雖然蜜拉說他可以隨心所欲,可是,不久前才剛捅出婁子(至少他是這麼認為的),亨利一時間實在不敢照著自己的心意貿然行動,他安份了好一陣子,每隔一個禮拜,亨利就會問蜜拉現在局勢是不是夠穩定了,縱然頭頂王冠的是他,不過蜜拉──或者說愛地爾家族──更像實質上的掌權人,畢竟以亨利可悲的政治敏銳度,別說隨心而為了,連穩住政局都有困難。369Please respect copyright.PENANAo96JtbS3IS
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「差不多了吧。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAU7xcTiezbo
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某天晚上,坐在窗前喝晚茶的蜜拉如此說道。369Please respect copyright.PENANAT4mQrlKwCv
369Please respect copyright.PENANAKbdzvfT9yc
金陽宮沒有白蘿宮那樣的玻璃牆,即便窗戶大開也瞧不見星座,剛回寢宮的亨利走到桌邊坐下,他才剛發出疑惑的單音,雙手捧著茶杯的蜜拉便道:369Please respect copyright.PENANAEnr2vVlYwH
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「你差不多可以娶我了啊。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAfvpMGHwHGV
369Please respect copyright.PENANAiUUEke9hpk
「咦、欸?!」369Please respect copyright.PENANAz2Ceaw9w6j
369Please respect copyright.PENANAypWO33IqTb
少女目光如炬,眨也不眨地盯著滿臉錯愕的少年,她輕輕攪弄茶匙,小小的茶杯蕩出陣陣漣漪,「難道你不想娶我嗎?」369Please respect copyright.PENANAlcUUIHnjwp
369Please respect copyright.PENANAGcL5yRq4xY
「不、沒有──我是說,我沒有不想。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAnpAs8oH5FZ
369Please respect copyright.PENANAMK5lQJJ47g
亨利慌張地連背脊都冒出了冷汗,這一切對他來說實在太過唐突──不,依照蜜拉的行事風格看來,這或許稱不上是突然吧?就在他心緒混亂的當下,蜜拉又道:369Please respect copyright.PENANAl9snnR1G8e
369Please respect copyright.PENANAA2ZSTV0AqY
「那麼,差不多是時候了吧。」369Please respect copyright.PENANA2GwXw7I8ex
369Please respect copyright.PENANAXjut1duh0i
「是……是嗎?」369Please respect copyright.PENANAxmBwyqS33E
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「下個月如何?我挑了幾個日子,你看看吧。」369Please respect copyright.PENANABqGAyN2i82
369Please respect copyright.PENANA3jAA9T6HSD
隨後,蜜拉告訴他預定的日期,亨利汗顏著傾聽她的說明,但只感覺一字一詞都在腦袋裡糾結成團,分不開也釐不清,他迷迷糊糊地和蜜拉進行討論,總覺得自己好像不該在這種狀態下談論婚姻大事,但卻又覺得,反正他在神智清明的時候八成也會錯誤百出、在什麼時候談似乎都沒有差別,只要蜜拉認為可行就是沒問題了。369Please respect copyright.PENANAmRU0M7k2DE
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等到談話告一段落時,亨利依然有種超脫現實的感受,國王娶妻再正常不過,他也到了能成親的年紀,只是、只是……369Please respect copyright.PENANA6MYrjXuZCS
369Please respect copyright.PENANA7sFvkw3Giv
蜜拉端起茶杯啜飲,亨利呆呆望著房中的角落發怔,時光一點一滴流逝,直至茶壺見底,他才揪緊衣襬開口:369Please respect copyright.PENANAmlhg9Zjrxb
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「這件事……我可以告訴涅澤爾嗎?」369Please respect copyright.PENANAdmMZEiAaGQ
369Please respect copyright.PENANAKTXL4POyAf
「我說過了吧,你是國王,想做什麼不需要我的同意。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAkw83bJvDBi
369Please respect copyright.PENANApUOjl1AZ5G
×369Please respect copyright.PENANAXOGTLDti4Z
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亨利在夕陽西下時獨自前往蜂之森,他在老地方按下金球,從前,他都是按了球之後,等到接收到會面許可的信號,才在隔天赴約,但這次,他想在這裡等到涅澤爾出現為止。369Please respect copyright.PENANAHzSgaMCyXd
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而不過三分鐘,金球的開關立刻彈回原位,不到十分鐘,褐髮青年立刻降落到他眼前。369Please respect copyright.PENANAtictSNsORC
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開關回彈時,亨利便愣了一愣,巫師的動作這麼快,簡直像二十四小時都在等待他的訊息。天空呈現晝夜交替的紅紫色,微風吹下落葉,亨利看著許久不見卻又熟悉無比的身影往他走來,涅澤爾對他露出微笑,當回過神來、亨利發現自己已經抱住了黑袍巫師。369Please respect copyright.PENANAVaM88c2nmW
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「你長高了啊。」369Please respect copyright.PENANA3XC6aUHgXo
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青年的嗓音傳入耳中,少年鬆開雙臂「嗯」了一聲。369Please respect copyright.PENANAWq89l6MqKb
