Adrian lay back on his fluffy bed, his arms tucked behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling above. But his mind wasn't in his room—it was with Elias.
"Why does my heart race when he's near me?" he murmured to himself.
"Why does it hurt when I see him with someone else?"
He turned to his side and buried his face in the pillow. "Gosh… What kind of feeling is this?"
---
The morning sun filtered softly through the large curtains of Nao's bedroom. Nao slowly opened his eyes—and the first thing he saw was Raviel's face.
The demon was already awake, seated calmly on the couch, gazing at him with an unreadable expression.
"Good morning, my young master," Raviel greeted with a slight smile.
Nao blinked the sleep away and sat up. "Morning…"
He rubbed his eyes and looked at Raviel suspiciously. "Wait… Did you stare at me all night?"
Raviel's lips curled up slightly. "How could I disobey your final order, not to look away?"
Nao flushed and quickly turned his face. "You're so weird…"
Getting up from bed, he grabbed his robe. "I'm going to take a shower first."
Raviel nodded. "As you wish."
Just then, a polite knock came at the door.
"Young Master Nao, are you awake?" Mr. Den's voice echoed from behind the door.
"Yes, I'm up," Nao replied.
"Alright, I'll be waiting downstairs," Mr. Den said before leaving.
Nao stepped into the bathroom, and the sound of running water soon followed.
Meanwhile, Raviel walked silently to the window, parting the curtains with his pale fingers. He stood still, his eyes fixed on the morning sky. The sun cast a soft golden glow across the garden, but his face remained calm and distant—like someone remembering a world long lost.
Isadora sat alone at the breakfast table, her eyes distant, lips tight, and mood clearly stormy. The clink of silverware barely masked the tension swirling around her.
Adrian entered the room and quietly took a seat. He glanced at his mother, noticing her cold expression, and sighed.
"I'm worried about your future," Isadora finally said, her voice heavy but laced with sharpness. "But you always misunderstand me, my son."
Adrian met her gaze firmly. "I've been part of all this from the beginning, Mom. But I want peace... a real family. Please—don't do anything to Nao. He's my brother. He cares about me too."
Isadora's expression faltered for a split second, then she quickly masked it. Her lips curled into a soft, practiced smile. "My sweet son, you don't understand everything yet."
Adrian stood, his patience waning. "Enough. I'm done with this conversation. I have an important class today—I'm going to school."
As he turned away, Isadora took a calm sip of her coffee and said smoothly, "As you wish, my dear son."
—
Meanwhile, Nao stepped out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel. His eyes landed on Raviel, who stood silently near the window, basking in the morning light. The sun bathed Raviel's sharp features, making him look almost ethereal.
"You look... happy," Nao said softly, approaching him.
Raviel turned his head, a small smile touching his lips. "After five centuries, I finally see the sky and feel the warmth of the sun again... They're beautiful."
Nao paused, watching the way the sunlight danced in Raviel's eyes. For a brief moment, the world felt peaceful—like this fragile warmth might last forever.
Nao glanced at Raviel and said, "Go take a bath. After my office work, we'll go shopping—you need new clothes. For now, you can wear mine."
Raviel nodded with a soft expression and disappeared into the bathroom.
Nao walked over to his wardrobe, picking out a neatly folded suit. He dressed with care, knowing it was his first day at the company. As he adjusted his tie in the mirror, he looked sharp—elegant and confident in a professional dark suit.
Just then, Raviel stepped out of the bathroom. His damp hair clung to his face slightly, droplets trailing down his skin. He stopped for a moment and looked at Nao, then said softly, "You look handsome."
Nao blinked, then smiled, "Thanks—" and suddenly paused, realizing what Raviel just said. "Wait, what?"
Raviel tilted his head. "Dry your hair with a dryer," Nao added quickly, trying to change the topic. "It's easy."
Raviel picked up the dryer and examined it with confusion. "What is this?"
Nao sighed, walked up, and said, "Let me do it." He gently placed his hand in Raviel's hair and started drying it. As the warm air blew, Raviel stood still, not blinking, just gazing at Nao's face.
"You smell… so nice," Raviel murmured. "In my whole life, I've never smelled anything like you… it's so good."
Nao blushed deeply, flustered. "It's done!" he quickly said, stepping back. "Go get changed—we need to hurry. It's my first day. I don't want to be late."