從他清醒以來,房裡的青蛙雕像一次也沒叫過。521Please respect copyright.PENANAIQm4UT722U
521Please respect copyright.PENANAHMigeBtd6r
涅澤爾不知道第幾次坐到窗邊,望著小青蛙發呆,青年細長的手指輕觸雕塑的頭頂,其實,假如他想要的話,反向操作這件魔法道具,讓亨利那邊的金球發出聲音也沒問題,若是做出這種舉動,亨利肯定會明瞭自己想與之見面吧。521Please respect copyright.PENANAqeKJkRby1I
521Please respect copyright.PENANA2aBDkiwBaF
可是他卻不想這麼做。521Please respect copyright.PENANAsz9Hft6h0p
521Please respect copyright.PENANALF1k3NoPKt
或者說,不敢這麼做。521Please respect copyright.PENANAGnZKlpt1z4
521Please respect copyright.PENANA2B9Yy43VtB
冬去春來,他都解決了兩場暴雨,亨利也沒有聯繫他的意思,既然如此,就是不想見面吧。521Please respect copyright.PENANAQTIzgPH5lI
521Please respect copyright.PENANA9vRhq902Qi
理智上,涅澤爾明白亨利或許是遇上了什麼麻煩,畢竟從狩獵祭之後,鴉之森就多了不少士兵紮營駐點、至今也沒有離開的意思,加上「邪惡巫師」的名頭隨著在祭典受傷的二王子與大公主相繼離世愈傳愈廣,外界對他的無端仇視更甚以往,而以亨利的個性,要是在國王面前說了什麼袒護巫師的話,下場可想而知。521Please respect copyright.PENANA3n4jwHrbHw
521Please respect copyright.PENANAMPQIijickB
明白是明白,但感情上,涅澤爾卻忍不住思索,或許亨利也像其他人類一樣對他產生偏見,或許他不想見他,純粹只是因為害怕。521Please respect copyright.PENANAj1ockJwHnR
521Please respect copyright.PENANAJPDhvqw5As
他望向窗外的藍天,又想起那雙在心底揮之不去的眼,再一次對自己竟如此看待那名少年產生罪惡感。521Please respect copyright.PENANAsrgp3Th3IZ
521Please respect copyright.PENANA59l53LJ2LI
小王子或許不曉得,某方面而言,巫師比他更缺乏自信。521Please respect copyright.PENANApGY8Mla9ve
521Please respect copyright.PENANAFrnuqLSpRO
「涅澤爾大人?」521Please respect copyright.PENANAVqQOSPs5UP
521Please respect copyright.PENANA4dQEujnjl2
白龍的聲音幾乎和牠的形影同時出現,小龍緩緩飛到他身旁,巫師將手從雕塑頭頂收回,蹲坐至窗台的白龍昂起頭,涅澤爾斂起煩悶的心緒,換上不至於令龍憂心的淺笑。521Please respect copyright.PENANA07LCtWheJJ
521Please respect copyright.PENANA1wOf37Dmru
「怎麼了嗎?」521Please respect copyright.PENANAhi8XN14qyP
521Please respect copyright.PENANAdwCfEXcfQC
「您還好嗎?涅澤爾大人。」521Please respect copyright.PENANADHBBsSwx6E
521Please respect copyright.PENANA6SfRosRUMp
「怎麼這麼問?」521Please respect copyright.PENANA1D9CMZicBH
521Please respect copyright.PENANADM81wUdF3W
「因為──您……之前在您睡著的時候,我都已經想好了,」白龍往前幾步,將前爪搭到巫師擱在窗台的左手臂上,「要是您想去找那個孩子,我一定要全力阻止您,因為我怕您會死掉。但是,您卻都沒有要出門的樣子,這反倒讓我覺得更奇怪了呀,涅澤爾大人。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAmyQ63Shgym
521Please respect copyright.PENANAZIMeayV92F
涅澤爾僵了一下,隨後又如沒事人般地握住白龍的腳爪,「你不是希望我一直待在這裡嗎?」521Please respect copyright.PENANAJicE4OHGN5
521Please respect copyright.PENANA5wI4wYPpxP
