It had been years since he’d last spent a full night with another person. The last time had been before his death—back when the only one who treated Seiyad without disdain was Aster. On dark nights, when thick clouds masked even the moon and it felt as though he might sink into endless darkness if he were alone, Seiyad would seek someone to spend the night with.
That wasn’t often. He was always killing something or moving on Aster’s orders, leaving him little time to leisurely find company for a night. Because he constantly used his abilities, the side effects clung to him like phantoms, and so Aster’s Purification had been a constant necessity.
Aster, radiant like the sun, had seemed as though he might pull Seiyad out of the night’s depths—but never truly did. When Seiyad clung to him, fleeing the throbbing pain and cruel chill, Aster would embrace him with a smile and press a kiss to his lips—but never offered warmth beyond that. Even if he gave his body, he never fell asleep beside him, never stayed to comfort him.
Seiyad’s role was either to stay awake all night guarding Aster or to leave as soon as the Purification was over. There were even times when Aster wouldn’t complete the Purification and instead punished him. Back then, Seiyad had considered even that a form of mercy. Just having someone willing to keep a monster like him nearby felt like salvation.
But even while thinking that, whenever he found himself alone in a corridor swallowed by darkness, Seiyad would feel an emptiness gnawing at his chest. Then, using the excuse that Purification had stirred his lust, he would sometimes seek a woman to spend the night with. It was easier to give himself a reason like that. Otherwise, it felt too much like he wanted someone simply because he was lonely.
Finding a woman wasn’t difficult. There were those who couldn’t recognize his identity from his appearance alone, and he’d call such passersby into his quarters. The sensation of skin against skin, of sweat pooling warmly where their bodies met, was certainly stimulating. But once every spark had burned out, Seiyad would be seized again by the feeling of being cold and alone. No matter how tightly he held a woman as he drifted off, the moment he opened his eyes, he felt empty once more.
But today, the very instant he awoke, his heart felt full. It had started with the sensation of the morning breeze drifting in through the open window. The soft scent of pine lingering in the air made him feel truly alive. As he forced his eyelids open, a beautiful sight unfolded before him.
“Did you sleep well, my moon?”
Ressas’s gentle whisper felt like an illusion born from sunlight. His eyes, curved sweetly like one looking at something endlessly dear, shone with warmth, and his hand—stroking Seiyad’s ashen-gray hair that had fallen across his forehead—was tender. The straw-stuffed bedding could never be called comfortable, not even in jest, yet somehow, the spot he lay on felt soft as cotton.
“…Since when have you been awake?”
The cozy warmth, like something only a child might feel when rising from a cradle, was fleeting. Soon, his chest began to tingle, and as his mind returned, his heart pounded wildly—as if there was something wrong with it. He trembled, startled by how close Ressas was—so close their lips could’ve met. As though he’d forgotten completely how they had spent the night trading kisses.
“Just a little while ago. You were sleeping so beautifully, Eid, I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.”
Yet Ressas looked far too neat for someone who’d just woken up. Not a hair was out of place, and his eyes sparkled clear as if he’d never been asleep. Seiyad, still dazed as he stared, finally realized Ressas had been lying there with him, holding him. He could’ve sworn they’d turned their backs to each other before sleeping—when had they ended up like this?
Last night had been a blur. Reunited after so long, Seiyad had hungrily sought Ressas’s lips, only to stop himself just in time, remembering that his wounds hadn’t yet healed. The panic that surged as he clutched Ressas’s shoulder—and saw the injury—snapped him back to reason. He’d done something thoughtless to someone who was still recovering.
Ressas hadn’t seemed to mind, but Seiyad couldn’t just leave it at that. So late into the night, he had asked the innkeeper—who hadn’t gone to bed yet—to prepare bathwater, and then waited for Ressas to wash his wounds. He must’ve fallen asleep sometime after that. Which was unusual for him.
“You can sleep a little longer, Eid. We’re only a day and a half away from the Vetria territory.”
Contrary to Ressas’s gentle offer, the moment Seiyad felt the arm beneath his head shift slightly, he hastily sat up. Resting on someone else’s arm felt far too awkward. Embarrassingly so.
“I believe the knights are already awake, so it would be best to start preparing.”
“Then I’ll get the bathwater ready.”
Ressas volunteered to do something that should’ve been left to a servant. Seiyad was about to suggest Ressas bathe first, but then noticed he was already dressed and ready to go.
“I’ll take care of it. Your Highness may go ahead.”
“…Am I making you uncomfortable?”
Seiyad thought he had made it fairly clear last night that he didn’t dislike Ressas, but the man now looked at him with uncertain eyes, like a pitiful fawn.
“That’s not it. It’s just…”
The room was so small that once the bathwater arrived, he’d have to expose his naked body. Until now, even when Ressas saw him undressed, he’d felt nothing. So why did it suddenly feel so embarrassing today? Even he didn’t understand.
“I just feel more comfortable bathing alone.”
At that, Ressas blinked. Whatever it was he imagined, his neck quickly flushed bright red, and he dragged a large hand roughly down his face. His violet eyes briefly swept over Seiyad’s body before darting away in a hurry.
“…You’re right, Duke.”
“…I’ll come down shortly.”
