It looked so bad that for a moment, the fear crept in—had he died?
Rushing to check for a pulse, fingers pressed to the neck, he let out a breath of relief. He was still breathing.
Damn it.
The overwhelming guilt that surged from seeing him like this—because of something he’d been entrusted with—was beyond words. It was true that Seiyad had been suspicious and had assigned the task, but he’d believed that if it was Desertus, everything would go smoothly. He hadn’t anticipated anything like this. After all, they carried Tither’s blood too, so he’d trusted they’d avoid the knights’ eyes with ease.
‘If someone dies because of me again…’
He’d wanted to change—to live a life where he no longer had to kill anyone. But if innocent people kept dying because of him, then nothing would ever truly change.
He remembered the knights he’d had to kill in the forest. Thanks to Ressas stepping in, he hadn’t killed them with his own hands, but what if this happened again while dealing with Aster? If it kept happening…
Overcome with rage and panic, Seiyad clenched his jaw and forced himself to stay focused. Saving Tiaki came first.
Seiyad cleaned Tiaki’s wounds with the water he’d brought and did what he could to stop the bleeding. Most of Tiaki’s injuries were stab wounds. The precision aimed at vital points clearly indicated the work of trained knights, which made it suspicious—how had Tiaki, with his level of skill, been caught by a knight?
Was it related to that “snake” he claimed to have seen? Something about it reminded him of Nir’a, the serpent-like presence he’d seen in Jasper’s memories…
Even as he kept speculating and tending to the wounds, Seiyad realized time was running out. Tiaki’s condition was worse than it looked—not just physically, but his energy was unstable. If he had been a normal Tither, they would’ve had to consider the possibility of a Rampage. Now he understood why a guide had been requested instead of a physician.
There was only one conclusion. Seiyad stood to bring Ressas. But leaving Tiaki behind unsettled him. There was no immediate threat around, but what if someone attacked in the meantime?
No, if he hurried, it was possible. Hesitating over uncertain risks would only waste precious time.
Giving the surroundings one last glance, Seiyad set off toward the ducal estate. He arrived much faster than when he had escorted Tiaki, moving at a speed that made the previous journey seem sluggish. Tiaki could hide within shadows too, syncing with his own powers, but their abilities were fundamentally different—this kind of speed was only possible alone.
When Seiyad approached, he noticed the estate’s security had grown tighter. Outside, it was still Shildras knights patrolling, but inside, all the guards were Aster’s men. They seemed to be searching for something.
After some thought, Seiyad decided to remain unseen and infiltrate. If Aster was indeed looking for him, the knights wouldn’t be able to reject the order. Given how urgent Tiaki’s condition was, bringing Ressas without interference was the priority.
Watching from the shadows, Seiyad pinpointed what had to be Ressas’s room. He even caught the distant voices of Vine and Rigda, confirming his guess. Scaling the wall with ease, he landed on the terrace outside the lit window.
Inside, just as expected, stood Ressas with his two knights. Dressed in a loose shirt, Ressas wore a serious expression as he gave them orders.
‘So much for avoiding him.’
It was irritating how often he had to face Ressas without time to sort through his own feelings. But priorities came before emotions.
When he knocked on the window, Rigda and Vine snapped their heads toward the sound, instantly drawing their swords. But Ressas just stared intently at the window, then stood and walked toward it.
Vine and Rigda trailed after him, trying to stop him.
“Your Highness, please don’t go. You don’t know who might be out there—”
Ignoring Rigda’s serious protests, Ressas opened the window. It was a large one, wide enough for someone to pass through. As soon as it opened, he called out.
“Eid.”
With a look of clear relief, Ressas reached out a hand. Seiyad stared at that hand from within the shadows.
He didn’t want to touch him. Not yet. The idea that this hand had touched others made it feel even stranger.
“Pardon? Where did the Duke go, exactly?”
Vine glanced at the dark air with a hint of worry as Ressas spoke to the emptiness. Before the question had even finished leaving his mouth, Seiyad emerged from the shadow pooled at the floor, revealing himself.
Vine let out a startled yelp at the sudden appearance.
“You two can go now. You’ve done well—take a few days to rest.”
Ressas’s command left Vine blinking in confusion, but he nodded. Rigda stared at Seiyad curiously before guiding Vine out of the room.
“I actually wanted to visit the Duke myself. I feel like I might’ve upset him with what I said earlier.”
“…Don’t worry about it. You only did what you had to. Apologies for disturbing you so late.”
“Anything you do is fine, Eid. Don’t call it a disturbance. There’s nothing that makes me happier than you coming to see me—if anything, I should be the one thanking you.”
Sweet things are easy to resist from a distance—but once you get a taste, it’s hard not to crave more. Ressas’s words were like candy. Sweet enough to cloud one’s mind, to cast a spell in a single sentence.
But Seiyad knew better than to let himself get used to this.
There wasn’t time to argue with Ressas. For now, he let it go. Letting Ressas’s gaze pass over him, Seiyad finally brought up the reason he’d come.
“There’s something I need your help with, Your Highness. If you’re willing, I’d like you to come with me.”
“Of course.”
Ressas agreed immediately, smiling faintly, as if the request were only natural. He quietly withdrew his outstretched hand and turned away.
For a moment, watching that, something in Seiyad’s chest ached.
“My brother has increased security in search of someone. If we go out into the hall, we’ll be spotted. We can’t give them an excuse—let’s go through the window.”
Ressas, now cloaked, stepped out onto the terrace.
