Chapter Text
He should never have spoken to any of the people attending this banquet. Especially the children around his age. Don't get him wrong—he actually enjoyed the company of people his own age. The problem was that many of the young nobles present seemed to possess an overflowing pride and arrogance. Some spent their time flaunting their family names, while others seemed to find amusement in belittling those smaller or less influential than themselves.
Needless to say, Glovian wanted absolutely nothing to do with them. And then there were the adults. Honestly, they were even worse. The moment someone recognized him as one of the sons of the Leech family, their smiles became painfully fake. They would shower him with compliments they clearly did not mean, praise his appearance, his manners, his family's achievements—anything they thought would earn favor. Some were not even subtle about their intentions, practically pushing their daughters toward him in hopes of securing connections, future partnerships, or even marriage prospects.
Ha! Jokes on them. Glovian had no interest in any of that. Well... not exactly. He liked girls just fine. He simply preferred guys. Unfortunately, that was hardly something he could announce in the middle of a noble gathering. Suppressing a sigh, he slowly swirled the liquid inside his glass, watching the contents move in lazy circles. It was at least more entertaining than listening to another conversation about political alliances and family prestige. His nose twitched suddenly. Immediately, he lifted a hand to cover it.
Sevens save him.
Several guests smelled as though they had emptied entire bottles of perfume onto themselves before arriving. As someone with heightened senses, he was beginning to understand why some beastmen complained so much during formal gatherings, the overwhelming scents felt almost suffocating. Did these people truly enjoy smelling like a flower shop that had exploded? Glovian resisted the urge to retreat toward an open window. Instead, he glanced elsewhere, hoping to find something—anything to distract himself. By this point, Glovian was fairly certain he could taste the perfume. His suffering only continued when he looked elsewhere. His eyes landed on one particular nobleman.
…
For a brief moment, Glovian genuinely considered gouging his own eyes out. That man's outfit was a crime against fashion. No. A crime against humanity! Whoever had allowed that man to leave his house dressed like that should have been arrested. Or at the very least banned from giving fashion advice for the rest of their life.
The colors clashed so aggressively that they looked as though several curtains had been stitched together after losing a battle against a paint bucket. The excessive jewels reflected every available light source in the room, making the entire ensemble shine like a decorative chandelier.that Glovian genuinely questioned whether it was some form of visual assault.
The gold clashed with the crimson. The crimson clashed with the emerald. The emerald somehow clashed with everything. There were jewels. Far too many jewels. Somehow there were feathers involved as well.
Glovian physically winced. As someone who had a keen interest in fashion in the past, witnessing such an atrocity was painful. Perhaps even more painful than the transformation potion. He quickly looked away before permanent damage could be inflicted upon his vision. At this point, finding a quiet corner and waiting for the banquet to end was becoming increasingly appealing. Surely there had to be somewhere in this palace where he could sit in peace without being assaulted by gossip, perfume, or disastrous fashion choices.
As the banquet wore on, Glovian could feel his patience steadily slipping away. Between the suffocating perfumes, the endless small talk, and the nobles who seemed incapable of discussing anything beyond status and connections, he was reaching his limit. Then, From the corner of his eye, he noticed a door tucked away near the edge of the banquet hall. Unlike the other entrances, few people seemed to pay it any attention. Curious, he glanced through the nearby window and caught sight of what lay beyond.
A garden.
More specifically, a private botanical garden hidden within the palace grounds.
Without wasting a second, Glovian quietly slipped away from his spot and swiftly made his way toward the door, careful not to attract the attention of any nearby guests. The last thing he needed was someone stopping him for another tedious conversation.
The moment he stepped outside, the noise of the banquet faded considerably. A cool evening breeze greeted him, carrying with it the earthy scent of soil and blooming flowers. Glovian let out a relieved sigh.
Much better.
His golden eyes wandered across the scenery. Rows upon rows of plants flourished throughout the enclosed space. Vibrant flowers bloomed beneath lantern light, while exotic greenery stretched across carefully maintained pathways. What surprised him most, however, was the sheer variety and the plants themselves.
Many of these plants should not have been capable of thriving in a place like the Sunset Savanna. Some clearly belonged to tropical climates, while others looked as though they originated from forests, wetlands, or places far removed from the dry environment of the Sunset Savanna.
Yet somehow they flourished.
Healthy.
Vibrant.
Beautiful.
"Magic, perhaps?" Glovian murmured quietly to himself.
He wouldn't have been surprised. It certainly would not be the strangest thing he had encountered in this world. As he wandered deeper into the garden, taking in the scenery at his own pace, tiny lights began to appear among the plants.
