“I can’t help it if you say so. Instead, please take a break right after returning. You got it, right?”
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In the end, Khalid took a step back. He wanted to tell Renato to rest, but it was also true that because of their schedule, they wouldn’t be able to meet Laila except for today. Khalid would have strongly opposed it if Renato’s condition had seemed a bit worse, but since he was slightly feverish, it seemed okay to visit for a while.
“I will.”
“……Please don’t burden yourself too much.”
Unable to feel relieved, Khalid raised his hand and brushed the cheek that had become thinner than before. Renato was already thin, but somehow it seemed like he had lost more weight.
“Didn’t you lose some weight?”
“Pardon? Uh, uhm, I don’t really know…… I’m eating more than before, though?”
When Khalid’s hand touched his cheek, Renato stiffened his shoulders and stammered in response to the unexpected question. When he recalled, he remembered Louis, who helped him get dressed the other day, also said something similar.
But Renato didn’t care much. He didn’t have the mind to care about losing weight, and he was also taking care of his meals recently.
‘But if you still want to repay me…… Right, how about eating and sleeping well, gaining weight, and becoming healthier than now?’
As he thought about it again, after hearing those words from Khalid, he gradually increased the amount he ate. In the past, he would make do with a few slices of fruit and a drink when he was tired or had no appetite, but these days, he tried to eat soup and bread. And when he dined with Khalid, he of course had a full course from appetizers to desserts.
Renato was a little shocked by that new realization. He felt surprised that his eating habit, which had not changed for the past 20 years, had changed with a single sentence from Khalid.
Of course, Renato had other reasons to take care of his meals. After the regression, he could feel physical problems. Unlike in his previous life, where he was healthier than others even if he didn’t get enough sleep or pay attention to his meals thanks to his fairy blood, in the present life, his condition deteriorated when he just forced himself a bit. In worse cases, he could also get sick.
The biggest problem was that his recovery was slow. Admitting that his body had changed after going through a few events, Renato felt the need to take care of his health.
Still, he couldn’t deny that Khalid’s influence was huge. Just like how they said that when one likes a person, they will want to change into the type that person wants, Renato had already diligently tried to look good to Khalid even before realizing his feelings.
“I think that the amount you eat has definitely increased compared to before, but…… I’m worried that you are losing weight instead of gaining weight.”
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Probably because he overworks himself too much. Khalid’s expression darkened when he saw Renato, who seemed particularly emaciated today.
Renato had been busier than anyone else in the past few months. Back in the Empire, he pushed ahead with an engagement with Khalid while avoiding Marquis Medus’ eyes, recruited people working for him such as Arche, and did the foundation work for the future.
In addition, he had to embark on a long journey lasting several weeks despite being unfamiliar with traveling. After arriving in the kingdom, he had the engagement ceremony and attended various banquets without relieving his accumulated fatigue.
Furthermore, he also occasionally took care of matters related to the Esteban territory and received trauma treatment from Souad. It was an environment where he couldn’t easily gain weight.
I should have been more attentive.
Belatedly regretting, Khalid caressed the slightly heated skin. He couldn’t even remember the last time he saw Renato rest. He stroked Renato’s cheek, thinking he should make Renato rest as soon as they came back from the Queen Consort’s Palace. Considering that they had to go on an arduous journey again the day after tomorrow, Renato should take a proper rest today and tomorrow.
“I know you have a lot to worry about since we are returning to the Empire, but you still need to rest properly when you can. Please just look at this now. You have a fever like this, right?”
“Uh, uhm, yes……”
Renato didn’t even know what he was saying. His nerves were focused on the hand caressing his cheek, not allowing him to concentrate on Khalid’s words.
“You must unconditionally rest today after visiting Her Majesty. You got it, right?”
Khalid squinted his eyes when Renato answered absent-mindedly. He deliberately emphasized his words, covering the white back of Renato’s hand on the desk with his. Then, he leaned his upper body toward Renato.
“Are you listening to me? Renato?”
“Pardon? Ah, I, I am listening.”
“Really?”
Tap. Khalid brought his forehead to the round forehead, asking in a doubtful voice.
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“Your, your highness?”
Renato held back his breath as their faces got close enough to touch each other’s breath. An unknown breath tickled the tip of his nose and lips.
