“…”

“Your answer?”

“…”

“Brother, answer me.”

“…I understand.”

Reluctantly answering under his brother’s pressure, Cecil received a bright eye-smile from Cyrus, who rubbed his forehead against Cecil’s neckline.

“Brother.”

“What.”

As Cecil responded grumpily, not feeling particularly good, Cyrus whispered playfully.

“I want to lick your p*ssy.”

“…”

Finally, Cecil’s patience reached its limit, and he couldn’t hold back, punching his brother’s broad shoulder with all his might. Despite hitting hard enough to make a thud sound, which must have caused considerable pain, Cyrus burst into laughter. His hearty laugh sounded refreshing. Only then did Cyrus say, “Sorry for hitting you, I’m sorry,” while rubbing Cecil’s b*ttocks and kissing him everywhere visible—his face, neck, and elsewhere.

Cecil, who had been irritably telling him to stop, couldn’t help but laugh when lips touched and left his nose tip.

Romance with his brother felt ticklish, somewhat frightening, and strange every day. This sensation, comparable to riding a swing in mid-air, simply wouldn’t stop. Cecil suddenly realized. This was a love that couldn’t be stopped. A love that would not cease.

*

The world viewed through the lens of acknowledged lovers looked completely different from before. Cyrus occupied Cecil’s side with the identity of both brother and lover, which meant sharing every individual schedule.

“What’s this?”

An arm wrapped around his waist, and a chin rested on his shoulder. Cyrus had embraced him from behind. Cecil comfortably leaned back and waved the paper in his hand.

“An invitation.”

“What kind of invitation?”

“Sister gave it to me earlier. When you weren’t here. She said we should have tea time together.”

“Tea time?”

“Yes.”

“Just you?”

Though he asked in a calm tone, Cecil didn’t miss the sharpness hidden within it and smiled.

“No, you too.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“How can we not go when she made an invitation like this? She said she made it last time. You know, that upperclassman. The one we saw at the cafeteria.”

“Ah. What was her name again?”

“Anna.”

“And was it Peyton?” Cecil was about to continue when his ear suddenly received a bite. With pain resembling a stab from an awl, Cecil let out a short cry and gave an incredulous expression.

“Why are you biting me?”

“Why are you saying other people’s names?”

Cyrus brazenly embraced Cecil closer. Now their bodies pressed so tightly together that not even a sheet of paper could fit between them. In that position, Cyrus tormented Cecil by nibbling on his ear, cheek, and nose tip.

“I said, why are you calling other people’s names?”

“Ah. Ah! Won’t you stop?!”

Due to the pain, Cecil tried to dodge his head this way and that, but eventually grabbed Cyrus’s face and pushed it away. Even in that position, Cyrus still tried to gnaw on Cecil’s palm.

“What’s wrong with you, really?”

“I’m jealous. Don’t say their names.”

“What?”

Stunned by the absurd answer, Cecil stared blankly before bursting into laughter. That such a large figure would cling to him and say something so ridiculous exceeded absurdity—it was comical. Moreover, his expression looked so serious that if a stranger saw them, they might think Cecil had been unfaithful.

“The names are easy to remember! How can I not remember them!”

“Don’t remember them. I said don’t remember them. Understand?”

“Are you going to keep being unreasonable?”

“She’s interested in you…”

Cyrus finally confessed the reason for his dislike in response to Cecil’s oblivious reaction. The clueless Cecil, who had no idea how others perceived him, wouldn’t have noticed, but Cyrus had known from the first day they met. That woman called Anna had significant interest in Cecil.

It was impossible not to know. People with s*xual attraction emitted a distinctive scent, and their bodies radiated subtle heat. Cecil might be dull in that regard, but Cyrus couldn’t miss it.

This tea time probably came from arrangements by either that woman who was interested in Cecil or by Alesia who wanted to help her. He felt a strong desire to declare to both of them that Cecil was already his. Irritated and annoyed by the reality that he couldn’t do so, he burrowed into Cecil’s embrace, and Cecil reflexively hugged him back.

“She’s interested in me?”

“Yeah.”

“Anna is?”

“Yeah. It’s annoying, so stop talking about it.”

Sure enough, Cecil remained completely clueless, only expressing surprise and confusion in his voice. In this respect, the innocent Cecil probably thought his sister simply planned a tea time for socializing.

“That’s impossible…”

“Why is it impossible? Knight of the Lily of the Valley.”

When Cyrus mentioned the nickname Cecil disliked, Cecil’s cheeks turned bright red. He opened his delicate eyes as wide as possible and glared, which prompted Cyrus to plant a kiss on the corner of his eye.

“Look at that glare.”

“I told you not to call me that…”

“Fine, but be more self-aware. I’m tired of so many people targeting you. This time too, it’s just called tea time, but they’ll try to set you up with her.”

“…Really?”

“Have you ever seen me say something wrong?”

At that response, Cecil put on a serious expression. It was a face that showed he had never imagined such a thing. Only then did he understand why Cyrus had been so mischievous and irritable earlier. Due to the nature of their relationship, they had to keep it secret, and in that position, Cyrus would feel more than annoyed having to watch Cecil being paired with another woman.

Understanding Cyrus’s position—unable to step forward boldly as a brother, yet unable to back down—Cecil suddenly felt sorry.

