CPG | Chapter 20

The best part 579893cf1f of becoming an 26e4988c0d adult was being 75196a80bf able to reach 11c04493ba more books without 4900472f12 needing a ladder. Yet, the problem was that 95d8f72827 his eyes always wandered to 4c2e42787e the books just out of 5447716dc1 reach.7d8d7d39d2726cfb

Climbing a ladder was a b357d21d74 hassle, but standing on tiptoe 452d1070da seemed like it might work. As Rayyan pondered, a b1c2ec872f shadow fell over him, 517e2d4d9e completely enveloping him.7fe6f76f5137a600

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The shadow moved, and 3f16b89ed0 soon a hand reached e48bae47de the book Rayyan was e5b07992f7 trying to grab. Watching it, Rayyan 1fb47d87ba pouted in frustration.4496e1fd9fc2195d

There was a 8985aaca19 three-year age difference.c1ebd811df44a203

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When they first 63fed296ff met, Ternnis was 44faaa93e1 a small twelve-year-old. In just three years, ff98c3adbc he had grown taller 43ef01520c than Rayyan, who had 23f6863372 to stretch on tiptoe 25384ccfbe to reach the book 5176799abc Ternnis easily retrieved. It was enough cfddfbd5c7 to make Rayyan bba6d3c08f feel a bit 847e45201f sulky.b9649ba7aba9866f

“Yeah, it’s all my fault.”25656008d5705623

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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.66661ff91711e9b7

Rayyan, by contrast, ate what the prince left behind. That’s why there was a difference. There was no other reason.806603b3e403522d

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He had told himself c7eb559be0 that morning that it f8fe387ca7 was because the prince b2cb9adb75 grew well, not because 86548da016 of his efforts, but 14a1ce2af9 secretly he took pride 768dd261cd in his role. Without that sense of 1fd008ec84 accomplishment, the three years 37c7297726 of diligently feeding him a3ae2550cd would feel wasted.f64a1604d5094995

“If you can’t reach, just call me.”1f66959dbc886540

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“I could reach it.”ccfe404fda14a2a1

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?a0e0cebaac7c38cb

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“Thinking strange thoughts again?”f11a8b12195f66b9

“…What thoughts?”782614d53bdf12ef

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“That nonsense about how feeding me made you short.”0a9989935d02e408

Rayyan, caught off guard, averted 9495ce1b4b his gaze. Ternnis clicked his tongue knowingly 493caac8d0 and leaned in close. Their breaths mingled, the da78c79fad distance between them intimate.769ba42b030581a8

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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.f118a822dad598ff

“Look at me.”73e153e59719f8da

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Rayyan’s half-lowered eyes met Ternnis’s gaze.b283c4d87ce54f44

“Doesn’t anything come to mind when you see my face?”e9e38950bc94ba07

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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.c670a7d3697b0fee

He used to be pretty, but now…d551faa0d480b238

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“You’re handsome.”e7e462592e2dab64

His face was bccee8c57c shaping up so d8c64d46e3 well that calling aefa3ae8e6 him handsome felt 12c54fcc79 inadequate. The only thing that still 7d1f41180e made him seem like a 1a6bc30e6d boy were his bright eyes.af4615f42adcf421

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Yes, those eyes were ba456bbf8b the only reason he cbadf36a96 still seemed like a 7db1211a0b boy.e9f7417f0d481694

“Is that all you have to say?”4163798f97e5e98d

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“Should I say more?”819294e6034e9eab

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.81fd38108af226e3

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“Doesn’t it make you think I’ll grow taller?”c5c4818f01f64245

“Well…”e5fc61962948fff5

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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…3f1ebc431c982d3b

“It was always going to be like this. Rayyan, didn’t you say this morning that I’d grow tall?”283479355c985558

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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.60508becd3273a73

“I was born to be tall, and you… not so much.”9c62c124965cc4f3

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It was good that the 00cf893942 prince grew well. But comparing himself to 4448b14443 Rayyan felt unfair, making e7b4356f10 him bristle.732821df3022dd12

