The manor stood solemn and grand beneath the cold, pale sky. Its gray stone walls looked
stark and weathered, with a chill clinging to the surface. The tall, pointed roof was dark and slick with frost, and thin mist curled at the edges of the grounds. Bare trees lined the path to the front entrance, their leafless
branches reaching like claws against the wind. Cold air whispered through the iron gate and rustled the brittle, dormant vines clinging to the manor's facade.
The atmosphere was still, quiet, expectant, as if winter was just about to arrive.
A butler and a few maids were waiting outside.
"Welcome back, Your Grace," the old butler greeted them with a warm smile.
Luren looked around. Rolen and the others were nowhere to be seen, as if they had
vanished into the shadows.
"It's been a long time, Butler Serio," Keith said, offering a polite nod.
The butler, still smiling kindly, returned the gesture and guided them toward the entrance.
"This place feels… empty," Luren murmured, his eyes scanning the quiet halls. The manor was grand, yet the only ones tending to it were the butler and a handful of maids.
"Yes," Butler Serio replied, his voice tinged with both pride and sadness. "It's been
a year since His Grace last returned. Without him, there's no one to truly manage the manor. We simply clean and tend to the damages, but it longs for its lord."
"You don't have to worry about that anymore, Serio," Craige said with a smirk, giving the old man a knowing wink.
Butler Serio's smile deepened, catching the meaning behind the Duke's words. Luren's
cheeks flushed pink, realizing who Craige was referring to. His heart skipped, both flustered and flattered.
Clara was given a room on the second floor, near Keith and Rolen. The entire floor was
reserved for the Duke's personal officials and guests, with a total of ten rooms. The third floor, however, was exclusively for the Duke and his family. A special room was also kept ready there in case the Imperial Family ever
visited.
"You can stay in my room for now," Craige said gently. "They still need to renovate the
other one."
"Why do they need to renovate it?" Luren asked, tilting his head in confusion. "It's
fine with me, even a simple room will do."
Craige chuckled softly. "Let me show you why."
He walked across the room and opened a side door that led to an adjoining space.
"Ohh…" Luren's eyes widened.
It was a beautifully designed room, clearly meant for a future duchess. Feminine details
graced the walls and furniture, delicate yet elegant.
"I told them not to renovate it yet," Craige said, wrapping his arms around Luren from
behind. His voice lowered to a whisper near Luren's ear. "Because I want you to decorate it yourself. It's your room, after all. Though, let's be honest…" He nuzzled closer with a teasing smile, "you'll probably just use it as a dressing room, since you'll always be sleeping in my bed."
"You should shower first. I'll just head to my study to check on some papers."
"Alright," Luren replied with a smile. They shared a gentle kiss before Craige left the
room.
Luren finished his shower after a while,
but Craige still hadn't returned. It was already eleven in the evening. Worried, Luren decided to look for him. He noticed a faint light coming from a room next to the Duchess's quarters. He quietly pushed the door open and found Craige seated at his desk, reading intently.
"Why are you still here?" Luren asked softly, concern in his voice as he walked in and
sat on Craige's lap. "You already took a shower?" he added, running his fingers
through Craige's still-damp hair.
"Yeah," Craige replied, setting the papers aside and wrapping his arms around Luren's
waist, inhaling the comforting scent of his skin. "There's a bathroom in here."
"I'm sleepy… Let's go to bed, Craige," Luren murmured gently, resting his head on
Craige's shoulder. He knew how exhausted Craige must be, they had been traveling on horseback for days, and this was the first time they could finally sleep comfortably.
"Does my baby want me to sing him a song?" Craige teased, a soft smile playing on his lips as he lifted Luren in his arms.
Luren laughed, wrapping his arms around Craige's neck as they left the study and
returned to their bedroom.
"Sing me a song, Daddy," Luren teased playfully once Craige laid him gently on the bed.
Craige hummed something low and tuneless, making Luren burst into laughter. He clearly wasn't much of a singer.
"Stop laughing," Craige chuckled, laughing along with him.
"Good night, Daddy," Luren whispered, pressing a tender kiss to Craige's lips.
"Good night, my baby," Craige murmured back.
Luren woke up to the soft pecking at the window. Beside him, Craige was still fast asleep, his chest rising and falling gently. A smile tugged at Luren's lips as he slowly sat up on the edge of the bed.
Curious, he glanced toward the window. Perched on the sill were three Northern cardinal birds, their vibrant red feathers striking against the pale gray dawn.
"Hello, birdies…" he whispered with a soft chuckle, careful not to disturb the peace.
He didn't open the window, the cold air outside was biting, and winter was
drawing near.
Luren turned back, sliding under the covers and curling against Craige's warm body.
He buried his face into his chest, comforted by the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was only four in the morning, too early to rise. Letting out a content sigh, he closed his eyes and drifted back into sleep.
Craige woke up with a soft smile as his eyes landed on Luren's peaceful, sleeping face. It
had been a long time since he last returned home, but this morning felt different, warmer, quieter, and strangely comforting. Before, the manor had always felt like a mere stopover, just another place to rest before heading back to the borders or being summoned to the palace. It was grand, yes, but cold… impersonal.
Now, everything had changed.
With Luren lying beside him, breathing softly in sleep, the manor no longer felt like an inn, it felt like home.
Craige leaned in gently, pressing a tender kiss to Luren's forehead, then to the bridge of his nose.
How did I ever think this place was empty? he thought. It was never the walls or the
halls… it was the silence. And now that he's here, the silence is gone.
He brushed a strand of hair away from Luren's face
A quiet warmth bloomed in his chest.
He didn't want to leave, not today, not soon. For the first time in years, it finally felt like home.