A Tale of Strategies For the Throne

One night passed, and when it was just dawn, the quiet palace ushered in a special visitor.

According to the usual practice, after dawn, the door of the large bedroom in the palace has been quietly pushed half open by the maid who came over.

However, it is not fully opened.

The thick veil inside hangs down, blocking the scene deep in the bedroom.

The maids stood outside the half-closed door, quietly waiting for the sleeping young king to wake up, and then summoned them to serve.

At this moment, the maids were surprised by the sudden arrival early in the morning.

They looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

It stands to reason that they should notify the inside of this person's arrival, but the boy king is still sleeping, and they cannot wake him up without authorization before the female officer Taputi arrives.

The person who came made a silent gesture to them, and they bowed slightly to salute him.

The man didn't say much, walked straight into the door, and closed the door behind him.

The maids couldn't stop them in time, and couldn't break into the bedroom without authorization, so they could only look at each other, and continued to wait at the door helplessly, anxiously expecting the arrival of the female officer to tell them what to do.

Heymos walked into the bedroom, lifted the overlapping veils, and saw Garlan sleeping soundly on the wide bed in the back of the bedroom.

He stepped lightly and walked over slowly.

The young man, who hadn't noticed anyone coming, was still sleeping, lying on his side with peaceful eyes.

A head of long blond hair was spread out on the snow-white velvet pillow, and the morning light falling from the skylight danced between the hair strands, shimmering.

Heymos glanced over Garlan's shoulder, and as expected, he saw the thing he guessed.

His lips curved slightly, he walked to the bed and leaned over.

"Garlan."

He called Garlan's name softly.

The sleeping teenager moved his eyelashes and slowly opened his eyes.

The eyes he just opened were not focused, and after watching Heymos in a trance for a while, he regained consciousness a little bit.

"...Heymos?"

Perhaps it was because he had just woken up, his voice was soft, soft, with a slight nasal sound, like an ignorant child.

That voice was like soft velvet in a pillow, and it felt as if one's heart was about to melt.

Heymos looked at Garlan softly, and gave a low hum.

Garlan, who was still half awake and half asleep, hadn't noticed anything wrong yet, yawned slightly, put his hands on the bed, and sat up.

The already loose silk clothes slipped down his shoulders unknowingly in his deep sleep, and when he got up, the long blond hair that had been spread on the snow-white velvet pillow slipped down his fair shoulders.

Reflecting the morning sunlight coming in through the skylight, the long hair flowed like flowing gold from his shoulders and neck.

The sunlight made the young man's exposed side shoulders more white and tender, like a whole piece of white and flawless soft tofu, making people want to take a bite just looking at it.

Heymos swallowed, suppressing the hunger and thirst from his body with great self-control.

After Garlan left last night, he almost stayed in the cold stream for half the night, and... the fire that had been extinguished after venting twice, suddenly burned again at this moment.

He hastily looked away, afraid that if he continued to look at it, he would not be able to suppress the fire in his body, but his breathing became uncontrollably a little faster, and his lower abdomen became even tighter.

Even when he sat up, Garlan was still sleepy, unaware of the dangerous presence of a beast in human skin beside him, he raised his hand and rubbed his eyes.

A little morning breeze blowing in with the residual coolness of the night made his bare shoulders feel a little cold.

So, subconsciously, he opened his mouth, intending to ask the maid outside to come in to serve him, while lowering his head and glanced over his shoulder, trying to pull up the silk garment that had slipped from his side shoulder, so as not to be too disheveled in front of the maid.

Before the mouth that just opened had time to make a sound, the voice was stuck in the throat abruptly.

That glance, which was originally casual, stunned Garlan for a moment, and then his mind jolted, and he instantly woke up.

On the slender collarbone, a little bright red on the fair skin is extremely conspicuous.

This little red mark caused the memories of last night to flood into Garlan's mind like a tide.

Yesterday he woke up halfway through his sleep, his mind was in a mess, and because he felt inexplicably depressed, he couldn't fall asleep anyway, so he simply ran to Heymos.

He just wanted to talk to Heymos, so as not to keep thinking about it by himself.

only……

Originally, he and Heymos were still talking normally, but the guy didn't know what stimulated him, and suddenly became wild, holding him in his arms like a wolf cub and gnawing on people desperately.

