The songs sung by nesting birds welcomed the morning ambiance. As the daylight flickered through the fluttering leaves of the forest, the incoherent noise of mutterings and heaving could be heard from beyond the boundaries of the village. The preparation had begun at dawn and finished at mid-morning. None of the sentinels rested even after the feast that ended at midnight.

Under the bright yet gentle sun, white hair strands glistened as they were being swept by the warm breeze. Glittering like moonlit silver threads, even precious than the finest silk. A pair of silver eyes swept the area and curiously wondering about what could be done to help within the spirited scene before him.

"Moulin!"

With a wrinkle on his forehead, the youth slightly turned his head and sighted his energetic friend who had painfully troubled him last night. Ghana was a handful when she was drunk, he realized now. The woman almost flooded the festivity as she was showing off her abilities. Troid appeared very apologetic to the chieftain who only laughed and acknowledging Ghana's strength. Furrowing his brows, Moulin silently dismissed his thoughts when the female maeruthan finally stood in front of him.

"Why didn't you wake me?" She yawned openly.

"You looked too comfortable when you sleep. I could not disturb you... " Moulin frowned. It looks like she doesn't even bother remembering what chaos she ensued last night. He internally sighed. She was probably the only sentinels who had gotten sleep last night.

"How thoughtful of you..." Ghana grinned at him. After a few minutes of bantering with each other, both sentinels began to approach Troid who was standing alone in deep thought. There wasn't anyone near him nor was there anyone who would dare go near him. A dark cloud seems to hover above his gloomy form and his expression was as dark as the midnight skies in Skilis. Ghana hesitated at first. She was well aware of how explosive Troid would be when angry thanks to her unruly personality of always causing trouble. However, when she saw Moulin walk towards Troid, not bothered at all by the threat of Troid's expression, Not only she but the other sentinels gaped at him in shock.

Ghana was forced to accompany Moulin and both of them stood behind Troid's dreary figure.

"Sir..." Moulin called while wearing an unimpressed expression.

At the sound of his voice, Ghana and the others flinched.

flinched.

What was going to happen next?

"What?" Troid turned around angrily. When Moulin's calm countenance appeared before his gaze, his body froze in place.

Almost instantly, he cleared his throat and corrected his tone. "Mada- Moulin, is something the matter?"

Ghana and the others: "..."

What was with that drastic change? It was awfully suspicious?!

While they felt unsettled by the situation, they could not help but put Moulin on a pedestal in their hearts. Ah... Is this the power of cold beauty?

Unaware of the thoughts of others, Moulin asked if there was something he and Ghana could do to help.

"I'm afraid we only need to wait for Lord Hercullio to finish his discussion with the chieftain of the naga tribe. Since our preparations are finished, let us rest in the meantime..." Troid said as he wondered if he was a little fierce with his expression when he first faced Moulin.

Moulin and Ghana nodded and they turned around while thinking of the things they should do before they left.

"Not you, Ghana..." Troid frowned.

Ghana flinched. Blinking, she turned around with wronged expression. "Huh?"

"You are going to go and carry the gifts the naga's had offered to us..."

"What?!" Ghana groaned. "What did I do?"

"You know well what you did..." The blue-eyed captain snapped. "Now go!"

Grumbling, Ghana patted Moulin's shoulder with a sullen look. Moulin tilted his head at her flashing a comforting smile to his friend.

"Moulin..." Troid suddenly spoke as if he recalled something. "The Lord wants to have a word with you.

With me? Moulin knitted his eyebrows.

"Honestly, why did he even tell us to rest when he had something for us to do in the first place?" Complained Ghana as the both of them were walking. Moulin only patted her on the shoulder before heading in the other direction.

While nearing the chief's tent, he heard the unmistakable voices of Seryu's father and Hadrian's as well. The naga that guarded the entrance of the tent announced his arrival which signaled the end of the two people's discussion.

Hadrian exited the tent before Moulim could even enter. Confusion layered the youth's silver eyes as he stared at the tall man in front of him.

"You finished?" Moulin asked.

Lord Hadrian nodded and then beckoned Moulin to follow him. They silently walked towards the abode where Hadrian stayed. Questions littered the youth's mind as he entered the house after Hadrian. Why was he called?

His gaze followed the golden-eyed man as he picked up a satchel from the ground and took out a glass vial. A blue liquid sloshed within the container and Moulin grew even more curious. However, a thought then entered his mind at the same moment. His silver eyes widened and anticipation molded his beauteous countenance.

"Is that..." His words trailed off while pointing at the vial.

A corner of Hadrian's lips lifted. "It's the healer's concoction. It's time for you to drink it before we leave..."

Relief and joy filled Moulin's eyes and he received the vial with careful fingers. The glass container was smaller than his pinky and bluish-colored liquid must be the herb extract they had obtained.

Hadrian led Moulin behind the hut and he silently observed the youth drink the vial carefully.

It was numbing where the liquid touched his insides. Moulin emptied the vial and even licked the little drops at the mouth of the glass container. Hadrian narrowed his eyes as he watched.

"It... tastes bitter..." Moulin ran his tongue across his lips and furrowed his brows when he tasted the bitterness left on the tip of his tongue.

"Does it?" Hadrian approached Moulin.

"Yes..." Moulin silently stared at the empty bottle with a frown. "How long is this going to take-Ah!"

