CHAPTER 38: CLAWS, JEALOUSY AND DECEIT, PART II

Haru, on the verge of tears, began to pack his things. He angrily pulled clothes from drawers and stuffed them into his luggage.

Maldie, who was looking after the children and playing with them, glanced at him with increasing worry

"Haru, what happened?" she asked gently.

"Isn’t it obvious?! After being apart for so long, Shion orders me to leave on my first diplomatic mission instead of... instead of actually wanting to spend time with me!"

Maldie swallowed hard.

"Is Gari going with you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes. I need my personal guard."

The half-dragon guarding the entrance to the royal chamber felt her heart skip a beat.

Maldie’s heart was pounding too.

After only a few days into their relationship, this also meant a long time apart for them.

Silence fell between them – until Shion entered the room.

Haru, still crying, looked at him while continuing to pack. He tried reasoning with his husband, tried to talk him out of it, but Shion stayed unmoved

Haru’s voice rose; he yelled, and in a burst of anger, threw one of his kimonos at him.

Maldie watched in disbelief, trying to calm them both down, but Shion’s cold stubbornness only made things worse.

Haru’s shouts were so loud that both little Shion and Yuri started crying, and Maldie had to soothe them.

Moments later, Haru, fully packed, slammed the door behind him and left.

"G-Gari," he said shakily to the half-dragon. "Do you have any spare clothes here?"

"I should have something, boss," she replied with a bright but fake smile, hoping to cheer him up, but she knew it was useless.

"Then go pack. I hope it’s enough. The journey will take at least a week... maybe longer."

When Haru left the room and Maldie finally calmed the children, she turned toward the one she raised.

"Have you lost your mind, Shion?!" she snapped. "What’s gotten into you? Do you want to ruin your marriage over some whim?"

Shion stood there, silent — as if in a trance.

"You’ve hurt him so deeply after everything he’s been through for you! Why won’t you say anything?!"

Maldie’s voice rose, full of frustration – not just for what he had done to Haru, but also because his impulse would keep her away from Gari.

She couldn’t take it anymore.

She did something she never would have dared before – that emotionless, distant look on his face was unbearable.

Maldie gave the king a slap in the face.

In response he only gave her a faint smile — and for a moment, the real Shion spoke through him.

I deserved that... though it wasn’t really me...

If only Haru knew... if any of you could...

...Ayame. Maybe she...

When Shion thought of Ayame, little Yuri opened her big honey-colored eyes — the ones she got from Haru – and looked straight at her father.

At that instant, Shion felt as if two golden dragon eyes inside his mind shattered.

He sprang up instantly, like a lightning bolt.

"Haru, wait!" he shouted with all his strength and rushed out of the chamber.

"Shion, what on earth is wrong with you today?" Maldie called after him, confused.

*

Hayate nearly snapped the quill in his hand. He had already written ten replies and reviewed twenty financial reports, drafting precise conclusions from each.

His hand froze mid-motion, and a drop of ink fell on the unfinished letter.

"Sticking your nose in again, huh?" he muttered through clenched teeth.

Don’t think you can mess up their marriage that easily. Think twice.

The voice echoing in his head was both unfamiliar and strangely familiar.

That was what terrified him the most.

Who are you? You can’t be her...

Then a cheerful, childish laugh rang in his mind.

*

Shion hoped to find Haru and Gari by the royal chamber doors, but no one was there.

He ran through the palace corridors, first to Gari’s room in the servants’ wing, but it was empty.

Finally, gasping for breath, he sprinted toward the courtyard.

He stormed out of the palace gates, only to be met with... emptiness once more.

They were already gone.

But Shion refused to give up. He wanted to stop Haru – to tell him it wasn’t truly him who’d spoken those words, to keep him close, to explain everything...

He rushed to the stables and ordered his horse saddled immediately.

The stablehand panicked, doing his best, while Shion grew impatient, sharp and harsher than anyone would expect. The servant barely recognized the calm, kind ruler he knew.

At last, Shion got on his horse and rode hard toward the city

They couldn’t have gone far... It hasn’t been that long.

Wait for me, Haru.

Please, stay with me.

*

"We’ll be leaving the city soon," said Lan Yue. "I understand your mood, beautiful queen, but I hope your stay in our humble country will lift your spirits. We’ll do our best to make you feel good again."

