The birds sing through the shining light of the Sun, the flowers and leaves dancing in the air as if they were devoid of any responsibilities. Alas, that couldn’t be the same for Seren.

He sits across from his rather cold fiancé, the Duke of Wystan, in the beautiful open gazebo that overlooks the lush gardens of his new gilded cage, one that he has grown rather fond of.

 It is near the forests of Wystan and is lined with onyx bricks made from volcanic rocks if rumors are to be believed.

“Seren.”

A single word, low yet sharp, cuts through his thoughts and Seren’s mismatched gaze drifts to the man sitting before him. He eyes him with his lips pressed in a thin line.

His soon-to-be husband and Lord as his family had never failed to remind him at every meal, Darien. No matter how dashing he looked with the short brown hair and deep black eyes that looked through him rather than at him, he still left him alone.

“Yes, my lord?”

“Your tea will get cold.”

Seren looks down, his tea sitting still in his porcelain cup. It was his favorite blend, vanilla Rooibos, tastes like the sickening medicine of the asylum to some but to him it is delicious. He picks the cup gently, as if the most precious thing on Earth and brings it to his mouth.

The blend, made in the Wystan kitchens, was truly exquisite. It blooms on Seren's tongue with subtle rose and vanilla flavor, one more thing to be loved by him. His lord must also be fond of sweet things, otherwise he would not have those four pastries.

Alas, that wouldn't change the tense silence around them. Even after a month of preparation  Seren doesn’t know what to say to this cold man. But he must try.

“Hm.. it is quite a lovely day.”

“It is.”

It seems his lord only has a few words in his dictionary, surprising considering the vast collection of books in his library.

As Seren sips his tea, a small figure catches his eye. He turns his head towards it and finds a hare bouncing from one place to another. The sight was endearing and rather uncommon for Seren. His gardens had never had such adorable guests.

“I hadn’t heard that there will be little visitors in the gardens..?”

Seren asked, his gaze not once leaving the spotted hare. The teacup was forgotten, sitting on the saucer held in his hands.

Darien’s eyes follow Seren’s, though his eyes remain as cold as ice he leans in.

“They are quite convenient, the hunters never need to venture far into the woods.”

Seren went still, his eyes widening as he turned to face the Duke.

“You hunt them, my lord?”

“What else are they useful for, my dear?”

Seren holds his gaze for a moment longer before he turns back to the hare. It had found a spot near the stream’s stony edge.

“How could they..?”

His thoughts a whisper to himself, something no one but him could hear. His grip on the cup’s handle tightens.

“I see..”

Darien's gaze shifted to him, those narrowed black eyes cold and assessing. He observed the cool autumn breeze toying with Seren's soft black hair, noting the single white strand that stood out among the dark waves. His skin—a light tan marked with clusters of white patches—caught the noon sunlight. The upper right side of his face, where his blue eye rested, was devoid of any tan, the pale skin that climbs from his cheekbone and bleeds into that single white strand.

“Hm..”

The silence stretches on even as Seren feels the weight of Darien’s stare like a boulder. If this was to be in a play, they would’ve been shot with tomatoes.

That would be horrible for both his skin and his confidence though he doesn’t know why he is thinking of it.

“Your face.”

Seren froze, turning around to meet his lord

“Pardon?”

“Your face, it is rather unique.”

That would be an understatement. Every human is always so focused on his face, gawking, glaring, staring.

It is rather annoying.

“It is.”

Seren replied, a frown souring his face while Darien sighs.

“Has he gone upset?”

“It is not a criticism.”

“I know..” Seren morphs his expression into something more.. suited for a noble.

Another moment of quiet, for them not the animals around them as they continue to squeak and sing.

Seren wishes to be one of them, maybe a bird.. Or a hare just not in this garden.

“The talk about your appearance seems to irritate you.”

Darien leans closer on the small table separating them, like all of its surroundings, it too is exquisite. Though that is not quite important here.

“Not all talk, my lord.”

What shall he even say? That yes, people irritate him?

