Though it may be expected or surprising, Kishiar did not immediately begin his work. The reason being, it was only a short time before Nathan Zuckerman would return.

Kishiar asked Yuder whether he would prepare for their vacation together while he and his adjutant were checking on his health conditions, or if Yuder needed separate time for preparation. Thinking of his room still covered in flowers, Yuder replied that he would simply change his clothes and come up.

The path back to his quarters, following the central staircase leading from the Commander's room, felt unusually light and peaceful. Windows carefully placed between the floors were wide open, letting in the last rays of sunlight before the onset of full-blown winter.

Usually, the sound of members sweating and grunting in the training ground below would be heard, but today the place was deserted, making it eerily quiet.

Entering his room, Yuder was struck by a mixture of fresh and complicated emotions upon seeing his bags still thrown aside in neglect.

The question Kishiar had asked just before leaving the dressing room resurfaced in his mind.

Time for preparation.

Oddly enough, the first time he'd been with Kishiar in his previous life, they had also spent about a week together, and this time around their vacation was also a week long. However, in his previous life, there had been no opportunity for any kind of preparation. It had been an accident, and like most accidents, it had been abrupt from beginning to end.

Almost all the time I spent with Kishiar felt that way, too.

Every subsequent intimate encounter with Kishiar had also been rushed and unsettling. Neither the beginning nor the end could be adjusted by his will.

But today, he had the opportunity to prepare. According to Yuder Aile's will, freely and without restriction. The newfound freedom felt strangely uncomfortable. It was even bizarre to him.

I did say I'd just change clothes and come up, but should I prepare something more?

Although he had no interest in sexual matters, he knew from tales in his previous life that various preparations could be quite necessary before two people became intimate. Yet, a rebellious voice inside him also questioned the necessity of such preparations, asserting that whatever was going to happen would happen regardless.

When Kishiar was in sight, everything seemed perfectly fine, but the moment he was out of view, Yuder felt awkward, like a clumsy kid. He sighed softly.

I'm not a child, not at this age. I should stop doing foolish things.

To clear his thoughts, he made a sweeping gesture with his hand, summoning a gust of wind. It neatly gathered the flowers that covered the floor, leaving the furniture and other items untouched. Moments later, they floated into beautiful arrangements.

The bouquet, large enough to be a challenge for an adult man to hold, was carefully divided into vases and cups that Kanna had left, or that Ever had once gifted him. However, even after stuffing all available places with flowers, an excessive pile remained, creating small mountains on the table and chairs.

"I'll have to think more about what to do with the leftovers."

Once the room was clean, it finally felt like he had truly returned to his own quarters. Yuder took off his outer garment and gloves, and pulled out fresh clothes hanging cleanly washed in his closet. Just as he was about to change, his motion hesitated for a moment over the gloves he had set aside.

Just before leaving the dressing room, a memory suddenly surfaced: Kishiar's lips had lightly touched the tip of Yuder's gloved finger, as if to say he would miss him.

Yuder hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted his black glove. He pressed his lips to the second knuckle of the finger Kishiar had kissed and inhaled deeply.

Though he had told Kishiar not to restrain himself, ironically, Yuder had been holding back an intense heat that now surged from his fingertips and flowed unabated throughout his body.

His downcast eyes went quiet, gazing into an unknowable distance.

There was a polite double knock on the Commanders room door. It was a sound that let you know right away who the person was knocking on without any introduction. Before the calm and poised knock could sound againa knock so much like its ownerKishiar opened the door and pulled Yuder inside.

As Yuders lips parted as if to call out to him, Kishiar quickly drew him into a kiss. For a moment, his body hesitated, but soon it began to respond slowly. Though they had only been apart briefly while Yuder stepped out to his quarters, the thirst for touch felt incredibly overdue.

As Yuder's head nearly touched the door, Kishiar pulled away, swallowing his regret. He looked up at Yuder, his intense eyes momentarily flickering faintly. It was an astonishingly heart-stirring sight.

"Even though you said you were just changing clothes, you've taken a bath as well. Your hair is still wet."

He decided not to mention that this sight, although frequently seen in the West, felt somewhat more special here.

"...The same could be said for you, Commander."

"I actually prepared my bathroom for you to use. I had a small hope you might indulge me."

