The morning unfolded softly, sunlight slipping through the sky in a gentle glow. The air was cool and delicate, brushing against the skin like a quiet whisper. Nothing felt rushed—everything moved slowly, peacefully, as if the world was waking with care. It was the kind of morning that made a person want to stay still and simply breathe it in. Draven woke up first, he sat up and looked at Aurelian, still sleeping. His soft features settled in a warm and calm expression. "You look almost... peaceful", Draven whispered, his fingers brushing against Aurelian's cheeks. "Will you ever find comfort in me again?" Draven questioned before getting off bed. He went to the bath house and emerged later on already dressed. He glance at Aurelian one more time before exiting their chambers. As the door closed, Aurelian opened his eyes, he had woken up before Draven because he couldn't get enough sleep and he heard everything Draven had said. "Comfort? I don't know" he said into the empty room.
Draven finished his usual morning training and strode to the library to read a little since he had already missed breakfast. His footsteps slowed when he heard voices from the inside. He stood in front of the large library door, listening. One particular voice had caught his attention, Drusilla's. "That bastard Aurelian, I want him gone" she said angrily. "But Drusilla, don't you think it's getting out of hand, if you want Draven, make a move on him" one of her friends suggested. "You think I haven't tried" Drusilla scoffed,"if I can't have Draven, no one else can". She said, her voice final. Draven scoffed and pushed the door open, "you've got some nerves" he stride towards Drusilla. "Oh Draven, you're here" her voice was dripping with fake enthusiasm, inside she was hoping -praying Draven didn't hear their conversation. "Why did you lie to Aurelian?" Draven asked. She tilted her head,"lie? What lie?" "Don't pretend Drusilla, I hate liars the most" Draven pushed,"I..I just wished him congratulations" Drusilla tries again,"I'm not a fool Drusilla" Draven snaps, visibly irritated,"I don't want to ever see you near Aurelian, ever" he adds. "Or what? He doesn't deserve you! I do!" She desperately pressed herself against Draven,"why won't you look at me?!" She mutters her voice cracking. "I've warned you now, if you dare go against Aurelian.." he leans down and whispers in her ear,"I'll kill you with my own hands" he straightens. Drusilla flinches at his words,"y.. you wouldn't.. you.. you're just bluffing" she stammers unsure. Draven looks at her, his expression dangerously calm,"take this as mercy otherwise you'll regret it". He walks out of the library, slamming the door shut behind him. Drusilla flinches again, one of her friends looks at her,"are you okay?" "He looks so scary when he's angry" another whispers. "So..is that it? You're stopping?" One of her friends asks but Drusilla doesn't say anything, she still looked shaken up.
As Draven walked past the corridors, he murmurs to himself,"I didn't even read, what a waste". He glanced at the garden and sitting admist the flowers was Aurelian. He was out for air and..peace. Draven stared at him,"you look beautiful, more than the flowers, he states. Aurelian felt eyes on him so he looked back and he saw Draven there just staring at him without blinking. He quickly stands up, ready to leave."are you really avoiding me?" Draven says, Aurelian doesn't look at him,"I'm not avoiding you, I was just.. leaving" "really? Didn't seem that way" Draven raised a questioning eyebrow walking towards him,"what do you want?" Aurelian asked instead, trying to change the topic,"I spoke to Drusilla, she won't bother you anymore" Draven replied looking proud of himself. "Ah..I see.." Aurelian looks at him unsure,"why is he doing this?" He asked himself internally. Draven stepped closer,"you can't avoid me forever Aurelian and also I want you to know...you can trust me..again" he mutters the last part. Aurelian looked at Draven, really looked at him. "It's not that easy" he finally says, "then tell me how to make it easy Aurelian, I'll do anything, anything at all" Draven replies, desperation creeping into his tone. Aurelian just turned around,"I'll give it a thought then" he whispers, so quietly Draven would have missed it if he breathe too loud. "Alright" Draven replied and watch Aurelian walk away. He ran a hand through his hair,"this is stressing me, but I'll endure it, for you" he thought to himself.
At noon, during lunch, everyone sat at the table eating, including Draven. Aurelian's family was leaving that evening which meant Aurelian will officially be part of Nightbane. The food was eaten in silence until king Alaric broke it,"Draven please protect my son while he's here, he can be a handful sometimes but you'll eventually get used to it" "rest assured, he'll be fine" Draven replied and king Alaric nodded. Aurelian glanced at Draven who was eating quietly now,"why? Why does he have to care so much?" He asked himself.
After eating, Draven excused himself from the table,"excuse me, I have issues that requires my attention" he says standing up. "And what's that?" King Malric questions,"the voices of the people" Draven replies smoothly and king Malric nods him to go ahead. "Can I come with you?" Aurelian asks, no one was expecting that but Draven replied "yes sure, let's go". "Look at that, someone's getting cozy with his new kingdom" Elowen tries to joke but it clearly doesn't work. Aurelian stands up, not bothering to address her words and followed Draven out. The both of them walked towards the palace gates, "what makes you want to go?" Draven asks, genuinely curious. "I just want to help the people" Aurelian replied not missing a beat. Draven walked to their carriage waiting for Aurelian, meanwhile Aurelian looked at his hand, he was holding the charm Draven had bought him last time they went out together. He walked over and let Draven assist him in entering the carriage. Draven slides in next to him. "What are you holding?" He asks looking at Aurelian's folded hand, "it's nothing" Aurelian replied as the carriage begins to move. But it was not nothing because that charm was special to Aurelian but he doesn't know why -or does he? But he refuses to admit it.