“I’m sorry…”

“Why are you apologizing, brother?”

When Cecil apologized, Cyrus merely chuckled.

“You were upset.”

“It’s not because of you.”

“Should we not go?”

When Cecil finally suggested not going, Cyrus sighed. That wasn’t his intention. He wanted to make Cecil voluntarily depend on him, not force his every move.

“No. If sister asked us to come, we should go.”

When he deliberately answered playfully, Cecil gave a faint smile. He wanted to say something in response but didn’t know what would be appropriate. So he reached out and embraced Cyrus’s broad upper body. He could feel the large body stiffen in surprise.

So, to communicate “don’t be angry, I won’t go to someone else,” he stroked Cyrus’s hair, and long arms embraced him in return.

“You know what? This is the first time you’ve hugged me first.”

Cyrus’s voice saying that trembled slightly with some emotion. Since he used to hug him often when they were young, he must be referring to the time after the incident in the forest. Cecil didn’t release his arms from the embrace. Instead of apologizing or soothing, he silently stroked Cyrus’s hair.

Cyrus buried his face in Cecil’s shoulder. He stayed nestled in his brother’s peaceful embrace for quite some time. I love you. I love you, brother. The slow murmur circled Cecil’s ear and burrowed into his eardrum. It resembled an incantation of confession.

*

“Over here!”

Along with an energetic voice, long arms waved from side to side. Alesia, sensitive to smells, seemed to have caught the scent of the two from afar. Cecil waved his arm once in response.

“Was this the place?”

“I wrote it on the invitation.”

Alesia giggled and wiggled her toes. Cecil looked around broadly. Once at the willow leaves making pleasant sounds and the water flowing gently in the river. And once at the group settled by the riverside that wrapped around the academy building.

“I thought we were meeting inside.”

“Why would we stay inside when the weather is this nice! Sit down, you’re making me dizzy.”

Alesia, who seemed to be in a good mood, patted the cloth spread on the ground. Cecil nodded and pulled Cyrus’s arm. It meant for him to sit beside him.

After sitting down, he saw plenty of food. Tarts topped with cherry preserves, lemon-scented cake, and various fruit drinks—the snacks appeared abundant.

“Where did all this come from?”

“We stole it.”

“What?”

“No, Alesia is just joking. They sent it from our home.”

Anna laughed and corrected Alesia’s joke. Beside them, Alesia giggled, saying he fell for it again, while Cyrus sighed. It seemed only Cecil had been fooled again.

“I can’t live with sister…”

“Cecil, what would you like to eat? Lemon? Cherry?”

Anna, who seemed particularly excited today, held snacks in both hands and smiled at Cecil. After thinking for a moment, Cecil took the cherry tart and placed it in front of Cyrus. Cyrus looked at Cecil with puzzled eyes.

“What? You like this, don’t you? Cherry tart.”

Cecil gave a confused expression, suggesting hadn’t he always eaten it well since childhood. Cyrus felt like he might burst into laughter. Sure enough, Alesia groaned and tugged at her hair in exasperation.

“Cecil, please just take care of your own food. Cyrus, you too, handle things yourself.”

“What can I do when he gives it to me.”

“No, he likes this…”

Hearing their simultaneous responses, Alesia waved her hands, appearing thoroughly disgusted. She meant for them to just eat.

“Cyrus likes cherry tart?”

When Peyton, who had been watching the three with a smile, asked, Cecil nodded.

“Yes. He likes cherries… Was I being too overprotective?”

Cecil took a bite of lemon cake with a slightly embarrassed smile. Beside him, Alesia snacked on sugar-coated nuts while sarcastically remarking, “Why wouldn’t you be?”

“Try doing that for me sometime, for me.”

“Sister, you always take care of yourself well…”

Alesia always claimed her share first, even before anyone could take care of her. Cecil made an aggrieved expression, thinking she should give others a chance to care for her before saying such things.

“You’ll probably follow Cyrus when he gets married and live with him.”

“What are you saying, really.”

Cecil finally burst into laughter. He felt in a good mood. Although he felt uncomfortable and sorry that someone who had feelings for him was present, the weather looked so clear and the long-awaited chat felt so enjoyable that even those emotions soon dissolved.

Alesia loudly recounted how magnificently she had attacked in a one-on-one duel with the swordsmanship instructor and how miserably she had been defeated. Anna and Peyton delivered a lengthy speech about how strict and meticulous the dormitory supervisor for the upper grades was. They discussed only topics that made them laugh. Even Cyrus smiled, chuckling occasionally.

As they chatted about trivial matters for quite some time, Alesia suddenly seemed to remember something and called out to Cecil with a fork in her mouth.

“Cecil.”

“Yes?”

“I heard you received a confession?”

“What?”

At the sudden direct question, Cecil nearly dropped his fork but managed to catch it. Looking around, everyone seemed to already know about it. He felt bewildered about how they knew when he hadn’t mentioned a word about it. As he just blinked his eyes without saying anything, Alesia waved her hand.

“Why are you so surprised? I know you didn’t say anything. She told her friend that she confessed to you? It would be strange if it didn’t become gossip.”

“Ah…”

“Why didn’t you accept? She’s pretty. And has a good personality too.”

At the sudden topic directed at him, Cecil put down his fork and rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t know how to respond.

“Just, well.”

“Not your type?”

“Sister…”