Scandalous Wedding Chapter 9.1

“You still haven’t found him?”

At Kiel’s bellowing voice early in the morning at the Chester Marquisate, the Chester Marquis, who had been bedridden and unable to eat or drink, answered faintly with a pale face.

“Yes.”

The marquis was confined to his bed, overwhelmed by the possibility that his cherished second son might have been kidnapped by the Paddington Duke.

So much so that he couldn’t even rise to greet the emperor.

“If you’d sent him to me earlier, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Kiel scolded the marquis in a feigned tone of anger, and the marquis couldn’t lift his head. Truth be told, if you traced the root of all this, the fundamental problem was Kiel himself. If Kiel hadn’t been so obsessed with Asha, this tragedy would never have occurred.

But from another perspective, knowing Kiel’s temperament and still not sending Asha might have been their mistake. They were too complacent, despite knowing that while Kiel had few allies, his enemies were countless and scattered everywhere.

“Has the Paddington Duke confessed yet?”

“I left that to the high priest. Finding Asha comes first. But no matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like the duke has him…”

Kiel was certain Asha was somewhere in this estate.

It was just a gut feeling.

“We searched every inch of the estate, but we couldn’t find a single hair. This has to be the work of the Paddington Duke or Alicia. That young, adorable boy—what if he’s suffering right now…?”

As he spoke, the marquis couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into tears. Watching the old man sob uncontrollably over his son, Kiel quietly shook his head.

“No… Asha’s here.”

It was like his antennae were buzzing, twitching with sensation.

Guided by that instinctive feeling, Kiel slowly turned his head to look in the direction his gaze was drawn to. It was unmistakably toward the southern annex where Asha stayed.

His antennae kept twitching. Something sweet, soft, and round was out there, somewhere far off.

Sensing Asha’s location with that electric feeling, Kiel leisurely turned back to the marquis, carefully studying his tear-streaked face. The marquis was clearly in a state of panic.

This was an opportunity. At least for him.

“Finder’s keepers, right?”

“…Pardon?”

“I mean, if I find him, he’s mine, isn’t he?”

The marquis, stunned by Kiel’s sudden claim to ownership over lost property, answered with a blank expression.

“I… suppose so?”

It was unclear whether it was a question or an answer, but Kiel smiled and nodded at the vague response.

“Good. Then write a contract.”

“What kind of contract, Your Majesty?”

“That if I find Asha, you won’t object to me taking him.”

“…What?”

“I find him, he’s mine. So I get to take him.”

“…Pardon?”

Seeing the marquis struggle to comprehend, Kiel clicked his tongue softly. He needed to hurry and find Asha, but this was wasting time.

“Just write what I dictate, sign it, and stamp your seal.”

Unable to restrain his impatience, Kiel stood and went to the bedside table, pulling out paper embossed with the Chester Marquisate’s crest, a pen, ink, and dye, placing them before the marquis.

The marquis stared in shock at Kiel, who’d found the items without hesitation, as if it were his own home.

How did he know they were there? The marquis’s face was full of questions, and Kiel gave him a sly smile.

Kiel knew where every noble family kept their crested paper, pens, seals, and dyes. If asked how, he’d only say there were ways, but the important thing was that he knew.

And knowledge was power.

“Take dictation.”

Pushing aside other questions to deal with the urgent matter first, Kiel gestured for him to pick up the pen, but the marquis hesitated.

Despite the shock, some rationality remained. He knew getting swept up by Kiel in this situation would be the end, so he stubbornly resisted. Seeing this, Kiel smiled and asked again.

“Don’t want to find Asha, huh?”

At Kiel’s near-threatening question, the marquis immediately raised his head.

“That’s…”

“Then write.”

If you want to find your son, write what I say right now, Kiel’s threat implied. The marquis reluctantly picked up the pen. Placing a tray on the bed, he spread the paper and dipped the pen in ink. As he did, Kiel began dictating.

“His Majesty Emperor Kiel Capin, upon finding Asha Jester, vows to marry Asha to His Majesty forthwith.”

At the outrageous statement, the marquis’s eyes widened as he stared at Kiel.

Just days ago, they’d agreed to leave everything to Asha’s decision, and now Kiel was demanding he marry him off outright.

This wasn’t right, the marquis thought, looking at Kiel in protest, but Kiel pointed at the paper with his chin, as if there was no time to waste. Write it, the gesture said. At that, the marquis began to suspect Kiel.

Could this man have hidden Asha somewhere and orchestrated this? It was absurd to think that in such a situation, but with Kiel, it was possible.

He had neither conscience nor humanity.

Based on past experience, the marquis’s distrustful gaze bore into Kiel, who frowned.

“You don’t think I’m hiding Asha, do you?”

Of course, that’s exactly what the marquis was thinking, though he kept it to himself. But Kiel understood without words.

“If I were hiding him, why would I come all this way? I’d just send a letter saying I have Asha, so don’t expect to see him again.”

Why would I hide Asha, of all people? Kiel’s words were met with the marquis’s silent retort in his eyes: because it’s you.

If he were going to trust anyone, it’d be the Paddington Duke, not Kiel.

“…You’re really not hiding Asha, are you?”

At the marquis’s cautious question, Kiel answered quickly.

“Absolutely not.”

“Then how are you so sure you can find him?”

“You think I can’t find that boy?”

At Kiel’s counter-question, the marquis fell silent.

Indeed, if it was Kiel, he’d find Asha no matter where he was. Even as a child, no matter where they hid Asha—attics, basements, anywhere—Kiel found him with uncanny precision.

Come to think of it, about fifteen years ago, fed up with Kiel’s antics, they’d sent Asha to the countryside for a while. Fearing Kiel would track him down if it was anywhere familiar, they rented a stranger’s villa, didn’t even tell Allen, hired mercenaries, and sent him with only a nursemaid to a remote village. But when Kiel visited the marquisate and realized Asha was gone, he turned the place upside down.

The moment he arrived, he looked around, declared Asha wasn’t there, and caused a scene. They told him he was just in the countryside but didn’t reveal where. Yet Kiel found that remote mountain village anyway. How, no one knew, but days later, they heard Kiel was there, playing with Asha. The marquis nearly fainted.

That’s when he realized.

