A Tale of Strategies For the Throne

At noon, the bright sunlight shines in from the skylight and falls on the face of the young man who has been sleeping for a long time.

Suddenly, the eyelashes moved, and Garlan slowly opened his eyes.

The familiar scenery of the bedroom came into his eyes, and the smell of rich soup lingered faintly on the tip of his nose.

He was not lying down. It seemed that someone had lifted him up from his deep sleep and sat him on the bed.

He turned his head and looked out the window.

The sun was shining brightly outside the window, and by the pool in the courtyard, large swathes of lavender hyacinths were swaying gently in the warm wind.

The stone statue of Isdar, the goddess of stars, stands in the center of the courtyard, and the fountain falling from her body scatters in the air.

When Garlan looked out the window at the beautiful scenery shrouded in sunlight, a golden pottery bowl containing pitch-black potion was handed to him.

He turned back subconsciously and saw the female official who had brought the medicine bowl to him standing beside the bed, looking at him with slightly curved eyes.

"Tapti..."

Tapti had just helped Garlan up, then turned back to pick up the bowl of steaming potion.

As soon as she turned around, she saw Garlan looking out the window with his eyes open.

After being startled for a moment, a faint smile appeared on Tapti's face. She did not call him out loud, but gently walked to the bedside and handed the medicine bowl in her hand to the prince.

The female official looked at Garlan with gentle eyes and said, "Prince, drink the medicine."

Garlan hummed, took the medicine bowl, and drank all the bitter potion.

The potion was so bitter that it made his tongue numb. He put down the bowl and his pretty face wrinkled up.

Tapti smiled as he took the bowl, stretched out his hand and stuffed a small piece of sweet cheese cake into the frowning boy's mouth.

The rich milk flavor spreads in the mouth, and it is sweet, covering all the bitterness in the mouth.

Garlan sat back on the bed and chewed the cake in his mouth obediently.

The sweet taste seemed to relax his whole body, and together with the sunshine, it brought a warm feeling.

Suddenly, someone's face flashed across his memory.

"...Tapti."

"yes?"

"Heimos...he has always been here, hasn't he?"

"Yes, Prince, he has always been by your side." Tapti replied, "It was just before you woke up that his subordinates came to see him, so he just went to the next room."

She asked, "Shall I help you call him over now?"

Garlan shook his head.

"Taputi, just wait here."

After he finished speaking, he got out of bed and walked quickly out of the bedroom.

In order to cover up the news that he was ill, the maids and attendants were strictly ordered to stay outside the palace and could not come in easily without permission, so the hall was empty at the moment and there was no one else.

Garlan looked around, then walked straight to the only closed room on the left side of the hall.

Just when he walked to the door and reached out to push it open, a rather fierce voice came out.

"Are you really going to give up like this-"

Garlan's hand was pressed against the door, but he stopped and did not push hard.

He stood at the door, a little at a loss, feeling like he couldn't advance or retreat.

Unlike the huge doors outside the palace, the doors inside the palace are mainly beautiful and light. Most of them are hollow and carved with patterns, and there is almost no sound blocking.

Therefore, at this moment of hesitation, all the subsequent dialogue inside had already reached his ears.

"...I feel bad."

Finally, the familiar deep voice came from inside.

Garlan's hand on the door paused.

After a while, he took back his hand and turned around to leave, as if he had never been here before.

…………

After letting Suojia leave, Heimos returned to the bedroom. As soon as he opened the translucent gauze curtain, he raised his head and met the pair of golden pupils looking towards him.

Bright eyes are like golden gems placed in the sun.

It was at noon, when the sun was at its brightest, and the whole room was bright.

The young man was sitting on the bed, with fair skin and long golden hair scattered from his shoulders, reflecting the sunlight, as if the whole body of the young man sitting at this moment was glowing with golden light.

That scene was indescribably beautiful.

The corners of Heymos' lips raised slightly, and he stepped forward, stood beside the bed, and leaned down.

He put his hand on Garlan's forehead and tested the temperature there.