Caught off guard, he was blinded by that guy's kiss, or maybe it was because the lips biting him were too hot, which made his brain a little confused, he didn't react for a while, and let the other party do what he did.

The result of this was that the guy made a lot of progress, and when he got to the end, he found in a panic that his shirt had been pulled off by half...

Garlan shook his head vigorously, shaking off the charming memory that made the ears burn in his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he stabilized himself and calmed himself down.

Then, he raised his head and stared at Heymos with what he thought was a very menacing gaze.

"What are you doing here so early?"

he asked in a low voice.

Heymos watched the boy sitting on the bed stare at him with wide eyes.

But the big round eyes with a little mist from just waking up, and the slightly red ear tips, not only did not have any deterrent effect, but were so cute that his hands were eager to touch them.

But knowing that this would definitely anger Garlan, he restrained himself.

"Be quiet."

Heymos said softly.

"If you call the maid in, you're in trouble."

Although he didn't mind being exposed, Garlan definitely didn't want to.

So considering Garlan's mood, he chose to come over earlier today to remind Garlan to pay attention to this matter.

"What's the trouble?"

Garland asked.

Heymos didn't speak, but just glanced at Garlan's collarbone pointingly.

Garlan was stunned for a moment, and then he immediately realized that he was shocked.

Indeed, he hadn't thought of it at all.

If after he woke up, he called Taputi and the maids in in a daze, and then Taputi saw the hickey on his shoulder that was obviously made by someone else...

I really don't know what kind of uproar it will cause.

And he probably didn't know what to do then.

……

Although the culprit who caused him trouble was right in front of him, Garlan was too lazy to talk to him right now.

He looked down at the red marks on his shoulders, pondered for a while, and said, "Bring me a patch, and I'll say it was accidentally scratched by a tree branch yesterday."

Heymos was silent for a while, without moving.

"...This method probably won't work."

He glanced at Garlan, with a rare look of embarrassment on his face.

Then, he stretched out his hand and pulled Garlan out of the bed, and walked aside.

Garlan was inexplicably dragged away by Heymos, and arrived in front of the huge mirror on the side of the room.

Pushed to the front of the mirror by Heymos, he looked into the mirror in a daze.

In the next second, his face flushed red.

When he looked down, he could only see one or two red marks on his collarbone, but now he looked in the mirror, and he could clearly see that on the left side of his neck, pink marks could be seen almost everywhere.

Especially since his skin was already fair, the pink marks were even more conspicuous.

Little by little, everywhere.

A little bit of pink is dotted on the skin like petals, giving the boy in the mirror an indescribably charming feeling.

"Heymos!"

Garlan gritted his teeth.

As soon as he turned around, his elbow slammed heavily into the chest of the man beside him.

Heymos, who knew he was wrong, dodged back and passively blocked his blow.

However, I don't know if it's a habit... or because of something else, after he blocked Garlan's elbow, he stretched out his arms and hugged him tightly reflexively.

That flexible and beautiful young body was embraced in his arms, just like in the memory of last night, which made Heymos's breathing quicken involuntarily.

The places that came into contact with the boy in his arms seemed to be burned by fire, and the flames spread to the deepest part of his body, causing severe pain.

He let go abruptly.

The black knight, who was able to stand still in the face of thousands of troops, was facing Garlan at this moment, but as if he was facing a flood of beasts, he took several steps back.

"Heymos?"

Garlan, who was still very angry at first, felt strange when he saw Heymos's back-and-forth reaction.

Speaking of which, Heymos seemed a little strange since last night.

He stepped forward and asked, "What's the matter with you?"

Heymos looked away from Garlan, and glanced at the wooden table next to him.

He said, "Go and change your clothes first."

"what?"

"Go and change first, Garlan."

Heymos' voice was already low and hoarse.

"why?"

Garlan just felt baffled.

Why did you ask him to change clothes after talking?

Taking a deep breath, Heymos couldn't help pressing his forehead.

"...somewhat self-conscious, Garlan, I said that I have a heart for you, you should remember?"

"I remember, but you said you wouldn't rush me..."

"I can't, so you have to be a little self-conscious - standing in front of a man who likes you disheveled like now - aren't you afraid of what I will do to you?"