Fireflies.
Dozens of them.
They drifted lazily through the air, their soft glow creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere. For a moment, Glovian simply stood there and watched them dance among the flowers.
It was peaceful. Far more peaceful than the banquet hall. Eventually, his attention was drawn to a particularly unusual plant growing near one of the pathways. Curious, he crouched down to examine it more closely, carefully studying the shape of its leaves and petals.
Then— A soft snore reached his ears. Glovian blinked. He paused immediately, lifting his head. Another snore followed shortly after. The sound was faint but unmistakable.
Someone was sleeping nearby.
Slowly, he stood and glanced around the garden, searching for the source. It did not take long to find it. Near the center of the garden stood an elegant fountain, its water illuminated by moonlight. Beside it rested a bench carved from sandstone.
And sprawled across it as though he owned the entire garden— which, to be fair, he practically did— was the second prince. Glovian stared for a moment.
There lay Leona Kingscholar, fast asleep despite the banquet being held in his honor. One arm was draped lazily over his eyes, his lion ears twitching occasionally as he slept, completely unconcerned with whatever was happening inside the palace.
A small puff of amusement escaped Glovian before he could stop it. The birthday guest of honor had apparently abandoned his own banquet in favor of a nap. And honestly? Glovian couldn't even blame him. If anything, that was probably the most relatable thing he had seen all evening.
As Glovian slowly approached the fountain, he noticed a pair of lion ears twitch when he approached him. So he wasn't asleep after all. Golden-green eyes lazily cracked open and immediately landed on him.
"What do you want?"
Leona's voice carried its usual irritation, as though being awake itself was an inconvenience. Glovian didn't answer right away. Instead, he calmly walked over to the empty space beside the sandstone bench and took a seat. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Then Glovian finally broke the silence.
"I wanted to wish you a happy birthday, Prince Leona."
The words seemed to catch Leona off guard. The prince blinked. Once. Twice. Then an awkward silence settled between them.
"..."
"..."
"I—" Leona clicked his tongue. "...Thank you."
Almost immediately, he looked away. Glovian had to bite back a smile. The second prince looked as though the simple act of accepting a birthday greeting was physically painful. Still, it was probably the closest thing to gratitude he would get. After a while, Glovian leaned back slightly.
"So..." Glovian began, resting an arm against the back of the bench. "I know you're the reason my family was invited to this banquet." Leona's ears flicked once.
"Maybe."
"May I ask why?"
The prince remained silent for a moment. The fountain continued to trickle quietly beside them. Finally, Leona spoke.
"...It's repayment."
"Repayment?"
"For what you did."
"What I did?"
Glovian tilted his head. Leona glanced at him briefly before looking away again. "You protected a prince's reputation." For a second, Glovian stared blankly. Then realization struck.
Ah.
The maids.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. So that was it. Leona really wasn't making this easy, was he? Instead of simply saying thank you, he had gone through the trouble of arranging an invitation for an entire family.
Glovian supposed that was just how the prince operated. Honestly, he hadn't even done it for a reward. He simply found the servants annoying.
"Well," he said lightly, "I'm honored." Leona clicked his tongue and looked away again. The gesture only made Glovian's amusement grow.
Alright, alright. I get it.
Glovian decided not to tease him about it. At least not today. The atmosphere gradually relaxed afterward. Neither felt pressured to speak, and surprisingly, the silence wasn't uncomfortable. The fountain continued to trickle softly beside them while fireflies drifted lazily through the garden.For the first time that evening, the banquet felt very far away.
Unfortunately, peace never lasted long within a palace. Footsteps approached somewhere beyond the hedges. Then came voices.
"Did you hear?"
Both boys remained still. Apparently, the speakers hadn't noticed anyone nearby.
"Apparently the second prince walked away from Duke _____ during their conversation."
"Really? How rude."
"I know, right? He has no manners at all."
"Honestly, how can someone like that be related to His Majesty?" A scoff followed.
"It's obvious why he isn't the heir to the throne."
The words cut through the garden like knives. Glovian's expression immediately darkened. Beside him, Leona froze. His shoulders stiffened. His hands clenched into fists. The muscles in his jaw tightened.
"..."
No response.
No retort.
Nothing.
Yet Glovian could see the tension building. The prince's claws dug into his palms hard enough that they were probably drawing blood. Meanwhile, the conversation continued.
"Shh!" One of the voices suddenly panicked. "Don't say things like that so loudly! What if someone hears us?" "Ah! Sorry!" Their whispers quickly faded as hurried footsteps retreated from the garden.