369Please respect copyright.PENANAz9psSlWqdO
橘紅褪去,夜色覆蓋大地,平時巫師身邊總有許多動物環繞,但今次牠們卻不見蹤影,只在秋夏兩季生長的螢苔攀附於樹根與岩石之上,好似掉落於林中的點點星屑,散發著微弱卻美麗的光。369Please respect copyright.PENANAkqHA2AE1GN
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「對不起,我沒有去找你。」亨利以雙手握住涅澤爾的左手,聲音雖小,卻字字清晰,「父王那個時候好生氣,我怕如果我去找你,會害你被父王抓走。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAQJq1Xa4o0H
369Please respect copyright.PENANA4yKE3a6hKb
「嗯。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAAZAAKfJChG
369Please respect copyright.PENANAMRz9pbwwnN
「我……我當上國王了。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAtlymKMMDNL
369Please respect copyright.PENANAQYgVSGEgQA
「我知道。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAXzwkytYwIH
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「我本來想、我本來想我當上國王就去找你。」亨利用力抓緊涅澤爾的手,語氣像是在辯解、又像是要說服自己,涅澤爾感覺得到他激動的情緒,但並沒有出言安撫,「可是──我不知道……我把鴉之森的軍隊叫回來,太后他們都很生氣,我還是不知道、不知道什麼時候能去找你。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAFDb4SIzwAL
369Please respect copyright.PENANAzAUNYICxN6
少年抿緊雙唇,青年沉默著等待他繼續應當未完的話語,頭頂一朵烏雲緩緩飄過,月色被遮掩,片刻後又探出了頭。369Please respect copyright.PENANAL6D3FNcAx3
369Please respect copyright.PENANAro29JD2aLu
「對不起。」亨利從乾澀的喉嚨擠出這三個字,明明該有千言萬語,此刻卻僅能道出歉意,「對不起,我應該要早一點來見你……對不起。」369Please respect copyright.PENANACsTC0Sbhwc
369Please respect copyright.PENANAorPL7FEBaB
涅澤爾將自己的手從亨利的掌心抽離,抬起手臂緩緩抱住了少年,沒有親吻,亦沒有緊擁,僅是輕輕地摟著他,而亨利死死抱緊他不放,力道大得幾乎會壓出瘀痕。369Please respect copyright.PENANAejf6kptJ2r
369Please respect copyright.PENANAFT5GYl7Zm2
我原諒你──涅澤爾認為自己似乎該這麼說,但喉嚨卻像被堵住了一樣,所言非真的安慰怎樣也吐露不出。369Please respect copyright.PENANAAIyYobutPA
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他確信亨利說的都是真的,也打消了自己先前的疑慮,照理說他該感到釋懷,但涅澤爾卻無法放心,今天的亨利給他的感覺不對,他察覺到了壓抑與愧疚,這孩子到現在都還沒說到最重要的事情。369Please respect copyright.PENANAowmtGdfOsZ
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其實他並不是很想知道那件事,其實他並不願意聽見那件事,其實他並不想猜到那件事。涅澤爾稍微與亨利拉開距離,偏頭彎出淺笑,「你今天來,不只想跟我說這些吧?」369Please respect copyright.PENANADwHZnGkuPa
369Please respect copyright.PENANAQVzS4zr9YJ
亨利看著他,黑暗中的藍眼不見星輝亦不見蒼穹,少年慢慢地點頭,滿月將兩人的影子拉長,直到它與樹木的暗影混為一體。369Please respect copyright.PENANAo8aXUtXfLF
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如果話沒有說出口,那它就只是一縷虛無的思想,如果話說出了口,那它便會透過語言成為現實。369Please respect copyright.PENANAwfhtry95y8
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「我還是很想要你當我的王妃。」369Please respect copyright.PENANA4RTPMGBaqV
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「我說過我不要囉。」369Please respect copyright.PENANArpOHISuyX2
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「國王一定得娶妻,國王的第一任妻子會成為王后。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAnrO9o0EoEj
369Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7XjP3AMus
「我知道。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAvMJ9TQIF4g
369Please respect copyright.PENANAytJ5AGBZNG
「我沒有想過我會當國王,可是,王子的第一位王妃也會是正室。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAsH31jwZej1
369Please respect copyright.PENANAVet2pcjqAG
「嗯。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAyECHrmjv4t
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「我還是很希望那個人是你。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAmwSCz5NJaR
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「是嗎?」369Please respect copyright.PENANAHrKCkGn4gH
