Kael did not push further after that.
For once, his teasing stopped at the edge instead of crossing it.
Perhaps even he understood that Elior had already reached his limit.
Or perhaps…
he simply liked seeing Elior flustered this much.
After escaping Kael's presence, Elior entered the guest room to freshen up.
The moment the door closed behind him, silence settled around him once more.
Strangely…
it no longer felt uncomfortable here.
The first time he came to this house, everything had felt unfamiliar — dangerous even.
The second time should have been harder.
People often said the second time facing something was the true difficulty. The first encounter passed in confusion, the third became familiarity… but the second forced a person to truly confront it.
Yet Elior felt at ease.
Too at ease.
Knowing Kael was somewhere nearby…
breathing under the same roof…
sleeping beside him only moments ago…
none of it troubled him as much anymore.
Perhaps he was slowly becoming accustomed to Kael's closeness.
Or perhaps, without realizing it, his mind had already begun remembering those touches and warmth somewhere deep within his consciousness.
The realization made heat crawl onto Elior's cheeks again.
"…Ridiculous."
Muttering softly to himself, he quickly pushed those thoughts away and headed toward the washroom.
After brushing his teeth and taking a bath, Elior changed into the fresh clothes that had already been prepared for him.
They fit perfectly.
Elior stared at the sleeves for a moment.
He was no longer surprised.
Kael had probably planned everything beforehand.
But…
how did he know his exact size?
Silence.
Then Elior decisively stopped thinking further.
Anything involving Kael and strange thoughts together never ended well for his peace of mind.
By the time he stepped into the hall, the morning light had already spread across the room.
Kael had not arrived yet.
Instead, Butler Ren stood near the table calmly arranging breakfast.
The older man noticed him immediately.
"Good morning, Young Master Elior."
Elior gave a small nod. "Good morning."
Butler Ren observed him quietly for a brief moment before asking politely,
"How are you feeling today? Do you require anything?"
"…No. I'm fine."
"Did Young Master Kael trouble you?"
Elior nearly choked on air.
"…No."
The answer came too fast.
Butler Ren's eyes seemed to smile slightly despite his perfectly composed expression.
"..."
Meanwhile, Kael stood alone in his own room.
The sound of water faded slowly as he leaned against the sink, eyes lowered in thought.
The place Elior had brought him to yesterday still lingered heavily in his mind.
Now that he understood the meaning behind it…
everything felt different.
That lingering sorrow.
That unbearable regret.
That crushing feeling of loss buried within the vision.
Kael finally understood why the man in those fragmented memories had looked so broken.
Why his silence had carried agony instead of emptiness.
Kael himself was the proof left behind by that tragedy.
And perhaps that was why he had lost control emotionally last night.
Why the weight of those emotions had overwhelmed him so completely.
Yet strangely…
the moment Elior stayed beside him—
everything became quiet.
The warmth beside him had pulled him away from the storm in his own mind.
No regrets.
No pain.
No memories.
For a brief moment, it had even felt as though the world itself no longer mattered.
Only warmth remained.
A calm so gentle that even breathing became easier.
Safe.
Steady.
Like resting somewhere he no longer needed to guard himself.
Kael fell silent.
Then suddenly—
a thought surfaced in his mind.
No.
Not a thought.
A realization.
Or perhaps… a truth he still refused to fully accept.
Kael slowly looked at his own reflection.
The first time he slept beside Elior was in this house.
The second was on the rooftop beneath the night sky.
The third was after the shadow attack, when they both collapsed from exhaustion and injuries.
And the last…
was yesterday night.
After his emotional breakdown.
Every single time—
he had slept peacefully.
No nightmares.
No restless thoughts.
No suffocating memories clawing at him in the darkness.
Nothing.
Only warmth.
Only calm.
Only the strange comfort of knowing Elior was near.
Kael frowned slightly.
"…That's impossible."
Surely it was coincidence.
Perhaps he was simply exhausted those nights.
Perhaps his mind had been too tired to dream.
There could be countless explanations.
And yet…
no matter how many excuses he considered—
he still arrived at the same conclusion in the end.
Whenever Elior was beside him…
Kael could finally rest.
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
Then another thought surfaced.
He wanted to test it again.
Just once more.
Because no matter how much he tried to dismiss it…
the conclusion remained the same every single time.
And perhaps that was exactly why he kept refusing to accept it.
Not because the conclusion lacked proof—
but because some part of him did not want it to become real.
Why?
Kael himself did not know yet.
Still…
he wanted certainty.
He wanted proof.
Yet asking Elior to stay beside him again tonight—
that alone already felt wrong somehow.
Kael frowned slightly.
He could force it if he truly wanted to.
He could blackmail Elior with shameless teasing.
Could use emotional pressure.
Could act pitiful.
Could easily create another situation where Elior stayed beside him out of helplessness.
But Kael did not want that.
Not this time.
If Elior ever chose to stay beside him again…
Kael wanted it to be Elior's own decision.
Not manipulation.
Not guilt.
Not pressure.
A choice made willingly.
The realization made Kael pause quietly.
Then finally, he exhaled.
"…Don't rush."
There was still time.
Without proper proof, conclusions meant nothing.
And rushing carelessly now…
might awaken something neither of them was prepared to face.
Or worse—
break something fragile before it could even fully form.
Kael lowered his gaze slightly.
A few more sleepless nights would not kill him.
He was already used to enduring things alone.
Until he found the answer…
until he properly understood what this feeling truly meant…
he could wait.
Perhaps the day everything became clear was already approaching.
But until then—
he would remain patient.