「唔嗯,是呀。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAVBeLDjEK6x
521Please respect copyright.PENANAazHJZRZPMg
「那現在有什麼不好的?」521Please respect copyright.PENANA4aRO0Pk8BA
521Please respect copyright.PENANAl7E5gsXNxD
白龍支吾半天,最後做出令人震驚的發言:「我們去找那孩子吧,涅澤爾大人。」521Please respect copyright.PENANALuTeR68w5b
521Please respect copyright.PENANAUEdxoJAb4w
涅澤爾因為這句話傻了半秒,他簡直不曉得自己在白龍這麼說時露出了什麼表情,他迅速調整心情,溫言回道:521Please respect copyright.PENANAzmpPF1Xtia
521Please respect copyright.PENANA64DdqPeUZK
「……你剛剛不是才說,如果我去找亨利,你要阻止我嗎?小白。」521Please respect copyright.PENANALxmJGTt0va
521Please respect copyright.PENANArCrRn5gOpj
白龍以後腿站了起來,前爪搭在巫師的肩膀上,「可是、可是──我希望涅澤爾大人快快樂樂的,我不想要您難過,只要見到那孩子,您就會高興起來吧?涅澤爾大人。」521Please respect copyright.PENANA7Agi80C2SM
521Please respect copyright.PENANAOwsAYAtepc
「謝謝你喔。」涅澤爾摸了摸小龍的頸子,臉上是如常的輕鬆神情。「但是,我不想去找他。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAiYOVBVNy5C
521Please respect copyright.PENANA328Bgvt8Ih
×521Please respect copyright.PENANAimvIbz9Nge
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春末,昏迷數月的大公主奧維菈心跳停止。521Please respect copyright.PENANAz2RmcJ3KBG
521Please respect copyright.PENANAHxwcFc1k4P
繡球花盛開的初夏,國王穆拉與世長辭,亨利登上王位。521Please respect copyright.PENANAlLDDEcxcB2
521Please respect copyright.PENANAliiBi0c2x5
上位後,亨利做的第一件事就是撤回鴉之森的駐兵,此舉立刻招來反彈的聲浪,反對者以王后(現在該改稱太后)與撫育大公主的貴妃為首,他們紛紛派人上朝抗議,輪番質問逼得亨利根本招架不住。521Please respect copyright.PENANAzgxrpLDt0I
521Please respect copyright.PENANAForWur86qy
忙碌了一天,亨利回到寢宮,他剛登基不久,尚未遷入國王專屬的金陽宮,依然住在以王家而言擺設簡樸的白蘿宮,也一樣不要僕人服侍。521Please respect copyright.PENANAejAZ6RvGk1
521Please respect copyright.PENANADOqEY48w8n
甫踏入大門,年輕的國王一口氣都還沒嘆完,便聽見少女的嗓音:521Please respect copyright.PENANA98ibrn862A
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「這次你沒有跟我商量就行動了呢。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAqYnYOXra9p
521Please respect copyright.PENANACdvdGeYgK3
「啊、蜜拉……」521Please respect copyright.PENANA1FGOiABWVa
521Please respect copyright.PENANAmYbiQUCyGi
橙髮少女步出寢居室,這幾個月來,亨利忙於學習政事,但成效不彰,上位之後的各種事項也多虧蜜拉與愛地爾家族幫忙處理,蜜拉更是時常在寢宮裡等候他歸來,縱然兩人還沒有實質的婚約,但她的所作所為儼然是以王妃自居。521Please respect copyright.PENANAGA1b0ValWI
521Please respect copyright.PENANAQD8YujKkq8
「我是不是做錯了?」521Please respect copyright.PENANAy3PfifaXwW
