«I am very hungry,» he said to the servant, «make me a double breakfast and leave it at the door, do not enter my room, he ordered.»
The servant bowed and without a word went downstairs to the kitchen to carry out the order. Everyone in the palace believed that Prince Galh was a celestial descended from heaven and obeyed him without question, considering it a great honor.
Galh returned to bed and admired Leo's sleeping face. He frowned even in his sleep. This proud, handsome man seemed to carry the burden of the world on his shoulders. But nothing, from now on he, Galh, would help him in everything so that those sad wrinkles would be smoothed out.
Leo awoke to the delicious smell of food. Galh was sitting cross-legged on the bed, removing the lids from the plates. As he did so, he cheered like a child. Leo could tell by the peculiar atmosphere around him. At times he could clearly see his lips, which were smiling.
«Did you take off your veil?» he asked, sitting down.
«Oh, have you noticed?»
«Something strange has happened to me since yesterday.»
«It is not surprising, this is the Princes bedchamber, everything here is saturated with his spiritual power. It may be that you began to heal from your illness just by being here,» Galh sighed feignedly, holding out a bowl of water to Leo.
«In that case, I should come here more often with you,» laughed Leo.
«I’ll try...»
«I’m kidding, I’m kidding, you don’t need to get in trouble because of me.»
«Thank you,» Galh smiled warmly.
This was the first time Leo had ever cared about him.
After breakfast, everyone went off to study. Prince arrived. Leo didn’t see him again, but the young slave informed him that he would arrange a meeting with Galh tonight. Because of this, Leo was like a fog all day. He kept thinking up what he would say to this man he did not know at all and whom he had been so wrong about.
The day passed unnoticed, there was much to do, and Leo accompanied the little boy he came with everywhere. Toward evening they were asked to divide into two lines: those who had seed and those who did not.
Then there was a thorough screening and census.
When the line reached Leo, he was informed that he had the wrong line.
«Sir, you have seed, you should not be standing here,» the servant reported.
«But I was born perfectly normal, I was tested.»
«Well, then you have... acquired it...»
«What do you mean, acquired...»
«Well...» the young man became very embarrassed and blushed.
Someone tapped Leo on the shoulder, and he looked back-the young slave was standing in front of him.
«You?»
«In half an hour in his highness chambers, he will meet you.»
The young slave turned and disappeared into the crowd.
In the familiar room, candles were lit and a screen stood. Behind it was a full bath. As Leo entered, there was a splash of water. A graceful figure emerged from the water, casting a slender shadow over the screen.
Leo’s first wish was to escape the room.
«So...» a voice said, «you wanted to meet in person.»
«I...» His voice suddenly trailed off, and Prince Leo went hoarse.
«I have a lot to do every day, so I can only make time for you now.»
The prince sat down on the bed and it creaked slightly. Leo opened his eyes. All he could see was a puny figure, vaguely resembling a young slave. Is the prince like that, then?
«I’d like to clear things up between us» Leo said.
«Very well, then.»
«First, accept my gratitude for saving my kinsman.»
«I accept, but only in exchange for one thing.»
«...»
«This is it! The trap is about to slam!»
«I would like to break off our engagement» Galh said.
Leo couldn't find the words.
«We got off on the wrong foot in the past. It was my fault. I was fascinated by the beauty of young warrior Leo and was overly intrusive. It created many misunderstandings and problems. This horrible war and its aftermath - I want to put it all behind me.»
«...»
«Thank you for listening to me, I really appreciate it. Please live as you wish, this prince will not bother you again. I am sorry for the mistakes I have made in the past.»
Prince Leo was still stunned by what he heard. But he was even more confused by the fact that the young slave had learned to imitate Prince Galh’s voice, and now when the prince spoke to him, Leo involuntarily thought of the slave.
«Ah, and one more thing, I know you have an ailment, perhaps I should have done this a long time ago, if only I had known...»
The prince stood up and walked close to Leo. A thin hand went up to his face.
«From now on you will see faces so you can remember what someone special to you looks like.»
Leo blinked because the prince suddenly touched his eyelashes with his fingertips. And when he opened his eyes again, the prince was looking at him with his almond-shaped eyes. Below, his face was covered by a thin veil.
Leo himself did not know how he dared, but deft fingers lifted and removed the veil, revealing to him a face of incredible beauty. He flashed back to the maddening glamour of youth. Flawless skin, huge dark eyes, a smooth, small nose, and seductive lips. His heart beat faster.
