The Golden Cage and the Flickering Flame

Two guards—well, observers pretending to be guards—were stationed in front of my door. Whenever I tried to step out, they blocked my path, citing that the Emperor, Kallios, had not given his permission. Even when I insisted I only wanted a brief stroll in the garden, they repeated the same “no” like a pair of programmed parrots. It was irritating, but I held back. Their only crime was serving a stubborn emperor. Besides, I knew this lockdown was my own fault; I had, after all, vanished into thin air twice now.

I tried to accept this treatment with a humble heart, but the more I thought about it, the angrier I got.

Being banned from going out was fine. I had spent ten years as a shut-in prince; I could handle the boredom. The problem was that Kallios had severed every connection I had.

Isaac had been reassigned to the Princess’s Palace. Ilios was only allowed to see me once a week for a thirty-minute “check-up.” I was cut off from all Grand Duchy documents, news regarding the Academy’s underground ruins, and updates on Loti. My tea times and play sessions with Sierra were gone. It was total isolation. All I could do was stare blankly out the window or flip through the pages of books I had already finished reading.

I understood he had been worried. But this was going too far.

“I really want to punch him,” I muttered, propping my chin on my hand. I wanted to give that brat a piece of my mind, but Kallios didn’t even show his face. He seemed to visit only while I was asleep, which didn’t count. He got to see me, but I couldn’t see him. I didn’t even have the chance to hit him!

The leaves were falling. Autumn was coming to an end.

I had planned to leave the capital before winter. No, I had to leave. There was so much to be done, but with the person meant to lead everything—me—locked up like this, nothing was moving. Kallios’s words “don’t go anywhere” weren’t a request. He intended to keep me in this spire until he was satisfied.

I slumped onto the table, then sat bolt upright. Since Isaac wasn’t here to act as my hands and feet, I had to get my own paper and pen. Gritting my teeth in annoyance, I went to the desk, pulled out a sheet, and scribbled a single sentence.

Come by this evening.

I almost added a threat that I wouldn’t let him off easy if he didn’t show, but I stopped. What could I even do? All I could do was stomp my feet and get annoyed. My current state, unable to even make a proper threat, felt pathetic. I folded the paper and opened the door. The moment Guard No. 1 saw me, he started with, “You cannot—”

“I know,” I snapped, thrusting the note at him. “Give this to the Emperor.”

Guard No. 1 nodded awkwardly. I slammed the door shut and slid down against it, wondering how things had ended up like this.

I felt a spark of hope when dinner was served for two, but Kallios didn’t show up until the food was cold. I stared at the empty seat across from me, managing only a few spoonfuls of soup. When I set the spoon down, the servant waiting by the door cleared the dishes. He didn’t spare me a single glance, simply doing his job before leaving the room.

The anger was gone now. I was just disappointed. I knew he had been worried and startled, and that his desire for me to stay by his side was sincere. I had realized that he cherished me more than the word “cherish” could describe. But that was no excuse to treat me like this.

I looked at the window. Cold air was pouring in through the wide-open frame. If Isaac were here, he would have closed it long ago, fussing about me catching a cold. But Isaac was at the Princess’s Palace.

I leaned against the railing, looking up at the sky where two crescent moons hung. Maybe he was too busy. He must have intended to come since he ordered dinner for two. The more I tried to understand, the more it galled me. With all the people he has under him, he couldn’t even send a word saying he couldn’t make it? Is he that busy? Of course he is. I should have left the Imperial City by now, yet I’m still here.

It was nearly midnight when someone finally arrived. It was a servant delivering the message that Kallios couldn’t come. As I lay in bed, my body chilled from the wind, I cursed him. D*mned guy. Jerk. Bastard. How busy could he be to only send word at this hour? What was happening outside?

It was suffocating. I wanted to leave. I hated this. The darkness in the room wasn’t enough to hide my simmering frustration, so I pulled the blanket over my head.

When I woke up, I was still alone. I sighed and went to the window. It had been closed while I slept. I fumbled with the handle before moving to the table. There was a note from him, written with the paper and pen in my room.

The weather is cold.

I almost crumpled it up… but I tucked it into a drawer instead. Then, I left my own note on the table.

Are you a thief? I am not a thief. Then why do you only visit like a ghost at night? Hey. Why aren’t you answering? Please make sure to eat properly. Are you going to keep running away? I noticed you left the window open again. If you don’t come today, I’m never looking at your face again. It does not matter.

“This little s*it…”

I ground my teeth. What? It doesn’t matter if we never see each other again? My surging rage brought the flames up with it. I brushed the ash of the ruined note off my hands and reached into the air. I gripped the black pipe made from the Black Dragon’s horn. Holding it tight, I stood by the window. In the distance, I could see the Imperial Palace where Kallios would be. I took a deep breath, aimed toward the palace, and drew the string. Let’s see if you can really go your whole life without seeing me.

