* * *
A man stood at the door, face somber, glancing around like he was searching for something.
When their eyes met, Hesia’s expression melted into a goofy grin.
“You were eating?”
Vivisian, mid-bite, simply gave a half-hearted nod in response.
“Good job. But I heard dinner was served two hours ago. You’re still eating? Oh, you can’t answer right now. Hugo, when was dinner brought in?”
“Two hours ago, Your Grace.”
“So he really has been eating this whole time?”
Hesia muttered in disbelief.
Then, as he watched Vivisian slouched in his chair, chewing slowly, something seemed to click, and he let out a small, knowing laugh.
“You just didn’t want to eat, huh? I told you to eat properly. You skipped breakfast, had lunch late… and now you’re barely touching dinner. If this keeps up, I’m going to sit next to you and monitor every bite.”
“Hesia, calm down and listen to me for a second. Skipping a meal doesn’t kill people. Humans aren’t that easy to die.”
“True, but come on, Ian. Think about your age. You’re in your thirties now. Every meal counts. Other people are out here eating all kinds of superfoods and taking care of themselves. You should too. You have to live a long life—with me. You’re not telling me to just live a little less so you can tap out early, are you?”
“I have no plans to live long.”
“Wait—so if you die, I’m supposed to just die with you? I want to live a long life!”
“Ha…”
What kind of logic even is that?
With that exact look on his face, Vivisian waved him off irritably.
Hesia, knowing that meant shut the door already, obediently closed it—still ranting about the importance of meals.
He completely missed the palace staff outside giving him pleading looks to stop.
Eventually, a pillow thrown by Vivisian hit him square in the head.
“Ow! What’d I say to deserve that? It’s not like I was wrong!”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. You’re always right. But unless you want to get hit again, quiet down, Hesia.”
Vivisian grumbled as he yanked the half-folded cloth off his lap to fully cover himself.
Only then did Hesia finally shut up—at least verbally.
His eyes were still silently urging Vivisian to eat.
“You nag whether I eat or not. Keep it up, and I’ll just stop eating altogether and listen to your damn—no, your loving concern instead.”
Every word was spoken with deadly sincerity.
Hesia quickly turned meek, scuttling over to sit by Vivisian’s side.
“I’m just worried about you…”
“Hesia, your worry is weird. You say you want a long life, but if you keep acting like this, the stress will get you. You’ll end up living long but sick, not healthy.”
“But still…”
“Shh.”
“…Okay.”
Even with his lips pouting in protest, Hesia stayed quietly by Vivisian’s side.
With no chair of his own, he simply plopped down at Vivisian’s feet.
Had the palace staff witnessed this, they would’ve reacted like the sky was falling.
But unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—the only ones here were Hesia, who was so head-over-heels for Vivisian that he just wanted to be near him no matter what, and Vivisian himself, who had grown far too used to this.
Receiving Hesia’s gaze like it was routine, Vivisian continued eating.
Once he was done, he got up to place the tray outside.
Hesia rose naturally with him, trailing behind like a tail.
Even on that short trip to the hallway and back, Hesia stuck close.
He was still wearing his formal outfit from the banquet, so it must’ve been uncomfortable—yet he didn’t complain once as he curled up on the floor.
“Your clothes look uncomfortable. You sure you’re okay?”
“Hmm? I’m fine like this. You’re here with me, Ian.”
“…I’m an idiot for even asking.”
He asked if Hesia was physically uncomfortable, but of course the answer was something else entirely.
shaking his head, Vivisian picked up a veil to cover his face, then helped Hesia to his feet.
“Ian, where are we going?”
“You’re going to change.”
“But I’m fine like this… I like it.”
“I didn’t ask if you liked it. I asked if it was uncomfortable.”
“Well, I’m okay even if it is.”
“I’m uncomfortable just looking at you. Ah, Hugo—could you draw a bath in the bedroom? I think I need to wash Hesia and help him change into something more comfortable.”
“Of course. I’ll get it ready right away.”
Not even bothering to argue anymore, Vivisian made the request to Hugo as they passed by.
As always, the palace staff were remarkably quick—in the time it took for the two to reach the bedroom, the bath and nightwear were already prepared.
