Chapter 14. Flushed

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“Stop looking at Noah like that,” Jeffrey scolded Hugo, who was upset at Noah in Samuel’s arms.

“Why would he do that for him?” Hugo couldn’t understand why Noah would cling to that detestable Asher of all people and even pray for his safety. He felt like he had been betrayed by the younger brother he cared about the most.

“Prince Asher tried to protect Noah from danger. How many times do I have to tell you, Hugo?”

Jeffrey let out a sigh and turned away from Hugo. Yesterday, Jeffrey had personally reported what had happened during the attack that day to Hugo and the others. Hugo heard the part where Asher protected Noah, but he still refused to accept the truth.

“Highclere…” When Jeffrey muttered the name, Hugo jerked his head up to look at his mother’s face. “That horse injured Prince Asher and was killed… I know both you and Noah cared deeply about it.”

“That’s right, Mother. And because of him, she was kil—”

“A horse,” Jeffrey interrupted Hugo, “that caused a prince, and one with the right to the throne, to hang between life and death…must be killed… Queen Angela did the correct thing.” Hugo looked at his mother in disbelief at what was said, but Jeffrey continued. “He is her precious son… If the same thing were to happen to you or Noah, I would have also killed the horse.”

“So… so what are you telling me to do? To forgive those two?!”

“I didn’t say that… I didn’t say to do that…”

“I don’t care what happens to them! Besides, you heard what that woman said about you, right?!” It had been unusual for the normally gentle Jeffrey to get that worked up. Hugo had watched the exchange before and was surprised by Jeffrey’s tone. That was how rarely Jeffrey got angry. However, Jeffrey looked terribly hurt and pitiful after Angela had insulted him that much.

“And Asher… Asher was also always like that… I’m his older brother yet he looks down on me because I don’t have the same noble blood as him…” Hugo continued.

Asher was never rude to the crown prince Samuel, but he constantly looked down in disgust at Hugo. His attitude had always been aggravating, but what angered Hugo the most recently was when Asher attended the royal dinner after waking up from his injuries when he fell off the horse. Clearly full of disdain, Asher had pointed to the seat meant for the prince second in line to the throne and said, “I am the third prince, so that is Prince Hugo’s seat.” Up until now, Asher had never addressed him as a fellow prince. Even now as Hugo recalled how shameless Asher was trying to give his seat to him, he was furious.

“He knew full well how much Noah and I cared for Highclere and purposely caused that mess!” Hugo shouted.

“Hugo.” Samuel’s reprimanding voice sharply echoed. “How much longer are you going to keep talking about that?”

“B-but, Sam…”

“You can cry all you like, but it won’t bring Highclere back to life. Drop it already.” Hugo’s mouth twisted in frustration and he hung his head. Samuel gently stroked the crying Noah’s back as he turned around. “But, Hugo, Asher’s behavior is indeed strange. Be on your toes.”

Hugo raised his head at Samuel’s warning. Their golden eyes locked on each other and Hugo slowly nodded.

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Theodore planned to head to the soldier infirmary after he sent Asher back to his room, but he was invited inside. Asher suggested that it would be more efficient for Theodore to stay so the doctor could see them both here if the doctor was coming here anyway. However, Theodore did not enter the room.

“The royal doctor is the exclusive doctor of the royal family, Your Highness,” Theodore said.

“But, you got injured protecting me… Okay, fine, then, I’ll go together with you to—”

“You must not, Your Highness.”

But after Theodore saw Asher’s face, he slightly dropped his shoulders and reluctantly entered the room.

After a short time, the royal doctor entered the room. “I apologize for the delay. Now then, Prince Asher, I shall look—”

“Please treat Theodore before me. Please look at his back. I only have scratches,” Asher said.

“Huh? Y-yes, as you wish.”

The royal doctor looked confused for a moment about what was said to him, but he promptly answered and approached Theodore. Theodore was reluctant, but he obediently showed his back to the royal doctor and removed his clothes. The royal doctor frowned at the makeshift bandages made from wrapped pieces of fabric. He carefully removed the torn shirt and checked the wound.

“…This is…” The royal doctor was about to say something and glanced at Theodore. But in the next moment, he applied a salve on the scar and sewed it up. “You might not need stitches, but just in case…”

“I appreciate it…” Theodore said.

Theodore and the doctor conversed in low whispers so Asher couldn’t hear them. After the doctor cleanly wrapped new bandages, Theodore thanked him and stood up.

“Now, it is your turn, Prince Asher. Please excuse me…” the doctor addressed Asher.

“Oh, right… although I don’t have much to look at…” Asher said, but the royal doctor diligently surveyed Asher’s face, and his beard around his mouth shook. That was when Asher realized— Oh, this man was the doctor who checked on him after he woke up in this body. His beard also shook from his breath from his nose.

At this realization, Asher couldn’t help but stare at the shaking beard. However, the doctor looked so serious that Asher couldn’t help but find this funny. “He… hehe… Oh, I’m sorry.”

Asher’s stifled laughter caused the doctor to quickly withdraw his hand back from applying disinfectant on Asher’s scratches.

“M-my apologies. Have I done something to upset you?”

