His Royal Highness's cats are very hairy.

In front of Rutvias' office, Aurio assigns the documents he has to his men to give them some instructions. Adeline hesitated to speak up about the busy appearance, but Aurio noticed right away.

"Lady Adeline"

"Aurio, I thought Ruto was calling."

Soon after he left Richard's private room, a samurai with Rutvias came to get Adeline. To stop by the office, at the behest of Rutvias.

"Yes, I'll be waiting for you."

Aurio nodded, knocking on the door and speaking inside.

"Your Highness, the lady is here."

"Go ahead."

When she replied back immediately, Adaline opened the door. There is no one at the executive desk where Rutvias always sits.

"... rut?

"This way."

From the blind spot in the bookcase alongside the door, Rutvias shows his face. Come here, Adeline approached as she was invited.

"What's going on? Here."

"Outside. Look."

Encouraged, Adeline peeks out the window.

In a vibrant green with summer sunlight. In the shadow of the overlapping branches was a bird's nest with fine twigs. There is a blue tweezer in it, quietly squatting (quail).

"... could it be... you're holding an egg!?

Adeline shook Rutvias excitedly. Rutvias must have been satisfied that Adeline was responding well. Ni laughed and answered me.

"I found it this morning."

"Wow! I've never seen that before!

Adeline snapped into the window.

Whatever the book illustrates, it's the first time I've actually seen a bird's nest in my life.

"When do you hatch?

"I don't know how long I've been holding an egg... well, the 10th and a little bit"

"10th..."

From this position, you'll also see chicks honking for food. Adeline, who was also the first to see chicks, tided her cheeks with anticipation.

"There's no wind or rain here. I found a good spot."

"Isn't Ruto the first time he's found a nest?

"I've also found it in the gap between the roofs of the Great Temple once upon a time. The crow hit me and I only nested one..."

"... a big roof...?

How did you find a bird's nest in such a place? I don't think I can look up from the bottom and find it. The Grand Temple is the tallest of the royal palaces. It is a building that rings the bell at the royal coronation, with few windows, and not a building with irregularities. There's a cleaning staircase from inside, so you should be able to climb it, but it's definitely dangerous, and no one will let a young prince climb it first.

Adeline remembered the story of Richard earlier.

Surely Rutvias was Richard's Heavenly Horse, didn't he say he got on somewhere?

"... in His Majesty's Heavenly Horse... did you mount a large roof?

Rutvias looked a little strange. Then nod.

"That's right. I'm worried about the crow."

I was dazzled.

Alone, at that height, take Tenma out on her own... Precisely because you're a child, you act fearlessly.

"How did you figure that out?

Adeline wondered if she would tell Rutvias, who was still strangled, that she had met Richard. But I also feel strange to hide it, so I reveal it as a snack.

"... His Majesty called me... to tell you the old story.... Ruto said... he was a godforsaken prank."

"............... that fucking jerk..."

Rutvias turned sideways and struck his tongue.

Bad, and Adeline was a wolf. This makes it difficult for Rutvias and Richard to get along worse.

"Oh, that! I thought you were worried about Ruto. Give my son my regards and let me bow my head."

"Whatever the father of the bride, why would the father of the bridegroom say that?!?

Rutvias summons.

-... did...

If you ask me, I feel it's similar to the words the bride's father would call the bridegroom if it was normal for Adeline to receive them.

"Don't over-protect me. That damn father..."

On the back of Rutvias, whining bossly, I see a glimmer of anger.

-... this, I don't mean to...

Let's fix the story and get this story folded up. I wish I could somehow tell you just what Richard cares about Rutvias.

"Um... Your Majesty said you were so relieved to be back... and so glad to have been splendid..."

I don't get a good word. The more in a hurry, the more words collide and collapse in my head.

"... Huh..."

"Huh?"

Rutvias has a fist in his mouth and he's laughing.

"... no... you're really easy to understand"

"Easy to understand?

"Anyway, are you in a hurry if Father and I are going to get stubborn? It's written on my face in my head."

………

When Adaline covered her cheeks with both hands, she leaned down with embarrassment.

It makes me feel like Rutvias is peeking into Adeline's mind. Is it so on your face?

-... because he likes ruts... and it's not gonna work like this...

In order to be by his side, I absolutely need to hide that I am in love with Rutvias.

