Two days passed slowly within the quiet rhythm of the small holding.
For Darius, they passed far too slowly.
The house felt incomplete without Sion's presence drifting through it,without the teasing remarks, the soft footsteps, or the occasional sly smile that always seemed to unsettle him more than battlefield confrontations ever had.
Instead, there was only silence behind a closed door.
Darius did not know what he was supposed to do.
He had never lived with an omega in heat before. In truth, he had barely interacted with omegas at all. But he understood that entering during an omega's heat,bonded or not,would be inappropriate. Even as a beta, he knew boundaries existed for a reason.
Whenever unease built too much inside his chest, Darius retreated to the backyard and practiced swordsmanship. The steady repetition of movement grounded him—the swing of steel, controlled breathing, precise footwork.
Yet every pause between strikes betrayed him.
His gaze always drifted toward the small holding.
Toward the house.
Toward Sion's window.
On that morning, realization finally struck him.
If he could not help Sion directly… then he could at least lessen the burden waiting once Sion recovered.
That afternoon, Darius approached Eiran, who was repairing part of the fence near the vegetable rows.
"…May I assist with the small holding?" Darius asked.
Eiran looked up, surprised.
"You don't have to," he said immediately. "You're still a guest."
Darius shook his head firmly.
"You're managing everything alone while also watching over Sion. That is unreasonable."
Eiran studied him for a moment before sighing.
"…Yeah. It is exhausting."
After brief discussion, they agreed to divide the chores.
Early Morning duties:
* Darius would manage the vegetable plots.
* Eiran would handle the orchard and chicken coop.
Evening duties:
* Eiran would tend the vegetables.
* Darius would oversee the orchard and chickens.
Once decided, Eiran wasted no time teaching him.
Early Morning Vegetable Care
Eiran crossed his arms like a strict instructor.
"Alright, sir Darius," he said. "Farming isn't won through brute strength."
Darius nodded seriously.
First, inspect the vegetables for dryness or damage.
Darius carefully examined each plant, learning to recognize wilting leaves, broken stems, and soil conditions.
"Plants complain quietly," Eiran explained. "You just need to notice."
Second, water young or newly planted crops.
Darius learned restraint,too much water drowned roots, too little weakened them.
Third, remove weeds by hand around the vegetables.
Kneeling in the soil felt oddly humbling. Dirt clung beneath his nails as he pulled stubborn weeds free one by one.
Fourth, check leaves for insects or disease.
Eiran showed him bite patterns, discoloration, and hidden pests beneath leaves.
Fifth, loosen hardened soil around plant roots.
Darius worked carefully, ensuring not to damage fragile systems beneath the surface.
Sixth, harvest ripe vegetables carefully.
He gathered tomatoes, leafy greens, and root crops with surprising gentleness.
Seventh, place harvested produce into baskets.
By the end of the morning, sweat covered his brow,but satisfaction settled quietly within him.
Evening Duties : Orchard and Chicken Coop
At dusk, responsibilities shifted.
Since Darius already done taking care of the chickens before,they then proceed to the small orchard.
Orchard Care
First, gather fallen fruit.
Second, move fruit baskets into storage.
Third, check young trees for wind damage.
Fourth, cover delicate saplings when needed.
Darius followed every instruction precisely.
By the end of the day, exhaustion replaced his anxiety,but worry for Sion never truly faded.
Each night, he found himself listening unconsciously for movement beyond Sion's door.
Each morning, disappointment followed silence.
Until the third day.
The scent of breakfast filled the kitchen as sunlight crept through the windows.
Darius stood near the stove, focused on cooking. Preparing meals had become another quiet way to contribute. Fresh bread warming over low heat, eggs cooking in a pan, meat sautéed lightly with herbs harvested the day before
Outside, Eiran swept the backyard.
The house felt peaceful.
Then—
Soft footsteps approached.
Darius turned instinctively.
Sion stood at the kitchen entrance.
His hair was slightly messy, loose around his shoulders, and though faint traces of exhaustion lingered beneath his eyes, his posture remained elegant as ever.
More importantly,
He was smiling.
"Well," Sion said, inhaling deeply, "something smells dangerously delicious."
Relief struck Darius so suddenly he nearly dropped the pan.
"You're awake."
Sion raised a brow. "Observant."
Darius stepped closer despite himself.
"…Has your heat ended?"
Before Sion could answer, Eiran entered from outside, freezing the moment he saw him.
"Young master!"
He hurried forward, worry evident.
"How are you feeling? Any discomfort? Dizziness? Pain?"
Sion raised both hands defensively.
"I'm fine," he said calmly. "Better than fine, actually."
Eiran studied him suspiciously.
"…Really?"
Sion smiled,a small, confident curve of his lips.
"I've never felt better."
Whether it was truth or practiced reassurance, neither man could tell.
Still, both visibly relaxed.
They sat together at the table shortly after.
Darius served breakfast quietly while pretending not to watch Sion too closely.
But he noticed everything.
The steadiness of his breathing.
Across the table, Sion tasted the food and hummed softly.
"…I don't know if I already said it before but you really cook well, Sir Knight."
Darius flushed immediately.
"I only followed what you usually prepare."
Sion glanced at him knowingly but said nothing more.
And as breakfast continued beneath warm morning light, Darius realized something unsettling.
The house finally felt whole again.