"The fever is gone."

he said, scanning the room.

"Where's Tapti?"

"...She guarded me for two days. It was too hard, so I asked her to rest."

Because he wanted to talk to Heimos alone, Gallan sent Tapti away on purpose.

Heimos hummed casually and did not ask any further questions. He actually didn't care about the whereabouts of the female official. The reason why he asked was simply because he couldn't see that there was no one to take care of Garlan.

He took back his hand and suddenly saw a hint of crimson on his fingers from the corner of his eye.

He raised his hand to look, then raised his eyes to look at Garlan, and suddenly smiled.

Garlan was still wondering why he was laughing so suddenly, but Heimos had already raised his crimson finger to him.

"Look, you're so burned that the Shamash rune on your forehead melted."

Because he had a low fever, the temperature on Garlan's forehead was not low, and he was constantly sweating, which actually smudged the crimson pigment that was not easy to fade.

Heimos rubbed his brow.

He said: "I don't know if it is infected here."

When Heimos said this, Garlan subconsciously looked at Heimos' forehead.

The dark forehead hair was pushed aside by Heymos' own fingers, revealing the cyan God of War rune painted on his forehead.

At that glance, Garlan was embarrassed to find that the cyan runes were indeed stained with a faint crimson color.

The blurred scarlet traces and cyan lines intertwined together, immediately reminding Garlan of last night.

At that time, when he couldn't control his tears, Heimos kept pressing each other's foreheads lightly, as if passing on the power.

His hand was holding his cheek, as if silently supporting him.

The more protected it is, the more fragile it becomes.

Perhaps it was because the hand stroking his head was so gentle that he couldn't stop crying.

[From now on, you can only bow down to others - you, who should be looking down on all living beings, can only kneel at that person's feet and look up to him humbly. 】

These words suddenly rang in his ears again, making Garlan's chest suddenly tighten.

"Heimos."

"Um?"

"You said you wanted the throne."

"Yes, I said that."

"..."

Garlan remained silent and did not continue speaking.

He is very aware of Heymos' obsession with the throne.

This powerful man has never been one who is willing to submit to others. The bottomless ambition and desire in his body make this man long for the throne.

Even though he had become the crown prince, Heimos never gave up the idea of ​​getting it.

This time would have been a great opportunity.

Because he presided over the defense battle of the royal city, the entire royal city's military strength was completely in the hands of Heimos.

Although he has returned with an army, it will be difficult to take over the royal city for a while. The royal city is still in the hands of Heimos. Especially since he immediately fell ill and fell into a coma upon his return.

At that time, as long as Heimos directly disclosed his illness, and then imprisoned himself in the name of recuperation - an extremely legitimate reason, it would be difficult for Xie Muer and the others to resist.

At that time, for Heimos, the throne was within easy reach.

However, Heimos gave up this opportunity.

Best chance.

Maybe it's the only chance.

And that reason...

Garlan raised his head and looked into Heimos' eyes.

Those golden-red eyes were like gems burning in flames. They were beautiful, but also extremely dangerous.

It seemed that in the next second, he would be swallowed up by the dangerous flames and burned to death.

But those dangerous eyes always wrapped around him tenderly when they looked at him.

[You gave up your throne for that person, but you may not be able to get that person in the future - wouldn't you be unwilling to do so? 】

"Heimos, I know what you mean to me."

Garlan's fingers tightened slightly on the thin blanket on his body, and he lowered his eyes. For some reason, he did not dare to meet Heymos's eyes again.

"But, I still..."

he whispered,

"I still……"

This man gave up the throne that was within his reach for him.

It is impossible to say that he was not touched by this in his heart.

For so long, he and Heimos have always been tightly entangled, whether it was the fear and hatred in the previous life, or the relief and growing concern in this life.

His feelings for Heimos were really mixed with too many things and too complicated, so much so that he himself couldn't understand them.

So his choice was to stop.

He chose to stop at a safe distance.

