IIAD | Chapter 2.5

After training, all practice weapons were supposed to be brought indoors for maintenance. But because it was such a tedious task, the soldiers had developed the habit of simply shoving them under the shade of a large tree unless it looked like it was going to rain.

Since Baran rarely supervised the soldiers’ training, he pursed his lips and fell into thought for a moment.

“These fools need some discipline.”

His voice carried a faint trace of irritation. But he didn’t want to waste his time with Nika dwelling on it, so he soon pushed the thought aside with a light cough. Bending down, he placed the candlestick he had brought on the ground. The flickering candlelight cast wavering shadows around them in the gentle night breeze.

Nika glanced between the candlestick and Baran, who had gotten up and was rummaging through the pile of training weapons. His expression showed his confusion.

“Well, at least we don’t have to go all the way inside to grab one.”

Nika didn’t immediately understand what Baran meant—until the moment a heavy longsword came flying toward him, scabbard and all.

It was heading straight for his chest.

Reacting on instinct, Nika caught the sword with swift reflexes, though his face still showed his bewilderment.

Without hesitation, Baran smoothly unsheathed his own sword and lunged at him.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

The blade he wielded was, without a doubt, a real sword with a razor-sharp edge. And judging by the sheer force of his strikes, he wasn’t holding back in the slightest.

If not for the same bright, beautiful blue eyes he always had, Nika might have thought Baran was actually trying to kill him.

Though taken aback, Nika managed to block the attack at the last second using the scabbard. A heavy clang echoed through the air.

“Keeping a knight who once roamed the battlefield locked up in a study all day—I really must be an idiot. Don’t you think?”

Taking a step back, Baran adjusted his stance and called out, his voice laced with excitement.

“Come on, show me what you’ve got, Lord Nika.”

This was the first time in years that they had crossed swords directly. Not since that battlefield long ago.

For both of them, their titles and duties had piled up so high that there was rarely ever a chance for something as simple as a pure duel.

Especially for Baran—he had always known that in an actual war against Nika, he would undoubtedly lose. Because of that, no matter how much personal affection he had, he could never recklessly challenge a battle where the morale of an entire army was at stake.

Their swords clashed, sending a sharp metallic screech through the air. The impact sent tremors through Baran’s blade. Nika’s strength was overwhelming. But to Baran, it was a familiar sight.

── .✦

“Is that all you’ve got?”

Baran let out a breathless laugh as he watched his beloved sword go flying. His body collapsed onto the ground. Nika’s sheer, overwhelming strength made all his tricks and finesse completely useless. He had been sure he had deflected the blow properly, yet somehow, his sword had been wrenched from his grip and sent soaring through the air. It wasn’t because his grip was weak—his hands were already torn and bleeding.

But the man standing before him was not someone who cared about Baran’s injuries.

For some reason, he found the situation funny.

Nika, Princess Suri’s knight, looked down at the infamous Vile Marquis with a detached gaze as he lay sprawled in the dirt.

“Still as weak as ever, Vile Marquis.”

”…….”

“Have you lost the strength to run your mouth too?”

Nika had never been particularly skilled at mocking others. Even when he tried saying something villainous, his voice didn’t carry the right kind of bite. His naturally blunt tone made anything he said sound more like the solemn vow of a knight rather than an insult.

Of course, that was part of what made him so endearing.

Baran blinked drowsily. How nice would it be if those lips spoke his name?

“Argh!”

With no warning, Nika’s boot slammed down onto Baran’s chest. His feeble movements ceased instantly.

“Hrk—ugh… haha… ahahaha.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“If I told you the reason, I doubt you’d stop at just breaking one rib.”

Apparently, that answer was irritating, because Nika’s expression turned into a pout. The next second, he landed a sharp kick to Baran’s side.

── .✦

“Baran, I win.”

Baran snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of his name.

Nika’s sword was pointed directly at his throat. The tip did not waver in the slightest. His gaze was just as steady.

It was the same look Baran remembered from the battlefield, back when he was the Princess’s knight. A cold, consuming fear surged through his veins.

‘Did he somehow regain his memories through the sword…?’

“Your movements dulled midway. You weren’t focused on me.”

Nika lowered his sword with a dissatisfied look. His tone, still slightly unpolished, reminded Baran that he was, after all, still just an eighteen-year-old Nika.

A disgraceful relief washed over him. Somehow, he managed to force a small, shattered smile onto his lips.

Getting distracted in the middle of a duel—what an amateur mistake. Even a greenhorn wouldn’t be so careless. Of course, whether he had been focused or not, the outcome would have been the same.

“I lost! I lost, alright? I don’t stand a chance. I figured since you lost your memories, your sword skills would be no better than some eighteen-year-old rookie. But why the hell are you so good at adapting?”