“I’m not short.”fa961dcb738b0427

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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.71f048c9445d4750

He couldn’t compare himself to others outside, but he knew he was taller than most men. Yet Ternnis only scoffed.96bed90006de3f1e

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“Who knows? Maybe the standards changed while we were in this castle.”ef2e391738fe5d18

He wanted to deny it, 1a0285cdb5 but there was no way e74b7cdd43 to confirm. They knew nothing of cc36683f8a the outside world during 1c67a40a47 their three years in 646c25fe5c the castle.0e62e78c0435366b

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While he couldn’t argue about height standards, he could address something else.854b2f9defa1c491

“Your growth isn’t normal.”d91794933a199c1c

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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.6c42586d28a3c483

***74868e7ef0554948

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If starting the day e3efe47ab0 meant washing up and 2b6da85992 having breakfast, then visiting 41b02a7794 the library before lunch 433ebb4190 had become a fixed 651d929e71 routine. During the brief free edf6c2e4f2 time before lunch and 7e58f53b9c the hours between sunset 38244e856c and sleep, he always 3d58c30d44 went to the library.e67c0fa2111e9cad

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.86dad0452b518220

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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.e0956357f4df4901

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.3a1d6f72f117c489

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Of course, there were differences.ce5ce92258c91acc

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.1da01d5cfd60cf8d

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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.5421abd902e26a17

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.a7f2b282497d9fad

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Now, being close to Ternnis 9cbfe50e12 felt natural.f7d8e6793671ffb5

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.14382cd1c2d11c51

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Though he often 88c493d35d let it pass 1a5d543a34 as if it 05e94d71d7 were nothing.7e9044b2e1b62349

“Your Highness, ugh.”78b7d66b1e13eec2

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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.a04a3e4905d5e243

“Just read. Do you think a servant often gets to read such precious books?”7205ad15fed46b0a

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Ternnis, aware of Rayyan’s reaction, pointed to the book indifferently.0b03a4fc4c56bc3f

From the start, d750e7edcb when he brought 6600a80632 Rayyan to the cada9f5387 library, he said a2acd55038 it was too 448fa4c37f grand for him. Though he still said df0daa8273 it, Rayyan felt it a75ed03dae was more teasing than 5647da0797 genuine disdain.3c13b98c0d359f86

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“You have to let me read.”2d25b8e79d466504

Rayyan calmed his 223fe5b4cc excited breath and 31eea6c060 looked at Ternnis c88b2c6608 reproachfully.d3600876614ce2ce

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“What did I do?”67676a2650e20600

Ternnis shrugged, feigning innocence. His nonchalant response left Rayyan 85748b8605 with no desire to argue, 9a12a6bca4 so he turned away. Knowing Ternnis teased him despite 09ba43d3a9 his efforts, what more could da8db22919 he say?ba24e65c9a8349db

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“But, Rayyan, you…”064f70d0914e1076

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?e8910492b5d7a503

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“Why are you so sensitive?”8a174aa98140728f

“Your Highness, didn’t you tell me to read? And sensitive? Everyone… ugh.”7b08010aaf59db55

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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?f2acfc7c63e2a559

“See, you’re sensitive here too.”58972e35ae41d094

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Ternnis, amused, admired Rayyan’s reddened ear and hid a subtle smile at his flushed eyes.d3e245b7387c09aa

“Just stay still. If you flinch every time I touch you, it makes me uncomfortable.”b7823ab972aae9ae

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Rayyan gave Ternnis a look d2a812fc0d of exasperation.16a0fe782a118ea1

“I’ll do it for you.”1e185a8acc2f1cf1

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“You’re going to touch a royal’s body without permission?”d79fc183fc606ef5

“Trust me.”2d331a164b36d69f

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“I’m too sensitive for that.”3baf1c82ce35a559

“Don’t lie.”37dd4ccd0faf8da5

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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.cffa5bc5dc85140b

“My chest hurts too.”55f732f46dc00e65

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“…Come here.”052c4b80463285e3

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.4a29a3ae65f40c29

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