Rutvias gently lowered his hips by the window.

"You don't have to worry so much, I respect your father, and I appreciate it. Even if you have a stomach.

That's not going to be a conspiracy. "

"There's no such thing as conspiracy..."

Adeline wasn't thinking that far. We know that Rutvias cares about his father, the King. I just worried unnecessarily that if the two of you had a fight with each other with a slight misunderstanding.

Rutvias laughed with his nose.

"There are rumors like that, and it's a story. Of course not."

Bea's eyes, looking at the stubble over the vitreous, looked slightly different to Adeline.

"... if you heard the old story... did you also hear about your grandfather?

"... yeah"

"I've always seen my father beat up on my behalf. Whether he had a fever or blood, he covered me. Thanks to you, I've never been beaten up by a grandfather."

……

"My father took me hostage to show his devotion to the Empire... but he also intended to evacuate the Empire so that those who had blindly believed in my grandfather would not use me as a child. After my mother died, I refused all the recommendations around me and all the friendships from other countries, and I didn't even welcome her to the side room to have children anymore, in order to protect the value of my 'only direct male'. That way, the Empire won't treat me like an evil man. Instead, he was treated like he wouldn't even put it down there trying to get the next king out of hand.... Well, at least on the face."

Looking up at the side like a sculpture, Adeline asked.

"... was it hard?

I feel like I shouldn't ask, and until now, Adeline has never asked Rutvias about her days in the Empire. Even if he did, Rutvias felt like a tease. But Rutvias answered me.

"I can't say it wasn't hard."

But it was still hard to talk, he frowned a little.

"Restricted to action, monitored… what's the matter, the prince of the defeated country. I was often insulted."

Rutvias raises only one of his lips. A bitter laugh.

"But there was no salvation..."

In a moment, Rutvias' eyes rushed far. I think I saw 'someone' running ahead, and Adeline leans down aggressively and closes her eyes.

-... I... what a terrible woman...

The hostage years of Rutvias, who was lonely. Even for a moment, by Rutvias, if someone healed him, you should be thankful for it. Or do you even say that I wish Rutvias had always been unsaved, unhealed, and alone?

Rutvias shook his head as he shook off the past.

"... that's off the record. Anyway, Father used every means he could to protect me. And I know it and I appreciate it. I'm sure you did a lot of things, even where I don't know. That's how he protected me..."

So I guess Rutvias was going to wrap up the story, saying that Adeline had nothing to worry about.

But my eyes wobbled.

Words are broken, lips are shaking small. My heart, which I would not have intended to say, poured and fell zero from his lips.

"But sometimes... sometimes I wonder if that's okay with him"

Adeline blinked. I'm not sure what Rutvias means by grunting.

Is there anything wrong with a father protecting his son? In reality, it is rare for parents to harm their children or for parents and children to hate them. But Richard and Rutvias are different. Didn't Rutvias himself just say that?

"What do you mean?

In response to Adeline's question, Rutvias answers without precipitation.

"Don't you think it's normal to hate or resent me?

"... Your Majesty took you? No way..."

"Why do you think 'no way'? As weak as his body was a little, Grandpa scorned his father. I was... especially since my successor was born... and I just got disturbed not to say I was useless anymore. He took refuge in me, beat me up, kicked me... and finally got to the throne, and while I'm back, I'm in more trouble."

Rutvias spits out the truth, pale and probably sinking all the way into his heart.

"Father says about his grandson, but if he cares about it, he should still be able to hope for his real son.... I wonder if you've ever thought of me as... out of the way"

Rutvias didn't see the knob anymore. I said, I don't even look at Adeline, but Bea's eyes are letting her gaze get lost in a void with nothing. Even Adeline seems to have forgotten that she's here.

"Rut..."

"... if I'm gone..."

He had cold, winter lake-like eyes.

Adeline hates how Rutvias' eyes stain that color.

This one I'm watching, I'm shaking up in the cold. Yet Rutvias himself seems fine as if he doesn't feel the cold. I can't feel the pain as pain, but it's freezing.

"I can't believe..."

With the words, from the shaped lips of Rutvias, a white breath was about to come, as in the middle of winter.

The sides, white as snow.

"... I'd rather cut myself loose and succeed my newborn prince..."

"Rut!"

