Chapter 458

"Did you see the flowers?"

After a long kiss, Kishiar pulled back slightly, their foreheads still touching, and asked the question.

"Yes, I did. They were everywhere; hard to miss."

"Hahaha."

Kishiar burst into laughter. Leaning against the window, the man's eyes sparkled mischievously as he hugged Yuder's waist. Instead of verbalizing the myriad emotions he had felt while avoiding stepping on the flowers to get to the room, Yuder responded by gripping the hem of his clothes tightly.

"To be honest, I thought you'd be more likely to find them after a few drinks with others. Didn't expect you to rush over so quickly."

"Perhaps I wouldn't have if you hadn't signaled me with your eyes earlier."

"Well, calling it a 'signal' makes it sound awfully formal, don't you think?"

Kishiar playfully teased, as if the wink laden with personal sentiment had been exchanged like a secret mission order. Yuder didn't bat an eye, finding Kishiar's expression much more relaxed than when they had met at the square.

"Indeed, there were many, but thank you nonetheless."

"So? How many should I give next time to hit the sweet spot? Do tell, I'll prepare accordingly."

His ability to smoothly and cheekily suggest he'd give flowers again was quite impressive. Yuder sighed a laugh, almost involuntarily, and bowed his head.

"You don't have to give any. My thanks for the abundance of flowers doesn't mean I want more."

The reason he rushed here was not because of the flowers laid out. If it had been anything other than flowers, if he realized it was sent by Kishiar, his actions would have been the same.

As he lifted his head, Yuder was met with an expression he had not anticipated, and he was slightly taken aback.

"Right, that was a foolish question."

Kishiar's face was full of deep and candid emotions as he relaxed his eyebrows and smiled.

"So... would it be alright if we kissed again?"

The pupils reflecting only Yuder seemed so full of joy and yearning.

And so Yuder closed his eyes and turned his face first.

Because there seemed to be no way out of these enchanting emotions unless he did so.

"...Commander."

"Yuder."

When their lips finally parted after another long contact, their voices rang out almost simultaneously. Yuder blinked before opening his mouth again.

"You go first."

"No, it's fine. You go."

His voice was noticeably softer and lower than usual, caressing his slightly swollen lips.

"I'd like to use the key you gave me before, now."

That was one of the thoughts he'd had even before seeing the flowers.

Kishiar had already laid his heart bare. He had promised not to suppress himself once they returned to the capital, and holding onto a key that could alter their relationship no longer held any meaning.

The moments of hesitation, wondering if he could handle the changes that turning the key would bring, had long since become a thing of the past.

Kishiar had let him experience, one by one, all the things he'd been worried about post-change, all while wearing the mask of playful pretense.

Social status, the words and gazes of others, and even a past life that he had believed would remain an eternal secret—once all these barriers were shattered by Kishiar, he found their significance surprisingly negligible. Acknowledging this truth lightened the weight of the key that had been subtly pressing on a corner of his heart.

"As for me, my heart..."

Yuder mumbled slowly, recalling words that Kishiar had once spoken to him in the past.

"Everything about me is already here. As for a way to recover it... I'm not sure anymore."

"..."

"That's all I have to say. Now, please share what you were going to say, Commander."

My God. A barely audible sigh seemed to escape.

Yuder felt Kishiar's arm, which was wrapped around his waist, tighten. The sensation was slightly constricting, but seeing the rare blush on Kishiar's cheeks made everything feel okay.

"What I was going to say is... before we left the square, His Majesty the Emperor said something."

Much later, without loosening his grip, Kishiar continued to speak about a discreet conversation that had briefly taken place between Emperor Keilusa and him, after the Cavalry's welcome ceremony had ended.

At that time, Kishiar, as the Commander of the Cavalry and Duke of Peletta, had held the hands of both the Emperor and Empress, escorting them to their carriage. The brothers exchanged a few quiet words, so soft that not even Yuder, with his keen senses, could catch them. However, he guessed that it wasn't bad news, given that Kishiar let out a short chuckle as the conversation ended.

"His Majesty declared that while the Cavalry is on break, I should take a break as well. He said if he hears that I've worked or visited the palace during the week-long vacation leading up to the next palace party, he will reprimand me severely."

What a ridiculous command. Kishiar laughed as he spoke, and only then did Yuder understand why he had laughed earlier. After all, even the Emperor had slapped him on the back, metaphorically speaking.

"Well, I have my own ways, so I won't comply entirely, but I suppose I should at least pretend to take a break, shouldn't I?"

"Mmm... I suppose so."

"And luckily, I have an attractive partner right in front of me, who just exchanged heartfelt confessions with me."

"..."

Even though he had said something similar himself, hearing it from Kishiar made it extraordinarily difficult to bear. It seemed that even with all barriers shattered, Kishiar La Orr's innate disposition wasn't going to change.

"So, what do you think I should do?"

Yuder stared at the mischievous smile. For some reason, it seemed that the heat rising on Kishiar's face was more intense than before.

'Could it be? Is it not just my imagination?'

Yuder examined Kishiar's face closely before asking,

"Commander, do you have a fever by any chance?"

"Ah, you noticed?"

Shockingly, Kishiar's response was straightforward. He lightly rubbed his own face and answered,

"In fact, ever since we returned to the capital, I've felt like I had a fever, so I sent Nathan to the palace as a precaution. It doesn't seem serious, but better to get a proper diagnosis."

Come to think of it, it hadn't even been an hour since their return, and Nathan Zuckerman was nowhere to be seen. So he had been running an errand to the palace!

'And here I was, completely unaware... Damn it.'

It seemed that he had truly been out of his mind. Even without considering Kishiar's unique physical condition, he had seen enough people fall ill suddenly after completing a significant mission and letting their guard down in his previous life. He should have at least considered the possibility.

Perhaps Emperor Keilusa's strict vacation proposal was also a foresight of this situation. Yuder looked at Kishiar with a mix of astonishment and a hint of self-reproach.

Oblivious to Yuder's feelings, or pretending to be so, the man cheerfully responded.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not so critically ill. I think it's more like the reins I've been holding back have loosened a bit, causing some minor turmoil. If my assumptions are correct, a bit of rest and medication will sort it out. Though, of course, my assistant might enjoy a solo vacation until I get up."

Yuder quickly grasped the implication of his words.

What other reason could there be for loosening the reins as soon as he returned to the capital?

Other than the matter they had promised in the West.

Yuder remained silent for a long time before covering his eyes.

"One thing is certain."

"What is it?"

"The first thing we should do during this vacation is look after your health."

"I don't need nursing, but we do have to continue some tests that we couldn't finish earlier. And?"

Yuder lowered his hand and looked squarely into Kishiar's eyes.

His heart skipped a beat between the gaze they shared.

"...I have no intention of enjoying the vacation alone."

"Does that mean I can interpret your words the way I want to?"

The arm around his waist tightened its grip a bit more. Now, most of his body was in contact with the 'spear,' with his weight fully placed on it. Yuder felt a soft touch climbing up his back over his clothes and nodded his head.

"Yes."