"That's..."

Usually talkative, Yuder's lips stayed shut. Kishiar quietly observed this moment, when Yuder's pale lips twisted and their color drained away, as fascinating and precious as a mirage. It was unclear whether Yuder knew how much Kishiar enjoyed these fleeting reactions when he felt flustered.

Now, what will your response be?

"...Isn't there more than just this opportunity to use it?"

His expression seemed ignorant of how to make promises for the future, yet his words clearly implied an awareness of how they would be spending the next week.

Indeed, it was worth the expectation.

"That's true."

Smiling, Kishiar took Yuder's hand and led him down the hallway deeper into the office. The realization that this was the first time he was entering this usually solitary path with someone else struck him anew.

As they walked, as casually as if he were dancing, Kishiar lifted a slender glass from a decorative table at waist height. Twisting slightly, he placed it in Yuder's opposite hand, receiving an inscrutable look in return.

"Don't worry, it's not alcohol. I also just showered and felt thirsty, so I prepared this drink."

The beverage, a blend of tart and sweet fruit syrup mixed with cold water and adorned with a flower, shimmered in a faint golden light. Kishiar clinked his own identical glass against Yuder's and took a sip. Following suit, Yuder took a small drink and finally spoke.

"Did you manage to check on your condition with Zuckerman?"

"I did. It's not clear that the heat period has already returned. The fever is still present but hasn't escalated compared to before, and I have taken some antipyretic medicine."

"It's fortunate," Yuder had momentarily suspected that the heat of the heat period, which had vanished before his touch, might have returned. Judging by the fact that the overwhelming warmth hadn't come back yet, it seemed that wasn't the case. However, he was indeed responding faster than usual to the one next to him.

Normally, Kishiar would have suppressed his body heat with willpower at this point, but given their prior agreement, it was difficult. Kishiar changed the subject.

"Nathan will be assisting Hellem in the capital for the next week. There's a lot to prepare."

Upon hearing the detailed explanation, Yuder nodded seriously, a gesture so endearing that it involuntarily brought a smile to Kishiar's face. He had selectively erased from his memory what kind of look Nathan Zuckerman had given him when following his orders.

From the moment he mentioned that he would be spending the next week together with his assistant, the faithful knight seemed to have guessed most of it without needing further explanation. The uncertain expression he wore as he left was conspicuous.

Ever since he met Yuder a long time ago, Nathan had consistently been cautious of him. Even now, although Nathan clearly recognized that Yuder Aile was a trustworthy individual, that last iota of caution never disappeared.

Kishiar wasn't aware that Yuder himself had encouraged this caution. However, he did know that Yuder, while aware of this, had tacitly approved. Yet, that was just a tiny part of the many enigmatic facets of his assistant.

Something Kishiar had not yet figured out.

At the end of the corridor was a small space where multiple doors could be seen all at once. The bedroom used by the Commander was the furthest inside.

Almost simultaneously, the two crossed the boundary that Yuder Aile had once retreated from without encountering Kishiar beyond the door.

A sudden electric charge seemed to spark between their interlocked hands. Looking down, Yuder appeared to feel the same sensation, his eyes focused on the same spot.

How could they know this without uttering a single word?

It was a strange and mystical moment, experienced multiple times.

Their eyes met, almost simultaneously lifting to do so.

The corners of Yuder's eyes trembled as if he were angry. As soon as they stepped into the room and set down their glasses, he pulled Kishiar toward him.

Every time he felt the incredible passion emanating from his seemingly parched body, Kishiar experienced emotions so ecstatic they felt lethal.

Without a clear initiator, their lips collided. Kishiar held Yuder's waist to ensure he didn't crash into the furniture, subtly guiding him toward the bed as he shifted their direction.

Finally, their entwined bodies collapsed onto the bed, sinking into the sheets. Brushing back the disheveled black hair from his forehead and over the white sheets with his fingers, Kishiar surrendered his entire being to the one who had taken it all.

Check out the new project:

Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Graduate student Yi-han finds himself reborn in another world as the youngest child of a mage family.

Im never attending school, ever again!

What do you wish to achieve in life?

I wish to play around and live comforta-

You must be aware of your talent. Now go attend Einroguard!

Patriarch!

My future would be guaranteed once I graduate. For my future!