4 LOVERS

The early morning sky over the royal city was brushed with soft lavender as the sun slowly peeked out from behind the eastern mountains. The air felt warmer than yesterday, but the gentle breeze still carried the sweet scent of spring, like a whisper that today would be just like any other day.

But inside the bar, things weren't exactly the same.

Louise had been up since before dawn, prepping the kitchen, wiping down tables, and swapping out the flowers in the vase by the window. His hands moved quickly, but now and then, his eyes flicked toward the stairs—waiting for that familiar, light-footed, cheerful descent.

But it wasn't cheerful steps he heard.

Airi came down slowly, wrapped in a warm sweater with a thin blanket draped over his shoulders. His hair was messy, and he looked... off. Not his usual sunshine self.

Louise turned right away, his soft smile still there, but his eyes instantly sharp with concern.

"Morning, sweetheart," he said gently.

Airi gave a tiny nod. "Morning, Lou."

That voice… quieter than usual.

Louise walked over and touched Airi's forehead lightly. No fever, but something was clearly wrong.

"You sleep okay?"

Airi sank into the seat by the window, his usual reading spot. "I slept… but the dream was weird."

Louise didn't push. He just made chamomile tea and brought over a small piece of cake, then sat across from him in silence. Just being there. And somehow, that alone made Airi sigh like a weight had lifted—if only a little.

The morning passed slowly. Not much talking. Louise filled the quiet with the occasional joke or exaggerated sigh whenever Airi didn't respond. But never too much. He knew sometimes people need to sit with their own thoughts before they're ready to face the world.

Near noon, heavy footsteps echoed outside. Louise glanced toward Airi, who only looked up for a second. Then the door opened, and in walked Arven—dark coat, unreadable face, same as always.

"Morning," Arven said quietly.

Airi stood up slowly. "Hey, Arven. Same time as usual, huh?"

Louise gave a polite nod and busied himself wiping tables, eyes flicking between them.

That day, the lesson took place in the quiet backyard behind the bar. Arven was teaching basic magic control—focusing energy without accidentally blowing up flowers or setting grass on fire. Normally, Airi would be full of questions, bouncing with curiosity and making Arven repeat himself three times.

But not today. Airi was sluggish. His moves lacked precision. He kept losing focus, even grabbing his stomach now and then like he was queasy.

Arven paused the lesson. "Airi. Sit."

"I'm fine... just—"

"Sit." His voice was firm but calm.

He sat beside Airi, eyes fixed on him.

"You're not okay. Your breathing's off. Your fingers are cold."

Airi looked down. "Just… a lot on my mind."

Arven didn't pry. He just sat there. And weirdly, the quiet guy somehow knew exactly how to be present.

They stayed like that for a while—just the breeze and birds as background noise. But as the sun dipped lower, Airi's face turned paler.

By the time Arven left, Louise was already waiting by the door, eyes scanning Airi's sluggish form. He opened his mouth to say something—

But Airi collapsed.

"Airi!"

Louise caught him instantly, lifting his small frame like he weighed nothing. His face was pale, his breathing shallow, and now—hot. Way too hot.

"Shit... he's burning up…"

Louise carried him upstairs, laid him on the bed, and tucked him in. He wiped away sweat with a cool cloth and kept his voice low, trying to calm himself down as much as Airi.

He swapped cold compresses every twenty minutes, kept Airi's temperature in check, and didn't leave the bedside—not even when night fell and the bar should've been full of guests.

"What the hell are you carrying inside you, Airi… that even your body can't handle it anymore?"

Airi murmured something in his sleep. It wasn't Louise's name. Not Duke's either. Just one word:

"…me…"

And that was enough.

Louise realized—this wasn't about anyone else. This was about Airi, fighting to find himself. And all he could do… was wait. Holding Airi's hand tightly.

Whispering:

"You're not alone. Find yourself… and come back."

---

Night fell slowly like a soft curtain over the city. Inside the now-closed bar, only a warm ceiling light flickered dimly. Upstairs, the air still held the warmth of the afternoon sun, but Airi, curled up on the bed, couldn't feel it.

His skin was clammy with sweat. The usual brightness in his face was gone—now pale, lips dry, breathing shallow. Louise sat next to him, hand never leaving Airi's.

"You really scared me today," Louise whispered, dabbing Airi's forehead with a warm cloth. His voice was barely louder than the ticking clock.

One hour passed.

Then two.

Still there. Still holding on.

He stood up only to switch the compress. Sometimes he'd brush Airi's hair back or just sit, watching him—like guarding a fragile gem that might crack if left alone.

"I should've seen it. You're thinking too much again," he murmured, voice low and soft. "If I could just step into your mind and pull all that weight out, Airi…"

He gripped Airi's hand tighter, leaning down to rest his forehead on it.

No tears. But the silence in the room was so heavy, it felt like Louise was holding back a storm.

Airi stirred.

"Mmmnh…"

Louise shot up. "Airi?"

Half-lidded eyes slowly opened. Blurry. Tired. But when they focused on Louise, a flicker of emotion passed through.

"You… you're still awake?"

Louise gave a small smile, dark circles under his eyes. "How could I sleep while you're like this?"

Airi tried to lift his hand, but it dropped back down. "Sorry…"

"Don't be. You're sick, not your fault." Louise held up a spoon of warm water. "Try a little, yeah?"

Airi sipped weakly. But more than the fever, it was Louise's gaze that made his chest ache—the worry, the gentleness… the love.

"You didn't have to stay up," Airi whispered. "I could've rested alone."

"I couldn't."

"Louise…"

"If I fall asleep and you need something, who's gonna be here? You said I'm your protector, right? Let me be that."

Airi bit his lip. His eyes were starting to shine.

"I don't deserve… all this," he mumbled. Then, a tear slipped out and hit the pillow.

Louise went quiet. He gently wiped Airi's cheek with his thumb.

"You're never a burden, Airi. Not when you're quiet. Not when you pull away. Not even when you doubt me." He leaned in, their foreheads touching. "My heart's already yours. No takebacks."

Airi couldn't hold it anymore. With what little strength he had, he grabbed onto Louise's shirt.

"I… I felt guilty. That day… I started doubting. But you're here. And you still—"

"Shhh…" Louise kissed his forehead softly. "Your doubt didn't chase me away. It made me stay. Closer."

Airi started crying silently, gripping Louise like he was the only thing keeping him grounded.

"Sleep," Louise whispered, stroking his damp hair. "I'm not going anywhere. Not till you're okay again."

Airi closed his eyes. Still holding onto Louise's sleeve, he drifted back into sleep, surrounded by warmth he didn't know he needed.

Louise smiled faintly, sitting back down beside the bed, wide awake.

The night moved on. The sky slowly began to shift colors again. But Louise didn't care.

The world could wait.

Right now… Airi was all that mattered.