The Moment Her Body Gave In

To Eren, Kazen was an absolute being like a religion, a life he had to protect with everything he had, and his sole salvation.
Therefore, no matter how badly Kazen treated him or made unreasonable demands, he would never betray him.

After all, his life had only been extended through Kazen’s intervention.
So even if the day his life ended came, he would stay by his side.

“Right.
Of course, you should say that.”

Kazen tightened his arm around Eren’s waist and whispered softly.
The wretched feelings he had harbored just moments ago seemed to melt away at the sound of his heavy voice.

“Stay like that until I fall asleep.”

“Yes, Your Grace.
Please rest well.”

After giving his answer, Eren truly did not move a muscle, waiting for Kazen to fall asleep.
Feeling Kazen’s restraint binding him, he quietly sank into thought.

He could no longer deny that he had liked Kazen.
But just because he realized it didn’t mean he had to reveal his true feelings to the outside world.
He was also prepared to keep it a secret forever.
As he had always done, hiding his emotions was nothing to him.

He lay there quietly, lost in thought for a while, when he soon felt the strength gradually drain from Kazen’s arm holding his waist.
Through his back, he could hear a calm heartbeat and the steady rhythm of his breathing.

“Your Grace, are you asleep?”

There was no answer to Eren’s question.
Only then did Eren loosen Kazen’s arm from his waist and sit up.
Glancing back, he saw Kazen’s face, deeply asleep.

Eren carefully slipped out of the bed so as not to wake him, then meticulously straightened the disheveled pillow and blanket with delicate hands.
After tucking the blanket up to his neck, Eren whispered in a small voice.

“Sleep well, Your Grace.”

As he turned to leave, Eren suddenly noticed the small glass bottle rolling by the bedside.
He picked it up and put it in his pocket.
Looking at the medicine bottle, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

‘Ah, that’s right.
I was supposed to see the doctor…!’

He had completely forgotten.
He had made an appointment to get the medicine yesterday, but it had fallen through because Aila showed up.

Getting a consultation might be difficult, but if he went now, perhaps he could still get the prescription.
He needed to get it, as Kazen might ask for sleeping pills by tonight or tomorrow morning.

Eren hurriedly left the bedroom, pulling out his pocket watch to check the time.

“What, it’s already 9 o’clock?”

He thought he had only lain down for a moment, but somehow an hour had passed.
He had a mountain of work to do.
If he had fallen asleep next to Kazen, it would have been a disaster.
He decided to first see the doctor and then handle the remaining tasks.

Eren began walking briskly down the corridor, organizing the day’s schedule in his mind.

* * * *

Having diligently moved around the mansion to handle morning chores, Eren began preparing to go out around noon.
Until then, Kazen had been fast asleep.
Whether the medicine was exceptionally effective or the dosage had been too high, it had been a long time since he had slept so deeply.

Only after firmly instructing the servants to serve cold water and warm soup if Kazen woke up did Eren finally leave the mansion.

When going into the city with Kazen, they usually took a carriage, but when going alone, he preferred to walk.
The time walking between the city and the Ducal residence was the only time he could feel truly free.

“The weather is lovely.”

Fortunately, the weather was exceptionally clear today, perfect for strolling the streets.
Eren looked up at the clear sky.
Perhaps because it was early autumn, the wind was quite chilly.

Arriving in the city with brisk steps, Elen first stopped by the bank to settle related business.
After that, intending to briefly speak with the architect before the mansion maintenance, he visited the office.

Finishing his short conversation with the architect, as he was coming down from the two-story building, he suddenly noticed a coffeehouse on the first floor.
It was Bailey’s Coffee House, famous as the oldest cafe in the Bayrant area.

Normally, Eren would never have gone to a place like a coffeehouse.
He had too much to do even after getting home.

But today, for some reason, he felt like going in.
He just felt envious of the people sitting there leisurely drinking coffee.
Checking the time, it was 1 p.m., and he thought the physician might be having lunch.

It wouldn’t take long to have a cup of coffee, so it should be okay to rest for about five minutes.

As if enchanted, Eren went inside.
But now that he was here, he didn’t know what to do and awkwardly sat at an empty table.
While pretending to be nonchalant and looking around at the other patrons, a waiter soon approached him.

“May I take your order?”

“Ah, yes, one cup of coffee, please.”

Even as he spoke, he worried inwardly about what to say if there were many types of coffee.
He was afraid of being looked down upon if it was discovered he knew nothing about coffee.

“Yes, please wait a moment.
I’ll bring it to you right away.”

But fortunately, unlike a restaurant, it seemed he didn’t have to choose something complicated.
Eren watched the waiter’s retreating back and then looked around the interior.

