arin

Some quietly perished under the weight of their transforming physiology; their hearts ultimately gave out after they rejected every attempt to adapt. Others resisted to the very end; their bodies rejected the substances forcibly injected into their veins, while their claws scraped futilely against steel restraints. Their struggle was short-lived, though. And their fate was predictable.

After another series of observations scribbled into an already crowded notebook, with one practiced movement he removed his gloves with the help from his teeth, only for a careless spray of warm blood to strike across the sleeve of his white coat as the carcass was discarded onto a waiting cart.

He barely spared the stain a glance, that was the view he got used to. His coats were no longer white anyways, neither his soul.

His attention had already shifted toward the final enclosure resting at the far end of the laboratory, it was the only cage that remained occupied.

The lamb lifted its head with curiosity the moment his footsteps echoed through the room. Compared to the other subjects, this little lamb waited calmly in its cage without a sound. Perhaps it was because she had brought it, Dottore thought to himself. She really liked this lamb but Dottore didn't allow her to take it to herself. And whenever such minor disagreements arose between them, Dottore would tell her that she was merely an assistant and ought to listen to him.

That is why Dottore spent the entire day alone in the laboratory; his assistant had walked out after being denied the lamb. Thinking she might return one way or another, Dottore had rushed from one experiment to another all day long.

Of course, it wasn't for distracting himself, why on earth would he be thinking about his assistant?

Its pale ears twitched once before it wandered lazily toward the iron door, waiting patiently while Dottore unlocked the mechanism with a metallic click.

"You've been very patient and calm compared to the others," he said it flatly, more an observation than praise.

The door swung inward and the lamb stepped out without hesitation. For a fleeting second, it merely stood there.

Then, with all the innocence expected of an ordinary farm animal, it pressed its small head against his leg, soft wool brushing against the blood drying on his boots before rubbing affectionately along the side of his coat as though greeting someone who had simply returned home after a long day.

And this had taken Dottore somewhat by surprise. "Do these test subjects act as if they’ve been given a sedative just from spending a few hours with you, y/n?"

"The fact that you gave more love than necessary made it believe that even someone like me is worthy of receiving affection."

Tsk, he sighed loudly.

Before he could reach down to inspect it more closely, the lamb suddenly skipped backward, its tiny tail flicking once as though pleased with itself, only to turn and dart out through the still-open laboratory door.

His body was already weary and aching, and now his final test subject had escaped outside. He closed the notebook resting upon the examination table, collected his discarded gloves from where they had fallen. Taking another deep breath, he pulled on his coat which was already stained with blood, and slowly stepped outside after the lamb to follow the muddy little hoofprints disappearing into the freshly fallen snow outside.

The lamb would trot a little way ahead and then bleat while waiting for him. It was as if it were saying, "Come on, follow me."

He had slowly followed the tiny lamb for a while like this, paying no heed to the snow. He could have actually finished it off in a split second had he wished, but it was clear that the lamb wanted to lead him somewhere. And Dottore was the sort of person who granted privileges to test subjects that showed signs of intelligence, it made no difference to him whether they were human or animal.

As they ventured farther through the snow-covered woods, the sharp chill in the air gradually gave way to unexpected warmth. Thin wisps of steam drifted between the trees, growing thicker until the forest opened into a small clearing. A secluded hot spring lay hidden among smooth, dark rocks; the clear waters rippled gently as mist curled sluggishly into the cold winter air. Snow blanketed everything around it, making the pool seem almost hidden from the rest of the world.

The lamb, seemingly satisfied with where it had led them, wandered over to you instead. It let out a cheerful bleat before rubbing its head against your hand, completely ignoring Dottore now.

Dottore's gaze lingered on the spring in quiet surprise. He had explored these mountains before, yet he'd never known a place like this existed.

With the axe in hand, he approached you and slowly crouched down. "When did you make the lamb your own man?"

You started speaking while stroking the little one's head. "I didn't make him my own man; I just fed him a bit, petted him a bit, and played with him a bit. I think he takes me for his mother now." You smiled at his cuteness.

He flung the axe he was holding aside and let himself drop to the ground. There were so many things he wanted to tell you, or rather, to scold you about: that you shouldn't get so emotionally entangled with the test subjects; that if you kept getting attached to every new arrival like that, you wouldn't make any progress; and that your behavior was unbecoming of an assistant, and so on.

But you two had already argued, and he had been left all alone in that cold laboratory all day. It was your fault for getting him so accustomed to your presence and then suddenly walking away; you made him feel bad enough to follow a lamb.