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涅澤爾依然撐著微笑,亨利卻露出快要哭出來的表情,前者摸了摸後者的腦袋,涅澤爾搞不懂自己是以何種心情說出接下來的話,但它就這麼從他口中掉落,哐啷一聲砸在少年心頭:「你還有其他喜歡的人吧?」369Please respect copyright.PENANAmbdccc45Sh
369Please respect copyright.PENANA1Jt0hfR9RL
「可是──可是我最喜歡你啊!」亨利幾乎是尖叫著喊出回話,遠處有些鳥兒因此飛離枝頭,亨利用力抓住涅澤爾停在他瀏海的手,將其拉到胸前,「父王也最喜歡現在的太后、王兄的母親……一個人可以有很多喜歡的人,但是,還是會有一個最喜歡的對象、不是這樣嗎?我喜歡你、我喜歡你啊!我明明最喜歡涅澤爾……」眼淚自少年的面龐滑落,溫熱的淚珠打在兩人的手背上,「為什麼我不能跟大家說我喜歡誰,為什麼你要被當作壞人,為什麼別人說巫師很壞的時候我不能讓他們閉嘴,為什麼我這麼沒用……」369Please respect copyright.PENANAqo7q9YfQXK
369Please respect copyright.PENANAFgtI7tDtEk
「亨利,」369Please respect copyright.PENANAr1BYndJ3Qd
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巫師輕柔的呼喚止住了少年的自言自語,亨利安靜下來,涅澤爾輕輕回握住他的手。369Please respect copyright.PENANAVukdgZyfaK
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「這不是你的錯。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAnvWGvKNn3I
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「是我的錯,」亨利猛烈地搖頭,否定這番安慰的同時也否定了自己,「如果我能想出讓大家心服口服的方法就好了,如果我沒有去綠鷹森林就好了,如果我沒有讓王兄認識涅澤爾就好了──」369Please respect copyright.PENANAujPuYKlXWz
369Please respect copyright.PENANAjKMnCQJz7l
「照你這麼說,你不要遇見我就好了吧?」369Please respect copyright.PENANAidzYmgYtZC
369Please respect copyright.PENANAK1aVbnpRxQ
「不……我沒有那個意思……」369Please respect copyright.PENANAA4SWEP4Fuu
369Please respect copyright.PENANA50ZWhTyRxi
亨利因為涅澤爾的話稍微冷靜下來,他吸了吸鼻子,巫師抬起空著的左手拭去少年的淚水,等到不再流淚以後,亨利才哽咽著開口:369Please respect copyright.PENANAdMfbo2i7r6
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「你是不是不會再見我了。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7JnkuDKQa
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「……你知道啊?」369Please respect copyright.PENANAinUoSfIgQi
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「因為,從以前就有種、如果不是第一位的話,涅澤爾就不要我了的感覺。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAa5zyLW84ri
369Please respect copyright.PENANALlURlroeMU
巫師忍不住輕笑一聲,他稍微拉近與少年的距離,露出饒有興味的表情,「原來你這麼想啊?」369Please respect copyright.PENANAJl1fa7YL4L
369Please respect copyright.PENANATPZoviawQg
「上次從赤龍山回來之後,我想了很久,我想說你就是以為我最喜歡蜜拉才生氣的……」369Please respect copyright.PENANAZwLVmfNBAy
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「不是哦。」369Please respect copyright.PENANApriuy0Sofl
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話被截斷的少年以遲疑的眼神望向青年,泛紅的雙目裡盡是不解。369Please respect copyright.PENANAVXyMkllbwZ
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「我喜歡你哦,亨利。」綠瞳直直望入藍眸深處,涅澤爾保持笑顏,說出一直以來的真心話:「因為我喜歡你,所以完全沒辦法忍受有別人一樣喜歡你呢,不管你最喜歡的是誰都一樣。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAZMbLaWQ0zT
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「我不懂……」369Please respect copyright.PENANAa95be7WoOz
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「我本來也不想讓你懂。」369Please respect copyright.PENANACOz879R9zZ
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「我……」亨利深吸一口氣,眼眶泛淚,「可是,我還是想自己告訴涅澤爾這件事。」他停頓許久,最後在遠方的夜鶯啼聲響起時,以決絕的神態說道:369Please respect copyright.PENANAHehW2vdK5S
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「我要跟蜜拉結婚了,你可以來參加我的婚禮嗎?涅澤爾。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAKThNWCz9m7
369Please respect copyright.PENANAmJ4wPT1zb8
「不行。」巫師的笑容苦澀,他施展魔法讓少年口袋裡的金球飛到手裡,金光閃閃的圓球比起滿月更似太陽,亨利默默看著涅澤爾將他們最後的聯繫收入袍中,卻無力挽回,「晚安,亨利。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAfv1GTaowt4
369Please respect copyright.PENANA2xv8hIAJts