And was Darien mocking him? But for what? Losing his composure?

Darien leans back again in his chair, taking a bit out of his pastry. They do look delicious..

But he will NOT ask. Nor take.

Darien’s eyes follow his fiance’s sight and hums.

“Does he want them..?”

“Would you like to eat something?”

Does he know magic? Well, the servants were saying his sister-in-law was a witch but he thought of personality.

“No thank you, my lord.”

Darien narrows his eyes and looks towards the castle as if it was a stain to the view.

“It is no wonder you are so thin.”

Thin? Thin???

Now this man was shaming his body?! How rude.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding, I am perfectly well, my lord.”

“You are not.”

Seren runs a hand over his stomach, feeling the flat surface. How is that unsatisfactory? It is the beauty standard.

The Duke’s eyes narrow onto the linen blouse that covers the flat stomach. The fragile ribs.

“Forgive me, but I don’t believe I am undesirable.”

Darien eyes travel to his face and he raises a brow, a smirk appears on his face. Slow like a serpent. It suits him, a traitorous voice whispers in the back of his mind.

“You are but a child, Seren. You shouldn’t be thinking of such things.”

Seren’s shoulders tense, he was not a child. He was nineteen.

“Then you are saying you are to be married to a child?”

Darien’s smirk drops and he gives Seren a cold stare who shifts uncomfortably and looks down. Maybe he should hold his tongue

“Your family was the one to give you away.”

Seren looks up, his mismatched gaze colliding with those obsidian eyes.

“Y-you chose me even with my unmarried siblings standing beside me.. My lord.”

Darien clenches his jaw at the quiet whisper but doesn’t respond. A seed of satisfaction planted itself in Seren but he would be a fool to show to him.

It was quiet again with the only sounds being the song of the birds and the water running down the stream. Peaceful almost. He turned his attention back to the teacup, the poor thing was forgotten to the point of being cold.

He looks over at Darien’s cup, it was empty. Maybe he should fill it? But wouldn’t that b-

“Your tea is cold.”

The Duke had already reached out and was now grabbing the delicate porcelain with his gloved hands.

“Gloves. But it is summer..”

Darien throws the cold liquid on the ground away from them and Seren tries not to give him an unimpressed look. 

“What’s with that look?”

Darien clenches his jaw as he fills the cup with the hot tea and hands it over to Seren.

“Drink.”

Seren wraps his finger around the handle of the cup, bringing it to his mouth while looking at Darien who doesn’t look away either.

They both stare at each other for a few moments before Seren lowers his cup and places it on the table with the saucer.

“Would you like some more tea, my lord..?”

He whispers, his eyes staring at Darien’s sharp ones— ones that can’t seem to look away from him.

“No.”

The Duke leans back against his chair, running a hand through his short brown hair while Seren frowns again but nods.

With nothing else to say Seren’s eyes drift back to the stream, the little hare as expected had disappeared and he tries to bury the disappointment deep inside his heart.

The wind flows again and Seren takes a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze calm him down.

It reminds him of the snow near the mountains of his estate. A smile graces his face as he remembers.

He remembers how he went to build snowmen with his little sister and brother, and also to find little creatures. Foxes, hares, deers gazing with their fawns. They even found a bear there, fortunately it didn’t notice them.

But then the smile falters and Seren looks down on his hands before one of them picks the cup back up.

“When will I see them..?”

The thought always came back when he was idle. It was painful. Uncertain. Letters weren’t enough. He wanted to see them. To see their face and then hug them.

Just think about them h—

A soft knock on the pillar grabs his attention and he is grateful.

“Y-your Excellency… Your Grace..”

A pause of hesitation and Seren could see Darien’s gaze sharpens and a slow frown comes to his lips despite the glint in his eyes. The poor boy trembled before them, looking at Seren with pleading eyes.

“F-forgive me.. Forgive me for interrupting.. but supper.. is ready...”

Seren gives the boy who seemed no older than 14 a smile, hoping to reduce the fear in him.

