At first, Sage's reaction was all that mattered. Sage's thoughts were all that mattered, and Sage's emotions were all that mattered, until it dawned on Taro that he was also in the photograph with millions of people looking at him and judging him and labelling him as the one to corrupt it all.
While Sage sat in the floor underneath the window, with knees tucked to his chest and eyes wide and horrified, Taro started to pace back and forth. The floor creaked beneath him, the flames in the fireplace whooshed angrily each time he spun to march towards the door.
My entire life has just changed in a single moment. Quiet pained sobs drifted from underneath the window. Sage was crying into his hands. His life has changed too. Taro knelt in front of him. He had seen Sage cry over his family far too often. "Hey," he whispered, trying to peel back one of his hands. "We need to figure out our next move. It's not safe here."
Sage looked at him with wet eyes, bloodshot from the tears. "Just let me cry, Taro." His voice crafted with such defeat; Taro felt as though he had no other choice but to sit beside him. He stared into the fireplace while Sage let his emotions weep out of him.
The longer he sat and allowed his thoughts to soak up their situation, the more he realised just how dangerous it had been to sneak around with Sage Green, the man next in line to be King. Now that the truth was out, so was his entire life. Reporters would do anything to know who he was, and why he was meddling with the prince.
Taro didn't regret any of it. He was falling for Sage in a way he had never expected, and he was falling hard with no chance of stopping himself. Sage was kind and loving and born into a family who didn't appreciate his golden personality. Taro was honoured to be around him, and not because of his status, but because of his big heart.
"We're really in this together now," he said after Sage had settled. He also watched the fireplace with glossed over eyes, deep in thought. "And I don't know about you, but I plan on getting on with my life, and if that means running off to live in the woods, I'm more than happy to do so." He lightly nudged Sage when he barely responded to his words. "I know this is frightening. I'm actually really scared too."
Sage tilted his head to glance from the corner of his eyes. The flames gave them a soft amber glow. "You are?"
"Of course. Yesterday nobody knew who I was, today I'll probably be on everyone's lips. Well done, you've successfully made the biggest headline of the century." Taro smiled through the stress. He couldn't let it overwhelm him. He wouldn't let the tabloids have that power.
"I'm so sorry," Sage mumbled, and his lip quivered. "I can't believe it's happening like this."
"The person who snuck up to the cottage and took a picture of us owes us an apology, not you." Taro wrapped an arm around him. He liked the light tickle on the side of his face from Sage's curls.
"I've ruined your life."
"How?"
"They'll hound you forever. Everything changes now, the entire country will know who you are."
"And?" Taro cupped his chin so he could look him properly in the eyes. "I knew this would happen eventually. Well . . . not like this, but I knew one day I'd be in the public eye. I like you an unhealthy amount. This doesn't change a thing. I'm just frustrated we can't sneak around anymore because that was kind of exciting." Despite his words and his smirk, Taro's heart thumped hard.
Sage's lips curled at the sides until his eyes widened. "What if they figure out that you're a plant person?"
"How would they?"
"I don't know." Sage rubbed his face. "Why can't this just be some nightmare where I wake up at the end? What are we going to do? If Patrick was a traitor for being gay then I'm-" that thought sent Sage into more floods of tears.
Taro sat silently with him, trying not to cry too.
Eventually, there was another knock at the door and Taro got up to answer it. The two guards, Carno and Bell, stood awkwardly in the corridor. They both glanced behind Taro, then sadly at each other. "Is there anything we can do?"
You've done enough, Taro thought glumly, but maybe it was good that they gossiped about Patrick. Maybe Sage would be in more danger if he still hoped that his family would accept him. " Get Sage some tea and breakfast. He'll eat up here." They nodded and turned to leave, but Taro added, "Get all the guards to meet in the dining hall. We need a plan. Sage is no longer safe here."
They hurried off, whispering ideas to each other about what to do and where to go. Taro was unbelievably thankful that he chose who came with them. He trusted the guards and that was enough.
