"It's here! It's happening!"
Shen Yuan had just finished eating his lunch when a servant rushed into the dining hall with much excitement. Everyone looked at one another in wonder and the guy didn't make them guess long.
"The Trial of Light! His Majesty summoned Prince Vesper and Prince Zain this morning and I heard Miss Harper is making preparations for a big banquet. It's definitely for the opening banquet!"
The hall instantly buzzed, anxiety and anticipation enveloped the air. Shen Yuan put away his tray among the liveliness and went to the kitchen to fetch Zain's lunch. Just like in the hall, the kitchen wasn't any less buzzing. News traveled fast in the palace.
"Sean, did you hear? About the banquet?" Lemia, the toffee-haired kitchen assistant, asked. She was the youngest staff in the kitchen and was in charge of assisting the cooks, keeping the kitchen clean, and arranging the finished dishes onto trays and carts.
"I did. Just now. Is it confirmed?" Shen Yuan asked in return.
"Most likely. Uncle Bonnie is talking with Miss Harper right now. We're suspecting they're talking about the menu for the banquet."
"Although I know everybody's been waiting for it, I didn't think you guys would be so excited like this. I was caught a bit off guard."
"Of course we're excited! Someone can live in Everlight without ever witnessing the Trial of Light, you know? There is also a legend that said if the moon turns blue during the Trial of Light, Everlight will be prosperous during the next reign and whatever you wish for that night will come true."
"So it's not about the trial itself?"
"I mean…" Lemia darted her eyes around in caution and leaned closer to lower her voice. "…It's already obvious who the next crown prince is. Though I guess it's a good thing since the tension in the palace doesn't become bad."
Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow and picked up the tray for Zain. "You do remember who I'm delivering this food for, right?"
"Aw, come on. I know you won't snitch on me." Lemia patted Shen Yuan's back and laughed. Not getting any response from him, her laugh turned awkward, and her back sweated cold. "Uh…right?"
"We'll see." Shen Yuan simply walked away.
"W-Wait, Sean!? You're scaring me!"
Ignoring Lemia's panic, Shen Yuan left the kitchen and headed up to Zain's room. When he knocked on the door, he didn't hear any reply from inside. Only on his second attempt did Zain let him in.
He entered the room to see Zain on the couch instead of at the table as usual. Grim veiled over his face, and an invisible weight seemed to press down his back. He tried to put aside his thoughts when Shen Yuan entered, but much was left behind.
"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" Shen Yuan placed the tray of food on the table before approaching Zain's side. "You don't seem very well."
Zain wanted to say he was fine, but looking at Shen Yuan's eyes, he couldn't help but feel that he couldn't lie in their presence. He fell silent for a long moment until he reclined back on his seat and heaved a sigh.
"I'm sure the servants are talking about it right now."
"It?"
"The Trial of Light. It's going to begin soon." Zain drew his eyebrows. "In 5 days, to be exact."
"5 days…" Shen Yuan muttered in thought. "Did His Majesty state the requirement? Is it, perhaps, too demanding?"
"It's difficult to say. He didn't specifically inform how or how long the trial will be, but I believe it will be a direct showdown between me and Vesper and there will be multiple rounds."
"Why is that?"
"In our audience earlier, he stated that the first round will be held during the opening ceremony with the guests as the judges." Zain raised his gaze to Shen Yuan. "A king should know their people."
"?"
"That is the hint for the first round."
Shen Yuan raised his eyebrows.
A hint. That meant there should be something they could—or must—do to prepare, but it was too broad and vague. Who did he mean by 'people'? And what kind of thing did he demand for the candidates to know?
Without knowing these 2 points, any attempts would only be a wild goose chase.
"If this is the will of the northern star, then the heir to the throne is already decided. Vesper has been the one representing the king in diplomatic meetings and invitations. He knows everything and everyone the king does."
"But on the other hand, Your Highness must be very well informed with the people in this palace. Are they not people as well?"
