#5
“But… you two seem quite close.”
At Kalid’s words, Judith swallowed nervously.
Bashur spoke up to ease the situation.
“We are teacher and student. Since he has studied under me for so long, it is only natural that he might feel comfortable around me.”
“Is that so? When I saw the two of you together earlier, I almost mistook you for lovers.”
At Kalid’s words, Bashur burst out laughing.
“You certainly know how to joke. I’m already married and have two children. Besides, His Highness will marry someone far more suitable than a man like me.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Kalid said that while looking at Judith.
Judith realized that Kalid had not simply been joking, and his face stiffened.
“Yes. I know Viscount Bashur is married.”
He knew.
He knew that I liked Bashur.
When did he notice? Was it because I let my guard down, thinking we were alone?
“Regardless of whether you are a teacher or student, it isn’t appropriate for a married man to be involved in rumors of an affair.”
“Ah… yes. I’ll be careful.”
“Good. In that case, I suppose it would be better if I applied the medicine.”
“What?”
“Excuse me?”
While the two of them were left speechless, Kalid snatched the medicine container from Bashur.
He looked down at the two of them with a mischievous smile.
“…I can apply the medicine myself.”
“You can’t see where the wound on your neck is. I’ll do it for you.”
Kalid repeated the exact words Viscount Bashur had said moments earlier, laughing as though he were thoroughly enjoying himself.
Judith felt an overwhelming urge to kick Kalid in the shin.
But no matter how much a rabbit struggled, it could not stop a lion from approaching.
Kalid scooped up some ointment, and his finger gradually moved closer.
Judith’s heart began pounding, though this time it was for an entirely different reason.
“……!”
Eventually, the Duke’s finger touched Judith’s neck.
Judith’s shoulders tensed as he allowed Kalid to touch him.
The hand that wielded a sword was rough, but it was different from the rough grip that had strangled him the night before.
It was more careful and gentle than he had expected, to the point that it made Judith feel strangely ticklish.
Who would have thought that the person who had tried to strangle him to death the previous night would be applying medicine to that very same neck the next day?
“The handprint is quite large.”
“…Yes. My hands are a little large for my height.”
Kalid let out a low laugh as he watched Judith lie so smoothly without even blinking.
Despite his playful tone, Kalid applied the medicine quite carefully.
Judith quietly looked at him.
“…”
A sharply defined nose, a strong jaw, and large hands covered in the calluses characteristic of someone who had wielded a sword for many years.
His posture looked relaxed, but there was not a single opening in his entire body.
His presence was so intimidating that it seemed not even a needle could pierce through him.
Is this what a dominant alpha is like?
He was like cold fire.
Blue and clear like glass, yet burning at such a high temperature that it could consume everything around it.
And Judith did not particularly like fire.
“You’re going to stare a hole through me.”
Judith was startled by the voice from above and raised her head.
Kalid was wearing a sly smile.
“…I’m sorry.”
“His Highness seems very interested in me.”
“You’re good-looking, so I suppose I didn’t realize I kept staring.”
His observation had actually been closer to carefully studying an enemy, but Judith shamelessly complimented Kalid anyway.
“I hear things like that from time to time, but I didn’t realize I would even captivate Your Highness.”
Kalid knew perfectly well what Judith was trying to do, but he immediately played along.
“All right. It’s done.”
After using up an entire container of ointment, Kalid looked satisfied.
In contrast, Judith, who now had enough ointment smeared over his neck to last several days, and Bashur, who had watched the whole thing, did not look particularly pleased.
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. If you ever need someone to apply it again, just tell me. I’ll gladly do it anytime.”
“Yes… Thank you.”
Judith found him uncomfortable.
That was only natural, considering he was the man who had strangled him the previous night.
Judith gave a vague response and waited for him to leave.
But Kalid showed no sign of going anywhere.
In the end, Judith could not bear it any longer and spoke first.
“By the way, what brings you here? Were you looking for a particular book?”
“I have a late evening meeting, so I thought I’d spend some time nourishing my mind before then.”
