ã€ŠThe Grave You Madeã€‹


 Chapter 01: The First Night

    A roar of laughter erupted from deep within the maze that was darkening by the shadows from the dusking sky. Splashing water from the fountain''s center added to the symphony of joy in the middle of the maze. Interested in the joyous group enjoying the early evening away from the first night of the ball, a man drawn by the sounds smiled in anticipation as he approached. As he rounded the last corner, he stopped and sucked in a breath before the site he spotted could steal it from his lips.

    The most ethereal view played out in front of his eyes. What he could only describe as a group of the most beautiful fairies were playing together in the red and gold glow of the setting sun, their forms outlined against the encroaching night. Water droplets sprayed out as they danced in the fountain, catching the last few rays of daylight and creating a look of drops of gold flowing up from the ground.

    The eldest of the females had picked up a young boy and swung him around as he giggled with full belly laughs. A younger female ran around the inside of the fountain as it rained down from the sprout above, kicking water toward anyone she passed as her head was thrown back with pure delight. Others were all grouped up, dancing with one another inside the fountain. The scene was pure delight, a private celebration away from the formalities of the ball.

    His gaze settled on a young man, beautiful beyond words, dancing with a grace that captivated him, who danced lightly and spun around a young girl with identical looks in an attempt to trot with clothes damp and weighted down. The young man moved effortlessly, his laughter filling the air. His soft, powdered peony-pink hair glistened from the water spray, and his eyes were like a bouquet of lilacs and strawberries decorated with pearls. His lilac silk shirt clung to his chest, left partially transparent, yet his deep purple lace cape flowed as if untouched by the elemental restrictions.

    Drawn in by this magnificent sight, the man unknowingly continued to walk forward as he marvelled in awe. The young man dancing was mid-spin when he noticed the stranger approaching with a gentle smile, enjoying the fest of fun before him. So the young man smiled brightly back and held out his hand.

    "Care for a dance?" His voice rang like a clear bell toward the spectator. As if bewitched, he didn''t think twice as he removed his shoes, clutched onto the young man''s hand, and stepped into the fountain to join the festivities. His hand immediately circled the tiny waist of this beautiful creature before him, and together, they moved in unison. Water splashed around them as they twirled, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

    An ecstatic chortle escaped the fairy man''s lips, and the stranger let out a chuckle himself as he lifted the young man into the air on their next spin. A few objects on the side of the fountain they spun past caught his eye, and he looked down only to see an extensive collection of opened bottles of wine. The young man also looked over with a smile and guided the man over to a seat on the edge.

    "Let''s have a break and enjoy a few drinks," he joked as he handed a bottle to the handsome spectre. As he took a large sip from the champagne bottle in his hand, a few drops missed his lips and dribbled down. The other man reflectively reached out and wiped it with his thumb as if memorized, then licked his thumb clean. The younger one cleared his throat shyly as he opened his mouth. "Call me Kai."

    "I''m Enchanted to meet you, Kaisan. Call me Rhae," the handsome spectator replied. His rich black-grown hair looked warmer in the sun''s last light setting behind the hedges, and his teal eyes were illuminated by the light reflecting off the water.

    "My sisters and cousins. We get so tired of the ball, and it''s not fun for the young ones. Plus, with how warm it gets in the ballroom, it''s nice to cool off here out of sight but still close enough to hear the music playing over the garden." Kasan smiled a broad and toothy grin, then looked back at the chaos still taking place in the fountain. Rhae placed back towards the ball and nodded in understanding. He looked back at Kaisan and just watched Kaisan''s facial expressions as he watched his family have their own private ball, leaving him with an insatiable feeling.

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    "Would you like to explore the maze with me?" Rhae asked as he took a dip from a red wine bottle, staring intently into Kaisan''s eyes with his hooded. Kaisan''s eyes darted to Rhae''s and stared back with the same intensity before smirking. He grabbed a fresh bottle of champagne, stood up and held out his hand. Rhae smiled so widely that dimples appeared and entwined his hand into Kaisan''s. They both darted off into the darkness of the maze together before the others noticed. As they rounded a corner, Rhae pulled Kaisan up against him, and they both had a slight fit of giggles.

    After a moment, they both stopped and breathlessly stared at each other. Rhae leaned forward and rested his forehead on Kai''s. Kai shyly looked away and shook his head.

    "Not here; too open," he whispered as he glanced at Rhae''s lips. Rhae nodded and impatiently looked around.

    "Let''s walk around a bit more then since the night is still young," Rhae whispered in response. Kai gave a toothy grin and pulled at Rhae''s elbow, leading him through the maze.

    "Let''s get closer to the music!" Kaisan gave a bit of a skip and continued to pull Rhae behind him in a hurry. "I want to dance some more!" Rhae watched him from behind, not minding being pulled into the unknown as the hedges towered above them both as they drew closer to the sound of the band playing like a siren call. The elongated shadows and lights of the dancing figures inside the ballroom were cast over the maze as far-off conversations buzzed through the open terrace windows.

    Rhae would let his little fairy take him into the abyss with how enchanted he was, his heart pounding in utter excitement at their secret adventure as they laughed with every stumble from the impatience. The air was heavy with humidity, and the last warmth slipped into the night; their laughter hung around them, creating a magical essence. Both their eyes lit up with glee. They finally found an open enough space, and Rhae immediately took the lead - pulling Kaisan into a tight embrace as they started their waltz in perfect harmony as if they''d been dancing together their entire lifetime.

    The music was carried over their surroundings, washing over them like a tidal wave as if they were back at the fountain. The moment was only them, no past or future, no responsibilities - only the intoxication they feel from each other - two souls absorbed in the magic of their meeting. As they started to tire from their dance, they paused to enjoy the quiet beauty of their moment alone once more. Their thumping hearts beat in unison, warmth transferred between the two, their mingled scents lingering as a silent promise of a long adventure to come.

    Rhae gave a soft smile and gently brushed a hair behind Kaisan''s ear, his tender touch lingering on his skin. He slid his hand to Kaisan''s shoulder and down his arm until he reached his hand and entwined their fingers. A soft blush spread across Kaisan''s cheeks, his gaze shyly meeting Rhae''s. Their eyes, deeply looking at each other, drew closer as their lips crashed together, and they knew this was only the beginning of their journey with one another.

    "Tell me everything about yourself," Rhae whispered into Kaisan''s stained red ears. He shivered in response and picked up the champagne bottle he had previously put down before the dance.

    "Well, there''s a lot I can''t tell you yet, but I''ll share what I can." He threw over his shoulder as he sat down against the hedge, looking up at the tips of the ballroom window that he could see from over the bushes.

    "That''ll do for now." Rhae smiled in response, smiling and sitting beside him, placing his hand on Kaisan''s. As they took turns sipping from the bottle, they shared stories and dreams, weaving together a moment like a tapestry they felt would depict them forever as everything around them seemed to fade into a hazy blur. As they leaned against each other, they shared a more gentle kiss. Kaisan''s hands rested on Rhae''s chest while Rhae held Kaisan''s face firmly, his fingers stroking it. Kaisan let out a shaky breath.

    "Shall we head inside?" He whispered as he shyly nudged his head into the crook of Rhae''s neck, his breath creating goosebumps along Rhae''s collarbone. Both their heartbeats sped up, air caught in their lungs. Rhae looked down at him through the corner of his eyes, bit his lip and nodded. He swiftly stood up and pulled Kaisan up along with him. He once again took the lead and, with a quick pace, led them out of the maze and towards the guest palace where the nobles stayed during the week-long celebration.

 Chapter 02: The Second Day

    The morning dawned when Rhae heard a light knock on the door from where he stood on the patio. He walked to the door and found a servant standing before him.

    "Good morning, my lord. Would you like to dine in or eat in the banquet hall?" They asked calmly.

    "Dine in. Meal for two, please." Rhae responded politely.

    "Of course, my lord." the servant nodded and signaled to another servant who left to retrieve the meal. "Would you like some tea while you wait?"

    "Yes." Rhae nodded as he stepped aside to let them in the room. "My partner is currently still asleep, so please keep it down. Let us set it up on the balcony."

    The servant nodded, quietly bringing a tea cart into the room, and pushed it to where the breeze slipped through the opened patio doors. As the main servant set the table, Rhae slipped into the bed to check on his sleeping companion. He pulled the bed curtains shut behind him and sat on the edge, admiring the view. Kaisan lay on his stomach, arms above his head on the pillow, and the blanket resting barely above his tailbone. Rhae leaned forward and kissed along his shoulders, up his neck and gently kissed the visible cheek. Only then did Kaisan stir.

    "Breakfast is being prepared. Rest for a few minutes more." Rhae told him as he rubbed Kaisan''s lower back, aware of the soreness from the previous night''s adventure. Kaisan grumbled in response, eliciting a chuckle from Rhae. "I''ll ask them for some warm compress to alleviate your soreness."

    "As you should¡­" Kaisan replied, still half asleep, rolling onto his side and wrapping his arms around Rhae''s waist. He dug his face into Rhae''s side to block out all the light as Rhae continued to rub his back. "Wake me when they finish preparing¡­"

    "I will." Rhae kissed Kaisan''s hand and got up, placing a fresh robe beside his sleeping form. He pushed off the bed and moved to the newly set table to start on the tea the servant had just started serving. "Thank you."

    The servant nodded and headed towards the door, assuming he would fetch the meals. Moments later, he returned with a fresh cart containing an assorted menu of a breakfast spread. While placing each item on the table, the soft clicking of each plate was enough to rouse Kaisan fully from sleep. His outline as he sat up and slid on the robe through the semi-sheer bed curtains was an arousing sight for Rhae over his steaming teacup.

    Kaisan tiredly dragged his feet over the patio table and sat across from Rhae - paying zero attention to the servant at hand. Once the servant bowed and left the room in silence, Kaisan shuffled his chair closer to Rhae and rested his feet upon the handsome man''s lap as he stared out over the railing to the expansive garden below while he nibbled away. Rhae''s eyes never left his face, and he smiled at Kaisan''s cute antics.

    "Do you have any plans for today?" Rhae asked, placing his teacup down. His hands moved to his lap to stroke Kaisan''s ankles. He nodded softly in response.

    "Yes. I must head back to my room to change, then check in on my family and join them for lunch." Kaisan said firmly, looking slightly frustrated at the events he must attend. He tilted his head for a moment before meeting Rhae''s eyes. "But if you''re free after lunch, we can spend the rest of the day together¡­"

    "Just the day?" Rhae smirked, prodding. Kaisan followed up with his own smirk and shrugged as he reached for more tapas. Rhae chuckled as he leaned forward and kissed his cheek. His arm wrapped around his shoulder, and they continued their quiet breakfast, listening to the chirping of birds and the buzz of cicadas from the garden below.

    "A few open cricket games are set up for this afternoon, as well as Shrobetide Football. Then there''ll be a lake-side concert with refreshments. In the evening, the first outdoor ball will be held in the gardens after an intermission for setup. Do any of those interest you?" Kaisan asked offhandedly.

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    "All of them. We''ll spend the remainder of our time together to make up for you leaving me so soon after a fiery night together." Rhae shot back, half teasing and half serious, squeezing Kaisan''s shoulder. Kaisan''s eyes darted up momentarily to confirm Rhae''s statement''s seriousness, and then he nodded in agreement.

    "Let''s go with that as our plan for the day. I may be a bit moody after dealing with my family for a short while, but with how enjoyable time has been with you so far, I should get over it pretty quickly." Kaisan mentioned as he leaned forward for some cheese and grapes. His pink hair was still tousled from the nightly roll, appearing curly as the cool morning breeze glazed over the terrace. His eyes looked like watercolour paints of a hazy pink and a deep purple, not entirely blending yet catching every light reflected in them like an array of gems.

    Those same curious eyes kept stealing glances at the man who held him tight. In the darkness of the fading light, the handsome stranger looked like a novel villain in all black from head to toe. But in the morning sun, that same hair that he assumed was as black as his shadow - gave a soft, warm chocolate glint. The dark eyes that stared at him were a deep teal, like a sea ready to swallow you up.

    He shivered as he recalled how those same eyes pierced into him throughout the night. He cleared his throat as he swallowed a chunk of bread before leaning up and kissing the corner of Rhae''s mouth as he stood up from his head.

    "I must head back to change before meeting with my family." Kaisan threw over his shoulder as he shyly hurried back into the room in search of his scattered clothes. Rhae chucked at how adorable his fairy-like lover looked as he attempted to escape his grasp.

    "One of these mornings, I hope you''ll be able to stay with me instead of running away." His teal eyes crinkled with a slight smile as he drank his tea. Kaisan threw a look at Rhae over his shoulder. He could only see his silhouette through the blinding light through the patio door. He gave a big toothy grin and shook his hair at the incoming breeze.

    "It depends if you make it worth it." He joked as he dropped the robe to the floor and slipped on his scattered clothes. As he headed toward the bedroom doors, he stopped and turned back for a moment - making sure to meet Rhae''s eyes before blowing a kiss. "Prepare a bet whether you win or lose for our cricket game."

    Rhae chuckled as the door banged shut, never looking away from Kaisan''s retreating form. He finished his meal before preparing for a day of outdoor activities.

    <hr>

    Rhae''s neck-length hair tickled his sweaty skin as he made his way towards the field in a simple linen shirt and suspenders, light and secure enough for sports play. A small smile played on his thick lips as he imagined his fairy lightly dancing around people while trying to avoid being tackled. So, the scene before him when he arrived at the field was far from what he had expected.

    Kaisan was already on the field but not lightly dodging like a gazel, as Rhae assumed. His hair was slicked back, covered in sweat. He wore a simple light vest, so his shoulders were exposed. And he had an intense frown as he held the ball and plowed through the oncoming opponents. His shoulder checks into the opposite team were hard enough to send even bigger layers off their feet and onto their backs. He made it over the end goal line, dropped to his knees and screamed in victory.

    Rhae stuttered a laugh in surprise, pausing before he made his way towards Kaisan. This daytime version of his enchanting lover was a lot more manly than his appearance gave off. His hand rubbed the back of his neck out of nervousness when he appeared in front of Kaisan, who pushed himself back into a standing position and met Rhae''s gaze with a proud smirk.

    "Can you keep going, or are you already to warn out from playing before I arrive?" Rhae poked fun at him. Kaisan scoffed and wiped the sweat off his forehead into his hair before quickly shaking his head - droplets scattering around him.

    "I can go all day. I wouldn''t have started early otherwise. Come, let us grab you a team flag." Kaisan came forward and tugged Rhae''s elbow. When they approached the referee, Kaisan talked to him quickly and then handed Rhae a flag a different colour than his own.

    "Did you throw me on the opposite team?" He responded, surprised. "Here I was, hoping to build some teamwork between us."

    "Screw teamwork. I will win against you and take you down to the ground. It''s about building tension." Kaisan shot back as a challenge. "Or, can you not handle that?"

    "Bring it on. We''ll see who''s on top in the end." Rhae towered over Kaisan, creating a shadow on his face and making his smile look more menacing. His hand darted out and stroked the back of Kaisan''s neck, flicking the beads of sweat from the edges of his pink hair. He winked at the shorter male and returned to tie the flag to his waist. Kaisan let go of the breath he unknowingly had been holding in.

 Chapter 03: The Second Night

    Rhae moved to his side of the field, where his team huddled up for a new plan. He had a basic grasp of Shrobetide but had only played it in small groups with his brother and some employees. Cracking his fingers, he joined the huddle with a nod to the others.

    The game had ended in failure for Rahe''s team. Kaisan was a force to be reckoned with, carrying his teammates to victory through a brutal approach. Rhae felt a tinge of fear if he were ever to anger this enchanting human but filed that emotion away deep inside of him. Kaisan approached him, drenched in sweat, wearing a smug expression.

    "I won the bet."

    "You did. Quiet aggressively, at that." Rhae chuckled as he reached out and tousled Kaisan''s sweaty hair to pull his bangs off his forehead. His hand brushed down and stroked his cheek to wipe off a stray smudge of dirt. Kaisan''s eyes narrowed as he met Rhae''s gaze, unblinking as he nibbled on his bottom lip. Rhae''s thumb rubbed against Kaisan''s lip before he leaned in and whispered in his ear through Kaisan''s pink hair. "I guess you''re on top then."

    "Hey!" Kaisan whispered angrily, pushing Rhae''s chest as his ears turned red. Rhae laughed heartily, stepping back to give them both space.

    "My dear enchanting lover, you said you wanted tension." Rhae joked as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Kaisan cleared his throat and turned away.

    "Shall we take a tea break in the garden before we move on to cricket?" Kaisan threw over his shoulder as he walked towards a servant who held some towels on the sidelines. He picked two up and patted his sweaty face with one while offering the other to Rhae, who followed behind him. "The live orchestra is playing right now."

    "Let''s do that. I''m not as young as you." Rhae teased while drying his neck.

    "How old are you?" Kaisan asked, looking at him a scrutinizing look as they walked towards the small lake where refreshments awaited.

    "Twenty and eight." Rhae shook his head to get the extra sweat out of his hair.

    "Damn. An old man took me home." Kaisan snickered, clutching his stomach as he sat at an open tea table. Rhae rolled his eyes.

    "How young is this child before me to call me an old man?" Rhae smirked, sitting across from Kaisan and looking at the stunning water view.

    "Twenty and one." Kaisan winked over the teacup the servant poured for him.

    "A child, indeed," Rhae''s smile widened, taking a leisurely sip and looking towards the band onstage. Kaisan peeked at Rhae''s lips, noticing that whenever Rhae smirked, only the corner of the left side of his mouth would lift, and a small dimple would quickly appear. The light reflecting off the lake into Rhae''s teal eyes illuminated them. Kaisan licked his lips, feeling thirsty.

    With a piano accompaniment, the string band played the latest popular melodies that all nobles rushed to teach their children. The servants came out in unison to deliver timed snacks to the occupied tables. Both occupants at the table quietly enjoyed their tea while listening to the background music, relishing the quality time together. After feeling rested, they left the stage and returned to the fields to play cricket.

    "How about a more specific bet this time?" Kaisan asked as they passed the groups still playing Shrobetide. Rhae brought his long fingers to his chin as he pondered.

    "Hmm¡­ as the previous loser, I don''t think I have much of a choice in the decision process."

    "Glad you understand."

    "Do you have something in mind?"

    "Absolutely."

    "Pray, tell."

    "I was not sober last night, obviously. When I win at cricket, I will be the one to top tonight."

    "Hahaha, is that so?" Rhae''s eyes squinted into half moons as he laughed, dimples on both cheeks appearing. The genuine laugh was such a breathtaking sight to Kaisan that his ears tinged red again, and he whipped his head forward, not wanting to be caught staring. "You''re so confident that you''ll win¡­ but there is no tackling in cricket."

    "I know that!"

    "Haha, sure."

    As they both approached the furthest sports field, Kaisan, again, separated them into opposite teams. Even though he was confident in his team pick, he wasn''t prepared for Rhae''s skill. Rhae was an excellent swordsman, meaning he could aim a stick perfectly to hit any target. Kaisan, on the other hand, did not have the same amount of experience or time spent in training. And though he was a fast runner and could make long-dive jumps, that wasn''t enough for his team to win the event. Frustration took over for Kaisan as he whipped his towel to the ground.

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    "The young one is quite a sore loser, it seems." Rhae joked as he jogged up beside him.

    "Whatever," Kaisan replied, lightly kicking the dirt towards him. Rhae chuckled and leaned down to whisper in his ears.

    "I guess I still get to top tonight." He blew out against Kaisan''s neck. The shorter male shivered in response, hand flying up to cover his neck as goosebumps formed.

    "Stop that! We''re outside, and people can see us." Kaisan hissed at Rhae. Rhae patted his back.

    "Round two?" He pointed behind him at the teams setting up for another game.

    "You''re pitching first, you cheater." He sternly shot out, ignoring Rhae as he returned to his team.

    "Kaisan, you wound me. It''s not cheating being good at batting just because I''m talented with swords. What a horrible and cheap comparison." Rahe suppressed a smile as he followed behind.

    "Should I just assign you as the umpire?" Kaisan clicked his tongue as he cracked his neck, frustrated at the thought of losing again.

