The warm steam from the bath was like the searing breath of a bubbling hot spring. Leaning on the tiled edges of the pool, a pale maeruthan with dazzling bright silver hair began nodding off drowsily. Red flush gathered on his face and neck, as well as the curve of his bare shoulders.
With a sigh, his silver eyes glanced at the door where his guards stood behind, vigilantly waiting and preparing to attend him.
'In less than a week, I will be shipped from this place.' He thought to himself. There was a bit of bitterness laced in his thoughts. And he wondered... What would the Leonile Stronghold look like now? Have the Imperial forces altered it significantly?
Moulin turned around, leaned his back against the pool's edge, and closed his eyes. Silvery strands of his hair danced beneath the water's surface.
Suddenly, there was a shift in the air. Familiar mana briefly dispersed with the steam.
Moulin's pupils trembled underneath his eyelids when he sensed the abnormality. He was calm and silent as he listened to the sounds of echoing footsteps and the rustle of clothes.
"Can you please remind when you co?"
Did Ordan and Tessley not sense his sudden entrance? Probably not. Moulin didn't feel any movents from outside.
Moulin sighed helplessly as he opened his eyes. His gaze is drawn towards the naked man, showcasing glistening muscles adorned with a sheen of sweat, striding toward the pool's edge. The High Lord's golden locks clung to his damp forehead, and his eyes glead with a vivid, striking gold.
And the mber between his legs...
If there weren't already a flush on Moulin's cheek because of the heat, he would be more embarrassed.
There was an echoing chuckle. Lord Hadrian subrged his lower body into the pool and sighed, leaning back on the pool's edge just across the naked youth before him. An amused expression filled his sharp features.
"Did you spar?" Moulin tried to draw his thoughts away.
The Golden lord made a sound of acknowledgnt while quietly admiring the ethereal visage of his oblivious lover.
Envy filled the youth's eyes, and he turned away. He yearned to wield a sword again. The urge to break free from this troubling circumstance sparked inside him. But for the people, he must endure. Moulin pursed his lips and turned away. The days seed too long now. What would he give to live normally again...
...
He wanted to see Mother. His last visits were always when she was asleep, napping. But he could not bring himself to wake her up. The youth breathed out listlessly.
"The preparations are almost done. We will depart in a few days." Hadrian's voice slightly startled him from his depressing thoughts.
When he turned to look at the man, Hadrian was already wading his way towards him. The splashes echo, and his gaze strains on the man who closes the distance between them, striding with desirous eyes. No matter how much Moulin wanted to deny it repeatedly, Hadrian's face looked as though gods had carved it.
Tsk.
A warm, large hand caressed his cheek, and before Moulin realized it, he found himself leaning on Hadrian's chest, being nestled in the man's embrace.
"Is it too hard on you?"
Moulin heard him ask. Hadrian's voice is deep, tickling his ears. The man probably hinted towards Moulin's circumstance of being refrained from venturing outside his quarters. Moulin wanted to curse for a whole minute. Let's see how you like it if you were in my shoes!
"There, there..." Hadrian murmured against his scalp, breathing in the scent of lavender. His lips brushed lightly, but Moulin could feel it vividly.
Then, the bond trembled hotly between them. Moulin flinches and frowns. Honestly...
Although frustrated, he gave in. The youth turned around, slightly twisting his slender waist, and wrapped his arms around Hadrian's neck. Droplets from his nose fell delicately on the older man's high cheek.
Moulin is like a water nymph, lovely and alluring. His actions earned him a look of surprise and beguilent from the High Lord.
The man's hands began wandering down Moulin's smooth body.
Clearing his throat, Moulin spoke, "Do you know what will happen to once we arrive?"
Golden eyes dimd slightly. "No matter what happens, I will protect you. Are you afraid?"
"Not exactly... yet the uncertainty is disconcerting. Lady Klaria has not visited for a few days. I am curious about what they are up to."
"Perhaps she is occupied with arrangents for the departure. If you wish, do you want to inquire about their intentions?" Hadrian proposed.
"Hm..." Moulin titled his head and gazed into his eyes. An amused smile then graced his lips. "That would be helpful. You would have been a great help to a long ti ago. Tsk. The responsibilities of a High Lord sure are a bit troubling."
Hadrian's eyes deepened as he took in Moulin's expression.
"Ah!" The youth yelped abruptly when he felt thick fingers sneak between his legs. His silver pupils constricted, and he imdiately shot Hadrian a glare.
The High Lord smiled harmlessly, "Do continue, my beloved."
Moulin narrowed his eyes and drew his face closer to Hadrian until their lips barely touched. He smiled as the man's eyes turned a shade darker.
"Be my ears, dear beloved."
...
In mid-afternoon, hurrying footsteps blended with the noise in the hallways. Dark brown locks bounced at every step. The passing people could not help but stare at a cute child, wearing an elegant eyepatch and neat clothing, tailing shyly behind the esteed Seer, Colahn. Garbed in plain yet elegant dark green robes, the man wore an indifferent expression while he led three seers behind him.
Occasionally, he would look back to check if the child was still following him. Erthyl would flinch, startled by the sudden gaze every ti. It is only when Colahn looks away and returns his focus to the seers accompanying him that the child relaxes while timidly continuing his steps.
The sight was a bit funny, and the seers tried to hide their smiles.
