By the time Alexis returned, the room had already softened into quiet.
He slipped into bed without ceremony—
And immediately wrapped himself around Hiral.
Hiral stiffened slightly at the sudden weight and warmth pressing against his back.
"You should use your own bed," he murmured, voice low with sleep.
Alexis only hummed in response.
And tightened his hold.
Hiral exhaled, a quiet resignation settling over him.
"…Good night, Alexis."
There was a pause.
Then, with a soft whisper—
"Good night," Alexis answered back, something almost reverent in the way he said it.
And in that quiet, shared warmth—
Sleep came easily.
******
Hiral woke first.
The room was still dim, the early morning just beginning to stretch its light across the horizon.
He shifted slightly—
And immediately felt the weight of Alexis still wrapped around him.
Close.
Warm.
Unyielding.
"…Stuffy," Hiral murmured under his breath.
Carefully, he reached down and pried Alexis's arm away from his waist.
Slowly.
Gently.
As if untangling himself from something far more fragile than it looked.
Freed at last, Hiral turned.
And for a moment—
He simply looked.
Alexis, asleep, looked… younger.
Softer.
Unburdened.
Hiral leaned closer.
"Wake up," he whispered near Alexis's ear.
A faint smile tugged at Alexis's lips.
But he didn't wake.
Hiral watched him for a moment longer.
Then straightened.
Without another word, he slipped out of bed.
The curtains were drawn shut, keeping the morning at bay.
Hiral crossed the room and pulled them wide open.
Light spilled in.
Soft.
Golden.
Hiral coughed lightly.
Then, with a glint of mischief in his eyes, he raised his voice.
"Time to wake up."
A pause.
Then with great exaggerated reverence, Hiral called out
"Dear Sleeping Majesty."
Laughter answered him immediately.
Bright.
Unrestrained.
Alexis pushed himself up on his elbows, hair slightly tousled, eyes already awake.
"I woke up the moment you left the bed," he admitted, still smiling.
"And just so you know," he added, tilting his head, "that is not how you wake a king."
Hiral raised a brow, playing along.
"Oh?"
Then, indulging him just a little—
"And how should one wake a king?"
Alexis grinned.
"With care," he said smoothly. "A few gentle kisses… starting from the forehead…"
His gaze lingered.
"Then the lips."
A pause.
"And perhaps further… should the king refuse to wake."
Hiral rolled his eyes.
"Delusional."
Then, after a brief pause, he added lightly—
"But, if you get out of bed and prepare yourself…"
Alexis tilted his head.
"…I might indulge you," Hiral finished, tone deceptively casual, "in something slightly strenuous."
Alexis froze.
Then his eyes lit up.
"Really?"
He was out of bed in the next second.
Crossing the space between them in two quick steps—
And pulling Hiral into a tight hug.
"I knew you—"
He leaned in—
But Hiral placed a hand firmly against his face and pushed him away.
"After," Hiral said calmly.
"You freshen up."
He gave him a pointed look.
"Since I need to do the same."
Alexis laughed.
"Fine."
******
When they both finished, Alexis told Hiral that they needed a change of scenery.
But before Hiral could state his opinion on the matter, Alexis already grabbed him to walk.
Not long after, the two of them stepped out into the garden just beyond Hiral's room.
Morning had fully arrived now.
The air was crisp.
The light gentle.
Breakfast had already been arranged—a quiet table set beneath the open sky.
Hiral paused at the threshold.
"…Are you sure it's fine to let me out of my room?"
Alexis glanced back at him.
"I mean letting a war prisoner step outside his room?" Hiral clarified.
Alexis smiled.
"What is there to worry about," he said easily, "when I, the great commander of Ro and the king-to-be, am accompanying you?"
Alexis stated with great mirth in his voice and his eyes held great delight.
Hiral stared at him for a moment.
Then shook his head but a smile clearly visible on his face.
"Your confidence is excessive."
"And yet," Alexis replied with a grin, "rarely misplaced."
Hiral exhaled softly.
Then continued walking beside him.
Into the garden.
The garden was quiet—washed in soft morning light, the faint rustle of leaves and distant birdsong wrapping the space in calm.
Alexis stepped forward first and, with natural ease, pulled out a chair for Hiral.
But at the exact same moment—
Hiral did the same.