Kiel wasn’t human.

“You have to find him.”

Deciding to trust Kiel’s terrifying instincts, the marquis spoke and slowly moved the pen.

After a long while, when he’d written everything Kiel dictated, Kiel nodded, urging him on.

“Hurry up, sign it, and stamp the seal.”

At Kiel’s prodding, the marquis, having written the statement, signed his name at the bottom, added his signature, and pressed his seal.

Kiel swiftly snatched the completed contract. Checking the text, signature, and seal, he rolled it up, held it in hand, and stood.

“We’ll talk details later. For now, I need to find Asha.”

Turning as soon as he had the contract, Kiel headed for the door. The marquis cautiously called after his hurried figure.

“Your Majesty.”

At the soft call, Kiel turned back with an irritated look.

What do you keep calling me for when I’m busy? his face said.

“You’re… not planning to just take him and run, are you?”

At least show us his face before you take him, the marquis pleaded, and Kiel laughed incredulously.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Did you think I’d let you all see Asha before I take him? With that cold retort, Kiel turned again, and the marquis kicked off his blankets, leaping from the bed.

“Your Majesty! At least let us see his face before you go!”

“You’ll see him later. At the wedding.”

Kiel didn’t even glance back this time, just waving a hand.

This was the marquis’s karma. He shouldn’t have dodged and weaved when Kiel was desperate to see Asha.

What goes around comes around.

“Since we’ll be cooperating from now on, let’s get along.”

Whether it was sincere or sarcastic, Kiel left the ambiguous remark, opened the door, and strode out of the bedroom.

At the sight of Kiel’s commanding figure, the marquis sank back onto the bed, realizing only then.

Once again, he’d been had.

“Damn…”

Catching the curse that almost slipped out, the marquis clamped his mouth shut. Knowing Kiel’s annoyingly sharp ears, he covered his mouth, glancing warily at him, but Kiel ignored him, leaving the bedroom.

Heading where his antennae pointed.

“Where the hell did he wander off to…?”

* * *

How much time had passed?

Waking from a deep sleep, Asha sat in the still-dark passage, stretching. As usual, he scratched his stomach, then groped the floor for the lamp and flint.

Pulling out the dry cloth beneath the lamp, he struck the flint and steel rod together, sparking flames that quickly caught the cloth.

Perhaps because it was underground and dry, the cloth blazed fast. Lighting the lamp’s wick with it, the dark passage brightened.

In the sudden clarity, Asha stood slowly, holding the lamp, and looked up at the ceiling. The hole he’d fallen through was now blocked.

“Oh…”

Had the sun set already? But he hadn’t slept that long. It must be designed to close automatically after a time.

“This is bad.”

If that hole was gone, no one would know he was here…

“Hmm…”

In that case, he’d have to find his way out himself. If he could just get close to the outside, Kiel would find him.

His stomach still growled, but a good sleep had cleared his fatigue.

Rather than sitting here dazed, moving seemed better. Loosening up lightly, Asha scanned his surroundings and took a step in a different direction from before.

He clearly remembered circling last time. He’d gone right then, so now he’d try left. If that didn’t work, he’d zigzag next.

“Wherever I go, I’ll get out eventually.”

He had no choice but to trust his instincts now. If nothing else, he was pretty lucky.

Always had been. He trusted his gut, his luck, and Kiel.

“Let’s go.”

Recalling Kiel’s motto that any path would lead somewhere, Asha began walking lightly.

At that moment, the thought of not escaping never crossed his mind.

* * *

Having dismissed his escort knights, Kiel entered the secluded southern building of the estate, senses on high alert as he slowly surveyed his surroundings.

This estate was built two hundred years ago, right after a war.

Post-war, people grew paranoid about safety, and it became trendy among nobles to build shelters or secret passages for wartime use. In the Chester Marquisate’s case, this southern annex served as that shelter.

Originally, this building stood outside the estate’s walls, meant for nobles to escape from the main building and hide in during emergencies.

As the marquisate grew, the walls were torn down, expanding the estate, and this building was naturally incorporated, becoming the southern annex.

But as a former shelter, it was far from the main building and other annexes and quite rundown. Frankly, it was shabby. It had to be, so enemies wouldn’t bother with it.

For that reason, the marquisate had all but abandoned this building. Trees grew tall enough to obscure it, and the underbrush was so thick it was hard to tell ground from floor.

Of course, after Asha moved in, some maintenance was done, but the damage was already extensive, making it undeniably remote and forlorn.

Kiel knew full well that the only reason Asha, the marquisate’s precious gem, lived in this dilapidated place was to keep him isolated from Kiel. Ironically, the isolation benefited Kiel. Being so remote, it saw few visitors, had minimal guards, and was easy to sneak into—perfect for spending time with Asha.

Standing before the nostalgic building after four years, lost in memories for a moment, Kiel slowly turned his gaze to the garden.

As he’d heard, it was a post-battle wasteland. Pits everywhere, rocks jutting out endlessly, nets hanging in the air, and ropes dangling from high branches.

It was daytime, thankfully—by night, it’d look like an execution ground.

“How many traps did they set?”

Kiel had dodged them all, but the marquis who installed them was something else.

He’d deal with it after finding Asha. Shaking his head, Kiel reactivated his steamed-bun detector.

Picturing warm, cozy, white, soft, cute, and lovable Asha, his instincts guided his feet. Something told him Asha was in that direction, and as he followed, his body naturally moved toward the wall.

According to the culprits, they’d clashed swords in front of the building, some got caught in nets, and one had his nose broken by Asha’s round, adorable head.

After taking them all down, he’d moved along the wall and then vanished…

But no matter how he scanned the area, there was no space for Asha to be. Beyond the bushes was just the wall.

Yet, strangely, he felt Asha was there. That warm, pleasant sensation kept pulling him in.

“…Your Majesty, that’s the wall.”

Nob, watching Kiel stand before it, spoke cautiously, and Kiel slowly turned back.

“You said Asha disappeared around here, right?”

“Yes. But it’s just a wall.”

“I know that.”

Did you think I didn’t? Kiel shot Nob a look and reached out to part the bushes. But, as expected, it was too narrow for anyone to hide. Asha was small and cute, but not that small.

“Where’d he go…?”