Neither of them liked being fussed over by others, so no attendants were needed.
Though Hesia grumbled about not wanting to bathe, he obediently stepped into the bathroom.
Vivisian headed into an adjacent room and returned after washing up.
After washing up and returning to the room, the bathroom door creaked open and Hesia stepped out.
Vivisian, who had been combing his hair after the palace attendants dried it for him, glanced at Hesia and let out a soft chuckle.
Maybe it was the warm bath, but Hesia’s clear cheeks were faintly flushed—he looked adorably fresh.
“You got nice and clean? All soft and fluffy now.”
“I’m sleepy… Ian, let’s go to bed.”
“I’m not really tired, though.”
“Then just stay next to me. Please? I’m really worn out today. It’s my birthday, but I couldn’t be with the person I like… Just a bunch of people I don’t care about showed up, going on about celebrating. I don’t even know if it was genuine.”
If he said no, it’d turn into a long conversation.
Knowing he couldn’t win in a war of words with Hesia, Vivisian sighed and walked over to the bed.
Realizing this was a silent yes, Hesia’s face lit up and he jumped onto the bed.
His quick, eager movements were hard to reconcile with someone who’d been whining just moments ago.
Vivisian, who had been sitting against the headboard, gave a baffled smile, a quiet laugh escaping his lips.
Still, he gently stroked Hesia’s hair as the other yawned softly.
“Go on, sleep.”
“Mm.”
“Oh, right. Hesia, happy birthday.”
Vivisian had actually been the first to wish him a happy birthday, back at noon.
Fingering the thread bracelet under the blanket—the one Vivisian had given him—Hesia smiled and nodded big in response to the belated greeting.
The bracelet was said to grant a wish when it snapped.
Hesia found himself hoping, earnestly, that it really would.
And at the same time, another part of him wished it would never break—because it was from Vivisian.
✽ ✽ ✽
At that moment, in the Duchy of Teian—
Letiyan stood silently by the window, looking down. His expression was calm, but beneath it churned a storm of emotions.
“Vivisian…”
He softly murmured his younger brother’s name and slowly clenched and released his hand.
He knew Vivisian had escaped from prison.
Who had helped him, or how he managed it, remained a mystery even now.
But the sealing sigil embedded in Vivisian’s heart hadn’t vanished, so he knew his brother was still alive.
What he hadn’t expected—not even in his wildest dreams—was that Vivisian was now living as a prince’s consort in Merien Principality.
“Even you… such terrible luck. You made it all the way there, and somehow, news still found its way back to me.”
His voice was quiet, but Letiyan’s hand trembled pitifully.
Staring at his shaking hand, he slowly closed his eyes.
He could hear the sound of the carriage that had brought Viscount Zetos—the one who delivered the news—pulling away from the castle.
As the noises outside faded, Letiyan gathered his thoughts.
Should he leave Vivisian alone, or kill him now?
Would it be right to kill his own brother—the one who had lost everything because Letiyan had pinned his crimes on him?
He knew well that his trembling hand wasn’t from guilt, but fear.
“I’ve come too far to feel guilty. And honestly, I’m not even that sorry. I had no choice, Vivisian. I had to become the Duke.”
‘I fit this seat better than you ever would.’
Muttering those words to himself, Letiyan furrowed his brow.
Ever since he found out Vivisian had vanished from prison, not a single day had passed without a splitting headache.
It felt like something sharp was digging into his temples, followed by a nasty ringing in his ears—something between a scream and mocking laughter.
He could feel his nerves fraying.
He pressed his palm firmly over his ear and let out a ragged, irritated breath.
Vivisian no longer bore the name Teian—Letiyan had seen to that.
No one regarded him as part of the Teian family anymore.
And even if they did, no one dared say his name aloud.
Letiyan had made it so.
He had to.
His twin brother had been smarter, kinder, and far more talented than he could ever be.
So he’d made sure Vivisian couldn’t even stand on the same playing field.
There were no regrets.
Even if he could go back, Letiyan knew he would do it all over again.
“…No. I’d have done it even more thoroughly.”
Removing his hand from his ear, Letiyan muttered with a bitter laugh.
“I spared you because you were my only blood. But maybe I should’ve killed you after all.”
* * *