521Please respect copyright.PENANACfCg0ElY2k
客廳昏黃的燈光使少年疲憊的面容看來更加憔悴,亨利踏著沉重的步伐坐到桌前,蜜拉跟著坐到他對面。521Please respect copyright.PENANAS0hBAUYAI8
521Please respect copyright.PENANAlc8pVpcXNo
「你指哪件事?」521Please respect copyright.PENANALVfoXNC2Qo
521Please respect copyright.PENANAv6uadhLDDz
「就是──我沒有先跟大家說一聲,就把鴉之森的軍隊叫回來。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAw8QwDoQSBU
521Please respect copyright.PENANAHZo34hJPRx
「你是國王,下令前還有先跟人解釋的必要嗎?」521Please respect copyright.PENANAyKkfjHrxtJ
521Please respect copyright.PENANAkYhrLBOS0x
蜜拉將雙臂交疊置於桌面,亨利側對著她,低頭望向地板。521Please respect copyright.PENANASRnMhNXt0d
521Please respect copyright.PENANAiHtdATz5gw
「可是……大家都好生氣,我、我也還沒想好要怎麼跟他們說涅澤爾的事。」少年的手抓了衣襬又放,即使頭銜從王子換成國王,他也沒有改變緊張時抓握東西的習慣,「要怎麼說,他們才會知道涅澤爾不是壞人呢?」521Please respect copyright.PENANA0FWkREQ0Rc
521Please respect copyright.PENANAR8zyt7ZeMj
亨利的語氣簡直是在求救,燈火與月光同時打在少年無助的臉龐上,一雙藍眼被染得似紅似紫。521Please respect copyright.PENANAL3dWZwbWoH
521Please respect copyright.PENANApfRcwfEEOT
蜜拉沒有給予答案,而是反問:「你為什麼急著撤離鴉之森的軍隊?」521Please respect copyright.PENANAa7h9vIrcjU
521Please respect copyright.PENANALYSzGZHCEB
「因為、因為我等很久了──」亨利轉過身來正對著蜜拉,音量不自覺地拔高,「而且,我想、我想告訴涅澤爾,我還是相信他。」蜜拉挑眉,亨利直視她繼續說下去:「如果我都當上國王了,還任由軍隊待在他的森林裡,他說不定……他一定,會覺得我跟其他人一樣。現在大家都說,父王會死是巫師害的,這半年來的天災也全是巫師的錯。我、我不要他覺得我跟那些人一樣。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAmYBDYlJFCC
521Please respect copyright.PENANAnNqKW8jswd
講到最後,亨利的目光再次飄向地面,那話裡的真心無庸置疑,然而他的行為卻顯示出,他似乎沒有不被巫師誤會的自信。521Please respect copyright.PENANA9Z7lORfxC8
521Please respect copyright.PENANA0nysevG081
夜鶯於屋外啼鳴,白蘿宮附近沒有高大的建築,今夜無雲,從這片窗牆往外望,星河彷彿是貼在牆上的壁紙那般清晰可見,但兩人都無心欣賞習以為常的美景。521Please respect copyright.PENANA63oO33TqzB
521Please respect copyright.PENANA3c356DCxPp
「那麼,你現在想做的,是改變眾人對巫師的看法?」521Please respect copyright.PENANAW1xldb6IeZ
521Please respect copyright.PENANA0BtiDVCNUZ
「……對?」521Please respect copyright.PENANA8sHtuElt3O
521Please respect copyright.PENANAto4knGManq
少年因為少女的問題昂起頭,又因為她的下一句話垂下頭來:521Please respect copyright.PENANAJrSCBtcqxo
521Please respect copyright.PENANAwg9rfWdeTG
「怎麼改變?你連證據都沒有。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAovTYNKydKU
521Please respect copyright.PENANAgF1zOStohj
亨利皺眉苦思,好半晌也講不出個所以然來,說到底,要是光靠他一個人就能想出解決的方法,此刻就無須煩憂了。最後,亨利在蜜拉的注視下說道:521Please respect copyright.PENANAlfcg7crAQq