    "No cheap tricks, my dear. Cricket has actual rules, unlike Shrobetide." Rhae gave Kaisans shoulder a quick squeeze. Kaisan spat in response.

    "Pretty sure I can change the rules if I wanted to."

    "... Even if you could, I''m sure the other nobles present would riot at the unfairness."

    "Let''s get this over with then if we still want time to prepare for the dance tonight." Kaisan ignored Rhae as he walked back over to his team. Rhae suppressed a smile as he joined his team strategy meeting. After a few moments from both team discussions, Rhae approached the pitcher''s mound - making eye contact with Kaisan, who waited for him at the batter''s mound.

    "If he wanted to top me so badly, I would have said yes," Rhae mumbled with a small smile as he wound up. "Can''t say no to someone as pretty as him."

    That game ended like the first, causing Kaisan to huff and puff as he stomped to Rhae once the match concluded. Rhae reached out, grabbed Kaisan''s hand and dragged him quickly to the hedge maze that lined the fields. After several turns and many grumbles from the grumpy fairy he was dragging, Rhae finally pulled him into his arms and kissed him deeply.

    "Really? You were that impatient?" Kaisan gasped, escaping his lips far enough to say a few words, still breathless from the kiss.

    "You''re the one that focused on building the tension to such an explosive degree. How do you expect me to keep it in until tonight?" He replied, nuzzling against Kaisan''s neck, groaning. "Once we start dancing, I''m pretty sure parts of me will explode from waiting too long."

    "I get it, I get it. But the day isn''t over yet, Rhae!" Kaisan pounded his fist against Rhae''s pecs in protest. "We are still outside and should be heading inside to get ready for the garden ball soon. It''ll be getting dark shortly."

    "Fine," Rhae grunted, covering Kaisan''s face in a few more fluttering kisses. "Whatever happened to my enchanting lover? You pulled me into the bushes?"

    "He was highly inebriated." Kaisan looked away, embarrassed.

    "Does that mean you regret it?" Rhae asked, looking up at Kaisan as he cuddled his chest in an attempt at puppy eyes.

    "Obviously not, or I wouldn''t have spent today with you. Now, stand up. It''s unnerving someone taller than me is trying to play the small and innocent card." Kaisan grunted in response. Rhae laughed and gave one last gentle kiss on the lips.

    "Then let us part until tonight." He said softly before kissing Kaisan''s hand and walking away. Kaisan watched until he was out of sight before his legs gave way out of nervousness and anticipation. He cursed himself because he knew he would have given in if Rhae stayed longer. With a shaky sigh, he stood up and returned to his room.

    <hr>

    Rhae followed the sound of music and laughter as he exited the detached palace and down the candle-lit path toward the royal guest gardens. He cleared his throat as he approached the busy crowd lining the outer sides of the designated dance area. It was a humid evening, so his wardrobe was limited for the hot summer outdoor weather.

    He dawned a pearl-white silk blouse, the sides embroidered in silver threads with vines and bellflowers. His grey tweed dress pants may have been a bit heavy for the evening, but more of a precautionary move to avoid any visible accidents. His eyes scanned the crowd for his dancing fairy, which he had a feeling would always arrive before himself. And he was correct in his assumption.

    Kaisan was at the far end of the dance grounds, dancing again in a group line with his cousins and sisters. Rhae smiled at how lovely it was to see how close their family was. He wore yet another cape, which was white sheer with embroidery that looked like feathers. His shirt was light cotton and plunging white; sliver claps held the cape to his collar, matching the front and sleeve buttons. The pants were just plain white linen, double-lined as if prepared for the sweaty event. Rhae watched as Kaisan spun around with that same alluring smile from the previous night.

    ''Ah, he must be drunk again.'' Rhae chuckled as he made his way to the family dance line. He paused to the side to be spotted by Kaisan on his next turn and gave his little fae-looking lover the most charming smile he had ever made. Kaisan''s eyes sparkled as he bounced forward into Rhae''s arms.

    "Took you long enough!" He giggled into Rhae''s chest, looking up and giving the same puppy eyes that Rhae had attempted earlier. He had to look away, his neck muscles straining to hold himself back - it was just too enchanting.

    "Then dance with me." Rhae finally looked down and bopped Kaisan''s nose to tease him.

    "Join us first!" He squinted back at the tall man before running his hands down Rhae''s arms to his hands and tugging him into the group dance. Rhae could only obliged with the honour given to him. The young family accepted him warmly, and a few smaller ones latched on so Rhae would spin the children or throw up in the air. It was such a comfortable feeling, even though they were all strangers.

    "My turn!" Kaisan laughed loudly as he finally made it through the line of family to Rhae. Rhae smiled, wrapped his arms around Kaisan''s waist and spun him away from the group. Kaisan rested his arms around Rhae''s shoulders and threw his head back as he swung them around the dance floor. Kaisan''s cape fluttered and swept the floor around them as they matched steps.

    "I''ve decided that you must be the fairy prince of a kingdom of flowers." Rhae joked. "Every smile you make for every spin is like a flower blooming."

    "Stop that." Kaisan gave a booming laugh. He jumped up and wrapped his legs around Rhae''s waist so Rhae spun faster. They stopped with the music as Kaisan loosened his legs to get down, but Rhae continued to him from his thighs, staring up at those glittering jewels. Kaisan looked down while panting and flashed a blinding smile. Rhae finally lowered him, and silently stared at each other before running off the floor, holding hands while laughing as they headed back to the detached palace.

 Chapter 04: The Third Day - Part 1

    The dawn arrived earlier than the day before, casting a faint chill through the room as the sun struggled to warm the stone walls. Rhae stirred from his slumber, his gaze falling on Kaisan nestled against him, the more petite man''s arms wrapped around him snugly. He sighed, satisfied at the lovely sight he woke up to and continued to watch Kaisan sleep.

    Kaisan, half-awake, groaned and frowned, then squirmed. In a half-asleep haze, he pushed away the morning arousal that was rudely rubbing against him, disrupting his peaceful morning. He sighed in exasperation, torn between the warmth of the blanket and the need to escape from this early morning disturbance.

    "Stop, put that monstrous thing away¡­" Kaisan mumbled irritably against Rhae''s chest. Rhae chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest, causing Kaisan''s head to bounce lightly. Kaisan''s hand flew up and smacked an exposed pec in frustration.

    "Alright, alright," Rhae grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he looked down into his arms at the exhausted young man. Even with his deep, sleepy frown and eyes squeezed shut to hide from the light, he still looks like an oil painting - a masterpiece. He kissed the fluffy tousled bed-head and carefully adjusted his pelvis to alleviate the discomfort. He glanced around the room awkwardly as he tried to find things to focus on in an attempt to calm his mind.

    "We''re not doing it first thing in the morning. There''s swimming today, and I don''t want a leg cramp to drown me due to fatigued muscles." He groggily continued, ramping on about his morning anxiety. Rhae suppressed a laugh, not wanting to be smacked again.

    "What else is on the agenda today?" Rhae murmured softly, playing with the messy pink mop on top of Kaisan. Kaisan peeled his face away from Rhae''s chest and squinted at him.

    "Water sports, boat rides, um¡­ waterside picnics. Then, they''ll pull out the lake yacht tonight and set off fireworks. More of a cocktail party than a ball or anything¡­"

    "Are we going to have another active day?" Rhae laughed, recalling how tired Kaisan had been the day before.

    "Absolutely not! It''s a good day to relax. Let''s do a leisurely boat ride through the canals branching from the lake. Then, a nice, cozy, lazy picnic that must include a nap on a full stomach. That''s the kind of day I''m looking forward to."

    "Does that include another mandatory visit to a family meeting?"

    "No formal meeting and meal today, but more of a check-in after I get changed. But my cousins invited me to lunch. You''re welcome to join us for that. It''ll be in the main guest banquet hall." In return, Kaisan snuck his tired hand up to the back of Rhae''s neck to play with his short hair.

    "Oh? I can join you today? That sounds delightful. Your family seemed lively and harmonious when you all played together each time." Rhae thought to himself, remembering the two previous interactions. Kaisan fell silent for a moment.

    "I get along well with my mother''s family. But my direct family, especially my siblings¡­" He stared off into space before sitting up in frustration. "Let''s not talk about them. We don''t get along. You can''t choose your family, but if I could, it would be my maternal grandfather and aunt."

    "What matters is that you are not alone and have family to reach out to," Rhae softly said as he leaned forward and rubbed Kaisan''s back. Then, bent his head down, he gave gentle kisses along the back of Kaisan''s neck and shoulders in a show of comfort. Kaisan looped his arm back around Rhae, looked up, and kissed his cheek with a meek smile.

    "Let''s keep breakfast light today. My family are big eaters, so you will definitely feel the urge to keep up with them." Kaisan shyly laughed. Rhae nodded as he exited the bed to pull on the call rope to summon the servants. While waiting for them to respond, both Kaisan and Rhae slipped on their robes and moved to the table beside the large framed window overlooking the garden path. A moment later, a knock sounded on the sturdy wooden door.

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    "Enter," Rhae called out from the table. Two servants, the same two as the previous day, entered and bowed respectfully.

    "What may we do for you this morning, my lords?" The head servant inquired calmly.

    "We''ll have a light breakfast today, please. And since it''s early, coffee instead of tea would be perfect." Rhae requested, throwing a look at Kaisan, who nodded in agreement.

    "We also have some freshly made fruit juice. Shall I bring that as well?" the servant asked, catching Kaisan''s interest.

    "Yes," Kaisan replied eagerly. The head servant nodded, turned to give his junior a look, who bowed and left for the food. The head servant rolled the beverage cart from the hallway and started brewing the coffee.

    Once served, the servants tidied the room, opening windows for fresh air and drawing curtains. First, he opened the patio window to bring in fresh air. Then he gathered scattered clothes and neatly placed them on a nearby chair. Finally, he moved to the bed to strip off the old sheets. He returned to the hall, where a laundry cart must have been, and returned to refresh the bed with clean sheets.

    "Excuse me, my lords. Would you like the clothes sent for cleaning or just pressed?" the head servant inquired.

    "The larger set can be taken for cleaning. The smaller set can just be pressed." Rhae replied, turning his head in the employee''s direction. The head servant nodded and opened a small servant''s closet behind the door, bringing out an ironing board and iron. He moved his way to the fireplace and started a small number of logs, placing the iron on a rod overtop to heat up.

    "My personal attendant won''t raise hell with me today for returning in messy, wrinkled clothes," Kaisan joked to the older man. "Thank you."

    "My pleasure, my lord. I would have done so yesterday as well. It was my mistake not to ask sooner." He replied.

    "No, no, I left in a hurry for a meeting. It''s on me." Kaisan waved away the servant''s concerns. The older man smiled gently.

    "Thank you for saying that, my lord." He responded, standing up after picking up the hot iron with a padded glove and moving to the ironing board. The other servant knocked and re-entered a moment later, pushing a cart with a few selected plates. He placed a plate in front of each and lifted the lid off the tray. It was a standard continental breakfast with some fresh croissants, butter, jam, a few slices of different types of cheese, a small pile of fruit, and two slices of hot sliced morning sausage.

    The servants efficiently carried out their tasks while Rhae enjoyed his breakfast with measured calm, observing Kaisan''s enthusiastic consumption of croissants and cheese. While Rhae ate each bit separately and calmly, Kaisan immediately went to the sliced-open croissant to build a sandwich. Rhae watched, bemused by how the young noble ate with gusto. It most definitely matched his fiery and straightforward daytime personality.

    "If we are not joining them until lunchtime, you can take your time eating," Rhae teased gently.

    "I still must make haste. Father demands morning check-ins, and I also must be impeccable." Kaisan replied between bites, his mouth full. Rhae gave a subtle frown, remembering the speedy meal but lack of substance he had the day before - as well as the amount of alcohol he had - and resolved to monitor his intake.

    "Are you feeling any lingering effects from last night? Feeling nauseous?" Rhae pressed gently. Kaisan waved him off, trying to dismiss the concern. Deciding not to push further, Rhae let the matter drop. "Then at least have some of the fruit before you leave for your assembly."

    "Yes, yes. Nag away," Kaisan chuckled as he stood up, popping a few grapes in his mouth. "You''re like an old man sometimes."

    "Why you-" Rhae started to swat playfully but missed as Kaisan dogged out of the way with a mischievous grin. He walked over to retrieve his clothes from the servant who had just finished ironing. The servant smiled, bowed, packed up the items and retreated from the room so they could change privately.

    "In front of my cousins and in private, you can just call me Kai," Kaisan called over his shoulder as he slipped on his clothes. He walked over to Rhae to request help with buttons. "But if there is any official gathering or assembly, ''Lord Kaisan'' is probably the best title to go by."

    "Understood," Rhae nodded while a soft smile played on his face. "Than ''Lord Rhaegal'' for me. You''re the only one who calls me Rhae. My mother calls me Gale, or her little nightingale."

    Kaisan looked up at Rhae''s shadowed face, looking down at him as the taller male buttoned his sleeves for him. He closed his eyes with his own smile and nodded lightly.

    "What a charming nickname. I will see you in the dining hall for lunch then, oh lovely blackbird." Kaisan joked as he placed his hand on Rhae''s cheek, pulled him down and kissed him gently. As Kaisan pulled away, Rhae pulled him back and kissed his forehead.

    "Until later, my lovely little fairy," Rhae whispered to him. Kaisan made a gruff sound as he pushed away and left the room, his ears bright red.

 Chapter 05: The Third Day - Part 2

    Upon entering the dining room door, Rhae adjusted his collar and cuffs, scanning for the familiar burst of pink that usually preceded him. It wasn''t that difficult, and their bubbly voices carried easily across the hall from where they all gathered around at the family-style dining table in front of the wall of windows and open double patio doors to the main garden entrance.

    A long, firm and slender arm shot out from the group and waved him over. Rhae chuckled as he moved across the room and sat next to Kaisan, a young boy moving over to make room. Rhae gave him a pat on the head before looking over at Kaisan. Kai glanced at him and gave his signature boyish, toothy grin - causing Rhae to catch his breath momentarily. There were no fairy circles of flowers here to take his breath from him, but many soft pink roses and peonies surrounded him, so it was of no surprise.

    "Did I steal your breath again?" Kai teased softly as he tapped his shoulder with his chin, looking Rhae straight in the teal eyes that caught the morning sun streaming through the window.

    "So you knew?" Rhae smirked, his elbow bumping Kai''s. They laughed together.

    "Let''s eat now. Your man is here!" An older female cousin yelled across the table. A few servants came forward, hearing the grumbles of the hungry table and brought many platters for the family luncheon buffet. The group was so warm and welcoming to Rhae that he did not feel out of place. The meal was pleasant, filled with many rowdy children who laughed as they reached over the table. Rhae felt at peace with the strangers around him.

    "Kai, you mentioned water events today, correct?" Rhae turned to ask him over his teacup, letting his full belly rest. Kaisan nodded as he reached for some grapes, popping a few in his mouth. Rhae couldn''t help but stare as the juice that popped from the grapes dripped down Kaisan''s chin, and his small tongue darted out to catch what escaped.

    Rhae coughed, tearing his gaze away, forcing himself to take in more innocent sights since they weren''t alone. He caught the eye of the eldest female cousin. She smirked and gave him a thumbs-up. He choked and went back to his tea.

    "Some casual ones. Leisure swimming, racing, boat ride through the canal, and rowing¡­ um, there is a water-based archery tournament and even water jousting for the more rowdy crowd. We''re too late for the fishing tournament that happened early this morning, but that is more for the oldies."

    "And you''re opting for the leisurely route today?" Rhae asked rhetorically, stifling a laugh.

    "This is the only time I don''t have to do daily swordsmanship training from dawn to dusk. I want to savour my only downtime until the following year." Kaisan quipped back, a playful glint in his eyes." Plus, odds are it will rain later this week - so I want to enjoy lazy time outside before that."

    "I was most definitely not complaining." Rhae smiled and patted Kaisan''s head. Kai shot him a quick look filled with daggers but didn''t push him away. He did give Rhae a playfully light smack on his thighs but gently rested his hand there as if to pat it better. Rhae dropped his hand to the small of Kaisan''s back, leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Though I prefer to be lazy in bed with you all day instead."

    Kaisan''s hand flew to cover his ear with such speed and aggression that he knocked over his teacup. He whipped his head to give Rhae an appalled look, mumbling his frustrations.

    "People are watching!" Kai whispered through gritted teeth, his eyes slitting as he stared him down. Rhae threw his hands up in the air in defeat.

    "I haven''t done a thing." He smiled as innocently as he could. He tilted his head and widened his eyes, giving the impression of a black wolf feigning innocence for human threats. Kaisan pursed his lips, trying to maintain a stern expression, but his flushed neck gave him away.

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    "Finish up. We''re heading to the lake in a moment."

    Walking with the family group to the lakeside was a bit more exhausting than Rhae expected. They were a lively, talkative bunch. Rhae''s own family was small, with no external relatives, so he was not used to such interactions.

    The closest were the morning meetings with vessels and branch family; nothing could beat the exhaustion they left upon him. His well-being always felt drained and destroyed after each interaction. With this group, this was more just physical exhaustion from so many young people with abundant energy.

    The young ones all grabbed different points of his arms they could reach and hurriedly pulled him to a spot already made up with servants for their picnic beside the lake, a pre-designated spot for the family. It was quite an extravagant setup, with thick picnic blankets layered and evenly placed.

    A few tea tables spotted the blankets, and assorted piles of pillows were placed for those who wished to lie down at any point. It was most definitely an excessive setup that had Rhae mentally questioning for a moment what type of influential family they were from.

    Rhae shook those thoughts away before the distraction could land him in the water. Like most of the shoreline, the end of the lake they were beside was a man-made stone wall¡ªbuilt to deal with excessive rain and discourage the bank side from collapsing. Small wooden docks adorned the wall; all were well-spaced for boarding from multiple locations.

    It was a beautifully crafted man-made lake, with an island in the middle sporting a marble gazebo and a long, masterly crafted stone bridge from the closest shore. The lake seemed so private because of the well-placed trees of many types¡ªthe largest of the population being willows that hung over the shore and dripped into the water.

    "You mentioned canals earlier, but I don''t see any," Rhae remarked to Kaisan as he sat at one of the tea tables. Rhae walked over to join him.

    "Yes, it''s hard to see it from the shoreline, but it is quite noticeable from the island or any water vessel. The willows do a great job of hiding it. They go around the guest palace and through the gardens, even in the maze. Since hedges and flower bushes hide the canal, you don''t notice it when walking around. Plus, it provides aggregation to the garden, which is quite large and hard to manage with few gardeners."

    "That seems quite complicated¡­" Rhae commented, trying to picture how the canal was laid out.

    "That may be, but it''s beautiful and a leisurely private escape from so many watchful eyes from servants and more."

    "It seems overly intimate and romantic." Rhae gave a knowing smile, winking at Kaisan.

    "Because it was made to be that way by three kings back, for his lover."

    "Lover? Not concubine or mistress?"

    "No, lover. Because the one he loved was a man and could not title as a consort since men can''t give birth." Kaisan stared off at the water''s surface, seemingly lost in thought. Rhae tapped his shoe against Kai''s to bring back his focus. Kaisan gave an awkward smile as an apology.

    "You''re pretty knowledgeable about the imperial history," Rhae commented. Kaisan''s body gave a slight jolt before nodding with a knowing look.

    "Standard education for those in the capital - especially those who want to elevate their less useful children to a higher standing." Kaisan shared, shrugging one shoulder as he rested his head on his hand with the elbow sliding to the table''s edge.

    "Ah, the snide ways of the capital nobles." Rhae gave a soft roll of his eyes.

    "I would be remiss if I claimed otherwise." Kai sighed heavily. He looked back at the water and sat up straight. "After our short respite, did you want to compete in any of the water sports or a leisure boat ride through the canal?"

    "Hmm¡­ I wish to try out the water archery contest," Rhae pondered momentarily. "If the prize is above expectations, then I shall reward it to you."

