Chapter 24. Personal Guard

Translator: AdCaelum

Editor: meli

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When Theodore returned to the hall carrying the unconscious man in such a rough manner, people immediately began to speculate.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

“Oh? Isn’t that man being carried away Baron Randall?”

“I wonder what happened.”

Word seemed to have even reached Ward near the staircase at the center as he looked over at their direction. When his eyes landed on Asher following behind Theodore, he promptly cut through the crowd to reach them.

“Lewis! What happened?” Ward asked, “I was worried when I couldn’t find Prince Asher…”

“If you’re going to escort His Highness, you should never take your eyes off him, Braun.”

Ward angrily frowned at that accusation, but no sooner had he noticed the man Theodore was carrying did he change his expression.

“Wait, did that man do something to Prince Asher—?”

The moment Ward tried to press Theodore for answers, Asher stopped him with a loud voice.

“Baron Randall was a bit too drunk and took a terrible fall. I tried to help him, but I couldn’t catch him in time.”

Theodore threw a glance at the awkwardly smiling Asher. Why was Asher protecting that man?

“Whoa… His nose is broken. I feel sorry for him,” Ward commented.

“Yeah, so hurry up and take him to the infirmary,” Theodore growled. Two nearby soldiers took Baron Randall from Theodore and carried him away.

Asher had looked so flustered before, but now he stood majestic, as if what happened before had all been a hallucination. As if none of it mattered to him.

Theodore found himself more displeased with Asher. Yeah, everything about Asher was upsetting. Him being escorted by Ward. Him dispersing smiles to the aristocrats around him. Him gracefully dancing with a young lady. Each and every little thing Asher did irritated and aggravated something deep in Theodore. He didn’t want to look, but his eyes sought Asher. He didn’t want to smell, but his nose sought Asher’s scent. His time away had conversely made Asher an indescribably dear presence. Oh, how much he wanted to protect Asher from everything, and how often he had to stop himself from holding Asher in his arms.

Yet, on the other hand, he detested Asher for birthing these feelings in him that he never wanted to experience. Oh, how often he had to stop himself from wanting to destroy the prince.

His dear, detestable mate.

　

The moment Theodore had lost sight of Asher at the banquet, he was assaulted by anxiety and quickly chased after. He didn’t know what he would do once he found the prince. He had simply wanted to rid himself of this unease. But that scene he saw of another man entrapping Asher caused his anger to boil over.

What are you doing to my mate?! Only I can touch him! How dare you! I won’t allow anyone to even touch a single hair on his head!

The unvoiced screams echoed in his head. It took every fiber of his being to hold onto reason. His violent instincts demanded the man’s death. Theodore roughly slammed the man onto the floor as his fingers itched to crush his neck.

He told himself to calm down. He managed to resist his urges. As he stood back up, Asher rushed to cling to him. The sight of Asher violently shaking crushed Theodore’s chest.

His mate… He wanted to hug him. To protect him. To love him. To hold him tenderly. To spoil him rotten. To whisper in his ear that everything was okay.

“Beastfolk are such pitiful creatures…” Those words echoed in his head. Theodore came back to his senses and stopped himself from hugging Asher. “Pitiful, sad creatures bound to their mate for life.”

Theodore’s suspended hand grabbed Asher by the shoulders and pushed him away. The moist eyes looking back up at him sparked the burning desire to protect Asher.

However, Theodore only felt that way because they were mates. He was being forced to feel that way.

But he would not be a pitiful creature.

To rid himself of that overwhelming passion he felt towards Asher, Theodore kept his voice cold as he said, “Why are you by yourself?”

“I… wanted some air…” Those eyes that clung to him, that had eased his nerves, instantly switched to fear.

“Going alone to such an empty place is just asking to be assaulted. Were you not aware?” Asher’s behavior was uncommendable—too naïve and too careless for a prince of a nation. “Or did you perhaps… want to be assaulted?” At some point, Theodore’s annoyance towards the unconscious man shifted towards Asher. His words and tone grew harsher.

“Of course not!”

“Are you sure? Your behavior was incredibly absurd…”

The moment those words left his lips, Asher’s terrified eyes widened and focused on Theodore.

“My behavior… absurd…?” Asher’s voice trembled as he questioned Theodore. It had been a while since Theodore had seen Asher this angry. “What about you, Theodore?! Wh-when you licked my finger… weren’t you acting incredibly absurd?! What were you thinking? Just because you saved my life, that didn’t mean you could do that! And to a p-prince like me!”

Theodore watched the shouting Asher with wide eyes, but shock didn’t appear on his face. He had expected some kind of punishment for his previous behavior towards Asher, but Asher had never brought it up again. Theodore too had pretended that exchange had never happened, so he was honestly grateful for that. But he had been too optimistic. The next thing out of Asher’s mouth would surely be an accusation of offense against the crown.

“What you did to me is no different from hi—”

The very next second, all the blood rushed to Theodore’s head as he sealed Asher’s lips. He would have preferred any punishment over hearing those words from Asher’s mouth.

Asher would compare Theodore, his one and only mate, to that kind of man?!

Hatred towards Asher erupted inside Theodore. When he pulled their lips away, Asher stared back dumbfoundedly at him.

“That is correct,” Theodore said. “I may be no different. I might as well be as dangerous as that man… So, I ask you this. Why hasn’t Your Highness tried to run away?” A smile broke on Theodore’s lips. He had, in fact, noticed that ever since Asher had recovered from his fall off the horse, he had shown considerable fondness towards Theodore. A human like Asher shouldn’t be able to recognize the bond between mates, but Theodore was certain that Asher was feeling something.

