FLASHBACK 1.3
After hearing Rowan's words, Magnus slowly rose from his seat, his expression softened as he reached out. While his fingertips brushing against Rowan's cheek as though he were memorizing the feel of him,he then held his gaze intently, eyes dark and steady.
"I see," Magnus said softly, his voice heavy with promise. "Then I will do my best to assist you, my prince—Rowan." He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Rowan's forehead and both closed their eyes with the moment quiet and fragile, as if the world beyond the pavilion no longer existed.
Rowan then exhaled softly, holding both of Magnus' hands between his own. "I'm glad you're willing to help me, Your Grace. I truly appreciate it. I promise, I'll repay your kindness one day… and I will never forget it." His words trembled with sincerity and Magnus felt his chest tighten.
For a heartbeat, silence lingered between them. Magnus' eyes drifted lower, tracing the curve of Rowan's lips and before he could stop himself, he leaned closer with the intent on brushing the faintest kiss across his mouth. But the sound of armored footsteps and the weight of watchful gazes cut through the air.
The knights posted nearby were now openly staring, their duty to guard Rowan's safety clashing with curiosity about what they had nearly witnessed.
"Your Highness, you're here. We've been looking for you since you didn't go back after the fireworks." One of the knights complained with annoyance in his tone.
Magnus stiffened and quickly straightened his posture, clearing his throat as he cast his gaze aside. "It seems you've been gone too long, my prince. Allow me to escort you back to your chambers."
But Rowan shook his head gently. "No, you've already done more than enough for me, Your Grace. Besides, they're already waiting to take me back. I'll be fine." His lips curved into a faint, grateful smile. "Thank you again for your help. I'll look forward to our next talk. Have a good night, Your Grace."
Their hands lingered in parting and fingertips reluctant to separate, before Rowan's slipped from Magnus' grasp. Rowan turned away, walking out of the pavilion with quiet dignity while Magnus remained rooted where he stood, staring at the space Rowan had left behind. Slowly, he lifted his hand to his face, inhaling deeply as though to catch the last trace of Rowan's scent and his eyes fluttered shut, indulging himself in the fleeting memory.
Outside, one of the knights hurried to Rowan's side, his voice edged with panic. "Y-Your Highness, where have you been? If Prince Rhydan learns of this, he'll kill us all!" He guided Rowan quickly down the corridor with his agitation plain, while Rowan cast one last glance back at the pavilion before letting it fade from sight.
When he finally reached his bedchamber, Rowan paused. A bottle of wine and a single glass sat waiting on the table while the candlelight glinting off the dark liquid. He furrowed his brows and asked the knight standing by the door, "Who sent this?"
The knight shook his head. "We didn't ask, Your Highness. The servant only said it was prepared for you to enjoy, since you could not attend the banquet."
"I see. Would you like some?" Rowan asked lightly while tilting the bottle toward the knights outside his door.
The simple question made them stiffen, a shiver running down their spines.
"W-we wouldn't dare, Your Highness!" one stammered. "How could you say such a thing? Your words will be the death of us!" Their nervous complaints only deepened Rowan's confusion.
"You're overreacting," he said with a small smile. "Anyway, I'll drink it myself. But if you change your mind, just knock on my door later, alright?" He teased them with a playful grin, then shut the door before they could reply.
Inside, he poured the wine into a single glass while humming under his breath then he swirled the glass idly, watching the wine roll like waves inside, until at last, he lifted it to his lips and downed it in one gulp.
"Hmm… delicious," he murmured, wiping the corner of his mouth when his eyes drifted across the room and landed on Magnus' coat, still folded neatly on the chair. "Oh, right. I forgot to give it back—"
The words stopped with a sharp gasp as sudden dizziness struck him, blurring his vision. His chest tightened with pain and the taste of iron filled his mouth.
"Keugh! Kegh!" Rowan bent forward while coughing hard as the blood splattered against his palm, smeared across his lips and ran down his chin, staining his clothes. The wineglass slipped from his weakening hand and shattered on the floor with a sharp, final crack.
Before completely out from his consciousness, Rowan staggered toward the door, his hand fumbling for the handle and pulled it open with the last of his strength.
"Your Highness, plea—!" The two knights' words broke off in shock as they saw him.
"Oh, w-what happened!" one of the knights bellowed as they panicked while Rowan already swayed in the doorway, eyes glazed and unfocused, before his knees gave in. He collapsed forward and in that moment, darkness swallowed him whole.
"Shit, it's poison!"
"Fuck, did you even see that servant's face a while ago?"
"Don't ask me, I didn't even check that damn wine before letting her in!"
Meanwhile, in the present—
"So, that's what happened but why can't I remember that in the manhwa? It seems like my memory is slipping away from this damn brain!" Mari, I mean— Rowan murmured to himself while messing his own hair.
"This won't do…" he added and got up from his bed and go out.
"Y-Your Highness, you shouldn't go out in your pajamas. It's improper—you must change your clothes first…" his personal attendant fretted while following after him. But inside, with Mari's instincts simmering at their limit, he wanted nothing more than to land a solid punch across the man's face.
"Oh, come on. No one's going to complain except you. Besides, it's not like I'm heading to the main palace, so why are you so worked up?" he retorted with clear annoyance, rolling his eyes at the attendant that left the man even more bewildered, for the prince he knew would never have acted in such a way.
He had just grown far too accustomed to Rowan's timid obedience but unfortunate for him, this was no longer the same Rowan. He was now possessed by a woman who, among her peers, was known as a tiger—unyielding, fierce and unwilling to let anyone trample over her.
Yet even with that fire in her veins, she carried the weight of Rowan's true desires and her own. Sooner or later, she would have to escape and take up a sword or else the guilt gnawing at her heart would never let her sleep.
While plotting his escape, Rowan suddenly found his thoughts drifting to Magnus' lips and the memory made him stop in his tracks, while a faint blush rising to his cheeks.
The abrupt halt caused his attendant to bump straight into his back.
"O-oh, I'm sorry, Your Highness. I didn't mean t—" the attendant began, only to freeze when Rowan lifted a finger and pressed it lightly against his lips that made the young man blushed and faltered.
"W-what… what are you doing, Your Highness?!" he stammered in panic.
Rowan gave no answer, too lost in his own reverie. Magnus' lips were so soft… and he was a damn good kisser too… he thought privately while his heart was fluttering at the memory.
Then frustration burst from him as he ruffled his own hair. "Arghhh! I'm going to go crazy. Why isn't he coming to see meee!?"
And why the hell am I letting him kissed me whenever he had the chance?
Wait, are they— I mean, are we actually dating?
Does Magnus really love Rowan? What if there are important things that I just don't remember ever since I possessed his damn body?
But, when I think about it, I really am slowly forgetting some parts of the manhwa. I don't even remember Rowan with Magnus as his lover aside from that damn King of Zalyric Nightborne.
All I remember what that, Zalyric was a jerk—
And a pervert, too.