“Not ‘your highness’, you should call me Khalid now.”
Khalid whispered softly, intertwining his fingers between Renato’s. With their fingers laced, he met Renato’s eyes.
When they made eye contact, the pale purple eyes widened. Along with that, the long, thin eyelashes trembled. Taking in that sight, Khalid opened his lips.
“Call my name.”
Renato momentarily felt he would cry. Almost tearful, he clenched his molars. He thought the expression he had barely maintained would crumble if he didn’t do so.
“Are you not going to call my name?”
“I, uhm, I’m, I’m sorry…… Not, yet……”
Renato stammered, not knowing what to do when Khalid urged him. He was out of breath although he didn’t run, and his mind was hazy as if floating.
“I, I think we should prepare to go to the Queen Consort’s Palace. Louis!”
Having reached his mental limit, Renato pulled his hand back, got up and called Louis. He felt a sense of crisis that Khalid would find out if they kept on being like this.
“Did you call me, Your Imperial Highness?”
“Yes, Louis. Can you help me prepare to go to the Queen Consort’s Palace?”
When Louis entered, Renato came up to him and headed toward the dressing room as if running away. He thought Khalid might find it strange, but he had to run away from him first.
“……”
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Khalid slightly frowned, looking at Renato’s back moving away from him as if running away from the ‘it’ in a hide-and-seek game. His gaze soon turned to his empty hand.
“It’s difficult.”
Mumbling to himself, Khalid gently clenched his fist, trying to grasp the remaining sensation. He felt regretful that the warmth had escaped from his hand.
* * *
“……How strange.”
“Pardon? What are you talking about?”
While checking if anything was left out from the departure, which would be right on the next day, Nasir heard Khalid’s murmur and turned his head.
“I’m talking about His Imperial Highness. He seems to be avoiding me these days.”
Sitting with his arms crossed and a sullen face, Khalid confided his concerns to Nasir.
“Pardon? Did something happen? Perhaps…… a couple’s quarrel?”
He seems to be in a bad mood since morning, is it because of His Imperial Highness? Nasir opened his eyes wide and muttered inwardly.
“What couple’s quarrel? Nothing happened.”
If the cause were clear like a couple’s quarrel, I wouldn’t be in agony like this. Khalid sighed deeply with a distressed expression.
“If His Imperial Highness’ attitude has become strange, something must have gone wrong, right? Just what mistake did you make?”
“I know. That’s why I’m agonizing over it now.”
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Khalid responded bluntly when Nasir said it was definitely his fault. Despite knowing he was uselessly taking his anger out on Nasir, he couldn’t suppress his irritation.
“I don’t know why……”
“Hmm, is it not because he is nervous about going back to the Empire?”
“I thought so too at first, but it doesn’t seem so.”
Shaking his head, Khalid tapped the desk with his long fingers. His red eyes darkened. At first, he thought it was because Renato was stressed out by the burden of the future.
However, he had changed his thoughts since yesterday. It might be an absurd guess, but Renato was overly conscious of him.
Just why?
Khalid clenched and reopened his fist, recalling how Renato stiffened at his touch. When they went to visit Laila yesterday and when they had dinner afterward, Renato couldn’t make eye contact with him. Rather, he was busy avoiding his gaze.
It was difficult to make eye contact, let alone skinship. Renato was nervous and overconscious even if Khalid got just a bit closer.
Khalid felt so last night when he deliberately stroked Renato’s cheek and swept his hair more. Each time, Renato flinched or secretly backed away like a rabbit with its weak ears touched. Anyone could see that he was uncomfortable with physical contact.
Seeing Renato’s awkward appearance as if having returned to the time they just met, Khalid was seized by a strange feeling of both realizing something and not understanding at the same time.
But he did not dare to question Renato. It was due to a strange fear that Renato might cry if he did something wrong. Perhaps because he had seen Renato crying like a child a few days ago.
‘Khalid, hic, Khalidd……’
As he recalled the tears on Renato’s face as he called his name sorrowfully, the pit of his stomach briefly tensed up. Feeling his heart become heavy, Khalid calmly traced his memory. No matter how much he thought, it was definitely since that day that Renato’s attitude had changed.
The day he suggested to Renato that they call each other by name. Yes, it was exactly since then.