He was forcibly pulled into a warm embraced and his lips were abruptly captured in a deep passionate kiss. The lord's tongue pried his lips open and drove inside, violently caressing. Silver eyes widened in surprise. Moulin was caught off-guard by the sudden action.

Thick fingers weaved into his hair and pulled him closer to the ravaging kiss. Slowly, he closed his eyes and finally submitted himself willingly.

Not long after, Hadrian pulled away and held his face. Eyes shrouded with affection, he kissed the corner of his beloved's lips, his cheek, and his eyes.

"Still bitter?" He whispered in a deep voice. Moulin slightly shuddered.

A smirk graced Moulin's face as he digested the man's expression into his mind. "Not anymore..."

A chuckle left Hadrian's lips and once again, he leaned forward and gently kissed the smiling youth. His heart pounded and it was the feeling was addicting. To have Moulin in his arms, to kiss him, to embrace him, to touch him. Every single second he would spend with the youth felt like the grandest eternity and the most luscious paradise. He wanted to keep Moulin with him when they return, to hold him every night and to eat with him at every meal.

Moulin's palm gently caressed Hadrian's cheek as they kissed. With a sigh in his heart, Hadrian smile between their kiss. Even the youth's tiniest movements would set his heart on fire.

"Did you miss me?" Moulin said when they parted.

"I always do..."

"You and your words again... "Moulin chuckled. Pinkish fingertips playfully tapped on the man's cheekbone. "Any person would swoon with your words alone, My Lord."

"There will be no other person..." Hadrian kissed Moulin's forehead. "This body, this soul, and this life will only be yours... "

Moulin furrowed his brows. He felt a bit uneasy yet happy when he heard those words. Several months had passed since he met Hadrian. They began to know more about each other well during their time together. Even Moulin's gravest secret was known by Hadrian. In truth, perhaps there was nothing he could hide from Hadrian anymore. Except for the things he was forbidden to tell to anyone...

Countless times he was saved by this man, countless times he had professed his love to him, and deeper he began to fall. It was as if both his feet were tied by rope and helplessly pulled into the abyss of desire and passion, he can no longer climb back up. Hadrian was different. He was different than other men...

Hadrian would always save him... he would go through fire for him... He wouldn't leave him...

"I love you..." Moulin whispered. He didn't notice he had said it out loud.

Hadrian paused shortly before his eyes softened and the arm around Moulin's waist tightened. "I love you..."

...

When Moulin finally realized what he just said, his cheeks reddened. Hiding his embarrassment, he looked away, unsure of what to say next.

Hadrian grinned at his reactions and embraced the youth even tighter. "Nothing else?..."

"No!..." Moulin frowned as his face flushed. "No more..."

"Are you sure? You don't have anything you need to say to me?" Hadrian pressed.

"No..." Moulin narrowed his eyes. Abruptly he turned to meet Hadrian's gaze again. "Stop it, already. I-"

The moment he turned his head, he stopped.

Hadrian's expression was solemn and his golden eyes darkened. The sudden fierceness of his gaze made Moulin want to step back in fear. Gone was the gentleness in Hadrian's eyes as he stared at Moulin. There was only coldness and suspicion. Confused, Moulin silently stared at Hadrian.

"What's wrong?..." Moulin asked.

"Is there nothing you're hiding from me?" Hadrian narrowed his eyes. "Nothing happened during my absence?"

"..."

Moulin stiffened. Blood-red pupils that leered into his soul suddenly appeared in his mind. Was he talking about when the horned man found him? Did he already know about that? But how did he?

"Why aren't you responding?" Hadrian's voice deepened as he held Moulin's wrist in a tight grip. Coldness seeped into Moulin's skin. "Why won't you tell me what happened to you? That you were found. That you were wounded by that man... Are you hiding it from me?"

"You already know?" Moulin knitted his brows. He swallowed. "I wasn't trying to hide it from you..."

"Then why didn't you tell me?..." There was hidden anger buried in his chest as he spoke.

"I... didn't know the right time to tell you... you had just returned so... and we were about to leave as well..." Moulin pressed his lips together.

"Moulin..."

Hadrian's gentle tone suddenly returned. However, there was no smile on his face as he raised a hand and carefully caressed Moulin's cheek. "Never keep hides anything from me... Don't hide from me..."

He wasn't trying to hide it. He really didn't know the right time to openly tell Hadrian about it. How did Hadrian know? The only person who was there with him was Ghana but she couldn't have told Hadrian about it... Why would she need to tell Hadrian about it? She doesn't know anything between him and Hadrian. If it wasn't her then who saw it?

"Moulin..." Hadrian called which immediately made Moulin focus his whole attention on Hadrian. Staring at that cold expression and wronged eyes, Moulin could not help but feel sullen.

"I'm sorry... I should've told you sooner..." Moulin slightly lowered his gaze. Hia fists clenched...

"Don't hide anything from me, alright?" Hadrian softened his voice as he loosened his grip on the youth's wrist. Slowly, he embraced Moulin's lithe form. Intaking the youth's smell as he rested his cheek on Moulin's temple.

"I won't..."

Golden eyes narrowed as he heard Moulin's reply. Hadrian stared ahead where someone stood silently with a guilty expression. Platinum blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Ghana lowered her gaze as she bowed her head.