CHAPTER 49: YOUR VOICE

"D-Dad," Shion the Second said, his voice trembling. "T-that’s impossible..." He ran up to the King’s bed.

"Shion," the King turned his head toward the sound of his son’s voice. "I’m sorry. More responsibility will fall on you now. You’ll have to be my lector and my scribe."

"P-please tell me this isn’t real! People can’t just... just go blind like that!"

"Sweetheart, I know you’re hurt just like all of us," Haru said gently, "but we have to face reality."

He reached out a hand to pull Shion the Second into a hug, but the boy pushed him away.

Asahi and Yuri stared at him, shocked.

"You don’t understand anything!" Shion shouted, tears starting to stream down his face.

"Shion, don’t overreact. It’s just a few more duties – you’ll manage," the King replied calmly.

"Easy for you to say!" the younger Shion yelled and ran out of the room.

He dashed down the corridor to his room, leaving a heavy silence behind.

Haru sighed.

"I can’t believe he’s acting like this," said Shion quietly.

"I think he’s just dealing with it in his own way," Haru replied softly. „Maybe you’ve placed too much on his shoulders, love."

Shion didn’t answer. He only felt Yuri and Asahi squeeze his hands tighter and lean against him.

"It’s not the end of the world," he said, trying to comfort them – and himself. "I’m still here with you all. I just won’t see you growing up... but I’ll hear your voices change."

"Stay with your dad, I’ll go talk to your brother," Haru said tenderly and left the room.

*

"Master Shion, please be careful, you’ll trip if you rush like that," said Sayaka, who had been sitting in a chair against Asahi’s desk.

"And you’re the one telling me that?!" he snapped, then threw himself onto his bed and buried his face in the pillow, sobbing.

"M-Master, i-is there anything I can do to help?" Sayaka asked timidly.

"Just go away and leave me alone!" Shion the Second shouted again.

The maid froze for a moment, unsure what to do, then quietly stepped out – but stayed just outside the door.

She passed Haru in the doorway. They exchanged a worried, knowing look before Haru walked to the bed and sat beside the crying boy.

"Sweetheart," he said softly, his voice full of compassion. "I know this is really hard for you. I know your father’s been expecting a lot – honestly, too much."

Shion didn’t respond, but his sobs began to quiet. Haru took it as a good sign and smiled faintly.

"I kept telling your father to go easier on you, but he just wanted you to grow into a wise, kind ruler – to avoid the few mistakes he made himself, the ones he still regrets. He cares for you in his own way, Shion. He just wants you to become someone great. I know that might be hard to see right now, but... I want you to know that we love you. And your father needs your help now more than ever."

Shion slowly sat up, sniffled, and pressed his forehead against Haru’s hand before holding it close to his chest.

"What’s going to happen now? Dad can’t see, Yuri keeps having those awful dreams, and Asahi’s scales hurt him...I don’t want this. I don’t want any of this."

Haru looked at him, understanding him better than anyone else could. He felt the same pain – only in his own, quieter way.

"I know. Watching the people you love suffer is the hardest thing there is," Haru said, wrapping his arms around him. "But we’ll get through it somehow. And when we do, our family will be even stronger. There’s no storm we can’t survive, right?"

Shion didn’t answer – he just hugged him tighter. Haru gave him all the warmth and comfort he could.

*

It had been a long, heavy day for Haru.

He had to learn how to wrap Asahi’s scales with bandages, just as Gari had told him how to do a few days earlier. It actually went quite well – the bandages weren’t too tight, but they stayed in place.

He kept checking in on Yuri, who was finally getting some rest after everything that had happened. Thankfully, she slept peacefully.

He asked Sayaka to stay with the children through the night and told her to come wake him if anything happened.

In the afternoon, he took over reading and writing duties for Shion. Haru didn’t know many foreign languages, and math was definitely not his strength, but he wanted to help his husband however he could.

By the time they finished, it was already late in the evening.

Haru had moved his chair closer so he could sit beside Shion instead of across from him. When they were done, he took Shion’s hand.

"Come on, love. Time to rest," he said gently.

Shion stood carefully, relying on his memory of the room.

Have his hands always been this warm... this soft?

And his voice – it makes me want to stay in his arms forever.

They walked slowly, Haru guiding Shion back to their chamber.

A few minutes later, they were sitting side by side on the bed. Haru leaned into his husband, resting his head on Shion’s shoulder.