After settling his thoughts, Kael finally finished getting ready and stepped out of his room.
As he descended the stairs, quiet morning light greeted him from the hall below.
Then he saw Elior sitting near the table while Butler Ren spoke calmly with him.
Kael's steps slowed slightly.
For a moment—
something felt different.
The sight itself was ordinary.
Elior sitting there.
Soft morning light falling across his face.
Calm.
Quiet.
Familiar.
And yet…
Kael could not explain why looking at him now felt strangely different from before.
As though something inside him had shifted overnight without permission.
Kael stared for only a second longer before calmly looking away.
He left the thought unanswered.
"..."
Footsteps echoed softly from the stairs.
Elior instinctively looked up.
Kael was descending calmly, one hand adjusting the sleeve near his wrist as though he had taken his time getting ready.
Morning light filtered through the tall windows behind him, settling quietly over his figure.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful for someone like Kael.
The moment Butler Ren noticed him, he bowed slightly.
"Good morning, Young Master."
Kael gave a lazy hum in response before his gaze naturally found Elior.
The instant their eyes met—
Elior looked away first.
A faint smile appeared in Kael's eyes almost immediately.
"What were you two talking about?"
As he spoke, Kael walked toward the couch without hesitation.
Then casually rested one hand against the back of it, right behind Elior.
Close.
Too close.
Again.
Yet Kael behaved as though this distance between them was the most natural thing in the world.
Elior silently glanced toward him.
Kael noticed.
Of course he noticed.
But instead of moving away—
he leaned slightly closer.
"How are you feeling?" Kael asked quietly. "Any discomfort staying here?"
"…No."
Elior shook his head once.
"I'm fine."
Kael studied him for a brief moment before nodding lightly.
"That's good."
Then his gaze slowly traveled over Elior's appearance.
The slightly damp silver hair.
The neatly adjusted clothes.
The relaxed expression that had not existed the first time Elior entered this house.
Kael's lips curved faintly afterward.
"The clothes fit perfectly."
Elior paused slightly.
"…Hm?"
"I guessed correctly."
Immediately—
a dangerous feeling rose inside Elior.
Unfortunately, Kael continued before he could stop him.
"I was wondering whether the waist measurements would be slightly smaller," Kael said thoughtfully. "But it seems I remembered correctly."
Elior froze.
"…Waist?"
Kael looked completely calm.
"Of course."
Then slowly—
very slowly—
he leaned closer near Elior's ear.
"After holding your waist so many times, remembering your size isn't exactly difficult."
For one entire second—
Elior genuinely stopped functioning.
Heat rushed across his face instantly.
"K-Kael—!"
Meanwhile Kael looked entirely composed, as though he had merely made an ordinary observation.
"And your shoulders too," he added casually. "Though the waist was easier to remember."
Elior stared at him in complete disbelief.
That shameless person—
he was definitely doing this on purpose.
"You…"
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"Me what?"
"You can't just say things like that so normally!"
"But they're true."
"That's not the issue!"
Kael's smile deepened faintly.
"Then what is the issue?"
Elior immediately stopped speaking.
Because Butler Ren was still standing nearby.
And Kael absolutely knew that too.
Which made this entire situation far worse.
A heavy silence settled over the hall afterward.
Butler Ren stood there holding the teapot with the composure of a man who had survived countless noble scandals throughout his lifetime.
And yet—
even he seemed unwilling to remain in this situation any longer.
"…Young Master," Butler Ren suddenly spoke calmly, already turning away, "I shall inspect the kitchen preparations."
Without waiting for a response—
he escaped.
Elior watched him leave in stunned embarrassment.
"…He definitely misunderstood now."
Kael looked entirely unconcerned.
"If anything," he replied smoothly, "I think Butler Ren understood very clearly."
Elior turned toward him instantly.
"This is exactly why you're a problem."
"A problem?"
"You say shameless things so naturally and leave everyone else to suffer alone afterward!"
Kael seemed to genuinely consider that statement.
Then nodded once.
"That does sound difficult."
"You don't sound guilty at all."
"I'm not."
"…Kael."
His name came out almost like a warning.
But Kael only smiled lazily in response.
Elior lowered his voice afterward, speaking in a quieter mumble instead.
"It's not like I willingly give you chances…"
Kael stayed silent.
Elior continued reluctantly,
"You just create those situations yourself."
The words became harder to say afterward.
"When I tell you to let go…"
His fingers tightened faintly against his sleeve.
"You only hold tighter."
Silence.
For once—
Kael did not interrupt immediately.
Elior kept his gaze lowered.
"And now you make it sound like none of it was your fault…"
A few quiet seconds passed.
Then Kael suddenly laughed softly under his breath.
Not mockingly.
Almost pleased.
"I see."
Elior frowned slightly.
"So you actually understand my behavior properly."
"That's not something to be proud of."
"Still," Kael said calmly, his smile remaining unchanged, "keep it up."
Elior blinked once.
"…Keep what up?"
Kael only looked at him quietly.
But somehow—
that silence itself already gave the answer.
A dangerous feeling immediately rose inside Elior.
Because judging from Kael's expression…
he truly had no intention of stopping any of this.
Not now.
Possibly not ever.
"…You really won't change at all, will you?"
"Probably not."
Elior stared at him for several long seconds.
Then finally muttered quietly,
"You're the one who likes all this…"
For the first time, Kael blinked slightly.
Elior immediately looked away afterward and added under his breath,
"Shameless person."
—by Aurea;
"Some people do not realize they are becoming someone's peace… until that peace begins to feel impossible to live without."