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Later that afternoon, Ren had to return to the royal library for some light duties assigned by his sister. His hair was tied up neatly, and he wore a pale blue tunic that made his skin glow under the sunlight. Shinomi, of course, trailed behind him like an oversized shadow, hands folded behind his back like a nobleman with nothing better to do.
"You're not even supposed to be here," Ren whispered, eyes flicking to the corners of the hallway. "If my sister sees you—"
"She'll thank me for ensuring your safety," Shinomi replied, smug. "You're a national treasure."
Ren glared. "You just don't trust anyone else around me."
"I don't," Shinomi said without hesitation. "Especially not him."
"Him?"
Shinomi pointed, and Ren followed his gaze. A young palace aide—tall, a little too good-looking for his job, with very straight posture—was walking ahead with a stack of books. He paused when he saw Ren and bowed politely.
"Good afternoon, Prince Ren. I'll be delivering these to your table."
"Ah… thank you." Ren nodded.
Shinomi's eyes narrowed to slits. "He smiled too much."
"He smiled normally," Ren whispered, elbowing him. "Stop acting like you're going to devour anyone who breathes near me."
Shinomi muttered under his breath. "I'll devour you if that's what it takes to keep them away."
Ren flushed violently. "Shinomi!"
"I mean emotionally," he added quickly, with the least convincing innocent expression in history.
Inside the library, they sat across from each other at a long table. Shinomi pretended to read, but Ren knew better. He could feel that intense stare, like Shinomi was memorizing the way his fingers held the pen or how his hair shifted when he tilted his head.
"Do you want to help me or just stare until my paper bursts into flames?"
Shinomi leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Staring is helping. I'm keeping your motivation high."
Ren scoffed but couldn't hide his small smile. "You're a menace."
"Your menace," Shinomi corrected.
The afternoon passed like that—quietly, with occasional bickering and soft laughter. But when the work was done and they walked back toward Ren's chambers, the sky was painted in pink-orange hues. A breeze passed, fluttering Ren's tunic slightly.
Shinomi suddenly stopped walking.
"What?" Ren turned.
Shinomi stepped closer and placed a hand on Ren's waist. "You look… unreal when the sky is like this."
Ren blinked, stunned by the raw softness in Shinomi's voice.
"Don't say stuff like that," he murmured. "It makes my heart… weird."
"Good." Shinomi leaned down and brushed his lips lightly across Ren's. "I want to make your heart weird every day."
Ren stared up at him, speechless.
Then, quietly, he said, "Come inside. I'll make tea."
Shinomi grinned. "Only if you promise to feed me biscuits like a loyal wife."
"I'll stab you with a teacup."
"Totally worth it."
As they entered the room, the door closed behind them with a quiet click—and the outside world faded again, leaving only the warmth between two boys who didn't know how to love quietly anymore.
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