“We’ll be there.”

Darien’s glare darkens. How can this boy get a smile from him?

The boy bows down to his knees at the confirmation before scurrying away. Seren looks over at Darien, his lips pressed together in a straight line for a moment.

“We should leave..”

“Why? Because they said so?”

“Pardon?”

Darien sighs, without another word, he rises before following down the gazebo steps. Seren follows, his steps faster so he could catch up with his lord. Darien slows down, looking down at him.

But then Seren halts, his gaze on a bud that is an odd one out in the sea of beautiful full flowers. Then the mismatched gaze goes to a bee, sucking on the nectar of a rose that has bloomed beautifully. 

Then a swing, Seren’s gaze stays on it but Darien’s gaze stays on him.

“You are so different from her.”

He places a hand on Seren’s waist, turning him away from the thorny flowers.

They aren’t walking anymore. Seren’s gaze then travels to the hand near his waist and then he looks up at his lord

“Is everything well, my lord?”

“You’ll ruin your clothes.”

Seren almost wanted to roll his eyes but it would be appalling, especially in front of his lord. 

“They will be fine, my lord.”

Darien huffs and tugs Seren closer, his hand settling at the small of his back. Seren’s clothes were loose and casual rather than elegant and refined. But that didn’t matter much as they are only in their garden.

Seren wears a flowy white blouse with dark pants. Darien turns Seren around who gives him a disapproving look and a huff.

“How unrefined.”

Darien clicks his tongue.

“Excuse me?”

Seren grumbles under his breath, a frown on his face. Darien tucks his blouse in his pants and the younger noble tries to pry his hand away.

“My lord, what are you doing?”

“Why is this out?”

Seren finally rolled his eyes while gripping Darien’s hand. It felt good as if a stone was lifted off his shoulders.

“It’s noble fashion, my lord. Besides, it is quite long.”

Darien raised a brow and leaned down enough to meet Seren’s eyes.

“You will teach me about fashion?”

Seren pressed his lips together, blue and green clashing with black.

“I am not teaching you..”

Darien’s lips twitched at the quiet yet fiery tone, he almost wanted to lean in more.. just to annoy his little fiance but alas, they had to be interrupted by footsteps of another lowly servant.

“Y-your–”

Before the man can finish, Darien raises a hand, the same one that was on Seren’s blouse. Getting the chance, Seren untucks the blouse again while also looking at the poor butler.

Darien notices the untucked blouse from the corner of his eye before he shifts his gaze back to the trembling flesh before him. It was almost.. amusing to see them shiver and beg. But it had gone a bit repetitive.

“Leave.”

The man didn’t need to be told twice.

Seren watches him go with a frown before Darien pulls him with the hand in his grip.

“Come before they send another one of them.”

Seren follows Darien as the Duke starts to walk, but instead of walking in long strides, he walks at a pace more comfortable for Seren.

“My lord.. Why must you be so cruel to them?”

Darien looked down at him, his grip tightening at the words but he didn't stop.

“You think that’s cruel, my Cloud?”

“Cloud??”

Seren’s eyebrows go up at the endearment, what is with this.. sudden creativity? Not that he minded it but it feels rather unsuitable for such words to be uttered by Darien.

“Cloud?”

“Why? Do you have any objections?”

Seren shook his head and Darien’s hand let go of Seren’s.

“Good.”

By the time their conversation was over, they had entered the castle. Despite having settled here for a month, Seren still cannot get used to the sheer darkness inside. His vision darkened as he blinked in order to lessen the change in lighting after coming inside from the bright sun.

The windows were huge, they went to the ceiling yet they were covered by a translucent black cloth. Huh, no wonder his lord was so pale, he had been living like a.. Werewolf from Helen’s stories? No, that wasn’t the right one, was it..

His musings were cut short as they halted in front of a familiar large dark oak door and the guards, who seemed to tremble only in their hands, opened the door. They were met with soft chatter that made Seren’s lips lift upwards.