Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 94

Chapter 94

 

Alexis summoned the attendants of the Peridot Palace in place of the utterly dazed Cecil.

At the sound of the bell being pulled, six attendants filed in one after another. Judging by how calm they remained even upon seeing the Crown Prince, it seemed they already knew that Alexis had returned temporarily.

“Your Highness, I’ll have the bathwater heated immediately.”

“Shall we bring your meal here?”

“Yes, I’ll eat with you. I’d also like some clothes to change into.”

“Understood. We’ll prepare them.”

The exchange was easy and familiar. Alexis treated Cecil’s attendants as though he were used to them, and the attendants, in turn, served the Crown Prince without the slightest awkwardness.

The only one left utterly bewildered was Cecil. He followed the attendants’ busy movements with his eyes, then turned his head back toward Alexis. When their gazes met, Alexis asked with a smile as bright as the sun.

“What is it? Still can’t believe it?”

“……”

“Are you not fully awake yet?”

“…I’ll go wash up.”

As if fleeing, Cecil headed for the bathroom. When he checked the mirror mounted on the wall, his face was a mess. His hair stuck out in every direction, and both cheeks were flushed red, like someone running a high fever.

He traced his slightly swollen lips with his fingers. It still felt as though Alexis’s tongue had swept over them.

The attendants, who had just finished filling the bath, tilted their heads in confusion when they saw Cecil standing frozen before the mirror.

“Is something the matter? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

“No, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

While Cecil brushed his teeth with mint-mixed salt, the attendants finished preparing the bath and withdrew. Finally alone, Cecil rinsed his mouth and scrubbed his still-burning face with both palms. At this point he should have come to his senses, but as if his thoughts were paralyzed, his mind was completely blank.

He stepped straight into the tub and submerged his whole body. The thin bathrobe quickly turned translucent and clung tightly to him. Inside the tub, he splashed water over his face again and again.

The sleepiness was completely gone now, yet Cecil still couldn’t accept reality. And that was only natural.

“This makes no sense. Alexis… loves me?”

Did love and cherish mean the kind of love he was thinking of? Did Alexis truly feel the same way about him?

Knock, knock. With the sound of knocking, the door opened and footsteps approached from behind. Assuming it was the head attendant, Cecil rested his heavy head against the rim of the tub.

“Haa… Leo. Wash my hair for me.”

His head was too tangled to even lift a hand. As he closed his eyes and let himself go slack, footsteps drew closer. He sensed someone preparing to attend to his bath.

A viscous liquid poured down over his head with a soft slosh, as if liquid soap had been dispensed. Fingers then slipped smoothly between his wet hair.

The length of the fingers, the pressure against his scalp—everything was different from Leo’s. More than that, his sensitive sense of smell caught Alexis’s scent mixed in with the soap. Cecil opened his eyes at once. Reflected upside down in his vision was Alexis’s face, looking down at him.

Cecil’s eyes widened. Alexis, as if he’d expected this reaction, smiled and continued washing his hair.

“If someone confesses, the least you can do is say whether you like it or not. Running away isn’t fair.”

“……”

“You’re looking at me like that again. What, do you think I’m lying to you?”

“No… it’s not that, but.”

“You said you love me too. So what’s the problem? It’s not like your feelings suddenly cooled off.”

Alexis dabbed some of the foam on Cecil’s nose. The white, cream-like bubbles settled on the nicely shaped tip of his nose, making Cecil look like something sweet enough to eat.

Before he knew it, Alexis was pouring clean water over his head. His touch as he rinsed away the foam was incredibly gentle. Feeling every bit of it, Cecil still looked utterly confused.

“If that’s the case, then try loving me again. I’m tall, and I’d say I’m fairly handsome—do you think there’s another man in the empire besides me who fits your taste, Cecil?”

Alexis’s shameless self-praise felt strangely unfamiliar. Cecil hesitated, then straightened his upper body and turned fully around.

“You’re teasing me right now, aren’t you? This is all a joke, right?”

“Not at all. I’m earnestly courting you.”

Brushing aside Cecil’s dripping bangs, Alexis carefully watched his reaction. His tone grew more serious.

“What would it take for you to believe me? Was abandoning the imperial army and rushing here not enough?”

“…….”

“Tell me, Cecil. Whatever you want, I can give it to you.”

“That you like me…”

Cecil swallowed. He was so nervous his vision swam, his lips trembling faintly. He forced out the words that had been circling his mouth.

“…Does that mean romantic love? Like… wanting to kiss you, hold you close. Wanting to be intimate… that kind of affection?”

“Of course.”

Alexis stepped into the tub. With a loud splash, his long arm wrapped around Cecil’s waist. Now equally soaked, Alexis pulled Cecil’s hand over and placed it atop his left thigh.

A clear outline could be felt through the trousers. Because the fabric was wet, the heat contained within pressed vividly against his palm. The hardened flesh was unmistakable proof.

“Do you need more evidence?”

“…Since when.”

“Since I got aroused? Or since I started liking you?”

Honestly, he wanted to know both. Cecil slowly lifted his gaze from where it had been fixed on the solid thigh.

Their eyes met. In Alexis’s gaze, filled with fierce passion, blue flames flickered.

Startled, Cecil reflexively curled his fingers. The moment he grasped the thickly risen outline, it was as if that alone served as a signal—Alexis immediately crashed their lips together.

Hot breaths mingled as heated bodies entwined. Staggering under the intensity of the kiss, Cecil clutched at Alexis’s neck and actively offered him his tongue.