“I can’t help it if you say so. Instead, please take a break right after returning. You got it, right?”
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In the end, Khalid took a step back. He wanted to tell Renato to rest, but it was also true that because of their schedule, they wouldn’t be able to meet Laila except for today. Khalid would have strongly opposed it if Renato’s condition had seemed a bit worse, but since he was slightly feverish, it seemed okay to visit for a while.
“I will.”
“……Please don’t burden yourself too much.”
Unable to feel relieved, Khalid raised his hand and brushed the cheek that had become thinner than before. Renato was already thin, but somehow it seemed like he had lost more weight.
“Didn’t you lose some weight?”
“Pardon? Uh, uhm, I don’t really know…… I’m eating more than before, though?”
When Khalid’s hand touched his cheek, Renato stiffened his shoulders and stammered in response to the unexpected question. When he recalled, he remembered Louis, who helped him get dressed the other day, also said something similar.
But Renato didn’t care much. He didn’t have the mind to care about losing weight, and he was also taking care of his meals recently.
‘But if you still want to repay me…… Right, how about eating and sleeping well, gaining weight, and becoming healthier than now?’
As he thought about it again, after hearing those words from Khalid, he gradually increased the amount he ate. In the past, he would make do with a few slices of fruit and a drink when he was tired or had no appetite, but these days, he tried to eat soup and bread. And when he dined with Khalid, he of course had a full course from appetizers to desserts.
Renato was a little shocked by that new realization. He felt surprised that his eating habit, which had not changed for the past 20 years, had changed with a single sentence from Khalid.
Of course, Renato had other reasons to take care of his meals. After the regression, he could feel physical problems. Unlike in his previous life, where he was healthier than others even if he didn’t get enough sleep or pay attention to his meals thanks to his fairy blood, in the present life, his condition deteriorated when he just forced himself a bit. In worse cases, he could also get sick.
The biggest problem was that his recovery was slow. Admitting that his body had changed after going through a few events, Renato felt the need to take care of his health.
Still, he couldn’t deny that Khalid’s influence was huge. Just like how they said that when one likes a person, they will want to change into the type that person wants, Renato had already diligently tried to look good to Khalid even before realizing his feelings.
“I think that the amount you eat has definitely increased compared to before, but…… I’m worried that you are losing weight instead of gaining weight.”
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Probably because he overworks himself too much. Khalid’s expression darkened when he saw Renato, who seemed particularly emaciated today.
Renato had been busier than anyone else in the past few months. Back in the Empire, he pushed ahead with an engagement with Khalid while avoiding Marquis Medus’ eyes, recruited people working for him such as Arche, and did the foundation work for the future.
In addition, he had to embark on a long journey lasting several weeks despite being unfamiliar with traveling. After arriving in the kingdom, he had the engagement ceremony and attended various banquets without relieving his accumulated fatigue.
Furthermore, he also occasionally took care of matters related to the Esteban territory and received trauma treatment from Souad. It was an environment where he couldn’t easily gain weight.
I should have been more attentive.
Belatedly regretting, Khalid caressed the slightly heated skin. He couldn’t even remember the last time he saw Renato rest. He stroked Renato’s cheek, thinking he should make Renato rest as soon as they came back from the Queen Consort’s Palace. Considering that they had to go on an arduous journey again the day after tomorrow, Renato should take a proper rest today and tomorrow.
“I know you have a lot to worry about since we are returning to the Empire, but you still need to rest properly when you can. Please just look at this now. You have a fever like this, right?”
“Uh, uhm, yes……”
Renato didn’t even know what he was saying. His nerves were focused on the hand caressing his cheek, not allowing him to concentrate on Khalid’s words.
“You must unconditionally rest today after visiting Her Majesty. You got it, right?”
Khalid squinted his eyes when Renato answered absent-mindedly. He deliberately emphasized his words, covering the white back of Renato’s hand on the desk with his. Then, he leaned his upper body toward Renato.
“Are you listening to me? Renato?”
“Pardon? Ah, I, I am listening.”
“Really?”
Tap. Khalid brought his forehead to the round forehead, asking in a doubtful voice.
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“Your, your highness?”
Renato held back his breath as their faces got close enough to touch each other’s breath. An unknown breath tickled the tip of his nose and lips.
