The journey back to the academy wasn’t far. Though it had taken several days both coming and going, strangely it felt like time passed more quickly. Cecil was certain this was because of Cyrus beside him.

And when they returned to the academy, instead of facing the angry Alesia he’d expected, he encountered an angry professor.

“Cyrus, Cecil! Come to the professor’s office right now!”

The philosophy professor in charge of their class summoned them with a face flushed red and blue. Following him with drooping steps, he waved a book like a weapon while shouting.

“What on earth were you two doing! Do you know how worried the teachers were?!”

“We’re sorry…”

“Without saying a word! Leaving without permission! For days! Good heavens! Where were you all this time?!”

“At our family villa.”

“V-villa? VILLA?!”

“We’re sorry.”

Standing there with a dumbfounded expression, he sighed deeply and slumped into his seat. Pressing his fingers against his furrowed brow, he pointed at the two with a pale face.

“Are there problems with your school life? Tell me. Is that why you left without permission? Hmm?”

After throwing several questions at them, he seemed to desperately want to believe that these two exemplary students, who were more than just model students but top scholars, had suddenly gone mad. Otherwise, such an absurd situation couldn’t have happened.

“There were no problems at school. It was a personal matter.”

“What exactly is this personal matter? Let’s hear it.”

But they couldn’t possibly tell their story to the professor. So they kept their mouths shut and lowered their heads, which made the professor’s blood pressure rise again as he grabbed his neck and started groaning.

“In my twenty years of teaching, I’ve never seen students like you. How could you think of escaping school… No, no matter how frustrated you were, how could you…”

Muttering to himself, “They’re crazy, absolutely crazy,” the professor grabbed the water bottle beside him, drank it in one gulp, and slammed it on the desk.

“You each get 20 penalty points for this incident. You know that 25 points means repeating a year, right? And help organize the library for the rest of the semester. Also! Write a ten-page reflection on why you did this, and also! Your fathers will be here tomorrow.”

“What?”

Cecil, who had been nodding his head quietly like a dead mouse, suddenly looked up at the last part. Even Cyrus seemed quite surprised.

“Why are you surprised? Did you think they wouldn’t come?”

“Professor, but!”

“Enough. Both of you, keep your mouths shut. How could you possibly… Start helping at the library tomorrow and submit your reflection papers by the end of this week. Cecil, I heard you weren’t feeling well, but you look perfectly fine to me.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you! Your sister said so, but you should limit your lies, you rascals! Both of you, get out!”

Apparently, Alesia had communicated that to the school. But Cecil, who had returned, was not just fine but positively glowing, as if the shadow that had always hung over him had lifted.

Cecil and Cyrus left the professor’s office with defeated faces and trudged toward the dormitory. As they walked through the corridors, familiar faces gave them thumbs up, praising them without knowing the truth, saying how impressive they were and where they found such boldness.

The two tried to push away the gathering crowd and headed to their dormitory room, where they flopped down on the bed.

“Ah, we’re doomed.”

“Will both of them come?”

“I think so.”

Cecil, who answered, groaned and pounded his pillow in distress. Seeing this, Cyrus sat at his bedside, stroked his forehead, and suddenly muttered.

“Love elopement…”

“What?”

“If we say we were busy with something like that, wouldn’t they understand?”

As Cyrus said this, he mimicked writing a reflection paper with his hand. Cecil burst into laughter at the sight.

“You’re crazy.”

Cecil’s eyes curved beautifully. Seeing this, Cyrus smiled back and lay down beside him.

“But what should we do…”

“About what?”

“Father Leira might not know, but Father Edwin might be able to tell.”

At the suggestion that he might be able to tell from the scent left on their bodies, like Alesia had, Cyrus stared at the ceiling in thought.

“He won’t know.”

“How do you know?”

“We haven’t done anything for days.”

At this naturally emerging conversation, Cecil blushed slightly.

“Is that so? I guess you’re right?”

“Yeah. There’s barely any of my scent on you now. It’s frustrating.”

“Don’t get upset about something like that…”

As Cecil muttered while pressing his temples, trying to soothe an incoming headache, Cyrus planted a kiss on his forehead.

“What’s that for?”

“So your head won’t hurt.”

“Seriously.”

Cecil laughed at his younger brother’s affectionate behavior, then suddenly nestled into Cyrus’s arms.

“What’s wrong?”

“…What if our fathers find out?”

His anxiety was evident in his voice. Cyrus didn’t mind being discovered and was confident they could work things out somehow, but Cecil wasn’t. So instead of giving a hasty answer, Cyrus patted Cecil’s shoulder.