«Nice to meet you,» the princes lips answered, and a small mole drew the attention of the beholder.
Prince Leo stood neither dead nor alive. The first face he saw belonged to his enemy, the one who had ruined his life. But was it? Could it be that he was the fool himself? He had not even once in the past tried to meet Galh. On the contrary, he had avoided all meetings and was adamant.
«Idiot,» Leo thought to himself.
Prince Galh turned out to be incredibly attractive. His dark eyes, like two abysses, beckoned and sparkled. He seemed to drown in them. When he smiled, it was clear that his cheeks could have charming dimples, and his thin pink lips moved seductively when he spoke.
«So, does your eyesight not fail you now?» Prince Galh smiled, looking warmly into Leos eyes.
«I see clearly,» Leo answered in a somber voice. «Thank you.»
He bowed in surprise.
«Do you... agree?»
«With what?»
«Breaking off the engagement.»
«…Yes.»
Prince Leo walked out of the prince’s room, bowing once more.
He could see faces now. He walked down the corridor and stared at people. He was surprised, there were so many mediocre faces around.
Meanwhile, Galh slowly closed the door and sank down on the bed. Tears streamed down his handsome face. He had done the right thing, hadn’t he? You can’t force someone you love, can you?
No one should be forced to love at all.
«So...» a voice said, «you wanted to meet in person.»
«I...» His voice suddenly trailed off, and Prince Leo went hoarse.
«I have a lot to do every day, so I can only make time for you now.»
The prince sat down on the bed and it creaked slightly. Leo opened his eyes. All he could see was a puny figure, vaguely resembling a young slave. Is the prince like that, then?
«I’d like to clear things up between us» Leo said.
«Very well, then.»
«First, accept my gratitude for saving my kinsman.»
«I accept, but only in exchange for one thing.»
«...»
«This is it! The trap is about to slam!»
«I would like to break off our engagement» Galh said.
Leo couldn't find the words.
«We got off on the wrong foot in the past. It was my fault. I was fascinated by the beauty of young warrior Leo and was overly intrusive. It created many misunderstandings and problems. This horrible war and its aftermath - I want to put it all behind me.»
«...»
«Thank you for listening to me, I really appreciate it. Please live as you wish, this prince will not bother you again. I am sorry for the mistakes I have made in the past.»
Prince Leo was still stunned by what he heard. But he was even more confused by the fact that the young slave had learned to imitate Prince Galh’s voice, and now when the prince spoke to him, Leo involuntarily thought of the slave.
«Ah, and one more thing, I know you have an ailment, perhaps I should have done this a long time ago, if only I had known...»
The prince stood up and walked close to Leo. A thin hand went up to his face.
«From now on you will see faces so you can remember what someone special to you looks like.»
Leo blinked because the prince suddenly touched his eyelashes with his fingertips. And when he opened his eyes again, the prince was looking at him with his almond-shaped eyes. Below, his face was covered by a thin veil.
Leo himself did not know how he dared, but deft fingers lifted and removed the veil, revealing to him a face of incredible beauty. He flashed back to the maddening glamour of youth. Flawless skin, huge dark eyes, a smooth, small nose, and seductive lips. His heart beat faster.
«Nice to meet you,» the princes lips answered, and a small mole drew the attention of the beholder.
Prince Leo stood neither dead nor alive. The first face he saw belonged to his enemy, the one who had ruined his life. But was it? Could it be that he was the fool himself? He had not even once in the past tried to meet Galh. On the contrary, he had avoided all meetings and was adamant.
«Idiot,» Leo thought to himself.
Prince Galh turned out to be incredibly attractive. His dark eyes, like two abysses, beckoned and sparkled. He seemed to drown in them. When he smiled, it was clear that his cheeks could have charming dimples, and his thin pink lips moved seductively when he spoke.
«So, does your eyesight not fail you now?» Prince Galh smiled, looking warmly into Leos eyes.
«I see clearly,» Leo answered in a somber voice. «Thank you.»
He bowed in surprise.
«Do you... agree?»
«With what?»
«Breaking off the engagement.»
«…Yes.»
Prince Leo walked out of the prince’s room, bowing once more.
He could see faces now. He walked down the corridor and stared at people. He was surprised, there were so many mediocre faces around.
Meanwhile, Galh slowly closed the door and sank down on the bed. Tears streamed down his handsome face. He had done the right thing, hadn’t he? You can’t force someone you love, can you?
No one should be forced to love at all.
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