Digging the cars out of the snow and bringing them to the farm took an hour. By that time, Sage was packed and waiting patiently by the fireplace. Oxley sat with him, offering him a smile every time Sage breathed deeply and fidgeted with the coat in his arms.
"I knew there was something going on between you and your valet," Oxley said, leaning back on the couch and crossing his arms.
"He's not my valet anymore."
"Your personal guard then."
Sage stared with disappointment. "He's my boyfriend," he muttered with flushed cheeks.
"When I said that earlier you looked uncomfortable. I just wanted to see if you could tell me yourself. You do realise the tabloids are going to want an interview? Maybe you'll have to say something or announce your relationship with Taro. You need to look like you're not terrified to be called gay."
"I'm just not used to it yet." Sage's entire body tingled. He still felt like everything was a dream and he'd wake up at home with Lady Liniana still pining for him, and his parents' pushing marriage onto him as well as dates with high status women.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Why haven't you told me about Patrick yet?"
"I'm waiting until we're home. Like I said, this is a topic to discuss with mum and dad too." Oxley nudged him. "Why didn't you tell me you were gay?"
"Because it wouldn't have stayed a secret with you, not when you were sneaking out all the time to get drunk and then pay people for their silence. And I couldn't tell if you would accept me or not. You have that sort of impression on people . . . if you didn't know."
"Well, I know now." Oxley patted his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. At least you're okay with it. I don't think I'd ever go home if you hated me too."
"Our parents don't hate you, they're just not happy."
"Seems like the same thing."
A car horn beeped, and the time to leave had finally arrived. Sage said goodbye to Katie and her parents. He promised that he would visit again someday, though he was glad at the thought of sleeping in his own bed.
Taro held the car door open with a welcoming smile. As soon as they were buckled up, he held his hand, remembering their journey to the cottage not long ago. Now he could rest a head on his shoulder with no fear of anyone seeing. The guards didn't care, and Oxley rode in the car he arrived in.
The journey was long. Sage had enough time to settle his nerves before entering his city. They had chosen to return on a glorious autumn day. The sun shone in a blue sky, golden leaves littered the side of the streets, and the gentle breeze was a lot warmer than the wind in the mountains.
He closed his eyes to let the sun warm his face. When he opened them, he saw familiar streets passing by. They were nearing the Palace, and his nerves stabbed at his lungs, forcing him to inhale deeply and suddenly.
"I'm a bit nervous now too," Taro confessed, leaning into him. "Can we go to your bedroom first, so I can change out of this uniform? I need some water too."
"Of course. I could do with a change of clothes." Sage focused on those pretty green eyes. I will stick up for you, he thought, hating to see Taro looking anxious.
He could see the ivy infested Palace a mile away. Its pointed roofs stuck out above the square ones. With each corner and green traffic light, they moved closer and closer to home. Yet the traffic moved slower and slower. "What's going on?" Sage asked, hearing voices through the radio after they asked to open the Palace gates.
"There's crowds of people outside the Palace, Sir."
"Oh god." Sage sank in his chair, preparing for things to be thrown at the car or cameras flashing through the glass, or reporters asking him inappropriate and disrespectful questions about his sexuality. Taro sank in his chair too, glancing around impatiently.
I don't think I'm ready to hear people being mean about me, not in this way. For a moment, Sage wished he was still in the closet, until Taro linked their arms, sitting shoulder to shoulder. "Window covers would be a good idea. I mean, I know they're already blacked out, but they can still see you if they really try."
"Window covers," Sage repeated. "We'll get some. I can't put up with this every time we come and go from the Palace." He tried not to hold his breath when he heard hundreds of voices chanting something over and over. In his head, he imagined people screaming for him to abdicate. As the chanting got louder, he tried not to listen and buried his head into Taro's shoulder.
Every time they stopped in traffic, he begged for the lights to change to green, he begged for the crowds to part and to let their car through, he begged for his parents not to be waiting by the entrance of the Palace- waiting to tell him to turn back around and make a new life somewhere else.
"Sage!" Taro gasped, forcing his head from his shoulder. "Look at that sign!"
Sage quickly turned towards the window, and all he saw were rainbows. As far as the eye could see, pride flags of all sizes filled the air. Sage's wide eyes fell on the one Taro pointed to, and he read aloud, "We support Prince Sage, our future King and his boyfriend." His mouth fell open when his eyes settled on another one that said We support a Prince with Pride, and one that said- Sagerian Greenthenor, our countries' potential! People wore t-shirts expressing their support for him, people wore rainbows on their clothes, their banners, and their skin. Sage could now hear the chanting, and they were screaming for justice.
'Justice for Prince Sage. Justice for our community. Justice for love!'
