After everything that happened recently, Shion decided to take a day off. He'd been through more than enough lately
He woke up looking at the love of his life. Haru was still asleep, lying on his back, his breathing soft, calm, and peaceful.
As if sensing Shion's affectionate gaze, Haru slowly opened his big, honey-colored eyes.
"Did you sleep well?" the king asked gently.
"Yeah. Thanks for always taking care of me," Haru mumbled sleepily, blinking his long eyelashes.
"I want us to take it easy today. Is there something you'd like to do?" Shion asked, looking at him with warmth in his eyes.
"For now, I'd just like some breakfast," Haru said with a smile. "Are Gari and Maldie coming today?"
"No, today you're under my care only. Unless that bothers you," Shion teased.
"Not at all. I finally get all your attention to myself," Haru joked back and kissed him.
"That' right. Ayame's handling everything today. Without her, I couldn't take even one day off to spend with you."
"I'm glad she supports you so much."
"Yeah. She told me she can't wait to become an aunt."
The morning passed slowly and peacefully. For once, they didn't have to rush anywhere.
This day… was special in its own quiet way.
Later, Haru was brushing his hair in front of the mirror. He decided not to put on any makeup today. He just wanted to be with Shion, to spend time together, no matter how he looked or what they ended up doing.
Today, it was just about them.
*
Haru finished eating. Shion had told the cooks to prepare a healthy meal full of vitamins, so breakfast was an elegant plate of vegetables, eggs, and a bit of lean meat.
The meal was so delicious that Shion, feeling extra cheerful, decided to reward the chefs.
Then he took Haru for another walk through the royal gardens. At night, they looked magical – like a piece of living starlight – but during the day, they had a peaceful, soothing charm.
Haru sat sideways on his husband's knees.
"Is it okay if we just sit like this for a while? I–I'm not too heavy, am I?" he asked, blushing.
"You don't have to ask about things like that, Haru."
"O-oh, okay."
They started kissing and holding each other. The sun shone softly, butterflies and bees danced among the flowers, and a nearby stream whispered quietly in the background.
Between kisses, Haru looked at Shion with deep emotion.
"Everything okay?" the king asked. "Why did you stop?"
Haru blushed even harder.
"M-maybe this sounds stupid," he said shyly after a moment, "b-but did you really choose me over Aki? Am I… really prettier than her?"
Shion smiled softly. Haru's honesty and the innocent tone of the question disarmed him completely.
"Haru, you're not just prettier than her. Even though she always acted nice, I could sense the coldness behind her smile. Honestly, I think she was relieved when she found out I was with someone else. If I'm being completely honest, what I like about you is… well, everything. The way you talk, your gestures, your voice, and–"
He didn't finish. Haru moved closer and kissed him intensely, then rested against him.
"You're not mad at me for using my wish like that, right? I didn't even realize what I was doing, but maybe it was too soon and–"
Shion pulled him close again, tightly, yet with tenderness and care.
"Haru, please don't ever doubt it again. I still can't believe you've done so much for me."
Haru loosened his embrace just enough to look him in the eyes.
"I feel like I don't do anything for you. Everything good I've done feels like it happened by accident. M-maybe I could be better for you. I'm sorry, Shion… after everything that's happened, I can't stop thinking I should've done something, instead of just relying on you, Ayame, Gari, and Maldie. Am I just… a burden to you? Sometimes I really feel useless…"
Shion looked at him. He wanted to show his love with his eyes, but his empty, lightless gaze betrayed nothing.
Instead, he kissed Haru again.
Tears welled in Haru's eyes. He kissed Shion back with everything he had, like it could be their last time together.
A moment later, Haru was still sitting on his lap, sniffling softly. Shion held him close, comforting him and saying that everything will be okay.
Haru leaned against him, resting his head on his shoulder. Shion held his slim, delicate body with one arm and gently stroked his hair with the other. The king could at least give him that – a loving, caring, protective gesture.
Shion would give anything to bring the light back to his eyes.
