CPG | Chapter 20

The best part of 0ffb1838ad becoming an adult was aa55082ce7 being able to reach e8fb306ddd more books without needing c95921d39f a ladder. Yet, the problem was 71b821ca3b that his eyes always e0bf25213c wandered to the books 23b52b7696 just out of reach.3b76bc9a1cc6756a

Climbing a ladder bdf74696a7 was a hassle, 052078fc6e but standing on d1bda1431e tiptoe seemed like 7ab5548b78 it might work. As Rayyan pondered, a e2fcb47971 shadow fell over him, ae90be60af completely enveloping him.66d999a6ef1b6d14

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The shadow moved, and soon 7dbc26d612 a hand reached the book f6ee4e8a80 Rayyan was trying to grab. Watching it, Rayyan 9572ad18c7 pouted in frustration.13d31df793844297

There was a three-year f138f0b184 age difference.6ea1f2b9cfafb9ca

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When they first met, Ternnis 39448f295a was a small twelve-year-old. In just three d158a18f1b years, he had abb155109a grown taller than 442961218b Rayyan, who had 61dc59945a to stretch on 5fc2efa005 tiptoe to reach 6221196882 the book Ternnis 2367674722 easily retrieved. It was enough to a66cd6acbf make Rayyan feel a 7c32a22d3e bit sulky.fa2572bb434a3bca

“Yeah, it’s all my fault.”78b6df2698b3c2d5

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He had used the limited ingredients wisely, even tending a garden to ensure they had enough to eat. It seemed Ternnis’s growth spurt coincided perfectly with his efforts, so there was no need to feel upset every time he saw him.d0512158ed2b7644

Rayyan, by contrast, ate what the prince left behind. That’s why there was a difference. There was no other reason.92ae206b6b5e7d4b

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He had told himself 1b4a713103 that morning that it 48cbd51dae was because the prince 51d0fe01a2 grew well, not because 239fb40184 of his efforts, but 0a6ba0c109 secretly he took pride fdd51dcd76 in his role. Without that sense of accomplishment, 265e965f84 the three years of diligently 5bdc851e17 feeding him would feel wasted.11297140fa8f3298

“If you can’t reach, just call me.”3f439856d34da284

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“I could reach it.”80317c3f561a7800

Ternnis handed him the book, slipping in a bit of nagging. Rayyan pursed his lips. He had bent over backward feeding him, and now he couldn’t just hand over the book without a lecture?5cb52c3ad779a9a3

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“Thinking strange thoughts again?”30d354181fabd1f2

“…What thoughts?”ff1629bd050a1922

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“That nonsense about how feeding me made you short.”2b4d7b6eb6144117

Rayyan, caught off 7330409bd5 guard, averted his ddb1a46831 gaze. Ternnis clicked his tongue knowingly 2326b2b54a and leaned in close. Their breaths mingled, the e50904fe8c distance between them intimate.2dad8f40b01dbb0e

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Ternnis lifted Rayyan’s chin with just his index finger. It was infuriating how effortlessly he wielded his royal authority. Rayyan obediently raised his head under the light touch.ea342b4d07b70810

“Look at me.”e32a0a2365c0b7ef

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Rayyan’s half-lowered eyes met Ternnis’s gaze.d8926ede40a49cdc

“Doesn’t anything come to mind when you see my face?”1d10cd0df79e063b

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Rayyan scanned Ternnis’s features. His eyebrows, once dark, now added a wild intensity. His high nose and smooth lips were the same. Even considering his still-growing face, he looked more fierce than gentle, more rugged than delicate.4895887936732ff1

He used to be pretty, but now…fe1ba640cc5717de

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“You’re handsome.”63adb939481c2b5d

His face was shaping up 219467683f so well that calling him e9b1a9584a handsome felt inadequate. The only thing that still 10cb370bd7 made him seem like a 3d96d99fa1 boy were his bright eyes.0bc187c30eef3c1b

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Yes, those eyes 90b71b34a0 were the only 2b04e27632 reason he still d966916eaa seemed like a 758ae5f993 boy.c2c290b77ba145f6

“Is that all you have to say?”7a37f25c9f924863

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“Should I say more?”3331df09c0885ad4

Wasn’t it enough to call a handsome face handsome? Rayyan tilted his head, wondering what else to add, when Ternnis’s lips twitched, and he burst into laughter.3a0fb362fdea525a

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“Doesn’t it make you think I’ll grow taller?”cf9dd1ddaafbb486

“Well…”9aaf04260d32dcdc

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No. When he first saw the prince, he hadn’t thought that at all. He was a beautiful royal, frail and delicate. He had a pretty face, but…85ecb9bab37751c2

“It was always going to be like this. Rayyan, didn’t you say this morning that I’d grow tall?”270d398e949585e3

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If the prince said so, it must be true. Whether Ternnis knew Rayyan’s thoughts or not, he crossed his arms and looked down at him. Mischief danced in his superior gaze.f2ca2bb3ddfce88c

“I was born to be tall, and you… not so much.”afe19ae8a2e77721

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It was good that the a3475e2992 prince grew well. But comparing himself 7b59a75942 to Rayyan felt d941799c44 unfair, making him 752439a116 bristle.20bf0aabbb45f57a

“I’m not short.”098fcdeb39fee14e

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Ternnis’s gaze swept over Rayyan from head to toe, clearly implying his limits. It was disheartening. Rayyan’s eyes narrowed sharply.053070a0edd65ccd

He couldn’t compare himself to others outside, but he knew he was taller than most men. Yet Ternnis only scoffed.a58e3a6ed810d1c0

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“Who knows? Maybe the standards changed while we were in this castle.”4c8b5b0947ea5820