    Kaisan laughed in surprise, a spark of delight sprinkled in his kunzite eyes. Rhae took deep, shaky breaths to calm his desire. That was a look in Kai''s eyes that he''d only witnessed during their nightly activities so far.

    "Let me register for the event, and you arrange for our lovely trip through the canal afterwards, hmm?" Rhae said as he got up and quickly pecked Kaisan''s hand. In the light of the afternoon sun, even his hands turned red¡ªsomething he couldn''t witness in the dark of the bedroom.

    As Rhae got up from his seat, the family erupted in cheers for him, leaving him blushing in embarrassment. This was the first time he had felt this way with this lively group, and he found himself embracing it. With a bashful wave, he made his way to the arranged docks for the event with the help of the closest servant.

 Chapter 06: The Third Night

    Water archery was a simplistic twist on traditional archery competitions. A few targets were set afloat on several buoys, and the archers were at a further distance aboard separate row boats that rocked in the waves. Like mounted archery, the difficulty was elevated - but still more manageable for an archer who isn''t as skilled on horseback.

    Clout archery, typically challenging with its ground-based flag targets, took on a new level of complexity in the water. The target was a flag made of cloth that blew in whichever direction the wind was. Standard Clout Archery was whoever got the closest to the flag on the ground. With Water Archery, it was whoever got closest to the embroidered emblem on the flag itself.

    Under the watchful eyes of the referees, Rhae inspected and tested a free of the supplied bows before finding one with the length and tension that matched his skill level, a suitable grip and a smooth draw. Satisfied with his pick, he handed it to the referee for a secondary inspection. Once approved and his name entered into the competition, Rhae boarded a rowboat with a waterside referee as the rower.

    From the shore, where Kaisan and his cousins had a perfect view, he gave his customary toothy grin and thumbs up. Rhae chuckled as the boat reached the shooting line marked by buoys.

    As Rhae stayed seated as the boats readied into position, he made mental notes on the target distance, the wind direction and strength, and even the competitors on either side who could possibly interfere. As the main referee instructed them to be ready for the first shot, Rhae took his stand on the shaky boat.

    <hr>

    The competition proceeded smoothly, without any interruptions. Rhae, whose forte lay more in swordplay, managed to secure a respectable second place overall. He couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride at his achievement. But as the boat approached the shore, he spotted a smug expression on Kaisan''s face, and he chuckled to himself.

    "Looks like you lost," Kaisan teased, smiling so wide that his eyes became a thin line. He looked well-pleased with himself as if he had won the contest.

    Kaisan offered his hand out to support Rhae as he exited the boat. Rhae flashed a charming smile as he tightened his grip, his fingers lingering down to stroke the inside of Kai''s wrist. Kaisan shivered as goosebumps formed instantly. He reflectively tried to pull away, but Rhae held on tight as he boarded the dock. He slipped his arm around Kai''s waist and returned him to their group.

    "Easy now, my lovely dancer." Rhae playfully whispered into Kai''s ear. "Your family is watching. You don''t want to provoke me now, do you?"

    "You wouldn''t dare," Kaisan gasped, his expression faltering as his face paled. Rhae regarded him with a proud smirk.

    "They already know I''m ''your man.'' What difference does it make?" Rhae joked as he patted Kai''s lower back, enjoying the flustered and confused face his partner made. "Do not worry, we''ll be alone soon enough on that canal boat."

    Kaisan clicked his tongue, stumbling slightly as he stepped onto the picnic blanket. Rhae swiftly caught him by the waist, a brief silence passing between them as they locked eyes, surprised by the sudden closeness. Hoots and hollers erupted from the cousins, breaking the moment. Rhae steadied Kaisan, who swatted him away in embarrassment - his entire body beat red.

    "Hurry and refuel if you want to have time to do the boat ride," Kai grumbled, retaking his seat at their table. Rhae, feeling equally self-conscious under the crowd''s gaze, cleared his throat as he moved across the rug to sit.

    <hr>

    A long, elegantly carved vessel approached their dock as they finished their tea. It had a comfy interior of blankets and pillows, and the boatman had a lace ribbon over their eye to obscure some of their view for client privacy.

    It stayed close to the shore as it steered towards the eastern side of the lake - where the willows gathered that hid the entrance. Gliding through the willow leaves was ethereal as the golden afternoon sun cast enchanting shadows.

    Rhae reached his hand out to feel the vines of the weeping branches. He looked down at Kaisan, lying with his head in Rhae''s lap - eyes closed and feeling the breeze. Rhae smiled as he stroked Kai''s hair and watched the light rays bounce off his peachy face.

    The canal boat ride was as beautiful, relaxing, and private as Kaisan described. As the barge exited the tree foliage, Rhae sucked in a breath. It indeed was a stunning view. It was like the ground and canal walls didn''t exist. The garden appeared to hover above the water and float down from the sky. The most extensive types of florals were gathered in this canal, with tall, bushy walls that the garden on the other side didn''t even compare. Rhae looked at Kai, who now has his eyes open with an easy smile as he looked up at Rhae.

    "What? Can I not admire your face?" Kaisan scoffed.

    "I didn''t say anything," Rhae chuckled softly.

    "You are my lover. That means I have absolute permission to stare at you, unabashed, all I want," Kaisan declared proudly.

    "That is true," Rhae gave a gentle smile in response, unable to tear his gaze away from Kaisan''s face. Kai looked like he belonged in this garden. He wished nothing more than to grab his oil paints and create his next masterpiece. "I want to paint you¡­"

    "You paint?" Kaisan sat up abruptly, spinning to look at Rhae with a glint in his eyes, propping himself up on his elbow. "What do you paint? What medium do you use?"

    "I dabble in landscapes. I used to do portraits of my mother. Sometimes of just the town folk in a local village. My chosen medium is oil and gouache. I use watercolour for village scapes."

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    "I would love to see some of your work sometime!" Kai replied with excitement, delighted to learn something new about his partner.

    "I only have my watercolour travel set, so I will have to show you that when we return tonight," Rhae commented, his eyes crinkling with his smile. He looked back up as they passed through a section of the canal with an assortment of English roses and peonies.

    "Thank you!" Kaisan whispered as he leaned forward to kiss Rhae unexpectedly. Rhae was momentarily taken aback before gently wrapping his hand around Kai''s neck and leaning into it. It was a deep, breathy kiss - too much tongue for such a public place. They parted seconds later upon remembering they were not alone. Both embarrassed, they went back to their original positions.

    "Didn''t you mention you wanted to go swimming today?" Rhae commented, finding a conversation point to alleviate the awkwardness, eyes darting to the boat driver.

    "I never said the time of swimming mattered," Kai huffed. Rhae looked down at him, confused. Kaisan met his eyes and gave him a playful wink, taking Rhae by surprise. Since when has his little lover been so proactive in initiating? Rhae laughed heartily and said nothing as they continued the long leisure ride through the garden canal.

    ***

    "Oh, sweet cherry tree, what are you wearing?" Rhae quipped as Kaisan returned from his quarters to change into the evening attire suitable for a dance on a grand sailboat.

    "It is a humid, hot summer night, and we''ll be dancing over the water. I need to breathe." Kai retorted with a tone that was only slightly annoyed as he strutted over to where Rhae waited on the pathway to the lake.

    His top was made of embroidered ivory lace, with hints of skin visible through every opening. His loose shorts and short layered waist cape were made of lightweight ivory silk. They stood out against his peachy complexion and peony-pink hair. His shirt was skin tight, from his high collar down to his elbows, where it flowed and billowed outward. The back was open but laced like a corset with silk ribbons from the bottom up, forming a large bow at the back of his neck, which completed his ensemble, complementing his figure and exuding effortless charm.

    "I would rather not share how enticing you look with the masses." Rhae sighed, looking down as he rubbed the back of his neck.

    "You''re hardly one to talk," Kai playfully snapped back at him, gesturing to Rhae''s outfit¡ªan ivory silk top with a deep v-neck that dropped to just above his belly button¡ªthe well-toned chest muscles clearly visible. His pants were typical black slacks, but they were pretty formfitting, showing off his leg muscles¡ªa simple but sexy outfit accentuating his physique.

    "I went with the classics." Rhae shrugged nonchalantly.

    "Sure." Kaisan rolled his eyes as he walked forward and linked his arms with Rhae, guiding him to the lakeside docks. There was a short queue for boarding as the sailboat slowly approached. The trip around the lake was only thirty minutes, with a ten-minute break at the dock after each loop. The large boat itself was a double-decker with the lower deck for wining and dining while the upper was for dancing and music. It was adorned with lanterns strung across the entire boat, creating an enticing atmosphere and casting a romantic glow upon the water.

    "What an overly luxurious boat for simply staying on a lake. Is this used for any other occasion?" Rhae inquired.

    "Propose to me, and we''ll host our engagement party here," Kaisan joked in response, grinning mischievously.

    "Then, should I do that once we''re on board?" Rhae teased back.

    "Don''t you dare. I hate public confessions." Kai warned. Rhae smiled gently, grabbed Kai''s hand, still looping through his arm, and squeezed to reassure him.

    "I''ll keep that in mind. I won''t do anything you don''t like," He reassured Kai, his teal eyes glowing with affection in the lantern light. Kaisan gave his catchmark a toothy grin, feeling relief. He turned to signal a passing server carrying a tray of wine glasses.

    "Good. Then let''s get drunk and dance the night away!" Kai declared confidently, picking up some sparkling wine and downing it in one go. Rhae mirrored him, finishing his own drink swiftly.

    "Then dance we shall," Rhae replied, setting their empty glasses back on the tray and pulling Kaisan with him to comply with his first evening request.

    <hr>

    It was only after several loops late into the evenings that Kaisan and Rhae managed to stumble off of the boat, both heavily intoxicated. Luckily, neither fell from the dock as they made it safely to the pathway. Kaisan looked around at a few stragglers boarding the boat again and pulled Rhae off the trail and towards a small garden entrance on the side of the lake that ran along the back side of the maze.

    "Follow me, don''t make a scene," Kaisan said firmly through a drunken slur. Rhae laughed as he tripped, trying to keep up, as keeping his balance remained difficult when a more petite person dragged a more prominent man at high speeds.

    "Where are we going?" Rhae asked, not concerned for his safety but more to see what mischievous activities his lover had planned.

    "Swimming," Kai slurred out while laughing. "Don''t resist."

    "I wouldn''t even dream of resisting you," Rhae laughed along, glancing over his shoulder at the small drunk crowd they left behind before disappearing into the thick garden. Kaisan directed them through a hidden path behind rose hedges to a shrubby area along the water with a towering willow tree. The weeping willow was massive, sweeping its giant branches half on the shore - creating a private beach - and half over the water, creating a private swimming area.

    "Impressed?" Kaisan chuckled, flashing a toothy grin.

    "It''s perfect," Rhae responded in awe, looking around at the perfectly maintained area semi-lit by the full moon shining through the branches and reflecting off the water.

    Both stripped down and entered the warm lake water, swimming and dancing in the subtle waves. It was late into the evening - late enough to consider it early morning, and the activities following alcohol finally hit Kaisan with an exhausted wave. He gripped onto Rhae so he would not sink into the water.

    "Look at me," Rhae whispered against his cheek as he slowly spun them around, Kaisan loosely gripping Rhae''s shoulders and legs tightening around his waist. Kai picked his head up to look into Rhae''s eyes. Rhae looked at him with eyes filled with so much emotion that they were even visible in the dark of the night. "I love you, Kaisan."

    "Wha-"

    "Every piece of you. All your different quirks, your change in personalities, your weird eating habits, your talent for sports, the views you show me, the way you sleep next to me, the way you smile that sweet, goofy grin, the way you look at me with those gem-like eyes, and the way you come running back to me like us being together is the most natural thing."

    "Wait-" Kai tried to reply, but Rhae continued.

    "I know it hasn''t been long since we met, and I''ve never believed in something as silly as fate. But if anyone could be considered the other half of my heart, only you complete me. It''s okay if you don''t feel the same; it''s understandable since you''re still young and we just met. But please, at least permit me to love you. I have felt like I''ve been searching for something all my life. Since meeting you, it feels like I found it. I can''t lose you now. I love you."

    Kaisan felt so overwhelmed with the weight of Rhae''s words that he remained silent, burying his head into the crook of Rhae''s neck and hiding his expression from view. Tired from swimming, the indulgence in alcohol, and the emotional waterfall - Kai started to nod off. Rhae carried them to shore and laid them both down on the grass with Kai on his chest, stroking his hair.

    "I love you." He whispered again into the top of Kaisan''s hair. Kai, sleepy as a few tears escaped his eyes, blacked out as the cool breeze stroked his skin with the night air.

 Chapter 07: The Fourth Day - Part 1

    The morning came quickly for Kaisan, who found himself awake before Rhae for the first time since they met. He carefully extricated himself from Rhae''s firm embrace and groggily looked around. He had no memory of returning to the bedroom, only flashes of their moments in the water and an intense declaration of love that had left him speechless.

    Kaisan leaned forward with a light sigh and rested his arms and head on his knees, his entire body heating up at the memory. He peaked over his shoulder with his flushed face and looked at Rhae''s restful, sleeping face. He rubbed the back of his neck before leaning down and giving a light, tender kiss on Rhae''s cheek.

    Kaisan exited the bed, slipped on his robe, and quietly rang the call bell. He waited by the door to intercept the servant before they could knock and wake Rhae from his slumber. He whispered his request through the door, asking for a light breakfast tray. Once the servant left to retrieve the requested meal, Kai sat on the wingback chair by the door in wait. When the servant returned, Kai thanked them, took the tray and returned to the bed. As Kai gently sat back down on the sheets, Rhae stirred from the aroma of fresh coffee.

    "Morning, my dancing fairy," Rhae greeted with a stretch.

    "Seriously? That was corny," Kaisan recoiled at the comment. "Why do you keep making dancing comments towards me?"

    "When I saw you for the first time in that fountain, I assumed you were part of a dance troupe. Dressed in flashy clothes, ignoring the party, matching colour scheme¡­" Rhae murmured as he pushed himself up and rolled his shoulders.

    "You thought I was a dancer?!" Kai sputtered a laugh. "Well¡­ I can understand that train of thought. I''m naturally lean - no matter how much I train, my muscle mass doesn''t grow. I gain weight quickly, so my body goes soft fast if I overeat. I''m a bit self-conscious about my body. That''s why I stay on top of my training routine."

    Kaisan softly smiled as he pulled apart some bread, scooped some jam on it and held it in front of Rhae''s face. Rhae tiredly blinked his eyes and leaned forward to take a bite, lips wrapping around Kai''s gingers. Kai smirked and prepared some more, popping a few berries into his own mouth in between Rhae''s bites.

    "You were just so captivating and enchanting. You had me from the moment I saw you, dripping wet, smiling like you''d just been granted a wish from the heavens. How could I not be smitten with you?"

    "Such grandiose love for a stranger whose last name you don''t know," Kaisan teased lightly. A light smile played on his lips but didn''t reach his eyes. Rhae stared at him over the cup of coffee Kaisan held in front of him, his small, plump mouth blowing to cool the drink for Rhae. Rhae reached out and softly stroked Kai''s lips with his thumb.

    "I''m in a position to have the luxury to choose who I love," Rhae replied earnestly.

    "I wish I could afford such luxuries, "Kaisan choked out, not meeting Rhae''s eyes. "Chances are I''ll be bartered off to some foreign diplomat for a political marriage."

    "Even if I had such a high position to offer your family a marriage request?" Rhae frowned. Kai turned to face him directly, a wistful smile on his lips.

    "Not even the ducal family could receive a favourable reply. I''ll most likely end up as someone''s concubine since I''m low on the line of importance, but my appearance ranks high." Kaisan gave a cynical smirk, his lips twisting in frustration.

    "Please don''t cry." Rhae pleaded as he sat up, taking Kaisan in his arms and stroking his hair.

    "What are you talking about? I''m not-" Kai stopped, patting his face and feeling the dampness. "Oh... I didn''t realize."

    "I''ll do my best to solve this for the both of us. I don''t want to see you suffer such a fate." Rhae said softly.

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    "Yeah, you do that." Kaisan choked out a defeated laugh, trying to wipe the years away. He buried his face into Rahe''s neck when that didn''t work. "I''m sorry I didn''t respond to your confession. I am not confident to lead you on for an uncertain future."

    "Then, even with an uncertain future and your feelings seem as if they are overflowing - tell me then." Rhae shushed him, kissing the top of his head. Kai could only nod against his shoulders. "I love you, Kaisan. Your very existence has brought colour to my world in hues of pink and gold. Every moment I could paint of you would be with the brilliance of the setting sun illuminating your very being. The day I propose to you will be when I present an entire gallery of works dedicated to your likeness. May you feel my love for you from those very portraits to such an intense degree that each stroke from my brush will captivate you, and know that I adore you."

    Kaisan sobbed with deep heaves, soaking Rhae''s bare shoulder. He knew that, no matter the future, he would never receive such a heartfelt confession and sincere feelings again. That thought brought him immense misery, and he could not stop the tears from overflowing. He could never return to a time before he met Rhae, that dreadfully monotone life - like a watercolour in greyscale. The throbbing in his chest continued to pound the more he thought of going back to such a life. His fingers dug into Rhae''s shoulder blades.

    Rhae continued to soothe him, holding his firm but petite frame in his lap. He felt heartbroken at being unable to stop the endless tears that poured out from Kaisan. Repeating whispers of love and assurance only seemed to intensify Kai''s reactions. He gently turned Kaisan''s face up to his and kissed every tear falling from those jewelled eyes. He reached out to the breakfast tray and grabbed a handful of berries, popping some into Kai''s mouth. Kaisan made a surprised sound but didn''t protest against his favourite food.

    "For someone who exercises as much as you, you have the appetite of a rabbit," Rhae chuckled as he continued to feed him. Kai didn''t protest; he only turned and leaned against Rhae''s chest, accepting the food coming to him without his own effort.

    "I was supposed to feed you," Kaisan pouted, unbashedly accepting another berry. He gave a large, exhausted sigh. "I''m too embarrassed to look at you. I''m not one to cry."

    "Even I cry sometimes. I cried after you fell asleep last night, thinking I just experienced unrequited love." Rhae joked to lighten the mood.

    "You don''t need to lie." Kaisan huffed, rolling his eyes.

    "But I''m serious. Look at these eye bags, the puffiness, my swollen cheeks¡­" Rhae said, gesturing to his face.

    "All I see is a handsome, well-refreshed man after a night of activities¡­ Are you a succubus? You always look immaculate the next morning, full of energy. On the other hand, I feel like I''ve been through a battlefield - as if you stole all my energy." Kai remarked. Rhae roared with enough laughter that Kaisan clicked his tongue and got up from lounging, casting a disgusted look his way.

    "I assure you I am not such a creature. Just becoming one with you rejuvenates me."

    "How nice for you. I''m always left on the verge of death. It''s worse than training alongside the knightage." Kai stretched as he reached for his coffee, which had been left to cool.

    "I thought with your stamina, you could last much longer. Don''t worry, we can work on that." Rhae teased.

    "I''d rather we didn''t."

    "Shall we practice some more now?" Rhae joked, sneaking his hand up Kaisan''s waist.

    "Absolutely not," Kai swatted the hand off of him. "We have to get ready. The polo matches should start soon, and I want to compete against you."

    "Polo? I thought there was a jousting tournament tonight. Won''t the horses tire?" Rhae pondered out loud, gazing into the corner of the room while in deep thought.

    "No, the imperial family will supply the polo ponies for fairness. Besides, it''s mainly the nobles playing polo. The knights of the noble families will prepare for tonight to show off their skills." Kaisan explained.

    "Must we play so early?" Rhae groaned, throwing himself back down into the pillows.

    "Since the teams are small, they start early to accommodate everyone. I signed us up this morning through the head servant."

    "How dare you!" Rhae gasped, playfully exaggerating his tone. Kai gave a playful smack, popped a few more pieces of bread in his mouth and backed himself off the bed. Rhae stayed back to watch as he got dressed, savouring the moment of the morning sunlight bouncing off Kaisans skin. "Are you heading back to your accommodation now to get ready?"

    "Yes. I can''t exactly ride horses in silk shorts and bare legs." Kaisan rolled his eyes.

