“Just a moment, Eid. Please, have one more.”
Ressas Solias, Vine’s liege, was pleading with earnest insistence. He had the Grand Duke seated on his thigh, one arm wrapped tightly around his waist, while the other hand held out a candy apple—something he had gone out of his way to procure the moment they arrived in the capital.
The Grand Duke, sitting sideways with his body half-turned, cast a brief glance at Vine before responding with a composed expression.
“I’m fine. I’ve already had enough.”
A hint of unease crossed the Grand Duke’s handsome features. Though usually as cold and sharp as sculpted ice, he often showed glimpses like this only in front of his liege. Turning his head slightly to avoid Ressas’s eyes, he gently grasped his wrist and pushed it away.
“You’ve only had one. You were about to take another bite just now. Is it because Vine walked in and you got embarrassed?”
As he said that, Ressas turned to meet Vine’s eyes. His lovely smile was just as disarming as ever—no matter how many years passed, Vine never built up an immunity to it. Caught off guard, he stared blankly for a moment. The instant he lost focus, the Grand Duke’s sharp gaze zeroed in, stabbing like a blade at his cheek.
“Vine. What’s your business?”
Vine snapped back to reality from the mental flower field he’d wandered into. The authority in the voice made him tense. Even with the Grand Duke perched on Ressas’s thigh, that image evaporated as soon as the question dropped.
“M-my apologies. I didn’t mean to interrupt your time together.”
“I only asked so you wouldn’t waste more time. Speak.”
“His Highness mentioned earlier that he wanted some refreshments… I just came to let you know everything’s ready.”
At Vine’s report, the Grand Duke’s frosty expression began to melt. The harsh lines in his brow and the chill in his gray eyes softened, and soon, he offered a gentle smile. Turning back to Ressas, he asked with quiet affection,
“Did you want to go for a stroll in the garden?”
At first, Seiyad’s voice still sounded as firm and detached as usual. But if you listened closely, the affection behind it was unmistakable. Subtle, delicate changes in his tone made it clear—at least to anyone paying attention—that something had shifted in him. Vine, suddenly feeling like he was intruding, cast his gaze down to his feet.
“Yes, I wanted to spend some time with Eid in the summer garden.”
Ressas, who’d just moments ago been casually pestering the Grand Duke, suddenly blushed like a boy caught in a daydream. Then he buried his forehead in Seiyad’s chest, as if overcome with bashfulness. The feeling was so vivid that even Vine could sense it from where he stood.
His lord truly, deeply, genuinely loved the Grand Duke.
As Vine quietly reaffirmed a fact he already knew, the lovers continued their conversation.
“I don’t really have many memories of doing anything with you here in the castle, so I wanted to do this once you got back from the west. I prepared your favorite apple tea and pie. There’s more, too.”
“I see. I’m glad you were thinking of me while preparing all that.”
“Really? Did I make you happy?”
“Yes. Just like you always do.”
A soft breeze tousled the Grand Duke’s hair. The faintest trace of a smile that had lingered on his lips slowly bloomed, revealing something extraordinary. His sharp, elegant eyes curved beautifully, a flush of color touched his pale lips, and that rare smile—warm and radiant—transformed his ice-cold face into something breathtaking. It was a moment of such pure, dazzling beauty that it was impossible to look away.
Everyone knew the Grand Duke of Axid was especially gentle with his liege, but even so, Vine had rarely seen him smile like that. It seemed like a sight reserved only for their private moments. Usually, Seiyad was so refined and handsome that Vine could barely meet his eyes—but seeing him melt like this made Vine’s stomach flip. It felt like he’d caught a glimpse of something sacred, something not meant to be seen. And he froze in place.
Just like Vine, Ressas had been staring at Seiyad in a daze. Then he snapped back to his senses and wrapped his arms tightly around him. Seiyad leaned in willingly, allowing himself to be embraced. It was as if Ressas was trying to hide the larger man completely within his arms. Then, he turned to look at Vine. It was the same beautiful smile as before, but now it carried an unmistakable weight.
“Vine, could you wait outside for a bit? We’ll be ready shortly.”
His calm, gentle baritone carried a quiet command that left no room for hesitation. Acting on instinct, Vine saluted on the spot.
“Yes! I’ll be right outside!”
