Gravis and Leorino stood on top of the outer fortress walls of Zweilink.
The fort was located in the north, where the temperature was cooler than in the royal capital. Seeing Leorino shiver, Gravis rushed to pull him into his cloak.
“You’re warm.”
“You should feel better once the sun rises.”
“Yes… It’s already spring. It’s too dark to see, but spring must be here, too.”
Looking up at the sky, countless stars flickered in the heavens, just like that day when Ionia gazed at it nineteen years ago.
Beyond the fort stretched the forest that was now ruled by Fanoren.
Leorino recalled a dream in which he and a red-haired young man were looking out over this dark winter forest, back when he was stuck between life and death. At the same time, it brought back Ionia’s memories.
The smell of winter. The flicker of the stars as he looked up from the top of the fort while thinking of Gravis.
“Nineteen years ago, I was also looking up at the starry sky from here.”
“I see. The stars are amazing, aren’t they?”
“Even back then, I thought they looked like your eyes.”
“My eyes… I wonder, is the view here better than in the royal capital?”
“I can’t say.”
They remained silent for a while, gazing at the shimmering, indigo starry sky. The light of the stars gradually grew more distant as dawn approached.
“Leorino…my brother will abdicate in the near future.”
“I’m aware.”
“And even after Kyle succeeds to the throne, I will still be in charge of the affairs of this country.”
“What does that mean?”
Leorino looked up from the man’s chest and into his face.
“Simply put, I’ll be busier than I ever was. Just as I was planning to retire with you to our palace.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. But why? If you don’t mind my asking, what is the reason?”
“I can’t give you the details, but this is what Kyle wants. He agreed to be king in name only, but he does not want to take on the responsibility of this country.”
“I didn’t know that was an option.”
Gravis looked down at Leorino and embraced him tightly
“I’ll make it work. It is also what I want. Kyle will still bear the heaviest responsibility of all: being king. At the very least, I want his heart to be free… I want him to live with as much freedom as possible.”
“…Will the matter of an heir be an issue? And the fact that I’m by your side as your spouse…”
“It won’t be an issue. We will not force Kyle into marriage. He will ascend the throne without a queen.”
“Really…?”
Gravis pressed his lips to Leorino’s forehead.
“We don’t want royalty to force themselves down a path of misery anymore.”
“…I see.”
“Yes. We should be the last to be sacrificed for this country.”
Leorino considered it.
He didn’t know what sort of future their decision would bring about.
The glory of the great nation of Fanoren may one day fade away.
But that was the path that Gravis and Kyle had chosen for the royal family of Fanoren.
Gravis rested his chin on Leorino’s head.
“Well, we’ll make it work.”
“If you say so, I’m certain you will.”
“Of course. A person’s intended path in life should never be twisted for the sake of blood or country, even if they are royalty. That’s why I am setting Kyle’s heart free.”
Leorino smiled.
He did not offer him any details. But he did know one thing:
Gravis likely chose to sacrifice himself for his country.
But he did not bother pointing it out. That was the way of life of the man Leorino loved—the man to whom his soul had pledged its allegiance.
Instead, Leorino deftly turned his body in the man’s arms so that they were facing each other and pressed himself tightly to Gravis’s strong chest.
“Then that means your heart is now free, too.”
“…I wonder. Is this what you would call free?”
“Yes. As long as your heart is free, you are no longer bound by anything… Your heart is enough.”
Gravis smiled.
“Yes…you’re right. You’ve set me free.”
Gravis softly rocked Leorino’s thin body. He was gentle and warm.
He felt his entire body fill with love.
“I wonder what you are to me.”
“You can call me whatever you want, Vi.”
“You were my best friend. And now you are my significant other, my spouse…my everything, my irreplaceable soul.”
“What a coincidence. That’s exactly what I was hoping to be.”
At Leorino’s joke, they gazed at each other and smiled.
“…I will always be with you from now on. I don’t care what my name is or what shape I take, as long as we can be together.”
Gravis smiled softly.
Every time he saw the man smile, a flower of joy bloomed in Leorino’s heart.