    "Plus the morning check-in with dear old dad," Rhae joked. Kai shot him a look while clicking his tongue before smiling.

    "Yes, let me check in with that horrid man, and then we can enjoy the rest of today. We are not cutting out early - especially since you cut swimming short on me."

    "You were falling asleep! Should I have let you drown?" Rhae protested. Kai was starting to enjoy that he found ways to rile him up.

    "I want a proper, relaxed bath tonight," Kaisan threw at Rhae as he left behind him, alone and naked in the room in a pout.

 Chapter 08: The Fourth Day - Part 2

    A cheering crowd echoed beyond the stables where the servant boy led Rhae. The ground reverberated from the rhythmic thud of hooves. As they rounded the corner, cloudy dust swirled past, and Rhae coughed as he peered out at the grassy field. With fierce determination, eight horses raced on the field in a fury after the white ball. A loud clack sounded as two mallets collided, and a clang echoed as someone''s mallet missed the ball and bounced from the opposing team''s leg guard.

    Watching the polo ponies pivot sharply, their shortly-trimmed tails sticking straight out as they galloped on a single course toward the goal, was quite a spectacle. Rhae had engaged in a few friendly matches with his fellow knights, but nothing prepared him for the grandeur of this event. He could sense the anticipation among the nobles, each eager to showcase their skills in a more formal setting. Rhae glanced across the field and spotted the arena, taking a simple guess that the jousting tournament would be held there in the evening.

    "Lord Rhaegal!" A call came off to the side. Rhae turned his head sharply towards the voice, knowing who it was but surprised that he was called out to in such a manner. He quickly scanned Kaisan''s face, but all that was evident was that it seemed he lacked sleep. The evidence of this morning''s emotional moments was no longer visible.

    "Lord Kai," Rhae greeted with a charming smile, reaching to clasp Kaisan''s elbow. Kaisan returned the gesture firmly, guiding Rhae towards where the other players were gathered.

    "These are the teammates you''ll be joining," Kai said, looking at the other six dressed players. Rhae smiled and nodded politely to each.

    "Could you show me where I can obtain a horse for the match?" Rhae asked Kaisan, who nodded in response. Kai waved at the others and directed Rhae to follow him to the stables. The imperial sporting horse stables were impressive. Each stall was large enough to fit four full-grown horses comfortably. They were fancy with curved iron balls and clean live-edge wood doors. Impressive metalworking and woodworking craftsmanship went into this building.

    "This will be your steed for the match," Kaisan said, stopping in front of a stall with a dark chocolate-coloured horse. "The tones of his hair reminded me of your hair."

    "I see the resemblance," Rhae chuckled as he glanced at the well-groomed horse.

    "And over here, you''ll find the gear in various sizes. You''re on the blue team," Kaisan added as he walked across the room toward a wall of polo gear arranged. Rhae followed behind him, selecting the needed gear.

    "Is someone already designated as position one? I don''t play too often to be a comfortable pinch hitter." Rhae inquired, thinking of the positions he could feasibly play.

    "Unless you want to take it easy at the goalposts and lose to me, you''ll be in position two." Kai teased as he patted Rhae''s shoulder and gave a playful squeeze - attempting to trigger any competitive spirit in his lover.

    "Shall we get to it then?" Rhae replied dryly, his smile lingering, determined not to let Kaisan''s competitive nature ruffle his composure. He knew acting impassive would, in turn, set a fire under Kaisan to get a response from him. It was a little joy he would keep to himself.

    "Yes, lets," Kaisan replied, brows knitted together in frustration, shoulders slumped as he realized he had lost this mental battle and acknowledged Rhae''s subtle challenge. He clicked his tongue as he reached for the stable door to fetch Rahe''s horses for the match. Rhae suppressed a grin as he passed Kai, giving him a pat on the head before saddling his horse and leading it out to the field''s sidelines.

    Rhae waved off Kaisan as he joined his team for their strategy meeting while the current squad finished the last chukka. Once the last whistle blew and the field cleared up, the referee came over for team confirmations. Both teams mounted with the referee''s okay and went to their respective sides.

    With the start of the match signalled, the thunderous rhythm of hooves shook the ground with each pass of the benches. Some nobles held onto their seats, some onto their hats as they watched the intense competition. Kaisan was, as per every sport he engaged in, still an aggressive player. His mallet raised to his side like a rapier, ready to jab his opponents as his steed galloped across the field toward the wall.

    Several times, Kaisan was thrown to a complete stop when Rhae intercepted his path or diverted the ball out of reach between his horse''s legs with strategic maneuvers. While Kai knew Rhae was a formidable opponent, he hadn''t expected a full challenge thrown at him. Frustrated, he focused on lapping over Rhae and his steed or close shots through his horse''s defences with calculated precision. With every successful shot, Kai would throw a smug expression at his partner, who was so flabbergasted at this aggressive targeting that he couldn''t help but laugh. Rhae couldn''t help but ride up to Kai during the intermission to address the underlying tension.

    "My lovely fairy prince charming, why are you so angry with me?" Rhae called out to him, attempting to keep a serious expression to avoid laughing and provoking his lover. Instead, he got distracted by Kaisan lifting the bottom of his polo shirt to wipe the sweat off his face. His eyes were drawn to the toned, peachy stomach in full view as beads of sweat dripped down. He licked his lips and forced his lingering eyes up - only to meet those amused jewelled eyes staring at him in return. Kai rolled his eyes and scoffed.

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    "I don''t know what you''re talking about." Kaisan retorted, rolling his eyes dismissively.

    "I believe you do very well¡­" Rhae persisted, amusement dancing in his eyes.

    "I have nothing to be angry about. Disappointment, maybe." Kaisan shrugged nonchalantly.

    "And disappointment equals aggressive, targeted play?" Rhae chuckled, raising an eyebrow. Kai shrugged his shoulders. "Why are you disappointed in me?"

    "I guess you didn''t mean it when you said you wanted to paint me or even show you your works," Kaisan replied in a neutral tone, masking any hint of vulnerability. Rhae blinked, taken aback for a moment, before bursting into laughter.

    "That couldn''t be helped when I''m not only distracted by every moment with you but also trying to keep up with this younger, more energetic man," Rhae replied, his laughter subsiding into a gentle smile. But I assure you, my intentions were sincere. I do want to paint you."

    Though Kaisan rolled his eyes, his face softened as his facade wavered. Rhae rode up and parked his horse beside Kai''s, reaching over and taking his hand.

    "You love, you are my muse, you inspire me. Even in his moment, with your domineering presence on this field, as you direct your anger at me, I want to paint you in this moment. Your strength, your grace on the field¡ªit''s all part of why I find you so captivating."

    "You could charm the birds from the trees, Lord Rhae," Kaisan replied, trying not to meet Rhae''s eyes, not wanting to give in to his sweet words - but his heart swelled.

    "I would not lie to you, deceive you, or attempt to charm you for personal gain," Rhae assured him, gently stroking Kaisan''s hand, who finally met Rhae''s gaze. A small smile fought at the corners of his lips, attempting to fight it and not wanting to appear he lost to Rhae.

    "Alright, Lord Rhae. I''ll hold that against you if you ever change your mind." Kaisan nodded. The referee''s whistle interrupted their moment, signalling the end of the intermission. Rhae and Kaisan exchanged a brief nod before mounting their horses again, ready to resume play. The match''s second half continued with heightened intensity, each team striving for the lead.

    As the game progressed, Rhae focused more on supporting his teammates strategically. He communicated with them fluidly, adjusting their positions on the field and coordinating attacks. Kaisan persisted in aggressive tactics, determined to prove himself on the field.

    The match remained closely contested, with neither team yielding easily. Each goal was hard-fought and celebrated with cheers from the sidelines. Rhae felt the adrenaline rush as he maneuvered his horse and swung his mallet. Beside him, Kaisan mirrored his intensity. Their rivalry on the field only fuelled their mutual respect and admiration ¡ª maybe even making them both set a goal for who would win in the chambers that evening, possibly turned on by their partner''s antics.

    In the match''s final moments, Rhae faced Kaisan head-on, both fiercely competing for ball possession. With a swift maneuver, Rhae broke away and made a decisive shot toward the goal, scoring a point for his team. The crowd erupted into applause.

    As the match concluded with Rhae''s team''s securing a narrow victory, the players gathered in the center of the field to exchange handshakes and congratulations. Kaisan approached Rhae with a genuine smile, his earlier tension dissipating.

    "You played well," Kaisan admitted in frustration, offering his hand.

    "As did you," Rhae replied warmly, shaking Kaisan''s hand firmly. "It was a good match."

    "You certainly kept me on my toes," Kaisan chuckled softly.

    "Likewise. We make quite the opponents, don''t we?" Rhae joked.

    "Yes, we do." Kaisan nodded, a glint of pride in his eyes.

    With the tournament concluded, Rhae and Kaisan joined the other players in leading their horses back to the stables. They walked side by side, sharing light-hearted banter. Despite their competitive spirits, there was an undeniable pull between them - the atmosphere noticeable to any passerby.

    When they finally reached the stables, Rhae unsaddled his horse and began to groom it, enjoying the quiet moment of reflection. Kaisan joined him, leaning against a nearby stall door.

    "You know," Kaisan started, his tone thoughtful, "I never expected you to be so skilled at polo."

    "As a fife lord, I''ve fought in a few campaigns against monster waves, civil wars and territorial fights. Swordplay and horsemanship are my strengths," Rhae replied, lost in thought as he moved to shuck the horse''s hooves.

    "I suppose we both have our surprises." Kaisan smiled warmly.

    They fell into a comfortable silence, the sounds of horses shifting and the distant murmur of voices from the tournament grounds filling the air. Rhae glanced at Kaisan, struck once again by his partner''s presence¡ªthe way his features softened in the warm afternoon light, the quiet strength that resonated within him, the contract of the luxury stables that fit so well with Kai''s posture and familiarity. Rhae stopped his thoughts there and shook his head.

    "Thank you," Rhae said suddenly, meeting Kaisan''s gaze. "For taking me along to all these different events. I would have normally been held up in useless discussions and meetings that never go anywhere."

    "I wanted you to experience this. To be a part of something that matters to me, things I enjoy and have talent in but never have a chance to participate actively," Kaisan nodded, his expression earnest.

    "I''m glad," Rhae admitted, smiling genuinely. "And I look forward to many more moments together." Kaisan''s smile widened a spark of anticipation in his eyes. With that, they finished tending to their horses in companionable silence, their bond strengthened by the shared victory and the promise of future endeavours. As the afternoon sun began to work towards early evening, casting a golden glow across the stables, Rhae felt a deep sense of contentment¡ªa feeling of belonging that he knew he had found with Kaisan.

    "Oh, it''s gotten late!" Kaisan explained, standing straight. "We need to go change."

    "Ah, that''s right. Jousting," Rhae mermmered. He turned with a smile. "Meet me by the garden?"

    "Of course!" Kaisan flashed his toothy grin and turned to leave. He paused by the stable doors, turned to Rahe, who was watching him go and blew a kiss. Then he turned and ran, his bright red neck visible at a distance.

 Chapter 09: The Fourth Night

    Rhae was shocked as he emerged from the guest palace annex, surprised to find Kaisan waiting for him. The usual pattern involved a servant escorting him to their destination, where Kaisan would already be socializing. To see him outside the door, ready to depart together, was a pleasant experience. Kaisan fidgeted in a light grey linen suit with teal accents. It was a semi-formal outfit that suited a tournament viewer and was light enough for the folk dance afterwards. The teal satin blouse under the grey dress jacket contrasted with his cotton-pink hair.

    "I think we''re a little more in sync than I previously believed," Rhae joked as he approached his partner in waiting, pointing to his grey tweed vest overlaying his teal linen shirt. Kaisan''s eyes looked up and down with a slight smirk.

    "Attractive couples usually are," he teased, reaching out and intertwining their fingers. "Now, let''s go watch some sparks fly!"

    The warm evening summer sun cast a warm, golden aura over the tournament stadium as they approached the line for entry. After confirmation, they went to a VIP section where Kaisan''s cousins waited. Among the cheering crowd, the two settled into their seats, sipping drinks brought by their dedicated servant.

    They threw greetings at the excited family members as knights prepared for the jousting competition, the air filled with anticipation and excitement. The stadium felt like it heated up as the crowd piled into any open spots, calling for alcohol to prime them up for the excitement ahead.

    As Rhae adjusted his position in his seat, his eyes scanned the armoured knights below, gazing at the area set up for his fife in confirmation. Beside him, Kaisan leaned forward while savouring his wine. His gaze focused on the royal seats at the north end of the tournament grounds nervously.

    "This show tonight should be the entertainment tonight," Rhae remarked, scoffing at the knightages he recognized from inferior fifes. The line judges called out, hushing the crowd. Kaisan took another sip from his glass and leaned his head against Rhae''s shoulder with a slight nod.

    "Indeed. These knights don''t seem to be the most formidable competitors," Kaisan observed as his eyes darted to the participants preparing below.

    The crowd''s cheers swelled as the knight marshal raised his flag to start the joust. The thunder of hooves echoed through the grounds as the first pair of knights charged toward each other, the title in the middle swaying from the reverberation. Rhae and Kaisan watched with bated breath as the lances clashed with resounding impact, the tips of the lances shattering for both sides upon the meeting. The knights hovered in the air momentarily, both thrown from their steeds, crashing heavily to the ground. Neither rider had hit the gridded grand guard as the sand from the list field dusted the area as they struggled to their feet.

    "Look at that lack of precision," Rhae commented, eyes tracking the swift exchanges. "The most incredible shit show I''ve personally witnessed. How are they supposed to pull off eight passes when all they do is cause reruns?"

    Kaisan laughed in surprise, tilting his head to look up at Rhae''s colourful critique, glancing up at him with amusement. He wondered if the knights had assigned their apprentices in their place. The crowd erupted in cheers at the dramatic start, filled with intensity.

    "They seem evenly matched," Kaisan remarked in a deadpan tone.

    "Your jests hold truth," Rhae joked back. Kaisan looked over at his cousins, who were mocking and ridiculing the poor jousters who were unlucky enough to perform first and gave a small chuckle. "They will probably call a mercy pass for both of them now."

    "Everyone seems to be getting drunk quite fast this evening," Kaisan murmured out loud as he looked around at the merry crowd. Rhae also looked around and smiled in agreement.

    "It''s the atmosphere," he replied, looking down at Kaisan. "I don''t mind joining all the festivities. It''s not often I overindulge in alcohol."

    "I''ve seen my fair share of overindulgences this week," Kaisan responded jokingly. Rhae and Kaisan exchanged glances, sharing the thrill of the competition unfolding before them, caught up in the drunken crowd. They leaned closer to each other, feeling the excitement of the moment as they shared a sweet, wine-flavoured kiss as the audience cheered for more talented knights that took on the fight.

    As the jousting continued, Rhae and Kaisan cheered along with the crowd, their spirits lifted by the spectacle before them. Rhae would give strong, solid claps for those he cheered for while Kaisan stood on his feet with his cousins, shouting until he was hoarse. When the final pass determined the victor, Rhae and Kaisan joined the thunderous applause, their hands clapping in rhythm with the crowd.

    As the evening progressed, Rhae and Kaisan were immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of clashing lances and determined knights. As the sun began to set, it cast a vibrant golden hue across the arena, contrasting dark shadows and silhouettes of orange and yellow, creating a dramatic action scene between the competing knights for the goal. The varying skill levels were intriguing, as some knights charged recklessly with their lances either missing or shattering. At the same time, some displayed hard-won skill with their strength and precision, hitting the gridded grand guard perfectly.

    Rhae has his attention evenly divided between the competition and Kaisan, who was entirely absorbed in the festivities - occasionally muttering critiques or praises under his breath. Every so often, Rhae would rub Kai''s back in a soothing manner or cheer him on to mirror his enthusiasm - though he was more amused by the quirks of his partner.

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    One of the most exciting matches of the night, a seasoned knight with unparalleled height and build thundered down the tilt - you couldn''t help but pity his much smaller opponent. As the less bulky knight braced for impact, he panicked at the last moment and swung his lance off to the side as a mercy pass. The two passed by without incident, and the more petite knight rode back to the knight marshal. A switch happened and brought out someone of similar size - who seemed all too excited about the new arrangement.

    They both lined up for the rerun and as the flag dropped, they thundered towards each other. The replacement knight seemed confident against the giant knight he was competing against. As they neared the center, both braced for impact and confidently swung. The larger knight was caught off by a swift feint that knocked him sideways - but by sheer strength, he held on to his horse and righted himself, dropping his lance in the process. The crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause at the unaccepted loss of the large knight. Kaisan, swept up by the sheer thrill of it all, bounced to his feet as he roared his cheer for the underdog.

    The fights continued as the sun finally set behind the arena, and flames lit up the venue. Many cheers echoed into the night sky, and some of the audience winced at the occasional mishaps from their favourite competitors. Tension was high among the spectators here to watch their family''s representative knights. Rhae was no exception, his face making subtle changes depending on the outcome of his own entrants. His hand that held Kaisan''s waist would occasionally tighten in suspense. Kai would give a slight chuckle each time, his shoulders rolling with each laugh. Only after a much stressful match dragged on for all eight passes did Rhae finally sigh and stretch.

    "Shall we work off the wine with some food and dance?" Rhae asked, turning to Kaisan with an uncharacteristically toothy smile.

    "Let''s hurry. I''m starving," Kaisan agreed eagerly, eyes bright with anticipation. As they prepared to leave their seats and join the festivities on the tournament grounds, Kaisan gave one final look at the imperial stands before following Rhae out to the dance area set up outside the arena to invite those who wished to break for the jousting tournament that will continue until dark. The night air felt alive, heavy with humidity but still carrying the fresh chill of the evening breeze.

    The dancing area and family-style banquet were arranged in the training area to the side of the arena. A dusty cleared ground made it match the moniker of a folk dance¡ªthough it was much more luxurious than commoners would hold¡ªsince this was thrown for noble guests staying at the palace. After all, they had an image to uphold. It was a humid enough night to hold an open-air event, and the atmosphere of the cheering from the tournament was well-heard from the dance grounds.

    Rhae and Kaisan walked towards the food service table, arms warped around each other''s waists. It was quite an open and possessive gesture. Nobles were not the type to be openly affectionate, and same-sex couples were lovers or paramours who were invited to less formal events. It was only the fourth day of festivities, yet everyone had already adapted to seeing this paring attached at the hip. The crowd had also heavily succumbed to the effects of alcohol, succumbing to judgment and memory impairment.

    Kaisan grabbed a platter for himself and Rhae to share and started piling small snack items to pair with the wine bottle Rhae had swiped from the table. After retrieving sufficient sustenance, they retreated to the darkest corner of the area for some private snack time. They both looked at each other on the way to the table and burst into laughter. They sat across from each other, placing the platter in between.

    "I think I''m losing my voice," Kaisan laughed, his voice breaking mid-sentence. Rhae chuckled at the perfect timing of the crack.

    "Are we going to dance again?" Rhae asked with a subtle smile, picking up a grape and holding it out for Kai.

    "Always," Kaisan responded, his eyes lighting up as he leaned forward and snatched the grap from Rhae''s fingers with his mouth, licking his lips as he leaned backwards. Rhae paused as he stared at Kai''s lips, biting his own as his thoughts wandered. Noticing his reaction, Kaisan smirked, leaned forward again and opened his mouth. Rhae biked a few times before stifling a laugh, picking up a few more grapes to feed to his lover.

    "Then let''s," Rhae smiled, a rare moment flashing his teeth. He stood up and held out his hand. Kaisan, who took it, pursed his lips to stop himself from laughing. Rhae, slipping his other arm around Kai''s waist, guided them both to the dance area under the canopy of the starry sky. Joining in the lively atmosphere was effortless as people swung around under the adored twinkling lights that floated above- a whimsical ambiance surrounding them both.

    Rhae, clad in his elegant tweed vest and teal linen shirt, spun Kaisan onto the dance floor amidst the swirling crowd. Kaisan''s eyes sparkled with delight and affection as he moved gracefully in his light grey linen suit, the teal accents catching the soft glow of the lanterns overhead. The music, played by skilled minstrels in the corner, filled the air with lively melodies that beckoned everyone to participate in the revelry.