Silence returned once more. But this time, it felt heavier. Glovian glanced sideways. Leona's head remained lowered. His fists were still clenched. His jaw was tight. And despite how hard he was trying to hide it, his entire body trembled with restrained anger. Not because he was incapable of lashing out. But because he had likely heard things like this his entire life.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Until everyone simply expected him to endure it. Glovian's gaze lingered on him for a moment. Then he let out a quiet sigh. "...You know." His voice broke the silence.
"I think they're idiots."
Leona blinked. The prince slowly looked up. Glovian leaned back against the bench, staring up at the night sky.
"If a person spends all their time comparing someone to another person, they'll never actually get to know who that someone is." The fireflies drifted lazily between them. "They keep talking about your brother." His golden eyes shifted toward Leona.
"But they're not looking at you." For the first time since the whispers began, Leona's expression faltered. Only slightly. But enough. And somehow, that small crack in his usual indifference looked far more painful than the anger ever had.
"Well then." Glovian rose from the bench, brushing off the sand that had gathered on his clothes. Turning toward Leona, he offered a simple but respectful bow.
"I should take my leave now, Prince Leona. I'd rather not cause my mother any more trouble by disappearing from the banquet." Leona remained silent. For a moment, neither of them moved. Just as Glovian turned to leave, a voice stopped him.
"...Wait." Glovian glanced over his shoulder. Leona's green-and-gold eyes met his.
"What is your name?"
The question lingered in the air. Glovian paused, for a brief moment, surprise flashed across his face. Then a small smile appeared.
"We'll meet again someday." The smile widened ever so slightly. "But for now, I won't tell you my name yet." And with that, he turned around and continued down the garden path. The fireflies drifted lazily around him as he disappeared beyond the hedges, eventually vanishing from sight altogether.
Leaving Leona alone beside the fountain. Silence returned. The prince stared at the empty pathway for several seconds before clicking his tongue.
We'll meet again?
What kind of nonsense was that?
The kingdom was vast.
The world was even larger.
There was no guarantee they would ever cross paths again.
And yet...
Leona found himself replaying the conversation despite himself. Not many people spoke to him the way that boy had. Not many people looked at him without expectations, fear, pity, or hidden agendas. And certainly not many people had the audacity to refuse giving their name to a prince.
The brat had nerves. Leona would give him that. A faint flick of his tail disturbed the sand beneath the bench. If the boy wasn't going to tell him his name, then fine. Leona would simply remember him another way.
After all, beastmen possessed sharp senses. And scents were far harder to forget than faces.
Closing his eyes briefly, Leona recalled the scent lingering in the air where the boy had been sitting. The smell of seawater lingered the strongest, carrying the familiar freshness of the ocean. Beneath it was another scent—something clean and cool, almost reminiscent of ocean winds brushing against coral reefs. And beneath even that was something uniquely his, impossible to fully describe yet easy to recognize.
Whatever it was, it lingered strangely in his memory.
"Hmph."
Leona crossed his arms behind his head and looked up toward the night sky. Whether they meet again or not didn't matter. At least that's what he told himself.
Meanwhile, Glovian had already returned to the banquet hall.
The moment he stepped through the doors, the peaceful atmosphere of the botanical garden vanished entirely.
Noise.
Conversation.
Laughter.
Music.
If anything, the banquet had somehow become even more crowded than before. His gaze swept across the room and immediately landed on Gavienna, who was currently surrounded by several nobles while exchanging pleasantries with the effortless grace of someone accustomed to high society.
Glovian immediately looked away.
Nope.
Absolutely not!
He was not brave enough to throw himself into that battlefield. With a quiet sigh, he changed directions and headed toward the buffet tables instead. At least food couldn't force him into political conversations.
Hopefully.
Grabbing a small plate, he began helping himself to various sweets. A tart. A pastry. Something covered in chocolate. Another pastry. At this point, sugar was becoming a coping mechanism.
As he sampled his hard-earned spoils, he watched nobles continue mingling throughout the hall. Some were discussing politics. Others discussed trade. A few were already attempting to arrange future connections between their families.
Glovian immediately looked away before someone got the idea of introducing him to another daughter. Honestly, he should have stayed in the garden. The fireflies were better company.
Unfortunately, escaping permanently wasn't an option. This was an important gathering. His family's reputation was involved. Which meant he would eventually have to speak to people whether he liked it or not.
Glovian let out a long suffering sigh before taking another bite of dessert.
Oh boy.
It was going to be a very long night.