His forehead, which he thought had cracked open, was fortunately just badly split. The doctor reassured the family that the forehead bleeds profusely when cut but there was no need to worry too much, before leaving the mansion.

“How did this even happen…”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, Cyrus, you must have been so scared.”

His father Leira comforted Cyrus with a pale complexion. Though his hands were trembling from shock, he was trying hard to remain calm. Beside him stood Cecil, with a face identical to Leira’s, his cheeks and eyes reddened from crying, and even his nose was stuffed up, making him sniffle.

“What are we going to do? You’ve hurt your right arm too. Does it hurt a lot?”

“I’m fine. And brother will help me. Right?”

“Y-yes. Of course…”

Cecil stuttered as he wiped away his tears. Alesia, who had been watching with folded arms, narrowed her eyes at the scene and spoke in a meaningful voice.

“You didn’t… jump down because you wanted to skip sword training, did you?”

“What? Alesia, how can you say such a thing to your brother!”

Leira, who had been listening, burst into laughter, apparently finding the idea absurd. The tone suggested he couldn’t even imagine someone deliberately throwing themselves down. Cyrus was glad that his other father, Edwin, wasn’t here. With his similar thought process to Cyrus, Edwin might have vaguely guessed what he had done with his characteristically sharp intuition.

“Why would I do something like that?”

“Suspicious, very suspicious.”

“Alesia.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Leira pushed Alesia’s back, suggesting they go for a walk. — Oh, wait, Dad! I’m telling you it’s suspicious. Why are you being like this to your child… — Even as they went out the door, her noisy voice could be heard, but soon the sound of footsteps going down the stairs faded away.

“Why?”

While Cyrus was wearing a faint smile because of the unexpectedly perceptive Alesia, he felt someone staring at him. When he turned his head, he saw Cecil standing awkwardly a little distance from the bed.

“What’s wrong?”

“You really didn’t fall on purpose, did you?”

The question came immediately after he finished speaking, seemingly prepared in advance. Cyrus burst into laughter.

“You suspect me too, brother?”

“It’s not suspicion… I just can’t believe it. You have such good reflexes.”

“Well, everyone has their moments.”

“How did you fall?”

“Hmm… I was thinking about something else.”

“Something else? What were you thinking about that made you not notice the stairs in front of you?”

“I was thinking about you.”

As soon as he said this, silence fell. Cyrus’s eyes caught the winter sunlight, glowing a pale blue. Cecil hesitated at the unexpected answer.

“About me?”

“Yes.”

“What… were you thinking about?”

The question contained hesitation. Cyrus, who had been staring directly at Cecil, suddenly gave an eye-smile. His beauty, exactly like his father’s, reminded one of a full moon decorating the night sky brilliantly, but despite his young age, there was something more decadent about him.

“What else would I be thinking about? You promised to give me that book you received as a gift before. I was thinking about that.”

As he spoke casually and laughed, Cecil exclaimed, “Ah…” apparently realizing something.

“What, that’s why? You should be more careful, you idiot!”

Cecil couldn’t guess why he felt relieved, but somehow his mind was at ease. Just for that reason—it was so like Cyrus, who always seemed sharp and capable but could get distracted when it came to things he liked.

If he had known, he would have given it to him earlier. If he had, Cyrus wouldn’t have had this ridiculous accident of falling down the stairs because his mind was elsewhere…

“I should have given it to you sooner. Then you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

“It’s okay. It really woke me up.”

“Stop joking.”

“Brother, you’ll help me, right? It’s inconvenient since I can’t use my arms and legs.”

“I’ll spoon-feed you everything, so be prepared.”

“I’d like that.”

Cyrus smiled and leaned back against the soft pillow. The thought of Cecil sticking close to him, feeding him spoonful by spoonful, almost made his c*ck throb. Smiling contentedly, he waved at Cecil with his uninjured left arm.

“Brother, come here.”

“Why?”

“Closer.”

As Cecil tilted his head and moved closer, Cyrus pulled back the blanket.

“Lie down with me. It’s a bit cold.”

“Should I add more firewood?”

“No, just stay beside me.”

Suggesting firewood wasn’t needed, Cyrus urged him once more. Tapping the bed and looking up with a direct gaze, Cecil finally surrendered and slipped into the bed.

Inside the blanket wasn’t very cold, but it was somewhat chilly for a room with a warm fireplace. Perhaps because he was injured, his body temperature regulation didn’t seem to be working well.

“But if we’re just together, isn’t it the same? We need Papa Leira to be warm.”

Being hybrids of snake and human, they had slightly lower body temperatures than ordinary people. That’s what he meant—that it would be the same even if they lay together. So when Cecil started to get up, saying he should bring a hot water bottle, Cyrus immediately grabbed his thin wrist.

“Stay here.”

“…”

“I’m fine, okay?”

“…Okay.”