    They moved together in perfect synchrony, their steps guided by the rhythm of the music and the unspoken connection between them. Rhae''s hand rested lightly on Kaisan''s waist, while Kaisan''s fingers were intertwined with Rhae''s, their bodies moving effortlessly in time with each other and the dance.

    Around them, other couples whirled and spun, their laughter mingling with the melody. The night seemed to blur into a magical haze as Rhae and Kaisan lost themselves in the joyous celebration. They exchanged smiles and gentle whispers, their hearts beating in harmony with the enchanting melody surrounding them.

    As the dance reached its crescendo, Rhae dipped Kaisan low, eliciting a delighted laugh from his partner. Their eyes met with an intensity that spoke volumes, a silent exchange of love and gratitude for their shared moments. Their bond deepened with every in-sync step; their eyes met in a moment of understanding and affection. In that fleeting instant, amidst the warmth of the summer night and the echoes of applause from the onlookers, Rhae pressed a tender kiss to Kaisan''s lips.

    The world around them faded into the background as they savoured the sweetness of the kiss, their souls entwined in their own dance. The crowd cheered, their applause blending seamlessly with the music, celebrating the dance and the bond between Rhae and Kaisan that had blossomed throughout the day.

    Rhae and Kaisan held each other close as the dance drew close, their hearts overflowing with joy and contentment. They knew that this day, with its jousting tournaments and enchanting folk dances, would forever be etched in their memories as a moment of pure magic and love. As they walked hand in hand into the night, guided by the soft glow of lanterns and the echoes of laughter, they made their way toward the stables that had long been abandoned for the night.

 Chapter 10: The Fifth Day

    Kaisan groaned as splashing disturbed his sleep, and the heat surrounding his body felt almost oppressive. He squeezed his eyes shut before groggily blinking them open, his vision hazy. As he brought his wet hand up to wipe his eyes, he paused, finally realizing not just his hand but his entire body was soaked. And it wasn''t that his vision was blurry but the fact that it was foggy from the steam. He slowly went to turn his head, and his cheek tapped a hard, prickly surface behind him.

    "Hmm?" came a deep voice that rumbled through whatever he bumped into. Kai slowly looked up and saw Rhae resting his head on his hand propped on the tub''s edge. Rhae''s other arm was wrapped securely around Kaisan''s waist, keeping him steady above the water.

    "You''re awake," Rhae commented, eyes still closed as he continued to rest.

    "What time is it?" Kaisan asked, groggy and unable to tell the time of day with the curtains drawn closed. Rhae peeked one eye open, glancing at Kai with a soft smile before closing them again.

    "Early morning, keep resting, and I''ll finish washing you."

    "Why is it so dark, then?" Kaisan questioned, tapping his head lightly against Rhae''s shoulder and looking up at him.

    "It''s a rainy day. Afraid we''ll have to find some indoor activities today," Rhae chuckled, his hand tracing slow circles on Kaisan''s stomach. Kai splashed water on his face to shake off the lingering grogginess.

    "So, does that mean I''ll finally have a chance to see you paint?" He teased, a smirk forming as he flicked some water at Rhae. Rhae flinched, his eyes narrowing in amusement as he suppressed a dimpled smile.

    "If I''m in the mood¡­" He mused, pretending to gaze thoughtfully into the distance. Kaisan clicked his tongue in annoyance, but Rhae chuckled again. "I would love to show you, my dear. I''ve been pondering all the different positions I could paint you in."

    "Nothing naughty¡­" Kaisan said sternly, dipping his head forward to wet his hair. "I''ve sat for dozens of portraits to know all the standard and some pretty unique poses."

    Rhae was taken aback, having yet another clue of how wealthy Kaisan''s family must be for that many portraits of one of their many children. He gently kissed Kai''s damp head before whispering in his ear.

    "Oh, my love, there wouldn''t be a single position I plan to pose you in that your family would approve of," Rhae said with a hushed, sensual tone, nipping at the corner of Kaisan''s earlobe. He gently cupped Kai''s neck, turning his head to face him. He stared into the younger man''s eyes, lost and enchanted. Kaisan stared back, completely captivated by how intently he was being looked at. They both leaned forward to share a passionate kiss as the water spilled over the tub''s edge.

    <hr>

    Even after Rhae dried him off with a fluffy towel, Kaisan could still feel the dampness in the air due to the downpour outside. Rhae had gently placed Kai on the bed, draping the sheet over his shoulders after Kaisan had slipped on a pair of white linen slacks for lounging.

    "What''s the plan today since we''re confined to dryer spaces?" Kaisan tossed out, watching Rhae as he finished speaking to the servants through the doorway.

    "First, I''m ordering breakfast. Second, I''m finally getting a chance to show you my work. Are there any rainy-day events planned?" Rhae asked, moving towards a desk by one of the windows.

    "Hmm, nothing too exciting. There''s Jue de Paume in the indoor training grounds. At the secondary knight training ground, some wish to refine their techniques under the guise of our knight commander. Tea and chess are in the greenhouse, and the masquerade ball will go as planned since it was in the main ballroom." Kaisan recited, remembering the schedule''s finest details as per usual.

    ''Our commander? Not THE commander?'' Rhae paused momentarily, wondering why Kaisan would refer to the commander as if he claimed ownership of him before moving on, thinking it was just in reference to the commander of the kingdom itself. ''Maybe it''s the way the capital calls him¡­''

    "After brunch and our portrait session, let''s have teatime while playing a round of chess. I would love to see the Imperial Greenhouse. If we still have the energy, we can check on the indoor tennis ¡ª well, I''m fine, but after that bath, I''m not so sure about you¡­" Rhae joked, pulling his paint set from the drawers and setting it up with watercolour, gouache, and a larger sketchbook. Kaisan rolled his eyes and threw himself backwards on the bed with a thud.

    "If only someone didn''t try some inflexible tricks in a cramped bathtub and blew my back out in the process," Kai grumbled as he rolled over, cozying himself back into the blankets like a little cocoon.

    "You speak with such vulgar words that I question your upbringing sometimes," Rhae teased, but Kaisan remained quiet in the sheets, mumbling to himself. Rhae sighed softly. As he was about to head back to the bed, there was a knock at the door. Rhae fetched the food, then returned to Kaisan, ruffling the soft pink hair peeking out from the cocoon. "Are you not hungry? You should eat something, even if you just graze a few berries like usual. Does your back still hurt? Should I rub it for you, hmm?"

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    The blanket squirmed, Kaisan''s feet popping out from the button end and kicking widely in protest. Rhae chuckled, patting the blanket in encouragement to coax Kai out to eat - yet Kaisan continued his self-confinement. Rhae, feeling slightly irked, climbed onto his buddled lover and reached to capture the exposed feet.

    With one swift move, he grabbed hold of Kaisan''s peachy ankles with one hand and used the other for a precise tickle attack. Putters of protest were mumbled through the layers of blanket, but they were ignored by Rhae, who was enjoying the moment too thoroughly. Rhae roared with laughter as Kaisan struggled below him. Eventually, Kai was able to free his head from the suffocation device and roared at Rhae with a sharp glare.

    "Hands. Off. My. Feet!" He growled, struggling to free his hands as he planned his revenge while staring daggers at the man who held him down with an expression filled with the most child-like joy. "You''re going to regret this, Rhae!"

    "I don''t think I will, though?" Rhae laughed in response, his shoulders shaking as he fought with Kaisan''s feet. Kai pouted as he shimmied his arms free, forgetting the difference between the weight class and the lifting class between the two of them. Giving up, he made a final few kicks before throwing himself back down on the pillows. Rhae chuckled, giving Kaisan''s butt a playful smack through the blankets. "Let''s get you fed so I can get started on that portrait of my lovely fairy prince charming."

    "I''m not a fairy!" Kai roared out in protest of that nickname his lover liked to sneak into most conversations. Still, he opened his mouth and waited for Rhae to hand-feed him some berries. Rhae shook his head with a smirk and reached for the food platter.

    "Shameless," Rhae pursed his lips jokingly, popping a grape into Kai''s mouth.

    "I''m comfortable enough with you to be shameless," Kaisan mumbled through each bite. Rhae leaned forward and gave Kai a quick peck before handing him the platter of food with a smile.

    "What a fulfilling feeling," He said as he got up and returned to the desk, picking it up and moving it in front of the edge of the bed. "Keep eating while I finish my setup."

    Kaisan finally sat up, the duvet hanging off his shoulders to keep warm as the room remained cool from the rainy day outside. As he pecked through the food, he watched Rhae sat in the chair he dragged over and spread the drawing utensils on the desk. Kai''s gaze drifted over Rhae, noticing how focused he was.

    "I asked you to show me, not paint me," Kaisai said slowly, clenching and relaxing his hand. Rhae didn''t look up as he blew the shavings off the pencil he sharpened.

    "I''ve been so busy with you that I have no work to show. So I''ll have to paint something to show you. I also warned you in the tub that I''d paint you in several different positions. This will take a few days to finish, so I''ll focus on your upper body for now."

    "Hmm¡­" Kaisan tilted his head to the side.

    "Hold that pose!" Rhae''s eyes darted up, a glint lighting up inside them as a small ray of sun peaked through the clouds and into the windows, contrasting Kaisan''s face. Rhae softly smiled as he turned his eyes back to the cavus before him, adjusting his legs to relieve the discomfort from his tight pants.

    <hr>

    The usually quiet greenhouse buzzed with the murmur of multiple conversations across its premises. Tea time wasn''t something men usually attended unless they were consorts or paramours, but since this was a rainy day activity, it was quite a busy event. Coffee, tea, and mulled wine were the leading drinks of choice. Small two-person tables were scattered around, and a few large groups of tables were set up for discussions¡ªmainly ladies'' tea wars.

    Kaisan''s arms were linked with Rhae as he led him on a walk through the Imperial Greenhouse Garden, per Rhae''s previous request. He knew the maze and canal garden were both impressive, but this glass atrium was on another level. It was separated into different biomes, with dense forests along the glass walls to offer privacy¡ªmultiple man-made rivers with stunning carved bridges and stepping stones into smaller designed gardens. The only thing Rhae could think of was that there must have been more gardeners assigned to this building than there were probably servants assigned to the crown prince''s palace.

    "My dear goddess¡­" Rhae gasped with each area they strolled through. Kaisan chuckled.

    "It''s the king''s pride, where he brings each new lady he''s courting. The excuse was to make it feel like home for each foreign queen ever brought into the place in future generations - but honestly, he''s just a player whose whims find him a new pretty plaything each month."

    "That''s not something you should say out loud," Rhae looked down, concerned. Kaisan shrugged as if it was something that would never affect him.

    "It''s well known in the capital. Songs are sung on the streets by the children himself. The king has so many children he doesn''t even remember existed that he''s had multiple places built to house dozens per building, and he rotates official visits to give the image of a caring father." Kaisan continued in a semi-hushed tone, a fake consideration as if it didn''t matter if he was heard. Rhae just looked down at the beautiful young man who guided him around, lost in his thoughts.

    "Crouch here for a moment," Rhae suddenly asked, pointing to a lush garden beside them of pink daises and English roses, with deep green vines wrapped around an old dead tree used for the sole reason as a growth pole. Kaisan, confused, did as he was told and couched on the grassy mound for sitting in the middle of the bushes.

    He watched as Rhae stayed on the path and crouched down himself, pulling his sketchbook from his pocket, seemingly to outline the view before him. As Kaisan waited patiently with his hands clasped between his crouched legs, he felt a warmth on his back as angle rays from the sun streamed through the passing clouds and down onto the greenhouse. Rhae''s mouth gaped momentarily before his pencil went back to furiously sketching. The corner of Kai''s mouth lifted ever so slightly, witnessing a new side of the man whose confession he had yet to reply to.

 Chapter 11: The Fifth Night

    The pitter-patter of rain bounced off the greenhouse''s glass roof as Rhae and Kaisan made another loop before finding an empty chess table to sit at. Kai looked around but couldn''t find any of his cousins in the area - except the eldest female, who was leading discussions at the ladies'' tea tables. It seemed she didn''t notice their presence. Rhae looked in the same direction as Kai, spotting the familiar face with a smile before turning back to him.

    "Your cousin seems to be leading the discussions¡ªshe seems to be as forward and brazen as you," Rhae chuckled as he leaned back while the servants moved in and set up the chess pieces and some finger food to snack on. After both chose coffee, Rhae waved at Kaisan to go first, a smirk prominent on his lips.

    "She''s only like that around family, but contrary to your biased opinion, she''s a perfect and elegant lady well-known for leading fashion trends," Kaisan scoffed, reaching to move his knight first. "Besides, no one can beat me at being forward and brazen."

    "Why the assumption?" Rhae chuckled, moving a center pawn. Kai flashed a toothy grin and pointed between them, then swirled his index finger in a circle to indicate the public around them. A few people had been glazing over in curiosity.

    "We are out and about publicly. We''ve hidden nothing. All the servants already knew, so by this point, I''m not surprised that most guests now do as well. Who hasn''t heard about us or even seen us in possibly compromising positions by now?" Kaisan shrugged, smirking right back to Rhae as he moved his pawn. His foot slid under the table to tap Rhae''s shoes. Rhae leaned forward while sipping his coffee, using his shoe to lift the hem of Kai''s pant leg and slide it along the inside above the ankle bone.

    "I have nothing to be ashamed of," Rhae commented, putting his cup down as he moved another piece on the board. "How can I not be confident with you next to me?"

    Kaisan didn''t respond, but all his focus was directed to his next chess move. His ears and the back of his neck blended in with his hair almost seamlessly. A servant swooped in to pour fresh cups, and Rhae nodded his thanks before turning back to the board for his turn.

    "Is my fairy prince still embarrassed at such comments? I''m sure I say more vulgar things at night," Rhae joked. Kaisan gave a slight kick under the table, staring daggers.

    "There are some things you should not say in public!" Kaisan hissed. Rhae chucked, passing a grape over to him, and Kaisan took it without hesitating before realizing that he did so in the same public space he was worried about. He sighed, crossing his ankles before continuing the game - stealing glances at his opponent whenever he assumed he wouldn''t be noticed.

    <hr>

    Shoes clacked and echoed across the stone-tiled floor of the indoor training area. The vaulted pain-wood roof made it easy for the sounds to bounce. The ribbon-adorned rope that parted the two sides of the court swayed with each return of the esteuf¡ªa small, hand-sewn fabric ball. It was a popular game amongst the nobility, so the viewing area was crowded. Rhae led Kaisan by the hand through the crowd of spectators towards an empty spot. He pulled the shorter male down next to him, squeezing them both tight against each other.

    "When my father was younger, he enjoyed playing Paume himself. He and my maternal grandfather would always work out their disagreements this way," Kai commented, eyes watching the court unfocused as the two teams of two used their beaters to bounce the esteuf into the opposite court, shouting known terms with each successful hit.

    "Cross-over!" Yelled out the game commissioner, and the teams switched sides.

    "I was never one for the sport. I''ve played before, and I had to learn the rules according to my father, but I''ve never cared enough to play again," Rhae replied, watching Kaisan from the corner of his eye as he faced the court.

    "To impress the gallery!" Shouted one of the players in joy, patting one of the opposing team members on the back as they switched sides. The crowd clapped in agreement. Both Kai and Rhae joined in, though they had missed the supposedly impressive move the man must have pulled.

    "I wish I had a choice just to walk away from it. But with those two idiots always competing, my siblings and I - even my cousins, were all forced to participate in a recurring family tournament. Attendance was mandatory. It was probably due to all these sports they enjoyed that I have such an active sporting life, with as much muscle as I have built." Kai continued.

    "Hmm," Rhae nodded with a proud smile, closing his eyes to re-immerse himself in every memory he had collected so far of his lover''s well-toned form.

    "Wipe that perverse smile off your face," Kaisan stared at him in horror, his hand dating out and smacking Rhae on the thigh before he could even think. Rhae captured his hand and held it, keeping the same smile on his face, but it only made his dimples pop out.

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    "I am allowed to share in your pride," Rhae leaned in and whispered, blowing against Kai''s ear before sitting back straight. The entire back of Kai''s neck was stained red as he pursed his lips and chose to ignore Rhae and watch the game.

    "I was a little bit looking forward to participating and working out my frustrations. But after the early morning torture that you put me through, I don''t have the leg strength to pull off a single set," Kaisan sighed in exasperation, once in a while tugging his hand as a test to see if he could even free it from Rhae''s grasp. Rhae tilted his head with a smile as if asking, ''What is this cute action?'' while holding firm.

    "We have to conserve our energy for tonight''s masquerade ball. Did you forget?"

    "I''m used to tending enough of these festivities that they more bore me than tire me out. With my stamina level, no matter how many rounds you force me to dance, I won''t tire."

    "I wasn''t referring to the dancing," Rhae chuckled, tossing a smile to Kaisan. Kai used his other hand to slap Rhae''s that held him trapped.

    "I believe I just asked you not to act out such perverse things," Kaisan''s eyes widened as he whipped his head to look at Rhae. The taller man just gave a reassuring smile and gently patted their hands, turning his focus back to the game. "I''ll be returning to my own room to change for tonight."

    "Are you going to hide from me behind a mask just to avoid dancing?" Rhae laughed, the sound lost in the crowd''s cheering with a set point.

    "Maybe. You claim to love me. Let''s see you find me," Kaisan laughed in response. His eyes squeezed shut, and his shoulders shook, making him appear younger than he already was. Rhae was once again enchanted into silence.

    "Not even a hint of what you''ll be wearing?"

    "You won''t be able to recognize me by my hair colour, either," Kaisan proudly said, crossing his arms as he looked at Rhae.

    "That means when I recognize you, you''re not allowed to run away or hide. The game''s over, and we get to dance."

    "Deal," Kaisan agreed as they both continued to enjoy a few more matches.

    <hr>

    Rhae adjusted his midnight-blue tailored cotton-silk three-piece tuxedo suit with a nervous sigh. His hand ran under the ivory silk shawl lapel to straighten its edges. His cotton shawl lapel two-button vest was a much lighter midnight blue, contrasting with his ivory silk pleated high-collar dress shirt. His tight, straight sleeves were set well against his black five-finger half-gloves, which matched his black dress shoes. A silver pocket watch hung from the vest pocket and wrapped around the bottom button.

    After a final check, he entered the main building where the masquerade was being held. His shoes clacked off the halfway tile as he approached the ballroom doors, which were kept open for the guests to come and go. He passed the knights guarding the doorway and entered the crowded dancefloor - his hand patting his face to check if his panther mask adorned with the night stars was still secure on his face. Feeling confident, he started his search.

    Kaisan had given him only one clue - his hair would not be what gave him away. So, he either changed his hair colour, wore a wig, cut his hair, or wore some obscure hat. Rhae chuckled at the thought, then shook his head. There was no way his Kai would wear a hat. He was too confident in his own looks and wouldn''t allow something to diminish it. As he was momentarily lost in thought, Rhae felt a gaze on him. Typically, he wouldn''t be surprised with how well his suit fit his form and the beautiful design he adorned. But these eyes felt familiar to him, and he felt those gazes every day this week.

    In his attempt to look around discreetly and quickly, he noticed a face had whipped away to avoid being seen. All he could see through the crowd was it was a man with long, smooth black hair tied neatly into a low ponytail. With a smirk, he approached the shorter male, at least to spot his outfit. As he approached, his smile broadened. He knew that shape from head to tie, for he had held it dozens of times over so that he memorized every curve.

    Finally, he was close enough in view to take in the young man''s entire outfit and had to hold in his laugh. Even if he disguised his hair, he couldn''t change his soft, more feminine event outfits. A white wool two-piece suit that hung snugly to his body and contrasted the dark hair, with gold embroidery, soft pink ribbon corseting the back, and a large bow placed in the middle of the back of his waist. His eyes became more prominent against the dark strands that draped his face over the pink and white bunny mask. He took several steps forward confidently and wrapped his arms around his target''s waist.

