[BL] Daily Disposable Persona

30: The Night Watchman 13

Note: This chapter contains a depiction of self-harm, in a flashback, with a child present.

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Incense burned lazily in a beautifully decorated bedroom.

When Zong Yan woke up he saw a dark curtain before his eyes.

A fringe of heavy tassels hung down from the bed canopy, casting long, intricate shadows on the curtain of the bed.

The edges of the curtain were embroidered with gold, luxurious and beautiful.

His eyes snapped open as his memory returned.

A moment ago he'd been holding his friend's hand as they fell through the air. Then, suddenly, he was in a bed. It was a little too fantastic to absorb.

"Your Highness, it's time to get up."

While Zong Yan was thinking, the butler's voice suddenly came from outside the room.

"Very well." Without Zong Yan's conscious control his mouth opened and spoke.

That wasn't his voice! It was the voice of a young child!

Zong Yan was alarmed, but his body began to move on its own—again, without his willing it—and lifted the curtain to get out of bed.

He stood barefoot on the thick carpet. The butler opened the door and a row of maids in neat aprons filed inside. They held freshly warmed clothes in their hands and knelt down to help him change into them.

The butler, meanwhile, prepared water for washing-up to the appropriate temperature and brought over a wash basin and mirror. Zong Yan's body began to move on its own, brushing his teeth and washing his face. He accepted a cup of strong breakfast tea.

In the mirror was a face with blond hair and blue eyes. Although he seemed to be only six or seven years old, the face was awfully familiar.

It was Edward, the face of a much younger Edward.

"Where's Mother?"

After a simple meal in the room, he heard his voice ask this question.

"Replying to Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen is in the west wing of the palace. She said that no one is allowed to disturb her today," the butler of Buckingham Palace said respectfully.

Little Edward frowned with displeasure. "... But yesterday Mother told me she would take me to play Legos."

A wave of unhappiness washed over him, the type of unhappiness a child felt when they discovered an adult had broken their promise.

Zong Yan realized that he'd been pulled into a memory, maybe because of the shadow he'd drawn out from Edward's eyes.

But a memory was a memory, after all. Zong Yan, an external actor, couldn't interfere with its progress. All he could do was watch the memory unfold with Edward's eyes.

"I am sorry, Your Highness." The butler didn't know what to say. He could only bow to the little prince and make a painless apology.

"Get out!" Little Edward's anger rose up at once. He pushed the butler away and rushed out of the room.

Buckingham Palace was huge. Fortunately, little Edward knew his way. He turned left and right through the complicated and splendid corridors, past many authentic works of art, and stomped up to the fourth floor.

The fourth floor was the king's chambers.

Since his mother was ignoring him, little Edward instinctively wanted to find his father.