Upon hearing that Benjamin planned to travel to Amara with Wren, Charles was furious. Still, he had no desire to direct his anger at Benjamin, whom he believed innocent of Wren's wiles.
"No," Charles said firmly, gazing at Wren sternly. "Benjamin will travel with me. If you both insist on traveling together, then you will both join me."
Benjamin quickly agreed, not wanting to start an argument. He was just grateful that Wren would be accompanying them. He couldn't bear the thought of being alone with Charles while his feelings were still so confused and his heart still aching. Charles saw a flash of irritation cross Wren's face. And just as quickly, it was replaced by a smile that turned into a knowing smirk.
"You're most gracious, Your Highness," Wren said. "I'm most grateful for your generosity. Rest assured, I'll do my best not to impose on anyone."
With that, it was settled that the three of them would travel in the same carriage to Amara.
As the trip to Amara drew closer, Benjamin's physical health seemed to get worse. Wren had taken blood samples and noted some anomalies. Since then Benjamin had refused further testing. Instead, he asked Wren for advice based on the existing results.
The day before their departure for the ball, Benjamin sat in his chair, paralyzed. He was in a state of shock. He had run his own tests to measure his pheromone levels. He was curious about the effects of his time apart from Charles, and he wanted to ensure that his pheromone levels were stable before the three-day journey.
The results revealed something he had never anticipated. Something life altering. Something that he was not ready for.
He was pregnant.
Sitting alone in the silence of his clinic, he had slowly come to a realization of what he needed to do. He had helped so many people who were in this exact situation. He would answer every question they had, guide them toward resources and public services for families, and provide information booklets. He supported them, whatever path they chose to take. Yet, now that he was the one in the exact same scenario, he only felt a blinding confusion.
His stomach churned from the emotional turmoil. He had always sympathized with his patients, trying to imagine what it must have felt like to receive such news. But now, standing in their shoes, he realized he hadn't known the half of it. He knew exactly what it was like now, but there was no one to offer him that same comfort. No one to hold his hand. No one to look at him in the eyes and tell him he wasn't alone.
In fact, as he looked around his empty room, he realized he was very much all alone.
** ** ** ** ** **
On the day of the departure, Wren could see the fatigue on Benjamin's face.
"Ben, are you certain you're alright?" Wren asked, concerned.
"If you're unwell, don't push yourself," Wren said with a reassuring grin. "I always travel with medicine, anyways. If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know. Even if I'm asleep, just wake me up."
"Thank you for the concern Wren, truly. But, I'm fine for now. I'm feeling much better today," Benjamin lied and returned a small grin.
Benjamin clutched his bag. He had packed purple blossom herbal tea, known for soothing nausea, and some sugared biscuits just in case.
Watching the two converse so warmly, Charles felt irritated. He had arrived to escort them to the palace where the carriages were waiting, and the natural ease between the two bothered him. As the footmen took the luggage and stowed them securely on top of the carriage, they exchanged stiff greetings. They then boarded the carriage.
The rest of the journey was silent. Wren sat beside Benjamin, both gazing out at the passing scenery. Benjamin tried his best to ignore Charles's stare, but his gaze was intense enough to bore a hole through him.
As they passed through Aster, Benjamin watched the cobblestone streets blur past. Clothing boutiques, fresh grocers, restaurants, and cafes lined the streets. He rarely found himself in the city unless he was on medical rounds or grabbing a bite with Wren. Somehow, despite growing up here in Aster, the city felt unfamiliar. Foreign. Perhaps it was because he had always lived on the outskirts, looking in.
When they approached the palace, Ben saw the familiar gray stone walls and the heavy, solid metal gate that he had sometimes seen from a far distance. At the entrance, a separate carriage waited. The footmen stepped down to collect the luggage and moved them to the other carriage. There would be a thorough inspection before they were taken to the palace separately. Benjamin was glad he didn't bring any of his standard hormonal prescriptions. He had just packed indistinct herbal tinctures and scent-blockers without labels.
Before the guests were granted entry, the Royal Guards stepped forward. They performed a thorough pat-down on Wren, but when it was Benjamin's turn, Charles shot a look at the guards. They nodded and barely grazed Benjamin, letting him pass with only the lightest touch.
Once inside the walls, the sheer scale of the place took Benjamin by surprise. Large buildings lined a broad road with shops on either side. It was as if the city had extended into palace grounds.
"These are the military barracks. The Third Guards, the third division of the Royal Guards, resides here," Charles said, speaking only to Benjamin and ignoring Wren.
The next gate was another heavy metal slab, though the stone walls here were lower. Guards stepped forward to conduct a search, but a sharp shake of Charles's head made them step back immediately, allowing the carriage to pass.
Beyond this gate lay the The Aethernium. Charles didn't need to offer an explanation. Everyone knew of it. The Aethernium was one of the Empire's greatest treasures, the oldest library on the continent. A sanctuary where books from across the world were preserved for generations to come. The grounds within these walls were lush. There were rolling green lawns with ancient trees and winding paths where scholars sat reading or conversing on benches.
The true spectacle was the people. Scholars from every corner of the world gathered here.
Those from Arcadia moved in flowing, floor-length linen gowns of every color, detailed with intricate gold embroidery. Some wore matching head coverings that wrapped around their faces or draped over their shoulders.
Those from Zephyr wore high-collared, deep blue tunics with white hems and cinched with various kinds of waist belts. Some belts were adorned with jewelry and had ornate gold or silver buckles. They all wore flowing capes that trailed behind them as they walked.
Those from Xenos wore layered silks featuring wide, sweeping sleeves that fluttered like wings as they walked. Some wore sashes tied elegantly at their waist.
There were even scholars from Shen Zhou present. They wore stiff-collared robes and intricate silk patterns of their kingdom.
And still, there were others dressed in traditional outfits Benjamin had only ever seen in books. They were people from different corners of the world whose attire he had he had only ever seen in photos and illustrations, until today. It was breathtaking. It was a world of culture, all contained within palace walls.
Access to this sector was strictly controlled. It required filing a long, tedious permit application. While the Second Guards' barracks were tucked away on the far side of the grounds, barely visible, their guards patrolled the library perimeter constantly.
Seeing Benjamin's eyes light up at the sight of the library and the sea of foreign scholars, Charles smiled. He knew he would have to bring Benjamin here another time, just the two of them. But, as his gaze shifted over to Wren, who sat close to Benjamin as they eagerly discussed the various traditional outfits and travelers, the smile vanished.
Finally, they reached the innermost gate. Unlike the solid metal slabs before, there were elegant heavy metal bars offering a clear view of the Royal Palace. The palace was an immense structure of white marble. Grand pillars lined the front with a large, wide staircase that led toward the entrance. To Benjamin, it was a reminder of the world of difference between him and Charles. It really struck him then that his humble home in the outskirts of Aster was probably a sad sight for Charles.
In the courtyard, five royal carriages waited with teams of two or four horses. A team of guards on horseback waited nearby, four from each division. They were dressed in the Isadoran Royal Guard uniforms: black fabric adorned with intricate gold embroidery.
The three divisions were marked distinctly by the white bands on their left arms. The First Guards wore a single white band, the Second wore two, and the Third wore three. Among the First Guards, Benjamin recognized Calix and Felix, but not the two women riding with them.
From one of the carriages, the curtains were pulled back. Princess Sofia Asterion peeked out and shot a glare at Charles. But, when she saw the two men with him, her expression shifted into a smile. She ducked back inside, then emerged from the carriage a moment later, reluctantly accepting the hand of one of her ladies-in-waiting.
Which one is he? she wondered.