Side Story 2
The Hour of Awakening
Part 2
1
Leshak remembered the night before.
Radan had cum several times calling out Leskak’s name each time he did, and the sound of his moaning was so exhilarating that when Leskak urged him to speak some more, he cried out, “I love it, Your Majesty!”
His slippery bottom, slathered with his cum and perfumed oils, squeezed against his hard cock. His throbbing erection writhed in pleasure as he reached the threshold of his senses, and when he ejaculated, Radan squeezed his eyes shut and let out an incomprehensible sound.
After he ejaculated, he continued to stroke his inner walls with his engorged erection, and Radan began to writhe again.
“When you feel good, wrap your legs around me,” he instructed, and then Radan did. Caressing his taut thighs, he took Radan’s hand and guided it to where they were joined.
The flowing spurting semen drenched his fingers. Below, there was a deep, sticky, dense, truly erotic sound.
“I can take more,” Radan breathed in and out hotly, “I can take more,” he said.
So when he suggested he wasn’t satisfied, that couldn’t be true.
“No, that’s not it, he’s satisfied!”
Leshak interrupted, cutting him off.
“There must be another problem.”
He couldn’t accept the notion that he’d been having problems with their lovemaking and he hadn’t realized it.
To him, Radan was perfect. Perfectly loving, perfectly fulfilling, and so was his desire for him. He couldn’t imagine feeling that same desire for anyone but him.
So to say that Radan wasn’t satisfied was a bitter pill to swallow.
Leshak rubbed his brow, trying to contain his surging emotions.
He and Radan were going to be together for a very long time to come. Looking back at what Radan had done to protect him, the time ahead was his responsibility alone.
If it wasn’t perfect, he had to make it perfect!
“‘I will find out why.”
He would make everything perfect. His entire world, all around him.
“Just don’t ask Radan directly!”
The Guardian Knights shook their heads at the warning.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
If you’re reading this anywhere other than FoolishtranslationsS.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
2
Leshak’s orders were simple, but for those who had to follow them, they were anything but simple.
The most challenging thing was that they couldn’t just ask him directly.
If the Crown Prince asked him if there was anything that is bothering him or anything that he was displeased with, his answer would be, ‘Not really.’
No one had ever heard him say “No” to anything before.
“Then sex must be the problem,”
Abadd muttered.
They left the throne room and skulked about in the garden.
They knew that at this time of day, Duke Elkiana would be out in the garden tending to his silver foxes.
Their plan was to hide in the inconspicuous place and wait for him to say something to himself.
The fox cage was an extravagant structure, with a rosewood ceiling and intricate gilding on the windows that provided ample shade.
The cage was a gift from the Duke of Ireton, and it was a pity that Radan, the recipient of the gift, could not see how much he had spent on it.
“Come to think of it, His Majesty can have a tendency to go overboard.”
To be honest, they sometimes wondered if he should keep doing that.
As long as they were both happy with it, it was fine, as an outsider looking in, they didn’t see any problems with it, however, if there were any problems, it would be a different story.
Karum thought for a moment, then nodded vigorously.
“I think that’s the case. I thought he was going too overboard during the Bloody Moon. Maybe it’s simply a case of not being able to bear it.”
“Then I suppose I’m not the only one who thinks so.”
Abadd patted Karum on the shoulder and turned to Sidris.
“What do you think, Ris?”
“If there’s something wrong between the two of them, I’m pretty sure it’s His Majesty’s fault. I told him that before.”
It was a sour-sounding reply.
“Mmm…….”
Abadd shook his head in mock disbelief.
“Well, I suppose so, but it’s not like you had to come out and say it.”
“You would have to be an imbecile not to figure that out because it’s been that way all along.”
Abadd scratched the back of his neck.
“Still, it does sting my conscience a bit as his Chief Knight to criticize him, but those two really do get along so it’s not like there’s anything wrong with it…….”
“That’s because His Grace, Elkiana is too generous.”
Sidris had no intention of conceding.
It was true that Leshak and Radan had a good relationship. But regardless of that, he’d always suspected something was troubling them. He’d simply never had the opportunity to speak up.
“Do you all remember the luncheon at the Duke of Elorde’s estate?”
Finally, the opportunity presented itself, and Sidris opened his mouth to speak.
“It was the middle of summer, and His Grace, Elkiana wore a high frilly collar around his neck. It was so hot that the Duke of Elorde offered to lend him some lighter clothes.”
Sidris had not been present.
Abadd and Veroz were the first to see Radan after he had changed into the cooler summer clothes.
“Ah……. Yeah, right, that did happen.”
Abadd cleared his throat, his mouth was strangely sour at the memory.
