* * *
Meanwhile, Isaac, just like Chester, laid himself down on the bed.
His solid body pressed lightly against Adam’s elbows.
‘Ah.’
Adam unconsciously hunched his shoulders.
Now that he thought about it, this was the first time they were lying down together without having sex.
Taking a long, deep breath, his fingers twitched slightly.
Heat rose in his chest, his heart fluttering rapidly.
‘Thump, thump, thump…’
The loud pounding of his heart made him resentful.
Worried they might hear it, Adam pressed his palm over his chest, even though he knew full well it wouldn’t help.
“Why are you so tense?”
Chester’s voice startled Adam.
He pretended not to hear, staring fixedly at the ceiling.
Everything felt so sensitive, like his senses were on edge.
“Ah…”
Within seconds, Adam couldn’t help but let out a small noise.
Chester had poked him lightly with his foot.
Reflexively, Adam turned his head, mouth slightly open.
“You can’t sleep if you don’t close your eyes.”
Chester had fully turned his body to face Adam.
His beautiful face glowed faintly, like moonlight, with a playful smile.
“What? Feeling disappointed that we’re jus sleeping?”
With a faint, retreating voice, Adam muttered, “No…”
Cold sweat broke out, afraid of being teased again like before.
At that moment, a firm hand gently covered his eyes.
“Enough teasing. You should sleep.”
Isaac’s voice sounded from behind him.
It wasn’t hard for Adam to realize it was Isaac’s hand covering his eyes.
Soon, another hand lifted his arm and laced fingers with his.
Intertwining between his fingers was Chester’s hand.
“Sorry, I’ll stop.”
Chester gave his hand a light shake and tapped the back of it with his thumb, whispering softly.
“Sleep well, Adam.”
Ah, how sweet this was.
The whisper grazing his ear, the warm body heat against his back—all of it was overwhelmingly pleasant.
The moment his body relaxed, sleep rushed in like a wave.
It had been a long day riding the carriage, fatigue layering over him.
“Good… night…”
He faintly heard someone chuckle.
In a hazy state, Adam succumbed to sleep.
Before long, the room was filled only with steady, rhythmic breathing.
The hand covering his eyes slowly moved away.
Chester, admiring Adam’s fully shut lashes, chuckled quietly.
How could someone fall asleep this fast?
He had been so stiff and frozen just moments ago.
‘Must’ve been exhausted…’
His completely knocked-out face looked defenseless, pitiful in a way—like a fragile little rabbit.
Chester gently traced his fingernails across Adam’s palm.
His sleeping form showed no reaction whatsoever.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have teased him…’
A tinge of regret crept in.
He hadn’t realized how worn out Adam truly was.
If he had, he would’ve just let him rest in peace.
His chest tickled as though a feather had slipped inside.
The unfamiliar warmth made Chester frown.
It felt like wearing clothes that didn’t fit.
Isaac sat up, reaching toward the bedside candle, ready to snuff it out.
But instead of extinguishing it, he paused to gaze down at Adam.
There was a faint smile in his quiet stare.
Chester immediately understood they were thinking the same thing.
“…”
“…”
The two exchanged glances.
Neither dared to speak aloud, worried they’d wake Adam.
Instead, they conversed with their eyes alone.
Ever since the last ball, the two had drawn closer to Adam.
The reason was simple. Amidst the crowd, Adam had shone like a dazzling jewel.
And when another Alpha dared to lay hands on that brilliant light, it ignited their fury.
Losing composure and boiling over with anger was an unfamiliar experience.
Both Isaac and Chester found their own reactions oddly fascinating.
They had never been so shaken by someone before.
‘Sleep well.’
Chester nodded slightly.
Isaac sighed silently and finally blew out the candle.
Darkness enveloped the room.
Neither brother realized they needed to voice their affection clearly.
Adam, for his part, had no idea just how deeply they cherished him.
He was only left confused, wondering why they had suddenly become so affectionate.
“Mm…”
Adam let out a faint groan, shifting in his sleep.
Both brothers, deep in thought, immediately caught the sound.
They reached out to soothe him. Isaac’s touch was awkward yet sincere, while Chester’s hand was playful but gentle.
Under their combined caresses, Adam quickly settled back into peaceful slumber.
The tranquil, peaceful night continued.
As they listened to Adam’s breathing, both Isaac and Chester came to the same quiet realization: sharing a bed without sex wasn’t so bad after all.
In the calm, quiet room, the Carlisle brothers smiled faintly.
✦✦✦
The weather was flawless—clear, with not a single cloud in sight.
The sky was a deep shade of blue, and below it, the green river sparkled like scales of light.
Following the winding river led to a small castle and clusters of brick houses nestled together.
Between the homes bloomed roses of every color, their sweet scent richer than honey.
The hospital sat at the heart of the city.
Its light brown brick walls were covered in thick rose vines.
Patients strolled the garden, admiring the roses climbing the walls.
The beautiful spring day seemed to brighten their weary faces more than usual.
“Hoo…”
Only Adam maintained a dark, uneasy expression.
From the moment he set foot in the hospital garden, he had been visibly restless.
It was because he was about to see his younger sister, Emily.
“You’re all tense, huh?”
When Chester asked, Adam nodded.
“I’m just worried… What if her condition got worse?”
“What nonsense.”
Chester didn’t seem the least bit flustered.
Instead, he looked down at Adam with an incredulous smile.
“We already received reports that she’s getting better. The only thing left is for her to keep receiving steady care. What’s the problem?”
“There’s always that ‘what if’…”
“You overthink too much.”
Adam didn’t deny that he overthought things.
But knowing that didn’t make it any easier to quiet his mind, overflowing with worry.
Emily’s condition had always been unpredictable.
She’d show signs of improvement only to suddenly collapse again, terrifying Adam.
Even now, the memory of his sister’s limp, lifeless face made his heart sink.
“Adam, stop worrying.”
Seeing how Adam’s expression refused to brighten, Chester called his name gently.
“You’ll be seeing her soon anyway. You can judge for yourself when you see her.”
Ah… Adam realized he had been making the person beside him unnecessarily anxious.
“You’re right, Lord Chester. I was worrying over nothing.”
“……”
“But, um…”
“Hmm?”
“You seem to know quite a lot about Emily’s condition, more than I expected.”
Chester’s expression suggested he didn’t see the issue.
“I just didn’t think you’d know the details so well, Lord Chester.”
“That’s because…”
Chester opened his mouth to speak, then frowned slightly.
A fleeting shadow of hesitation passed over his handsome face.
But it was gone in an instant, replaced by his usual charming smile.
“I was curious, that’s all. I wondered just how ill she was, to be treated so preciously.”
“It’s not because she’s ill that I treasure her. She’s my only family left in this world.”
Adam turned his gaze elsewhere.
Not far away, Isaac was speaking with the doctors.
“You two are the same, aren’t you? You care for each other deeply.”
“Hmph. We don’t have that same tear-jerking sibling bond you two share.”
“Haha…”
“Finally, a smile.”
Chester nodded approvingly as Adam smiled faintly.
“That’s better. I’m sure your sister wants to see her big brother smiling.”
He was right.
It had been so long since he last saw his sister.
Just as he wanted to see her healthy, surely she wanted to see her brother cheerful and well.
“Lord Chester…”
* * *