“Still…”

“…”

“Don’t run away.”

“…”

“Stay by my side.”

Though his voice seemed calm, the hand regularly patting Cecil’s shoulder had a slight tremor. Cecil slowly raised his head and met Cyrus’s eyes. Those eyes, usually full of certainty, were shaking. Seeing that anxiety, Cecil felt an inevitable tenderness and sympathy, and placed his hand on Cyrus’s cheek.

“I can’t say I’m not scared.”

“…”

“But I won’t run away anymore.”

At that promise, the trembling in Cyrus’s eyes stopped. He slowly lowered his lips to Cecil’s in a kiss. Without using his tongue, just pressing their lips together like a warm promise, he whispered while still keeping their lips connected.

“Promise you won’t abandon me.”

“…I won’t abandon you.”

“Say you’ll be with me forever.”

“I’ll be with you forever.”

The closest blood-related lovers could, paradoxically, become more distant than the farthest things in the world because of that very connection. So that promise had a certain emptiness to it, yet it was still touching.

Cyrus believed in that futile affirmation and formed a slight smile on his lips.

“I love you, Cecil.”

His voice was trembling. Hearing it, tears welled up in Cecil’s eyes. He embraced his younger brother and buried his face in his long neck.

Why do you love so unchangingly? Even though I couldn’t protect you like this.

“…Me too. I love you too.”

With nothing else to give back but that answer, Cecil held back his tears and opened his mouth. In response, kisses showered down on his eyes, cheeks, and lips. Eventually, Cecil burst into laughter with tear-moistened eyes.

He felt fulfilled. His love for his brother was so fulfilling that Cecil couldn’t help but love him.

*

“Cecil, Cyrus. Come to the professor’s office. Your fathers have finished their meeting.”

A classmate from the same class called for the two. Alesia glanced at them briefly when she heard this, then looked away.

Cecil gave a quick look at Alesia, who was surrounded by people, and headed back to the professor’s office with Cyrus. His hands grew sweaty with tension.

As they approached the professor’s office at the end of the corridor, they could see the professor bowing respectfully. And their two fathers as well.

“Cecil, Cyrus, stop causing trouble now. Understand?”

Whatever conversation they had, the professor seemed much less angry than yesterday. He said he looked forward to working with them in the future, bowed, and went back into his office.

“Cecil! Cyrus!”

Their father, Leira, with his bright blonde hair flowing, rushed toward the two almost at a run. He embraced them both, though due to his small stature, it looked more like he was being embraced by his sons.

“Why do you look so worn out? Was the academy that difficult?”

Leira, who had never lived worrying about anything, stroked the cheeks of his two children with concerned eyes.

“No, I’m fine now.”

“If you don’t want to do it, you can quit.”

“What? No, it’s really not like that…”

Perhaps because he had no worries, Leira sometimes showed an impulsive side, suggesting they might as well quit and play at home. Cecil laughed at his carefree demeanor.

“I’m really fine.”

At that moment, their other father, Edwin, approached. Cecil tensed up without realizing it. Though the scent had faded considerably since they hadn’t been intimate with Cyrus for several days, knowing his identity made it impossible not to be afraid.

Edwin silently looked at the two in turn with his snake-like green eyes gleaming. After staring at them for a while without saying anything, he stroked each of their heads. It was a light touch, but Cecil looked up with surprised eyes.

“If it’s hard, why don’t you do as Leira says?”

“Ah… No. I was just having a difficult time temporarily… I’ll attend properly now. Don’t worry.”

Cecil knew he was rambling but couldn’t stop himself. Despite being older now, he felt like a child in front of Edwin. Edwin said nothing more and quietly met Cyrus’s eyes. The gazes of two beasts crossed in the air.

Edwin looked at him for a while. It was impossible to know what that reptilian gaze meant. It was difficult to judge whether he knew or didn’t know. That cold gaze lingered on Cyrus for a moment before moving away.

“Aren’t you going to see Sister before you leave?”

“We already saw Alesia earlier.”

“Leira, we need to go now.”

“Alright.”

Edwin wrapped his arm around Leira’s waist. The four headed toward the school entrance where the carriage was waiting, sharing news they hadn’t been able to exchange. Mostly, it was Leira who spoke.

According to him, an unidentified bird had recently built a nest at the mansion, and autumn flowers had already started to bloom. One servant had quit and a new one had been hired who was curious about the siblings of the house. He chatted happily all the way to the carriage, creating a cheerful atmosphere.

When the four arrived at the carriage, they exchanged goodbyes. Leira got into the carriage first, and Edwin stood facing the two children.

“Travel safely, Father.”