Ressas nodded meekly and turned to leave. As Seiyad watched his broad back exit through the door with careful steps, he noticed the man’s earlobes were red. That sight made his heart thump so violently it hurt. Clearing his throat with a low sound, Seiyad raised a hand and pressed the spot just beneath his ribs. But the beating of his heart did not calm—not even as they left the inn and headed east.
The Duchy of Vetria, nestled closer to the northern regions, was the third largest among the duchies in terms of territory. However, in sheer size, the East was second only to the North. With a climate that blended northern influences, the eastern lands boasted a mixture of coniferous and broadleaf forests and a rich variety of wildlife. Though the Duchy of Vetria bordered the Axid territory, a vast mountain range separating their lands formed the forest they were both sworn to protect.
Unlike the southern and western forests where, from atop the high castle towers, one might glimpse beyond the woods, the territories watched over by Brosius and Vetria consisted solely of towering mountains and dense forest. That was why their two houses had maintained such a close relationship through generations.
As they passed through small inland forests where the Nir’a did not dwell, a plain stretched out beside the Lebe River. Seiyad hadn’t been to the East since childhood and had forgotten how beautiful it was. After about a day’s journey across the open plains, laid out like a carpet of green velvet, they would reach the forested lands of Vetria.
Wildflowers bloomed in abundance. Luna, seemingly delighted by the sea of grass, began grazing as soon as they stopped to rest. The group gathered the horses and moved toward the river to resupply their water. Just the sight of the clear, flowing water made his thirst spike. He had already been parched—perhaps due to the conversation he’d had with Ressas on the way here.
“Is it true that Your Highness is to be engaged?”
It had been the first thing Seiyad wanted to ask the moment they met, and he wasted no time once their journey began. Ressas, startled by the question, shook his head urgently.
“His Majesty may wish it, but I have no such intention. I like you, Duke. I don’t have the time or desire to spare even a flicker of interest for anyone else.”
The shock that had briefly plagued Seiyad evaporated the moment he heard that. Relief swelled within him, and his mood lightened so unexpectedly that even he was surprised. Still, he didn’t let it show openly, so Ressas spent the next several hours chirping away like a lark at his side, saying everything he could to reassure him.
Maybe it was because of that talk, but his throat was parched. Seiyad slowly bent down and sat at the river’s edge, filling his canteen with the flowing water. Just watching it was refreshing. After filling it, he bent further and cupped water directly into his mouth. The cool stream quenched his thirst as it touched his lips.
As he wiped the damp from his lips with the back of his hand and lifted his gaze, he noticed a lush patch of violet flowers blooming on the opposite bank. A fragrant herb, carried lightly on the wind—it was lavender, known to bloom across the East in the summer. The region was famous for its vast lavender fields, and the flower was a signature specialty of the East.
The soft violet, reminiscent of Ressas’s eyes, stole his heart in an instant. As if in a trance, Seiyad began crossing the river. Though it was wide, the current was mild and the water shallow in the midstream, making the crossing quick and easy.
Once across, he made his way toward the lavender field without hesitation. The sweet scent washed over him as he approached. Just as he stepped into the field to pick a flower, he suddenly felt someone’s gaze and turned his head. A young woman stood among the lavender, flanked by what appeared to be several maids. For someone to bring attendants deep into the forest like this… she had to be nobility. And in this area, the only noble family that came to mind was—
The Marquess of Saklani.
The moment he looked closely at the woman’s face, the name surfaced. She was Charlotte Saklani—Aster’s fiancée.
If the eastern region had been split, with Vetria ruling the northern half, then the southern side closer to the heartland belonged to the Marquess of Saklani. The Marquess had amassed great wealth through livestock farming on the vast plains, and his territory lay just across the Lebe River—where Seiyad had just crossed.
It was a considerable distance from the marquess’s domain to here, and Seiyad was just starting to wonder what had brought her when Charlotte, who had been staring at him, twisted her face in visible disgust. Her small, delicate features hardened instantly, and her lips curled. She furrowed her brow deeply and spun on her heel. With a sharp, irritated gesture to her maids, she began striding quickly out of the lavender field, as if the very idea of remaining in the same space as him was repulsive.
It had been a long time since Seiyad had seen such blatant contempt. Truthfully, the period in which people had stopped avoiding him had been relatively short. Yet seeing this reaction again stirred something strange in him. It wasn’t exactly unpleasant, but it did feel… natural. Especially considering it was Charlotte. She had always abhorred Seiyad for capturing Aster’s attention.
From the perspective of a fiancée, it wasn’t all that odd for her to feel contempt toward the person who shared kisses and flesh with her future husband. It was the same kind of loathing experienced by anyone whose partner had bonded with both their Guide and Tither.
He had forgotten about picking lavender and stood there frozen, when a voice called out from across the river.
“Your Grace, the Duke of Vetria has come out to greet you in person.”
He turned his head. Just as Kirill said, he could see knights behind him bearing the Vetria family crest. Reality came rushing back. Seiyad pulled his hand away from the lavender stem and turned his back on the beautiful blooms. There was a sense of regret, but it hit him then—this was no time to leisurely pluck flowers and indulge in the world’s beauty.
He stepped back into the river and made his way across, ultimately gaining nothing. While the water had been unremarkable earlier, the moment it soaked into his leather boots, a chilling cold surged up his legs, prickling his skin. Like waking from a dream, his insides went cold.
