Six months had already passed since the eldest son of Count Everhart and the second son of Duke Callaway held their wedding.
Today, life at the Callaway mansion in the capital began just like any other day.
Chester, who woke up first, lay in bed with his chin propped on his hand, watching Ruite sleep beside him. It was his established morning routine.
He found Ruite’s face—sleeping soundly with his mouth slightly agape—utterly adorable.
Early in their marriage, Chester had frequently woken Ruite up with relentless kisses, earning himself a firm scolding.
Now, he was mastering the art of satisfying his affection while disturbing Ruite’s sleep as little as possible.
He brushed back a stray strand of silver hair and lightly poked a soft cheek.
Ruite furrowed his brows and groaned, but soon returned to a peaceful slumber.
Chester curled his lips inward and pulled Ruite into a tight embrace.
To be married, living in the same house, sharing a bedroom, and greeting every morning together—could there be any greater happiness?
Since childhood, Chester had believed happiness wasn’t meant for him.
He had been raised like a tool under a strict, loveless father.
But now, his life with Ruite felt like a magnificent blessing.
“Mmph…”
Perhaps the hug was too tight.
Ruite eventually frowned and let out a sound.
“Hey… I can’t breathe…”
Ruite, still half-asleep, playfully patted Chester’s back.
Chester’s expression softened into a gentle smile.
“Are you awake?”
“I don’t know.”
Ruite answered in a groggy voice and rolled onto his side, burrowing into Chester’s chest and wrapping his arms around his waist.
“Why do you always wake me up in such weird ways…?”
“Because I love you.”
“Today is a rare day off. I wanted to sleep in.”
Even as he grumbled about waking up early because of Chester, Ruite tightened his grip on him.
“Exactly. It’s a rare day off for both of us.”
Both Chester and Ruite had taken a leave of absence today.
Chester held the rank of Knight Commander, and Ruite had adapted well to the order, quickly rising to the rank of Supporting Knight.
Consequently, they were now able to use their vacation days more freely than when they first joined.
Of course, this holiday was a sweet reward earned after several days of being buried in work.
Moreover, opportunities to take a vacation together like this were rare to begin with.
“Play with me, husband.”
“That’s so cheesy.”
Ruite chuckled and slowly opened his eyes.
He realized that with such persistent interference at his side, going back to sleep was out of the question.
“Ah, right. We have to go to the Raulguns Marquisate banquet this evening, don’t we?”
“Yeah. It’s Colin’s sister’s birthday banquet.”
Coincidentally, they had been invited to a banquet on their day off.
If they hadn’t been able to take leave, they wouldn’t have been able to attend, but the timing worked out perfectly.
Teian and Benger had already instructed them to attend representing the Count and the Duke, respectively.
“Then since we have time until then, shall we go to the plaza? It’s been a while.”
Ruite said, stretching his arms wide.
“Sure.”
Chester wrapped his arms around Ruite’s waist from behind.
“Ruite, want me to help you wash up?”
“No. I know you have other intentions. I’m hungry.”
Ruite scurried toward the bathroom before Chester could cling any further.
Hearing Chester’s disappointed grumbling from outside the door, Ruite couldn’t help but laugh.
He hadn’t expected things to change drastically after marriage, but there was a definite sense of stability now.
He had learned that the greatest advantage of marriage was being able to see the person he loved whenever he wanted and living in the same space with them.
“Good morning, Ruite.”
“Good morning, Walter.”
The mansion’s butler bowed politely to Ruite.
The servants he passed while heading downstairs were the same.
Ruite left them with a bright morning greeting and entered the dining room.
“Ruite will definitely want another plate of this. Prepare it in advance.”
“Understood, Chester.”
Chester was already in the dining room.
“What’s this? What if I don’t eat it?”
“This is your favorite, isn’t it?”
“…”
It was exactly as Chester said.
The dish Chester had ordered the servant to prepare was one of Ruite’s favorites.
Another perk of living together: you get to know each other’s tastes, preferences, and habits in much greater detail.
True to Chester’s prediction, Ruite finished two plates and concluded his breakfast with satisfaction.
“Walter, I’m going to the plaza with Ruite for a bit.”