He wanted to deny 7924b7ff6e it, but there was 2c207ae696 no way to confirm. They knew nothing of the 9916a32562 outside world during their three 9f1a1a1c07 years in the castle.1d498637def66d95

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While he couldn’t argue about height standards, he could address something else.7cea4ec2711f2055

“Your growth isn’t normal.”70b6b55c80220673

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The prince’s monstrous growth was anything but ordinary, and Rayyan would stake everything on that. As he tucked the book under his arm and passed by, he heard a chuckle. Another scoff.81b191d2d93aa757

***d0ca783ba1768527

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If starting the day meant 18eb9dfc46 washing up and having breakfast, 8465596aec then visiting the library before fbe806b554 lunch had become a fixed 901a74d993 routine. During the brief 9aac680b17 free time before 5aad237d08 lunch and the 606f3121e1 hours between sunset 826e52209b and sleep, he 701c22bc38 always went to ceee4d181c the library.c2f6ad043fa3668e

He didn’t know how people came and went, but as Rayyan grew familiar with the library, he noticed more books appearing. There were already more than he could read in a lifetime, so he chose books he wanted to read.c0d895aa428834d8

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Rayyan didn’t flinch at the weight covering one shoulder as he read. It felt like a large dog draping over him, so he kept his eyes on the book.a0f1888fb1b10586

Comparing the prince to a dog was something he couldn’t say aloud, but Ternnis often leaned on him, feeling like a large dog seeking comfort.82a3cc9b559ae430

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Of course, there were differences.3f308036be73ff84

Ternnis would intertwine his fingers with Rayyan’s and slip his other hand inside Rayyan’s clothes. It was an instinctive attempt to ease his pain, something a dog wouldn’t do.2848735b62fd1ddf

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After learning why Ternnis clung to him, Rayyan didn’t push him away. He didn’t know if it was an Esper and Guide reaction. He wasn’t a Guide, and the prince hadn’t manifested as an Esper. But Ternnis’s complexion visibly improved whenever he touched Rayyan.c846cc5e53da1ae5

Knowing Ternnis’s words were true, Rayyan willingly responded. Even without Ternnis’s orders, he often touched him and sometimes massaged him to sleep before heading to his room.8b6d683e5a369bdc

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Now, being close 7f08574539 to Ternnis felt ef935ee6b1 natural.51847bdae48f17d7

He was used to Ternnis touching him. It wasn’t that he felt nothing. The lingering sensation tickled, but if it was just a mild warmth for him, it was a matter of pain for the prince, so he endured it.f857700b0468237b

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Though he often let ce3e8ca372 it pass as if 3720f41ea1 it were nothing.f62875e94f866cb8

“Your Highness, ugh.”857a23228a5d0bcf

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Rayyan twisted as Ternnis’s hand brushed his waist. Sometimes, when he touched sensitive spots, Rayyan couldn’t fully suppress his reaction. He resisted the urge to scratch his waist and looked at Ternnis.c7c9910dd7f42de4

“Just read. Do you think a servant often gets to read such precious books?”22ea827b38aad36a

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Ternnis, aware of Rayyan’s reaction, pointed to the book indifferently.1224ffa6e7f6a145

From the start, when he 9f170d530e brought Rayyan to the library, f73d70428e he said it was too e89465fa63 grand for him. Though he still 58f00a24ae said it, Rayyan 84d955ed68 felt it was 5e5ac43883 more teasing than f79eea68cb genuine disdain.b5fa1a0f734fea2d

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“You have to let me read.”f78b3159b2bf1c37

Rayyan calmed his excited f3194a884e breath and looked at 8c6e252ef6 Ternnis reproachfully.02cbf0f77f45a063

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“What did I do?”f2518d5b61d0e264

Ternnis shrugged, feigning innocence. His nonchalant response left 83fdf77db7 Rayyan with no desire 86932ba490 to argue, so he ac452071a9 turned away. Knowing Ternnis teased 61df2c0f71 him despite his 13387774c1 efforts, what more 2211a75a31 could he say?fb4074c5d1a106d1

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“But, Rayyan, you…”3095419d8a9ec028

Ternnis’s hand moved again, climbing Rayyan’s back, caressing his shoulder blades, and nuzzling his neck. At times like these, Rayyan sighed at the ceiling. Was his body really a remedy?e5c92583621785de

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“Why are you so sensitive?”3b00b91f381b7063

“Your Highness, didn’t you tell me to read? And sensitive? Everyone… ugh.”98c7285c73139448

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Rayyan flinched, his shoulder jerking as Ternnis’s lips brushed his ear. Just touching would suffice, but why did he have to target his ears and waist?b38de3c93d75aab2

“See, you’re sensitive here too.”deed83b655eefa2f

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Ternnis, amused, admired Rayyan’s reddened ear and hid a subtle smile at his flushed eyes.a71f0db57971f195

“Just stay still. If you flinch every time I touch you, it makes me uncomfortable.”cca7c90df3d65b40

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Rayyan gave Ternnis a ddaff99dc9 look of exasperation.4dc05328665d12be

“I’ll do it for you.”e42745785152f4d9

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“You’re going to touch a royal’s body without permission?”885e9352c1790a2f

“Trust me.”28efe19b77a8d4f4

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“I’m too sensitive for that.”debaa45e747c582f

“Don’t lie.”8fbd705105d6e4b3

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Rayyan set the book aside and placed a hand on Ternnis’s cheek. Ternnis, who had just mentioned royalty, closed his eyes as if he hadn’t.ca8878e1201dcc2e

“My chest hurts too.”b62219ae993e30b9

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“…Come here.”8f26d5cff1f2c75f

Rayyan decided it was better to take the initiative and reached for Ternnis’s clothes. It was a routine part of their ordinary life in the castle for three years.27389ee3e31a1f24

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