Initially, Colahn thought about leaving the child in his office while visiting the unconscious previous Patriarch of the Fraunces Family. However, rembering Jagra's strict yet imploring gaze, he felt unsettled, leaving Erthyl alone, so he decided to bring the boy.
The doors opened, and the nurses hurriedly greeted Colahn with reverence. Their sight curiously focused on the little boy peeking out behind Colahn. Erthyl wished he would shrink to avoid those gazes.
A soft voice caught Colahn's attention. His eyes widened with delight.
"Your Ladyship, it is good to see you are well."
Beautiful and graceful, Lady Maxiel, resting on the couch, raised her gaze and smiled. "It is good to see you as well, Sir Colahn. My, you truly look so similar to your father. I'm sure he must be proud."
Colahn's eyes softened. "He is. Thank you. I am surprised you are early today."
She stood up, refusing the help of her handmaid. "I want to witness my husband's examination personally. Luckily, my health is improving, and I am able to leave my bedroom. Oh, and this is? Is this your... son?"
Erthyl lowered his head shyly and hid behind Colahn. His pitiful look made Lady Maxiel's heart lt.
Colahn flinched and hastily refuted. "Oh, he is not. Simply a child is looking after."
"I see..." Lady Maxiel smiled softly at the boy before gesturing to the bedroom doors. "Shall we?"
"After you..." Colahn insisted.
Unhurriedly, he followed after Lady Maxiel. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to Erthyl, who once again jumped under his gaze. He spoke, "Be good, sit on the couch. I will call you after we are finished."
The young one knit his brow, casting a pitiful frown. His anxious gaze shifted toward the nurses and healers, engrossed in their conversation. Sensing his reluctance, Colahn hesitated. The more he looked at Erthyl, the more frustrated he felt. Ultimately, he conceded and allowed the child to co with him. He was silent and behaved.
He doesn't seem to be the type to cause trouble.
Erthyl's expression brightened, and he nodded before silently following Colahn into the room with soft steps.
The bedroom was large and well-kept, which made Lady Maxiel satisfied. Her eyes almost shed tears the mont she saw her husband's unconscious form on the wide bed.
"Tell he will be alright..." Lady Maxiel said to Colahn as she made her way beside the bed, staring at her husband's pale countenance.
"We must examine and analyze what is causing his prolonged state of unconsciousness. Do not worry. We will try our best to find a solution."
Comforted by his words, Lady Maxiel nodded and took a seat on a chair offered by one of the nurses. The assembly of seers imrsed themselves in their tasks, seemingly unaffected by the passage of ti. In a distant corner of the room, Erthyl settled into an empty seat, observing the proceedings unfolding before him.
He stared at the sleeping man the people were surrounding. He was too pale.... almost as if he was dying.
Reflected in the child's uncovered eye, a strange dark mist was surrounding the sleeping man. In the child's exposed eye, an enigmatic dark mist enveloped the slumbering man. Abruptly, Erthyl grazed the white eye patch on his face. The more his curiosity intensified, the more discomfort intensified within his concealed eye.
Ultimately, he looked away from the figure on the bed and tried to pay attention elsewhere.
Unaware of the significance happening before him, he idly toyed with his fingers while those around him were deeply engrossed in their concerns.
However, he learned one thing. The striking woman was none other than Young Master Moulin's mother, and he confird it when he overheard the nurses near him talking about her. Then... was the sleeping man his father?
D-Does that an... Moulin must be near? Will he co?
Amidst his thoughts, the bedroom doors swung open, and his hopes were crushed when the person who entered wasn't the one he was expecting. Instead, it was a tall, an-looking, handso man wearing very nice clothes. Sohow, he still reminded Erthyl of Moulin.
"Lord Maxille Fraunces, you have co." Colahn greeted. The nurses and the seers followed.
With an impassive expression, the lord nodded to them before approaching his mother. "Mother, I am here."
"Took you long enough. I needed so of my children's comfort. Your father is being examined." Lady Maxiel sighed.
"Tell , where are your brothers? Are they too busy?"
Facing his mother's deep, inquisitive gaze, Maxille swallowed before composing himself. Even now, he still could not bear to lie to his dear mother.
"Emlen will co once he has finished the eting with the foreign lords. But Moulin... He cannot co."
Lady Maxiel's brows furrowed, and Colahn glanced at the young lord. Not far from their conversation, a little child perked his ears.
"Why? Is he sick? Where is his room? Tell , now." The Lady felt there was sothing off with the way his son spoke about Moulin.
Sensing the urgency, Maxille sought to soothe his mother. He disclosed the location of his younger brother's residence and reassured her, saying, "However, he is in good health, mother. He's unable to co at this mont, but he will join us soon."
His mother's expression looked doubtful. However, there doesn't seem to be anything dangerous with the situation, so she chose to trust him. On the contrary, Colahn's countenance contorted into a frown, displaying clear suspicion.
He shook his head and turned to check on Erthyl.
Colahn froze.
The child who had been seated in the chair had vanished. His scrutinizing gaze swept across the entire room, yet there was no sign of the boy.
At the exact mont, a healer, wearing a pleasant smile, assisted a young boy in opening the door to exit the room. Colahn raised his hand in a wave as he observed the child proceeding down the hallway. A trace of concern lingered when the boy refused to be accompanied to the bathroom.
But he'll probably be alright...
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