"Nobody deserves to be outed the way you were outed," Bell said who sat on the seat in front of Sage. "The tabloids have angered everyone in favour of love, and that's a hell of a lot of people . . . Sir."
Sage watched with goose bumps. A tear of shock strolled down his cheek, and he was too stunned to wipe it away. Nobody threw themselves at the car. Anyone who tried were pushed to the curb by supporters. Everyone cheered as they passed by, and when they got to the gates, the crowd parted to let them through.
"If they're still here tomorrow, we'll have to make an appearance for them," Sage said, wiping his face dry and smiling at Taro's wide sparkling eyes. "I want to show my gratitude because I never expected to see that. I can't believe this is real." He strained to watch the crowd from the back window until the gates shut behind them. Now I know why my parents haven't yet been seen in public.
The car pulled up outside an empty entranceway. Sage was glad that they made it to his bedroom without being seen by anyone other than guards. They all bowed lower than usual and smiled like the rest of the proud faces on the outer walls of the Palace.
They dumped their bags in the corner of his bedroom, and Sage flopped onto his big poster bed, gripping his silk sheets. "I've missed my room."
"I've missed dressing you in this room." Taro leaned over him with a smirk.
Seeing the supportive crowd had fuelled Sage's confidence. He grabbed Taro and pulled him down onto the bed. He coiled arms around him and kissed him tenderly.
Taro was surprised enough to delay his own kisses. But he soon fell into the rhythm, and they were soon making out on the edge of the bed, with the door unlocked, not caring if anyone entered.
"Things are so different now," Sage whispered. "No more sneaking around."
"So, I can kiss you when I want, and where I want?" Taro asked with the tip of their noses touching.
Sage nodded. "I was never ashamed to be with another man. I was always worried about what other people would think. Seeing that crowd out there made me realise that if kissing you makes others unhappy, then they can- they can . . . piss off."
Taro laughed and held Sage's face in the palm of his hands. "I'm rubbing off on you." His loving eyes lowered to his mouth. "I think it's a fantasy of mine to see you yell at someone."
"I think you overshare." Sage grinned when Taro rolled his eyes. "I should get a shower and we both should change clothes. My parents will know that we're back soon. I want to be ready."
Taro nodded in agreement and jumped off the bed to rummage through his chest of drawers.
Sage had never felt so clean after a shave and a shower. He entered the bedroom with a towel around his waist. Taro was opening the changing wall. The wheels screeched loudly against the wooden floor. He had changed into light blue jeans and white converse. He wore his usual purple jumper and unpicked the Greenthenor Guard stitching.
"Oh, you don't need to pull that out. I think I can dress myself from now on."
Taro looked up with raised eyebrows. "Dressing and undressing you were my favourite time of the day, Prince."
Sage flushed pink and struggled to meet his humoured stare. He stepped behind the changing wall and slipped into black boxers. He sucked in a daring breath and stepped back out in front of Taro who was holding a pair black jeans. Of course, Taro grinned while his green eyes travelled all over him.
Sage suddenly felt very shy as Taro fastened the button around his waist. Taro quickly kissed him before he pulled a white t-shirt over his head, making sure to brush his knuckles against Sage's sides and stomach. He kissed him again and pulled a brown knitted jumper over his head and Sage made a comment about not ruffling up his drying curls. Taro then kissed him again and asked if he needed a belt with his jeans.
"No, but I do need socks."
Taro yanked his leg up so quickly; Sage hopped backwards and fell onto the floor with a loud thud. "Why-"
"Just doing my job, sir." Taro forcefully pulled socks over his cold feet, then he dropped his bodyweight onto him, and Sage coughed as the air left his lungs. "Oh sorry, I thought aggression was in the job description."
"Get off!" Sage laughed, trying to wrestle him back as Taro roughly fixed his jumper.
"Just some final touches." Taro grabbed at his arms and tugged hard at his sleeves. Sage pushed a foot into Taro's face. "Oh, you don't like the socks you're wearing?" He grabbed at his feet until the bedroom door suddenly opened, and Oxley waltzed in without a care in the world.
He paused at the sight of them entangled on the floor. "What on earth are you doing?"
Sage playfully pushed Taro off and cleared his throat. "G-Getting dressed." He fixed his hair in the mirror to avoid seeing his brother's expression. "Please knock next time."
"Will do, for the sake of my innocence." Oxley crossed his arms, staring down Taro who held his gaze, refusing to be intimidated.
"Do mum and dad know we're back?" Sage asked, sitting on the couch by the door to tie his shoelaces.
"They will by now. I'm coming with you, just in case."
"In case what?"
"In case they corner you and try to force you to leave."
"If they really don't want us here that badly, then we will leave."
"But-"
"Oxley, that doesn't mean I'll abdicate."
Oxley swallowed his words. "Fine," he mumbled. "Let's go, they're probably already waiting."