That night, Might began preparing for a trip.

He wouldn't meet Werne again-. He agreed to that resolution, and planned on leaving the palace.

Might
(If I don't keep silent... I wonder if he'll be angry...)

Werne's sad face passed through is mind. However, he wouldn't allow it even if he told him the truth... So...

There was a knock on the door, and Might's thoughts were interrupted.

Might
Yes... Who is it?

Werne's Voice
Might, it's me... Hurry and open up...

Might
Y, Your Majesty...

Hesitantly, Might opened the door and let Werne in his room.

Werne
Huhuu... Visiting the rooms of my subjects like this, it makes my heart pound...

Might
What are you doing, coming here late at night...

Werne
I wanted to hear for myself. You got the message from my servant? Why didn't you come to my room?

Might
...

Werne's never-changing innocence clouded Might's smile conversely. To escape from that pain, he opened his mouth slowly.

Might
Your Majesty... Let's end this.

Werne
Might... What's the meaning of this?

Might
Our relationship... We've already gone too far...

Werne
What's the meaning of this?! It can't be, Might...

Might
No, it's not that! My feelings for Your Majesty haven't changed... But...

Might
...But, if we keep this relationship it's not good for the country... No, even more it's not good for Your Majesty.

Werne
Might, are you... serious?

Might lowered his eyes at the surprised Werne and continued.

Might
Yes. Your Majesty's body doesn't belong to Your Majesty alone.

Might
If I stay by your side, I have no doubt it'll bring about horrible consequences. Therefore...

Werne
...I don't like it.

Werne suddenly shouted that and clung to Might's back. He seemed to be frantically trying to restrain him...

Might
Your Majesty...

Werne
I hate it!

Werne
Didn't you promise to always stay by me! I won't allow you to leave me! Might, are you going to leave me by myself!!

As he shouted, tears overflowed from Werne's eyes.

Might
...

Werne
My father died, and Fritz and Lorence aren't at the palace anymore...

Werne
If you disappear too... I... I will be all alone...

Werne
So... So, don't leave me! I need you! I order it!

Might
Your Majesty...

At Werne's cries, Might felt his decision wavering. But, he was entirely decided after he deliberated.

Might
Those words... It's more honor than I deserve...

Might
But, just for that order, I'm not going to listen to the reasoning. Please, forgive me...

Werne
Might...

Might
Well then, Your Majesty, please return to your room... I beg of you...

He gently sent out Werne's stunned body into the corridor. And then, Might closed the door of his room...

The next day...

Might was starting to prepare for a trip. He was going to leave the palace, and search for a way to best use his power as a knight.

Most of all, if he stayed here he would come face to face with Werne again. That was the most painful thing.

For Werne, and for Might...

Might
Well, is this it... I've finished handing things over, and soon...

He was going to start his trip - it was when he thought that. Werne's servant dove into his room...

Servant
Mi, Might-sama! It's awful! His Majesty... His Majesty Werne is!

Might
His Majesty is...?! Did something happen to His Majesty?!

At his servant's alarmed appearance, Might unintentionally raised his voice.

Servant
Y, yes... I can't find His Majesty Werne anywhere. Moreover, the crown and the treasured sword that the successors inherit were on the throne...

Might
No way...?! Have you searched in the palace for the time being?

Servant
Y, yes... Up to now, everyone who can move has been searching for him together.

Might
...His Majesty!!

Forgetting about his trip, together with the other subjects, Might's eyes became bloodshot as he searched for Werne.

But no matter where he looked in the palace, he couldn't find that figure.

An impatience was born in Might's mind...

Might
Your Majesty, where in the world are you... Were you able to leave the royal palace...

Might
...Are we searching for a different spot than the palace?

Demanding clues, Might asked the trembling servant.

Servant
Uh, umm... Well, I accidentally didn't say...

Servant
...There's one horse missing from the stables... Is, is it possible His Majesty rode away.

Might
A horse...

When Might's mind heard that, one word passed through his mind.

Might
Your Majesty... It can't be...?!

Might
It's bad, but can you bring my horse! I have an idea.

Servant
Y, yes. At once...

From the back of the palace, Might rode off on his favorite horse quickly.

There was only one destination. It was a hill that Werne had taken a long ride to before.

Werne
...That place must be beautiful at this time of the season.

The casual remark Werne made remained deeply in Might's heart.

It wasn't the reason he was convinced.

Might
(But... He's probably in that place...)

And then, the person he was searching for was on the summit of that hill.

A place where you could see the entire town...

One young man was standing in the blooming flowers--. In was a dream-like scene in some ways.

Might
Your Majesty...

Might's figure caught his attention, and Werne quietly smiled. ...It was as if he couldn't wait for him to come.

Werne
Might, I knew you would come...

Might
I thought by chance...

Werne
Huhuu... You have no rival... You'll know wherever I go.

Might
I remembered that day, when Your Majesty saw this scenery--. Because you're still in my heart...

Werne
I see... I'm glad to hear that. I had a hunch that you would go somewhere far away...

Might
...

Might
...Your Majesty, please. Please come back to the palace. Everyone is worried.

Werne
No, I don't plan on going back to the palace...

Might
Your Majesty, what are you...

Werne
Might, you don't have to call me Your Majesty anymore.

Werne
The crown and sword would have been seen. Now I'm just Werne. I'm not the king who carries the burden of the whole country. I have no position, honor or property other than my body...

Werne's expression as he said that was was lonely-but, at the same time, he had a fresh smiling face.

That smile looked like the smile he had seen once before. When Might had talked to Werne for the first time, the smile he saw that day...

Werne
...I certainly might be rich, but I'm not free to go where I want or do what I want. I want to see the outside world more freely...

Werne
That's why I'm jealous of you. Because you have freedom, something that I can't have.

Werne
The heirs to the throne don't have anything, either... Like this... Might, will you love me? As only a free man...

He saw dignified determination in Werne's eyes.

Might
Werne, I...

They're gazes became entwined, and their bodies were naturally drawn towards each other.

Might
Because it's you, Werne, I want to love and protect you.

Werne
Might...

Werne
Huhuu... I don't know anything outside of the palace. I'll definitely bother you. You still don't mind?

Might
Then I'll teach you. Even if it's everything...

Werne
How will we eat? I want to work, but I'm sure my skills are limited.

Might
Them, I'll just work twice as much... If it's for your sake, hardships like that aren't anything...

Werne
I see... But, you know how selfish I am. Is it ok, even when I'm like that?

Might
Yes. I'll defend you. I'll always be by you...

Werne
Might...

Werne
I'm so happy! I want to be with you, too... Forever... and ever...

As they watched each other, words weren't necessary.

Perhaps it was possible to overcome anything-- if they could be together... No matter what it was... They had such conviction...

Concealed in the flowers, the two young men seemed like sculptures, forever nestling close to each other. As they vowed eternal love to each other...

The End