When Radan returned to the party dressed in the cooler, collarless clothes of summer, the reaction went one of two ways.
Either people would blush and look away, or they couldn’t take their eyes off him.
Everyone knew who the owner of the lip marks, which were obsessively stamped all over Radan’s neck, belonged to.
So even in the absence of the Crown Prince, his presence was still felt heavily.
Radan on the other hand seemed to be oblivious, and his innocent expression of gratitude for the loan of his clothes made those who saw him feel pity for him.
When he was asked why in the world he was wearing such sweltering clothes, he replied innocently, ‘Oh, His Majesty picked them out for me,’ his very typical reply only added to people’s pity.
That day Duke Elorde’s sumptuous luncheon ended much sooner than planned.
Sidris pressed his lips tightly together, almost as though he was trying to keep the sound of his teeth grinding from escaping.
“Veroz mentioned something to me. He said that the son of the Duke of Elorde has fallen for His Grace, Elkiana.”
Abadd jumped up.
“What? I’ve never heard such a thing, where did he hear it?!”
“It wasn’t something he heard, it was something he observed with his own eyes, at His Majesty’s birthday banquet.”
“……That’s right.”
Sidris, who wasn’t there, was furious when Veroz told him about it later.
“He must have done it on purpose.”
“…….”
“‘For sure he did it on purpose.”
“…….”
Abadd and Karum didn’t defend him with such arguments as, “Don’t make His Majesty out to be a villain,” or “Of course, he wouldn’t do that.”
“In a way, it’s a good thing he did since the Duke of Elorde was hosting His Highness Elkiana at the luncheon soon after the birthday banquet. If the Duke’s son had sent him a letter or something else that would have left some evidence, it wouldn’t have ended with the luncheon being ruined.”
“…….”
“That’s not all. An increasing number of young nobles who have applied for an audience with him have been denied without explanation. Am I the only one who thinks he’s pulling strings behind our backs?”
“Hmph…….”
Only then did the other Guardian Knights admit that there was a problem.
“Amboia sends him gifts on every holiday and he has no idea about it. Well, it’s Amboia, anyway. There’s no denying that His Majesty has a grudge against the Lord scion of Gett, but even gifts from Kemened must be approved by His Majesty first, and anything unapproved is sent back in a flash. There is definitely a problem with the whole thing.”
There was no arguing with that statement.
Abadd looked puzzled.
“Then, Ris, are you saying that His Highness Elkiana knows nothing about this situation?”
“No, of course, he doesn’t. That’s why those two have always gotten along so well.
“Then what did you mean when you said that?”
“Think about it. His Majesty is so indiscriminate when it comes to his consent. What do you think he’s like in bed?”
“Mmm. That’s……,”
“He was holding it in and now he has snapped.”
Radan would never have said that out of the blue if he didn’t think there was a problem.
Sex was a problem, but it wasn’t the only problem.
“Whoa, hold on. This is now suddenly sounding like a big problem. Are you trying to say that His Highness is truly fed up with him?”
Karum interrupted suddenly.
“Shut up everyone, there he is.”
Karum gestured toward Radan, who was approaching in the distance. The Guardian Knights immediately shut up and lowered their voices.
Meanwhile, Radan, accompanied by his Chamberlain and his maidservant, had reached them.
“Let me open the door for you, Your Highness.”
The Chamberlain opened our door and brought out the foxes.
The maid, Idar, placed a padded cushion on Radan’s lap, and the Chamberlain placed the foxes on it.
The foxes nuzzled back and forth into Radan’s arms.
Their luxuriant silver fur glistened in the sunlight. The two foxes and the man, who were rubbing up against each other with such delight, looked as though they could be part of a charming landscape painting.
Radan stroked the fox with an affectionate expression and turned to Idar
“They seem to be even bigger than yesterday.”
“Oh, you can’t mean in just a day?”
“No. They’re bigger.”
“Well, they’ve grown a lot since the beginning. They’re about twice as big as they were when I first saw them.”
“Really?”
“Animals grow fast, and they say they grow from day to day, so maybe you’re right and they’re bigger than they were yesterday.”
Radan sighed softly.
“I’d like to check …… to see how much they’ve grown.”
Idar looked at him wistfully. At the same time, she tugged at the edge of the Chamberlain’s robe.
The Chamberlain coughed, then spoke, unable to resist Idar’s urging.
“Ahem…Next time, I’ll put in a request for permission to enter the gardens during the next Bloody Moon, Your Highness.”
“No, that’s okay.”
Radan shook his head.
Access to the gardens was strictly forbidden after dark. It was for security, not just for the sake of discipline, and it was a long-standing custom.
Radan had first learned about it during the last Bloody Moon.