He closed the door and faced the prince. Sage had his face resting in his hands. His knees were still pulled to his chest and his feet crossed over each other. He softly rocked himself back and forth like a terrified child seeking comfort. Maybe it's best to face his family. If he gets bullied out, then we can plan our future together. Taro didn't think he would be jumping to that stage in his life. He hadn't known Sage for very long, but long enough to follow wherever he ventured.
He sat down in front of him and rested hands against his knees. "What do you want to do? We have a few options, you can either go back to the Palace and face rejection, or we can board ourselves in here while the paparazzi undoubtfully come, or we can make a run for it so the paparazzi and family don't find us, and we can try to ride this out."
Sage's face shaped with doubt. "I don't know what to do," he whispered. "We have nowhere else to go."
That part was true. Could they run blindly into the snow with no destination? Taro felt most nervous about that option. He would risk everything to get Sage away from the photographers and the journalists, though running wouldn't be easy.
Sage's breakfast soon arrived, and Taro left him to eat in peace. On his way to the ground floor, a servant stopped him at the top of the stairs. "Excuse me," she said with wide nervous eyes and fidgeting hands.
"What is it?" Taro asked, making her follow him down. Time was running out, he had to form a plan.
"I-It's just that I think I know where you can go if you don't want to stay here."
Taro paused. "Where?" He loomed over the servant, trying not to seem too intimidating.
"My parents live 3 miles west from here on a farm outside the village. They tend to the gardens here after winter months." She raised her brows. "We know who you and your guards are, and we are very loyal to the crown."
"Who we are?" Taro questioned, making sure they were on the same page.
She looked around, pursing her lips. "We know the ways of the green."
That was enough information for Taro. "If we take Prince Sage to your parent's farm, will you lead the way?"
"Of course. Um, i-if you don't mind, I've already spoken to them this morning. They've seen the papers and the photograph. All our hearts go out to Prince Sage. He doesn't deserve this, and neither do you . . . sir."
"My name's Taro, I'm no sir." He smiled at the servant. "What's your name?"
"Katie."
"Well Katie, go and get ready. We're leaving soon." Taro continued his way to the dining hall. The room silenced when he entered. Taro looked around at all the faces, scoping out any judgement. "Leave now if you're not happy with what you saw in the papers today," he demanded. Nobody moved, nobody said a word. Taro stopped tensing his shoulders with relief. "Are there any tracks in the snow?"
"Yes. Only one set of tracks leading to the house. There's evidence that they were careful to use the same tracks on the same way back. Tire tracks were seen entering and leaving by the bottom of the slope. Two guards are watching the bottom of the slope as we speak. The paparazzi can try and get close." The guard stood a little taller with a pride that had been in his family for centuries.
"Good." Taro linked his hands behind his back because he didn't want to look as anxious as he felt. "Katie, the servant in this cottage, has offered her parent's farm as a place to hide out. It's 3 miles away and we need to go now while the snow will hide our tracks and before the vultures get here. Carno and Bell, take a radio and find the farm first, just to make sure only Katie's parents are there."
They left immediately, half bowing to Taro on their way out.
"Oh," Taro added before leaving to tell Sage their plan. "If anyone else bows to me or calls me sir, I'll slap you."
Chuckles followed him out of the room. Guards were highly observant, especially his kind. Taro wondered how many knew what was going on between himself and the prince. A dreaded thought of betrayal crossed his mind, but he shook it out of his head. His own kind had a secret far deeper than a prince kissing another man.
Sage was staring from his window when Taro entered the bedroom. "Where are they going?" he asked, pointing Carno and Bell on the white field below.
"To scope out a farm not far from here. If it's clean from the press, we'll go until your family contact you." Taro looked around, wondering how long it would take to pack Sage's things. "Have they got in touch yet?"
Sage shook his head to say no. "Maybe they're too disgusted."
"Or maybe they're just trying to figure out how to bring you home safely."
Sage shook his head again. "Their reactions won't be good; I feel it deep down. Please don't get my hopes up."
"You should hope that we get to this farm without anyone noticing. Hope that no matter whatever happens, you'll have people around you who will risk everything to keep you safe."
They made eye contact, and Sage finally nodded. "Alright," he murmured. "That's something worth hoping for."