Ian's expression darkened as he watched his cousin stand up and open the windows.

“…I.”

An excuse was about to leave his mouth, but then he stopped himself. Such words were of no use.

“I'm sorry.”

He apologized instead. Simon looked at Ian's slightly bowed head, then turned towards Louise hugging a pillow in her sleep. She must have been exhausted to sleep even in that position.

“Lies easily s...o...b..ll, no matter how small it starts.”

“I didn't want her to worry.”

“I'd rather you made her worry. Ian, look at me.”

Their gazes met each other in midair, and the light of childhood was gone from their eyes.

“My father explained everything to me as a child.”

Why Simon had to be limited. That burden that was placed on him. Everything.

“He could have simply said 'Don't do that.'”

Instead, the duke told the little boy everything he had to fear. And so, Simon learned to be afraid. For a while, it seemed that all the adult n.o.bles were watching his path, but it was better this way. He would rather know what he should be afraid of rather than remain ignorant. His father had set limits for him out of worry and affection.

“Furthermore, your position holds many secrets. You should let Louise know as much as she can.”

Simon stretched his arm out the open window. Outside there was a small s.p.a.ce, and with a screech of old metal, he pulled out a heavy gla.s.s bottle. It was the drink that Ian bought yesterday. He had lied about drinking all of it last night.

“Even for the smallest thing.”

Simon pulled out two shot gla.s.ses from his drawer.

“You shouldn't lie.”

“I'll apologize to Louise tomorrow.”

“Ian.”

“Hmm?”

Simon still had an apprehensive look on his face.

“Don't lie to Louise.”

He couldn't contain the graveness in his voice

“….Or else I can't just stand by.”

Simon had lied to Louise only once when he said that he regarded her as a complete friend. Both Louise and Simon knew it was a falsehood, but it was a necessary one to protect their friends.h.i.+p, which was more precious than any emotion. 

But with Ian it was different. He was allowed to have a true relations.h.i.+p with Louise. Simon knew he was being presumptuous, but he couldn't just stand by, even if it came to issuing a childish warning.

“I won't.”

Ian looked at Simon with a serious expression on his face.

“I won't tell a lie.”

“Good.”

“I'm sorry.”

“There is nothing to apologize for. It is my prerogative to worry about Louise as a friend.”

There was a note of pride in his voice.

“Well, as a friend?”

“Yes. The friend you introduced me to.”

What kind of friend do you look at as if they were dripping in sugar? 

Tuk.

Simon set the bottle down and sat opposite of Ian. The cozy carpet served even better purpose at night, as it conserved the warmth of the day. Like a field of gra.s.s in the heat of the sun.

Ian slowly opened the bottle, releasing a sweet scent into the air. It was a drink worthy for celebrating Simon's special birthday as an adult.

“Shall we mix something?”

Simon shook his head. He had never added anything to his liquor. Ian tipped the heavy bottle over, and a stream of wine came out like a long breath. The liquor beaded and splashed into the gla.s.s until it was nearly filled to the brim. If any more was poured, it would certainly overflow.

“I feel like I'm introducing a new friend today.”

Ian filled his shot gla.s.s similarly.

“You like alcohol enough to call it your friend?”

“Of course. But if you ask me if I like it as much as Simon Hillard, the answer is no.”

Ian held out his gla.s.s.

“Happy birthday, my friend.”

Simon gazed into Ian's face. Light seemed to flow from Ian, even in this time of darkness. However, Simon knew that Ian's light was not innate. It was the product of his hard work. Just as Simon had endeavored to bury himself in the dark, Ian constantly strove for the light. Though opposites, that was the one way they resembled each other. Maybe it would be like this until the end of time. The world called this kind of relations.h.i.+p a lasting friends.h.i.+p.

“Thank you.”

Simon clinked his gla.s.s carefully against Ian's.

“My friend.”

They both emptied their shot gla.s.ses at the same time.

“You may have heard the story.”

Ian filled Simon's gla.s.s to the brim again.

“There's a myth in the royal family that hasn't been broken for generations.”

“A myth?”

This time Simon poured Ian's drink for him.

“When you compare two people who follow the n.o.ble path, the person who was born first holds their alcohol better.”

“My father says he's never lost to the king.”

“That's what the duke said? That's strange.”

Ian tipped his second gla.s.s into his mouth.

“My father said he's never lost a drink to the duke. Just like the myths of the royal family says."

“There must be a good reason for that story not being made public.”

Simon easily swallowed his second drink, as if in defiance to Ian's story.

“Well, we can't have the strange talk spread.”

“Because it contradicts the myth.”

They clinked their third drink together.

“There can be no doubt that it's right.”

“Don't be too certain.”

They emptied their gla.s.ses again. There was no helping the spirit of compet.i.tion between them.

“For the honor of my father, His Majesty the King, I should see Simon Hillard falling down drunk.”

“With only one bottle?”

Simon looked down at the bottle and chuckled. He knew that it was a strong drink, of course, and the bottle itself was so large that it wasn't typically found at a party or mansion. He was sure it was meant for delivery to the wizard's guild. Ian's mouth crinkled into a smile.

“Don't worry. Is there anything I can't find on this land?”

“That's a nice answer.”

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