However, compared to when he stopped, Heimos had always put all his passionate feelings in front of him without reservation.

Infected by that kind of passionate emotion, occasionally, he seemed to have a little heartbeat.

But he knew that was just a little bit.

The complex feelings towards Heimos overwhelmed that little heartbeat.

Now, I feel a little more guilty.

"Sorry, I can't answer you."

Garlan whispered.

"I don't know what the future will be like, I don't know if I will have the same intention as you in the future...I can't guarantee any of this."

"So, I still can't..."

Huymos paid a lot for him, so much that he felt unbearable.

Sometimes he couldn't help but think that maybe there was nothing wrong with accepting Heimos.

However, that thought just passed away.

He understands.

His reason for wanting to accept Heimos was indeed a bit moving, but it was more out of guilt and wanting to make up for Heimos' contribution.

He didn't want to do anything stupid like this.

If he really accepted Heimos for this reason, that would be the most cruel act.

Garlan shook his head and said softly. He lowered his head and couldn't see Heimos's expression at the moment.

But now he felt like he couldn't breathe.

"Did you hear the conversation between Suojia and me?"

Heimos's voice came from above.

Garlan paused, still not raising his head, and just hummed lowly.

"Really, you heard it, so you feel sorry because I gave up the throne for you, and you feel guilty towards me, right?"

"…………"

The young man pursed his lips, fisted the blanket tightly with his fingers, and said nothing.

"Garlan."

Heimos leaned forward deeply, his hands pressing on the edge of the bed.

He leaned forward and stared at Garlan, who had his head lowered.

"Have you ever thought about..."

The corners of his lips suddenly raised.

"You can hear the voices inside the door, and the people inside the door..."

He said, with a little smile in his eyes.

"Don't forget, my hearing is far better than ordinary people, including you."

With one word, Garlan suddenly raised his head. He opened his eyes wide and looked at Heimos in astonishment.

"You, you... know that I, I..."

He was so stunned that he began to stutter when speaking.

"Well, I know you are at the door. I heard your footsteps."

Huymos admitted flatly.

He looked at the young man's dazed look, moved his face closer, and put his lips to the ear with rough lapis lazuli earrings.

"...'I feel bad'."

he said softly.

The low, slightly hoarse voice only became more beguiling.

The man's inexplicably dangerous voice, accompanied by the breath exhaled from his thin lips, seemed to penetrate into the deepest part of the eardrum, paralyzing the brain for a moment.

Garlan's whole body froze immediately.

The next second, he covered his ears almost reflexively and shrank to the side.

"Don't talk in my ear!"

He covered his right ear and glared at the guy who deliberately leaned close to his ear and spoke in such a seductive tone.

He gritted his teeth bitterly, and the fingers of his right hand tightly covered the tip of his ear, which was hot and red from the hot breath exhaled from the other party's lips.

"Did you tell me on purpose at that time?"

"Actually, it's not intentional."

Heimos shrugged his shoulders and answered without any secret, "It's just that I didn't hide it."

Whether Garlan came or not, he answered Suojia with the same words.

He looked at Garlan and said, "I just think that since I am telling the truth anyway, there is no need to deliberately avoid you and prevent you from hearing me."

Heymos' words made Garlan startled for a moment. He thought about it hesitantly, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer.

"You have given so much, but you have to hide it from the other person, so that the other party doesn't know what you have given... Do you think I would do this kind of fool who only moves himself?"

"..."

Absolutely not.

“So, I’m going to tell you what’s on my mind frankly and let you know, what’s wrong with that?”

"…………"

Well, it seems... indeed... nothing is wrong.

Garlan always felt as if his thinking was being distracted by the plausive Heymos.

He shook his head to clear his mind.

He said: "But, Heimos, you..."

As soon as Garlan started speaking, he was interrupted by the other party's stretched out hand.

Heimos leaned over the bed, his eyes level with Garlan. He stretched out his hand, caressed Garlan's cheek, and dug his fingertips into the golden hair behind his ears.