521Please respect copyright.PENANAJCIGlK7oB5
「唔……不然、不然我找涅澤爾過來,叫大家聽他解釋。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAN1MzILWcPm
521Please respect copyright.PENANAuxLXOf9hC3
此話一出,蜜拉不禁輕笑出聲,亨利也明白自己說了蠢話,困窘地駝著背將頭壓得更低,蜜拉抬手掩住下半臉,在笑意漸止後回道:「你認為,正在氣頭上的人聽得進去嗎?大公主可是屍骨未寒,過世都還不到半年哦?」521Please respect copyright.PENANAPhZ1q1IZRa
521Please respect copyright.PENANAEvx3FXuDl1
「那、那到底該怎麼辦?難道真的要照他們說的,繼續討伐巫師──」521Please respect copyright.PENANAx550WXC3Ks
521Please respect copyright.PENANATadSqaVy8R
「不如嘗試另一條路吧。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6jVBQBHfb
521Please respect copyright.PENANA1DRnVKMKV1
少女截斷少年的話語,後者愣了愣。521Please respect copyright.PENANAdfGOAM1GK8
521Please respect copyright.PENANAqg3bECIbtl
「另一條路?」521Please respect copyright.PENANAvmU553ACLt
521Please respect copyright.PENANAdKsCG5DtbR
蜜拉輕點下頷,談吐的速度依然像以往那般慢條斯理,但她給出的解答並沒有讓亨利回過神來,反倒使他更加呆滯:521Please respect copyright.PENANAWVgrJUOYrv
521Please respect copyright.PENANA0VoVUxZXyL
「當個有威嚴的國王,你愛做什麼就做什麼,不管你下了什麼命令都沒人有資格質問你。」明明她的口氣溫軟,卻散發出不容質疑的氣質,「明天你就搬到金陽宮去。其他人對你的印象根深蒂固,在他們眼中,你還是那個好欺負的三王子,而不是無比威嚴的王,所以,他們現在才敢這麼對你,你要讓他們知道,國王的命令是絕對的。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAIj89SFhB5f
521Please respect copyright.PENANAbDmXS4wBki
「可是……但是……那太、我不知道……」521Please respect copyright.PENANAYEK72Kee94
521Please respect copyright.PENANAsY7YyOmTLt
「讓你在政壇上暢行無阻,這點,我還是做得到的。」少女的捲髮在火光照耀下幾近金紅,少年呆呆地聽著她的話,但那些字句對他而言卻彷彿是自千里之外飄來的樂音,虛渺得脫離現實。「你想做什麼就去做,剩下的事就放心交給我吧。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAu0mXCkUzpe
521Please respect copyright.PENANA08OhgQLYcI
亨利沉默下來,銀白月光柔和地包圍住兩人,夏季的星空總是比其他季節更加燦爛,一顆顆星子閃動光芒,暗夜無邊,夜鶯不知何時停止了鳴叫,萬物的沉默好似全世界都在等待他的回答,也像是全世界都不在乎他是怎麼想的。521Please respect copyright.PENANA7jBulTsntN
521Please respect copyright.PENANAN2xwl3xxJR
良久,話語才自亨利微張的雙唇溢出:「那……涅澤爾的事……」521Please respect copyright.PENANAJncc6Ellje
521Please respect copyright.PENANAQBQoj5MZXP
「要改變其他人的看法,讓所有人的想法都與你一致,那是不可能的。可是,你可以不用在乎他們。」521Please respect copyright.PENANAJSTz75F06c
521Please respect copyright.PENANAjECFuyd18y
少年與少女對望,黑瞳裡火光熠熠,明明他們待在室內,亨利卻產生了千萬星斗都能被納入那雙黑眼的錯覺。521Please respect copyright.PENANABrQ9wg1wRA
521Please respect copyright.PENANAzi5Br2KI7e
「要是你想見他,就去見吧,現在你已經是王了,連我都不能攔你。」