“However… unlike that man, I have not pinned you down, nor have I prevented you from escaping,” Theodore continued as his black eyes stared straight into Asher’s clear blue ones. He found it outrageous that he could not see any signs of Asher attempting to escape. “You’re to blame for not escaping while you could.”

He ferociously snatched up Asher’s lips. Those soft, terribly sweet lips made him think that nothing else mattered. That he wanted to whisk Asher away from here. That he wished to protect the mate before him from everything and let him live unconstrained. The faint, erotic moans leaking from his mate’s lips heated his body up.

Ah, my adorable mate.

No, this is a delusion.

I’ve finally found you. I want to be with you.

Why did you have to appear? Get out of my sight.

Rationality tried to stop Theodore, but once his body touched Asher, his instincts craved Asher. He didn’t want to let go. He couldn’t. His whole body demanded more.

Just before their kiss could deepen any further, a sharp pain on Theodore’s lips snapped him back to reality. The taste of blood filled his mouth, overwriting the sweet saliva from Asher he had just been savoring. As he wiped the blood off his lips with his thumb, he felt sick to his stomach at the stupid thoughts that had filled his head before.

“However, there is a difference between that man and me.” Mates. As if Theodore would let such a crazy thing control him. Theodore glared at Asher in front of him. “I loathe you.”

To embrace him, to dote on him, to cherish and behold him—the insatiable desire to love him. Those were beastfolk instincts trying to delude him. Theodore hated Asher’s entire being, yet everything changed the moment he discovered they were mates. He refused to acknowledge these fake feelings budding in him.

Asher looked terribly hurt by Theodore’s words, and Theodore pretended it didn’t stab him in the chest.

　

“Hey, Lewis, you got hurt?” Ward asked, causing Theodore to blink back to reality.

Before Theodore could answer, Asher interjected with a smile. “It’s from when Baron Randall got a bit rough to handle… His arm smacked Theodore.”

Ward didn’t really seem that concerned as he soon walked right over to Asher’s side. He told the prince,  “I was worried when I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“Oh, I’m sorry… I went out a bit for some fresh air.”

“That’s right, Asher. You shouldn’t suddenly disappear by yourself,” Samuel said, appearing behind Ward and surprising Asher. “Theodore, I expected nothing less of you. The shining example of a knight. I’ll never be at your level.”

“I am unworthy of your praise, Prince Samuel.”

The ladies surrounding Samuel squealed as they watched over the warm exchange between Theodore and Samuel.

“It’s Sir Theodore and Prince Samuel.”

“Do you think the rumors about those two are true?”

“They look close… I heard they often train together.”

While this was going on, a clink echoed. Everyone quieted down and turned to the person who had hit the glass.

Angela’s bright red dress with brilliant accents fluttered as she slowly descended the stairs. “I would like to thank you all for gathering here tonight for my dear son Asher.” When she reached the halfway point, she twirled around and smiled at Augustine on the second floor. “However, just the other day, Asher was attacked by savage beastfolk bandits, his life threatened before he could reach adulthood. Therefore, I would like to ask this of Your Majesty.” 

Those who hadn’t heard of this news murmured amongst themselves. Everyone craned their necks and waited for Angela’s next words.

“I would like you to appoint the national hero, Black Knight Theodore Lewis, who protected Asher from the attack I mentioned, as his personal guard.”

The murmurs in the hall grew louder. Asher himself looked shocked and awkward by Angela’s request.

“Why must Theodore be given to Asher?” Augustine asked.

“Your Majesty, Asher has just become an adult. Who knows when will be the next time his life is targeted?! Just like last time. Or are you saying that Asher’s safety is not your concern?”

“I will allow for a personal guard, but why the national hero?” It was clear that Augustine was against assigning Theodore to be Asher’s personal guard. However, Angela refused to back down.

“I am concerned, Your Majesty… But my worries can be placated if our national hero protects Asher. Additionally, I have heard that Theodore is close to Prince Samuel.”

Asher didn’t understand why the air in the hall instantly tensed. He didn’t know that everyone held their breath in their realization of Angela’s motives.

Angela was heavily implying that there were people who wanted to attack Asher before he turned 16 and didn’t wish for him to reach adulthood. As well as that these people belonged to the crown prince’s faction. Samuel and Theodore were close in age and often trained together. In fact, Samuel liked Theodore so much that he frequently requested Theodore as his sparring partner. Therefore, it was likely Angela’s plan to use Theodore and his relationships as a shield to protect Asher from the crown prince’s faction. If anything were to happen to Asher, she could simply pin all the blame on them, claiming that Theodore sided with the crown prince’s faction and killed Asher. And if nothing were to happen, then Asher was all the safer.

“I think that’s a fine idea.” Samuel unexpectedly agreed with Angela’s proposal, surprisingly not only Angela but also everyone else. “Father, please appoint Theodore as Asher’s personal guard. That would surely put Queen Angela’s mind to ease.”

Augustine sighed at Samuel’s happy answer and slowly nodded. “Then… Black Knight Theodore Lewis, I hereby appoint you the third prince Asher’s personal guard.”

The king’s declaration instantly silenced all the murmuring. Everyone’s eyes gathered on Theodore and waited for his response.

“As Your Majesty wishes.”

After Theodore said that, Samuel smiled and slapped him on the shoulder. “I entrust my younger brother to you, Theodore.”

Asher could only watch all this happen.

His… personal guard… That would mean that the two would always be together. And after what had just happened between them?

Asher felt unsteady on his feet. As he frantically kept from falling over, he looked over at Angela and wondered why she had proposed this.

While Angela coldly stared at Samuel and Theodore.

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