"I’m sorry, Haru...I’ve become just another weight you have to carry," Shion murmured sadly.

"Don’t say that," Haru replied softly. "You have nothing to apologize for. None of this is your fault. No matter what happens, I’ll be here with you – you know that." He gently caressed his hand.

"You have such a beautiful voice... and your body’s so soft... Did I never truly cherish that before?"

"I think you’re just noticing it more now, sweetheart. But thank you – every compliment from you means the world to me."

"Can we lie down? I think I need that."

"Of course."

A moment later, Haru curled up against Shion, resting his head over his heart as Shion wrapped an arm around his narrow waist, holding him close.

Haru sighed quietly.

"Something’s bothering you, isn’t it?" Shion asked. Haru felt him pull him closer, as if to show his care through touch.

"I’m just... worried about the kids," Haru said softly. "Right before the morning you lost your sight, I noticed Yuri had two lights in each pupil. I don’t want that cursed sight to pass to her. What if she accidentally looks at Shion or Asahi – and they die? I keep thinking maybe she should wear your veil for now... And then there’s Asahi, growing so fast, and his scales are getting harder to manage. I try to wrap them carefully, but what if I hurt him? And now Shion’s scared of all the new duties falling on him... that’s why I took his place today, but maybe he’d actually be more help than me..."

Shion gently stroked Haru’s hair.

"Haru, you’re helping as much as you can – and you care so deeply for our children. They couldn’t wish for a better mother."

Haru blushed as if it were the first time Shion had ever said something kind about his looks.

"That... was beautiful," he said softly, kissing him. "But I don’t know if I can handle all this. I need to write a letter to Ayame, only she can help us. Until she arrives, Yuri should wear your veil."

"Yes, better to be safe. We can’t predict anything right now."

Haru pressed himself closer to him.

"Do you think... we’re good parents?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"That’s not for us to decide, Haru. But I see how much love you give them – and I think I’m not the only one who does."

Haru smiled.

"I love you, Shion."

"I love you too, Haru."

A few moments later, they both fell asleep, surrounded by each other’s warmth — held together not just by their bodies, but by their hearts and souls.

*

Haru woke early.

He helped Shion wash and get dressed, then went straight to their children’s room.

Shion the Second was just leaving to help his father with paperwork. Yuri was still asleep, and so was Sayaka — leaning over Asahi’s desk, snoring softly.

Asahi ran up to Haru.

"M-mom, I-I don’t know h-how it happened, b-but look–" only a few loose threads were left where the bandages had been.

"You must’ve torn them in your sleep," Haru sighed. "Maybe your dragon side doesn’t like being wrapped up."

"B-but I didn’t mean to! And they helped! When I bump into something now, it hurts much less. Before, even a little touch made me want to cry!"

"It’s okay, Asahi. I’m not mad. I’ll wrap new ones for you right away."

"O-okay."

Haru walked to Sayaka and gently shook her shoulder.

"No...Mom... I don’t want go to school..." the maid mumbled in her sleep.

"Good thing, because I was going to send you for breakfast," Haru joked.

Sayaka blinked slowly, then shot up the moment she realized who she was looking at.

"I-I’m so sorry, Your Highness!" she said, bowing deeply. "Please believe me, I watched over the children all night!"

"Calm down, Sayaka. I believe you," Haru said gently. "You may be clumsy, but you take your duties seriously. Bring us breakfast, then rest. That’s your last task for today."

"Y-yes, m-my lady!"

Then, Haru walked up to Yuri and gently shook her shoulder.

"Good morning, princess. Time to wake up."

"I... don’t want..." she mumbled.

"Come on, it’ll be nice. We’ll have breakfast together, maybe—"

"Mom, just let me sleep!" Yuri said, opening her eyes.

Haru didn’t get to finish –

– the moment their eyes met, he turned into a golden statue

Yuri froze – then screamed.

Asahi, seeing what happened, rushed over.

"M-mom?!" He tried to touch Haru, desperate to bring him back, but nothing happened. "Mom?!" Tears filled his eyes. "Yuri, what did you do?!" he cried, wrapping his arms around the statue.

"N-n-no! I-I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry, Mom!" Yuri sobbed.

The two children were shouting at each other, crying and calling out to Haru, while Sayaka – panicking – had no idea what to do.

She decided to trust her instincts and ran straight toward the royal office.