DZN Ch 12

They had been similar in height and build when they first met. In fact, Ruan had been stronger, even throwing Calix into a pond once. But in the intervening six years, both height and build had changed dramatically.

Their natural physique and frame were completely different now.

There was no way Ruan could throw him anymore. He’d be the one flying instead.

By the neck, or perhaps bodily.

Just Calix standing before him exuded a subtle pressure, his size engulfing the space. Ruan braced himself so as not to be pushed back. Calix leaned down, bringing their faces close.

Meeting Ruan’s gaze directly, he smiled, a beautiful, yet unsettling smile in those deep blue-gray eyes. Instinctively, Ruan gripped his right wrist, which he held behind his back, with his left hand.

A phantom ache pulsed there, but he forced himself to appear unconcerned, maintaining eye contact. Calix chuckled, as if amused.

“Peculiar taste you have. Liking men bigger than you… you want to be pinned down and moan, don’t you?”

“My, you seem to have forgotten. I like big men because I can hit them without guilt.”

Of course, I hit small ones too, but with big ones, there’s more surface area, so it’s more fun, Ruan retorted with a smile. Calix laughed in response.

“Is that really all?”

As Calix’s hand reached for Ruan’s hidden right wrist, Ruan quickly stepped back.

“You’ve had your coughing fit, so you should prepare for your schedule. I’ll take my leave now. I will be attending you personally from today onwards. Along with Michael, of course.”

Calix frowned at the mention of Michael, and Ruan realized his mistake. He’d slipped into sarcasm again.

He knew he had to flatter Calix, but he kept forgetting.

“Even if bringing him here wasn’t your decision, putting him by my side certainly seems like it was.”

Calix took another step closer. Ruan backed away, stopping only when he reached the fireplace behind him. There was nowhere left to retreat.

So, he changed his tactics.

“I understand what you’re thinking, but that was the Commander’s decision as well.”

“Five of them came, so why him?”

“If you were to harass the personnel we managed to pull together during this busy period and send them back, it would make the other Knight Orders lose face. So they probably assigned your favorites to you.”

To prevent Calix from arguing further, Ruan insisted that this whole ridiculous situation was Calix’s fault. Calix, unable to deny it, conceded.

“Yes, Michael is the most to my liking. But there’s still malice in assigning him as my guard, isn’t there?”

“… That’s… the happiest news I’ve heard all year…”

Ruan blurted out his true feelings before he could stop himself. Sensing Calix’s hand reaching for his right wrist again, he quickly changed the subject.

“Unfortunately, it really wasn’t me. I just heard about it, and the Commander made all the arrangements personally. If you have a problem with it, take it up with the Ernhardt Marquis.”

Ruan suspected the Ernhardts had pulled strings yesterday. He, too, had been blindsided. Despite offering this unnecessary explanation, Calix still looked unconvinced.

“He volunteered?”

“Presumably. Whether it was his own will or his family’s, I don’t know.”

“…And so you brought him here?”

“Yes. He’s a valuable asset.”

I need him if I’m going to survive until the Founding Festival without dying from overwork, Ruan added silently. Calix finally took a step back.

A sign that he understood, to some degree.

With the distance between them increased, Ruan finally breathed properly. Calix, his robes swirling around him, returned to his chair and leaned back.

“He has quite the temperament. To come back after what happened.”

“I know, right? If it were me, I would have quit and run back home.”

In that sense, Ruan decided to acknowledge Michael’s resolve. And honestly, Michael was impeccable in terms of skill.

He was the top of his class in the trainee Knights, his family was prestigious, he was good-looking, and quick-witted. There was no reason to reject him.

Originally, Michael would have spent his early years in the 2nd Knights Order and then transferred to the 1st Knights Order, the Emperor’s personal guard, after gaining some experience.

The highest honor, as they say, in the Imperial Guard.

Admittedly, it had been Ruan who blocked his path, and he felt a little guilty about that. Of course, the man in front of him was the root cause of the problem.

“Well, if he insists on doing it, I don’t mind. What about you?”

“…Me?”

“Are you alright with it?”

“…I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I’m asking if you’re okay working with him.”

At the strange question, Ruan frowned. What nonsense was this?

“…Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?”

I’d probably die without Michael right now, he wanted to add, but instead, Calix crossed his arms, tilted his head, and looked at Ruan.

“…You really don’t mind?”

“Is there a reason I should be uncomfortable?”

It’s not like we’re dating. We’re just working together during set hours. What’s the problem? Calix laughed in disbelief.

“You’re still trembling whenever I come near, and yet you say such things.”

“Anyone would be startled and instinctively afraid when someone who broke their wrist approaches them.”

“…Is that all?”

“Yes. That’s all.”

The conversation stalled. After a moment, Calix spoke softly.

“Did I tell you before?” He continued, this time with a genuinely pleasant smile. “That you’re a real fucking asshole.”

“I’m glad we agree on at least one thing, Your Highness.”

You’re a damn brat to me too, Ruan replied with a smile, deciding to end this pointless conversation.

“I’ll hear about today’s schedule directly from Mel. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“You’ll be escorting me personally from now on?”

“Yes.”

“I see…”

A sly smile spread across Calix’s face as he spoke leisurely. The mischievous glint in his eyes suggested he was plotting something unpleasant.

He’s going to run around like crazy again starting today, Ruan thought.

“Well then, this should be fun.”

It was a declaration of war.

I’m going to run you ragged all day.

At that moment, Calix looked genuinely delighted. Ruan knew from experience that whenever Calix smiled like that, it meant a day of suffering for him. He started formulating a counter-strategy.

“I’m glad you’re pleased, Your Highness. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Bowing politely, Ruan left the bedroom and gave instructions to the waiting knights.

“At least two of you must follow His Highness wherever he goes. Report to me immediately if he tries to leave the castle. He’s absolutely not allowed to move alone. And don’t trust the attendants. They only listen to His Highness.”

The attendants in Esche Castle were mostly from noble families, and among them, beautiful and lovely teenagers chosen to suit Calix’s tastes. It was well known that they were replaced as soon as they grew older or their features matured. Having a collection of only pretty children was fine, but perhaps due to Calix’s peculiar preferences, the pretty children were also not very bright.

Most of them couldn’t understand instructions and were frustratingly incompetent, but they obeyed Calix without question.

Even though they knew they’d be severely punished if they were caught running away with him, they repeatedly fell prey to Calix’s schemes and caused trouble, driving Ruan to the brink of madness.

He had tried scolding them for their disobedience, but they’d forget everything the next day. So, he had given up on trying to manage them.

These were the first children since Calix who were so blatantly disobedient despite being terrified of him. He decided to cultivate a few as informants and let the rest run wild.

Even the Head Servant of Esche Castle, known for being the most fearsome, couldn’t control them, so Ruan had little hope of succeeding.

So he emphasized to the knights not to trust the attendants, describing them as a group of simpletons even worse than their own knights. As experienced knights, they understood perfectly.

“We’ll keep that in mind. We’ll report as soon as His Highness leaves his room.”

“But wouldn’t it be more efficient for the Captain to be here instead of us?”

Unlike the loyal Michael, Daniel offered a different opinion. He clearly understood the situation.

“I have some other business to attend to, so hold down the fort while I’m gone. Don’t fall for any of His Highness’s sophistry, no matter what. Good luck.”

After patting the two knights on the shoulders, Ruan turned around and saw the attendants hovering nervously in the distance.

They had come to gawk after hearing the unfortunate news that Ruan would be stuck in the castle from today onwards.