In other words, he had some free time between his appointments, came to the library to kill time, and happened to see the two of them.
What terrible luck.
“It seems I’ve taken up too much of your time. Then, I look forward to our next meeting.”
Kalid’s eyes had been shining as though he intended to keep watching the two of them, but unexpectedly, he let them go without protest.
Watching him walk toward the bookshelves, Judith picked up several books and stood.
“I’ll be going now too. Teacher.”
As Judith bowed his head and prepared to leave, Bashur watched him anxiously.
Judith stopped and waited, wondering if he had something to say.
After hesitating, Bashur finally spoke.
“I heard that the competition has begun.”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
“If there is anything I can do to help you, please tell me. I will help you as much as I can.”
“Thank you. Just hearing you say that is enough.”
Judith gave him a faint smile and turned away.
“…I mean it.”
Bashur’s serious voice settled behind Judith.
Suddenly, Judith became curious.
He turned back and carefully asked Bashur,
“Teacher, do you think I… can survive until the end?”
At Judith’s question, Bashur fell silent.
After thinking for a while, Bashur struggled to give his answer.
“…That is not something I can give you a definite answer about.”
Looking at the troubled Bashur, Judith realized that he had asked the wrong question.
He knew that such a question would be difficult for the always-serious Bashur to answer, yet his thoughts were so complicated that he had ended up asking anyway.
“I suppose your student just wanted to act spoiled for a moment. Please forget I asked.”
“But…”
“…Yes?”
“If you do survive until the very end… Your Highness will surely become an emperor whose name will be remembered for generations to come.”
At Bashur’s sincere words of encouragement, Judith smiled faintly.
“Thank you. I feel more confident now.”
“This competition is a banquet, correct? Has Your Highness ever attended any banquets other than those held by the Imperial Family?”
“I haven’t, I’m afraid.”
To live as long as possible, Judith had needed to live as quietly and inconspicuously as possible, almost as though he were already dead.
So, aside from Imperial banquets that he was required to attend, he never participated in other gatherings.
As a result, the few connections he had once had disappeared completely.
Even though he was a prince, invitations rarely came to him.
Of course, the fact that people were wary of the other princes probably played a part as well.
Thanks to that, even at Imperial banquets, Judith would simply stand against the wall before quietly leaving.
“It is a very small banquet, so I’m sorry to invite you to something so modest, but there will be a banquet this Saturday. It is to celebrate my eldest son’s coming of age. If it isn’t too much trouble, would you come and celebrate his coming-of-age ceremony with us?”
Judith hesitated for a moment.
Bashur’s proposal was tempting.
But it was dangerous.
Not for Judith, but for Bashur.
Now that the competition to become Emperor had begun, the nobles needed to be extremely careful.
They had to weigh and consider who would become Emperor and who would not.
The more powerful nobles would not openly reject any of the princes, since they needed to win over the other princes as well.
But those without much power had to be careful about everything, from inviting a prince, accepting an invitation, and associating with one, to even speaking with one.
Bashur had worked in the Imperial Palace for a long time and had established a certain position there.
However, he was also the prince’s teacher and a viscount without any territory.
When Bashur made this invitation, he must have considered the possibility that not only he but his entire family could become involved.
Yet Bashur was willing to bear all of that just to give Judith the chance to experience a banquet.
Judith was grateful for his invitation, but he also felt sorry for him.
“Thank you for inviting me, but I have plans that day. If I get another opportunity, I’d like to join you.”
“…I see. I hope I haven’t troubled you by making an unnecessary invitation.”
“Not at all. Please congratulate your son on reaching adulthood for me. Then I’ll take my leave.”
There was no one else in the Imperial Library yet, but Judith wanted to leave quickly in case someone saw them and Bashur got into trouble because of him.
However, Bashur spoke to him once again.
“…Your Highness.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
“The coming-of-age banquet will be held on the weekend, but my son’s actual birthday is Wednesday. We’ll be having a small family dinner that day. Would you perhaps have time to join us then?”