Stepping out of the bushes, Kiel looked at the building and slowly walked inside.

The garden had plenty of devices, but he’d never once been caught in a trap. Holes in the ground, glass on the walls, bars on the windows—none had stopped him.

Of course not. He’d never once crossed the garden over the wall to enter this building.

Striding confidently through the now mostly triggered garden traps, Kiel entered the shabby building, carefully inspecting it as he moved.

Unlike the sun-scorched garden, the interior was cool. He’d thought that seaside mansion was odd, but returning here after so long, this place felt strange, too.

Determined to rescue Asha from this estate as soon as possible, Kiel stepped into the corridor and first checked the study.

Asha would only go to his bedroom, the study, or the bath. Curious as he was, he’d poke around new places, but in familiar ones, his movements were predictable.

Entering the study quickly and looking around, it was empty, as expected. Just in case, he checked under the desk, behind the shelves, and below the window, but Asha was nowhere.

Only an unfinished wish application and an empty ink bottle remained on the desk.

“Hmm…”

After thoroughly checking the study, Kiel headed to Asha’s bedroom. But, as expected, it was empty, too.

More importantly, his antennae weren’t reacting, meaning Asha wasn’t in the bedroom. Or, more precisely, not in the building at all.

“We already searched the building thoroughly.”

Grumbling as if Kiel didn’t trust him, Nob followed, but Kiel ignored him and kept moving.

But Kiel was heading toward the stairs to the basement, opposite the entrance.

“Your Majesty, those stairs lead to the basement. We checked the storeroom, too.”

Kiel knew that. In fact, he probably knew best. Down those stairs was the basement, with just one lone storeroom.

Most estates had that structure, so anyone could guess as much.

But there was one thing others didn’t know—only Kiel did.

In that dim, musty storeroom, if you pressed the seventh brick from the top and fifth from the right on the right wall and lifted the rug on the floor, a staircase to a deeper basement appeared. Down that staircase was an iron door, and if you aligned the constellation lock in the center with the right code, an underground escape passage opened.

The reason Kiel could sneak into Asha’s room despite all those traps was that passage. It connected to the northern annex, opposite the main building, and this building, with two exits—one to the temple, the other to a cave beyond the estate in the mountains.

It was likely built by a high priest from the marquisate for escape during war or rebellion.

Kiel had found it by pure chance. At twelve, his father told him about the palace’s underground escape routes, passing down their codes and maps. His father mentioned that most old estates had such routes, and the moment Kiel heard that, he wondered if the Chester Marquisate did, too.

It clicked. So he searched obsessively.

For the original blueprints of the marquisate.

Wondering where they could be, the answer came surprisingly easily. If his father had passed down the palace’s maps to him, noble families likely did the same.

Using Allen’s birthday party as an excuse to visit, he pretended to get lost and rummaged through the high priest’s study. But they were so well-hidden he couldn’t find them.

After one, two, three failures, stubbornness kicked in. He swore he’d find those blueprints no matter what, and on his eighteenth visit, he finally did. He secretly copied them and returned them to their place.

From then on, he came and went freely. The marquis and high priest probably never imagined that while they set traps aboveground, he was comfortably sneaking into Asha’s room through the underground passage.

They’d even put a code on the entrance for safety. Finding the blueprints was one thing, but cracking the code was near impossible, so they likely never suspected.

But he’d done the impossible.

Who told them to use the building’s construction year, month, and day as the code?

It must’ve been a trend back then—the palace’s underground code was its unofficial completion date, too. The official completion date recorded in history was June 7, but the actual building was finished on April 3. Likewise, the marquisate used its unofficial completion date as the code.

Either it was fashionable, or the same person designed both passages.

Thanks to that, Kiel roamed the marquisate freely. With the blueprints, he never got lost in the maze.

Recalling old memories while searching for Asha after so long, Kiel paused and looked back at Nob, who was following.

“Light the lamp.”

“You’re going downstairs?”

“Of course.”

If it was Asha being stubborn, he’d have snapped, but since it was Kiel, Nob quietly lit the lamp, illuminating Kiel’s path. Following close behind, Kiel slowly descended into the dark basement.

Wondering why he was suddenly going underground, Nob followed anyway, because it was Kiel.

Descending the basement stairs like it was his own home, Kiel spotted the door to the small storeroom and looked at Nob.

His eyes said to open it. At the signal, Nob quickly grabbed the handle and pushed.

Despite years of disuse, the door opened smoothly. But it was a basement, and the air was stale and damp.

Feeling like he’d catch a disease just stepping inside, Nob hesitated, but Kiel walked straight in, heading to the right wall and counting bricks with his eyes.

“Your Majesty, that’s a wall…”

Puzzled by Kiel’s bizarre behavior, Nob looked at him with genuine concern.

He was never quite sane, but since Asha’s disappearance, he’d been acting even stranger, poking around odd places.

Ignoring Nob’s worries, Kiel found the seventh brick from the top and fifth from the right, pressing it firmly. A sound of something sliding came from below.

Startled, Nob looked at Kiel, who pointed his chin at the rug on the floor. Not understanding, Nob blinked, and Kiel tilted his chin right again.

Slide it right, he meant.

Instinctively, Nob moved to the rug and pushed it right, revealing a staircase below.

“Your Majesty, this is…”

“Go in.”

“What?”

“I said, go in.”

Big enough for a grown man, but with a bad feeling he’d catch something awful down there, Nob looked at Kiel pleadingly.

Did they have to go down?

“Your Majesty, I don’t know where this leads, but the young master doesn’t know about places like this.”

“Just go.”

“But why do we have to—”

“He’s there.”

“The young master doesn’t know this place, I’m telling you.”

“Knows it or not, he’s there.”

Since descending, Kiel felt Asha getting closer. It was an indescribable sensation.

And his instincts were spot-on. Thinking of this passage the moment he arrived and feeling drawn to it meant Asha was here, no doubt.

“Hurry up and go.”

Losing patience, Kiel kicked Nob’s backside, sending him stumbling down the stairs. Holding the lamp and groping his way, Nob descended, with Kiel following.

Kiel hated obstacles, but after four years of neglect, the passage likely had cobwebs, so he used Nob as a shield.

