The dinner that evening was unexpectedly lively.
With Cassian and Arch present, silence had little chance to survive. Cassian spoke almost nonstop—complaining about guild matters, teasing Eiran about his cooking, and occasionally trying to provoke Darius into responding.
Arch, as usual, corrected him every few minutes.
"Stop exaggerating."
"You're embarrassing yourself."
"You are not dying from vegetables."
Eiran laughed more than he had in days, and even Sion occasionally smiled while eating his warm porridge.
Darius mostly listened, though every now and then Cassian would throw a comment in his direction just to get a reaction.
Despite the chaos, the atmosphere felt warm.
The hearth crackled softly beside them, and for a brief moment the house felt peaceful.
The next morning,Cassian was being physically dragged toward the road.
"Wait, wait—just one more day!" Cassian protested loudly while being pulled toward the carriage.
"You already stayed too long," Arch replied calmly. "The guild will collapse without you."
"But Sion might suddenly faint again!"
"You are not a physician."
"I am emotional support!"
"You are emotional disturbance."
Cassian groaned loudly while Arch continued pulling him away like an unruly child.
Eiran watched them disappear down the road and shook his head.
"Finally some peace."
Today was also the day the cure was supposed to arrive.
Later that morning, the smallholding was once again busy.
Eiran worked near the fruit trees, inspecting the branches and gathering ripe apples, while Darius knelt near the vegetable beds, harvesting the crops that were ready.
For a while, only the quiet sounds of rustling leaves and clucking chickens filled the air.
But something had been bothering Darius since yesterday.
Finally, he stood and walked toward Eiran.
"Sir Eiran."
Eiran glanced up.
"Yes?"
Darius hesitated briefly before asking.
"What exactly is the relationship between the guild master and Sion?"
Eiran blinked in mild surprise.
"…That's what's been bothering you?"
Darius nodded.
Eiran scratched the back of his head.
"It's nothing special, really."
He paused, trying to think of the right term.
"More like… business partner, I suppose."
Darius frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Eiran straightened and wiped his hands on his trousers.
"When Sion bought this house and land two years ago, Cassian helped arrange the deal. The land technically belonged to the guild's territory network."
"So Cassian allowed him to buy it under certain conditions."
Darius listened carefully.
"What conditions?"
Eiran shrugged.
"Nothing terrible. Mostly supply agreements."
"…Sion supplies processed food from the smallholding to the guild during harvest seasons. Dried fruits, preserved vegetables, smoked meats… things like that."
Darius nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense."
Eiran continued casually,
"Oh, and there's one more thing."
"What?"
"Sion has to spend time with him. Even if it's just drinking tea together once a month."
Darius went quiet.
"…That is part of the contract?"
"Yes."
Darius fell silent.
His expression remained calm, but something flickered briefly in his eyes.
"…I see."
He then glanced toward the house where Sion rested.
"…Does that mean Sion only continues that arrangement because he feels obligated?"
Eiran shook his head.
"I wouldn't put it like that."
Darius raised an eyebrow.
Eiran chuckled softly.
"It's true that the contract started everything."
"But honestly?"
He smiled knowingly.
"I think Sion also enjoys Cassian's company."
Not far from them, Sion was resting outside near the house.
A light blanket was draped over his shoulders to protect him from the breeze. In his hands was a citrus fruit that Eiran had brought from the town market.
He slowly peeled the skin, the sharp scent of citrus rising into the air.
The taste still felt faint.
Muted.
The Hollow Sense was still present.
Still, the sharpness of the citrus helped a little.
He was just about to eat another slice when footsteps approached.
Darius stopped beside him.
Sion glanced up with mild curiosity.
Without saying anything, Darius held out his hand.
"…May I?"
Sion looked at the citrus in his hand.
"You're offering to peel it for me?"
Darius nodded once.
Sion handed it to him.
"Very well."
Darius carefully peeled the fruit, separating the slices neatly before giving them back.
Sion watched him for a moment.
Then a small amused look appeared in his eyes.
"It's rare for you to approach me first."
Darius paused slightly.
Then he asked suddenly,
"…Are we close now?"
Sion blinked.
The question seemed to catch him off guard.
He tilted his head.
"I thought we've been close for a long time."
Darius looked puzzled.
"You stopped calling me Young Master and started calling me Sion," he continued lightly.
"That seems close enough."
Darius hesitated.
"…Then may I ask something?"
"Of course."
"…Could you call me Darius ?"
Sion stared at him.
Darius continued awkwardly,
"I heard you call the guild master by his name sometimes."
"So I thought…"
His voice trailed off slightly.
Sion's lips curved into a soft chuckle.
"I don't know when you heard me calling the guild master by name."
But he nodded.
"If that's what you want… then I'll call you Darius."
Darius seemed visibly relieved.
"Thank you."
Before the moment could continue—
Eiran shouted from the orchard.
"DARIUS! I need help carrying the harvest!"
Darius immediately stood.
"I'll be right there!"
He ran toward Eiran with surprising speed.
Sion watched him go.
For a brief moment—
He smiled.
The large knight running across the smallholding almost looked like a clumsy bear rushing to help.
Sion's lips curved slightly.
"…How cute," he murmured under his breath.
Darius carried two baskets at once while Eiran scolded him about lifting them properly so the vegetables wouldn't bruise. Darius nodded seriously as if he were receiving instructions on the battlefield instead of a vegetable field.
Sion chuckled quietly.
But then—
His smile slowly faded.
"…Oh no."
He covered part of his face with his hand.
Why am I smiling like that?
Later that afternoon, the house was quiet again.
Eiran was preparing ingredients for dinner inside the kitchen. Darius was practicing his swordmanship in his room.
Sion had moved back inside as well, sitting comfortably in the living room while reading a book.
Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Sion stood up slowly.
Perhaps the cure had finally arrived.
He opened the door.
Standing outside was a person in travel clothing, covered in a long cloak dusty from the road.
The stranger looked exhausted.
But the moment their eyes met—
The person froze.
Completely.
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
"…Your Highness?"
Sion's brows lifted slightly.
Tears suddenly rolled down the stranger's cheeks.
"Your Highness…"
Their voice trembled with emotion.
"Your'e Alive!"