"Ok?"

Garlan looked at Heymos with a confused look on his face.

"What to do to me?... Heymos, can you do it?"

Heymos's breath stopped, and his gaze that had been avoiding Garlan in order to control the burning desire in his body fell on Garlan again.

It's just that at this moment, there is a different kind of danger in the slightly dark golden-red eyes.

"Do you think there's nothing I can do to you?"

He stared at Garlan fixedly, his voice became hoarse as he was obviously holding back something.

"Or, even if I keep telling you about my love, you always just treat me as a harmless same-sex companion? Do you think it is impossible for me to have sexual desire for you?"

sexual desire.

The last two words Heymos uttered made Garlan's face flush red.

Looking at the man staring at him with deep and dangerous eyes, he was a little at a loss.

Indeed, although he was often kissed by Heymos, he never considered the possibility of the two having a kiss.

It's not that he doesn't know what the two in love will do.

only……

For some reason, subconsciously, he categorized Heymos' love for him as a kind of pure, Plato-like love, and never thought that Heymos could really treat him hold...that kind of...

Thinking of the word Heymos uttered, Garlan felt his face was about to burn.

"No way to do anything? Do you want to try?"

At this moment, Heymos, who was exuding a certain dangerous aura, approached him step by step.

Garlan was forced to retreat to the mirror behind him.

Heymos put one hand on the mirror and looked down at him, his golden red eyes seemed to be burning with a cluster of flames that almost swallowed him up.

The slightly hoarse voice that made people feel inexplicably panicked and uneasy rang in his ears.

"If you think I can't do anything, then I'll tell you directly... For many nights, I raped you fiercely in my dreams, no matter how much you cried and begged in my arms, I never let you go , but more..."

"Heymos—!"

While Garlan, who could no longer listen, was drinking in a low voice, a familiar voice came from outside.

"Your Majesty, are you awake? According to the maids, His Excellency Heymos is inside?"

As the female officer spoke, she stretched out her hand to push open the ajar door.

"I'm in."

Gallan was startled.

"and many more!"

he shouted quickly.

"We are talking, you wait outside for a while!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Seeing that the female officer was stopped in time to see this scene, Garlan breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly a surge of anger surged in his heart, he didn't even look at Heymos, and pushed hard to push away the guy who pressed himself against the mirror.

Perhaps it was Tapti's shout that brought Heymos back to his senses, and he pushed him away with a little force.

He still didn't look at the other person, walked quickly to the side room, changed his clothes for going out, but became anxious again after changing and walking out.

This... damn hickey on his neck won't disappear for a while, and it's already summer, so he can't possibly wear a high-necked dress or a high-necked cloak.

But it is impossible to pretend to be sick, so Taputi will definitely ask a doctor to come over, and the marks on his neck will still be exposed.

Just when Garlan didn't know what to do, Heymos, who was silent at the side, suddenly walked quickly to the jewelry cabinet at the side.

He picked for a while, took out an ornament, walked quickly to Garlan's side, and handed it over silently.

A gold necklace with an extremely complicated and cumbersome shape but extremely gorgeous and exquisite.

It was a hoop, four or five thin rings of gold held together by thin laurels of gold, set with malachite.

When worn on the neck, the golden piece that looks like intertwined branches and leaves almost blocks most of the shoulders and necks.

Below the neck, clover-shaped gold tassels are scattered on the shoulders and chest, and dotted with broken beads of turquoise, moonstone, and peridot.

Even if someone's eyes fell on Garlan's shoulders and neck, they would be taken away by the gorgeous gold necklace, and would not notice the red marks hidden under the intertwined gold leaves.

Looking at the shoulders and neck covered by gold ornaments in the mirror, Garlan heaved a sigh of relief.

Then, he asked Taputi to come in.

The female officer came in with a dozen maids, and when she looked up, she saw that Garlan had already changed into the clothes she went out, while Heymos was standing on one side, and the two were separated by a little distance.

She is a little weird.

But he didn't ask too much, he just motioned for the maid who was holding a silver basin of hot water to come forward, and then, as usual, helped Garlan wash himself up.