“Your Majesty, begging your pardon, but I don’t know where this leads, and it feels dangerous.”

“It’s fine. Not dangerous.”

Sure, getting lost could be risky, but Kiel was confident he wouldn’t. He knew this passage like his own bedroom.

“Keep going.”

At Kiel’s urging, Nob trudged down the stairs, face grim. Reaching the last step, he saw a massive door blocking the way and gaped.

He hadn’t known about the stairs, let alone this door. How did Kiel know a path even the marquisate’s own people didn’t?

What was this man? Terrified, Nob looked at Kiel, who stepped forward, eyeing the round lock in the center of the thick iron door.

Seeing the lock with twelve constellations representing the months, Kiel smiled and began turning the inner disc.

The extension was in 327, May 28. March, February, July, May, February, August—he aligned them calmly in order. When the final constellation clicked into place, a clank echoed.

It was unmistakably the sound of a lock opening.

Chilled to the bone, Nob stared at Kiel as if he’d seen a ghost. How did he know this place and the code? Had Kiel secretly built this in the marquisate?

For a moment, Nob pictured a young Kiel sneaking in nightly with a shovel, digging. Was that why he’d frequented the estate? Realizing why Kiel had never been caught in a trap, Nob wondered if the door led to the palace.

As the door slowly opened automatically, a familiar voice came from inside.

“Kiel, sir!”

The bright, familiar tone made Kiel and Nob turn toward the door. Holding a lamp, Asha came running out, darting through the passage.

Bursting through at incredible speed, Asha passed the door, threw his arms around Kiel’s neck, and hugged him tightly.

“I knew you’d come.”

Rubbing his cheek against Kiel’s like a cat, Asha spoke in a lively voice. Caught off guard, Kiel blinked, flustered, before wrapping his arms tightly around him.

He’d had a hunch, but hadn’t truly expected Asha to come out of there. After a moment of stunned silence, Kiel hugged him fiercely.

Nob, standing beside them, was plunged into utter confusion.

A secret passage under the storeroom was shocking enough, but why was Asha coming out of it, and how had Kiel found him? And why did Kiel know about this passage in the first place?

He’d known Kiel’s uncanny ability to find Asha, but witnessing it up close was downright eerie.

Kiel could probably find Asha on a deserted island across the continent.

That obsession was terrifying.

This man didn’t seem human.

“I knew you’d be here. I just had a feeling.”

Murmuring as he held Asha, Kiel got a bright, innocent reply.

“I fell into a hole.”

“…A hole?”

“Yeah. I think Father dug it to catch Your Majesty.”

Asha was laughing brightly, saying he’d fallen into the hole.

It was such a typical Asha reaction, but this time, Kiel couldn’t bring himself to laugh. If he, the one who knew the code to that entrance, hadn’t come looking, Asha could’ve starved to death down there.

And the fact that the hole was dug meant the Chester Marquis had intended to starve him to death.

Just you wait, Chester Marquis.

It was his karma, too.

Dreaming of revenge against the Chester Marquis, who’d soon be closely tied to him, Kiel gently pushed Asha, still in his arms, back a bit and began carefully inspecting his face.

“Any injuries?”

“Nothing hurts.”

He said that, but from falling and bumping around, his pale cheeks were covered in scratches. Come to think of it, his face was smudged with soot, and his clothes were filthy with dust.

Looking like a tattered steamed bun, Kiel clicked his tongue softly.

“We’ll have to knead you again. You’re pretty banged up.”

“Not that banged up. I made it this far, but the door wouldn’t open, so I was wondering what to do. Then it opened, and I knew it was you, sir.”

I knew Your Majesty would come find me, his smiling face said, so adorable that Kiel kissed Asha’s dusty, soot-streaked cheek.

“I knew I’d find you, too. Let’s go up. We need to treat those wounds first.”

“Okay. But this is the passage you used, right?”

“How’d you know?”

“I kept wandering inside, and most of the wall lamps were empty, but I saw a few half-full of oil. At first, I thought they’d all be full since I found one with oil, but most were dusty and unused, with no oil. Then I noticed a few half-full ones here and there, and I knew right away. You’d been through here. So I followed the lamps with oil, and they led me to this door.”

After over a century of disuse, most of the underground passage’s lamps had dried up, empty.

Kiel was the one who’d refilled them. Over ten years of using that path, he’d regularly topped up the oil, and it seemed that had become a marker.

Lucky break.

He’d have found Asha anywhere, but this made it quicker for Asha to find him.

“Not just cute, but clever, too.”

Kiel kissed Asha’s forehead, now tangled with cobwebs from who-knows-where, and Asha pointed at the door.

“I saw what was written inside.”

“Hm?”

“On the inside of the door, you wrote ‘The steamed bun is mine,’ didn’t you? It was your handwriting.”

“Oh, yeah. I wrote that when I was a kid. You saw it?”

“Yup.”

“Like it?”

“Yeah. So I was thinking of writing something here, too. I didn’t have anything to write with, so I came out, but I’ll come back later and write it big with paint.”

“What’ll you write?”

“It’s a secret.”

See for yourself later, Asha added, scratching his cheek shyly. That expression was so lovable that Kiel nearly pulled him into another hug, but Asha looked up, as if remembering something.

“It’s fun in there. The paths keep twisting—it’s like a maze. At first, I couldn’t get my bearings and struggled, but I want to set aside a day to explore it properly. Since it’s a wartime escape route, it’s probably connected to other places, too.”

“You know your stuff.”

“I’m perfect with theory. Let’s go together sometime.”

“Sure.”

If Asha wanted, Kiel vowed he’d explore the dark, damp, dusty underground passage as much as needed. Taking Asha’s hand, he pulled him along.

“Let’s head up. You need to wash, eat, get treated, and rest.”

“I’m fine. I slept down there.”

While the whole household—heck, the capital—was in an uproar, he’d been napping underground…

So very Asha, but in this absurd situation, Nob nearly called out to him. Just then, Kiel patted Asha’s head proudly.

“Good job. When you’re tired, you sleep.”

“Yeah. I was sleepy, so I napped and then moved again. That’s how I found it quick.”

“Right. Lack of sleep clouds your judgment. In those cases, always sleep, eat, then move.”

“But I haven’t eaten since last night, so I’m hungry.”

