"What is a holy priest doing here?"

He let out a sudden barrel of laughter upon seeing Julianne pout, feeling ashamed of his messy appearance. However, witnessing it with his own eyes thrilled Sebastian, feeling as if his chest was tightening with his sight, anxiously thinking what he would say next that would not bring him discomfort.

"It's a funny thing to ask for someone who almost gets shot."

Julianne stated with a dissatisfied expression etched on his face.

"I am here because I have an appointment in the palace."

He added, just before Sebastian began to tease him, pointing towards the direction that leads to the gigantic portcullis of the castle.

"The royal palace is over there."

With tears in his eyes, the priest mumbled, though Sebastian pretended like he hadn't heard, asking for it to be repeated multiple times as if he were addicted to the soothing quality of his voice. 

"I'm lo..lost...."

"Oh god! I think my hearing has worsened!"

He teased.

"I... I think I'm lost!"

At that moment, Sebastian formed a delighted smile.

"Then let me help you."

He insisted, but Julianne merely shook his head, trembling as he tightly clutched the shivering rabbit in his embrace.

Seeing how the priestess had acted, Sebastian rubbed his forehead, feeling ashamed of himself for what he had done for the first time in his life, as he seemed to perceive the way Julianne acted like a frightened prey that was about to be hunted.

"You can take the bunny."

He said earnestly. Yet the priest continued to act the same way, eyes shut tight, shaking his head, leaving Sebastian with furrowed brows and a blank stare.

"....."

And before a mere second could pass, Julianne was startled when he suddenly threw the dear rifle in his hands, creating an unyielding sound of the broken gun as he cautiously carried him gently in his arms.

"Your grace! I can walk!"

"You're bleeding!"

Seeing his wounded arms and knee from his blood-tainted vestment, that's when Julianne felt the intense pain like thousands of needles prickling his skin, leaving him no choice but to obey the young duke.

He then carefully put him down the log, kneeling before him to wrap the handkerchief around his wound, even taking off his vest for him to cover.

And as the breeze ruffled on Sebastian's hair, Julianne unconsciously tried to touch it leisurely with his hands, feeling startled with his cheeks flushed in red when he suddenly made contact with his eyes.

"My apologies!"

He panicked as the young Duke got his hand before he closed his eyes, and with a pleased smile on his face, he put it on top of his head, feeling the sleek texture of his hair before he slowly slid it down his cheek.

So warm...

The place was then eaten by silence, both feeling their faces grow hot and red with only their shallow breaths and pounding hearts could be heard at that moment. 

******

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