“Huh? No, I’m sorry for suddenly laughing… One thing after another happened so quickly that… I’m just a bit exhausted… And now that I’m here, I can finally relax… I know it’s rude of me to laugh at someone’s face… so I’m very sorry.”

“B-by all means, you need not apologize at all. It is beyond an honor that someone like me could put a smile on your face, Prince Asher.”

There was no lie in the royal doctor’s eyes. However, he likely said that out of relief for not having angered Asher.

Asher’s smile from before was gone and he himself wasn’t aware that he was now straining one. “Thank you very much.”

After the royal doctor finished treating all their injuries, he left the room. Entering in his place was a brown-haired man exuding elegance—Ward.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re safe, Prince Asher!” Ward smiled and knelt beside Asher. And as quick as always, he took Asher’s hand and stroked it. “I’m glad you did not suffer any severe injuries. It’s a grave crime to damage a jewel as beautiful as you… I would have given my life up to protect you.”

“Huh? What?” Asher said.

Just before Ward’s lips could touch Asher’s hand, Theodore grabbed Ward’s shoulder and obstructed him. “…You got back safely, Braun?”

“Why did you get in my way? I was in the middle of greeting Prince Asher.” Ward annoyingly raised an eyebrow. He turned around to Theodore and let go of Asher’s hand. Asher was relieved since he had been on the verge of being kissed again. Ward relented and reported, “They chased after us a bit afterward, but it fortunately didn’t take long for us to escape the forest. The beastfolk bandits likely didn’t want to be seen, so they didn’t go any farther.” Ward noticed the bandages peeking out from the opening in Theodore’s clothes and asked, “Were you safe? Did anything happen?”

“We were chased, but we jumped off a cliff into a river before they could reach us.” Theodore bluntly stated.

“Hah? You know you had Prince Asher with you, right?!” Ward was shocked and looked at Asher.

“Naturally, I carried him when we fell so he wouldn’t get injured by the impact… Afterward, we safely got out of the river, but His Highness wasn’t breathing, so I promptly gave him air—”

“WHAT?!” Asher suddenly yelled in the middle of the two’s conversation.

“Yes, Your Highness had swallowed water… but worry not, you were soon breath—” Theodore explained.

“Not that! Y-you used your mouth to…” Asher stumbled over his words. 

M-mouth-to-mouth?! His memory had been hazy after they got out of the river… But he would have never imagined that development! He obviously never had a girlfriend in his past life, and there was no way he had the courage to pay for those “services”. He could only imagine…touching lips…with his favorite idol… Likewise, the past “Asher” also had no experience there. This meant that… this was his…

—First kiss!

Asher’s face gradually grew hot and he could no longer look Theodore in the face. He hung his head, thinking how pitiful he was. It was weird to think of mouth-to-mouth as a kiss, and even though it was done to save his life, Asher was shocked by the idea that he was kissed. He wanted his first kiss to be more romantic and with someone he loved. When considering his age from his past life, it was humorous that a man as old as him would think this way, but the expectations he had of his first time were now warped. And even though now he was a prince hated by those around him, he still couldn’t give up on that hope despite how any little thing he tried to do to others would lead to a mess.

He was very embarrassed to be shocked by this situation. He had no right to feel this way, and it was so childish… Even though he swore to himself to do something about his current circumstances… Asher regretted how shameful he was that even his ears grew hot.

But Ward just blinked at the flushed Asher before smirking. He whispered in Theodore’s ear, low enough that Asher couldn’t hear. “Theodore, you’re such a devil.”

However, Theodore remained expressionless and didn’t react to Ward. “What are you saying?”

“You just brazenly proclaimed that you locked lips with the young Asher. Look at how red he has become… No matter how arrogant of a prince he is, you can’t help but think his adorable reaction is delectable.” A perverted light flashed in Ward’s eyes.

Theodore turned away from Ward, faced Asher, and said, “Prince Samuel should be coming here later. We have other matters to report, so we shall take our leave.”

“Oh, right… okay…” Asher kept his head down, still unable to look at Theodore. Ward snickered and left the room before Theodore. Theodore followed after and just before he reached the door, Asher called out to him. “The… the part before… about me not breathing… Um, you don’t need to report that. I’m sure… Mother would only get angrier if she knew,” he timidly advised.

Theodore nodded in acknowledgement. In this exchange, their eyes met for a moment, but Theodore quickly turned away.

After Theodore left and closed the door behind him, he unclenched his fist. He had been tightly clutching that haphazardly torn shirt. Theodore made a slightly conflicted face so Ward, who had been staring at him, asked. “What’s that?”

“Nothing…”

Theodore didn’t answer Ward’s question, but roughly stuffed the torn shirt into his pocket, fixed his clothes, and walked off without a word. Ward was confused, but he followed after. Theodore couldn’t answer Ward’s question because he himself didn’t understand. When the royal doctor put the pieces of Asher’s shirt that had been wrapped around Theodore into his bag, Theodore unconsciously snagged an unsullied piece.

As he walked through the hallway with Ward, he felt like his chest was warm for some reason. Although he planned to throw it out later.

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