“Oh? That’s a problem. Let’s eat first, then. What do you want?”

“Meat. Wandering that passage made me crave meat.”

“Alright. Let’s go eat something delicious. Nob.”

Nob, dazed by their bizarre conversation, snapped to attention at Kiel’s call.

He had to pull himself together. He couldn’t lose it here.

Shaking off the nightmare-like feeling and clinging to sanity, Nob caught Kiel’s nod.

It meant, since he was holding the lamp, to go up first and light the way.

Catching Kiel’s intent instantly, Nob quickly took the lead, climbing the stairs they’d just descended.

Meanwhile, Kiel roughly turned the round disc on the heavy iron door, and it slowly closed. Once it was fully shut, he took Asha’s hand, looked down at him, and said,

“Ready to go?”

“Yup.”

Gripping the chubby hand that squeezed back, Kiel stepped toward the stairs.

And so, Asha’s disappearance seemed more or less resolved.

* * *

“Who said it’s resolved?”

At Kiel’s roar, demanding who dared decide what was resolved, Nob bowed his head, sweating coldly.

They’d barely emerged from the basement to the first floor. Seeing Asha in the bright daylight, Nob, heedless of Kiel, was horrified by his state and shoved him straight into the bathroom, ordering him to clean up. He’d planned to report that Asha had fallen into a garden trap and safely escaped the underground, but Kiel’s reaction was off.

His demeanor, more intimidating than usual, made Nob shrink, cautiously gauging him. Kiel clicked his tongue and dropped a hint.

“Asha was imprisoned. And he just dramatically escaped.”

“…What?”

How was Asha, found perfectly fine in the estate, imprisoned? Nob asked the perfectly reasonable question.

At the tactless query, Kiel frowned, as if annoyed he had to explain.

“Look, Asha was kidnapped by Alicia Paddington and locked in the estate’s basement. I just found him down there. That’s the story. Memorize it. You’ll have to testify anyway.”

The sudden talk of testimony startled Nob, who forgot decorum and stared at Kiel.

“I have to testify? Why?”

“Don’t overthink it. Just say Asha, missing since dawn, was found bloodied and, due to severe mental shock, is resting.”

In short, Kiel was ordering perjury, and Nob was horrified.

“Perjury before the high priest?”

Having grown up like a brother to Asha in the Chester Marquisate, Nob knew perjury was a grave crime. He was about to argue against being asked to commit one, but Kiel was faster.

“Perjury? Would I ask you to perjure before the high priest?”

“Then what?”

How was Asha, wandering the basement passage, kidnapped? Nob’s baffled question came as Kiel sat on Asha’s bed, beckoning with a finger. At the signal to come closer, Nob hesitated but stepped forward, and Kiel whispered conspiratorially.

“Think carefully. What just happened?”

“Well… at dawn…”

As Nob began recounting the morning’s events, Kiel cut him off.

“Skip that. From when I arrived at this annex.”

“Uh… Your Majesty went to the basement storeroom, pressed a brick, and a staircase appeared…”

Bored by Nob’s rambling recount, Kiel waved him off.

“Enough. The passage you saw is an escape route used by the high priest. Every noble house has one. The palace, too, of course. But it’s a top family secret. Should you talk about it or not?”

Revealing an estate’s underground passage was like exposing a vital weakness. The moment it’s known, a home stops being safe and becomes a public square anyone can enter.

Nob could easily deduce that much.

“Not.”

Exposing a secret passage in a house with both a prime minister and high priest? Absolutely not, Nob shook his head desperately, and Kiel smiled, pleased.

“Exactly. So what do you do?”

“Leave that part out.”

Like he was entranced, Nob gave the exact answer Kiel wanted, and Kiel snapped his fingers.

“That’s it. So what’s the story without that part?”

“…Your Majesty came to find the young master, went to the basement storeroom, opened the door, and he came running out?”

“See? You’re quick.”

That’s why I’ve had my eye on you, Kiel encouraged, and Nob puffed up proudly. But a moment later, realizing it didn’t add up, he questioned,

“…But does that make sense? That’d mean he was just hiding in the storeroom.”

“Asha was grabbed at dawn by men sent by Alicia, tortured. The plan was to drag him to the Paddington Dukedom, but he resisted fiercely, and sudden knight patrols kept them from escaping, so they hid in the basement storeroom. They locked him up and tortured him there. When things got dicey, they fled, leaving him trapped, and the moment I went down, he barely escaped.”

It sounded plausible. But…

“He doesn’t look tortured.”

Nob’s reasonable point made Kiel’s face harden.

“Doesn’t look it? His forehead and cheeks are scratched, his pale limbs bruised, a lump on his head, knees and legs scraped, cobwebs in his hair?”

That’s practically comatose, Kiel recoiled, but Nob, nodding along as if spellbound, couldn’t agree this time. Asha was banged up, sure, but it wasn’t serious. Minor scratches, fine for a bath.

Saying that was torture seemed off, and as Nob tilted his head, Kiel whispered earnestly.

“So just say it like it is—his arms, legs, face, and head were bruised and bloodied.”

“But it’s not bloodied…”

“Was there blood or not?”

Well, there was blood. Barely a drop, but still.

“…There was, but…”

“And bruises?”

“…Yes.”

“So what do you say?”

“…That the young master’s face and limbs showed bruises and blood?”

Mumbling uncertainly, overwhelmed by Kiel’s force, Nob was stunned by his own words.

It wasn’t perjury, technically. Just stating facts. Minus the details about the injuries.

In that moment, Nob realized this was distortion. Omitting a few tiny details completely twisted the truth.

That was how Kiel had lived his life.

Nob felt like he’d glimpsed Kiel’s entire existence.

“So, what do I tell the marquis?”

Uneasy but eyeing a palace chamberlain post, Nob had no choice.

It wasn’t lying. Just leaving things out. The high priest would judge.

“After Asha’s cleaned up, I’m taking him to the palace. Tell the marquis I found him and went back.”

“But the marquis is waiting for him, too…”

Recalling the marquis fainting upright at Asha’s disappearance, Nob suggested they at least show his face for courtesy, but Kiel raised his left eyebrow.

“He’ll understand.”

