood, their hearts, and their loyalty. No other weapons were needed to survive this world of suffering.
Gravis was grateful for the miracle he had finally reached at the end of his long, dark road.
In a few more moments, dawn would come.
“Shall we go back to sleep?”
Leorino twisted his head in thought.
“I don’t know, I might not be able to sleep.”
Then Gravis suddenly lifted Leorino.
“Leorino, let’s leap.”
“What, at this hour? Where to?”
Gravis smiled.
“It’ll be dawn soon… Shall we head to Zweilink?”