Though Seiyad knew he could easily manage a jump from that height, he hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should offer his hand. Fortunately, Ressas asked for no help and effortlessly leapt down beyond the terrace.
Seiyad landed quietly behind him, and together they headed to the stables to steal a pair of horses. Rather than taking their usual mounts, they lured away two that the Shildras knights used, slipping them quietly beneath a tree just beyond the ducal estate before setting off.
Just then, patrolling Shildras knights came into view.
With horses, hiding wasn’t easy. Seiyad froze, uncertain whether to attempt slipping past them and risk stirring rumors. While he debated, the knights spotted them.
“We greet Your Highness.”
The knights approached Ressas and bowed, visibly flushed. The events of the day had clearly left an impression—admiration shone in their eyes without restraint. Then, noticing Seiyad, they stiffened further and addressed him with equal formality.
“Ah! The Duke is here as well!”
“…Yes. Good work.”
“It’s quite late. If you’re headed somewhere, we’ll gladly escort you.”
Then it dawned on them—they had no escort. As puzzled expressions met theirs, Ressas spoke up.
“The Duke has endured a great deal lately, so I suggested a night walk to ease his mind. We’re taking a moment for ourselves, so there’s no need to worry.”
At the oddly phrased excuse, Seiyad whipped his head toward him.
Smiling as if nothing were amiss, Ressas added a line even more absurd.
“This is a personal matter, so speak of this to no one. The Duke dislikes unnecessary gossip.”
“Y-yes, of course!”
The knights didn’t question his ridiculous claim. On the contrary, they seemed to accept it as confirmation of something they already suspected.
Satisfied, Ressas led the horse past them with perfect nonchalance. Seiyad followed, swallowing his disbelief. Arguing over it now would only waste time.
They rode nonstop to a civilian area. There, a bit away from where Tiaki was hidden, they tied the horses and approached the shed. Seiyad led Ressas inside.
Without hesitation, Ressas stepped into the dilapidated barn and went straight to the bloodied, unconscious Tiaki.
“It’s the same man from before.”
Kneeling without concern for the dirty floor, Ressas took Tiaki’s arm and quietly assessed his condition. Looking up at Seiyad, he said,
“With purification, he should regain enough strength to recover on his own. But he still needs a doctor. I’ll stabilize him now, and tomorrow I’ll have Vine and Rigda move him somewhere safe so he can heal properly.”
Seiyad exhaled, relief rushing in. Just knowing Tiaki would live lifted the crushing weight off his chest.
He nodded, and Ressas closed his eyes, grasping Tiaki’s arm in silence.
Time passed. At last, Ressas let go with a weary sigh and rose to his feet. Tiaki’s complexion had clearly improved; his breathing was now steady and even.
Watching over him, Seiyad suddenly realized just how exhausted Ressas must be. He’d hidden it well, but the man hadn’t rested properly even once since it all began.
“…You’re not going to ask what happened?”
Not just that. He’d been using a royal for his own ends without so much as a protest. It struck Seiyad anew how Ressas had never once refused him.
“Because it’s you, Eid. I don’t need to know the reason.”
Ressas smiled, and for the first time, his fatigue showed clearly on his face. Seiyad remained quiet.
His feelings for Ressas were still tangled, but right now, he simply wanted to let him rest.
“The urgent matter is settled. You should get some sleep. You haven’t closed your eyes since yesterday.”
“I’m fine. But you haven’t rested either. Lie down, even for a little. I’ll keep watch.”
It was clear Ressas wouldn’t sleep until Seiyad did. Knowing how stubborn he could be, Seiyad offered a compromise.
“The area seems safe enough. We both might as well rest.”
With that, he deliberately sat down first, leaning against the wall. Unfastening his cloak, he spread it out on the ground.
“It’s not much, but please rest here.”
Though the offer had a slightly forceful tone, Ressas showed no sign of taking offense. His violet eyes widened as he looked down at Seiyad—he seemed surprised, as if he hadn’t expected the gesture at all.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“No.”
As soon as Seiyad frowned and asked, Ressas quickly moved to sit beside him.
A faint scent of wood drifted in—cool and crisp, like the heart of a blue forest. It was the kind of scent that stirred something inside.
Their shoulders barely brushed as they sat in silence. With Ressas nearby, Seiyad didn’t suffer the usual backlash of his power, but the fatigue still pressed heavy on his body.
Despite the exhaustion, sleep wouldn’t come easily. He rarely slept to begin with.
The quiet rise and fall of breath beside him tickled at his ears. It was not the breath of someone asleep. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one struggling to fall asleep.
Bothered by the sound, Seiyad spoke without thinking.
“You’ve grown quite skilled lately. Much more than I remember.”
So much had changed in just six months. The way he handled things, the practiced smoothness of his words—even that kiss earlier.
“You’ve had a lot of experience, haven’t you?”
He didn’t name anyone, but the kiss lingering in his mind had led the question out.
He sensed Ressas suddenly turn his head.
“Experience?”
“…Forget it.”
“Eid, that’s a misunderstanding.”
Somehow, Ressas had understood exactly what he meant. He quickly grabbed Seiyad’s arm.
As Seiyad’s gaze landed on that hand, Ressas flinched and let go before he could be shaken off.
“I’ve held hands with others, yes—but that’s all. And even that wasn’t frequent. The only person I want to give myself to is you. I’ve never kissed anyone else. And of course, I’ve never done anything beyond that.”
