CHAPTER 64: THE SCENT OF LOVE AND WORRY

"Sayu, thank you for thinking of Shiao. I’ll make sure to use it with care."

Eeeeek! I forgot!

The cold sweat burst out of Louis’ entire body.

"No, no, even if there were no visible issues during the exam, it’s still true his body was under a lot of stress. Better to be careful."

"As expected of you, Sayu. Even after we return to the royal capital, please keep looking after Shiao Yi—and the rest of the second division, too."

"Of course. This must be fate of some kind. Shiao Yi feels like a son to me. There might still be strain on his body. You can come to me for advice anytime," Sayu said.

Then Sayu turned to face Shiao Yi, who was resting in Captain Dominic’s arms.

"Shiao Yi, you understand how to use it, right? It might taste bitter, but keep taking it."

"Yes. I just need to boil it like tea, right? Thank you, Sayu," Shiao Yi replied politely, bowing his head.

Sayu smiled gently and nodded.

"Even so, I didn’t expect you to be this thoughtful. I’m surprised. You’re not as simple as you look," Lyon said cheerfully, adding more than necessary.

"Oh no, it’s nothing. Looking after the health of the knights is part of my job. Healing battle wounds isn’t the only role of a healer’s office. I always try to keep that in mind," Sayu replied.

"It’s a wonderful attitude. Having you here makes it easier for the second division to focus on their duties. Honestly, I regret not talking to you about things earlier," said Captain Dominic.

"Oh? I didn’t realize there was something you needed to consult me about."

"What are you saying? You must know what I meant earlier when we—"

"Ahhhh! Sayu! The order form! The supply form! I’ll definitely find it and bring it to you! You must be busy cleaning the infirmary, right? Okay, got it! All good!"

Louis quickly interrupted and shoved Sayu gently out the door. Sayu seemed genuinely busy and just said, "Alright, I’ll leave it to you," before heading back toward the infirmary.

When Louis looked back into the office with a tired sigh, he saw Captain Dominic holding up the infamous "scented oil." He was showing it to Shiao Yi.

Shiao Yi’s entire face turned red, all the way up to his ears, and he buried his face in the captain’s chest. Captain Dominic gazed down at him with a soft, melting expression that was so gentle it didn’t even seem like him.

Lyon stood there with his mouth wide open, completely stunned by what he was seeing.

At that very moment, Lyon took a massive emotional hit.

Damage: Infinite.

Lyon’s life gauge dropped to zero.

—No good. He’s out. I don’t think Lyon is coming back from this anytime soon.

Louis glared at the bottle of "scented oil" now in the captain’s hand, as well as at the completely love-struck captain himself, filled with frustration.

—This is all that bastard Aaron’s fault! Get over here and help, Aaron!

With every last bit of his magical power, Louis cast a silent, desperate curse upon Aaron.

...

Dominic had used the bath first and he was now sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for Shaio Yi to finish taking a bath.

Shiao Yi always took a bit longer in the bath because he said he need to prepare himself first. Even when Dominic offered to help, he firmly refused, saying this was one thing he wanted to handle on his own.

Whether they ended up making love or not, if they were going to sleep in the same bed, Shiao Yi insisted on being fully prepared every single night.

—So cute. So dedicated, Dominic thought.

And yet, Dominic himself wasn’t much better—he ended up reaching out to Shiao Yi nearly every night.

Even when he saw how exhausted Shiao Yi looked afterward and promised himself to let him rest the next day, the moment he felt Shiao Yi’s warmth and saw his face, he just couldn’t stop himself.

He loved Shiao Yi. Deeply, fiercely.

Maybe it was because he had once experienced the crushing despair of losing Shiao Yi.

Since then, something inside him had broken loose. His restraint had faded away.

He would wrap Shiao Yi in his arms, feel his warmth against his chest, hold him close, and only then could he finally feel at peace. Even now, Dominic sometimes dreamed of losing him again. In those dreams, the warmth in his arms would vanish, and he would wander endlessly through a cold, gray world, searching for Shiao Yi. No matter how loudly he called, no voice answered. No face appeared.

Then he would wake up with his heart beating very fast and he would immediately checking someone beside him. There Shiao Yi would be, in his arms. Safe. Warm. And Dominic would hold him tighter and slowly fall back into sleep, comforted once more.

They were leaving for the royal capital the day after tomorrow. The new garrison was set to arrive that morning. As soon as the handover was done, they’d be on their way.

Dominic looked around the room with deep feeling. It was a simple stone room inside the fortress, solid and plain. It was hot in summer, cold in winter—but for a commander’s quarters, it was considered quite luxurious.

It was here that Dominic first met Shiao Yi. It was also in this the place where they were first joined as one. Dominic had been inexperienced back then, unsure of what to do, and it was Shiao Yi who gently guided him through everything.

Until that point, Dominic had always sensed that the intimacy between them had been something painful and unpleasant for Shiao Yi. He could tell from the small, scattered things Shaio Yi would say.

Dominic couldn’t help but wonder, Does he really not hate doing this with me?

Is he forcing himself, just to make me happy?

He had asked Shiao Yi that directly.