87 War Criminal

Miles away, Eru sneezed loudly. "Move that away from my face." he pushed away a bouquet of wildflowers that was shoved to his face.

Rebus pouted. "I combed through the forest for the entire morning to find these," he mumbled with a wronged expression.

Eru softly chuckled and plucked it from his hand. "I never said I didn't like them. It's just that the pollen is too potent," he sneezed again. "What's up with the special treatment today?"

"You don't know?" Rebus raised his brow.

"I don't know, you tell me." Eru admitted instantly. He had never been good at remembering birthdays or any special occasion. He glanced at him intently.

Rebus lowered his head with a pout.

Eru panicked a little. "Did I miss some important date? Is it the first day we met or is it the first day I found out that you were the devil? Tell me please, I'm not good at remembering dates like these." he gently tugged at his sleeves.

The devil smirked mysteriously and pulled him onto his lap. "It's a very special day indeed." he took out a small thing cupped safely in his hand. "Close your eyes,"

Eru did so. He felt Rebus slid something into his fingers.

"Open them," the devil whispered hoarsely.

Eru opened his hazy eyes and looked at his stretched out palm. A small ring made of wines and dandelions stood out. It contrasted beautifully with his fair skin. "A ring," he cheerfully hugged him. "How did you even do it?,"

The ring was quiet delicate to be honest. The wines were so small and it looked like they would snap at any second.

Eru carefully placed his hand on it.

"Do you like it?" Rebus softly kissed his cheeks.

"Hmm," he snuggled against him. "But you never told me the occasion."

Rebus happily laughed and hugged him tight. "Today..... We are getting engaged," he whispered softly.

"huh!" Eru sat up immediately. "I think I heard it wrong. Did you say engaged?"

"Yes, I didn't have a ring in hand so... I made you one." he glanced up shyly. "I promise I will buy you one as soon as we return to the kingdom. As for now, I wanted to put a ring on your finger." He awkwardly continued with his red cheeks.

Eru silently sat on him. "Rebus.... I am glad to be your partner, but what about my parents we have to get their consent too. I can't just blindly agree to this proposal." he slid down from his thighs. "I am a prince of this kingdom, things like marriage.... it will be difficult without my father's approval."

Rebus looked like he was slightly offended. "Then if your father doesn't approve will you leave me and marry another guy?" he slightly glared at him.

"Of course not!. I will talk sense into my father." Eru leaned against his slightly stiff body. "Rebus, are you upset?,"

The devil did not answer him. He just glanced at their woven hands and sighed.

'Shit, I think I made it worse.' Eru hugged his waist and leaned against him. "Come on, I will marry no one else other than you." The devil did not react to this too. Sighing, he pulled his chin down and pecked his lips as soft as a petal.

"Rebus, look at me,"

Their eyes met.

"My heart is already yours. How can I marry someone else?"

Rebus chuckled and nodded. "Of course, your heart is with me and mine with you," he slightly leaned his forehead against his. "Eru, whatever happens, promise not to leave me. If you do..... I might just die,"

"Silly don't talk like that. I am not going to leave you." Eru hugged him tight.

In that moment Eru took an oath to forget everything.

About his rebirth.

About his identity as Ambai.

Everything.

"Eru?" Rebus mumbled.

"Eh, nothing. Just thinking about how to break it to my father," he whispered awkwardly. That was an issue as well. His father was too eager to marry him off to Deric and his father had clarified the clear reasoning for that. It was for his own protection during war.

'But will father agree with my choice.' He glanced at Rebus wordily. 'If I chose him as my spouse….. he might have to go to war. Do I want that?' he brooded.

Rebus suddenly kissed his cheeks. "Don't overthink it."

Eru pouted. "How do you even know what I'm thinking?,"

Rebus laughed out loud. "Oh, my dear Eru, did you forget I can hear your thoughts when you let down your guard," he pulled Eru back onto his lap. "And.... I was able to hear some interesting thoughts over these past months. You were always pining over me in your thoughts. Thinking of me when you do dirty stuffs,"

"ah!!" Eru pushed off of him and rushed out of the room.

Rebus watched him run like a little bunny. "Even his neck is red. Ha-ha, oh looks like I forgot to tell him that his father already announced our engagement."

Outside the room, Eru over heard this. "Huh, father announced it. When did this happen?" a frown marred on his forehead. He tottered over to his master's room and knocked softly.

Lumian opened the door with a tired yawn. "What is it Eru?"

"Master, is it true that my father has announced my engagement with rebu... Zhong?,"

Lumian frowned slightly. "Come in." he led him to a comfortable couch. "Are you dissatisfied with this decision? I thought you were in love with that brat."

"I do love him, but this announcement sounds so hasty. Beside I already had an arrangement with Deric. Even though it was not widely spread news most of the important people knew of this." Eru said with a deep frown. He was happy that his father approved of his lover, but he was slightly sceptical of the timing of this engagement.

Lumina handed him a cool cup of ice tea. "You are worried about people mistreating Deric," he whispered in a cool tone.

"Yes. Master, Deric came here for his own protection and my father was willing to provide that. But in his situation now, breaking our previous engagement will only cause people to bully him."

Lumian paused a little. "Eru, Deric is none of our concern now. Let's not talk about him anymore." he said in a frigid one.

Eru shot up with a glare. "Master! He is my friend, of course I care for him,"

"You shouldn't." Lumian stood up as well. "Yesterday Deric decided to escape from his containment and he is no longer our or Miriafa's concern. I am talking to Miriafa's prince, not to my student. I hope you understand the ply of this situation."

"Deric... fled. But where? I thought he was being treated by the mages. How did this?"

"It was his choice to leave. We never forced him." Lumina gazed at his student's stunned face. He softly patted his shoulders and whispered, "He might have been your friend, but he is Miriafa's enemy now."

It was Miriafa's duty to have a tight rein over the hostage prince. It was so that they could control Lafta's brazen actions. Even though Deric was an unwanted prince, his subjects still consider him the true heir to the throne. The citizen and warriors would not brazenly attack Miriafa because of his presence alone.

But now situation has changed completely. Since Deric fled the nation, Lafta would not hold back and attack as soon as it could.

A raging war was coming for Miriafa only because of a silly mistake of a young man.

"He is not a hostage prince anymore. He is officially announced as a war criminal of Miriafa," Lumian's eyes gleaming with murderous intent.