Adeline blocked Rutvias' words. I couldn't help but block it.

Otherwise, I felt blood coming out of Rutvias' eyes.

Rutvias' eyes slowly reflected and iced Adeline.

"... Just a thought. Sorry. Don't look like that."

The smile to reassure Adeline is very similar to the look on the verge of crying out.

Adeline hugged Rutvias.

Rutvias took Adeline for me, even though it was accidental, slightly behind me.

There is a sound of Rutvias' heart. To the sound, Adeline listened.

"... it's the first time I've seen you."

Rutvias said, a little confused.

Sure, holding hands, hugging and mouthing are always from Rutvias, and Adeline keeps running around. But even Adeline doesn't want to touch Rutvias. I'm just embarrassed, and more than that, I don't like to let go of my hand.

-... these hands... I may have to let go someday...

So I really didn't want to know how comfortable Rutvias' hands were or how successful his chest was. Because when I let go of my hand, I get beaten down with a sense of loss.

But now, Adaline wasn't going to let Rutvias go.

-... just now...

Behind the lid, a stranger "someone" blushes. But Adeline decided not to see it.

Just now. I want to be who I am to warm Rutvias.

"... shouldn't I?

To Adeline's words, Rutvias shakes his head slightly.

"No."

Slowly the force applied to Rutvias' arm, covering Adeline's back.

I feel the cold that Rutvias is feeling coming through his skin. Faster, faster, faster, may his heart warm. Adaline also wrapped him with her arms stretched out.

-... rut is... why.

I suppose he thinks that his father resents him, etc. I wonder why, on top of that, I doubt my father's affection when I know how much Richard has done to protect himself. How can you not believe that because of love?

-... so I wonder if the cat can't take it off in front of His Majesty...

Why, can't you believe it? I wonder what this discomfort is.

-... rather than say it's incredible... as if...

Rutvias' Mouthfeel. Strange sense of distance from Richard. Mistakes.

-... as if, if you can't be loved, you're giving up...

Then why can't I be loved? Why would Rutvias think that?

Rutvias wears a cat because he can't believe his surroundings. He was wearing a cat, even before Richard and Leena.

-... Leena... Dear...?

In Adeline's head, the building blocks clammed and one piled up.

Rutvias made a mockery of her mother in front of her grave.

The building blocks, one more thing.

Short tempered, forthright Rutvias personality.

Also, there's another building block.

Adeline woke herself up slightly.

"... Adeline? Hey, what's up?

…………

I looked up, a beautiful mother like face.

If your face resembles your mother's, then what's your character?

-... than His Majesty... rather...

Chichichichi, and the bird rang.

And I was distracted, and Adaline returned to me.

"Adeline?"

"Ah..."

Rutvias peeks at Adeline.

"Ah... yeah. Anything..."

-... no way... no way...

There can't be. Adeline fogged the piled building blocks. That can't be stupid.

-... I can't believe I'm thinking about this... It's blasphemy against the rut.

Rutvias is not the only one. It's blasphemy to Richard, to Leena, and to the former king.

Beyond the window, the blue knob rang again. Adeline turns her neck and does her gaze outside. Next to the nest, another snail clumps, ringing to have a conversation with the mother bird that warms the egg, and leaning her head.

"Father?"

"Looks like it."

"... does the father warm his eggs too?

"Some birds carry food instead of warming it up."

"... How long will it take to nest if it hatches?

Rutvias was like thinking a little, but eventually answered.

"Around 20 days"

"... you know me really well"

Adeline nodded again and again with admiration.

I feel like I've learned from the book, or have been observing it since I was a boy, about birds, and there's nothing he doesn't know about it.

Young days when there was no freedom.

And days in an empire where freedom was restricted.

I wonder what Rutvias thought of birds flying freely through the sky, in the windows.

And now the reason why he looks more crippled than anyone else that he should have got his freedom...

Adaline couldn't help but be aware of the building blocks rolling on the edge of consciousness.

"What are you thinking?

Rutvias' forehead lightly hits Adeline's forehead.

"... Isn't that easy to understand?

"I'm not a magician, and I don't know everything."

Oh, good, Adeline's relieved. I have trouble being read in my heart right now.

"So? What happened to the idea face from earlier? What are you thinking?

Asked again, Adaline, who was half empty, had a slippery mouth.