"How did you even come to such a conclusion?" Zain shook his head in wonder.
"Then, does Your Highness not know the person who cooks and arranges your meal?" Shen Yuan touched his chin and looked at Zain in doubt. "Even though they worked so hard…"
"It's not like that." Zain straightened his back and quickly answered, "I know it's Chef Bonnie who cooks them and Lemia is in charge of arranging them. But something like that, everyone in the palace knows."
Shen Yuan smiled and knelt down by Zain's side. "What seems to be something obvious to Your Highness might not be something common to others. Forget Prince Vesper, even nobles rarely know the name of their servants serving them behind doors."
"…Is that so?" Zain gazed at Shen Yuan's smile, his heavy heart warmly comforted. Before he realized it, he had reached out a hand and lightly caressed Shen Yuan's cheek.
"That is so." Shen Yuan tilted his head, brushing his lips to Zain's fingers seemingly by accident. He stood up. "The food will get cold. Your Highness must eat properly, especially in important times like this. Let me prepare your tea. It will certainly lighten some of the weights in Your Highness's mind."
Zain retrieved his hand and curled his fingers into his fist, savoring the fleeting tenderness. He silently watched the figure making his way to the table and started brewing the tea leaves. The sun in his eyes glowed brighter than the light in the sky.
Shen Yuan filled the teacup and put down the pot when a pair of arms wrapped him in a firm embrace from behind. He turned his head slightly. "Your Highness, this…"
"Am I causing you discomfort?" Zain rested his head on Shen Yuan's shoulder.
"That's an unfair question." Shen Yuan touched Zain's arm. "But if Your Highness does not eat soon, I will be staying longer than usual."
"…You don't want that?"
"Rather than me, should I not be the one asking Your Highness that question? Your Highness never lets me stay longer than 2 rotations worth. I'm aware that I'm not much of an entertainer—"
"You're wrong." Zain lifted his head and met Shen Yuan's gaze, straight and solemn. "If I could, I'd already make you my personal attendant and have you stay with me for every rotation of the day."
"Your Highness is only consoling me." Shen Yuan looked away.
Zain gently pinched Shen Yuan's chin and returned his sight to him. "You're an excellent person, Sean. I cannot let myself chain you to me and wrong you with the malice around me. You're the only one I have. What makes you think I don't want to spend my time with you?"
"Your Highness does not understand." Shen Yuan turned on his heels to face Zain properly and returned his hold. "What I want is to accompany Your Highness through those waves of malice. Every time I see Your Highness by yourself, I'm afraid you'll let yourself sink."
Their heartbeat resounded into each other like a delicate symphony. Zain closed his eyes and basked in it.
He whispered to himself, "I won't."
Not anymore.
Shen Yuan had his eyes fully opened, and a smile nested on his face. With how easy this was, he almost felt bad towards Zain if this wasn't for his own sake.
Now that the preparation was done, he must plan for the first act. If Zain was right that there would be several rounds, he would need Zain to win the first round to ascertain his mentality towards the entirety of the trial.
The technical matter aside, Zain must have the resolution to win first for him to actually try to prepare during the next 5 days. For that…
"Make me your personal attendant, Your Highness." He pleaded into Zain's ear. "I want to support Your Highness by your side through this trial."
"Your visit every lunch is already more than enough support." Zain shook his head.
Shen Yuan knew he wouldn't budge that easily. He frowned. "Your Highness must have more ambition. A prince should not say anything is enough or else Your Highness will make yourself complacent."
Zain kneaded the wrinkle between Shen Yuan's eyebrows with an amused smile. "Your ambition is enough for the both of us. Share it with me. I'll make it mine."
"Your Highness!"
"I'm not joking." Zain finally let out a small laugh and tucked back a loose strand on Shen Yuan's face. "Tell me."
"…Fine. Since Your Highness does not want to employ me, I might as well take it up a notch." Shen Yuan pushed Zain away. "If Your Highness does not win the first round of the trial, I will leave the palace."
Zain froze.