39 His Answer

Silence permeated within the air as everyone awaited the answer of the person in the mirror. Though everyone had a silent guess in their hearts but were not able to gossip about their boss' love life (especially since he was right in front of them) so were forced to only wait.

Luken seemed aloof from the situation, simply sitting in the center of the table while looking towards Rowan. Though, anyone with working eyes could see the flashes of expectation and anticipation within the cracks of his eyelids. Out of respect for the man who pays their paychecks, none of his subordinates said anything. Not even the bothersome Gale who was ready to make fun of Luken once the meeting was over.

As for the one in the center of attention, Rowan, for the first time when being asked a question, blanked out. He didn't know what to say!

What could he say? That they weren't friends? Or that they were friends? They are friends! However, that answer was not satisfactory for some reason. It seemed too distant from what they really were. Best friends? Confidants? A cooperative relationship?

None of those seemed right! He just liked to spend time with Luken and liked the warmth that was given to him both physically and mentally. And he wanted to help Luken as much as possible, not out of repayment for saving him, but just out of a wanting to be a part of something with Luken. Perhaps that would sound a bit ambiguous.

This situation sounds familiar…

Rowan ignored everyone around him to scrounge in his memories to drag up a certain one. The one about the maids that often giggled about gap-moe in during their breaks.

He had remembered once before that one of them had met a fellow worker that fancied her and even courted her in public. He heard her gushing about how the man caused her to blush and her heartbeat would rush past normal limits. The maid swooned and was often teased by her co-workers who were jealous of her for having a suitor.

If he could recall correctly, she was in love with that man. Their situations are similar, in a strange way.

So, does he like Luken?

And is there any way he could say it in a way that didn't sound ambiguous or weird?

No, were they ambiguous or weird at times?

…

Yes. In fact, there might have been too many to count when they have been somewhat closer than friends. Comforting each other, being in close contact and being shy when it happened, and trying to show each other the best of themselves. However, did it necessarily dictate that Rowan liked Luken?

Despite all the questions that flashed through his mind, he already knew the answer. In fact, he had the answer hidden away for quite some time.

However, he also was not ready to answer the question quite yet. Perhaps when there's a better moment so he could take Luken to the gardens or a nice candlelight dinner. Well, anything better than confessing in front of a group of subordinates of Luken and a Gale who is barely holding back a twitching smile. Rowan was now certain he knew the atmosphere Luken and Rowan had whenever they were alone.

Wait, did Luken like him in the way he did?

So answering now might backfire. He is only sixty percent sure that Luken reciprocated his feelings. What if he was actually being polite the entire time? What if he only thinks of them as friends?!

Not until that percentage is raised up to eight-five at the very least will he confide to Luken of his true feelings.

Or…

Rowan had a brilliant idea flashed through his mind. He needed his body first!

How could he forget the fundamental problem! Forget taking Luken to the gardens or a candlelight dinner, he needed a body to even walk to certain places.

Since the people in the room estimated that the war would be short and sweet, only around a few months or so, the end would also be his time to begin his confession. Not a great plan, but there was enough time for him to work it out.

Rowan satisfactorily finished his thoughts, no one knowing a thing.

He had not forgotten the question the fellow black-haired teenager asked and addressed it in a formal and monotone manner, "I am not quite ready to answer that, right now."

Thinking that it was a very neutral answer that would dispel the interest of everyone, he had completely missed the strange eyes from everyone as he sunk into perfecting in his future confession, and more importantly, nurturing the feelings between him and Luken!

As for the aforementioned Luken who was holding him in front of everyone had a blissful smile on. The platinum-haired man had felt all the emotions that Rowan had experienced when being asked by Leni from the connection they have. It went from shock to shyness to determination. He could tell from his feelings that Rowan liked him. Since the other liked him, Luken could only accept it!

Yes, the only solution they had to this situation. And the other was a bit shy in front of others, so he could wait for him to build up the courage to confess!

Or it would be even better for Luken to confess to Rowan! Wait, wait, no. Not now. He may be lacking a bit in the emotional intelligence department, but even he knows that it was best to confess after the imminent victory against Olinthus.

Luken could break the Lost Magic and free Rowan for good, then sweep him off his feet with a heroic and beautiful declaration of love.

The cold-faced man, now being a warm-faced one with a beautiful smile, did not think about the process of falling in love but accepted it immediately.

It just seemed right.

The subordinates were currently looking at Gale, who was silently gagging at the dog food that Rowan and Luken had unintentionally fed to all of them. Everyone was happy for their King. They were sure that he would live off the rest of his days with no one by his side. Leni, especially, was quite relieved. As he was the chosen successor of Nelumbo, he was often worried about his King since he knew the man often neglected his mental health and social life to raise Nelumbo to its former glory. With Rowan around, the other already began to manage his mental health to become more mindful and also was more open to talking (at least, more than usual).

Most importantly, Luken wouldn't retire early from poor health so Leni wouldn't be burdened with the crown just yet!

A win-win situation!