"About you."

"... what?

Rutvias frowned and Adeline held her mouth.

-... wow, if I...

It was a mouthful as if I was in love with Rutvias. As it is, Rutvias misunderstands me.

"Chi, no, you know..."

Rutvias' lips pecked at Adeline's panic.

"... l"

"You're the one who's wrong."

"Huh? Hold on..."

Words and mouths are blocked.

Adeline stuck to Rutvias' shoulder in surprise as Rutvias' tongue came inside, trying to break Adeline's tight lips.

My tongue is tangled and my breath lifts.

In the darkness behind the lid, the mixed sound of saliva sounds strange.

I've never spoken like this before.

-... how... how?

How could Rutvias' lips, her hands, her eyes, be so hot?

It's going to be hot and melted.

A strange paralysis swells down my spine.

Then, out of strength from his body, Adeline has to put all her weight on Rutvias.

-... fall... ru.

My feet collapse and I fall somewhere.

I desperately try to get Rutvias to help me at my fingertips, but for some reason my mouth got deeper.

"... mmm..."

From between his lips, Adeline exhales.

Then all of a sudden, Rutvias momentously let himself go of Adeline.

………

"Le... rut?

Adeline, who was still going to sit out due to lack of acid, looked up at Rutvias with her moist eyes.

Rutvias snapped Adeline's arm as he turned away at random. And let him sit in a guest chair that was right next to him.

"... bad"

Rutvias wipes Adeline's mouth with his own cuffs, apologizing.

I was left wondering what I was wiping, Adeline, but I saw Rutvias's mouth and understood.

-... ku... lipstick...

With a light color, the red that was coloring Adeline's lips adheres to Rutvias' lips. twitching, and embarrassment.

"Rut... Um..."

In an attempt to wipe Rutvias' mouth, he raised his arm and Adeline was confused. The dress I'm wearing today is close to white. If I should wipe my lipstick with it, it will definitely stain later. No, with lipstick on the cuffs and all that in the first place, Millet, who manages the costume, is not to be missed. I'm talking about Millet. Wouldn't you soon notice why you wiped your lipstick?

-... could be ashamed... to die...

In front of Adeline, which was completely consolidated, Rutvias wiped his mouth with his own sleeve, regardless.

"Ah... my clothes..."

Rutvias' clothes got dirty. While Adeline panics, Rutvias doesn't seem to care either.

Fortunately the cuffs were dark coloured and the red stain was not noticeable.

"... rut"

Adeline looked up at Rutvias.

"What's up?

……

"Adeline?"

-... why did you talk like this?

Even the first time I know. This is what lovers do to each other.

"... Um..."

Could I hope for a little bit?

Even if it doesn't have to be love or even love, maybe he thinks it's somewhat important to Rutvias.

That's probably why I gave you such a deep mouthful.

Really? I'd like to ask, but I'm afraid the answer will come back, and I can't voice my doubts. Besides, if Adeline's mistake, it's gonna be awkward for each other. That scares me more than anything, and I'm embarrassed.

"Adeline?"

"Nothing, of"

To delude everything, Adeline was forced to smile. Rutvias is not particularly surprised, sliding his gaze from Adeline to Blue Tsugumi. The mother bird and the alternate father bird are in the nest. It's adorable that you're mouthing the branches and leaves of the nest and fixing them. Stand up and watch it next to Rutvias, but Adeline still can't switch her mind.

Lover's mouth.

Hot eyes.

Gentle arms.

The thought of Rutvias and the pathetic expectation that you are seeing me as a woman at all swells and afflicts Adeline day by day.

-... I don't want to like it any more...

I suppress it, and I can't keep it hidden. Then Adaline won't be able to let go of his hand. I want to keep Rutvias to myself, and I'm sure I'll forget my position as the 'Queen'.

When that happens, it's over. Rutvias must abandon Adeline, who does not do her duty.

-... I won't be able to be around...

I don't like that.

You don't have to be loved. You can keep thinking of other women. I just want to be by your side.

Adeline leaned softly over Rutvias' arm.

"... really... rarely today"

Rutvias laughs small and invites Adeline into his arms. Does that face look happy because of Adeline's desire to be?

From Adeline's consciousness, wrapped in Rutvias' arms, the existence of the building blocks had disappeared without a trace.