A massive arrow of rage manifested. It was so large and hot it could have been called a spear. If I fired this, I could easily wreck the garden.

Fck.*

I aimed into the empty air and fired, dispelling the arrows just before they hit the ground. One, two, three. Suddenly, the door burst open.

“Your Grace!”

It was the voice of Guard No. 1. I fired seven shots in total before turning around with a scowl.

“Who told you to come in?”

“No, well, Your Grace…”

“Get out.”

Guard No. 1 approached me with a look of distress. I fired into the sky again. Every time I moved my arms, bits of my charred clothes fell away. Ten shots, two at a time. The fire boiling inside me made my body hot and my stomach churn. I gagged, then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. D*mned bastard. Let’s see if you still won’t come.

The fever made my mind hazy and my hands weak. But I had no intention of stopping. It started as anger, but it continued as pure stubbornness. My stomach turned again, and I leaned against the railing to retch. There was nothing in my stomach to bring up. Only a bit of bile rose, burning my throat. It stung, but it was nothing compared to the sweltering heat. I spat and staggered upright. I heard the door open.

“Get out.”

I spoke without looking, rubbing my mouth. If I fire any more, I’m in trouble, I thought through the haze as I aimed at the sky again. Then, I felt hands wrap around my waist, pulling me back.

“Ah.”

I tossed the pipe aside and reached over my shoulder. My fingers brushed his soft hair. I thought about grabbing a handful and pulling, but I just stroked it instead.

“I thought you didn’t care if you never saw me again.”

“Brother.”

“Why are you here?”

The hand patting my back as I gagged was still tender. The strength left my body. As I began to slump, he caught me and lifted me up. I had so many things I wanted to say while looking at his face… but I must have overexerted myself. Whether I fainted or fell asleep, the world went dark.

When I opened my eyes, it was night. I stared at the familiar ceiling and turned my head. I met the eyes of Kallios, who was lying next to me, using his arm as my pillow.

“Brother.”

He placed his hand on my forehead. The cool temperature felt wonderful. I let out a long sigh. The air I exhaled was so hot it felt stifling. I winced and then relaxed.

“Why did you do that?” he asked.

I didn’t answer, just exhaled another breath full of heat.

My eyes felt like they were going to pop out. My whole body ached, especially the arms I had pushed too hard. But the discomfort inside was worse. Every time the dragon blood acted up, as if wanting to play more, I felt a sharp pain that seemed to sear my nerves.

“Brother.”

“Ugh, it hurts…”

When I whimpered, he pulled me on top of him. As our chests met, it felt a little better. The power tearing through my insides began to flow toward him. I leaned my cheek against his shoulder. When I was in Arjen’s space, I didn’t feel this miserable even when I used my power until I was exhausted. Back then, I thought my heart had just become strong enough to handle it… but it turned out Arjen had been looking out for me because I told him I hated pain. His power had drained so quickly not just because I was breaking things, but because he was protecting me.

He brushed the hair away from my sweat-soaked forehead.

“Do you…” I started as he meticulously wiped away the sweat with a dry towel. “Does it not hurt you?”

“It does not.”

“Liar.”

He didn’t reply to my mumble. I grabbed his hand as it toyed with my forehead. He asked again.

“Why did you do that?”

“Because you…” I trailed off, wondering how to put it into words as I toyed with his long fingers. There were many reasons, but they all traced back to one. “Because I wanted to see you.”

“…”

“I figured I had to go that far for you to show up.”

“Brother.”

“Why did you come?”

Kallios took a deep breath. Because we were pressed together, I felt his chest rise and fall. I found it funny and let out a dry laugh. He squeezed my hand.

“Do not do that ever again.”

“I gave you my answer.”

He remained silent. I kept pushing.

“Why didn’t you come all this time? Does it really not matter if we never see each other again?”

Kallios’s chest heaved again. I lay still with my eyes closed, focusing on the sounds: his sigh, the double heartbeat from our touching chests, the rustle of the blankets whenever I shifted… and his voice, which sounded like he was suppressing something intense.

“He…”

He? I was about to ask who he was talking about but held back. I didn’t want to stop the flow of words now that he had finally started talking.

“He… did not act that way because that was the only way he knew how to express himself.”

His hand stroked my back. It wasn’t a soothing motion. It felt like he was tracing my spine with his fingertips, sending shivers through me.

“Kallios?”

“He desired you.”

At the persistent touch on my bare skin, things that hadn’t bothered me before suddenly felt intrusive and uncomfortable. The fact that I was only wearing underwear. The fact that he was also shirtless. As I tried to sit up, he wrapped an arm around me and held me down.