[BL]The Hero and his Party Won't Let Me Go-Chapter 157: Ch : The one at Fault - part 2

Shuu picked up the first book he could see in front of him and handed it over to the vendor. The book stall owner looked at Shuu’s ordinary attire (his disguise) before he took the money.

There was something heavy about the way that man looked at Shuu, and Shuu felt like he needed to speak up.

"Is there...something wrong? You are looking at me with a weird look in your eyes."

Shuu positioned the kids in such a way where he would be able to pick them up and run if things came down to it.

But thankfully, the vendor just blinked at him and decided to scoff.

"It’s nothing, kid. I was just surprised to see someone as young as you out and about with two kids. But you look like you are from a nice family, so they likely are not kidnapped or being trafficked."

The vendor told Shuu, and Shuu nodded with a doubtful look on his face.

He did believe the vendor’s words, but something about this situation still felt off to him. There was an unsettling air about him that made Shuu just a little nervous. His instincts told him that he should leave now.

"I see...I should get going now."

He told the vendor, and the vendor nodded. Then, out of nowhere, he spoke up once more.

"Things have become so unsettled these past few days, and it is all Emperor Kaiden’s fault...or rather, it is the fault of that ’companion’ of his. Do they really think they have the right to deny the goddess’s will?"

Shuu tensed up at those words. He knew that he should not allow them to get to him, and yet, he could not block them out either.

A part of him felt like he had to hear these words, even if they hurt him.

The vendor, who was unaware of what was happening, continued to speak.

"Anyway, all that is going wrong is that companion’s fault. Why does he think he can go against the goddess? And not only that, but he also made the Emperor go against the goddess as well? Tsk, what an unfortunate and cursed set of circumstances. But then again, what can we expect from someone who never got the goddess’s blessing in the first place?"

Those words hurt a lot more than Shuu wanted to admit.

He wanted to believe that he had left all his insecurity behind when he decided to be with Kaiden, but that could not be further from the truth.

In reality, he was just holding on to his feelings so that he would not have to feel guilty about anything. But the world did not seem ready to let him go.

"Tsk, our life and this world are fucked. But we still have to do what we can to live. Anyway, what else would you like to buy?"

The vendor asked, but Shuu’s mood had already tanked to an all-time low. He decided to pay the money to the vendor and go back.

’Maybe it will be better for everyone if I follow the goddess’s will. If these people are suffering because of my stubbornness, then I-’

"Ahhh...no-! My precious books. W-What did you do-"

The vendor cried loudly, and Shuu looked back as well, only to see Caelis clutching his torn shirt. It seemed to have gotten stuck on the vendor’s stall and brought all his books down into a conveniently placed puddle of mud...which had certainly not been there before. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Shuu had a feeling he knew who the culprit was, but he did not want to say it out loud.

The vendor seemed not to care and quickly grabbed Caelis’ shirt to shake him around.

"You little brat-! Do you have any idea how much your actions have cost me? How will I-"

"S-Shuu, help-! I feel scared..."

Caelis spoke, and Shuu immediately decided to take action. But before he could do anything, the guard ran over and grabbed the vendor’s hand to make him let go of the crown prince.

"Sir, I would have to ask you to calm down."

The guard told the bookstore vendor, but the angry vendor did not heed that sincere advice and got even angrier.

"Calm down-! How can I calm down? Do you not see the problem here? This brat is causing me so much stress-! All my stuff-!"

The vendor reached for Shuu once more, but the royal guard stopped him once again.

The expression on the guard’s face clearly told Shuu that he did not want to help Shuu, but he was being forced to because of his position.

Emperor Kaiden might have gone on an expedition, but the fear of his presence was high. Besides, even if the prophecy had said that there would be a new ’companion’, it had not said anything about there being a new crown prince.

So for the sake of his future, the guard decided to take action and stop the vendor from making the biggest mistake of his life.

"Y-You-! I am going to kill you, even if it’s the last thing I do-! I will make sure you disappear-"

Sigh

"It seems this man is far too unstable right now. Young Master, please head back now. I will take care of things here."

The guard was smart and decided not to reveal Shuu’s identity in front of the market. Since most people blamed Shuu’s presence for their Emperor not following the goddess’s will, it was safer for Shuu not to be known by them.

Shuu agreed as well, and he decided to grab the kids and head back.

But what had happened today and the words he heard made his head throb. He knew that nothing good would come out of thinking about it. And yet, he could not stop thinking about it even once he returned.

The way the maids and guards looked at him, the way he was talked about, it all took on a new meaning.

He was suffocating under all this pressure, and his vision swam in and out of focus. He wanted to close his eyes and-

"Shuu, alright...?"

Rin asked, and suddenly, it all felt alright once more.