Both paused.
Both blinked.
Then Alexis burst into laughter.
Bright. Unrestrained. Completely delighted.
Hiral only shrugged, but there was no hiding the subtle sparkle in his eyes.
He lifted a brow, gesturing slightly.
"Well?" he said. "At this rate, we will remain standing."
Alexis laughed again, shaking his head as he finally took the seat.
"Alright, alright."
He settled in, still smiling.
"It's quite amazing," he added, glancing at Hiral, "that we thought of the same thing at the same time."
Hiral sat across from him, posture composed, tone casual.
"For us to think of the same thing at the same time," he said, "means we are more in sync than expected."
Alexis stilled for a moment.
Then his smile widened.
He leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming.
"In sync…" he repeated softly.
Then, with unmistakable fondness—
"That means we're quite harmonious."
A pause.
"Like an old married couple."
Hiral met his gaze.
Unmoved.
Or at least—appearing so.
"Then perhaps," Hiral replied lightly, "we should begin eating before the grumbling of our stomachs become harmonious as well."
Alexis chuckled.
But this time—
He moved first.
Quick.
Already scooping up a spoonful of food and offering it toward Hiral with clear intent.
Only—
Hiral was faster.
In one smooth motion, he brought his own spoon forward—
And placed it directly into Alexis's mouth.
Alexis froze.
Again.
Hiral looked at him, utterly unbothered.
"Swallow first."
There it was again.
That calm, steady command.
Alexis obeyed.
Then, without protest, Hiral leaned slightly forward—
And took the spoonful Alexis had prepared for him.
A quiet exchange.
Simple.
Seamless.
Alexis stared at him for a moment longer after that.
Then smiled.
And this time—
It wasn't teasing.
It wasn't playful.
It was something brighter.
Something fuller.
The kind of happiness that seemed to radiate from him, impossible to contain.
Hiral, on the other hand, simply continued eating as if nothing had changed.
Calm.
Composed.
Untouched.
But the faint redness creeping up the tips of his ears—
Told an entirely different story.
And so…
Breakfast unfolded in an easy rhythm after that.
Small exchanges.
Quiet laughter.
The occasional glance that lingered just a moment longer than necessary.
For a while, it was simple.
Peaceful.
Eventually, Alexis leaned back slightly in his chair.
His gaze settled on Hiral.
And stayed there.
Hiral looked… different.
Alive.
There was color in his expression, light in his eyes, a quiet ease in the way he moved—so far removed from the still, fragile figure he had been just days ago.
Unconscious.
Unreachable.
For a fleeting moment—
That image overlapped.
Hiral lying motionless.
Breath shallow.
Unresponsive no matter how many times Alexis had called his name.
Alexis's lips pressed together.
His chest tightened.
He drew in a slow, controlled breath.
Across from him, Hiral noticed.
The shift was subtle.
But unmistakable.
His fingers tightened slightly around the napkin in his hand.
"…Alexis."
The way he said his name—
Soft.
Careful.
Almost… grounding.
It pulled Alexis back instantly.
He blinked, then ran a hand through his hair unconsciously, letting out a small breath as he straightened.
"I'm fine," he said, brushing it off lightly. "Just… a bit troubled."
Then, with a faint grin, he added—
"You simply look too breathtaking. I got lost for a moment."
Hiral didn't respond to that.
Not with words.
Instead, he reached across the table.
Took Alexis's hand.
And gave it a gentle squeeze.
Warm.
Steady.
Present.
Alexis's expression softened immediately.
The tension eased from his shoulders, his smile returning—this time quieter, more genuine.
But before he could say anything—
Hiral moved again.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
He eased Alexis's hand open.
Then leaned in—
And pressed a soft kiss to the back of it.
Then turned it slightly—
And kissed his palm.
The same way Alexis had done the night before.
Alexis froze.
Then laughed.
A little breathless.
A little embarrassed.
His gaze softened as he looked at Hiral.
"You really…" he murmured, shaking his head slightly, "…are great in catching me off guard."
Hiral smiled.
Small.
Knowing.
"It can't be helped," he teasingly replied. "We're like an old married couple, didn't you say?."
A pause.
Then, with sincerity he added—
"In sync. Harmonious. Together."
And just like that—
The quiet warmth between them deepened again.