Cecil’s eyes widened in surprise at the suddenly cold tone. But seemingly an illusion, Cyrus smiled and snuggled into his arms affectionately.

“It’s nice that no one’s here.”

“I’m here.”

“Are you just anyone?”

A sulky voice followed. Cecil let out a deflating laugh at the discontented voice. He had been consistent since childhood. Cyrus, who didn’t particularly like people or animals, would read books alone or go outside for sword training when he felt heavy, but all those boundaries crumbled like sandcastles in front of Cecil.

“I only need brother.”

“Really? What about our dads? Your sister?”

“I like them all. But not as much as you.”

“You’re a bit strange…”

“Is it strange that I like you?”

Cecil had only said it was strange because it was both funny and odd how Cyrus insisted he liked him more than their fathers, but Cyrus suddenly sat up in bed. As sunlight streamed through the half-drawn curtains into every corner of the room, it cast shadows on Cyrus’s distinct features.

Cecil unconsciously swallowed as he looked up at him, who somehow appeared much more mature than himself.

“Tell me. Is it strange that I like you?”

Why would he ask such a question? If he had to answer, it certainly wasn’t strange. He was used to Cyrus following him around since childhood, and it never felt bad or unpleasant. Rather, it gave him a pleasant sense of responsibility, making him feel somewhat like an adult, and he even felt somewhat proud.

For some reason, though he should answer that it wasn’t strange, his lips wouldn’t properly part. As he hesitated, Cyrus leaned on the bed and gazed down at his brother. It was a suffocating tension. A tension he had never felt even when facing his sword instructor in serious combat was being felt right now. Cecil wondered why he was feeling this tension and averted his gaze.

“…It’s not strange.”

“Right? It’s natural for a younger brother to like his older brother.”

With those words, Cyrus flopped down on top of Cecil.

“Ugh.”

Cecil let out a small groan as he was suddenly pinned down, and Cyrus giggled while lying on top of him.

Burying his lips against Cecil’s long, slender neck, Cyrus kissed him with a smacking sound. When Cecil’s neck shrank back, perhaps from the ticklish sensation, Cyrus’s lips followed again, clearly telling him not to run away.

Smack.

“That tickles.”

“I want to do it.”

His voice, much deeper than when he was younger, felt sticky against Cecil’s ear.

“Do what?”

Though he could guess what Cyrus meant, Cecil asked anyway. Cyrus hummed and gently took Cecil’s hand, placing it on his lower region. Cecil’s cheeks reddened as he felt the heat between Cyrus’s thighs. After letting Cecil feel his arousal for a moment, Cyrus suddenly flopped down beside him.

“Ah, this is uncomfortable. So annoying…”

Cyrus lightly shook his injured arm seemingly bothered, then turned to face Cecil. His eyes held the playfulness he only ever showed to Cecil.

“Can’t you do it from on top?”

“From on top?”

“Yes.”

Cyrus nodded and patted his lower abdomen. He meant for Cecil to straddle him and engage in their private play. Cecil’s cheeks reddened at the position he had never tried before.

“From there?”

“Why? Not possible? My arm is uncomfortable.”

“You hurt your leg too.”

“That’s just my ankle.”

“That position seems… weird.”

“What’s weird about it? It’s just the two of us.”

Listening to him, it sounded both like sophistry and truth. Was it okay because no one was around? Cecil heightened his senses to check for any presence outside, but perhaps with the intention of making Cyrus comfortable, there was no sign of anyone coming or going despite it being daytime. It seemed no one would come looking for them unless they were specifically called.

As Cecil chewed his lips in contemplation, Cyrus moved closer, snuggling into his arms and rubbed his forehead against Cecil’s neck.

“Brotherrr…”

Cecil’s heart melted at the affectionate gesture. It was the same play as usual, just with a different position. Thinking of it that way, it didn’t seem much different. After a brief deliberation, Cecil finally made up his mind.

“Alright.”

When Cecil answered solemnly, Cyrus smiled without replying, apparently knowing Cecil would agree, and rested comfortably against the pillow.

“You have to take off your pants before getting on top.”

“Pants? Oh, pants.”

Cecil, who was about to climb on top, hurriedly got back down. Seeing this, Cyrus bit the inside of his cheek, trying his hardest not to burst out laughing. He was stupid and cute. If he was this flustered just being told to take off his pants, Cyrus was already overflowing with anticipation for how he would react when they eventually joined their bodies.

Meanwhile, Cecil struggled to remove his pants and then sat awkwardly, neither here nor there. He had managed to take them off but seemed hesitant to climb on top.

“Take off my pants too. It’s uncomfortable.”

“Okay.”

“Brother, the underwear too.”

Having to point out each step made Cyrus wonder when his brother would ever grow up, but he also thought it was cute since Cecil was still young. He planned to make Cecil undress him on his own next time, so it was good to observe his current behavior.