"Garlan, giving up the throne is my own choice."

he said, looking calm.

"Everyone is responsible for their own choices. Now that I have made a choice, no matter what the future holds, whether I can get what I want is my own business."

His golden-red eyes reflected Garlan's shadow deeply, he said.

"You are not responsible for my decision."

…

He has been thinking a lot, and he has been struggling and wandering since the battle on the Lomar Plains.

The war is over, and the next step must be to decide who will own the throne.

Either him or Garlan.

If he is really ruthless, he may not be able to snatch the throne from Garlan.

He understands Garlan. Although Garlan has now made up his mind to sit on the throne, if he must fight for it, Garlan will give up the throne if he is not willing to let Aaron Landis, who has gone through hardships, be destabilized by internal fighting again.

However, the throne was Garlan's promise to the late King Kamoth.

If Garlan didn't care much about the throne in the past, then after King Camos left, the throne has become equal to the existence of King Camos in Garlan's heart.

If he takes away the throne, although Garlan will give up, his feelings for him will probably be lost overnight, and he will never be as close as before.

Gallan may stay with him temporarily for Aaron Landis and assist him in governing the country. But when the kingdom is completely stable, he will definitely leave him.

Apart from coercion, he had no other way to keep Garlan by his side.

But if force was really used...from that moment on, he would completely lose Garlan.

forever.

Irredeemable.

At this time, he suddenly remembered that dream again.

Under the dark night, the sharp arrow with cold light pierced the back of the young man riding the horse.

The young man fell off the horse, his blond hair was soaked in the mud, blood seeped out, and his body became cold little by little...

Garlan died in that dark night.

…

He longs for the high throne.

He wants it.

Although he was in love with Garlan, he had never thought of giving up the throne for Garlan.

Until the moment he saw the boy's cold corpse in that extremely real dream——

Just like what he said to Suojia who blocked him when he desperately chose to return to the royal city from the north.

[If he is gone...everything in this world means nothing to me anymore. 】

[…Including Aaron Landis. 】

…………

"Heimos?"

Seeing Heimos staring at him without speaking for a long time, Garlan called him in confusion.

Waking up from his memories, Heimos raised his eyes, and Garlan, who was sitting on the bed, looked at him with his eyes open.

The boy's body he was touching now was so soft and warm.

The golden pupils were bright and vibrant, reflecting his shadow clearly.

That is an existence more beautiful than all the gems in the world.

Heimos' eyes slightly curved.

throne.

Garlan.

From the beginning, the two were not equal.

The throne was his desire, something he wanted to hold in his hands.

——But it is just a thing after all.

But the young man looking at him with his eyes open was his entire world.

"Um."

Heimos hummed, responding to Garlan's voice calling him.

"No need to worry, no need to rush, we still have a long time."

He said, his eyes gentle.

"The future is still very long. From now on, I will always be by your side. I will not force you to do anything. I will wait until the day you accept me."

Gallan hesitated for a moment and whispered, "If I can't accept it all the time... No, if I can't accept your words for a long time..."

"I'll hold."

The young man looked at him with a little confusion in his eyes.

"Even if... you still have to wait?"

Heimos smiled.

He leaned over and kissed the forehead with crimson runes.

He held Garlan's head in his hands, lowered his head, and buried his lips in the soft golden hair.

He spoke, his voice low and almost like a whisper.

"'My heart beats for you'..."

"...'My soul exists because of you'..."

These two sentences come from a ballad that was said to be born together with Avdormir, the goddess of love and beauty, and spread in the land of Aaron Landis.

It was the song of Avdormir's wooing to the beautiful young man who had stolen all her love.

The goddess was madly in love with the beautiful boy, and was even willing to dedicate her eternal life as a god to him.

"I'll wait."

Heimos whispered to the person in his arms,

"One year, ten years, a hundred years...even a thousand years doesn't matter..."

The man's stern eyebrows were gentler than anything else at this moment.

"I'll keep waiting."

The author has something to say: After eating the candy

sleep happily