"I came with you, just as I promised," Xion said, crossing his arms over his chest. "You can’t go back on your deal now."
Darius let out a low chuckle, the corner of his mouth twitching. "I said date, darling. Not a death march through the snow."
Before Xion could respond, Darius casually slung an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close, letting their bodies fall in sync as they walked.
"That hot spring was for your recovery," Darius continued smoothly. "And honestly, who takes someone to a bathhouse on their first date? That would be ridiculous."
The words, ’you do’ were right there on the tip of Xion’s tongue, but he bit them back. Mostly because he already knew.
When he glanced at Darius, the teasing glint in those emerald eyes was practically blinding.
Xion realized rather blatantly that during this entire time, he was being teased. Just like right now.
"Don’t do that," he muttered with a hint of frustration.
"Tease me," Xion huffed, puffing his cheeks out as he glared. "Or I’ll get mad at you."
He looked every bit like a spoiled noble heir ordering his servants around, and Darius found it unreasonably adorable.
"But that’s entirely your own fault, darling."
Xion blinked in obvious confusion that ’???’ might as well have hovered over his little head.
Darius gave a small sigh, like he couldn’t believe he had to explain such an apparent thing. "You look too gorgeous when you’re blushing. So in the end, it’s your fault... for looking so pretty."
Xion’s ears turned red. Again.
"Nonsense," he muttered, turning his face away with a snort.
Their bickering continued until they reached the familiar halls of the estate. The fading golden light filtered through the high windows, casting a glow on the marble floor, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful.
But just as Darius reached for the door to their room, a servant appeared in a rush, nearly breathless.
"Your Grace! Urgent matter from the eastern outpost. Your presence is needed immediately."
Darius’s expression hardened instantly. All those teasing smirks and smiles were gone just like that.
Without another word, he turned to Xion.
"I’ll be back soon," he said while brushing his fingers lightly against those raven hair. "If you need something, just ring the bell and someone will be at your service. Yeah?"
"Okay," Xion’s gaze flickered between the anxious servant and Darius who looked completely calm and composed. "Come back early. It’s going to be cold."
He couldn’t help but remind the archduke. The system’s report was never wrong after all.
Darius’s lips, which had been set in a straight line, tilted upward at that. Was that not like how a wife would instruct her husband to be careful on his way?
And the fact that Xion had said it so naturally, so innocently, it gave birth to another idea. It was glaringly evident that Xion in fact was not immune to his charm.
For the first time, Darius was damn glad his face looked the way it did.
So... if he kissed Xion now, there was a high chance he wouldn’t get smacked, right?
With such indecent thoughts, the archduke showed a charming smile. "Of course. Whatever you say, sweetheart."
He resisted the urge to snap at those ever-changing, cheesy nicknames. By now, he had become aware thatthere was no winning against Darius in a verbal fight.
Hence, without replying, he turned around and calmly closed the door in the archduke’s face.
Ah, he also didn’t forget to glare at the royal menace — which only earned him a low laugh from His Grace.
While Darius left for a very serious meeting with not-so-serious thoughts, Xion decided it was time to explore the fairytale-like castle on his own.
With the system by his side, there was no fear of getting lost.
The moment it was unmuted, the system did not hold back from complaining about its unreasonable host.
[Host, can you please stop shutting me down every time you’re embarrassed? I was only reporting facts — proven and backed by scientific data.]
’Stay quiet or I’ll mute you again.’
That threat worked like a charm. With peace and quiet restored, Xion carefully opened the door and peeked outside.
’No one. Good. Let’s see how many secrets these walls are hiding. Do you think there’s some ancient treasure stashed away here?’
[Yes. But why are you peeking like that? You could just use me to scan for guards.]
Xion fell silent. No... why was he forgetting basic things like that?
The system wasn’t too far off from that line of thought. [Host, could it be that proximity to the archduke has lingering effects? Like... a hormonal aftershock?]
Xion had to take a deep breath to stop himself from snapping.
Why? Because deep down... he agreed.
If not, then why was he acting so unlike himself? Why did his stomach flutter when Darius called him those ridiculous names?
And worse yet... why don’t I hate it?
That thought alone felt like a slap of reality.
All his calculations had been wrong. He’d assumed that after all this time, his feelings for His Grace would have faded. That he could speak with him calmly, like any other noble.
But nope. That didn’t happen.
The second Darius had appeared in his line of sight, Xion’s thoughts had started orbiting around that handsome tease like a ring around Saturn.
In his ever-changing life, Darius had somehow become his constant. It was as if no matter how far he would go, or how badly he would do things, there would always be someone to welcome him back and smile at him.
The heat in his ears. The erratic rhythm of his heart. The giddy warmth he felt just by being near him... It all confirmed one simple truth.
He still had a crush on the Archduke.
...No. That wasn’t quite right either.
Somehow, the distance over the years hadn’t dulled his feelings. Instead, it had amplified them. This wasn’t just a harmless little crush anymore.
He was hopelessly, irrevocably in love with Darius.