As Ceremus sat at his desk, his nose buried in mountains of paperwork, his mind couldn't help wandering off to a certain white-haired guard who was currently running an errand for his advisor.
Now that he was alone, Ceremus found himself replaying the memory of the night before.
The moment they returned to the palace, a deep-seated fear had settled in his chest, unshakable and suffocating. The kiss they had shared only solidified what he had been trying to deny—he loved Hael.
And that terrified him.
For the first time, there was someone else in this world with whom he could be vulnerable with. Someone who could shatter him with their absence.
It meant that, at any moment, he could lose him.
As anxiety continued to gnaw at his mind, Anemone came into his study with a grim expression on his face. The king tilted his head as he braced himself for whatever devastating news his advisor had to deliver this time. It was always when Ceremus felt at peace that disaster liked to strike.
With a weary sigh, he waited for Anemone to speak.
"Your Majesty, we've received a letter from King Aeson," Anemone began. "He is requesting our assistance…"
Ceremus' frown deepened with each passing second, the tension in his face unmistakable. Seeing it filled Anemone with a familiar sense of unease, but he pressed on.
"According to the letter, a disaster-level monster has laid siege to the city gates. No matter how many knights and warriors they send, none have survived. They have been unable to defeat the creature, and they have no one else to turn to."
Ceremus exhaled sharply, feeling another headache coming along. "So? What exactly do they expect us to do? Send reinforcements?" he asked, his voice edged with detachment.
Anemone hesitated before answering. "It seems they are requesting Your Majesty's direct intervention… They cannot afford to lose any more people."
Ceremus didn't have to think twice—he was already prepared to refuse the request. He had no interest in dealing with another kingdom's problems, even if they were allies. It was far too bothersome, especially when he had his own problems to deal with. But just as he was about to voice his refusal, a knock echoed from the door.
He recognized it instantly.
"Come in," Ceremus said, his tone low and measured, yet tinged with a subtle excitement—one that did not go unnoticed by Anemone.
Anemone frowned as Hael entered, his sharp gaze flickering across the room before settling on Ceremus. A glint of happiness lit his eyes as he regarded the King, and Anemone immediately sensed a shift in the air between them—something had changed.
After offering his greetings, Hael fell silent, and Anemone resumed his report. He fully expected the King to refuse, but to his shock, Ceremus instead murmured that he would give it some thought.
"Your Majesty?!" Anemone exclaimed, the disbelief evident in his voice.
Ceremus merely shrugged, leaning back into his chair with an air of casual amusement. "Slaying a beast that no one else has been able to defeat sounds like an interesting challenge. Besides, it would improve Trojas' standing in the eyes of the public."
He then turned his attention to Hael, who wore a look of quiet confusion. The expression amused him, so he decided to enlighten the guard.
"What do you think we should do?" he asked, watching Hael expectantly.
Hael considered for a moment before answering, his voice steady and earnest. "If we can assist them, we should. It sounds like they've already lost too many people to this beast. I'd be more than happy to accompany Your Majesty."
A shadow of a smile crossed Ceremus' face—Hael's answer was exactly what he had expected.
"You heard the man, Anemone. Send a letter informing them that we'll be offering our services."
"A-As you wish, Your Majesty." Anemone bowed before hastily exiting the room.
Left alone, Ceremus could feel Hael's gaze lingering on him. He met his eyes with a questioning look. "What is it?"
Hael merely shrugged, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "It's nothing, Your Majesty."
Ceremus arched an eyebrow. It was obvious Hael had something on his mind, and the king—who was not known for his patience—narrowed his eyes, silently demanding the truth.
Hael chuckled before finally relenting. "I'm just glad to see you willing to help others. The you from before would never have considered it, Your Majesty."
Ceremus stilled at his words.
"You can call me by name, Hael. We are alone now," he said, his voice quieter.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Hael's face. "I'm still on duty. It would be improper to address you so casually—"
"Enough. I understand," Ceremus cut him off with a sigh.
"You're such a stickler for rules," he muttered, shaking his head. "It's quite disconcerting, if you ask me."
He rose from his chair and took a slow step forward. Hael remained still, his eyes locked on the king's every move.
"Anyway, what was it you were trying to say? That I wouldn't have made this decision without your influence?"
"Of course not, Your Majesty. But you have to admit—I did help." Hael's eyes gleamed with an unreadable expression.
Though Hael was right, Ceremus wasn't ready to acknowledge it outright. If not for him, the idea of venturing beyond the kingdom to face an unknown beast wouldn't have appealed to him very much, but Hael had rekindled his fighting spirit, and the thought of embarking on an adventure together was… surprisingly nice.
The King rolled his eyes as he stepped closer, now face-to-face with him.
"You've grown rather cheeky lately. I wonder what brought on this change in attitude."
Hael, who had been gazing into his eyes, briefly flicked his attention to Ceremus' lips before meeting his gaze again. Ceremus caught the momentary shift, and amusement flickered across his face.
"It's going to be a long and arduous journey. Are you sure you want to accompany me?" he asked suddenly.
Hael frowned. "Why would that stop me? As long as you're my companion, I don't care how long the journey takes."
Ceremus felt his heart stutter. He averted his gaze, unable to withstand the intensity in Hael's eyes, though his words brought an undeniable warmth to his chest.
He couldn't have asked for a better companion.
And so, the Kingdom promptly sent a letter in response, confirming their willingness to provide assistance. In gratitude, Leacus dispatched an envoy to accompany them on the journey, as the distant land required careful navigation. To ensure a swift and safe voyage, King Aeson commissioned a sturdy vessel capable of carrying them across the seas to Leacus.