A Command Disguised as Indifference

It was a name Eren had never heard before.
Nevertheless, he was deeply touched by Harold’s concern, his chest tightening.

“I don’t know how to express my gratitude…”

“It’s nothing, I’m sure.
You’re a tough one.
You were the sole survivor of the annihilated 4th Division supply unit.”

Kazen responded dismissively, but Eren’s unease remained, so he lifted his glass and hastily drank to soothe his throat.
He thought it probably wasn’t anything serious, but he couldn’t help feeling anxious.
He worried what would happen if it really was a serious illness.

But no matter how much he thought about it, he wasn’t that unwell.
It was likely just his body weakened from accumulated fatigue and malnutrition due to frequent lack of sleep.

“Still, if there’s anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to tell me.
I’ll help anytime.”

The moment Harold said that, Kazen placed his fork on the table with a clatter.
It was an action greatly at odds with table etiquette, and Harold turned to look at him as if asking what he was doing.

“Let’s go back now.”

With this sudden declaration, Kazen raised his hand.
A servant waiting behind quickly approached and pulled his chair back.

It was before Harold had even finished his meal, and Kazen was leaving first.
This was an action so rude it not only breached Imperial Palace etiquette but was such that even if the royal family took issue and never invited him to a meal again, he would have no grounds for complaint.

Startled by Kazen’s action, Eren froze, glass in hand.
Harold, equally dumbfounded, asked with an incredulous face.

“Kazen, what are you doing?”

“Tell them to prepare a carriage immediately; I’m returning to the Ducal residence right away.”

Kazen gave a terse order to the servant regardless and strode over to grab Eren’s chair roughly.
Since only the lower half of the chair was pulled while he was seated, Eren nearly planted his face into his plate.

“I said let’s go.
Get up.”

Kazen’s caprices were nothing new, but it was remarkable how he managed to be disconcerting in new ways every time.
Still, this time Eren had cleared the food from his plate, so he could stand up relatively unburdened.

“Leaving already?”

Harold asked, looking at Eren with a regretful expression.
Not that Eren had any choice, anyway.
Kazen answered for him.

“It’s getting late, and we don’t wish to impose further, so we’ll take our leave now, Your Highness.
I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon; let’s talk then.”

As if something had displeased him, Kazen shot a sarcastic remark at Harold, then took Eren’s hand and exited the dining room.

“Why do you keep meddling in other people’s business?”

Kazen muttered to himself as he strode down the corridor.

Eren thought Kazen was angry because of Harold.
Perhaps he felt jealous that Harold was paying attention to Eren.

But Eren knew Kazen had no reason to be jealous of him.
After all, the reason Harold was kind to Eren was also because of Kazen.

“U-Your Grace…”

Looking at the hand held by him, Eren cautiously spoke.
Without even turning his head, Kazen replied coldly.

“Don’t say anything.
I don’t want to hear it.”

“Yes.”

After that, the two walked in silence all the way to the main entrance of the Imperial Palace.
Stepping out the doors in awkward silence, they saw the Clifford Ducal household carriage waiting.

“Hurry up and get in.”

Kazen pushed Eren’s back toward the door held open by a servant.
It was the first time Kazen had told Eren to get into the carriage first, so he climbed in with awkward movements.

Kazen then climbed in after him and knocked on the ceiling.
Leaning back against the seat, Eren looked out the window at the scenery as the carriage began to move.

Twilight had already fallen.
He had gone into the city around noon, and now the day had vanished so pointlessly.

“When were you planning to tell me you weren’t feeling well?”

As he was gazing dazedly out the window, Kazen, still frowning, pressed him with a question.
Startled, his shoulders flinching, Eren turned to gauge his expression.

“Don’t you know that health management is also part of your duties?”

“I’m not really unwell.
It’s just that there’s been a lot of work these past few days, and I’ve been a bit short on sleep.”

As Eren hastily made excuses, something suddenly plopped onto the back of his hand.
Wondering why a water droplet would fall inside the carriage, Eren lifted his hand to check.
Only upon seeing the drop of blood pooled on his hand did he realize his nose was bleeding.

Flustered, Eren searched his pockets.
As he looked for a handkerchief, Kazen abruptly reached out and grabbed his chin.

“Stay still.”