    "Found you," he whispered through the black hair, that a few pink strands were left untamed behind his ears upon closer inspection. Kaisan snapped his head to look at him, flabbergasted that he was spotted at lightning speed. Rhae chuckled. The look in his eyes matched his rabbit mask, like a prey caught by its predator.

    "H-how?!" Kaisan explained loudly, Turning in Rhae''s arms. "No, wait. You got the wrong person¡­"

    "Nice try. It''s a good thing you''re not the firstborn and that you were born as pretty as you are," Shae shook his head, questioning the intelligence of his lover. Kai''s mouth gaped open and closed silently a few times before spinning to face away and attempting to bake free after being insulted.

    "Let go. So rude and shameless," Kaisan clicked his tongue. Rhae buried his head in Kai''s neck and shook his head.

    "You promised not to run away or hide. It''s time for our dance," he smiled, his breath causing goosebumps on Kai''s skin. "There''s a penalty for trying to break our deal."

    "... Go easy on me. Tomorrow is the hunting tournament," Kaisan sighed, finally giving up. Rhae dropped his arms as his little black-haired fairy got into position for an endless amount of dancing. "Be sure to fetch me snacks all night."

    "Always, my love. I''ll feed you a great many things for eternity." Rhae replied, laughing heartily as he took Kai into his arms and begun their first of many turns for the night.

 Chapter 12: The Sixth Day

    Rhae woke up late for once, an unusual event. What woke him was the bedroom door slamming shut. The sudden loud sound set him flying up from his sleep, his hand darting to the empty spot beside him on the bed. When a frustrated sigh came from near the door, it was only then that Rhae relaxed.

    "Why are you awake so early, love? Come back to bed." Rhae called out to Kaisan, who angrily yanked the cravat off, tossing it onto the wingback chair near the fireplace.

    "Family meeting," Kai clicked his tongue in annoyance, violently shaking off his dress jacket.

    "This early?" Rhae asked, confused, as he swung his feet off the bed to get up. Kaisan threw his hand up to stop him.

    "Stay there, I''ll come to you," he tiredly replied as he kicked off his shoes. He stumbled towards the bed where Rhae waited with his arms outstretched. Kaisan smiled and fell forward on top of Rhae, who chuckled as they both plopped backwards on the bed. "That damn family meeting."

    "It''s usually a lunch affair for you. Did your father mean to call you this early?" Rhae asked, using his hand to pat Kai''s back to soothe him.

    "Today is the Royal Hunt. That damn hunting contest can go screw itself," Kaisan groaned, burying his head into Rhae''s shoulder as he wrapped his arms around his neck.

    "Do you dislike hunting? With how athletic you are, I assumed you were talented in the sport."

    "I am. That''s one of the issues." Kai sighed deeply, his breath tickling Rhae''s neck. "I am expected to participate fully and to get a score worthy of our family name - preferably as one of the top five contestants."

    "That''s¡­ quite a difficult goal. Your old man has high expectations of you," Rhae replied, brows furrowed. "Is it achievable?"

    "I am honestly unsure. We have had such a huge turnout this year for the foundation events. The competition is massive. I just wanted to take it easy this year before I got shipped off to who knows where to increase that dreaded man''s personal coffers." He mumbled. Rhae rolled them both onto their sides so they could face each other. Kaisan curled up as tight as he could. "There''s a difference between doing something I enjoy well and being forced to do something to look like a better product for sale. I hate this place."

    As much as Rhae wanted to tell his lover he was happy to be here where he met him, he knew that was not as comforting as one would assume. All he could do was plan out a future where he could convince that power-hungry father to hand over his high-valued son to him.

    "Well, it''s either participating in the hunting festival or stealing the spotlight from your cousin at the ladies'' tea gathering," Rhae chuckled, leaning forward to kiss Kaisan''s forehead. Kai looked up from his huddled position just in time for his nose to get nibbled on, which left him in a state of confusion and shock. "It would be quite a sight to see you compete with your cousin if you could lead high society. Shall we call the dressmaker?"

    "I can feel your smug expression with my eyes closed," Kai grumbled. "You just want to paint me in something pretty."

    "Oh dear, you don''t need to wear anything at all for me to paint something pretty," Rhae replied with a matter-of-fact voice. "You can use my eyes as a mirror tonight and watch what a pretty little mess I''ll turn you into."

    Kaisan''s entire face down to his collarbone turned red. Sitting up at lightning speed, he grabbed his pillow and smacked Rhae with it. A knock sounded at the door as he was going for a second strike.

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    "I called for breakfast on my way," Kaisan stated, exiting off the top of Rhae and the bed and heading to the door. "Let''s eat and blow some steam with a few rounds of croquet."

    "You''re so shy in the bedroom. It''s so different from when you''re out playing sports when it''s the only time I get to see you so assertive."

    "Do you want my hand over your mouth instead?" Kaisan gasped, holding the door open for the servant to push in the food trays, who hurried in with his own blushed expression. "For the love of the goddess, get some clothes on."

    Rhae chuckled, sliding on his robe as he discounted the bed and leaned over the bedside table to wash his face. Kaisan finished setting the food on the desk - still at the end of the bed, sitting himself down as the servant poured his coffee while Kai reached to look at some of the sketches Rhae had finished of him the day before.

    "You made me too pretty. I know I''m more built than this. You should see the palace doctor for your eyesight before you leave," Kaisan mumbled, shifting through the papers. Rhae chuckled as he walked over, leaning in to peck Kai''s cheek before sitting beside him.

    "My eyesight is satisfactory, thank you very much. You''re just not used to seeing yourself in such a light. And I know how ''built'' you are. Look, the only one I started to paint with you on the bed - I captured your muscle mass quite well if I say so."

    "But look at this one where I''m holding flowers while looking at the sky. I look like a boyish version of my cousin. I''m too round."

    "You only know how you look when you purposely pose for masculine portraits or when you''re sporting. No one looks that way all the time. You have soft moments, too - it''s why I mistook you for a fae trying to take me away." Rhae joked. Kaisan scoffed, biting down on a scone.

    "Make sure to finish at least one of these," Kaisan put down three options Rahe had drawn where Kai was playing one of the many spots Rhae had witnessed. "I wish to hang one in my room. An original work by Lord Rheagal."

    "Yes, anything for my love," Rhae smirked.

    The late-morning croquet game was surprisingly turned into a highly competitive and fast-paced game by Kaisan. They managed to finish a few rounds in only an hour before Kai wiped the sweat from his brow with a satisfied smile and ran off to prepare for the royal hunt. Even as Rhae stopped in the main guest banquet hall for a food refuel, he didn''t find the famous cousins either.

    With a bored expression, Rhae returned to his room to work on the sketch before the servants came to help him ready his gear for the event and guided him to the stables for the same horse he used previously during the polo match. Rhae followed behind with the horse as the servant led him to the hunting grounds on the far end of the playing fields at the forest''s edge.

    The event tents crowded the clearing and were already bustling with people. This wasn''t surprising, as it was one of the most noble events during the festivities. A stage with a podium was already arranged for the winners who collected the highest point targets.

    Rhae glanced around, scanning the crowd and tents for his little angry fairy. With no luck, he handed his horse off to the guiding servant and made his way to the banquet tent. Sitting at an empty table, Rhae continued looking for familiar faces when a commotion was finally heard near the forest entrance.

    A larger group on horseback emerged, and near the front was the very person he was looking for. Dressed in crisp white, silver, and red official hunting attire, Kaisan rode on his white steed, and he seemed to be in discussion with one of the knight commanders. By pausing and pointing to the boundary line set by ribbons and flags, they were discussing official matters.

    Rhae decided to wait for Kaisan, using this chance to see him in a more serious atmosphere. It was definitely a strange feeling, especially since he seemed too well accustomed to directing palace personnel. He seemed to carry some official title that allowed him to interact with the knightage, but for his life, he couldn''t guess what that position would be - so instead, he sat back and watched until his lover finally made his way to the tents. As Kaisan dismounted his horse and handed it to a stable squire, Rhae approached him.

    "That''s a new sexy look for you," Rhae commented, standing a few feet away as Kai adjusted his cuffs. He jumped, surprised, but gave his classic cheeky smile when their eyes met.

    "The uniform? It''s one of my personal favourites. The few times I can wear something more masculine than my usual wardrobe that''s been curated to match my appearance." Kaisan joked back, flashing a proud look.

    "Well, that as well. But seeing you command people with such a serious face light a new fire in me." Rhae leaned in and whispered.

    "Shameless," Kaisan shook his head, clasping Rhae''s hand and pulling him beside him. "It''s time for the commencement ceremony before the hunt starts. Let''s go."

 Chapter 13: The Sixth Night

    Kaisan led Rhae to the second row in front of the stage. The crown prince led the commencement ceremony, a handsome man with long silver hair neatly tied to the side and eyes like tanzanite. There were a few times when the crown prince would curiously glance over at the pair, and at the end of his speech, he flashed a smirk their way with a small cocky wave before dismounting the stage. Rhae frowned at the action and leaned to whisper into Kaisan''s ear.

    "Is there a reason that the crown prince would wave at us?"

    "He''s a proud asshole who likes to scheme and play games," Kaisan replied, spite heavily laced in his tone as he clicked his tongue. The bells announced the start of the hunting festival, and Kai took hold of Rhea''s arm and led him to the horses.

    "I thought you said your father expected you to place well. I wasn''t expecting you to want to hunt with me," Rhae commented, happy at the unexpected change of events.

    "Why do I need to place high just because the geezer says so? I don''t need to be marketed as cattle for sale - didn''t you already say you''re taking me away?" Kai looked back at Rhae, a full-blown, toothy smile overtaking his face. Rhae felt his entire body flush with a warmth he had never experienced.

    "Of course, I have already planned how I will steal you away to my fife after the festival," Rhae chuckled, sliding his hand down Kai''s arm to clasp their hands together.

    "I expect no less," Kai laughed as they approached the horses'' stables. Servants came forward to help with mounting and handed them their weapons for the hunt. Together, they directed their horses toward the small beast-filled starting forest.

    The surrounding crowd dispersed as some hunters headed towards their set goals, while others wandered over to the tea and mini-games as spectators. The hunting grounds were vast and divided into sections depending on skill level. With the increase of skill for each area came larger beasts for hunting. Kaisan led his and Rhae''s steads to a starting location that consisted of smaller creatures such as rabbits, foxes, pheasants and slimes.

    While the horses strolled on the main path, Kaisan adjusted his bow into position and checked to make sure his hunting knife was ready. Rhae checked his bow, Imperial Schrade knife, and standard sword in case of unexpected events. A knight Kai had brought along carried a spear for herding, a horn, and the tags for the captures.

    As they ventured further into the designated hunting grounds, the cheers and festive sounds faded behind them, and the atmosphere darkened as the forest canopy thickened. The area was alive with birds chirping, leaves rustling, and the occasional twig snapping under some creature that had yet to be spotted. The small group remained on high alert for any prey that came within the vicinity.

    As they entered a clearing, a group of bunnies playing thumped past the horses. Kaisan pulled his stead to a stop, raising his hand to signal spotted prey. The guard trotted off to the side to steer the rabbits towards the pair while Kai readied his bow, and Rhae dismounted before pulling his bow ready.

    The forest seemed to grow to a hushed, almost muted volume as everyone held their breaths. Kaisan quickly scanned the area to pick his first target, his eyes sharp as he surveyed the surroundings for any obstacles.

    "To my left, before noon," he whispered down to Rhae, where he spotted a crowded group. He nodded to the guard, who closed in on the fluffle.

    "They''ll dash for the thickets. Let''s spread out," Rhae replied, moving slowly around Kaisan''s horse to avoid spooking it while he made his way to their right. Kai nodded in response, moving his horse in a full pass to his left.

    The tension in the air was so thick that a knife could cut it. It may have been just a few rabbits, but armed men were competing with other unknown armed hunters in the forest, just out of sight. It was a feeling Rhae had not experienced for a long time, that overwhelming feeling before he went to war or when it came down to monster subjugations. Adjusting the grip on his bow, his fingers notched the arrow as he prepared to fire.

    Kaisan moved like one with his horse, his steps light as he ventured along the outskirts of the clearing. Pulling his bowstring to his chin, he nodded to the guard to throw his spear at the rabbits. With one swift movement, the guard threw the spear, causing the rabbits to scatter towards the center of the clearing.

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    The pair released their arrows with a soft twang, watching as they flew through the air, itching, striking a rabbit cleanly. Both rabbits fell with barely any sound. The guard swooped in, tagging each with a ribbon representing each of them, and scooped them into a sack. With a quick group consensus, they all remounted and continued to the next prey.

    As they continued along the forest path, something caught Kaisan''s eye, and he slipped off his horse. Rhae followed suit behind him, crouching low to the ground as he noticed Kai''s focus on something in the distance. Following his gaze, Rhae spotted the fur of a fox in the underbrush. Keeping silent, Kai moved forward with the grace of a predator, going unnoticed by the fox.

    Kaisan notched his arrow, taking careful aim. He released it with practiced precision and speed. The arrow struck the fox, causing the creature to release a short yelp before collapsing. He quickly approached the animal to tag it with his ribbon before the guard stepped forward to add it to the sack.

    Rhae admired how swift Kai was. His aim was always accurate and clean. The way he moved confidently and quickly showed the talent and effort that had gone into his practice. Though Kaisan had previously told him about his daily training with no practical skills involving actual events, hunting seemed to be second nature to him to the point it looked effortless.

    Do nobles usually have that much time to put into a hobby like hunting? A tinge of concern welled inside of Rhae, once again bringing up the question of his lover''s identity. With a slight frown and a shake of his head, he walked up behind Kaisan, who was cleaning the arrow he retrieved.

    "We''re making good progress, at a decent speed," he commented, patting Kaisan''s shoulder with a soft smile. Kai nodded as he placed the arrow back into his quiver and flashed a quick grin over his shoulder.

    "Hope you can keep up with me," Kai threw back at him, enjoying the twitch of Rhae''s eyebrows at the challenge. "It''s two-to-one right now. Better pick up the speed."

    The knight guard following behind them coughed as he attempted to hide his laugh. Rhae shot his eyes towards the guard and clicked his tongue in response.

    "I apologize for being so enchanted by my lover that I was too distracted from the hunt," Rhae replied loudly, silencing the guard and causing Kaisan''s entire face to turn red. Kai stomped over in a huff, keeping his back to Rhae, who chuckled at the sight.

    As they managed to continue their hunt, the remainder of their time in the small beasts'' forest was divided between pheasants and slimes¡ªthe rabbits and foxes were either already hunted by others or had managed to hide from their group well enough.

    As they started making their way back, Rhae''s mind wandered back to the crown prince who had watched them during the speech. Something about it felt unsettling to Rhae, and the passing remark from Kaisan that made it seem like it wasn''t a big deal only brought up concerns. He shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. Being distracted during a hunt wasn''t the most brilliant move, and he needed to redirect his focus.

    A sudden rustle nearby brought Rhae back into focus. The group froze, and the guarding knight signalled no one to move. Everyone quietly held the reins of their horses, looking in the direction of the sound.

    A wild bore trodded slowly through a bush, the ray of sunlight gleaming off its tusks. It was a massive creature covered in bristly fur and many noticeable scars. It snorted, its tiny eyes scanning the area warily. The group looked at each other in confirmation. Other hunters must have chased the boar to this area because it was too high a level of prey to hunt for the skill of this area.

    As the group watched the boar, they exchanged one more glance and smiled. They all decided they were up for a challenge and to find who among them would be the victor who finished it off. As the boar looked their way, they took off in sync towards it.

    <hr>

    "That was a good hunt," Kaisan said as he stretched, his body sore and tired from the chase with the boar. He looked towards Rhae and the guard as they hoisted the boar onto the back of the guard''s horse.

    "Well done," the guard smiled at the group.

    "I did do well, didn''t I, Lord Kaisan?" Rhae smugly commented, destroying any sense of camaraderie they had built up during the hunt. Kai''s mouth gaped open in shock.

    "Shameless," he mumbled after a moment.

    "I''m starting to think that''s your favourite word," Rhae retorted, the sun illuminating his face through the canopy. Kaisan groaned and mounted his horse.

    "We need to head back. Before everyone can move to the Ridotto tonight, they must assess the prey for the awarding ceremony."

    "We''re gambling night? Is there strip poker?" Rhae teased, mounting his horse as well. Kaisan fired a look filled with daggers, refusing to reply to such a vulgar comment in the company of others.

    "Legal gambling hosted by the imperial family. There will be nothing done to tarnish their name," Kaisan finally replied, biting his tongue.

    The festival sounds greeted them in full swing as they emerged from the forest. The remaining hunters worked their way to the stage to count the hunted prey. The air was infused with the aroma of freshly cooked meat and the sound of music where the tea tables were originally set up earlier in the day.

    The group made their way to the tallying judges to count their catches for the record, and by their choice of hunting grounds, neither of them made it within the top ten. With a laugh, Kaisan and Rhae thanked the guard and made their way to the tables arranged for an open-air night of gambling.

 Chapter 14: The Seventh Day - Part 1

    Kaisan groaned as his body felt heavy and restricted. A part of him in the back of his mind kept flashing that he was going to fall, and he couldn''t fight that nagging feeling as he attempted to stay asleep. Against his better judgment, he squeezed his eyes open and quickly sucked his breath inwards in surprise. His face hovered above the floor, and his arm hung down loosely in his field of vision.

    After taking a moment to gain his barrings and willing away the sharp pains of pins and needles in his arm, he realized he was sleeping on the end of the bed, left to hang over the edge. As he tried to push himself up, he heard a groan, and some striction tightened around his waist, holding him down. Attempting to see while he was held face down on the bed was a difficult feat.

    When he wiggled just enough to gain more freedom of movement, he managed to look back and realize that the lower half of his body was holding down - or suffocating, Rhae - whose head was missing beneath either the covers or their half-unbuttoned jackets and blouses. He realized they both returned so exhausted they just plopped onto the bed, fully dressed in many layers of formalwear. The only things that made it off his body were his shoes, one sock, half a jacket, and a few buttons from his dress shirt.

    The dizzying sensation and nausea overtook Kaisan as he tried to pull himself into an upward position. His hand wasn''t weighed down by lack of blood circulation and flew up to cover his mouth. As gently as possible to not upset his stomach and to not wake Rhae, he attempted to kick himself free from the arms that restrained him as he ungracefully rolled himself to the edge of the bed, where he slid down to the ground and crawled his way to the water basin to clean his face.

    As he stared down at his rippled reflection, he deeply regretted the gambling of cards and dice - along with the incessant drinking, until the early hours. The Ridotto, after the completion of the hunting contest, was most definitely a success for the Imperial family and among the nobles who loved to gamble. But bad behaviour was infectious, and Rhae and himself seemed to be too into the games for two people who are not a fan of gambling.

    With a shaky hand and legs resembling newborn fawns, Kaisan pulled himself up to reach for the call rope before making his way to the chair by the door to wait. After a few moments, a quiet knock came, and the door opened. The servant quietly approached Kai, who was sprawled on the winged-back chair as if he knew exactly why he was called, and handed over a hot hangover remedy.

    "Richard, please prepare a light brunch for us," Kaisan quietly groaned, taking the drink while holding the bridge of his nose. "As well as clothes. Arrange outfits for the afternoon sports scheduled for today, and bring my outfit for the grand ball tonight."

    Kaisan''s personal servant, Richard, nodded and quietly moved to the bathroom to prepare the tub. Once the bath was ready, he gave a bow and left the room, gently shutting the door behind him. After a few moments more, the dishevelled young man finally gathered the energy to move to the bathroom.

    After several moments of fumbling with his buttons, Kaisan could finally remove his clothing and slip into the tub. He soaked his head and slicked it back from his forehead before he leaned his neck against the tub''s lip. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he squeezed his eyes closed, shutting out the late morning sun streaming through the large windows.

    "An ineffable beauty is laying naked and dripping wet before my very eyes," a low voice rumbled from the bathroom doorway leading from the bedroom. Kaisan rolled his eyes open, shaking his head at the corny statement coming from the gorgeous man who watched him. How could you not invite me for a viewing? I feel inspiration¡ªin a great many areas."

