Darius stood near the doorway, one hand resting lightly on the back of the chair as Sion and Eiran looked at him in surprise.
"…I need to leave now," he repeated.
Eiran frowned. "Now?"
Darius nodded.
"The original plan was to leave earlier," he explained calmly. "But because of Sion's condition… I stayed."
His gaze briefly moved toward Sion before returning to Eiran.
"I intended to stay a little longer," he continued, "but I received a letter."
He reached into his coat and tapped the folded parchment.
"There have been reports of suspicious people and some of them are causing trouble . Some citizens have already been harassed."
Eiran's expression immediately grew serious.
"The autumn harvest festival will be held in two weeks," Darius added. "Many merchants and foreign envoy will be arriving at the capital during that time. My squad needs to make sure everything is safe before the celebration begins."
Eiran nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
Sion, who had been quietly listening, also nodded.
"Yes," he said softly. "It does."
Eiran then suddenly seemed to realize something.
"Oh."
He looked between the two men.
"Now that the suppressants are already adjusted and the cure worked…" he said thoughtfully, "does that mean you won't come back anymore?"
The room fell quiet.
Sion's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup in his hands, though his expression remained calm.
Darius hesitated for a brief moment.
"…Actually," he said slowly, "I was hoping to ask permission."
Both of them looked at him.
"To visit again."
Eiran blinked.
"…Visit?"
"Yes," Darius replied.
"I know I originally came here for observation," he said, glancing briefly toward Sion, "but if it's acceptable… I would like to return from time to time."
Eiran broke into a wide grin.
"Of course you can!"
Sion also nodded lightly.
"You are welcome to come back anytime."
The answer seemed to ease something in Darius's expression.
"Thank you."
Not long after, the three of them walked toward the entrance of the small property.
The road stretched quietly beyond the wooden gate.
Eiran stretched his arms behind his back.
"Well then," he said. "Take care of yourself out there."
Darius gave a respectful nod.
"I will."
He looked toward Sion.
"If anything happens… or if you need assistance, send me a letter."
Eiran laughed.
"You're acting like he's a helpless child."
Darius said nothing.
Sion smiled faintly.
"I will keep that in mind."
Eiran then waved casually.
"Alright, I'm heading back first. There's still work waiting."
He walked off toward the house, leaving the two behind.
Sion stood a few steps behind the gate while Darius remained on the road.
Darius did not immediately leave.
"I will go once I see you both enter the house," he said.
Sion raised an eyebrow.
"That seems unnecessary."
"Still," Darius replied quietly.
Sion did not argue.
He simply turned and began walking back toward the house.
As he walked slowly across the yard, Sion found himself thinking.
So… that means…
His steps slowed.
We might not see each other for a while.
The road behind him remained quiet.
I don't know when he'll return.
Or how long it would take.
Sion stopped walking.
Before he realized it—
He turned around.
And ran.
The gravel crunched beneath his shoes as he hurried back toward the road.
Darius had only walked a short distance away when he suddenly felt someone grab his arm.
He turned in surprise.
"Sion?"
Sion was slightly out of breath.
Then, as if realizing what he had just done, he quickly straightened.
"…Would you," Sion said, trying to sound casual, "like to celebrate the autumn harvest festival with me?"
There was no hesitation.
"Yes."
Darius answered immediately.
Sion blinked, a little surprised by how quickly he agreed.
Then Darius spoke again.
"May I… send you letters sometimes?"
"Hm… I don't know."
Darius's expression fell slightly.
Sion chuckled.
"I'm joking."
"Of course you can."
Later that night, Sion lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Outwardly calm.
Inside—
Why did I do that?
He frowned.
Inviting Darius was not the problem.
A knight commander visiting occasionally could be… useful.
But running after him like that?
Impulsive.
Careless.
Very unlike him.
Sion turned onto his side.
I must be getting careless.
The next morning arrived as usual.
And the day after that.
Life slowly returned to normal.
Or at least… mostly.
The smallholding became more busy as the harvest season continued.
Sion and Eiran spent their days processing food for the guild.
Dried fruits.
Preserved vegetables.
Smoked meat.
Large baskets were prepared for delivery.
Occasionally, letters arrived.
They were from Darius.
Sometimes addressed to Eiran.
Sometimes to Sion.
The letters were simple.
Updates about the patrols.
News about the nearby villages.
Questions about the smallholding.
Sion replied to them from time to time.
Then suddenly—
The letters stopped.
One week passed.
Just like that.
The autumn harvest festival was now only five days away.
That afternoon, Sion was resting outside near the house when Eiran approached with a letter.
"This one is for you."
Sion took it.
The handwriting was familiar.
He opened it immediately.
I apologize for not writing sooner.
Things have been unusually busy these past days.
The roads have finally been secured, though some minor patrols are still ongoing.
How have you been?
I hope your health has remained stable.
By the way the twins might visit again before the day of the festival.
Sion continued reading.
Then he reached the final lines.
I look forward to the autumn harvest festival.
I am excited to celebrate it with you.
Sion stared at the sentence for a moment.
Then he folded the letter slowly.
For some reason…
Just like Darius—
He also can't wait to see him again.