* * *
Anyone would have been awed by the sight, but the garden’s true owner remained indifferent.
It wasn’t that he disliked beauty, but he had seen something far more beautiful—so this was unimpressive in comparison.
Looking at the blue flowers blooming in the garden, Hesia thought of Vivisian.
He always covered his face with a mask or cloth, but at night, when he slept, he was barefaced.
Just a few hours ago, Hesia had seen that face clearly.
To be honest, Hesia had little interest in drawing.
But he had drawn Vivisian so many times that he could now sketch him perfectly.
The shape of his features, the expressions he often made.
His eyes, when touched by light, were more beautiful than any precious gem.
The colors that made up his being never faded, no matter the scenery.
In moments like these, Hesia felt like a master painter—capable of capturing Vivisian with unmatched precision.
Closing his eyes slowly, he let the sunlight fall upon his eyelids and murmured:
“I told Ian to eat well, so I can’t skip my own meal… I should eat something too. Prepare something light.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Hearing the response to his command, Hesia took a slow breath in and out.
Maybe it was because Vivisian spent so much time here.
He knew it was impossible, but it felt like he could still catch traces of his scent in the air.
Thinking of someone who had remained as kind as ever despite the passing of time, Hesia unknowingly smiled.
Loving someone sincerely could make a person feel endlessly small, even miserable.
But at the same time, it could bring happiness beyond anything else.
Hesia was certain.
Even if sometimes it was harder and more painful than his days as a slave, loving Vivisian was a privilege he would never experience again.
—
It was while he was working in his office after lunch that he heard the familiar sound of footsteps in the hallway, followed by a light knock.
Hesia knew immediately.
The only person who could enter his office with dusty shoes and not be reprimanded had returned.
“Come in!”
Before the attendant could say anything, Hesia called out eagerly.
The door slowly opened, and through the gap, a soft chuckle was heard.
“What? Why are you laughing? Did something good happen?”
“No, not really.”
Vivisian shrugged and, as usual, was holding something in his hands.
Everyone working in the castle was used to the prince’s lover vanishing and reappearing out of nowhere—often bringing gifts for Hesia.
So when they saw the object in Vivisian’s hands, those assisting Hesia in his work immediately assumed: It’s a present again.
And the moment Hesia realized what was happening, his face brightened as he stood up, barely restraining himself from bouncing on his feet.
“Wow, look at him! He’s practically hopping! At this rate, he’s going to take off flying….”
One of the attendants muttered under his breath before hurriedly covering his mouth.
He nervously checked his surroundings, but thankfully, Hesia hadn’t heard him.
Meanwhile, Vivisian, who had caught the comment, struggled to suppress his laughter as he handed over the package to Hesia.
“What is it? A doll? I already have a ton of dolls… But if Ian’s giving it to me, I love dolls. Or is it dessert? You always scold me about cavities, but you keep bringing me sweets. Ugh, why won’t this open?”
“Calm down and try again. You’re too excited—that’s why it won’t open.”
Seeing Hesia struggling with the knot, Vivisian sighed and opened the envelope himself.
Inside, there were several sandwiches—the very ones Hesia had insisted he try.
As Hesia stared at them with an odd expression, Vivisian took one out and popped it into his mouth.
No one in the office objected.
They knew that Vivisian would never do something as absurd as poisoning Hesia.
No one warned him about testing for needles or told him not to eat something handed directly to his lips.
Feeling something enter his mouth, Hesia instinctively chewed.
Vivisian’s eyes curved into a smile as he watched.
“You seemed curious about how it tasted, so I bought some.”
At those gentle words, Hesia momentarily stopped chewing and muttered:
“I was just saying you should eat well….”
“I know. But wouldn’t it be better if we ate together? Oh, wait. You already had lunch, right? Jin, did Hesia eat?”
Vivisian turned to one of the attendants standing nearby.
The attendant, sensing the unspoken pressure from Hesia, smoothly smiled and shook his head.
“No, His Grace had a lot of work today and hasn’t eaten yet. He was just about to, so this is perfect timing.”
“Oh? Is that so…? Well, that’s a relief.”
Vivisian muttered with a peculiar expression.