Shu An translated his words smoothly.

Haru only nodded, keeping his eyes down, struggling not to cry.

Gari looked at him with quiet sorrow and sympathy.

"Don’t worry, boss. It’ll be all right."

„ Mhm..." Haru murmured, too afraid that if he said anything else, his voice would break into loud cries.

"Stop the wagon!" someone shouted behind them.

When Shu An translated the meaning, both Yan Mo and Lan Yue looked puzzled, but Lan Yue gestured to hold anyway.

"Haru!"

Haru turned toward the voice and saw Shion galloping after them. Tears welled in his eyes as he rose and stood at the carriage opening.

"Haru!" Shion called again, his voice trembling. "I’m so sorry, that wasn’t me! Something was controlling me, you know I wasn’t myself!" He got off his horse and led it by the reins. "I don’t want you to leave. Please, stay with me. You can’t imagine how much I just want to enjoy every moment with you."

"H-he’s... t-telling the t-truth..." Ayame stammered. "S-something... c-cut off... i-it’s... t-there..."

Haru turned to her in surprise — and with a spark of renewed hope.

"Haru, please... forgive me. I wasn’t myself."

"Shion..." Haru whispered softly. "You were right. Maybe someone should oversee the alliance signing. Maybe I should put the kingdom’s needs above my own, as you’ve always done. But still... I just want–"

"I’ll send an official delegation. Our envoys will be here soon – I’ll just head back to the palace and give the orders. I’ll ask Prince Lan Yue to wait a moment."

"Shion... I don’t even recognize you," Haru said quietly. "Since when do you act so impulsively? Don’t you think it’ll look bad if you make them wait just to replace me with a few officials?"

"Haru... please, stay. I don’t care about anything else when it comes to you. I just want you to know... back in the throne room, that wasn’t me."

"What’s going on out there?" asked Shu An.

"The king and queen are talking," Gari replied. "Looks like their marriage argument ran a bit long. They’re... sorting things out."

Shu An translated.

"Good thing you took someone who barely speaks, my lord," Yan Mo joked crudely. "At least you won’t argue so much over serious matters."

No one laughed but him.

"Haru... you know I love you! Please, stay!" Shion call out to him.

His voice – raw, full of love and care – broke through Haru’s pretend coldness.

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he nodded, breaking into sobs.

Haru took a step forward, wanting to reach him, but Shion gathered him into his arms.

Haru sat in his arms, kissing him as curtains of tears ran down his cheek

"You dummy... you don’t have to risk so much for me," Haru whispered.

Shion set him gently down.

"It’s no risk, Haru. Let me explain the situation and offer proper compensation."

"What exactly are you planning to tell them?" Haru asked, surprised.

Shion smiled faintly.

"I’ll simply be honest."

He handed Haru the reins.

"Hold him for me, I’ll be right back."

"All right," Haru said with a small smile.

Shion entered the carriage and bowed deeply.

He began with a long, flowery apology – so elaborate that Shu An had some trouble translating. Then he promised, as compensation for his behavior, to place two thousand warriors under Lan Yue’s command, who would settle permanently in Qianlun.

Finally, as he told Haru, he chose honesty.

He told their future allies the story of their love: how long they’d been apart, how he thought Haru had nearly died giving birth, and how they never got the chance to truly enjoy each other’s company amid the whirlwind of events.

He apologized for his behavior in the throne room, saying he was controlled by some unknown forces – which Ayame confirmed in her broken, stammering voice.

Shu An never thought any speech could move him anymore, since all of them had been rehearsed and calculated.

But Shion’s words came straight from the heart, and that was what made them so special.

Lan Yue, too, felt moved. He found himself wondering if one day he and Ayame might share such a deep, honest feeling – and whether he could ever act so selflessly for her.

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your understanding," Shion finished his speech, bowing even lower. "I promise this won’t take long."

"Then we’ll leave the city gates and stop by the roadside so we don’t block the main route," Shu An replied.

"Of course," Shion smiled.

"Boss, does that mean I can come back too?" Gari asked.

"Yes. You should stay with Haru. I’ll send a few soldiers with the officials instead of you."

A moment later, the three of them rode back toward the palace.