After all, he has taken care of the child for many years with his own hands. Naturally, Taputi could keenly sense that Garlan seemed to be sulking, and Heymos also turned his head away from this side.

The two ignored each other.

Are these two... arguing?

The magistrate wondered.

Speaking of which, is there anything important today?

She thought so while looking at the gorgeous gold ornaments that Garlan absolutely didn't bother to wear on that non-important occasion.

…………

After leaving the palace, walking all the way, after confirming that no one noticed his abnormality hidden under the golden necklace, Garlan was relieved.

His schedule today is to go outside the city and inspect the special training camp located in the valley outside the city.

The First Corps led by Keyjos is currently undergoing closed special training there.

Although he doesn't want to see this guy because he is still in a cold war with Heymos, but because Shemuer has set a rule - if he wants to leave the royal city, he must be accompanied by a knight who is strong enough and trustworthy around.

Either the Knight of the Sun or the Black Knight, you have to bring one anyway.

Kehos is now in a special training camp, and naturally only Heymos went with him.

Because it was just a simple patrol, Garlan didn't want to alarm too many people with much fanfare, so he set off with a group of knights in light clothes.

The scorching sun along the way made Garlan very hot.

Fortunately, as soon as we enter the mountains, there are green shades everywhere, flowing streams, and cool breeze, which makes people feel much cooler.

Having received the news that Garlan would come to make an inspection tour today, Kaihos and his subordinates were already waiting at the entrance of the valley.

Seeing the young king riding a horse on the path in the forest, he pulled the reins and stopped the horse.

All the generals who had been waiting for a long time knelt down and bowed their heads to salute.

Only the blond knight went straight to meet him, with a slight smile on his handsome face even with one eye covered, he grabbed the reins with one hand, and stretched out his hand towards the young king on horseback very naturally.

Garlan also naturally held the hand extended by his guardian knight, and with the support of the other party, he leaped off the horse lightly.

As soon as he got off his horse, the knights who followed him also got off their horses one after another.

The usually cold and proud white horse shook its head, its mane as white as frost and snow spread out, and kicked the ground vigorously with its hooves, obviously unwilling to be held by anyone other than Garlan.

Gallan noticed its displeasure, smiled and stroked its mane, whispered a few words to it, then it calmed down and rubbed against Garlan's head.

Kehos, who was standing beside him, smiled and looked at Garlan coaxing his mount with gentle eyes.

Even if he has become an excellent king, in the heart of the knight, the boy is still a little prince who should be pampered and protected in the palm of his hand.

No matter how much time passes, it will not change.

His eyes flicked across Garlan's face carefully, and he was satisfied when he saw the young man's complexion was good.

Although he led the guards here for closed training, he was always paying attention to the affairs in the royal city, and he naturally knew about the troubles caused by the group of presumptuous big businessmen.

It seems that that matter did not cause any trouble to His Majesty.

Thinking of this, Kaihors looked down and was a little puzzled when he saw the gorgeous gold necklace.

Having been by Garlan's side for so many years, he knew that Garlan had always been impatient to wear such gorgeous but cumbersome accessories.

It's not an important occasion to inspect the special training camp, why would you wear this...

Because he found it strange, Keyhors took another look.

Seeing this, the corners of his lips that were originally raised slightly froze for a moment.

The original soft gaze in the only remaining malachite-like emerald green pupil seemed to have been frozen, and it only settled and became cold for a moment.

The sun fell from the dense canopy, casting mottled shadows on the knight's face.

The shadow of the forehead fell deeply into the eyes of Kyhos, like a dangerous breath gushing out of his eyes.

A bang.

The sharp long sword was unsheathed.

The scorching sun knight's figure was as fast as thunder, almost leaving an afterimage on the spot.

In just one breath, he had already appeared in front of Heymos.

Under the astonished gazes of the knights

Under the astonished eyes of Garlan who hadn't reacted yet,

Kayhos, who exuded a terrible evil spirit, slashed at Heymos with the momentum of splitting mountains and rocks——

The violent impact of steel blades echoed in the silence.

The blade rubbed past and exploded a little spark.

Heymos, who had reacted to meet the enemy almost at the moment when Kayhos attacked, raised his sharp sword with his backhand, blocking Kayhos' fierce sword that was almost fatal to ordinary knights.