Inside the tub, cut off from the rest of the world, only raw desire surged. They cast aside the dignity of royalty and, driven by hunger, devoured each other greedily. As rough breaths filled the air, the water in the tub sloshed relentlessly as well.

It was a full hour later when the two finally emerged from the bathroom.

Cecil was completely spent, and Alexis’s clothes were soaked through. All they had done was confirm their feelings, yet both their faces were flushed red, as though they had engaged in full intercourse.

The attendants pretended not to notice as they helped them change. In the meantime, the meal had been prepared. By the window where sunlight poured in most brightly, a tempting spread of dishes awaited them.

“Don’t leave anything. Eat it all.”

Alexis transferred bite-sized portions onto a large plate. Creamed potatoes, peas braised in sauce, grilled mushrooms, and tenderly boiled chicken piled up until there was hardly any empty space left.

Cecil frowned at the plate set before him. For someone who had only just resumed normal meals, it was far too much.

“I can’t eat all of this.”

“It’s just one plate. It’s not much.”

“I don’t even eat this much normally.”

“That’s why you should eat more. You’re too thin. When I hold you, it hurts because all I feel are bones.”

“Your Highness.”

Cecil set down his cutlery. The clink against the plate sounded oddly sharp.

“What.”

In contrast, the voice that answered was warm to the point of gentleness. The eyes looking at Cecil were full of affection.

“The attendants can hear everything.”

“So?”

Alexis tilted his head and asked Leo, who stood nearby.

“Head attendant. Is that a problem?”

“Not at all, Your Highness.”

Leo replied nonchalantly as he tilted a silver water pitcher. He even winked at Cecil, sending him a signal whose meaning he couldn’t quite decipher.

“There you have it.”

“This is ridiculous. Since when did everyone but me become part of the same conspiracy?”

“A conspiracy? They’re all just people who care about you.”

Alexis said calmly as he placed the fork and knife back into Cecil’s hands.

“Now eat. That way we can at least go for a short walk.”

Alexis would soon have to return to the battlefield. Remembering how little time he’d managed to spare, Cecil couldn’t bring himself to complain any further.

He picked up the cutlery again and diligently began cutting his food. It wasn’t a small amount, but he kept putting bite after bite into his mouth.

Watching him, Alexis wore a relaxed smile. He himself ignored his own meal and simply observed Cecil.

So this is what it means to feel full just by watching someone eat, he realized, vividly experiencing that embarrassingly clichéd expression.

After the meal, Alexis changed back into his uniform and took Cecil with him toward the small path at Rias. Before leaving, he wanted to spend at least a little time alone together.

The path, reserved solely for royalty, was quiet both day and night. Which also meant there was no one to watch them.

Even so, Cecil kept glancing around nervously, conscious of eyes that weren’t there. He widened the distance between himself and Alexis as they walked side by side, and often lagged behind, unable to match his pace.

“Cecil.”

Alexis, who had been walking ahead, stopped and half turned his body.

“If it’s hard to walk, should I carry you?”

“No.”

“Come here.”

Despite his slightly strict tone, the way he looked after Cecil was nothing but gentle. When their palms met and their fingers interlaced tightly, Cecil couldn’t help the corners of his mouth from lifting into a grin.

Seeing that, Alexis smiled as well, tightening his grip on their joined hands.

“You like it this much.”

“…Yes. I do.”

“Be honest with me, at least.”

“Will you really accept everything?”

“I will.”

“Even if I act insolent?”

Their steps paused. Alexis tilted his head and lightly sucked on Cecil’s lips.

“That’s what I want.”

The kiss, like a wordless permission, made Cecil laugh. Their halted steps resumed, slow and unhurried, and conversation flowed as they strolled.

“Claude and Yuria’s wedding will be held before long. It would be best if the war ends before then, but even if it doesn’t, the ceremony will go on.”

“Sounds like there’s at least one person who can’t wait any longer.”

Alexis laughed in agreement. Ever since Claude had received Alexis’s approval of their relationship, he’d been beside himself with excitement. That energy had even carried onto the battlefield—watching him charge alone through enemy lines was like seeing Ares, the god of war himself.

“And the Vandell family… they approved the marriage?”

“Not just approved. They welcomed it. The nanny had always been fond of Yuria.”

“There’ll be some gossip.”

“She’ll be the future duchess. At worst, people will try to curry favor—there won’t be anyone bold enough to tear her down.”

That was a relief. Cecil felt his heart ease considerably.

“Claude really is amazing. In the end, he gets to spend his life with the woman he loves.”

“You knew too?”

“How could I not? He made it so obvious.”

Alexis chuckled softly.

“Unlike someone else, Claude can’t hide his feelings very well.”

“Who are you comparing him to? …You don’t mean me, do you?”

“Of course I do. You’re remarkably good at deceiving people. If I hadn’t been caught on that day, I’d probably still have no idea how you felt.”

“…That’s true.”

“Should I be thanking the Empress?”

He stopped walking again. Forgetting the stroll, he turned to face Cecil fully. His tone, stripped of jest, grew serious.

“I plan to attend the wedding.”

“You should. It’s Claude and Yuria’s wedding.”

“And you, Cecil, must attend as well.”

Those blue eyes held only Cecil. It was the gaze one gave to something precious.

“You will attend that day not as royalty, but as my lover.”

“…….”

“I want you to be my partner.”

For a long moment, Cecil looked at Alexis. Dressed in his uniform, he looked more splendid than ever, and the conversation they shared on this quiet path made his heart race enough to feel like a dream.

Perhaps this was the last blessing he would be allowed before death.

He squeezed the hand he was holding as tightly as he could.

“I will gladly go with you.”