His tone was gentle, but somehow petulant, and Nob quickly adapted. Loyalty to the marquis remained, but Kiel came first.

After all, Kiel was the emperor… Before being a marquisate servant, he was a citizen, so obeying the emperor was right, Nob justified slyly.

“I’ll do as commanded.”

Kiel looked satisfied at Nob, as slick and socially adept as ever. And to ensure he’d never betray him, Kiel drove the final nail.

“Then I’ll see you at the palace.”

* * *

Red sunset filled the carriage window.

After spending half a day trapped underground, Asha, at Nob’s scolding, bathed and ate. That was fine, but right after, Kiel whisked him onto his carriage.

And they were heading straight from the estate to the palace.

Gazing at the estate fading beyond the sunset, Asha felt something was off.

Going to the palace was one thing, but his outfit was weird.

He’d bathed, thrown on the first pajamas he saw, and Kiel said it was fine, draping a black cloak over him and pulling him into the carriage. Even cloaked, traveling between the estate and palace in pajamas felt strange.

He went because Kiel said to, but he hadn’t heard what happened to last night’s intruders, so he wondered if it was okay to leave.

“Your Majesty.”

“Hm? What?”

“What happened to the men who broke into the estate?”

“Oh…”

“They seemed like Paddington Dukedom people.”

“You noticed?”

“Yeah. They were dumb enough to carry swords with their crest.”

At first, he’d suspected someone was framing the duke, since it was so blatant, but that didn’t seem right. They were too serious. It wasn’t a sloppy setup.

“They’ve all been sent to the palace for questioning. They’re shamelessly claiming they’re the victims. But it didn’t take long to confirm they’re the duke’s vassals, so he’s being questioned, too.”

“Good to know the culprits are caught.”

“Right.”

“But is it okay to just leave? My father and mother must be worried.”

“I sent word to the marquis and his wife, so no need to worry. You’ll see them at the palace soon. The marquisate’s dangerous for now, so you’d better stay at the palace.”

Given last night, Asha nodded readily.

“True. It did seem like they came for me.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah. If they wanted to steal, they’d hit the main building or eastern annex, not the creepy southern annex. That means I was the target.”

“Smart as always.”

“I hear that a lot.”

Kiel looked proudly at Asha’s shy smile. The little steamed bun, once only focused on food, had grown to reason and protect himself.

“You’ve grown a lot, steamed bun.”

“I was always grown.”

“Not quite… Lift your hind leg.”

Tapping his knee, Kiel gestured for Asha to put his leg up. Asha turned sideways, placing his bare leg on Kiel’s lap.

Inspecting the scraped, bruised leg, Kiel sighed regretfully.

“You’re really banged up.”

Bruises and scrapes covered his knees, calves, and thighs. Even his foot had a big bruise—nowhere was untouched.

“It’s fine. Doesn’t hurt.”

“Of course it doesn’t.”

Asha was so numb to pain, he’d probably just say “Huh?” if stabbed. Healthy as he was, he rarely got hurt, and even when he did, he brushed it off. It was almost suspicious, like something was wrong with his pain receptors.

“Your pale skin’s all blotchy. How do we patch this up…?”

The bruises would fade, but they’d leave marks for half a year. Kiel didn’t want yellowish stains on that soft, white skin.

He’d deliberately left Asha’s wounds visible under the cloak to show others, but seeing them now soured his mood.

Nob said spit would fix it, but to Kiel, they looked worse than stab wounds.

“Front paws.”

Holding out his hand, Kiel prompted, and Asha obediently placed both hands in his.

Starting with the chubby hands, Kiel scanned the scratched, scraped arms, noticing the left elbow was particularly bad, and clicked his tongue.

“Your elbow’s scraped, too.”

“It’s fine.”

“I’m not fine. I’ll call a physician, so show him.”

“Okay.”

“Anywhere else hurt?”

As Kiel examined his arms, Asha thought for a moment and nodded.

“I bumped the back of my head, but it’s fine. The bleeding stopped.”

Kiel nearly choked.

“You hit your head and bathed?”

“It’s okay. I washed off the dried blood.”

“That’s not the issue. Let me see.”

At Kiel’s urging, Asha lowered his legs from Kiel’s lap, turned around, and presented his round head.

Carefully parting Asha’s still-damp hair, Kiel found small marks on the back of his head. Thankfully, nothing major.

“Not too bad, but get it treated. Anywhere else?”

“Uh… my back. I haven’t checked, but it stung in the tub. Wanna see?”

Just as he was curious himself, Asha started peeling off his clothes. Panicking, Kiel grabbed the hem and yanked it down, urgently stopping him.

“Later.”

“Why?”

“Not now.”

“Why not?”

You saw my legs and arms, so what’s wrong with my back? Asha’s logical question came as he wore loose, tunic-like pajamas, easy to slip off. Flustered, Kiel scrambled for the best excuse.

“Not in the carriage.”

“You can’t look in a carriage?”

“It’s all shaky and dizzying. We’ll check at the palace.”

Meaning his head and reason were dizzy, Kiel implied, and Asha bought it.

“Fair enough.”

“Now lie down. It’s a bit to the palace, so you can sleep.”

To suppress rising desires, Kiel grabbed Asha’s head and pushed it onto his lap. Pulled down, Asha ended up lying across the seat, legs up, looking up at Kiel.

“I slept in the passage, so I’m not sleepy.”

“Sleep anyway. I’ve got thinking to do.”

“About what?”

“Just stuff.”

“Bad stuff or good stuff?”

“…Good for me.”

“Then who’s it bad for?”

Asha was sharp. Evolved far beyond expectations, his question got an honest answer.

“Good for some, bad for others.”

As long as it’s good for me, he left unsaid.

“Rest.”

Stroking Asha’s head, Kiel’s gentle touch worked like a spell. Asha’s eyes fluttered shut, and despite saying he wasn’t sleepy, he soon breathed deeply, fast asleep.

Since childhood, he’d been docile, sleeping anywhere his head touched ground. Knowing this, Kiel had offered his lap, and it worked like a charm.

Gazing at Asha, out cold like he’d fainted, Kiel slipped into darker thoughts.

Everything was ready now. Until yesterday, his head had been splitting with complications, but the Paddington Duke’s reckless move last night let him clear the obstacles in one go.

