I made some casual excuses and slipped outside the Red Rose Tavern for air.
A man in rough linen work clothes squatted by the wall, yawning. I tossed him a silver coin. He looked up—he was the tavern's chiefservant—and hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, young sir!"
"Why don't I see older musicians here?" I asked casually.
The chief servant grinned. "How many can last in this line of work? The lucky ones save enough to buy their freedom, get taken as mistresses by some lord, or—" He paused, glancing at the overgrown grass in the tavern's back alley. "End up buried in the mass grave back there."
"Then why do they still smile so sweetly?"
He scratched his head. "Whether you cry or smile, you still sell. Guests pay more when they're happy."
"What about you?"
He stared at the muddy ground. "Us lowly servants never escape. We'll die and get thrown in the backyard grave too."
When the queen heard I'd visited the tavern, her face darkened instantly. The king, however, laughed and slapped the table. "Louis is growing up—time to discuss marriage."
The queen and Lady Montfort exchanged a glance, both looking tense. I feigned ignorance. "Thank you, Father, but I'm still young and have no interest in such matters."
Still, the king sent two noble ladies to the palace. The queen smiled and accepted them, then promptly confined them to her chambers "to study court etiquette."
I didn't mind, but lately, the dull ache in my chest had been bothering me. Nurse Mary insisted I bind my chest with linen, so tight it made breathing hard. She snapped, "Her Majesty's orders!"
Clutching the cloth straps, I grumbled, "Does everyone do this?" As I took the cloth, I asked, "Even Father?"
Mary abruptly turned to stare at the roses outside the window, her voice hollow. "Y-yes... everyone does it. Lord Heinrich and Lord Leonhard must bind theirs too."
I held my breath and wrapped the cloth tighter.
When I next saw Heinrich, I asked earnestly, "Have you ever felt like a stone is pressing on your chest? It's so stifling."
Heinrich gazed at me, touched. "That's the weight of the kingdom on your shoulders, Your Highness. Your benevolence is boundless!"
I sighed inwardly—this blockhead didn't understand at all.
His voice had lost its boyish clarity, now deep and mellow.
Leonhard's eldest brother discovered our tavern visit. The elder Stauffenberg heir dragged him to the barracks for ten times the usual horsemanship drills, then made him carry a bundle of thorns to the Crown Prince's chambers to apologize.
The elder Stauffenberg bowed solemnly. "Crown Prince, my brother acted recklessly. I've come to beg your forgiveness."
I said "it's nothing," but my eyes glued to Leonhard—he was shirtless, his bronzed skin glowing healthily, the muscles of his waist and abdomen rippling with each breath, his lines as sharp as a sculpture.
Worse—he wasn't binding his chest! He stood there bare-chested, thorns on his back, wincing in pain.
Vulgar! Unseemly! How could a proper noble youth expose himself so? It was indecent!
And yet, I couldn't look away.
Heinrich cleared his throat softly, and I jolted back to my senses, hurriedly saying, "Lord Stauffenberg, please do not stand on ceremony."
I forced a smile. "It was merely to observe the people's conditions. No harm done."
The elder Stauffenberg heir said solemnly, "A small punishment to prevent greater errors. With the rebellion in the southern territories, my father intends to send my brother to gain experience."
Leonhard looked at me pitifully, and I nodded. "Good. Leonhard, Heinrich and I happen to have a word with you today."
After the elder Stauffenberg left, Leonhard immediately threw the thorn bundle to the ground with a sharp intake of breath. "Ow—"
I ordered an attendant to fetch wound ointment and applied it to Leonhard myself. "I have additional instructions for the rebellion suppression."
The moment my fingertips touched his back, he recoiled as if burned. "Does it hurt?"
Leonhard's ears turned bright red as he shook his head. After applying the ointment, I personally wrapped his chest binding cloth. "Be careful out there."
We are all proper young men; we must not go astray—if someone saw our chests, it would be disgraceful! We must bind them tightly to avoid being called indecent. Fortunately, only Heinrich and I are present today.
Leonhard looked at me hesitantly, and I tied the ribbon at his collar.
He whispered, "Your Highness… I have a favor to ask."
"Speak."
After much awkwardness, Leonhard blurted out, "Your Highness… could you grant me a keepsake to carry with me?"
Heinrich's eyes widened, nearly shouting "presumptuous."
Leonhard hastily explained, "I've grown accustomed to seeing Your Highness every day. Heading to the south, I don't know when I'll return—"
Smiling, I removed the silver amulet from my waist and tossed it to him. He fumbled to catch it, tucking it into his chest like a treasure. "Your Highness's scent is different from other palaces. It's very pleasant."
I shook my head inwardly—I never use perfume in my chambers. This boy must have a faulty nose.
In addition to authorizing grain shipments for the southern rebellion, I secretly issued another order. Even if he said the moon was square, I would indulge him as I awaited his performance.
As Leonhard left, glancing back repeatedly, Heinrich remained in place. "Your Highness, this shows favoritism."
I raised an eyebrow. "You visit the palace daily and know best what scents linger here—I was merely humoring him."
He bowed his head with a soft laugh. "So Your Highness enjoys teasing others."
Heinrich had grown rapidly, already half a head taller than me without my notice. His once delicate features had gained a touch of heroism; when he turned his head, sunlight gilded his profile.
I smiled. "Only others—you cannot be deceived. Come, look at this memorial."
Heinrich pursed his lips, his expression instantly turning serious.