“Not ‘your highness’, you should call me Khalid now.”
Khalid whispered softly, intertwining his fingers between Renato’s. With their fingers laced, he met Renato’s eyes.
When they made eye contact, the pale purple eyes widened. Along with that, the long, thin eyelashes trembled. Taking in that sight, Khalid opened his lips.
“Call my name.”
Renato momentarily felt he would cry. Almost tearful, he clenched his molars. He thought the expression he had barely maintained would crumble if he didn’t do so.
“Are you not going to call my name?”
“I, uhm, I’m, I’m sorry…… Not, yet……”
Renato stammered, not knowing what to do when Khalid urged him. He was out of breath although he didn’t run, and his mind was hazy as if floating.
“I, I think we should prepare to go to the Queen Consort’s Palace. Louis!”
Having reached his mental limit, Renato pulled his hand back, got up and called Louis. He felt a sense of crisis that Khalid would find out if they kept on being like this.
“Did you call me, Your Imperial Highness?”
“Yes, Louis. Can you help me prepare to go to the Queen Consort’s Palace?”
When Louis entered, Renato came up to him and headed toward the dressing room as if running away. He thought Khalid might find it strange, but he had to run away from him first.
“……”
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Khalid slightly frowned, looking at Renato’s back moving away from him as if running away from the ‘it’ in a hide-and-seek game. His gaze soon turned to his empty hand.
“It’s difficult.”
Mumbling to himself, Khalid gently clenched his fist, trying to grasp the remaining sensation. He felt regretful that the warmth had escaped from his hand.
* * *
“……How strange.”
“Pardon? What are you talking about?”
While checking if anything was left out from the departure, which would be right on the next day, Nasir heard Khalid’s murmur and turned his head.
“I’m talking about His Imperial Highness. He seems to be avoiding me these days.”
Sitting with his arms crossed and a sullen face, Khalid confided his concerns to Nasir.
“Pardon? Did something happen? Perhaps…… a couple’s quarrel?”
He seems to be in a bad mood since morning, is it because of His Imperial Highness? Nasir opened his eyes wide and muttered inwardly.
“What couple’s quarrel? Nothing happened.”
If the cause were clear like a couple’s quarrel, I wouldn’t be in agony like this. Khalid sighed deeply with a distressed expression.
“If His Imperial Highness’ attitude has become strange, something must have gone wrong, right? Just what mistake did you make?”
“I know. That’s why I’m agonizing over it now.”
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Khalid responded bluntly when Nasir said it was definitely his fault. Despite knowing he was uselessly taking his anger out on Nasir, he couldn’t suppress his irritation.
“I don’t know why……”
“Hmm, is it not because he is nervous about going back to the Empire?”
“I thought so too at first, but it doesn’t seem so.”
Shaking his head, Khalid tapped the desk with his long fingers. His red eyes darkened. At first, he thought it was because Renato was stressed out by the burden of the future.
However, he had changed his thoughts since yesterday. It might be an absurd guess, but Renato was overly conscious of him.
Just why?
Khalid clenched and reopened his fist, recalling how Renato stiffened at his touch. When they went to visit Laila yesterday and when they had dinner afterward, Renato couldn’t make eye contact with him. Rather, he was busy avoiding his gaze.
It was difficult to make eye contact, let alone skinship. Renato was nervous and overconscious even if Khalid got just a bit closer.
Khalid felt so last night when he deliberately stroked Renato’s cheek and swept his hair more. Each time, Renato flinched or secretly backed away like a rabbit with its weak ears touched. Anyone could see that he was uncomfortable with physical contact.
Seeing Renato’s awkward appearance as if having returned to the time they just met, Khalid was seized by a strange feeling of both realizing something and not understanding at the same time.
But he did not dare to question Renato. It was due to a strange fear that Renato might cry if he did something wrong. Perhaps because he had seen Renato crying like a child a few days ago.
‘Khalid, hic, Khalidd……’
As he recalled the tears on Renato’s face as he called his name sorrowfully, the pit of his stomach briefly tensed up. Feeling his heart become heavy, Khalid calmly traced his memory. No matter how much he thought, it was definitely since that day that Renato’s attitude had changed.
The day he suggested to Renato that they call each other by name. Yes, it was exactly since then.
