* * *
At those words, Adam curled up and lay back down.
Just lying down alone was already embarrassing enough—if Chester gave him a lap pillow, he might really faint.
Chester gently patted Adam’s head once, then returned to his seat.
The sky deepened into shades of blue.
As the stars began to emerge one by one, the sound of steady breathing filled the carriage.
The two of them looked down at Adam at the same time.
Curled up like a shrimp, Adam was fast asleep.
“He sleeps well, even though it can’t be comfortable.”
Chester muttered with a small laugh.
Then he felt a prickling sensation on one cheek.
Isaac was now staring toward his little brother.
Feeling that gaze on his skin, Chester gave him a look as if to say, ‘What now?’
“Is that how you usually are?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, with the people you sleep with. Are you this affectionate with them too?”
Isaac quietly added:
“As if they were your lover.”
The proper response should’ve come easily.
That it was just his naturally affectionate personality.
That it’s only right to be gentle with someone you’ve been physically intimate with.
He should’ve replied brazenly, shamelessly.
But for some reason, Chester reflexively glanced at Adam.
Fortunately, Adam was sound asleep.
There was no way he’d heard Isaac’s words.
Chester was relieved, yet at the same time, his heart skipped a beat.
There was no way Isaac hadn’t noticed him checking on Adam.
‘Damn it.’
“Why are you checking on Adam?”
“I was just making sure he’s sleeping okay.”
“Is that so?”
Isaac’s voice was blunt.
“Looked to me like you were being cautious.”
“Hah, cautious? Around Adam? Me?”
“Strange, isn’t it? I think so too.”
The low murmuring filled the softly rattling carriage.
“Whether you’re only like this with Adam, or if it’s the same with others… I wonder.”
“If anyone’s being strange, it’s you, brother. You’ve never cared for anyone so tenderly before. Are you seriously getting feelings for him or something?”
At Chester’s words, Isaac lowered his gaze.
His golden eyelashes cast shadows over his eyes as a contemplative look settled in.
Chester leaned back fully into his seat.
“…Neither of us are in our right minds, are we?”
“True. We’re not.”
“Right. There was no real need to come all the way to this distant city.”
“…”
Chester, unusually, felt awkward.
His brother was right.
They could’ve gone to a nearby forest or lake for a getaway.
But they traveled far for one reason only—because Adam wanted to see his little sister.
“We’ve never spent this much time and effort for someone else before.”
“Chester.”
“Yes, brother?”
Isaac’s voice was low, almost hoarse.
“Do I… like Adam?”
‘Clatter!’
The carriage rocked heavily just then.
Adam furrowed his brow, groaning softly.
The blanket covering him slipped off.
Chester quickly picked it up and draped it over him again.
“Mmm…”
Adam’s faint murmur brushed against Chester’s ear.
Chester pressed his palm gently to the blanket.
The warmth radiating beneath was comforting.
“He’s asleep.”
Chester whispered softly, sitting back in his seat.
Adam’s warmth still lingered on his hand.
For some reason, it tickled—he curled his fingers into a fist.
“That must be it.”
Before he realized it, Isaac had found his answer.
His expression, along with his nod, carried a faint smile.
One that made fun of himself, yet oddly didn’t feel bad at all.
“That must be it… You mean your feelings?”
“Yeah.”
“…That’s surprising. I didn’t think you’d admit it so quickly.”
“You think this is quick? I thought I was being slow.”
“No intention to deny it?”
“None.”
Chester couldn’t help but laugh.
Such a straightforward answer was almost admirable.
His brother had never held feelings for anyone before.
Chester had assumed he’d deny it repeatedly, try to push it away—but that wasn’t the case.
‘Maybe I underestimated him… Come to think of it, he’s always been steady in his decisions.’
“Well, true. You’ve been treating Adam differently all along. Teaching him to dance personally…”
“…”
“I doubt it was just because of the contract.”
Isaac, listening quietly, met Chester’s eyes.
His face was calm and composed.
His softened gaze and faint smile even made him look… happy.
“You seem relieved.”
“I found my answer.”
“Ah.”
“And you?”
Isaac spoke:
“Isn’t it the same for you?”
“…You mean, do I like Adam too?”
“Yeah. That’s why I’m asking. To see if I’m right.”
“…”
“Was Adam the same as those other people to you? Or… different?”
Silence settled.
Chester’s curled fingers tightened.
His neatly trimmed nails pressed into his palm.
“No.”
How much time had passed?
Chester blinked slowly.
“He’s different. Definitely different. But…”
“But?”
“I don’t know if I feel the same way as you do. Maybe… I just like Adam more than I like others.”
“Isn’t that affection?”
“There are many kinds of affection, you know.”
Chester continued softly.
“There’s the deep, earnest love you want to share with someone for life, the fondness like you’d have for a child, even the friendship between companions—that’s affection too.”
“And?”
“I do care for Adam. That much is certain. But… I don’t know what to call this affection of mine.”
“Oh dear.”
Isaac let out a sound that was somewhere between amusement and mockery.
“I thought my younger brother, with all his experience, would be much better at this.”
Isaac locked eyes with his brother and added with a teasing smile,
“But turns out you’re more of a rookie than I thought.”
Chester didn’t bother to hide the disbelief on his face.
“No one in this world would dare call me a rookie. No one.”
“There is one person who would. The one right next to you.”
Isaac’s voice lowered, calm and direct.
“Your brother. Born of the same womb.”
“If it were anything else, I’d let it slide. But this…? No. You always hated people touching you, never let anyone near. And now you call me a rookie?”
“Is that so? I only said it because I find this whole thing fascinating. But if even I understand this feeling and you don’t… well, I apologize if I hurt your pride.”
His tone, of course, sounded nothing like an apology.
Chester shot him a dumbfounded look and shook his head.
‘A rookie… really?’
He could admit this much—Adam held a special place for him.
But that didn’t mean he had to attach the label of ‘love’ to it so hastily.
He was simply… cautious.
These unfamiliar, ticklish feelings were new territory, and he planned to assess them calmly and thoroughly.
“And what about you, brother? You planning to fall in love or something?”
Isaac was quiet for a moment before answering.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“Yeah, I’m just going to go with the flow. My future self will figure it out.”
Isaac added with quiet confidence,
“And as always, I’ll handle it well.”
“So you’re enjoying this situation?”
“Isn’t it fun?”
“……It is fun.”
There was no denying that much.
From the first time they met until now, Adam had always managed to bring a certain thrill.
Chester gazed at the sleeping face beside him with a mixture of fondness and quiet sincerity.
“……”
A part of his heart softened.
But bound by his nature and old habits, Chester kept his mouth shut until the end.
Sensing his brother’s silence, Isaac closed his eyes.
The pulse beneath his ear beat faster.
Ever since he admitted his feelings, his heart had been racing uncontrollably.
‘Thump, thump, thump, thump…’
* * *
Yeah. Slowly realize and then confess.