12 Ask for Once!
Rowan kept watching the two men get more and more serious, and he himself became more and more anxious. Why doesn't he just ask! Just ask! He was just twenty feet away!
As if hearing his irritation, Luken turned towards Rowan and strode towards him with a gloomy atmosphere still clingy onto him, Gale simply followed from behind with every intention to listen to their conversation. He lifted Rowan from his original spot and hastily opened his mouth to ask his question.
The young man in the mirror prepared himself for any harsh questions and even recited on how to reply to any situation with a reassuring voice, ahem, though he does admit that he does sounds monotone most of the time.
Mentally throwing all those useless thoughts out when those cold lips finally pronounced the first syllable of its question, "Do you-" But Luken stopped himself from finishing the question. He draws his pale lips back into a straight line and relaxes his momentum, seemingly becoming gentler. Well, at least to Rowan, to Gale, he still looks a bit scary from behind.
Instead, the platinum-haired man stares at the mirror with a complex look at Rowan. He just simply could not understand why the man looked at him so. If Rowan were to describe how Luken looked, it would be stiff and adorable! Mainly because Luken was standing there with a lost look and confusion swirling through his eyes.
'Did he forget his question?' Rowan casually despised the IQ of Luken.
Luken, on the other hand, was feeling a bit guilty towards Rowan, although he could be considered his savior and benefactor by sheltering him in his country, it did not change the fact that Rowan is still not out of that mirror. Thus, Rowan is not truly saved nor is he free like he promised. And time flew by fast. It had been a month.
A month was small when compared to the year that he spent in the mirror, and in better conditions, he assumed that Rowan was fine with how things were. Although he still actively looked for solutions, he no longer told Rowan the results of his findings to Lost magic. He felt that giving the man hope to his problem by saying nothing and just distracting Rowan with enjoyable activities, was better than continuously crushing his dreams of escaping by giving the same report of no findings. He felt that Rowan was extremely traumatized from being trapped in the wooden mirror with no free will and should be distracted, while Luken sends people out to find solutions. He even recently ciphered a letter to his grandfather of Rowan's situation, hoping that the old man just happened to have a random book on undoing Lost magic.
Out of consideration of Rowan's circumstances, he kept him hidden from any foreign spies and forbid Gale and that previous subordinate to keep their lips shut, while also telling Gale to not talk about Olinthus. Since, wouldn't that just be trying to reopen old wounds for Rowan?
Even if Rowan was turned into a mirror by the Royal family of Olinthus, surely he still enjoyed his previous times there, no matter how small or large of length.
Would telling him that Olinthus was suffering an easily curable epidemic despite his hard work make Rowan mourn in the inside? Or would he be happy? Or completely neutral?
At that moment, Luken was hit by a realization. He hardly knows Rowan. All he actually knows is that Rowan is very intelligent, a man, was trapped in a mirror by Empress Juno, liked books and peaceful outdoors.
That information is virtually nothing to who Rowan is as a person and if he even likes Nelumbo or Olinthus.
'I need to know more about him before asking questions about his homeland.' He does not want to unintentionally make Rowan feel uncomfortable. It is not just because he pities Rowan nor due to the fact that Rowan's knowledge can help his country.
He simply felt that Rowan would make a wonderful friend. Luken knew they were quite well matched from the moment that Rowan spoke. Even though Rowan's voice was clear and monotone, he could still sense the fighting spirit within the depths of his soul. That little will that was exuded from the mirror made him want to know more of him. He found it interesting and the more he talked, well the more that Gale talked to Rowan, he found himself wanting to befriend him! Despite the fact that Luken was too nervous to ask Rowan any questions unless it related to his own country. He despaired that he was too cowardly to ask if he was flipping the pages too fast!
Luken was used to people approaching him. Gale was just a naturally talkative person, nobles would come up to build connections and his subordinates came to him to report any information. He rarely went to anyone for anything, unless it was an order. His grandfather was naturally an exception as he grew up with the elder, but even then, he rarely spoke and that old man did most of the talking.
This time, Luken had to approach Rowan. Just thinking about it made his hands sweat and his eyebrows tense, but he tried to seem confident. Not too confident! He did not want to frighten Rowan again with his powerful momentum. Wait, did Rowan even think he was powerful and scary?
Thinking back, Luken became noticeably stiffer to the point that Gale, who was still behind him and getting confused from the weird silence, got worried whether or not he got sick or saw something unspeakable.
Only Rowan saw Luken's ears blush in a slight pink and his eyes convey embarrassment. That was when he knew, 'He is overthinking again, isn't he?' At least he doesn't look depressed anymore.
Rowan was only half right, as this time, Luken realized that the other probably witnessed him trying to adjust his strange smile with the mirror. The epidemic of Olinthus was completely thrown out and instead filed into a cabinet labeled "for later."
Wanting to regain his dignity and build a friendship, he changed his original question: "Do you want to know more about me?"
He spoke in an absolute stern face as if this question was more important than whatever Gale and he was speaking of a few minutes ago. When Gale heard the question blurted out from this King that he always assumed as cold on the outside, but secretly warm in the inside, he stumbled a bit from his straightforwardness.
Even if he knew that Luken was lacking in friends due to his chilly temperament, wasn't asking a question that sounded like a rude pick-up line a bit out of character?!
Though he had sensed that Luken wanted to talk to Rowan like he does: casually without any worry of any trespassing of uncomfortable territory, like talking about his past in Olinthus. Even if Gale thinks they should at least ask a bit more information about Olinthus from Rowan, he knew better than to start accidentally hurting or offending Rowan by forcing him to answer invasive questions.
Gale simply resigned to his fate. They do not exactly need Rowan's help on this matter, it would just be easier. Sending a few men to do a little research is no problem, though.
Thus, he discreetly left the library for Luken to take his time embarrassing himself by trying to communicate with Rowan.
Luken, who was awaiting an answer, already his ears turning red from embarrassment when he realized how strange his question sounded. Didn't he want to know more about Rowan? Why did he suddenly shift the topic onto himself?
On the other hand, Rowan was surprised. If he had eyes, they would be wide open and his lips would twitch into a confused smile. He did not focus on how suggestive Luken's question was, he was more confused as to why he did not finish asking his initial question.
The gears in his mind turned and he immediately came to a conclusion: He wanted to communicate with him. It was a small thought, but a warm one. He quite liked the feeling that traveled all around his mind, just knowing someone cared and wanted to talk with him was quite nice.
It was something he was already used to during his stay in Nelumbo and being under the care of the King. But, he still really liked the warmth.
Plus, he did not mind knowing more of the man that filled him with that warmth, despite the man's usual comforting silence. Talking to him more would be lovely.