The attendants tensed, thinking he might have caught the lie.
But instead of questioning it, Vivisian simply brushed the crumbs off Hesia’s lips and smiled.
“Why are you eating while standing? Sit down.”
At that, Hesia obediently sat on the sofa, chewing his food.
When Vivisian took a seat across from him, he got up again and moved to sit right beside him.
Vivisian let out a small, amused scoff at the shameless behavior but didn’t say anything.
As he pressed himself against Vivisian, Hesia busily chewed his sandwich.
And in between bites, Vivisian, with his usual nonchalant expression, casually wiped away any crumbs that got on Hesia’s lips or clothes.
“Is it good?”
“Mm! It tastes even better because Ian bought it for me.”
“You’re all grown up now, saying things like that.”
“…I’ve been grown up for quite a while.”
At his muttered response, Vivisian chuckled lightly and wiped the sauce off the corner of his lips. Hesia, unable to retort, just quietly focused on eating his sandwich.
The attendants had to pinch their thighs to hold back their laughter, aware that laughing out loud might cost them their heads.
That evening, as always, the two shared a bed.
There were plenty of reasons for it—Vivisian could be targeted for assassination, sleeping together naturally helped him release his energy, and, most importantly, Hesia had insisted he couldn’t sleep without Vivisian beside him.
For these reasons, sharing a bed had become a familiar routine.
Hesia still trembled intermittently, feeling the subtle thrill of lying next to Vivisian.
On the other hand, Vivisian, indifferent as ever, simply yawned languidly.
Despite their differing reactions, the two had grown accustomed to each other’s presence.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, they lay side by side in bed.
Listening to the rustling sounds of Hesia shifting in bed, Vivisian closed his eyes.
Knowing that Vivisian wouldn’t fall asleep right away, Hesia scooted closer and spoke.
“Ian.”
“Mm.”
“I can’t sleep.”
“Want me to sing you a lullaby?”
“…Can you?”
“A little while ago, you said you were all grown up.”
Vivisian’s voice was slightly husky from the late hour, but Hesia shamelessly blinked at him.
“Well, it depends on the situation. People call that adaptability.”
“You’re something else.”
Muttering something between a sigh and an exclamation, Vivisian turned his head slightly from where he had been gazing at the ceiling.
In the darkness, a pair of luminous gray-blue eyes stared straight at him.
Meeting those familiar eyes, Vivisian let out a quiet chuckle, as if he had no choice.
Recognizing it as permission, Hesia grinned.
Vivisian flicked the tip of Hesia’s nose before softly humming a lullaby.
Maybe it was because his voice was naturally pleasant—he wasn’t even putting in much effort, yet it sounded so good.
Feeling sleep creeping in, Hesia let out a long yawn.
Watching him, Vivisian continued humming.
As the night deepened, as Hesia fell asleep, as drowsiness took over, Vivisian eventually succumbed to the gentle rhythm of the other’s quiet breathing.
A night so peaceful that even nightmares dared not intrude.
✽ ✽ ✽
Time passed, and Hesia’s birthday banquet was only a few months away.
It might seem like a long time, but considering his status, it was barely any time at all.
The entire palace had already begun preparations, and Hesia himself was no exception.
Starting today, he was selecting his formal attire for the event.
Watching from the side, Vivisian leisurely sipped his tea.
Draped in a long black veil that concealed his face, he lifted it slightly as he drank, looking utterly composed—completely opposite to Hesia, who stood in front of a pile of fabrics with an exhausted, irritated expression.
Just as Hesia was about to explode, frustrated that he couldn’t be playing around with Vivisian instead, his personal designer, Lilith, who knew his limits all too well, sent Vivisian a desperate glance.
Understanding what was expected of him, Vivisian paused mid-bite of a cookie and spoke.
“Mm, that color looks nice. Maybe because your face is so pretty? Everything suits you.”
“…I’m pretty?”
“Yeah, very. These kinds of clothes suit you too. Since you don’t get to wear them often, might as well try on a bunch while you can.”
“…Okay.”
After hearing Vivisian’s casually delivered praise a few times already today, Hesia’s irritation melted away in an instant.
* * *
So cute