He didn’t want to miss that smile, not even for a moment. He didn’t want to miss a single kiss, a heartbeat, not a single thing.
From now on, at least our hearts will be free.
Suddenly, Gravis picked Leorino up in his arms. Lifted up high by a man taller than him, Leorino panicked.
“Wah! We’re so far from the ground.”
“It’s all right. Don’t worry, you will never fall from these fortress walls again. I’ve got the hang of it now. If you fall, I’ll catch you every time.”
“Of course. I know you’ll always catch me, Vi.”
They smiled at each other again. Another flower of joy bloomed in Leorino’s heart.
“Leorino, I will ask as many times as it takes. Will you walk with me for the rest of our lives?”
Leorino nodded yes with a smile.
“I may end up going to battle again in the future.”
“I’m aware.”
“Everything should be fine for a while. But I don’t know how long I will be able to protect this country.”
Thin fingertips gently brushed back the man’s bangs.
“I can’t imagine you getting any weaker.”
“In two years I will be forty. That’s fairly old.”
Leorino held the man’s head tightly.
“You will still be able to defend this country. Luca and Dirk will be there. And I am certain that Kyle will be a good king.”
“Even though he will be a king in name only?”
“Perhaps, but I am certain he will be a better king than anyone expects. He is that sort of person. Don’t you think so?”
“Ha-ha, you may have a point.”
Gravis laughed out loud. Leorino brought his lips to Gravis’s forehead.
“And I am certain that…there will be no more war in Fanoren for some time to come. You have brought peace.”
“I see. Well… It took nineteen years. I certainly took my time.”
The man lowered the outer corners of his brows, perhaps tickled by the touch of Leorino’s lips, and his expression made Leorino fall in love with him all over again.
“Leorino.”
“Yes?”
Starry-sky eyes met violet ones.
“How much longer will we get to be together?”
“Always. We’ll be together the next time we leave this world.”
“I do enjoy the sentiment. You do realize I’m old enough to be your father? This time, I want you to live a long life.”
Leorino said nothing more and smiled.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing. I just love you so much.”
“Leorino.”
“I’m glad I inherited Ionia’s memories… I’m glad we got to meet again.”
Saying this, he tightly hugged the man’s neck once more.
Leorino already had a premonition. Even assuming Gravis survived to die of old age, he suspected Gravis would not be the first to leave this world.
Leorino’s soul carried the burden of two entire lives. His body would not be able to cope with his fate for long—it was too much for mere human flesh to bear.
He had burned through his life to get to where he was now. That was the price Leorino’s soul had paid to meet this man once more.
But if I can live with Gravis until the end of his life…
Leorino only prayed that his body would last until then.
At that moment, a ray of light pierced the horizon of the starry sky. The morning sun began to illuminate the plains of Zweilink in white.
Dawn had arrived.
“I love you, Vi.”
“I love you. I can’t say it enough. I adore you. I love you more than words can say.”
Those words were enough. When or where they would die mattered not.
He had been born to love this man with all his heart, just the way he was.
Leorino had only one wish.
From now on, he wanted the life of the man he loved to be filled only with smiles and joy. That was all.
Considering the weight of Gravis’s responsibilities, he knew it would not be an easy task. That was why he wanted to squeeze out every last drop out of his life and stay by Gravis’s side until his final moments.
And when that time came, they would return to the heavens together.
To this twilight sky where the flickering stars and the light of dawn mingled.
“I will be with you at all times. So, Vi, please live as you wish.”
“As I wish, huh?”
“Yes. Vi…you are the meaning of my soul’s life. I want you to be free. I want you to smile.”
The morning sun was turning the fresh verdure of the plains white. The two of them gazed at the dazzling view.
“If you stay by my side, I’m certain I will.”
“Yes, please leave it to me.”
Leorino nodded vigorously and Gravis laughed out loud.
“Such a dependable spouse I’ve found myself.”
“From now on, you can count on me more than ever.”
Gravis smiled and nodded.
His hands reassuringly held Leorino’s back.
Leorino’s hands were also firmly around Gravis’s neck.
Their wishes melted into the Zweilink sky on the wind.
They would never lose each other again.