"That's not true."

Yuder calmly denied it.

"I was thinking the same thing."

Their eyes met. Within Kishiar’s darkened pupils—dimmed by the disguise artifact—Yuder saw the stars reflected clearly. Stars he had seen more times than he could count, that had once held no meaning at all, now looked indescribably special simply because Kishiar was here.

That’s what made this moment beautiful. And special.

It was similar, yet distinct, from the feeling he’d had when they’d stood before the sea in Peleta.

Somehow, Yuder felt this moment would stay with him—forever—tucked away somewhere deep in his heart.

Kishiar smiled brightly at Yuder’s words.

"Then shall we say we were both thinking the same thing?"

—We were both thinking the same thing. Right?

Yuder recalled the time he had once said something similar and smiled.

"Yes."

After they returned to the house, Yuder began preparing a meal for his guest. Making food for someone else in a place where he’d always been alone felt awkward—but now, even that awkwardness felt... welcome.

"What should I do?"

"It would be best if the guest just sat and waited. Serving is the host’s right."

"You've got an answer for everything now, don’t you?"

Of course—he’d learned from the best, hadn’t he?

Following old habit, Yuder lit the hearth, placed a pot and a pan over the fire. In the pot, he simmered a stew of chopped meat and vegetables. On the pan, he cracked six eggs at once, frying them alongside some sausage leftover from the butcher.

As the stew thickened and the ingredients absorbed flavor, he broke apart the hard, preserved bread given to them by the grocer and filled a bowl with it. The house filled with the sound and scent of cooking.

Kishiar sat at the table, chin resting on his hand, watching the entire process. He didn’t look like he was waiting—he looked like he was quietly appreciating something beautiful.

"I'm sorry the hospitality is a little rough. Please, eat."

The food, made in a flash, didn’t look particularly refined. It was clearly the cooking of someone used to eating alone, just enough to fill the stomach.

There was nothing special about it—simple, common food anyone might eat.

But Kishiar chewed with a happy, delighted expression. It was the first time Yuder had ever seen him express emotion so openly while eating, someone usually so composed and elegant at every meal.

Come to think of it... even during the brief meal we shared in the cabin during his rut, he ate pretty well...

But this felt different. It was as if he had laid down every burden and was genuinely enjoying the moment. And watching him eat so well put Yuder at ease.

I never thought I’d share another meal with someone in this house after my grandfather died.

Let alone with a royal.

Recreating and sharing his old daily life with someone, without formality or distance, felt mysterious and strange. They’d only bought groceries and eaten together, and yet it felt like Kishiar had become part of his life. It was as if he had slipped into even the memories of Yuder’s childhood—memories Yuder had never thought he would share with anyone. And oddly... that felt nice.

Even before, it was like this... but now—what should I call this?

It felt almost like family.

—

After the meal, Kishiar insisted on doing the dishes.

"I was served a meal, so it's only right that I clean up."

"I believe cleaning is also part of a host’s duties."

"Not at all. Receiving the best hospitality of my life and then just sitting back would be unacceptable."

"You didn’t ask me to do anything in Peleta. If anything, this is just returning the favor I received."

"I didn’t do anything back then. The others took care of everything. During the rut, I literally did nothing—you and Nathan practically kept me alive. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten that already?"

"..."

Yuder was slightly speechless—but he couldn’t deny the point. As he hesitated, Kishiar covered his face dramatically and feigned despair.

"This is tragic. I dreamed of a joyful vacation where we did everything together, but now my beloved has brought me here just to work me like a servant. Am I to become the cruel Cavalry Commander who exploited his guest?"

"Why are you twisting it like that?"

"Surely someone like me, who is delightful to look at, strong, nimble, efficient, and good at everything—surely I wouldn’t be a bother. Anything I do would be fun. I may be a handsome Commander, but I’m more than just a pretty face. This was my chance to prove it."

His eyelashes quivered with exaggerated grief. The performance was ridiculous, but annoyingly, those eyes sparkled far too brightly. Yuder let out a brief, dry laugh and raised both hands in surrender.

"Enough. Let’s just do it together."

"Together? What?"

"Cleaning. Cooking. Whatever you want. Just do as you please. I’ll stop arguing."

"Delighted."

Still striking that melodramatic pose, Kishiar smiled like a blooming flower.

If Yuder wasn’t even annoyed by it anymore, he had truly gone past the point of no return.

They washed the dishes together. As he’d claimed, Kishiar moved like someone who’d done it many times before—effortlessly quick /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ and neat. Yuder never imagined he’d be the one teaching a noble-born Duke how to do household chores, but it was surprisingly easy.

"The washroom is in a separate space next to the storage shed. There’s a wooden tub made from a barrel. You can fill it with water and use it. Though... it might be a bit small for you."

"It’s fine. That’s no problem."

Naturally, Yuder filled the tub using his ability. Warm steam rose as the wooden bath quickly filled. Kishiar stood beside it, smiling softly.

"Back when you didn’t have powers, where did you get the water?"

"Down past the back of the house, there’s a stream. You can probably see those empty water barrels over there. They were spares I used then."

"I thought they all looked the same."

He used to carry water and store it. But after awakening his ability, they’d become obsolete and were stashed in storage.

"In the summer, it was fine to bathe directly in the stream, but now that it’s winter... things are more inconvenient. If you need more—"

It happened in that moment. Kishiar, standing before him, took off his shirt without hesitation. His thick winter cloak fell, and the layers beneath peeled away—revealing the bare skin of a chest Yuder knew far too intimately.

The way he undressed so naturally left Yuder stunned, momentarily unable to finish his sentence—or leave the room.

He could have walked away. But for some reason, his feet didn’t move. He couldn’t look away.

This man, whose body had been intertwined with his just days ago, turned and smiled at him.

"Looks like there won’t be enough water after all."

"..."

"Instead of making me step in and out, wouldn’t it be easier for both of us to just bathe together?"

He flicked a bit of water playfully, landing a wet dot on Yuder’s collar. It was a ridiculous gesture—but somehow, the fact that Kishiar was now naked in front of the rickety tub Yuder had always used... made it all feel more absurdly vivid.

"Right?"

Yuder exhaled slowly in silence, then removed his cloak as well.

"...You have a point."

Kishiar let out a low laugh and welcomed him in.

And so, for the first time since he was ten years old, Yuder shared the bath in his childhood home with someone other than his grandfather.