Chapter 323 - 322 - The decree

Chapter 323: Chapter 322 - The decree

Ryan found the imperial eunuch waiting for him in the main hall, standing respectfully near the entrance with an imperial decree held carefully in both hands. The moment Ryan stepped inside, the eunuch lowered his head and bowed.

"General."

Ryan’s gaze immediately fell on the rolled decree.

He did not need to ask what it was. Anything that came directly from the Emperor was rarely something that could simply be ignored.

"Read it."

The eunuch cleared his throat and carefully unrolled the decree before beginning to read in the formal voice expected when delivering an imperial order.

"By His Majesty’s command, General Ryan and his newly wedded bride are invited to attend the imperial hunting competition..."

Ryan’s expression remained composed as he listened to the rest of the decree, but beneath that calm exterior, his thoughts had already become restless.

The hunting grounds.

Of all places, it had to be there.

His fingers slowly curled into a fist.

The hunting grounds were not safe. Even during an imperial event, where countless guards and soldiers would be stationed around the royal camp, danger could appear from anywhere. Hunters would enter the forest, weapons would be carried openly, horses would be running through unfamiliar terrain, and nobles would be gathered together with their own ambitions and grudges.

It was the kind of place where an accident could happen very easily.

Or where someone could make an accident happen.

Ryan’s thoughts immediately returned to Eric.

He had only just recovered enough to walk around again. Even now, Ryan knew that the poison had not completely left his body. Eric still complained about the pain whenever he moved too much, though he tried his best to hide it beneath his usual jokes and shameless attitude.

Ryan had already watched him collapse once.

He did not want to see it happen again.

If I go to the hunting grounds, I will have to participate.

I won’t be able to stay beside him every moment.

And if Eric remained behind, Ryan would spend the entire time worrying about what might happen in his absence.

After what had happened with the princess, he no longer trusted that simply leaving Eric inside the residence would keep him safe. But taking him outside meant exposing him to an even greater number of people.

Ryan’s jaw tightened.

I should leave him here.

That was the sensible choice.

It was the safest choice.

Yet for some reason, the thought of leaving Eric behind did not bring him the relief it should have.

Instead, it made him uneasy.

The eunuch finished reading and lowered the decree.

"General, His Majesty awaits your response."

Ryan remained silent for a moment before finally bowing his head.

"This subject accepts the decree."

There was no choice.

Refusing an imperial invitation would only raise questions, and Ryan had no desire to give the Emperor another reason to keep his attention on him.

The eunuch respectfully rolled the decree back up and bowed once more before leaving.

Ryan watched him disappear before letting out a quiet breath.

He had accepted.

Now he had to deal with the consequences.

With that thought weighing on his mind, he turned and walked back toward the garden.

The moment he stepped outside, however, his expression softened slightly.

Eric was still there.

The pink cosmos flower remained tucked behind his ear, somehow still perfectly in place despite the time that had passed. He was standing near the flowerbeds, looking around absentmindedly as though he had been waiting for Ryan to return.

The moment Eric spotted him, his face brightened.

He quickly walked over.

"What is it?" he asked, his curiosity obvious.

Ryan looked at him for a moment.

There was something almost childlike about the way Eric waited for an answer, his eyes full of expectation. It made Ryan hesitate.

"We have been invited to the imperial hunting competition."

Eric blinked.

Then his eyes widened.

"A hunting competition?"

The excitement that appeared on his face was immediate.

Ryan almost sighed.

Of course.

He should have known.

Eric had spent days confined to the residence after the poisoning. Even after recovering enough to walk, he had only been allowed to wander around the compound. He had already complained countless times about wanting to see the outside world, wanting to visit the market, wanting to eat whatever food he happened to find, and wanting to stop feeling like a prisoner inside a beautiful cage.

Now he had just heard the words hunting competition.

To Eric, it probably sounded less like a dangerous imperial event and more like someone had finally opened the door of his cage.

His eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"A hunting tournament..." he murmured, already imagining himself there. He could see the excitement written all over his face. He wanted to see the hunting grounds. He wanted to wander around, watch the nobles compete, explore somewhere new, and simply enjoy being outside.

Anything was better than remaining cooped up inside the same residence.

Ryan watched him for a moment before shaking his head.

"I don’t plan to bring you along."

The excitement vanished from Eric’s face.

He stared at Ryan as though the man had just personally insulted him.

"...What?"

"You’re still recovering."

"Why not?"

Ryan remained silent.

Eric’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Do you not accept me as your wife?"

Ryan’s brows twitched.

Eric stepped closer, clearly deciding that if reason wasn’t going to work, shamelessness certainly would.

"Do I embarrass you?" he asked, tilting his head. "Is that why you don’t want to take me?"

"It’s not that."

"Then what is it?"

"It’s too dangerous."

Those four words immediately silenced him.

Eric looked at Ryan for a moment, and some of the teasing disappeared from his expression.

He knew Ryan wasn’t saying it to mock him.

The man genuinely thought he was protecting him.

That should have made Eric feel pleased.

Instead, it made him feel a little strange.

He didn’t want to be treated like someone who needed to be locked away just because he had been poisoned once. He had already spent enough time lying in bed, unable to do anything while everyone else moved around him.

"I..." Eric hesitated before quietly continuing, "I can handle danger."

Ryan looked at him skeptically.

Eric knew that expression.

He almost rolled his eyes.

"Don’t look at me like that. I really can."

He stepped closer and, without giving himself time to reconsider, reached out and took Ryan’s hand.

Ryan immediately went still.

Eric’s fingers wrapped around his hand, warm and slightly smaller than his own. He looked up at Ryan with an expression that was far more pleading than he would normally allow himself to show.

"Take me."

Ryan’s heart gave an unexpected beat.

Eric tightened his hold slightly.

"Please."

There was no teasing in his voice this time.

He genuinely wanted to go.

Ryan could see it clearly in his eyes. Eric had been trapped inside for so long that even the thought of seeing something new had filled him with excitement. He wasn’t asking because he wanted to cause trouble. He simply wanted to experience something outside these walls.

Ryan’s resolve wavered.

He knew the hunting grounds were dangerous.

He knew that taking Eric there meant having to protect him in an unfamiliar environment.

He knew that if anything happened to Eric, he would blame himself.

But he also knew that he couldn’t bring himself to disappoint those pleading eyes.

Before he could think better of it, Ryan nodded.

"Anything for you."

The words came out quietly.

Ryan froze for half a second.

He had not intended to say that.

Yet they had already left his mouth.

Eric blinked up at him, seemingly surprised by the answer.

Ryan quickly released his hand and turned away, pretending nothing had happened.

"I’ll make the arrangements."

He walked off before Eric could question him further.

Eric remained standing where he was, watching his husband disappear.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then the corners of his lips slowly lifted.

Anything for you?

His fingers rose to touch the pink flower still tucked behind his ear.

A strange warmth spread through his chest.

Ryan really was becoming far too good at playing the role of a loving husband.

And Eric had to admit...

He was beginning to enjoy it.