TOPWL 5

“By the way… it seems like you two are quite close.”

At Khalid’s words, Yudit swallowed dryly. Bashur opened his mouth to diffuse the situation.

“Well, we have a student-teacher relationship. We’ve known each other for a long time, so it might seem that way.”

“Is that so? I almost mistook you two for lovers when I saw you earlier.”

Khalid’s words made Bashur burst into laughter.

“You’re quite the jokester. I’m already married with two children. Besides, His Highness will surely marry someone much better than me.”

“I see.”

Khalid said that, then looked at Yudit. Realizing Khalid’s remark wasn’t just a simple joke, Yudit’s face stiffened.

“Yes. I already know that Bashur is married.”

He knows. He know that he likes Bashur. When had he figured it out? Was it because he had let his guard down, thinking they were alone?

« No matter your teacher-student relationship, it’s not appropriate for a married man to be alone with an omega.”

“Ah… yes. I’ll be careful.”

“Good. Then I suppose it’s better if I apply the ointment.”

“Pardon?”

“Excuse me?”

While both were confused, Khalid seized the ointment from Bashur. Looking down at both of them, Khalid smiled with a mischievous expression.

“…I can apply the ointment myself.”

“You can’t really see where the wound on your neck is, can you? I’ll do it for you.”

Khalid repeated Bashur’s words from earlier, laughing as if he found it amusing. Yudit had the impulse to kick his shin. However, no matter how much a rabbit attacks, it couldn’t stop a lion from approaching. Khalid’s fingers, coated in ointment, were slowly moving closer. His heart beat for a different reason this time.

“…!”

Finally, Khalid’s hand touched Yudit’s neck. Yudit hunched his shoulders and accepted his touch. His hand, though rough from wielding a sword, was different from the brutal one that had choked him the night before. It was surprisingly careful and soft, so much so that it made Yudit feel embarrassed.

Who could have known that the one who tried to strangle him the night before would be the one to apply ointment to his neck the next day?

“The handprint is quite large.”

“…Yes, my hands are a bit big compared to my height.”

Watching Yudit lie without batting an eye, Khalid chuckled quietly.

Unlike his playful tone, Khalid applied the ointment with great care. Yudit quietly watched Khalid.

“…”

With his straight nose, strong jaw, and large hands calloused from years of wielding a sword, Khalid’s posture seemed relaxed, yet there were no openings in his body. His presence felt like it could prevent even a needle from piercing. Was this what they called a dominant alpha? He was like a cold flame, blue like glass yet radiating intense heat, burning everything around him. As for Yudit, he didn’t particularly like fire.

“You are staring.”

Startled by the voice from above, Yudit looked up, and Khalid was grinning mischievously.

“…I’m sorry.”

“It seems like His Highness is very interested in me.”

“I must have been staring at you without realizing it because you’re so handsome.” Yudit’s observation had been more for scrutinizing his opponent, but he complimented Khalid without even moistening his lips.

“I often hear such things, but I didn’t expect His Highness to be entranced by me.” Khalid, clearly not unaware of Yudit’s intentions, immediately responded.

“Alright, all done.”

Khalid, having emptied the ointment tube, gave a satisfied look. In contrast, Yudit’s neck, now covered in several days’ worth of ointment, and Bashur’s face, who had witnessed it, weren’t so pleased.

“…Thank you.”

“It was nothing. If you ever need someone to apply it again, just let me know. I’ll do it anytime.”

“Yes… Thank you.”

Yudit felt uncomfortable. It was only natural, since it was the man who had choked him the night before. After giving a vague response, he waited for Khalid to leave, but he didn’t leave right away. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Yudit spoke up.

“By the way, what brings you here today? Are you looking for a book?”

“I had a late evening meeting, so I thought I’d come here to gather some mental nourishment before it.”

He had come to kill time between schedules and happened to see them. Truly, Yudit luck was terrible.

“It seems I’ve taken up a lot of your time. Then, I look forward to our next meeting.” Khalid, who had been watching the two with bright eyes, surprisingly let them go without resistance. As Yudit picked up a few books and stood up, he glanced back at Bashur.

“I’ll be leaving now. Teacher.”

Bashur, fidgeting, watched Yudit as he tried to leave. Hesitating, Bashur finally spoke.

“I heard that the competition has started.”

“Oh, yes, that’s right.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. I’ll assist you in any way I can.”

“Just your words are enough, thank you.”

Yudit smiled faintly and turned around.

“I mean it.”

Bashur’s serious voice lingered behind Yudit. Suddenly, Yudit was curious and turned back to ask cautiously.

“Do you… think I can survive until the end?”

Bashur fell silent at Yudit’s question. After a moment of hesitation, Bashur spoke with difficulty.

“…That’s not something I can give a definite answer to.” Seeing Bashur’s discomfort, Yudit realized he had asked the wrong question. He knew Bashur was always serious, and such a question must have been difficult for him, but in his confusion, Yudit had pressed too hard.

“I think I just wanted to whine a little. Please forget what I said.”

“But…”

“…Yes?”

“If you do survive until the end, you’ll become the Emperor.”

“The prince would surely be remembered for generations to come.”

At Bashur’s heartfelt words, Yudit smiled faintly.

“Thank you. That gives me strength.”

“I heard this competition is a banquet. Have you ever attended any other banquets besides the imperial ones?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

To live long, one had to live as if dead, and unless it was a necessary imperial banquet, Yudit didn’t attend others. As a result, the connections he had almost disappeared, and even as a prince, invitations to such events were rare. Of course, there was the pressure from other princes, which contributed to his absence. Therefore, even at imperial banquets, Yudit would stay by the wall and quietly leave.

“It’s a small banquet, but there will be one on Saturday. It’s to celebrate the coming-of-age ceremony of my eldest son. If you can make it, would you come to celebrate with us?”

Yudit hesitated for a moment. Bashur’s offer was tempting, but it was risky. Not for Yudit, but for Bashur.

Since the competition for the throne had started, nobles had to be cautious. They had to consider who would become the emperor and who wouldn’t. Nobles with power would still have to win over other princes, so they wouldn’t reject anyone outright, but those without power would have to be wary of who they mingled with, who they spoke to, and even who they breathed near.

Bashur had worked at the imperial palace for a long time, so he had some influence, but as a teacher to the prince and a viscount without land, his situation was complicated. When he made such an offer, he must have thought of how it would affect not only him but his family as well. Bashur was willing to take all of this into account just to let Yudit experience a banquet. Yudit felt both grateful and guilty for his offer.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I have plans that day. If there’s another opportunity, I would love to join you.”

“…I see. I hope I didn’t make things awkward with my invitation.”

“It’s not like that. Please give my congratulations to your son as well. I’ll leave first.”

The imperial library was empty, but worried someone might see them, Yudit quickly tried to leave. However, Bashur called out to him again.

“…Your Highness.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“The coming-of-age banquet is on Saturday, but my son’s birthday is actually on Wednesday. We’re having a small family dinner that day. Would you be available then?”