CHAPTER 51: MY DEAR HARU...

A few days later...

Gari decided to stay with the kids day and night, watching over them and ready to go to Shion if anything happened. One day, she left the palace to bring herself a more comfortable bedroll to lay out on the floor. Maldie slept in her old servant’s room, freeing Sayaka from the duty of accompanying the King.

Maldie helped Shion move around, step by step, slow and careful.

That evening, when Shion was lying alone in bed, tears started to fall.

He turned toward the golden statue of Haru beside him – frozen mid-lean, with that gentle smile Haru so often wore.

Tell me you’re alive. Please, give me a sign.

I never thought anything could make me cry... but the thought of losing you –

– won’t leave me alone.

Haru, please... live.

Maybe sometimes I didn’t show it as much as I wanted to, but you know how much I love you.

I can’t stand the thought of another day without you.

Shion covered his tear-streaked eyes with his hand, hiding his face in the crook of his arm.

"I love you," he whispered – not just to himself, but to Haru. "I love you so much, Haru. I don’t want to lose you."

Exhausted by the storm of emotions raging in his heart, the King cried himself to sleep.

"S–Shion..." came a faint, pleading whisper from the golden statue – so soft even the gentlest breeze could have silenced it.

The statue, as if fighting against its stillness, managed to shed a single tear that fell to the floor.

*

"There you go, kiddo," Gari said with a grin. "Bandages all tied up."

"Thanks, Aunt Gari!" Asahi replied, hugging her tight.

"Now go play with Sayaka, okay?"

"Yeah! Sayaka, come on, let’s play tag!" the boy called, tugging the maid’s hand near the doorway.

Asahi pulled Sayaka along, leading her toward the exit — straight into the royal gardens.

Gari sighed. She was now alone with Yuri.

The half-dragon walked over but didn’t sit beside her – just met Yuri’s eyes.

"I won’t keep telling you it’s not your fault – it’s obvious it isn’t," Gari said gently. "I know you’re hurt, maybe more than any of us. But if you just keep thinking about it, you’ll only feel worse. Go outside, play with Asahi and Sayaka. Try to forget for a while, even if you can’t really. What do you say?"

"N-no..." Yuri shook her head. "I don’t want to."

Gari sighed again.

"Alright then, have it your way," she said, sitting down next to her. "Mind if I stay here with you, then? We don’t have to talk. We can just sit here quietly together." She smiled softly.

Yuri nodded. After a moment, she lifted off her veil and buried her face in her knees, sobbing quietly. Gari gently stroked her back, trying to comfort her.

*

King Shion saw how hard his son was trying to help him with work, but everything was moving slower than usual.

I can’t stop thinking about Haru.

"Shion," the King said, "go rest. Play with your brother or sister for a while."

"Huh?! Did I do something wrong, Dad?" the boy asked, confused.

"No, it’s not your fault, Shion. I’m just too distracted today. Think of it as a little reward – for all the help you’ve been giving me. Go on, make the most of your day off. And call Maldie for me on your way out."

"Th-thank you!" Young Shion ran up, hugged his father tightly, and ran out of the office, smiling from ear to ear.

King Shion sighed, then buried his face in his hands.

Haru... please... don’t leave me...

He thought, once again on the verge of tears. He sat there for minutes – maybe longer –lost in despair, losing all sense of time.

I can live with the void where my senses used to be, as long as I have you beside me, Haru.

But I could never live in that void without you.

After a while, Maldie came into his office. Shion didn’t even try to hide his emotions anymore.

"Shion..." she said softly, her voice full of compassion as she looked at him.

"Maldie," the King’s voice trembled. "Take me to my room. I need to lie down. I don’t have the strength for anything else today."

"O-of course," she nodded and went to his side.

She took his arm and guided him toward the chamber.

As they passed Haru, Shion reached out and touched his shoulder.

It was cold and hard – so unlike Haru’s warm, soft body.

The body he missed more with every passing minute.

When Maldie led him to the bed and quietly left – saying she’d stay nearby just in case – the golden statue moved ever so slightly once she was gone. The motion was so faint it made no sound.

"Sh–Shion..." came that same fragile, distant whisper again.

Haru’s thoughts were full of tenderness as he recalled Shion’s touch, so full of love and sorrow.

But he couldn’t return it. All he could see was emptiness, or rather, a wall of gold.

He could hear the crying and longing of his children and his husband, it tore at his heart.

He wanted nothing more than to hold them close, to tell them again how much he loved them, how precious they all were to him.

But his body – cold and stiff – remained frozen in place.

*

"How much longer until we get there?" Ayame asked, clearly losing patience.

"Please, my lady, give it time. You know well it’ll take about a week and a half, and it’s only been four days," Rouhuo replied.

Yan Mo sighed.

Of course, the one time he got a rare day off, Lan Yue assigned him to guard the lady of his heart – who’d decided on a whim to visit her brother. He was honestly surprised Ayame had managed to convince her husband to let her go with such a small escort.

Just four of them and a coachman. Yan Mo still couldn’t imagine what kind of arguments she must’ve used to make Lan Yue agree.

He looked at the young prince, sleeping soundly against his mother’s shoulder.

"His Highness Yuecheng is growing fast and strong. That’s good to see," he said after a moment.

"Yes. He’s well cared for – not just by his parents," Rouhuo replied with a wide smile.

Yan Mo chuckled, his deep, resonant laugh echoing around the carriage.

"Yan Mo," Ayame said suddenly, "I want you to teach him everything you know."

"My lady, he’s not ready yet," he replied with a serious tone. "We’ll need to wait a few years. Remember, I’m no man but a beast wearing a man’s skin. My methods would be too harsh for him now. His body’s still too fragile."

"I understand," Ayame said softly. "I just hope we’ll make it in time – to help my brother before it’s too late."

"With your wisdom, my lady, I’m sure we will," Rouhuo said, never missing a chance to flatter her.

This is only the beginning of real trouble,

Your children will soon face true trials, naive Ayame...

Trials that will come from within – and from without.

As Yuecheng drifted on the edge of sleep, a faint voice echoed in his mind.

He blinked lazily, his gaze settling on Rouhuo chatting with his mother.

The rhythmic clatter of the wheels and the gentle sway of the carriage soon rocked him back into a deep sleep.