Leshak wasn’t upset, though he had explained at length how dangerous it was to be out in the gardens alone at night without a guard, and Radan had reflected.
“Then we can bring the foxes in.”
Idar huffed.
“We could keep them here.”
“But it’s dangerous. Hedel doesn’t like them.”
“It will only be for a brief time.”
“I’d hate it if they got hurt.”
But despite his reluctance, Radan’s sigh deepened.
“I think I’ve gotten greedy,” he said, ” unlike I ever thought possible.”
The days of the Bloody Moon continued to grow shorter and shorter.
Where once there were nine a year, then there were only seven now. Next year there will be even fewer.
His hand stroking the silver foxes grew slower and heavier.
“……What a waste of time. I could touch them anytime, but I guess greed isn’t always logical.”
Idar looked like she wanted to throw her arms around Radan and hug him tightly.
“May I speak for myself, Lord Radan. Please bring the foxes inside for a while.”
“No. That’s not what Hedel…… is-“
Suddenly, Radan’s hand jerked away.
The fox, who had been rubbing his head against him, scratched the back of his hand with his front claws.
“Lord Radan!”
Idar’s face turned ashen.
Radan turned and held out his hand.
“Idar. Please check my hand. Is it hurt?”
“Yes, Lord Radan. Oh no, it’s bleeding.”
“This will be bad.”
Radan removed the cushion from his lap. He handed the clingy, whimpering foxes to the Chamberlain.
“Put them back. Idar, get me some medicine. Don’t call the doctor. I don’t want anyone to know.”
“Yes, Lord Radan.”
The response was swift. Radan knew exactly what he had to do and how to do it.
“First, I want you to go and see if the Crown Prince is in his chambers. If he asks for me, tell him I can’t see him today. If I say I’m not feeling well, he’ll surely come to see me, so that’s not an option. What should I say?”
The Chamberlain thought for a moment, then replied.
“Well, then, I suppose you shouldn’t tell him the reason, Your Highness. Just tell him you can’t see him.”
“Yes. That will do, and continue to do so until the wound is gone. If I say I’ve been scratched by a fox’s claws, I won’t be allowed in the garden even during the day anymore.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
Radan gave us a wistful farewell as the door closed behind him.
“Bye. See you later.”
And with that, he hurried out of the garden. As he walked, he looked back every now and then, a little sorrowfully.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than FoolishtranslationsS.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
3
“……So, that’s how it is.”
Abadd muttered after Radan left.
Sidris understood the cryptic meaning perfectly.
“Somehow I feel like His Majesty is a very wicked bastard.”
Abadd made a rough gesture of apology. However, his apologetic gesture was insincere.
“I wouldn’t use the same language, but I agree. I can’t believe he has to be so cautious with him, about even raising animals.”
“But they were quick. I have seen the way the Crown Prince would react to such a thing.”
“It’s almost too sad that it cannot be denied.”
“And yet.”
Karum, a good Bear in every sense of the word, both in appearance and in judgment, sometimes surprised his companions with unexpectedly sage-like words, and this was one of those moments.
“Um, what, Karum?”
Abadd and Sidris turned to look at Karum.
Karum’s face was serious, and he gestured toward the Imperial Palace.
“Will His Majesty be all right?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“His Highness Elkiana has expressed his disapproval to the His Majesty’s ways, and the His Majesty is also displeased, and now His Highness is saying he can’t see him.”
“Um…….”
It was a perfect situation for misunderstanding to ensue.
“I think someone needs to tell him.”
Sidris spoke first.
“I do not want to be the one.”
“…….”
“……?”
Karum and Abadd stared at Sidris in astonishment, as though the truth were too hard to swallow.
“It’s time for you to try His Majesty’s heart, to him to suffer the truth since His Highness is the only one who has suffered so far. However, that’s just my opinion, and I won’t stop you guys if you disagree.”
Abadd glanced at the foxes, who were still chirping and crying in the place where Radan had left them earlier.
“……Well, me too.”
Karum tried to reach between the bars of the cage and pet the fox, but his hands were too thick and he gave up.
He felt sorry for the little foxes anyway. Almost as much as Radan.
“Me too. More than anything, I don’t want to give away the fact that we’ve been spying on him. He won’t be able to come and see them in peace anymore if he knows.”
“Very well, then we’ll all just choose our words.”
Abadd looked back and forth between the foxes and his comrades.
He had a complicated look on his face.
“Of course, I’m a bit nervous. I wonder what His Majesty will do.”
“We’ll just have to deal with it, for a while.”
“Yes. For the while.”
For now, they could only hope it wouldn’t be too long.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than FoolishtranslationsS.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.