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    "Good afternoon to you as well, Rhae," Kaisan groaned, lowering himself into the water. Rahe chuckled as he entered the bathroom, removing his clothes to join in the tub.

    "You can''t escape me by such a simple method, love," Rhae smirked, lowering himself into the water on the opposite side. Kaisan said nothing but lifted his foot to kick Rhae''s shoulder. Rhae laughed and tried to grab the swinging shin to pull himself closer, but Kai shook him off.

    "Stay over there; don''t bother me," he spat, splashing his foot down into the water while kicking a few times at Rhae''s rubs, who winced in response but smiled nonetheless. "What a sucker¡­"

    "Do you need me to-"

    "Enough! Dear goddess, don''t finish what you were saying," Kaisan covered his ear, his face red.

    "Yes, yes. I listen well to my wife," Rhae nodded, closing his eyes.

    "Who''s the wife?!" Kai growled as he lowered his face into the water, spitting bubbles out of spite.

    "Would you like me to wear the dress for our wedding? If that''s your demand, I''ll follow," Rhae gently smiled, stroking Kai''s shin.

    "No one''s wearing a damn dress!" he snapped, sitting upright, his face filled with exasperation. "Shut up and bathe before I kick you into the hallway fully nude. We still have some scheduled events to attend today."

    "We played until almost dawn this morning. Must we go do more? Even I would like a morning off," Rhae sarcastically shook his head, pretending to be fed up with events.

    "These are events that you usually don''t get to participate in with such large numbers of the nobility!" Kaisan excitedly waved his hands. "I usually just play with my cousins or grandfather when they visit - which isn''t too often. My older brother may be talented in the art of swords, but he does not enjoy getting dirty and playing any sport for ''fun'' when he could be doing ''more productive things'' - or so he says."

    "So you say, but we just mainly play with each other," Rhae laughed, rolling his eyes to look out the window. All he could think about for a moment was that this was the first time his lover directly mentioned one of his siblings.

    "That was only the small events! In the bigger events, we competed against each other and many others. Those are networking and team-building events!"

    "Your age is showing, sounding fresh from the royal academy," Rhae chuckled, resulting in another kick to his abdomen. "Urgh, what cute events are we playing today?"

    "The servants have gone to prepare us a light brunch and outfits for our activities this afternoon. Everything scheduled is light since we have the grand ball tonight."

    "Ah, the finale. We can finally leave here and not have to worry about those pesky people trying to intervene," the older man clicked his tongue in annoyance.

    "Anyways, it''s just trucco, jeu de boules and quoits for the afternoon," Kaisan rolled his eyes.

    "A good ol'' game of boules, huh? I haven''t played a round since during a civil land dispute at the borders, and the military needed something to pass the time," Rhae mused.

    "Yes, yes. Keep reminding me how much of an old man you are¡­"

    "I''m not even thirty yet!" Rhae faked a gasp, causing Kaisan to laugh and Rhae''s shoulders to shake with mirth. The bath water splashed out of the tub, soaking the floor.

    <hr>

    When they came out from the bathroom, their brunch and clothes were arranged for them, and they were met with a timely knock on the bedroom door. Richard entered with a cart of fresh coffee and juice, which Kaisan dashed over to in his robe¡ªthe aroma of dark brewed coffee hitting his nose and kicking his addiction into high gear.

    "Finally, I feel alive!" Kaisan sighed, plopping down at the table as he sipped half the cup in one gulp. Rhae shook his head as he finished drying his hair, nodding his thanks to Richard as he sat down across from Kai.

    "Thank you for the clothes, sir," Rhae turned to him as he placed Rhae''s preferred coffee in front of him. The servant nodded and took his leave. Rhae turned back to his lover, who was popping a crumpet into his mouth. "Can''t we stay indoors? I can get another portrait of you painted instead. I have so many ideas."

    "No, paint from memory," Kaisan replied sternly. Rhae sighed, looking at his paints, which will go untouched another day.

 Chapter 15: The Seventh Day - Part 2

    Trucco was the more popular of the three relaxed events in the early afternoon, with the largest gathering of nobles attending the competitiveness of the sport¡ªand being such a competitive game, of course, Kaisan needed to face off against Rhae.

    Rhae gave a long sigh as he watched Kai skip with a broad grin plastered to his face. He spun the large cue before tapping the palm-sized metal ball through a set of rings in a row. His chipper skips and hops over the cue as he moved to each set of hoops, making it hard for Rhae not to laugh. He turned away to hide his face to cough or clear his throat, his shoulders shaking in response.

    Kaisan did notice but scoffed it off since he was in such a good mood. Rhae bit his lip as he followed behind, keeping up easily with each pass through the rings. Kai would do a few loops. Half jogging as he did so and running up behind Rhae to give a small smack on the shoulder with each victory.

    Rhae would occasionally reach his hand out each time his lover passed to either swiftly run his hand through Kaisan''s hair or a quick squeeze of a cheek. Kai''s neck flushed as he swatted the older man, embarrassed at the public display of affection. When he finally won every round, he ran and jumped onto Rhae''s back with glee.

    Taking advantage of this moment before Kaisan became physically shy again, he grabbed Kai''s legs tightly and spun them both in circles. The unconsenting passenger wrapped his arms tightly around the driver''s neck, holding on for dear life as he squeezed his eyes tightly closed and gave a low wail. With a bellied laugh, Rhae let them both fall back on the grass.

    Kaisan struggled to free himself, dizzy from the spinning and the leftover effects from his hangover. He protested by kicking Rhae''s back but was only met with a laugh. With absolutely no help from Rhae, Kai eventually freed himself and just stood above Rhae as he attempted to catch his breath, glaring down at him.

    "Fight me," Kaisan said, monotoned.

    "You already won," Rhae joked from the ground, laying flat on his back and looking up at his lover''s heavily contrasted silhouettes against the afternoon sun. "Besides, I could never fight the love of my life. And if we wanted to settle a disagreement physically, we could take it to the bedroom."

    Kaisan''s face contorted as he clicked his tongue and walked away, handing the cue to the waiting servant. Rhae chucked as he got up, and another servant came forward to help dust him off. He nodded his thanks and strolled quickly after his lover.

    "You only throw the words'' I love you'' around during times like these," Kaisan grumbled, kicking dirt as he took one of the paths towards another field.

    "That''s not true," Rhae blinked slowly, thinking back.

    "Ah, that''s right. You also tell me in bed," Kaisan clicked his tongue in disappointment. Rhae stopped in surprise. He darted forward, blocking Kai''s path, and grabbed both hands. Kaisan looked off to the side, cheeks puffed out as he pouted. Rhae brought his hands up to his lips and kissed each knuckle.

    "My beautiful Kaisan, mysterious lord, secretly a fairy prince, my enchantress, love of my life."

    "That''s embarrassing, stop."

    "Kaisan," Rhae said more seriously, meeting his eyes. "Nothing is embarrassing about being with you, participating in normal couple activities, and being in love with you."

    "Rhae¡­" Kaisan groaned, eyes darting around to ensure no one was watching, but Rhae wasn''t having it. He got down on one knee while still holding Kai''s hands in his own.

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    "Lord Kaisan, I love you. I enjoy every day with you. You steal my breath away. I secretly want to lock you away and paint a thousand portraits of you, making a private gallery I can view whenever you are out of my sight. When I open my eyes and see you" sleeping next to me, I feel like you are the sun itself, blinding my eyes. Edging you brings me delight-

    "What the hell-"

    "You bring immense joy to my dull life and inspire me. You are my very muse, and you make me desperate for every morsel of affection that you give me. You do such a good job cumming to me-"

    "Is this supposed to be a confession, or are you trying to convince me to the bedroom?! We are in public!"

    "My love for you may feel based it is entirely based on lust-"

    "It''s not?!"

    "Shh. Pay attention."

    "I am! I''m responding, aren''t I? Trying speaking more appropriately in public, please."

    "Kaisan."

    "What?"

    "Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

    "... I''ll think about it."

    "Kaisan."

    "Don''t rush me. If your proposal was normal, I wouldn''t have thought about it," Kaisan sighed, pulling Rhae to his feet as he rolled his eyes. When he looked at the man who towered above him, Rhae had a smirk on his face. Of course, he was playing around. "Is a proposal to joke about?"

    "I meant every word," Rhae nodded with a serious face. Kaisan swatted his arm.

    "No one proposes like that. I took you to be a serious man, not someone to humiliate me with such vulgar words publicly."

    "I would never do such a thing, but I believe in the right place at the right time."

    "Oh?"

    "I promise to do it right tonight at the ball," Rhae chuckled, leaning forward and kissing Kaisan''s forehead. Kai looked up at his, eyes filled with distrust. "I will use beautiful words that will woe the entire room and no doubt will be found anywhere. There will be not a single moment that will embarrass or humiliate you, and when nobles talk about our proposal, it''ll be because of jealousy and admiration for the devotion of our love."

    "Not sure if this counts as a silver tongue. You gave me goosebumps, not the good kind."

    "I love you, Kaisan."

    "You''d better."

    "And what about me?" Rhae fake pouted, grumbling.

    "I''ll think about it," Kaisan replied, fighting back a smile.

    "What about what you whispered in my ear the other morning?"

    "Weren''t you asleep?" Kaisan gasped, pushing Rhae away.

    "How can I sleep with the fairy prince next to me who could run away at any moment," Rhae chuckled, wrapping his arms around Kaisan''s waist. "So please tell me, I''m feeling insecure."

    "I lobe who," Kaisan mumbled, burying his face in Rhae''s shirt.

    "Pardon you?" Rhae asked, attempting to hold back a laugh. "I can''t hear you. Are you confessing to me or my clothes? I personally thought you liked my clothes off-"

    "Stop!" Kaisan threw his hands up to cover Rhae''s mouth. "I said I love you, okay? Stop being so crude, please!"

    Rhae laughed, picked Kaisan up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Kaisan didn''t fight it since it meant Rhae would finally stop talking. Rhae smiled at his lover and gently put him back on the ground.

    "Let''s go," Rhae said, gently clasping their hands together and tugging Kaisan to follow him.

    "Where to?" Kai asked in confusion.

    "You wanted to play boules and quoits, remember?" Rhae chuckled. Kaisan smiled broadly.

    "Yes! I need to kick your ass and pay you back. We''ll place some bets on who wins, and I will beat you again."

    "We''ll see," Rhae chuckled as they moved to the next field closer to the guest palace.

    "Why are you being so weird today?" Kaisan asked. "You''re acting out of character."

    "Someone called me an old man, so I picked up some things from you."

    "I don''t use such vulgar language!" Kaisan gasped, flabbergasted.

    "Hmm, you should only keep that open when we''re alone," Rhae smiled, stopping to run his thumb over Kai''s bottom lip.

    "For the love of the goddess, stop!" Kaisan begged, walking ahead and pulling Rhae behind him out of shame - hiding his face. Rhae chuckled.

    "That''s right, my lover''s a good boy," Rhae nodded. Kaisan groaned.

    "Promise me that tonight will be decedent, and any word that leaves your mouth will be as pretty as flowers and butterflies."

    "I''ll behave tonight, promise," Rhae reassured Kaisan from behind, who kept walking, choosing to ignore him.

    "I''ll ignore you if you embarrass me in front of everyone. My entire family will be there, and we must convince them at least if I want to leave here with you."

    "Yes, my dear. Anything for you."

    "I''ll pretend you don''t exist if you pull a stunt like this again."

    "I know, my dear," Rhae repeated, nodding with a blissful smile. Kaisan stopped and looked back at Rhae, confused.

    "I body-checked you to the ground during mob football¡­ How am I like a deer?"

    "Hahaha," Rhae laughed, choosing not to respond to the most innocent thing he''d ever been asked by another adult. "Let''s go play some more before the big event."

 Chapter 16: Seventh Night - Part 1

    "That is the most handsome thing I''ve seen you wear," Rhae whistled from behind as Kaisan slid on the white noble military jacket with gold accents, brass buttons, and a gold aiguillette hung over his right shoulder and attached to his higher-mid buttons. His sleek black dress pants had a white and gold stripe that ran down on the outer seam. A red ribbon wrapped around his waist, tied neatly to his left side. Rhae wondered if he was sending his lover off to his military appointment.

    Rhae wore a three-piece, cream twill, narrow-lapel morning suit with a twill teal vest and a matching teal tie. Rhae placed his teal handkerchief in his breast pocket and attached his family gold pocket watch and chain. The top was engraved with his family crest, a detailed marlet with a diamond checkered background. And finally, he pocketed his family ring in its case.

    When they got to the highlight of the banquet, he would propose to Kaisan with his family ring. It should be enough to get across to the observing nobles that it wasn''t a short love affair or as a paramour. He was ready to throw half his family assets if need be if it''d be convincing as dowry. He knew that Kaisan was closely related to the Rishar ducal family - who wouldn''t recognize that famous peony-pink hair that passed down to even distant relatives.

    The family was so renowned for its beauty that kings over the generations always chased it if a daughter was born. The current head of the ducal family is an elderly man with many children and grandchildren who loves his family very much and remains politically neutral. The only thing that worried Rhae was Kaisan''s comments about an arranged political marriage to some foreign royal''s harem.

    The Duke of Rishar would never allow the sale of any of this family¡ªthey are all pretty free-range. But whoever Kaisan''s father was seemed to be trash enough or powerful enough to get around that - or Kaisan was just too distant of a family member who the Duke wouldn''t notice. Rhae clenched the ring box tightly in his pocket before releasing it to fix his tie.

    "It''s not like you to space out," Kaisan commented, walking over to assist with the tie. "Hmm, let''s go with an Eldredge knot since today is a special occasion."

    Kaisan rewrapped the tie around Rhae''s neck, overlapping it several times to create a knot resembling layered scales. He smiled proudly at his work before dusting off invisible particles from Rhae''s shoulders and double-checking the positioning of the breast pocket handkerchief. After finishing, he took a few steps back and nodded in satisfaction.

    "My groom is so perfect. I wish to both show him off and hide him away from unwelcomed viewers," Kaisan clicked his tongue. Rhae chuckled, walking forward until he stood before Kai again, reaching out to adjust his parted bangs.

    "Will you lock me away in some tower in the fairy realms so no one can see me?"

    "I have your meals planned out," Kaisan played along with a smile.

    "To keep me healthy, I need lots of daily activity."

    "I''ll open the window for you," Kaisan shrugged. Rhae cupped his cheek.

    "I need more strenuous activities if I''m restrained to a bedroom," he leaned in and whispered through the strands of pink hair around his lover''s ear. He chuckled as they turned a dark shade of red.

    "Always so vulgar, even on a day like this," Kaisan waved him off, clicking his tongue as he spun away from Rhae and walked towards a wood box his servant had brought.

    "You can''t change an already changed man," Rhae smiled sweetly.

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    "What is that supposed to mean?" Kaisan threw over his shoulder without looking back.

    "I already became a changed man when I met you. I became emotional, obsessive, jealous, proud, and loving - and you want me to change back into the cold, heartless man I was before I met you? I could never."

    "I know I''ve said it before, but I really can''t tell if that counts as a silver tongue or you just blinded me," Kaisan smiled, taking an item out of the wooden box. Rhae watched from behind.

    "So what has my little goblin been hiding over there to himself?" he asked jokingly.

    "It''s a family heirloom," Kaisan turned and smiled shyly. "It was a gift my mother originally received from her father and tried to give my father, but he hated it and gave it back to her. I wanted to give it to someone who would appreciate them and, at the very least, deserve them."

    Kaisan stepped forward and clipped a gold tie-clip with a kunzite gemstone in a teardrop as the eyepiece of the marlet engraved on it - confirming Rhea''s earlier suspicions. The other was a man''s gold wedding ring with two intertwining bands that weaved together like two people. The centerpiece was a matching kunzite gemstone. An engraving on the inside of the ring read, ''I hold your faith, and you hold mine.'' Kaisan gently took Rhae''s left hand and slid the ring onto his ring finger.

    "This was the longest week of my life," Kaisan awkwardly joked. "I mean, yes, we''re rushing this. But life is short, and options are limited when choosing to marry out of love or arrangement. But since you chased me so hard, and I''m pretty forgiving, I guess I''ll take responsibility."

    Rhae stared at his hand as his eyes widened, absolutely floored. He was so focused on the perfect proposal in front of everyone that he let Kaisan beat him to it - showing him that from the start, it was always about just the two of them.

    "Kaisan¡­" was all Rhae could say, at a loss for words. "I never expected you to take my breath away with such sweet words."

    "That just sounds like you never expected me to say anything flattering, romantic, or anything noteworthy¡­" Kaisan rebutted.

    "It''s just because you''re so lovely," Rhae replied, trying to suppress a smirk. Kaisan rolled his eyes with an exaggerated sigh.

    "You just admitted only my looks matter," Kaisan sighed, playing along. "I''d like to remind you that I have yet to accept your proposal."

    "You won''t say no in front of everyone, will you?" Rhae faked a hurt tone, feigning a pain in his chest as he leaned forward.

    "We''re running late," Kaisan turned away, hiding his smirk from the dark-haired man who chased behind him.

    <hr>

    They entered the grand ballroom with Kaisan''s hand resting on Rhae''s inner elbow in the typical escorting manner. The room had changed quite a bit from the masquerade a few nights back - which, at the time, had sheer and silk draped everywhere to add to the mystique.

    Now, it was wide and clean of obstructions, showing off the architecture, beautiful detailing, marble statues, gold engravings, and chandeliers. It was a breathtaking sight, with a shallow grand staircase at the center rear that led to the long table arranged for the imperial family members before splitting off in both directions against the back wall.

    The grand ball will begin with mingling and dancing. Then, there will be an intermission during which a quartet band will perform a short ballet show in the gardens. Once that is completed, everyone will return inside for dinner, followed by a speech from the imperial family about this year''s festivities.

    Rhae last attended the founding festival when he was eighteen, shortly after receiving his title. He hadn''t returned to the capital since due to the power struggle with the vassals, territorial disputes, and the civil war that took place on the borders. He took a long look around the room before looking down at Kaisan to his right.

    Though he couldn''t meet Kaisan earlier, he was glad he didn''t put it off for another year. Following such an enchanting, spirited creature through the maze was - to him, the best decision of this life. Rhae glanced down at the ring Kaisan had gifted him, and he couldn''t suppress the stupidly large grin that broke out on his face.

    "Try to act a bit more normal, please," Kaisan whispered, chastising him. Rhae covered his mouth with his gloved hand and massaged the muscles around his mouth in an attempt to work his face into a more normal expression. Kaisan snorted in response.

    "Look who is acting out now," Rhae whispered, winking. Kaisan slid his hand down the forearm he was holding and into Rhae''s hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed his knuckles.

    "Try not to pull any fancy dancing moves this time," Kaisan replied, tilting his head to the dance floor. Rhae gave his signature charming smile and led the way.

 Chapter 17: The Seventh Night - Part 2

    As the murmur of nobles in the ballroom grew louder with anticipation, the orchestra''s majestic sound reached their ears. Rhae led Kaisan to the polished marble dance floor. As Rhae firmly clasped Kai''s hand, they exchanged a glance, a smile reaching both eyes. The tension was heavy as they readied, and everything seemed to fade around them. Right now, they only exist to each other.

    "This is my favorite part," Rhae whispered.

    "Which? We haven''t even started yet¡­" Kaisan clicked his tongue playfully.

    "Holding you in my arms, sweeping you off your feet, moving as if we''re one," Rhae smiled his charming smile, giving Kaisan butterflies.

    "You may be lead, but I''ll be the one to sweep you off your feet," Kai shot back, his signature toothy, boyish grin flashing back at Rhae - who chuckled in response.

    The strings plucked as the first notes of the waltz began, filling the ballroom. The gentle strings and wind instruments bounced off of every surface, guiding those on the dancefloor into motion. Rhae''s hand slid naturally to the small of Kaisan''s back. Kai''s own hand rested on Rhae''s shoulder, fingers delicately digging into the fabric, causing creases.

    Moving as one, their steps clicked with each floor contact with practiced ease. Rhae''s confident footwork guided Kaisan around the room as they gracefully spun, following the music''s rhythm with effortless skill. The warm candlelight reflected off of Kai''s jeweled eyes, standing out against his white and gold attire.