He didn't care about the physical pain. He just wanted his gaze to reflect his love for Haru, just like Haru's eyes reflected his love for him.
Lost in thought, Shion looked out over the colorful flowers and bushes. Their quiet moment flowed on peacefully.
Then he sighed deeply.
"What are you thinking about?" Haru asked after a while, his voice calm again.
"Our child," Shion said, his tone turning sad. "If we can't lift the curse, they'll suffer even more than I did."
Haru took his large hand in both of his smaller ones.
"We'll do it, you hear me?" he said, determination in his voice. "There's no other option. Our baby will be born healthy, cute, and smiling." He blushed and smiled brightly.
Shion smiled under his breath.
"You're not just my cure for pain, you're my cure for worry too," he said, kissing him again.
Haru melted into the kiss. Shion's gentle gratitude carried a quiet, seductive warmth.
He's so sweet, worrying about everything like that… maybe a little too much.
Shion kissed him with more hunger, still gentle but full of feeling. His hand slid down to Haru's thigh.
He slid Haru's kimono off his shoulder and kissed the soft, bare arm.
"Shion… w-wait… we can't do this here, it's the middle of the day."
"No one can see us here, Haru. The royal gardens are well hidden, so relax. I'll be gentle and careful, I don't want anything unexpected to happen."
"Oh, Shion, that's so sweet! P-please, don't worry about me so much, j-just…" Haru's breath quickened. He pressed his forehead to Shion's, his cheeks burning. "Do whatever you want with me," he whispered.
*
That evening, Shion took Haru to see the fireworks, but he had a surprise planned too.
He said they wouldn't go to the city like everyone else, because he knew a better spot.
When the night sky was filled with stars, Shion brought Haru to a nearby lake Haru had never seen before. Shion explained that it also belonged to the royal family, though it was rarely used.
Without wasting time, he invited Haru into a small wooden boat.
Soon they were drifting in the middle of the lake, right as the first fireworks exploded above them.
They sat close together, surrounded only by water, sky, stars, and bursts of light.
"Look," Shion said, gazing up. "The first ones are gold and red. They remind me of you."
"Huh?" Haru blinked in surprise, he'd been watching Shion instead of the sky.
Slowly, he turned his head upward. Fireworks bloomed like trees of light, showering a rain of golden sparks.
This is the most beautiful display I've seen since…
… since that time my parents took me to see one when I was little.
Haru placed his hand over Shion's and held it tight, trying to express all his feelings through that touch.
They sat like that for a while, hands entwined, bodies close, watching the colors explode across the sky.
Haru's heart raced. He had a feeling Shion felt the same, even if his calm face and those empty eyes couldn't show it.
Still, Haru saw it – a smile, soft and genuine.
"Haru," Shion said, turning his head toward him. The violet glow of the fireworks reflected faintly across his face. "I'm happy I'm here with you."
Haru, on the verge of tears of happiness, looked into his husband's eyes.
D-did I just imagine that? For a second…
… his eyes actually shone with their own light? Maybe it was just the fireworks reflecting–
No. I'm sure that was his light.
And that's when Haru realized something.
"Shion," he said softly, "maybe your eyes don't have their old light anymore, but…"
"Yes, Haru?" the king asked softly.
"…they're still more beautiful than the night around us."
Shion's eyes widened, his surprise warm and full of emotion.
He never thought anyone would complement him that way, especially not about his cursed eyes.
What he heard from Haru, the one he married and who now carried his child, was more beautiful than he could have imagined. Almost like a dream – warm and pleasant, yet so rare that it comes only a few times in a lifetime.
"Haru, I…" Shion started to speak, but no words came.
"You don't have to say anything," Haru said, looking straight into his eyes. "I know you love me. And you know I love you too. Maybe we fell for each other fast, but it's real. We both know that, we don't need more words."
Haru kissed Shion gently, full of love.
That night, the usually stoic and emotionally distant king shed his first tear.
When he was young, he cried only out of sorrow.
But that day, for the first time in his life, he shed a tear of happiness.