Artur and I, having left the imperial castle, ran hard along the wide river that cut across the empire’s capital, bathed in the crimson sunset of dusk.
After so long, running outdoors in the wide open air instead of on an indoor treadmill was quite a pleasant affair.
Though slightly chilly, the still-refreshing river breeze cooled my sweat, and the red sunlight dyed the blue river water scarlet, creating a beautiful landscape.
“Hah…… hah…… Y-Your Highness. I cannot run anymore……”
Having run with the prince for over an hour, I gasped for breath, planted my hands on my knees, and sank onto a riverside bench.
My heart felt like it would burst out of my throat.
In contrast, though Artur was drenched in sweat, not a single breath was out of place as he handed me a cool canteen and smacked his lips as if disappointed.
“Are you tired already, Ian? What a pity. I wish we could run a bit more.”
“Water…… thank you. Hah, I really feel like I’m going to die.”
“Well, you can’t get full after the first spoonful… From now on, let’s run along the river like this every week. Then your stamina will improve greatly.”
“Yes, Your Highness…”
As I gulped down water and caught my breath, Artur cast his gaze toward the red sunset dyeing the riverside.
The sky, a blend of golden and red hues, was quite a sight. Artur, wiping away his sweat, opened his mouth as if in admiration.
“Ah, look over there. It’s a magnificent sunset.”
“It’s like……”
Gasp.
I had unconsciously tried to respond, then startled, I hastily clamped my mouth shut.
I’m crazy, crazy. It seemed my stamina hitting rock bottom had caused my brain to lose its filter too.
Fortunately, Artur failed to notice my agitation and was resting beneath the sunset, cooling his sweat.
His gaze suddenly settled on a couple strolling affectionately arm-in-arm along the riverside promenade.
“A loving couple… how beautiful. They look more beautiful than this scenery itself.”
“It truly is. A love where simply looking at each other brings a smile… They must be truly happy.”
Artur, who had been drinking water and pondering something for a moment, blurted out.
“Ian, do you perhaps have a loved one you left behind in your homeland?”
“Yes? Why that all of a sudden…… No, I do not. Do you have one, Your Highness?”
“I don’t either. Haha! I don’t want a lover just yet.”
Artur laughed refreshingly and leaned his body against the backrest of the bench.
“In our empire, unless you are the heir to the throne, even imperial royalty is quite free when it comes to romance and marriage. My elder brother had no choice but to enter a political marriage and was tied down by family, but I am not. Rather than building a family with a woman yet, I want to focus solely on myself.”
“On yourself, you say.”
“Yes. I want to maintain my current lifestyle of training my body and building a fine physique.”
“That is impressive.”
“Well…… that doesn’t mean I don’t like women at all.”
Artur added with a sly grin.
“Sometimes I hide my status and secretly mix among commoners, enjoying a night of indulgence with a woman who shares my fancy. That too is excellent aerobic exercise, after all.”
‘Whew, thank goodness. He wasn’t gay.’
Setting aside a slightly uncomfortable thought that had suddenly surfaced, I casually asked what I had been wanting to ask.
“……Since you are a prince, if you wished, could you not take countless women inside the imperial palace as well?”
“Of course, with a single word from me, I could take not only commoners but even noble ladies. But I absolutely detest it when a woman embraces me against her will, or is forced to agree under the pressure of my power. That is an ugly act.”
“……”
“Just because one is born imperial royalty, or because the other party is of low status, does not give anyone the right to steal that person’s freedom. That is also why I cannot understand Lady Victoria’s ways. You are the sole master of your body, Ian.”
“……”
“If exercising with me is unpleasant, tell me anytime. I will not force you.”
“It was a bit hard at first, but now it is enjoyable. I have become much healthier as well.”
“Then I am glad.”
Artur swept back his sweat-soaked blond hair and spoke in a rather serious voice.
“I always hide the fact that I am a prince when I meet a woman. To a woman with whom I wish to spend the night, I ask her intentions very politely. Is not a true man one who connects through purely physical charm, without oppression or power?”