How to make it sound like he’d masterfully handled the dukedom? Planning step-by-step, Kiel mused.

Rip them apart, dry them out, or grind them down…

* * *

When the carriage left the Chester Marquisate and reached the palace, the sun had fully set.

Well past evening, the carriage finally passed the gates, speeding through the palace to the inner court.

Even in the rattling carriage, Asha slept soundly. Staring tirelessly at his oblivious face, Kiel wrapped the sleeping Asha in the black cloak as the carriage stopped at the inner court, lifting him up.

Once asleep, Asha wouldn’t wake if carried off, so Kiel hoisted him without hesitation, leaving his arms and legs exposed, and stepped out.

At Kiel’s appearance, the attendants waiting at the inner court’s entrance bowed in unison. Glancing at the overly courteous staff, Kiel strode forward, holding Asha prominently.

“Welcome back, Your Majesty.”

The head chamberlain, bowing respectfully at the front, froze upon seeing the arms and legs sticking out from the black bundle in Kiel’s arms.

The pale, chubby limbs were covered in blue bruises and countless scratches.

Stunned by the ragged state, the chamberlain forgot propriety and asked,

“Is that… Commander Chester?”

Is that tattered thing in your arms really your steamed bun? the question implied. Kiel replied coldly,

“Yes.”

Not overtly angry, but his short, low tone made the chamberlain look up dazedly.

Having spent forty years in the palace, practically raising Kiel, the chamberlain was seasoned enough not to flinch at most of his antics. But this was bewildering.

Even a war breaking out wouldn’t feel like this, he’d swear. This was a national crisis.

“Is he badly hurt?”

“Can’t you tell?”

The Chester Marquisate’s pristine gem, the emperor’s one and only steamed bun, returning covered in bruises? It was unprecedented.

A chill ran down his spine as the chamberlain stared blankly at Kiel entering the building.

It felt like a lot of people were going to die tonight.

* * *

Returning to his room with Asha wrapped in the cloak, Kiel laid him on the bed and carefully removed it.

Despite the tedious process, Asha slept soundly. Never sensitive, but this was honestly too oblivious.

What if someone really carried him off?

That’s why he needed to get him to the palace quick.

“Baby, baby. Baby steamed bun.”

Wondering when he’d raise this one to gobble him up, Kiel let out a heavy sigh. He kissed the plump, rounded forehead of Asha, small enough to fit in his palm, and reached to pull up the blanket. But sleeping Asha stretched out, wrapping his arms around Kiel’s neck.

Surprised by the tug but secretly pleased, Kiel stroked Asha’s head.

“Awake?”

No answer. He must be asleep. Come to think of it, Asha’s sleeping habits weren’t great.

He didn’t kick or roll off the bed, but once he latched on in his sleep, he wouldn’t let go.

It was fine when he was a kid, but as an adult, that habit was torture for Kiel, who’d sworn never to share a bed with him.

As expected, the bad habit was acting up again. Kiel tried to pry Asha’s arms off his neck, but no luck.

Asha clung stubbornly, refusing to let go.

“Asha?”

How about letting me go? he tried to say, but then Asha’s legs wrapped around his waist.

Like a frog, they clung tightly, and Kiel, pulled by Asha’s weight, barely propped himself up on his arms to avoid collapsing onto the bed.

He was heavy. And strong.

“Asha, you’re kinda heavy…”

Even Kiel’s indirect plea to let go got no response—only steady breaths, no sign of waking.

He was definitely asleep. No intent here. But it was driving him crazy.

As if Asha’s half-naked state wasn’t enough, clinging like this made Kiel want to strip down, too.

“Asha, you’ve gotta sleep alone.”

Patting his back like soothing a baby, Kiel tried to detach the arms and legs plastered to him, but it was hopeless.

Asha wasn’t big, but since childhood, he’d been called a baby Hercules for his strength. Especially his grip and leg strength—once he latched on, good luck getting free.

“Such a little thing, so strong?”

Grumbling at the fire sparking in his lower half, Kiel tried to lift himself, but Asha wouldn’t budge.

This wasn’t working. He decided to wake him.

“Asha?”

He called softly, but no response. Asha seemed unlikely to wake easily, so Kiel tried again, louder.

“Asha.”

At the higher, sharper tone, Asha’s arms twitched. Sensing he was stirring, Kiel called once more.

“Little one, time to get up.”

At the final call, Asha’s arms slid off Kiel’s neck, and soon his legs unwrapped from his waist.

Finally free, Kiel quickly rose from above Asha. Looking down, he saw Asha, just waking, staring at him with bleary eyes.

When their eyes met, Asha smiled brightly. Like he’d woken from a pleasant dream, his childlike grin left Kiel staring blankly. Asha mumbled in a dazed voice,

“Sleep with me…”

Still half-asleep, his low, soft voice made Kiel hear the snap of his reason breaking.

Marrying Asha had been Kiel’s dream since he was a blooming thirteen-year-old. After learning from his late father about a clause in the original holy law’s first edition—an exception called “gahon” allowing the emperor special marriage rights—Kiel had lived for little else. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say his life revolved around marrying Asha.

That day was now close. He couldn’t falter here.

After seventeen years of waiting, crumbling now would tarnish all that patience.

Just a bit longer. Until the wedding day.

Food tastes best when you’re starving.

To devour the beautifully puffed-up steamed bun on that promised day, Kiel gritted his teeth, summoning superhuman restraint to quell his urges.

Kiel was the type to savor delicious things last, teasing others as they drooled, eating only after everyone else was done.

“You can sleep alone, right? I’ve got some cleanup to handle.”

Afraid he’d cause trouble if he stayed, Kiel drew a line. Asha looked reluctant but nodded.

“I’m sleepy, so I’ll nap more. When’ll you be back?”

“Soon.”

“Soon when? Dinner together?”

“Don’t know when I’ll wrap up, so eat first. I’ll have your things brought, so if you’re bored, read, write wish applications, or play.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Good boy.”

Kissing Asha’s forehead despite his reluctance, Kiel got off the bed and adjusted his clothes. Watching him, Asha sat up, tousled, and suddenly called out as if remembering something.

“Oh, right, Your Majesty.”

“What?”

“My back.”