“Who knows? Maybe my body just remembers.”

Whenever the topic was swords, Nika became more talkative than usual.

“But when you grabbed my shoulder at the end, I froze up completely. If I were truly a knight, I wouldn’t have made such a foolish mistake. Maybe, as you said… it’s because I’m still young.”

“So, how do you feel?”

Nika ran his fingers along the blade, a faint flush blooming on his cheeks.

“I enjoyed it.”

“You really are a swordsman through and through.”

Baran planted his sword into the ground for support, lost in thought.

“Then let’s do this. Every day at this time, I’ll spar with you. That way, you won’t be bored, right?” Nika hesitated.

Even after just a short bout, he could feel a euphoria he had never experienced before—his entire body humming with exhilaration. If he could hold a sword like this every day, he had no doubt that it would make him happy.

But Baran was already drowning in endless responsibilities. Adding daily sparring sessions on top of that… he might actually work himself into the grave.

“Of course, this alone won’t make up for how neglectful I’ve been. But… I’ll try. I promise.”

“You took it to heart?”

“Of course. It’s the first time you’ve ever complained to me.”

“I wouldn’t really call it a complaint….” Nika trailed off, his voice uncertain.

“You don’t have to worry about this. I know you’re busy. I just said it on a whim.”

“No. I was really happy to hear it. It means you’ve let me into your heart. Isn’t that right?”

Nika, who had been looking down, lifted his head.

Baran, as always, burst into a carefree grin the moment their eyes met.

With that, they decided to put the swords back in their stands and return to their rooms for a hot, foamy bath. Afterward, they planned to meet in the study wearing their nightclothes. Since Raymond always scolded Baran for sleeping in the study instead of his bedroom, they would have to use the secret passage again.

Nika grumbled that going through such a filthy passage would make the bath meaningless. He had a point.

“You know, I feel like if I say this, you might get startled and run away again.”

They were walking side by side in the still night air when Baran whispered.

“Say what?”

“I really want to kiss you right now. A lot.”

No answer came.

It was too dark to see clearly, but Baran was certain that Nika’s pale face had turned bright red, as if it were set ablaze. The mere thought of it sent a heavy, exhilarating shiver through his chest, mixing pleasure with a strange ache.

Suddenly, he couldn’t hold back anymore.

He stopped walking and, with an exaggerated seriousness, spoke again.

“I don’t think I can resist. Nika, let me kiss you.”

”…Right now?”

“Yeah. Can’t I?”

Nika let out a soft, pained sigh, as if dealing with a headache.

Still, he hadn’t run away. That alone was a victory.

Baran hadn’t expected much in the first place. His goal was simply to tease Nika until he got adorably flustered—until he saw those confused, darting eyes and those stiff, tense shoulders.

But there was one thing he hadn’t anticipated.

Nika had changed.

The sharp, sensitive boy who used to take every one of Baran’s words the wrong way had mellowed. Spending time under Baran’s attention had made him calmer, steadier. The way he had voiced his complaints earlier was proof enough.

And then—

“Then… stay still.”

Because of that, it was only natural that Baran didn’t immediately grasp what was happening. By the time he understood that Nika had leaned in and brushed a light kiss against his lips, it was already over.

All that remained was the rough warmth of Nika’s hand cupping his cheek and the soft sensation that had so fleetingly touched his lips—only to disappear in the next instant.

── .✦

In some foreign myth I once read, the lips were described as the gateway to the soul.

Nika lay blankly on his back and closed his eyes. If that were true, then the moment he pressed his lips against Baran’s, his soul might have been stolen away. His whole body felt drained of energy, his heart was pounding like crazy. It made sense—if his soul had been taken from where it was supposed to be, his body would burn up and fall ill in response.

The moment he closed his eyes, Baran’s face from last night surfaced in his mind. After that impulsive kiss, an oppressive silence had weighed heavily on his shoulders. The more Nika recalled the warmth of those lips against his, the more embarrassed he felt, absently scratching at his earlobe. What had Baran looked like at the end of that silence, his face burning red?

“Ju.. Just now. Just now.”

Baran, who had only just managed to grasp the situation, stammered as he spoke.

“You… you just—am I dreaming? If this is a dream, I’d gladly dream it forever. Ow. It’s not a dream.”

Pinching his own cheek, Baran muttered in disbelief. Then, as if suddenly desperate, he reached out and pulled Nika into an embrace, clinging to the back of his neck as he pleaded.

“Nika, I couldn’t even feel it properly—I was too dazed. It happened way too fast. That’s not fair. So, just one more—”

“I’m afraid not.”