It was a very cautious question, especially since it was directed at the Emperor, observing all due etiquette.

But it was an important question for Lu as well. From the moment they had crossed paths at the edge of the momentum, there was no reason not to care about the age of the man who consistently followed her.

“Is it appropriate to ask you about age?”

“I only inquired respectfully because it’s the Emperor’s age.”

Hayden narrowed his brows.

“You can speak informally with me. You’ve been doing it from the beginning, so why hesitate now?”

“Oh, well. I have no titles and am just a suspicious person who betrayed Caleta.”

She spoke with feigned nonchalance.

“So, should I give you a title?”

“If you’d be grateful to provide one, but if you don’t want to reveal your age, that’s also fine.”

It could have been a sensitive issue. Newspapers had been buzzing about the return of the royal family’s remains after 430 years. If Carlos had killed all the adults among the Perseus royalty and kidnapped the rest, it meant Hayden was kidnapped 430 years ago.

“I was kidnapped at thirteen, and when I woke up, I was in the lab behind the Caleta treasure chamber where you found me.”

Hayden began to speak matter-of-factly.

“I woke up once, then went back to sleep. Next thing I knew, I was a child soldier standing before the barrier.”

He turned his head to look at Lu.

“I met you eight seasons after that. So how old was I when I met you?”

That meant over 400 years had passed while he was asleep. It was a horrifying idea, but since Hayden showed no emotion, Lu chose not to react.

“Um, about fifteen, I guess.”

“And your age at the time?”

Lu searched her memory before looking at Hayden.

“Do you not remember?”

“No, I was seventeen. Right in the midst of my final year at the academy, I was thrown into real combat.”

My goodness. That would mean Hayden was two years younger than her. Lu shut her mouth, but Hayden seemed to interpret her silence differently.

“He used people like they were disposable. Regardless of age.”

Seventeen or fifteen, neither was an age to be thrown into battle. No matter how skilled in magic and swordsmanship one was at seventeen, it wasn’t right. The seventeen-year-old academy valedictorian knew this all too well and took great care of the child soldiers.

“Yes, that’s true.”

That seventeen-year-old had now lived through all sorts of battles and had turned twenty-five.

“I’m glad you survived.”

“I feel the same about you. So, are your questions about my age settled?”

Lu dodged his gaze and nodded her head.

“Are you satisfied?”

Her evasive tone seemed mildly teasing, and Lu still couldn’t meet his eyes.

“What does it matter if I like your age, or rather, your years? I was simply curious.”

“Whether you prefer older or younger is an important question to me.”

“I don’t care. We can’t change our ages anyway.”

“We can.”

Change age? Lu was going to let it pass but looked at Hayden when he tossed out the mysterious comment. He grinned.

“Younger is better, isn’t it?”

“I haven’t thought about it.”

“Doesn’t matter, then.”

In fact, there had been times when she pulled her hair out over the fact that she had slept with a man who had been a young soldier.
Having grown so robust that he now easily enveloped her with his frame, Hayden was a far cry from his former self, frail from inadequate nutrition and barely holding on to his youthful features.

The man, once unable to even wash himself properly and sporting a haggard look, was now of such distinguished bearing that any young lady would wish to stand by his side.

“What, isn’t two years not too young?”

Would it be alright even if he had had an accident? Though I’d decided to forget about it, what’s the point of thinking about it now?

Breaking away from her thoughts, Lu suddenly lifted her head. Hayden, who had stopped in the middle of the garden, was looking at her.

“Do you know that a funeral will be held once the mourning period is over?”

“Yes.”

“I hope the entire House of Plache attends. You’re the hero who found the royalty; you ought to show yourself.”

Lu thought about the noisy newspapers. During the mourning period, they couldn’t say much, but the media outlets from the East subtly showed opposition towards the Emperor.

“Would that be alright?”

“Making a fuss during the funeral is disrespectful.”

In other words, just show up.

“I understand. Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”

“It is I who should be thankful to you.”

Hayden lowered his head and took out a small box from his pocket.

“I intended to give you this today.”

Lu took the box and tilted her head.

“May I open it?”

He nodded and sat down in the quaint gazebo in the middle of the garden. The pillars were entwined with climbing roses, and just now, a tempting bud was blooming.

Lu slightly opened the palm-sized box and was surprised.

“Colored gems can’t be worn to the funeral, but pearls should be fine.”

“Is it really for me?”

Hayden slowly nodded.

“It would be good to wear it for the funeral.”

“It’s quite large.”

“Large is good.”