One Year Later
Pyramid leaned against the window ledge, eyes sharp on the game screen, thin fingers working the controller fast. His curt voice cut through the noise, full of focus.
"Ray, where the hell are you?"
Reya sat up straight, big hands gripping the controller, half-lidded eyes blinking as he glanced around. His hoarse voice slipped out lazily:
"North…"
Pyramid flicked his bangs out of his big round eyes.
"North? What province?"
"You sure you even asked that right?" Rome shrugged, mashing his buttons furiously.
"The North Pole," Reya added with a sly grin.
Versailles snorted. "The fuck you doin' at the North Pole, man?"
"Watching over my boss."
"Ohhh, so you' re his guard dog now, huh~?"
"Damn right. Better watch your ass before I grill it and serve it up."
The three burst out laughing, their voices booming through the room.
"Our crew' s messed up, bro. Big dude acts like a loyal dog but he' s the husband. Meanwhile, the short one' s a foul-mouthed, trash-talking menace."
Rome dropped his line with a sly grin:
"…but he' s the wife!"
The room exploded again in raucous laughter, the frantic clicks of mice and keyboards filling in between the noise.
"Bunch of stray dogs biting anything in sight… but seriously, what the hell are you even doing up there at the damn North Pole, Ray?" Pyramid teased, though he didn' t dare use a too-casual nickname when it came to that guy.
Ray rubbed his thumb and finger together in front of the camera.
"Collecting rent?" Pyramid guessed from the gesture.
Versailles whistled. "Hell yeah, that' s badass~"
Pyramid shot a look at the camera, concern slipping through his teasing.
"You good, Ray?"
A year chasing someone, a year glued to someone else… Reya chuckled low, grinning like a man at peace. If politics didn' t work out, hell, being his prince' s mutt was easier anyway.
"Of course I' m good. I chose this shit myself."
Pyramid smirked faintly, both envious and weary. Who' d have thought those two, the most impossible pair, would actually stick together?
"Heading into year three and you' re still lovesick for someone no one understands. Damn, man… guess love really does curse people."
Reya' s cheeks colored, lips pressing tight like a shy schoolgirl, every time his friends teased him. After everything they' d been through, it was like parents watching their daughter walk off with some fairytale prince—just, you know, the messed-up version.
"I love who I love."
The game noises rolled on, Reya' s smirk lingering like happiness was leaking out his ears.
The door creaked, and R stepped in from another room, spotting Reya wrapped up in a blanket, gaming—odd, since the guy usually lounged around half-naked at home. He padded closer, slid his arms around Reya from behind, and lowered his face with a strangely softened look.
"Who you talking to?"
Rome' s mocking voice hit first, sharp as ever when he spotted Reya' s not-so-normal love life working out better than expected.
"Ooooh~ All hail His Highness!" He yanked his legs off the desk and folded them like a proper subject, pressing his palms together in a fake prayer. The title made R smile faintly.
Pyramid barked, "Rome, you little shit, you' ll get your head smacked."
R just waved, smiling. "Oh, the gaming squad. Figures."
Reya raised a hand quickly.
"Guys, I gotta cut. My dad' s here."
Rome bowed dramatically at the camera.
"Permission to withdraw, Your Majesty."
"Rome!" Pyramid snapped before hanging up.
Beep.
Reya turned back, locking eyes with R. He tugged the lean body onto his lap, pulling the blanket over them both. His nose brushed against R' s shoulder, burying into the soft gray knit.
"Cold?"
R shook his head. "Not cold." He leaned in closer, noses brushing, neither backing away. "Just… wanna hold you."
"Guess we' ve picked up each other' s habits. I' ve calmed down a lot. But you—you' re clingier. Flirtier."
R bit his lip, eyes narrowing playfully, a laugh rumbling low in his throat. "Sorry for acting like you."
Reya tilted his head, eyes gleaming. "Do whatever you want. When have I ever stopped you?"
R cupped Reya' s rough cheeks, murmuring close to his lips.
"Why' d you come with me?"
Reya closed his eyes, inhaling the warm scent of R' s skin. "Because… you asked. And even if you hadn' t, I' d have followed anyway."
R froze for a beat before whispering softly, "Funny how back then… I couldn' t even get you to show up."
Reya pressed his face into R' s neck, hugging tighter. "Back then, I was too scared you' d be pissed. Needed time to brace myself."
"And now? You scared?"
"Not anymore. Nothing scares me."
R' s lips curved faintly as he kissed Reya' s cheek.
"Exactly… No one knows how long we' ve got. So what' s the point in fear?"
The words faded, sealed by the press of lips, no need for more than the warmth holding them together until the end of the world.
The storm outside screamed, snow lashing the windows. But inside, it was as if time froze—Reya' s strong arms wrapped R' s waist, his eyes soft yet astonished.
On the screen, a survival game booted up. Large hands slid over slender ones, controllers overlapping. R leaned against Reya' s chest, laughing lightly when his character faceplanted.
"Dude, you die too much! Practice more, Your Highness," Reya teased into his ear, warmth spilling around them.
"I just wanna have fun. Winning' s overrated," R chuckled, leaning comfortably into Reya' s frame. Even losing was fun when they were together.
Reya traced lazy circles over R' s hand, cheek nestled in the silky hair.
"No one else could ever make the world stop spinning for me… except you."
R laughed, glancing up with that simple, beautiful smile that was never innocent but always real.
"Same here."
The game rolled on, snow battering the cabin, as their warmth fueled the room brighter than any fire. Fingers entwined, bodies pressed close, the glow of love quiet and powerful without needing to be spoken.
Outside, the North Pole raged mercilessly. Inside, two hearts cared about nothing but each other.
No one knew the secret life of a royal heir hidden in shadows, a balance point for an entire nation. Power that couldn' t be Googled, hacked, or understood. But there was one who could understand it anyway.
"I love you… I really love you."
Reya cradled the face he adored—in the beginning, in love, in doubt, in every single moment they' d shared. He whispered it every chance he got.
"I…" R' s lips moved without sound, then closed the gap with a kiss, tight arms sealing their bodies together.
No matter the kindness, the looks, the flaws or the darkness—when love was real, it erased the need to choose. Angel or devil, sense or madness, it didn' t matter.
Only love mattered.
Just love.
And that was enough.
The world raged on outside, but love was the one gamble worth risking every time.