True to its status as an old establishment, the interior was decorated in a vintage style.
The ceiling, painted with a fresco, was adorned with a chandelier, and the walls were covered with posters that looked like playbills.
Just as he was looking at the paintings with interest, he suddenly noticed someone sitting down in the seat opposite him.

Eren, who had glanced over to see who had sat down without much thought, widened his eyes.

“Seems you’re alone?”

It was because Harold was smiling at him.
He had never even dreamed of running into him in the city.
And to meet him by chance in a cafe he had entered on a whim, of all places.

“Y-your Highness?”

So surprised, he even forgot he should greet him.
Amused by Eren’s dazed expression, Harold even laughed out loud.

“Don’t call me ‘Your Highness’ all the way here.”

If he couldn’t call His Highness ‘Your Highness,’ what was he supposed to call him?
Since he wasn’t being given options to choose from, Eren was merely confused.

“Ah, yes….
But if I may be so bold as to ask, what brings you to this place?”

“This is a place I frequent.
Didn’t you know?”

If it seemed a hint of disappointment tinged his voice, it must be an illusion.
Eren, unsure how to respond, just blinked his wide-open eyes.

“If you’re not too busy, shall we talk for a bit?
I happen to have something to say.”

What possible thing could the Crown Prince have to say to him?
As he pondered, the image of Harold entangled with Kazen came to mind.

Surely he wasn’t going to bring that up?
Harold wouldn’t even know that Eren had witnessed that scene.

“Among my duties, nothing is more important than a conversation with Your Highness.
So please, speak freely.”

“Well…….”

It was the first time Eren had seen Harold hesitate like this.
And the more he did, the more frightened Eren became.
Although anxious, he couldn’t possibly press the Crown Prince for an answer.

“The scene you saw the other day… there was a bit of a misunderstanding.”

Unfortunately, Eren’s expectation was not off the mark.
Just like Kazen, Harold also knew that Eren had witnessed that scene.

Looking back now, it seemed Eren had been too conspicuous in watching them.
It appeared he had no talent for being a spy, after all.

“I don’t know what you mean, Your Highness.
I didn’t see anything.”

Since Eren was also uncomfortable discussing it, he decided to feign ignorance.
He didn’t want to hear about Harold’s feelings for Kazen directly.
Furthermore, if he received confirmation that Kazen and Harold were indeed lovers, he felt he wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Harold narrowed his eyes and examined Eren’s expression.
As if trying to read his thoughts, he soon smiled wryly.

“Is that so.
We’ll pretend it never happened?
Then I’ll act like I don’t know anything either.”

Fortunately, Harold seemed willing to let it drop.
Not wanting the conversation to drag on unnecessarily, Eren also nodded in agreement.

“Then, I know it’s rude to excuse myself first, but unfortunately, I have an errand to run….”

The atmosphere seemed to have become too awkward, so Eren tried to leave.
But Harold was quicker to stop him than Eren was to stand up.

“Are you going home?
I also have something to discuss with Kazen, shall we go together?”

“No, that’s not it.
I have another place to go, so I don’t think I can accompany you.
I am very grateful for the offer alone.”

Eren awkwardly smiled and declined his offer.
He did have somewhere to go, and even if he had no schedule, he had no intention of riding in a carriage with him.
Just imagining how awkward it would be if they were left alone in the carriage made goosebumps rise on his nape.

To wet his dry throat, Eren downed his coffee in one gulp and stood up.
A momentary wave of faint dizziness made him press his hand to his forehead.

“Are you leaving now?”

“If you permit it, I will.
I shall make way so as not to disturb you; please enjoy your time.”

“No, I was just about to leave as well.
Then let’s go out together.”

Harold insistently followed Eren, who was trying to flee.
Eren wanted to leave the shop as quickly as possible to part ways with him, so he hurried his steps.

But perhaps he was rushing too much, or maybe he had drunk the coffee too hastily—suddenly his head spun.
Just as Eren raised a trembling hand to his forehead, his body suddenly gave way backward as if gravity had intensified.

“Whoa….”

“Eren?”

If a startled Harold hadn’t instantly stretched out his arm to catch Eren’s body, he might have smashed his head on the ground.

He wanted to say thank you, but no voice came out when he opened his mouth.
As he moved his lips soundlessly, his vision soon blurred.

‘I have to go see the doctor….’

To collapse on the way to see the doctor, what terrible luck.
Eren blamed himself for daring to indulge in the luxury of drinking coffee and closed his eyes.

“What’s wrong?
Eren, are you alright?
Eren!”

Harold’s distant voice tickled his ears as Eren’s consciousness faded to black.