He turned hurriedly, grabbing the doorknob with fumbling hands. But just before the door clicked shut, a narrow gap revealed a fleeting scene. Ressas had wrapped his arms around the Grand Duke’s waist and was kissing him. And the strongest man in the world—Seiyad Brosius—was softly laughing, giving himself fully to that tender moment.
Vine shut the door, heart pounding wildly. When Mona, standing guard outside, gave him a knowing smirk as if to say, “Told you so,” he rushed to act unaffected. But the image he’d just seen wouldn’t leave him. It was so full of love, so achingly tender, that even a glimpse made his heart flutter. He hadn’t meant to witness it—but he had. And now he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
As he tried to shake it off, a thought he’d had before returned to him.
Come to think of it… when are they going to make their relationship public?
Everyone around the castle was buzzing with curiosity—saying it was time for both His Highness and His Grace to find a fiancée. The Grand Duke had been caught up in gossip recently for traveling west with Lady Nova, and as for His Highness, the nobles were making a fuss, insisting he must find a betrothed now that he’s preparing to take the throne…
Vine figured they’d sort it out eventually, but still—an uneasy feeling stirred in his chest. Like if things kept going as they were, something big might happen.
***
The candy apple was sweet.
They’d said it was made by the finest confectioner in the kingdom, and it really did taste nothing like any candy Seiyad had ever eaten before. In the northern region, where apples were hard to grow and snack culture was underdeveloped, desserts weren’t a common indulgence.
In fact, the last time Seiyad had eaten candy was back when he was a child. Since then, he’d adhered strictly to a diet befitting his status. If Ressas hadn’t brought him this treat, he likely never would have eaten candy again by choice.
But it wasn’t just the sweetness—it was the texture, too. The glossy shell, hardened from gently melted sugar, was firm and fun to roll around on the tongue. When bitten into, the softened layer cracked with a satisfying chew, releasing a syrupy filling laced with bits of real apple. Once he started, it was hard to stop.
Despite frowning in an attempt to maintain some composure, Seiyad couldn’t bring himself to refuse Ressas, who kept lovingly offering him candy. Resisting Ressas was difficult enough on any day. And now, with his lover finally learning how to ask for what he wanted, Seiyad didn’t want to discourage him. Truthfully, he didn’t dislike the situation either. Besides, after that kiss in the office—when Ressas said he loved the apple flavor on his lips—he’d lost any excuse to say no. What was he supposed to do when Ressas liked it so much?
“Do you like it, Eid?”
“Yes. It’s very good. At this rate, I may end up with cavities.”
Seated close at Seiyad’s side, Ressas watched every bite his Tither took, not missing a single moment. Even as he held up a parasol to shield Seiyad from the strong summer sun, he stayed busy feeding him, bustling with quiet delight.
“Aaah…”
Ressas suddenly let out a dreamy sigh. Seiyad, who’d been calmly enjoying his candy with a faintly relaxed expression, looked over at him. His lover’s eyes sparkled like starlight, absolutely glowing with excitement.
“Your Highness?”
“It’s nothing. I just got a little dizzy for a second.”
“Ah, perhaps the parasol is too heavy? Please, allow me. I should’ve been holding it from the start.”
“No, that’s not it…”
Ressas’s cheeks flushed as he lowered his gaze. Covering his mouth with one large pale hand, he murmured softly,
“Cavities… on Eid. Just thinking about it is too adorable—it’s hard to breathe. What do I do? I can’t stop picturing it. Did little Eid cry when he had to get a tooth pulled? Like when he had nightmares and went looking for Quilly? He must’ve been just as cute then, pouting from the pain… It’s so precious, I feel like I’m going to pass out.”
From behind them, one of the knights—who’d been quietly walking along—suddenly let out a choking cough. Seiyad turned to glance over his shoulder with a cold, gray-eyed stare, and there was Mona, face bright red as she desperately clamped her hands over her mouth to hold back laughter. Her struggle was almost theatrical. Beside her, Vine looked utterly dumbfounded as he awkwardly patted her back—only to spot Seiyad’s gaze and quickly bow in apology.
I’m the one being put through this. So why is someone else the one choking?
With a tight-lipped expression, Seiyad slowly turned back around. He looked to Ressas, half-expecting it to be some kind of joke. But seeing the sincere joy on his lover’s face made one thing painfully clear:
He meant every word. What a truly tragic revelation.
