Chapter 26. Anticipation

Translator: AdCaelum

Editor: meli

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Translator: Time for everyone’s favorite two characters! (said extremely sarcastically).

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After escorting Asher back to his room together with Theodore after the party, Ward walked alone in a dark hallway. There, a lone soldier approached Ward. Ward raised an eyebrow, but with an exhausted sigh, he followed the soldier, no questions asked. There was no need for any as it was clear whose orders this soldier was following. When Ward entered the intended room, he was greeted with a smile from the person he had expected to see.

“Haha, sorry for calling you here this late,” Samuel addressed Ward.

“I live to serve. I shall go wherever and whenever Your Highness calls… May I inquire about the matter you wish to speak to me about?”

Neither of the two let slip the masked smiles on their faces. Samuel signaled the soldier who led Ward there with his eyes, and the soldier silently left the room.

“Were you displeased that I danced with Prince Asher?” Ward teasingly shrugged his shoulders and put on a hopeless grin. “If so, I must remind you that it is customary for the escort to dance at least one song with their partner.”

“Yes, I do recall the etiquette,” Samuel scoffed, “as well as how you were careful not to grab Asher’s waist during the dance.” He still wore the same smile on his face, yet it was suddenly devoid of any emotion. Ward inwardly shuddered at the sight.

“Yes, well, I do not wish to be killed.” Ward was startled by this expression of Samuel’s that was vastly different from any that he had displayed in front of the knights, but Ward maintained a poker face and continued, “So what would you like to discuss?”

“We were interrupted before and I have regained my composure.”

“Meaning…?”

“Firstly, I apologize for using such vulgar language.”

Ward was momentarily taken aback when he heard Samuel actually apologize, but he quickly straightened himself. “I humbly accept your apology. Please think nothing of it.”

“I called you here to talk about the matter with Asher. Simply put, I want you to tell me what you think of him.”

“What I… think of him?”

“Correct. If my memory serves me right, you tend to distance yourself from people and things that don’t interest you… And you would never ingratiate yourself so much that Asher would choose you as his escort.”

“That is… not true. I have been enamored by Prince Asher’s beauty for quite some time now.”

In truth, Ward had been harrassing Asher and Asher had been doing what he could to avoid the knight. Yet to some people, it could look like flirting, even as Asher always concluded with a punch. These exchanges happened both in public and private, so naturally Samuel was aware.

“You’re lying…” He sneered.

“…” Ward maintained his smile in the face of this immediate and blunt answer, but so did Samuel.

“Back then, you were simply teasing Asher. Everyone could see that… Although it appears that you aren’t as detached as you believe you are.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know that you’re well-known in high society for your appetite for both ladies and gentlemen… It’s clear from your eyes when you’ve found your prey.”

“That’s…”

“Have you not noticed that look on your face when you spot Asher?” Ward could only watch, frozen in place, as Samuel slowly approached. “Let’s not beat around the bush any longer… Asher has been acting strange recently and you’ve noticed this change too, correct?”

“Yes…”

“I’ve heard all the reports as well. It’s unthinkable that Asher would ever thank me like that.”

“I agree…”

Samuel drew his face closer to Ward’s and slowly narrowed his eyes. “I also heard that you asked the royal doctor about Asher, questioning if it’s possible for someone’s personality to suddenly change like that.”

“That is… correct. Prince Asher behaves in ways that were once unthinkable of him… as if he is a completely different person now.”

“…”

Samuel stepped away from Ward and put his hand over his mouth in a pensive expression. Several seconds later, he faced Ward again with another smile.

“Tomorrow, Asher and Noah will go to the castle town. Hugo will insist on going with Noah, so can you accompany them?”

“As their… guard?”

“Well, publicly as their guard.”

“Publicly?”

“Hugo is investigating something… Oh, but I guess I also lent him a hand… Anyways, it involves Asher.”

“…” 

Ward went silent, so Samuel continued, “Hugo intends to ‘tear Asher’s disguise off’… I have a feeling that it will go down tomorrow. I want you there to witness it.”

“Just that…?”

“Yeah, and you can be as frank as you’d like in your report.”

“I must ask: why me? There are plenty of other knights around, and some of them would gladly follow any order you give them.”

“I can’t use anyone else. Besides, you’ve got good eyes.”

“How about Lewis? He’s officially Prince Asher’s personal guard—” Ward quickly shut his mouth. Because Samuel’s smile instantly disappeared, and he was glaring at Ward.

“Unlike you, Theodore is serious and values honor. You can’t possibly be asking me to request this of him?”

“I deeply apologize. I spoke out of line…” Ward meekly lowered his head, and Samuel went back to smiling.

“Hugo will have Asher meet a certain person. I want you to observe Asher’s reactions.”

“Prince Hugo will?” Ward repeated, but Samuel merely smirked and casually walked to the door.

“Also, I hope that I don’t need to remind you… but don’t try any of your tricks.”

“…”

“I’ve seen far too many become victims of desire by your hands.”

Samuel’s back was towards Ward, so Ward couldn’t see his expression, but he nevertheless felt chills run down his spine.

“I shall heed your words.”

“Once more, I’m sorry for calling for you this late. I just don’t like wasting time. That is all.”

Samuel threw the door open and left the room. He didn’t turn around once as he hurried back to his own room. He would have punched Ward if he had to look at his face a second longer. The only reason he endured was because of Asher’s smile burned into his mind.

The soldier acting as Samuel’s guard hurriedly followed behind Samuel, but Samuel found even that aggravating. He wanted to reach his room as soon as possible so he could sleep among those beautiful angels.

“It looks like I’ll have a good dream tonight. It’ll go down tomorrow… I look forward to it,” he muttered to himself.

The handkerchief in his inner pocket felt warm with a heat. Samuel lightly placed his hand over his chest, holding back the eruption of anticipation.

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