    Rhae dipped Kaisan in one fluid motion as they moved in harmony. Rhae''s teal eyes curved into crescent moons as he watched Kaisan''s peony-pink hair fan out as he pulled back up, catching the light - inspiring him to paint another portrait later. The heavy tension almost overtook them briefly as Kaisan''s leg hooked around Rhae''s leg. He flashed the taller man a smirk as he untangled their bodies, continuing the waltz.

    As their pace quickened, Rhae tightened his hold on his lover, their bodies glued together as they twirled. Kaisan''s breath hitched in his throat, and he lifted his head to stare into Rhae''s eyes¡ªwhich were gleaming with a mischievous spark. Kai quickly looked back towards their entwined hands, his ears turning a deep shade of red.

    "Control yourself," Kaisan whispered with a strained voice. "You''re poking me."

    "My apologies, my love," Rhae closed his eyes with a gentle smile. "It''s a natural reaction when you''re so beautiful and pressed against me."

    "We''re in public," Kaisan groaned, embarrassed, leaning in and resting his head on Rhae''s shoulder. Rhae chuckled, the sound reverberating through his chest before he quickly pecked Kai''s ear.

    "You just make it so easy to love you," Rhae replied, his voice filled with warmth. Kaisan''s lips curled into a soft smile as he temporarily closed his eyes.

    "With that proposal, you won this round," he whispered from Rhae''s shoulder before picking up his head just as the waltz began to slow, their intimate moment nearing its end. With a final, sweeping dip, Rhae and Kai''s faces were mere inches apart, breaths tickling each other. The spectators applauded as the dance finished, and some couples left the dancefloor for a break.

    "It''s not about winning or losing," Rhae stated, stepping back to bow before taking Kaisan''s hand to ready for the next dance. "Because this was never a game for me. It''s about our future together. And I refuse to let anything get in the middle of that."

    "Speaking like a true, love-struck fool," Kaisan shook his head with a smirk, stepping up against Rhae once again.

    "Of course, because I do love you. Truly," Rhae stared Kaisan directly into his eyes, wearing a serious expression. Kaisan''s hand reached up to cup Rhae''s cheek, who turned to kiss his palm. In response, Kaisan leaned on the tips of his toes and kissed Rhae in the middle of the dance floor as the next round of waltz started. A passing whistle drew them apart, and they laughed before they joined the others twirling around them.

    After a few rounds of waltz, they decided to take a breather, exiting the dance floor and heading for the refreshment table. Rhae handed Kaisan a glass of champagne as he picked a glass of red wine for himself. Kai rolled his eyes with a smile but drank regardless.

    "I have to run away for a moment and check in with my family," Kaisan said, downing the rest of his glass. "After the royal announcement, let''s discuss everything with my family before they try to sneak out early."

    "Let''s do that," Rhae replied, wrapping his arm around Kaisan and kissing his forehead. "Come back quickly."

    "Oh, I will. I''m starving," he responded, turning away towards the crowd. "I''ll meet you in the garden for the quartet!"

    Rhae waved him off, topping up his glass before heading out through the open doors leading to the garden. It had reached a point in the evening when they encouraged the guests to move outdoors to enjoy entertainment in the gardens while switching the ballroom into a banquet hall. He made his way to the garden stage, sitting in the aisle seat in the third row back from where the short ballet performance would be held.

    It didn''t take long before Kaisan came down the aisle searching for Rhae, an annoyed expression etched onto his face. As he spotted his lover, his uncharacteristically heavy footsteps dragged him at a slow pace as he ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

    "Is everything all right?" Rhae asked in concern, reaching his hand out to guide Kaisan to his seat beside him. Kai plopped himself down, slouching as he crossed his arms and threw his head back with a grunt.

    "Just a bunch of annoying things. I was setting things up for us after, so it was less of a shock and easier to accept. I went to my grandfather for help since he was the most against my father''s plan to marry me off politically. Then my father overheard, and now he wants me to be a part of the official introduction - which wasn''t originally the plan¡­"

    "Introduction?" Rhae asked, confused. Kaisan sighed.

    "It means for a good portion of the banquet. I have to stand next to that insufferable man and play the good son while standing next to my siblings, with whom I''ve never had the best relationship, and play along as a valiant supporter."

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    "Ah," Rhae responded empathetically.

    "This was supposed to be our night," Kaisan groaned, leaning sideways and roping his head on Rhae''s shoulder. Rhae reached up and patted him from behind to console him.

    "Shall we run away?" Rhae joked. "I can have them ready my carriage for after the banquet."

    "Tempting¡­" Kaisan grumbled, turning his head to bury it in his lover''s neck. He breathed in to calm himself down, then sat straight in his chair.

    "Feeling calmer?" Rhae asked with a chuckle. Kaisan shot him a side eye before nodding.

    "Just be prepared for a war of wits. And be sure to think of at least a thousand reasons to convince them of our marital union," Kaisan said, reaching out to pat Rahe''s that rested on his thigh. Rhae turned his hand around to clasp Kai''s.

    "I''ll list a million," he smiled in return. Kaisan rolled his eyes before looking at the stage, where the dancers were readying to start their performance.

    ***

    As they left their seats after the spectacular dance, Richard - Kaisan''s butler, approached and whispered something in his head, then stood back for a response. Kaisan clicked his tongue, glaring at the banquet hall.

    "I''m being beckoned by father," Kaisan turned to Rhae, explaining the situation. "My cousins will be waiting for you at the banquet hall entrance, so join their table."

    Kaisan stepped in front of Rhae, bringing his hands to his cheeks and pulling him down so they were both at eye level. Rhae flashed him a smile, and Kai smirked in response before passionately kissing Rhae as people walked around them in the aisle. Gasps and whistles passed them, but they paid no mind until Richard cleared his throat, reminding him of the lack of time. They pulled apart, staring at each other for a few moments.

    "Wait for me," Kaisan whispered, looking down at the ring on Rhae''s finger and bringing it to his lips with a gentle kiss. Rhae brought it to his own lips and kissed it as well.

    "Forever," Rhae whispered back. Kaisan paused before continuing.

    "... I love you, Rhae," Kaisan replied. "I''ll be right back."

    "And I''ll be right here, my dear," Rhae ran his hand through Kai''s hair. "I love you too."

    Kaisan nodded before turning to Richard, stopping to look back at Rahe nervously, who waved him off with a smile. Rhae followed behind until he got to the entrance from the gardens and spotted the cousins grouped together. He approached the family with a warm smile.

    "Isn''t it my favorite bouquet of flowers," Rhae joked with the group. They all broke into a fit of giggles, swarming him and grabbing his arms to pull him inside. Rhae nodded to the eldest cousin, Cicilia, who welcomed him.

    "Our new brother has come to eat with us. Let''s guide him safely," she told the group in a playful tone. Rhae laughed.

    "Thank you for welcoming me without my dear fairy around."

    "Do you call him that to his face?" Cicila asked, astonished.

    "I have, many times," Rhae smirked.

    "And you''re alive? I''m surprised he puts up with that with his personality. He''s not as sweet as he looks," She shook her head as she led the group to their assigned table.

    "He''s only a bit testy," Rhae commented.

    "Only a bit?" She replied in surprise, mouth agape. "With how he was raised and how his siblings and father treat him, he''s developed a pretty problematic personality. I assumed you both had a torrid relationship, so I wasn''t expecting it to be a long-term thing developing into marriage. I apologize. I don''t mean to offend you."

    "I''ve also changed quite a bit when I met him. Sometimes, it just takes meeting the right person," Rhae smiled. "So, no offense taken."

    "Hmm, we''ll see," she replied, looking down at the tie clip and down at the ring on his hand. "Maybe he has, but I don''t know you, my lord."

    "Understandable, but there is nothing but time now."

    "True," she nodded, then noticed an older man sitting down at the end of the table. "Grandfather is here, which means the imperial family will make their speech."

    Rhae looked over and saw the back of the head of the man she mentioned and nodded. He turned to look at the royal family table on the grand staircase, where the servants were finishing the meal placements before clearing their way. Trumpeters announced the king''s arrival.

    The whole room turned to the doors on the top right staircase that opened to the balcony, and a family with silver and gold hair emerged from the doorway. The middle-aged king with his metallic silver hair, known as the main trait of royal family members, stood before many of his children, who slowly lined up beside him, one by one.

    The first to the king''s left was the long silver-haired crown prince he and Kaisan had spotted previously at the hunting competition. Next to him was a young man with a short golden mullet, with features that reflected the current queen - who stood at the king''s right. Next to the queen stood another prince in his teens with a short bronze bob, and a girl of matching hair color and age stood beside him.

    Finally, on the king''s left side, a young man in his white military jacket with gold accents, gold aiguillette, and sleek black pants stood out from the rest of the royal family. His fluffy peony-pink fringe stood out. His face was expressionless, but he looked annoyed to be there, refusing to look up at the crowd or his family beside him.

    Rhae''s knees banged off the table as he flew out of his chair, his face contorting as his eyes never left the face of the prince, who wouldn''t even look his way. Cicilia looked up at him, concerned.

    "Lord Rhaegal, is everything all right?" She whispered, tugging his sleeve. He remained silent for a moment before finally addressing her.

    "Kaisan¡­ what''s his full name?" He asked slowly. Cicilia paused, understanding the question - her cousin never told him who he was.

    "... Kaisillian Arick Lainid, the third imperial prince of the Lainid Kingdom¡­" She replied as clearly as possible.

    "I thought he was of the Rishar family," Rhae hissed. Cicilia glanced at the balcony and clicked her tongue.

    "He is. His mother was grandfather''s eldest child. She died young because of the king''s greed, so grandfather has drew back his support for the royal family. No matter the generation, they refuse to leave our family in peace."

    Rhae''s face contorted, and he spun on the spot, leaving the banquet hall behind as Cicilia whispered loudly, begging him to return to his seat.

    ***

    Kaisan finally escaped from the long speech and returned to the family table below, ignoring all the stares from the attendees. As he approached, he noticed the table was strangely quiet. A weird atmosphere was noticed as soon as he got close enough to see none of his family members would look him in the eyes. He glanced around the table and noted that Rhae was missing.

    "Where''s Rhae?" Kaisan asked, walking up to his older cousin. Cicilia glanced up at him with a guilty look, pausing before speaking.

    "He left¡­ as soon as you were introduced as a royal, he left the table¡­"

    Kaisan froze. Seeing the look on their faces, he panicked and ran out of the banquet hall. He sped down the hallway faster than he moved for many activities throughout the week. He exited the banquet hall, tripping down the stairs as he took the shortcut through the gardens to the guest annex.

    As he entered the building, the other butler in charge of the annex was returning from the front of the building where carriages arrived. Kai ignored him and ran to the room assigned to Rhae. As he neared, he realized the bedroom doors were open, and his anxiety grew. He finally arrived, barely catching his breath before entering at full speed. The room was dark, the furniture had been returned to its proper locations, and no luggage or personal items could be found.

    Kaisan breathed heavily as he stepped towards the bed, noticing something sparkling in the moonlight. Standing at the bedside, he saw the ring he had given Rhae earlier in the day tossed on the bed - the only thing left behind. Kaisan grabbed it and ran for the front entrance, pushing himself even though he could hardly breathe. He ran through the open doors and looked down the long pathway - long emptied of any activity.

    "Your Highness?" approached Richard, looking concerned.

    "Where is he?"

    "... He left your Highness. Quite a while ago¡­"

    Kaisan brought the hand up to his chest, tears falling down his face as he watched down the road no one was coming back on, leaving nothing but carriage tracks behind. The more the tears fell, the harder it was for him to breathe. As Richard approached to check on his condition, Kai collapsed to his knees in a full sob, gripping the ring as close to him as possible while the agony of being abandoned overtook his entire being.

    --¨C¡ªSeason 1: Part 1 Complete¡ª--

 Chapter 18: The Day After

    The carriage shook as it traveled at high speeds, rocking with every larger stone it wheeled over due to its excessive weight. The early dawn light had finally started to peak, extending the reach of its rays through the carriage window and landing on the strikingly handsome face of the young lord you rested inside.

    He rubbed his tired eyes, dark and sunken from the lack of sleep caused by the constant shake throughout the night. The ride back to the territory would take over a month since his fife was in the far north of the kingdom, residing on the edge of the neighboring Empire¡ªwith whom they had been in consistent territory disputes for generations.

    He sighed in frustration, resting his head against the glass as he watched the trees speed past in a blur. The light rose more as the morning continued, eventually filling the cabin, reflecting off of metal, and refracting off a single pink gem¡ªfilling the roof with a colorful sparkle as if a pink and purple aurora was inside the vehicle with the lord and his aide.

    Rhae froze, looking down at the tie he had yanked off the previous night, throwing it to the ground in frustration. There, looking up at him, was the gold tie-clip with a kunzite gemstone in a teardrop as the eyepiece of the marlet engraved on it. The very one Kaisan had attached to his tie the night before. He had left the ring behind but had forgotten about the tie clip in his hurry. Out of sight, out of mind.

    He clicked his tongue in frustration, tearing his eyes away in disgust. Disgust at the prince who tricked him emotionally and physically, and disgusted with himself for falling for it. Of all the people he could fall for and claim to devote everything to, it had to be that damn royal family that ostracized his family, banished them to the outskirts, forced them to be defenders of the kingdom nonstop, and brought untold harm to his family.

    He moved his foot in an attempt to crush it beneath, but paused. It was a ducal family heirloom. He''d rather not be on the receiving end of the Duke''s wrath for destroying his deceased daughter''s keepsake. He groaned in both frustration and anger, looking back out the window.

    "Pick that thing up and keep it out of my sight," Rhae commanded, breaking the silence. His aide flinched, then looked down on the ground. He nervously reached for the tie, glancing up at his lord before quickly looking back, tucking it inside his jacket''s inner pocket.

    "How would you like me to dispose of it, my lord?" the aide asked. Rhae was silent while he thought, continuing to stare out the window, not even bothering to look at his aide.

    "Don''t. Just keep it out of sight. It belongs to an important family, and they may try to come retrieve it at a later date."

    "Yes, my lord," the aide nodded, confused. The ride continued like that for a long while until they finally passed the outer territory lines of the capital and officially started its pass through County Dunfort''s territory. "We''ll be arriving at the inn shortly, so you''ll be able to rest soon."

    "Fine, I''ll take my meal in my room," Rhae replied absently, eyes never moving from the scenery outside. The aide shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

    "My lord, what''s the plan going forward with our return?"

    "You should already know. That damn king probably already has the next civil war arranged to send me off to. We''ll most likely have little time to organize everything before I''m sent off again," Rhae sighed in frustration, sitting back in his seat and resting his head against the back of the carriage as his mind wandered. The worn, comfortable seats only slightly deafened the creaking of the carriage wheels over the stone and dirt road, making his body feel heavy.

    His entire thoughts were consumed by his week-long now ex-lover, now known as Kaisillian, the third prince of the Lanid kingdom. The thoughts kept him up a majority of the night, his restlessness disturbing his aide from sleeping. But no matter how hard he tried, sleep couldn''t be found.

    Each time he closed his eyes, all he could see was every single moment they spent together¡ªfrom their first meeting in the gardens to each time they participated in sporting events, painting him while he slept, and their intimate meals together. Even when Rhae tried to keep his eyes open, behind each blink was a flash of Kai''s smile. He wanted to open the carriage window and spit those thoughts away.

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    As the carriage slowed to a stop in front of the village inn, Rhae stopped and looked to the top of it, where one sizeable wooden case stood out. He frowned in abhorrence. Why did he even bother packing those things and bringing them with him? Ah, that''s right - because he wanted to leave nothing behind for that damned prince to hold on to.

    "Farren, when we get back, I want you to burn that entire trunk," Rhae said firmly as he turned away from the carriage, heading towards the inn entrance. The aide paused, glancing up at the luggage before quickly following behind.

    "Are you certain, my lord? You worked hard on those paintings and put a lot of material into them. We could always sell them for a profit¡­"

    "And have the royal family charge me for imperial blasphemy? Distributing vulgar images of not only a prince but a member of a ducal family? Our family is already partially exiled. We don''t need to have our title and land taken, too."

    "Ah¡­ I''m sorry, my lord¡­" Farren responded nervously. "I''ll be sure to do that when we return to the estate."

    Rhae waved his hand as he entered the inn. Farren scurried past him to speak to the staff about the prior arrangement for the rooms, obtaining the keys and handing Rhae the best available suite. The young lord looked at the key quietly and expressionlessly before making his way to his one-night abode.

    The lock clacked loudly, and the old wooden door creaked as it swung into the single-person room with an old balcony door on the opposite side. He walked across the small space, pulling the large, old blinds shut to block out all light before lying backward on the bed, resting his arm across his eyes with a sigh.

    "Foolish¡­" he mumbled, clenching his jaw in frustration. How could he chase after someone so feverishly? A bitter laugh bubbled up in his throat. Why was he so drawn to a stranger so much younger than him? Was he so materialistic that he only fell for physical appearances? To have fallen so deeply, completely giving himself to someone else - a man of all things when he was a lord who was expected to marry and have children.

    "Is that what I should do next?" he laughed at himself, exasperated. He rolled to his side on the bed, his hand habitually reaching out across the bed, only to be met with a cold and empty spot. His face contorted in pain. "Oh, what a living hell¡­"

    "My Lord, are you awake?" came a call and a knock at the door. Rhae remained silent and unmoving until the call and knock came again. With a heavy sigh, he pushed himself up and crossed the room to unlock the door.

    "What is it, Farren?" Rhae sternly asked, facing his secretary through the partially opened door. Farren flinched in response.

    "I have some paperwork you need to review before morning, My Lord. Once signed, I need to have it sent on ahead for the vessels," Farren replied nervously, hands shaking as he held the documents. Rhae sighed in annoyance, moving aside to let his secretary inside the room. Farren shuffled through to the small table and put the stack of papers down. Rhae picked up the papers, shuffling through them as Farren headed back for the door.

    "Farren," Rhae called out without looking up. "When you send these off to the vessels in the morning, I would also like to have them informed to start putting together a list of marriage candidates."

    "... Sir?" Farren asked hesitantly, his timid voice trembling. He was confused about this sudden development - especially after getting the rundown from the butler about his lord''s love affair over the past week during the festival. It was such a drastic change that his lordship was not known for. He didn''t know how to proceed. "Are you certain? Once the vessels get started, it''ll be near-impossible to change their minds¡­"

    "You should know better than to question me, Farren," Rhae replied sternly, giving a sharp look to his aide. "It''ll take time anyway, and I''ll be away for a while, dealing with the latest border conflict. They can take their time, but I have the final approval."

    "Yes, my lord," Farren replied with a quiet and strained voice, bowing his head before he turned and left the room, shutting the down behind him. Rhae put the stack of papers on the table, squeezing his eyes shut as he sat down. His face clenched tightly, and his hardened eyes bore holes through the papers in front of him. It was taking everything within him not to run back to the palace, as regret kept creeping up within him.

    Flashes of a memory of when Kaisan slipped the ring on his finger played in his vision. The ring he tossed on the bed in frustration when he left to show Kaisan as strictly as possible what he thought of their bond, and that anything they had was irreparable. With every breath he took, thoughts of that fae-like prince haunted him, unable to free him from those heavy and obsessive emotions.

    The silence in the old room with the occasional creak stretched onwards, filling Rhae''s head with relentless memories he wanted to remove. It was heavy and uncomfortable, with no escape. His mind easily wandered through every moment they shared, and he choked back a sob. Everything was tainted now. The dream he had of their future was nothing more than a falsity - a nightmare.

    Rhae''s fist gripped so tightly that his nails cut into his palms. He could still feel Kai''s passionate touch on his skin - still see those gem-like eyes staring wide up at him. Everything had felt so real, but he''d do everything in his power to rip it out from inside him. No matter how much he felt for that young man, he was only just one man after all - and he could survive the loss of one person.

    Rhae picked up the stack of papers once again to distract himself from thinking of his time in the capital any longer. And as the night reached its dawn, only the bitter taste of lost love and regret remained inside that modest inn''s room.