“……!”
“Well, so far there hasn’t been a woman who didn’t fall for these beautiful muscles and perfect body of mine, hahaha!”
Watching Artur laugh heartily, I nodded unconsciously.
Certainly, even viewed objectively, Artur was a perfect macho beauty, like an ancient Greek statue.
With those broad shoulders and wild blond hair, if he approached and seduced with such manners, there would be few women who wouldn’t fall for him.
Even without the power of a prince, his looks were captivating enough on their own.
And in that moment, the uncomfortable thought I had briefly set aside was finally organized in my head.
The original novel’s title was
Among the many perpetrators who had abused and tormented the heroine, Amy Sterling, was the Second Prince, Artur.
He was described as having explored the heroine’s body day and night in all sorts of bizarre positions, and because of that, it had been a bit uncomfortable.
However, after spending time with him, he was indeed a simple, somewhat ignorant person obsessed with exercise, but he was absolutely not the type to rape someone or anything like that.
I hadn’t understood at all why the original novel was written that way, but hearing his words just now, I finally felt like the puzzle pieces were falling into place.
‘……Ah, so that’s how it was.’
When reading from the heroine Amy’s first-person perspective, I had only known Artur as trash who had oppressively violated Amy using his power.
But now that I knew everything and had experienced his true personality, it felt like the truth was visible.
From my time with her, Amy had an extremely weak and timid personality, unable to properly refuse others’ requests.
Even when we were together at the Royal Academy, there had been several times when she couldn’t bring herself to refuse someone else’s unreasonable request, and frustrated, I had to step in and cut it off for her.
Perhaps instead of forcibly taking Amy, Artur had proposed spending the night together very politely and gently.
The problem was that at that time, Amy was already extremely exhausted mentally and physically from the abuse within the imperial palace.
In that state, when this prince with a massive body well over 190 centimeters approached her radiating an intimidating momentum, she probably couldn’t even conceive of the option to refuse and was swept away.
Ultimately, from Amy’s standpoint, the overwhelming act with the prince itself had likely remained as violence and coercion, a very frightening and distorted memory.
‘……Artur isn’t a bad person. Just… a simple person.’
Realizing that truth, a vague sense of discomfort that had been pressing on a corner of my heart vanished like melting snow.
He might be ignorant, but he was consistent, held his own convictions, and above all, was a man who knew how to respect others’ wills.
I felt a desire to become truly close with Artur.
I slowly rose from the bench and spoke to Artur, who was watching the setting sun, with a slight smile.
“Um, Prince Artur.”
“Hm? What is it, Ian? Have you regained some strength to run?”
“I absolutely refuse to run, but……”
I lightly clenched my right fist and held it out toward him, speaking earnestly.
“I truly believe that coming to the empire and meeting Your Highness has been my greatest fortune.”
At my sudden confession, Artur’s eyes went round for a moment.
But soon he smiled his characteristic hearty smile and bumped his massive fist against mine.
“Haha! I feel the same, Ian! You are the best friend I’ve ever met in my life. Being with you is so enjoyable!”
“…Did you say… friend?”
“Yes, friend. Hostage or whatever, what does any of that matter! I think of you as my friend. Treat me the same. We are friends!”
“……!”
I felt something welling up in my chest.
I held out my hand to him without a word, and he grasped my hand tightly.
“Shall we return to the palace now, Ian? If it’s too late, the sun will set and you’ll be cold as your sweat cools. It’s late autumn now, so it will get quite cold.”
“Yes, let us do so.”
“Good, let’s go! I was thinking of asking the chef to grill a big chunk of beef for dinner tonight. Will you eat with me?”
“Of course, Your Highness!”
“Good, then let’s wash up and go eat dinner!”
We turned our backs to the beautiful sunset fading into red and began walking toward the imperial palace side by side, shoulders touching.
My whole body was sticky with sweat and my legs trembled, but the night air of the capital felt fresher than ever before.