[BL]The Hero and his Party Won't Let Me Go-Chapter 42: Ch : Thinking of him

"Why are you behaving like a spineless person? You should use your status and Prince Kaiden’s name to get out of these situations. People would bother you less if you do."

Nero was stating a fact, but Shuu just chuckled.

"Things could become more troublesome for Prince Kaiden and everyone involved if I use his name. Besides, most of the people who bully me do not do any real harm. There is no point in striking them back."

Shuu was used to such situations, so he did not find them as humiliating and annoying as others did.

He understood the irritation Nero felt, but he just wanted trouble to be over as soon as possible.

"Human, I take back what I said about you. You are much worse than that fool. At least she has a sense of preservation and self-worth. We will have to work on you a lot."

Shuu felt a slight itch in his heart when he heard Nero say this, but the second part of Nero’s sentence made Shuu smile a little bit more.

"Let’s go back now. I want to take a bath and change my clothes. Ugh, it will take some time to get the smell out of my clothes..."

"Just burn these clothes. Kaiden will get you new ones anyway. And if not, then I will get you some more. I might not look like it, but I am loaded."

Nero boasted, and Shuu felt a chuckle escape his mouth. Nothing was funny, but feeling relief and being in pleasant company lifted Shuu’s mood a lot.

’Is this what having a friend is like? It feels... nice... I hope this friendship lasts for a long time.’

__________

’I wonder what Shuu is doing? Has he woken up? What about breakfast? Liam did tell me he took care of such things...’

But Liam had been stuck by Prince Kaiden’s side ever since the morning. It was one ritual after another, and they did not have any time to get away.

Prince Kaiden felt like a doll that was being forced to go to different places when he was instructed to do so.

It was all ceremonial with no real significance, but since the customs held, he decided to put up with it.

Finally, after six hours of sitting, standing, and doing as he was asked, Prince Kaiden finally got a break. And the first thing he did was ask Liam to report about Shuu’s day. Liam looked a little uncomfortable, but relief came quickly.

"Nero is back, so I told him to keep an eye on Shuu. Nero will take care of him while we prepare for the remaining rituals..."

Prince Kaiden immediately frowned at the news.

"What about Shuu’s food? Did you at least arrange that?"

Liam looked troubled.

"Food? Nero will... no, wait, he will not. Sigh I am sure Shuu is aware enough to know that he needs to eat. For now, please focus on yourself and the rituals as the hero."

Liam quickly changed the subject, knowing fully well that he had messed up. But he did not want to die so quickly, so he changed the subject.

"Hmm, how many are left?"

Prince Kaiden asked as he relaxed. He wanted to head back to Shuu’s side, but this was taking far too long.

"We have about five more left before you are free to go. Please get through them all quickly. Then you can reply to Lady Sera’s letter. You have still not replied to it, right?"

Liam asked, and Kaiden paused.

He had... actually not replied to the letter Sera sent him, but that was because he had been a little busy with stuff. Between the swordsmith village, Shuu’s poor health, and everything else, he did not get time...

No, that was not it. Kaiden had just... not considered replying to Sera a priority, and that shook him.

"I will write her the letter as soon as I am done here."

Prince Kaiden promised just as the second head priest came back to tell him that it was time for the next ritual.

Liam sighed as he looked at Prince Kaiden’s back. He had already known that Lady Sera’s letter had not been replied to yet by Prince Kaiden, but he had hoped that the prince had replied to her secretly without telling anyone.

However, that did not seem to be the case.

"Tsk, my bad feeling is actually coming true. I need to put some distance between Prince Kaiden and Shuu... and fast..."

Liam complained, only for Reina to shake her head.

"I would advise you not to put your head in the lion’s den, but you are not willing to listen to me, are you? I still don’t understand what you see in that bitch anyway-"

"Don’t say that-! Lady Sera is our only hope of controlling Prince Kaiden if he ever goes berserk. Do you know how big of a responsibility that is? Besides, Shuu will never be accepted by the noble council-"

"But what if he does birth the next ruler? After all, everyone knows that the royal family is special. And they are sleeping together. Shuu even has the mark. It is a possibility-"

"Don’t say that, Reina. It will be a political mess, not to mention all the preparations made for the hero’s wedding... ugh, just thinking about it gives me a headache."

Liam complained, and Reina just sighed as she looked at him.

"Well, you did it to yourself. Anyway, I would advise you to get your head back into the mission at hand. This temple is a much bigger danger to Prince Kaiden’s sanity."

Liam sighed at Reina’s words. He already knew that the temple did not like Shuu, but he also knew that they were greedy and self-preserving enough to not try anything foolish with him. After all, they did not want to answer to Prince Kaiden either.

"I am not worried about Shuu’s safety. He has Nero with him. Nero is the strongest out of us all... well, except Prince Kaiden. He will take care of Shuu."

Liam assured, and Reina sighed.

"Well, that is the problem. Don’t you recall? Nero has the same taste as Prince Kaiden. There is a solid chance he might like Shuu more than he should as well. Prince Kaiden will not be happy with that."

Reina reminded him, and Liam stiffened.

"T-That is not true. He does not like Sera at all and... fuck, except her, you are right. Let’s finish here quickly so that we can head back as well. I am suddenly beginning to have a bad feeling about it all."