“Understood. We will have everything ready for you to attend the evening banquet.”
As Ruite was about to leave, he turned back to the servants standing to see them off.
“Do you guys need anything? I can pick something up while I’m out.”
“No, Ruite. That is our job, so it is quite alright.”
“Really? You can ask me, you know.”
Ruite spoke casually, but it was a significant statement to the servants.
A master asking his servants if they needed anything while he was out?
Most nobles lived their entire lives looking down on others within their ivory towers, but Ruite never ignored or belittled them for being servants.
He treated them truly as human beings.
For that reason, the servants of this mansion adored Ruite.
“We’ll be back, then.”
“Yes, have a safe trip.”
Chester and Ruite left the mansion side by side, holding hands.
“You know, Chester.”
“Yeah, let’s buy snacks as soon as we get to the plaza.”
“How did you know? Do you actually use magic to read people’s minds?”
The servants watched with warm smiles as the two masters walked away, holding hands and chatting affectionately.
Once the door closed, the servants gathered together and let out a collective sigh.
“How can Ruite be so kind?”
“Exactly. From looks to personality, he’s perfect.”
“Honestly, I’m so glad I work here.”
Everyone nodded vigorously in agreement.
“To be honest, I was a bit worried since Chester is the second son of the Callaway family.”
“I get that. The Callaway name is famous for… those reasons.”
Benger was known as a cold-blooded man who would do anything to solidify the Duke’s power.
It was also common knowledge that the Duke wasn’t a particularly affectionate father.
While the eldest son, Ethan, grew up to be gentle and kind under that father, rumors once circulated that the second son had inherited his father’s prickly and cold personality.
“But Chester is good to us, too. Even if he is a bit blunt.”
“Then were those rumors all lies?”
“Not necessarily.”
A servant who had moved here from the Callaway Ducal residence after the wedding spoke up.
“The second young master… I mean, Chester, was very cold until a few years ago.”
“Really?”
“Yes. In the mansion, he hardly spoke and gave off a prickly ‘don’t come near me’ vibe. I heard he was famous for that back at the Academy, too.”
The others tilted their heads.
‘Prickly?’
A “don’t come near me” aura and a man of few words?
To the servants who only knew the current Chester, such an image was hard to imagine.
“Then how did he change like that?”
Everyone fell into deep thought.
But it was a question with an easy answer.
“Ah, it’s love.”
As if everyone had reached the same conclusion, they broke into small laughter.
Ruite, who had just arrived at the plaza, looked strangely at Chester, who was suddenly scratching his ear.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s suddenly itchy.”
“The servants must be badmouthing you.”
Ruite giggled playfully.
The look in Chester’s eyes as he watched Ruite’s cute laughter was warmer than the sunlight beating down on the pavement.
“How can love change!”
It was then.
A sharp voice suddenly echoed from somewhere.
At the loud noise, Chester reflexively grabbed Ruite’s hand and pulled him closer.
“Is someone fighting?”
Ruite looked around with curious eyes.
Indeed, the attention of everyone walking in the plaza was focused on one spot.
“How could you do this to me!”
A man and a woman were standing facing each other in the middle of the plaza.
It was clear the situation was not good.
The woman shouting was already covered in tears, and the man looking at her just sighed in frustration.
“I explained everything.”
“You expect me to accept that? To just end it like this because you found someone else?!”
Ruite’s mouth fell open.
He could grasp the situation just from that dialogue.
Apparently, the man had caught feelings for someone else while dating.
“Trash.”
“Total trash.”
Chester nodded in agreement.
People watching the two fought openly also clicked their tongues, whispering, “Tsk tsk, what a bad guy.”
“You said you’d only love me forever! You said I was the only one! You said I was your last love, sob, your last love…! I will never accept a breakup!”
The shouting woman ran off in the opposite direction without even wiping her tears.
The man tousled his hair in annoyance and chased after her.
The people who had been watching the lovers’ spat began to disperse one by one.
“I feel so bad for that woman.”
“It can’t be helped. After all, there’s no such thing as eternal love.”
Hearing the murmurs of the crowd, Ruite couldn’t take his eyes off the spot where the woman had disappeared for a long moment.