Tilting his chin up, Kazen pulled out a handkerchief and gently pressed it against Eren’s nose.
His face, still deeply scowled, showed no sign of easing.
He pressed the handkerchief firmly against Eren’s nose and met his gaze.

Eren tried to read the emotion in his blue eyes, but they held an unfamiliar glint, preventing him from doing so.

Tsk. Clicking his tongue and glancing at the handkerchief turning red, Kazen opened his mouth and spoke in a low voice.

“Tomorrow, stop all work and make sure to see that Doctor Rosalin or whoever.
This is an order.”

Having seen the blood, Eren no longer had any excuses.
He looked up at the carriage ceiling dazedly and answered foolishly.

“…I will obey the order.”

* * * *

When Eren returned to the Ducal residence, the mansion was quiet as a grave.
He thought there might have been a commotion in his absence, but the atmosphere was more peaceful than expected, which felt strange.

“I’m going to sleep from now on, so don’t bother me.
And don’t come to disturb my rest.”

As soon as they entered the foyer, Kazen spat out coldly.
He had also likely been tired from not sleeping properly for days.

“I will do so.”

“And until you get back from the clinic tomorrow, don’t do anything other than what I told you.
I don’t want to see you moaning in pain again.”

Eren had much he wanted to say but held it back.
Kazen’s sharp gaze seemed to forbid any reply.

“Yes, I’ll stay put.”

Kazen glared at Eren, who answered calmly, then abruptly turned and went up the stairs.
Eren let out a deep sigh as he looked up at the stairs where Kazen had disappeared.

He felt suffocated and heavy, as if a stone had been placed on his chest.
With urgent hands, Eren loosened his tie and practically ran down the corridor to exit through the back door.
Seeing the open rear garden, he finally let out a heavy breath.

But for some reason, the garden bathed in the pale moonlight seemed too dark, and the light from the mage-stone lamp was faint.

‘Didn’t I replace the mage-stone?’

Humans with magical abilities could steadily produce a certain amount of mana, whereas the amount of mana embedded in a mage-stone was limited.

And mage-stones used for lighting like this, which required mana over long periods, wore out faster.
Even so, for it to be depleted this quickly was strange.

‘A defective piece? Or did I accidentally miss this one?’

A mage-stone that had run out of mana was nothing more than a pretty rock.
It meant it had lost its value.

Elen quietly placed his hand on the mage-stone.
As the faint light was absorbed, a pale glow began to spread.

Standing still and watching the lamp regain its light, Eren rummaged through his pocket and took out the handkerchief Kazen had given him.
It was still thoroughly soaked with red blood.

‘Promise me you won’t leave my side, Eren.’

‘I wouldn’t care at all if you left the mansion right now.
There are plenty of others who could replace you.’

Kazen’s voice swirled chaotically in his head.
He was always capricious.
So his words and actions often changed according to his mood, and that was normal for Eren.

But ever since realizing his own feelings of liking Kazen, he had repeatedly clung to hope with each of his words, only to fall into despair.

Quietly thinking about him, Eren suddenly grew curious.
To Eren, Kazen was always a god, no different from the universe itself.
So, what meaning did Eren hold for Kazen?

At one time, Eren had wanted to become truly important to him.
So he had thrown himself into matters related to him, and before he knew it, he was handling all major affairs of the Ducal residence.

But looking back now, he thought perhaps all of that might mean nothing to Kazen.
Perhaps if he were to disappear, Kazen truly wouldn’t care.

‘…Still, it doesn’t matter.
As long as I can stay by his side.’

Carefully putting the handkerchief back into his pocket, Eren let out a deep sigh.
He had no intention of harboring any desire to receive something from him, anyway.
If he could just exist for him by his side, that was enough.

“Let’s go back and get to work.”

Muttering to himself, Eren turned back and headed inside the mansion.
Returning to his familiar room, he took off his coat and changed into comfortable indoor clothes.

Heading through the side door attached to his bedroom wall into his study, he saw the desk piled high with documents.

“Did no one really do any of this?”

He had secretly hoped that Brennen or someone else might have taken care of the work in his stead, but it seemed truly no one had.
Too drained to even be surprised, he slumped into his chair.

Then, he noticed the envelope on top of the paper pile bore the Harrison family crest.

“So Mr. Harrison sent this.”