* * *
“…Hmm.”
Igang woke with an unusual sense of refreshment.
Finally, he noticed that the lingering fatigue had faded slightly.
This unfamiliar sensation was what he now understood as “rest.”
Up until now, he’d slept several times with Dowoon’s help, but it had never felt like this.
Rustle.
Sensing a familiar presence nearby, Yigang turned his head and found himself smiling at the familiar sight.
He gazed down at the back of Dowoon’s head, resting against the bed sheet beside him, and impulsively reached out.
Stroking.
Dowoon’s soft brown hair felt smooth between his fingers, like the fur of a gentle puppy.
Dowoon must’ve been deeply asleep, showing no reaction despite Yigang’s continued strokes.
‘CheongDowoon, you should sleep here too.’
‘I’m fine. Why bother? I only slept here because you wouldn’t sleep alone before, but that’s not the case now. I’ll go back to my room.’
Despite his words last night about not sleeping together, Dowoon had ended up here anyway.
This room must feel comfortable to him.
Good.
I’d been keeping him here deliberately, making sure he didn’t go back to his room for several days.
If he’d said his own room was more comfortable, I’d have been a bit annoyed.
“Seems like you’re plotting something.”
Anyway, given this morning was unusual, it was clear that Dowoon was seriously moving forward with something.
It probably had to do with the Third Prince, with whom he’d been meeting regularly as of late.
What they did together, I don’t know.
But from what the shadows reported, all they did was chat a bit and then engage in some strange “games”.
Different sources gave the same story, so it was hard not to believe it.
Shaking hands out of nowhere, putting an arm around each other’s shoulders and laughing loudly…
The issue was that this only happened when they were drunk… regardless.
It wasn’t really something to dwell on, or so thought Yigang.
While the Third Prince, Ian, was indeed inscrutable, he wasn’t as full of ambition as his brother, the Second Prince, Piel.
Given his mild nature, he wouldn’t likely jump into the power struggle.
Besides, this clean image seemed to get along well with Dowoon’s straightforward personality.
Yigang raised the blanket from Dowoon’s waist to his chest and slowly got up.
After a quick wash and change, he went to stretch as usual but realized his neck didn’t feel stiff at all, which made him pause.
It was such an unfamiliar feeling.
To think that the one responsible for this change in me could be…
When Yigang turned, he saw Dowoon still face-down on the bed, snoring into the sheets.
…This fool.
If anyone saw him like this, they’d never believe Dowoon was a high-level imperial Wizard.
Yet, the fact that he didn’t mind this foolish side of him was somewhat amusing.
Yigang knew better than anyone how much he despised fools more than anything.
Yigang stared at Dowoon for a moment, then left the bedroom.
“Your Highness, I have a report.”
Asel, who had been waiting outside the door, approached and bowed, his expression unusually grave.
Judging by his face, something significant had happened overnight.
Yigang’s expression darkened subtly.
It made sense; he’d never missed an important incident that happened at night before.
Even when he was “sleeping,” he hadn’t truly been asleep.
Of course, it would have looked like real sleep to Dowoon.
But this time, he had genuinely fallen asleep and had no idea what had happened last night.
This was… quite inconvenient.
“So this is what it feels like to sleep? Strange how wasting time can be so relaxing.”
He muttered to himself, adjusting his collar as he quickened his steps.
“To the office.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As he sensed Anna approaching from behind, Yigang slowed his pace.
“Anna.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Tell Dowoon to come to my office when he wakes up.”
Normally, Anna would have immediately responded with, “Yes, Your Highness,” but she hesitated, her face slightly flustered.
“Is there a problem?”
“I apologize, Your Highness. Dowoon has a prior engagement with the Third Prince today, so it might be difficult.”
“…What?”
For a moment, Yigang showed a rare hint of surprise.
Though it was brief, both Anna and Asel felt a shiver as they witnessed it.
“He went to see him the moment he woke up?”
He seemed visibly displeased, a rarity in his expressions, and he showed an unmistakable trace of frustration.
“Well… it was a time that Dowoon personally scheduled….”
Anna, though not at fault, could feel the cold sweat trickling down her back as she bowed lower.
Although his lordship’s fury wasn’t directly aimed at her, anyone would naturally tread carefully around a Crown Prince displaying such an unusual mood.
In the battlefield, such moods could mean lives lost.
It had been years, but any close associate of his would remember that menace vividly.
“…Today, instead of Asel, you’ll keep an eye on Dowoon.”
After a brief silence, Yigang issued the order in a low tone.
Anna’s pale face regained some color as she acknowledged it.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yigang quickly composed himself and headed toward his office, his expression unyielding.
“Good morning, Your Highness. Did you sleep well?”
“Do I look like I did?”
Phillip, who was waiting in the office, greeted Yigang warmly.
Just as Phillip was about to respond affirmatively, Asel, standing behind, quickly shook his head.
“…Isn’t that what any loyal subject would hope?”
“You’re good with answers.”
Thanks to Asel’s quick gesture, Phillip narrowly avoided a crisis and followed behind Yigang, who was heading toward his desk.
“Your Highness, Cedric has arrived at the palace.”
“Then why didn’t you bring him with you?”
Yigang’s gaze was sharp as he questioned Phillip, who looked slightly uncomfortable.
“Well, he refused to present himself unless he was in formal attire, so he went to the Imperial Magic Department first. Should I bring him now?”
“No need. That old man has done this more than once.”
Yigang glanced at the schedule Phillip handed him, as if he’d expected this.
Phillip, observing this, offered a quiet follow-up.
“Cedric was delighted to be summoned by Your Highness.”
Yigang’s violet eyes narrowed.
“Doesn’t that make it seem as if I actually kicked him out?”
“To an extent, yes…”
“What?”
Avoiding his piercing gaze, Phillip hesitated before pressing on.
“You could have just granted him a vacation.”
“Have you ever seen that old man take a break when given time off? The only way he’ll rest is if I send him away.”
Phillip’s eyes gleamed with both admiration and reverence.
Despite the Crown Prince’s cold, harsh, and distant demeanor, there was a warmth hidden beneath.
He’d intentionally sent Cedric away to allow him rest after years of dedicated service to the royal family.
As a close aide, Phillip regretted not realizing this noble intention sooner.
With a small smile, Phillip spoke softly.
“While Your Highness’s intention is indeed admirable, it seems Dowoon might have misunderstood.”
“Misunderstood? How?”
Hearing this for the first time, Yigang lifted his eyes from the documents.
“The moment Cedric called for Dowoon, Your Highness sent him away, which might have made it seem as though you didn’t want them to meet. It’s a misunderstanding, of course.”
Just as Phillip was about to add that the timing was unfortunate—
“So, what misunderstanding?”
Hearing this calm response, Phillip’s mind froze.
Yigang’s expression was unreadable, but his tone implied he’d fully understood what Phillip had said.
Which meant…
It wasn’t a misunderstanding?
Then he really did send Cedric away to keep him from meeting Dowoon?
Phillip was suddenly struck by the realization.
It wasn’t to let him rest at all, but to keep him out.
If Dowoon hadn’t looked for Cedric, Cedric might never have been allowed back in the palace.
“…It was nothing. I misspoke.”
Facing the painful truth he wished he hadn’t uncovered, Phillip closed his eyes in resignation.
* * *
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