By the time the party was over, it was already late into the night.
Jace and Nathan, along with a few others, rented a carriage to head back toward their area in Cherrywood. The streets were quiet, lit only by dim gas lamps and the faint glow of the half-moon above.
Inside the carriage, the only sound was the steady clatter of wheels against stone.
The boys had worked hard. Most of them leaned against each other, half-asleep from exhaustion.
---
A few minutes later, Jace and Nathan got off the carriage in the dead of night.
Nathan patted Jace on the back.
"Good work today. Go get some rest."
With that, he turned and began walking away.
"See you later," Jace said.
Nathan simply raised a hand and waved without turning back.
---
Jace let out a weary sigh and started walking toward his apartment.
On the way, he held his pendant and performed a quick divination—whether anyone was inside his apartment.
The result was positive.
Jace wasn't surprised.
Jane was probably waiting for him. She often did that when he took up tiring work like this.
---
He opened the door and stepped inside.
Jane was sitting in the living room with a book in her hand. She wore a loose nightgown, the kind she usually slept in.
Hearing the door, she looked up.
Even in her drowsy state, it was clear she had been waiting.
She noticed how tired Jace looked.
Jace wasn't someone built for such physically exhausting work… yet he still insisted on doing it.
Jane wondered why.
---
"Oh, you're here," she said, putting her book aside as she walked toward him and helped him remove his coat.
"Yes," Jace replied, letting her take it off.
"I already drew you a bath… ah, did you eat something there?"
"Yes, I did. They arranged dinner for the servers," Jace said as he headed toward the bathroom.
Jane hung his coat neatly before going into his room to pick up his towel and sleepwear.
She walked toward the bathroom—
"Jane!!"
Jace's voice rang out as he stood there, shirtless with his pants partly unbuttoned.
Jane giggled.
"Hehe… what? It's not like I haven't seen anything before."
She kept the clothes she brought aside.
"Just get out!" Jace said, gesturing toward the door.
"Fine!" Jane replied with a hint of annoyance as she stepped out and returned to the living room, picking up her book again.
---
A few minutes later, Jace came out of the bathroom, wearing his casual clothes and drying his hair with a towel.
He glanced at Jane.
"I'm going to sleep. You should go as well."
His voice was flat—he was still slightly annoyed.
"Okay… I'll leave in a few minutes," Jane replied.
Jace nodded and walked into his bedroom.
---
In the living room, Jane felt a bit guilty.
She knew barging into the bathroom like that wasn't appropriate anymore.
He's not a child anymore…
She sighed softly.
I shouldn't do things like that now.
.
.
A few minutes later, Jane stood up with her book.
Just as she was about to leave—
She paused.
Then turned and walked into Jace's bedroom.
---
Jace was already lying on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, barely conscious from exhaustion.
Jane walked over and sat beside him.
"Jace… I'm sorry about before.
"Mm… okay…" he mumbled, already half asleep.
Jane looked at him for a moment. Even if he had grown up… to her, he was still the same boy.
She shook her head slightly.
I won't change that… just because he grew up.
"Hey, Jacey… scoot over."
Jace, already drifting into sleep, shifted a little without even opening his eyes.
---
Knock. Knock.
Jane woke up to the sound, still groggy. For a moment, she didn't understand where she was, only feeling warmth and something holding onto her.
She slowly opened her eyes, She looked up and was surprised to see that she was sleeping with Jace.
His head was just above hers, his arm wrapped around her waist—slightly lower than it should've been.
Her nightgown had ridden up from below, exposing her thighs and bare legs, which were loosely tangled with his.
Jane's face flushed instantly.
She carefully lifted his arm and moved it away, surprised at how firm his grip was even in sleep.
She glanced at him, and saw that he was still completely asleep.
Thank Gods… he's a deep sleeper.
She quickly pulled her gown down, adjusting it properly before standing up and composing herself, trying to act normal before going to open the door.
---
The knocking came again.
Jane walked to the door and looked through the peephole.
It was Janet.
She opened the door.
"Jane! Why are you sleeping in Jacey's apartment?" Janet asked with a confused expression.
Janet, about fourteen, looked very similar to Jane—almost like a younger version of her. She wore a simple dark dress.
"Ah… I got sleepy while waiting for him, so I just stayed," Jane replied casually.
"Oh, okay… why is your face red? Are you sick?" Janet asked.
"Ah—" Jane touched her cheek. "No, I just had a nightmare. I'm a bit flustered."
It wasn't unusual for Jane or Janet to be here. They had known Jace for years and were close.
Janet nodded.
"Is Jace here? I haven't seen him for days!"
"He's sleeping right now. You should meet him later."