Not forgetting, Asha started to lift his short, flimsy shirt, but Kiel swiftly grabbed the blanket and wrapped him up like a burrito.

In the sweltering heat, Asha sat with only his eyes peeking out, staring at Kiel in confusion.

Even that dazed look was cute. Kissing the cheek of his prettily packaged Asha, Kiel stepped back quickly.

“Show me your back later.”

“Why?”

“Just don’t. And don’t show the physician, either.”

“Why not?”

Because the physician would fall for that adorable back, Kiel muttered inwardly, recalling Asha’s back from childhood.

Asha’s backside was perfectly hourglass-shaped, so cute anyone would want to hug it tight.

No one else could see that.

“Just don’t. I’ll check it, so only show the physician your head and legs. Ask for bruise-healing salve and use it.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Stay put and wait. Don’t roll around because you’re bored.”

“Got it.”

Satisfied with Asha’s quick reply, Kiel hurried out.

He’d gotten the steamed-bun surrender contract from the marquis, secured evidence to take down Alicia and Rubin in one blow—there was no reason to hesitate. In fact, time was critical.

He had to strike fast, catch them off guard before they could defend.

It had to be swift and decisive.

With urgent steps matching his haste, Kiel left the room, glancing at the chamberlain and knights waiting outside. To the visibly tense chamberlain, he issued orders.

“Two weeks from now, there’ll be a state wedding. The next day, another ceremony. Prepare without delay.”

The chamberlain, shocked by the back-to-back weddings, looked at Kiel as if to say, What’s this now? Kiel brushed it off, busy.

“Just know that. And prepare thoroughly.”

“Who’s getting married…?”

“You’ll find out then. Just prepare.”

Tossing out the reckless order to plan weddings without knowing the couple, Kiel ignored their confusion and strode off.

The chamberlain, left behind, was briefly rattled by the absurd command but quickly regained composure.

He hadn’t served Kiel for just a day or two. If Kiel said prepare, you prepared. A wedding where the couple didn’t know was a first, but he’d planned an engagement before, so it wasn’t hard.

Fine, whatever. He’d done everything under Kiel—this was nothing.

Resolved, the chamberlain turned in the opposite direction from Kiel’s path.

Two weddings in two weeks was tough, but it might be easier than planning them separately.

Weddings needed hands and money, and Kiel had both.

All that was left was smart planning to move them.

Determined, the chamberlain shouted for nearby attendants to gather.

Two weeks remained.

* * *

Rubin, escorted to the main palace’s reception room as a courtesy to imperial kin, kept glancing anxiously at the door.

He tried to act calm, but his legs trembled, and his eyes darted restlessly against his will.

“What the hell happened…?”

Biting his nails and muttering curses under his breath, Rubin pressed his shaking left leg down with his hand. Then his right leg started trembling.

Uneasy and ominous. Things had gone wrong—badly.

“Idiots…”

No one was here to answer his shouts about how they’d botched the job so terribly.

It started two days ago with McCain’s visit to the estate.

Rattled by McCain’s claim that Kiel was open to a state marriage, Rubin tried contacting the Mason Empire, but a sudden stomachache hit.

At first, he thought anxiety had upset his stomach, but last night, hearing that not just the messenger but the stable master and coachman had collapsed asleep, he was certain.

It was all Kiel’s doing.

Whether by curse or drug, Kiel had made him suffer humiliating diarrhea. Furious but unable to endure, Rubin called a band of thieves he’d once worked with, ordering them to kidnap Asha.

It was petty revenge against Kiel.

Snatch Asha, whom Kiel adored, to make him sweat blood for once. But it backfired spectacularly.

How incompetent do you have to be to fail at handling one tiny guy and get caught en masse?

They weren’t even his regular men—just hired help—so they spilled everything the moment they were caught. That was infuriating enough, but the bigger issue was that damned steamed bun vanishing.

He swore he had no idea where Asha had gone. The men he sent were all caught, battered and groaning, so what kind of kidnapping was this?

But with those men in custody, unless Asha reappeared, Rubin would take the fall.

Kiel, who’d fabricate witnesses or evidence if needed, now had both. Escaping wasn’t the issue anymore—it was when they’d find Asha to calm Kiel down.

Kiel was already livid over the marriage issue, and this added fuel. Rubin’s neck was practically in a noose, and Kiel could pull it anytime.

“Where the hell did he go…?”

He’d sent exactly ten men, all caught, so no one could’ve stolen that devil’s steamed bun.

So, this was an accident…

“No…”

Maybe it was another of Kiel’s traps. That steamed bun wasn’t one to vanish easily.

In truth, Rubin had plotted Asha’s elimination multiple times. Not once had he succeeded. Asha, despite appearances, was skilled, and knights always swarmed him, making kidnapping tough.

So, while sidelined, he’d sent men to deal with him, but they all vanished trying to take Asha out.

Not literally—when contact was finally made, they were farming with Asha or living idyllic lives in his knight order.

Based on experience, Rubin could swear Asha wasn’t easily taken down. That’s why he’d sent ten men.

Just to kidnap him briefly and stash him somewhere. No matter how reckless Rubin was, he wouldn’t harm the Chester Marquisate’s second son. Kiel aside, that family would flip out over Asha—no need to stir trouble.

“Ugh…”

Mid-self-justification, his stomach burned, and a thunderous rumble came from his gut.

Another wave of pain hit, and Rubin stood, heading for the door. The attendants and knights gave him dirty looks as he made his fifth bathroom trip from the reception room, but pride or dignity wasn’t the issue.

He wanted to say it wasn’t dirty since nothing was left to come out, but he had no energy for that.

Even with nothing left, he had to go. He grabbed the handle and pushed, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Huh?”

Thinking something was caught, he tried again. Same result. The door, which had opened fine moments ago, suddenly wouldn’t?

Even if he was suspected of kidnapping, he was still royalty, the emperor’s only uncle.

By imperial privilege, his questioning was a conversational affair in the reception room. No reason to lock it from outside.

This could even be deemed an insult to the crown, depending.

So, locking the door wasn’t something regular knights or attendants would dare.

Which meant…

“Oh…”

In that instant, Rubin instinctively knew.

Kiel, the steamed-bun-mouthed devil, was back.