After taking it, the aches around his hips, his waist, and his back began to fade. It left him feeling utterly refreshed, and he swung his arm, trying to feel if the soreness was gone completely, and it was.

Then, did this work for the slight swelling he was feeling down there as well?

He felt a little sore around his hole, probably because it was his first time, and applied the cream the Duke had gotten from him after his bath.

"I got this in case you feel sore down there afterwards," The Duke had said just before Julian kicked him out to avoid fighting a siege battle first thing in the morning. "I can apply it for you if you want." He said, but Julian snatched it, turning his face away.

"Thank you, but I can manage on my own."

God knows that it wouldn’t end with just him applying the cream to his hole. The Duke seemed too sly to be trusted in that aspect.

But regardless, the Duke really did prepare everything. From the Lube to the soothing herbal cream.

It was as if he had been looking forward to this moment for a while.

The thought made Julian’s face burn with an intensity of how much the Duke might actually want him.

Never in his life had he been wanted like this, so the feeling was a bit strange and comforting.

"Phew, I shouldn’t be doing this now," Julian said to himself. "I need to get to my class with Lucius."

With the soreness and ache gone, he could now move without that awkward gait.

He gathered his leather-bound notebooks and a few charcoal pencils, heading toward the study.

He was excited to have their first lesson after a long time of being bedridden.

However, when he got to the library and pushed open the heavy oak doors, he didn’t just find his adorable and quiet student waiting for him. He found two more golden heads.

"You’re late, Master," a familiar, cocky boyish voice rang out.

Julian froze. Sitting at the long desk, adorable Lucius was in his usual spot, fiddling with his magic quill, but on both sides sat Prince Cassian and Princess Liora.

The Prince was leaning back in his chair, boots nearly hooking the table leg, while Liora was busily peeling the petals off a flower she’d brought from the garden.

"Your Highnesses?" Julian blinked, his steps halting at the door in surprise. "What are you doing here? Didn’t you return to the Palace last night?"

"We did," Cassian answered. "And now here we are. We’re going to take classes with you, Master."

"I thought our arrangement was for the Palace. And it’s every three days, so I do not have a schedule for you yet."

He looked between the prince and the princess. There was no way they didn’t know of the arrangement. He made it clear to them, and the Emperor should’ve sent a messenger to inform them of this as well.

But here they were.

"Three days is a long time, Master." Liora chirped, hopping down from her chair and skipping over to Julian, doing a little courtesy to flaunt her etiquette, but Julian could see the flaw in all of it.

She carried the grace of a princess, but she was at times a bit too impatient, which made her posture seem rushed.

"The Palace is boring. The tutors there just talk about history and never show us the ’cool’ plants you know about. So we told the guards to bring us here!"

Cassian snorted, his sharp eyes scanning Julian from head to toe.

"They only try to sing us praises and get on our good side," he added. "It’s clear what they’re trying to do."

Julian sighed and walked towards his table, placing down his teaching tools.

"And what do you think they are trying to do, your highness?"

"Get in the good grace of the Imperial family," He answered with no hesitation. "I know a sycophant when I see one."

He must’ve seen enough of it to know when they are being fake and intentional, just so they seem ’amazing’ to the twin heirs.

But the kids were too smart to be fooled.

"Besides, Uncle said we should ’familiarize’ ourselves with our new surroundings," he added. "This counts as familiarization."

Julian closed his eyes and lightly shook his head.

The kids of his enemy were now hovering around him. Was this a good sign or should he be worried?

Come to think of it, I haven’t checked their affection level recently. They’ve been coming so often that it makes me suspect it’s risen again.

He took a discreet look at the floating status windows of the royal siblings. And just as he suspected. It was a rise in affection level after all.

> [Target Prince Cassian — Affection Level: 45% — Status: Competitive, Intrigued, Observant]

> [Target: Princess Liora — Affection Level: 62% — Status: Eager, Adoring, Mischievous]

How was it that their affection level had already increased so much? He wasn’t even doing anything to particularly gain their favor, so it was a bit worrying.

"Why are you wearing that heavy coat indoors, Teacher?" Cassian asked suddenly, his eyes narrowing as he stood up and walked a slow circle around Julian, and Julian secretly swallowed. "It’s spring in the Capital. The sun is blaring outside, yet you’re covered up to your ears."

Julian felt a bead of sweat roll down his neck. This child was just too observant. But there was no way he would guess the reason behind it.

"I... I have a slight chill."

"A chill?" Liora tilted her head, reaching out to touch Julian’s hand. "But your hand is very hot! And look, Cassian, there’s a little purple spot peeking out right there!"

She pointed directly at the edge of his high collar, where a particularly stubborn mark from Alaric’s ’siege’ hadn’t been fully tucked away.

Julian immediately clamped his hand over his neck to hide it, smiling awkwardly.

"I was in the garden a little later yesterday," he said. "And so I got a slight chill, as well as," his eyes darted down as he said, "a mosquito bite."

Lucius scribbled something and then held it up right away: [WAS IT A BIG AND STUBBORN MOSQUITO? DOES IT HURT?]

Julian laughed nervously.

"Yes, Lucius. It was a rather big and stubborn mosquito." He said. ’Sorry, Lucien, but I don’t have a better explanation for the children. You’ll forgive me this time for calling you a mosquito, right?’

To quickly get on with the topic, he clasped his hands together.

"Alright, since you want to join our class, I won’t stop you." He announced. "But do know that I like it when my students are cooperative."

"We’ll do that." Liora nodded and quickly went to sit down.

"Prince Cassian?" Julian called, his eyes falling on the prince’s legs on the table.

He quickly got his leg down from the furniture and cleared his throat.

"I was just about to do that." He said, and Julian nodded in that not-so-believable manner.

"Then you’d better be faster than my observation next time." He said, and Cassian looked away, a light flush on his ear.

"What are we learning today?" Liora asked, and before Julian could respond, Lucius quickly scribbled down: [CONTINENTAL MAPS]