Just as the lamb had laid its head down and begun to drift off to sleep, you moved slightly through the water and drew closer to Dottore. "Don't you want to come over here? You look tired." You were speaking like a siren trying to lure him into the water, and you looked like one too.

He looked at you for a while, but then he gave in. He took off his outer garments and draped the coat which was stained with the blood of the other test subjects, over the lamb's tiny body. You moved aside to let him enter the water, but you couldn't tear your eyes away from his body.

As the hot water enveloped his entire body, he let out a deep breath, leaned back against the stone, and turned his head toward you. "How long have you known about this place?"

Leaning your back against him and wrapping his arm around your own body, you started speaking with a grin. "Just two days ago, this litte guy over there brought me here when I fed him. I think he tried to say thank you to me."

A thoughtful hmm, escaped from his mouth. "I get why he’s thanking you, but why did he bring me along, especially after seeing me torment the others all day? Turns out he’s not exactly a bright lamb, after all."

You spoke while playing with water, "I suppose he felt sorry for you when he saw what a wreck you were without me."

He caught the hand that was playing with the water, brought it to his mouth, and bit it gently, "You are giving yourself too much credit, aren't you?"

end.

Without waiting for permission, he loosened your hair and let it fall freely over your shoulders. His hands lingered only long enough to smooth it into place.

You tried your best to ignore how close he was standing. That man practically towered over you, and every small adjustment brought him closer. You could feel the warmth of his breath against the back of your neck as he fixed the pendant. It was impossible not to notice.

At last, he stepped back to admire the result. "Well, you do look pretty now, don't you?" A satisfied smile tugged at his lips. "A very graceful assistant. Quite the improvement from the one who's always wearing trousers."

You rolled your eyes, he was making you roll your eyes all the time. "Maybe because Snezhnaya is freezing," you replied. "I can't wear skirts in that weather just to satisfy your aesthetic concerns."

Pantalone scoffed. "A shame. Seeing fabrics that actually complement your figure makes me considerably happier."

You couldn't hold yourself but groan at his words.

"We've been asked to attend an opera by Her Majesty. Several of the Harbingers will be there as well. The Korolevskiy troupe is performing tonight, and they're said to be exceptional."

As he spoke, he took out a strip of blue silk from his pocket. "My seat happens to be beside Dottore's," he continued casually. "Which means you'll be seated between us. Fortunately for you, it also happens to be the best view in the theater."

Before you could ask why he was holding a blue small silk piece in his fingers, he looked at you with unmistakable amusement. "So, let's play a game."

He slowly pushes your skirk upwards and then started to tie the silk around your thigh, "If Dottore catches you with this you lose, and you will be punished." "If he can't", he makes a small ribbon with the silk on your thigh and continues, "You win, and what will you win?... Oh well, you have to first win to figure it out."

You could see that his eyes glittered behind his glasses.

"That's the entire game?" You asked while he slowly let your leg go.

"Hm hm, we still need to enjoy the show. Such game would incease the joy of the night, I believe. For all of us."

/

Upon arriving at the opera house, you found yourself momentarily speechless. This place was enormous. Golden details covered nearly every surface, glittering beneath the warm glow of countless chandeliers. Velvet curtains framed the stage, and elegant balconies rose floor after floor around the grand hall. The quiet murmur of nobles and wealthy merchants filled the air, creating a strange mixture of excitement and sophistication.

You walked beside Pantalone, trying not to look too overwhelmed. When you finally reached your private box, you noticed Dottore already seated comfortably in his chair, one leg crossed over the other as if he'd been there for hours.

In the neighboring box, you caught sight of another familiar silhouette. The Seventh Harbinger, Sandrone.

Even from a distance, she somehow managed to radiate irritation. So, not wanting to risk attracting her attention, you quickly looked away before she could catch you staring.

Taking your seat between Pantalone and Dottore, you turned your attention to the stage.

Tonight's performance was called The Mountain Sparrow, a tragic tale about a small mountain village. According to the story, a young woman who dreamed of leaving her isolated home and seeing the world beyond the snowy peaks. As expected from opera, things apparently became progressively more miserable after that.

Despite your best efforts to focus on the stage, your eyes kept wandering. The chandeliers, the balconies, the orchestra, the painted ceiling, the endless rows of spectators...Everything was fascinating, you were fascinated as this was your first opera, after all.

A quiet chuckle came from your right. "You resemble a rabbit caught in light, looking awfully cute and shocked."

You turned toward Dottore. "What?"

His visible eye was filled with amusement. "Looking everywhere except the stage, you will miss the show."

You frowned and forced your attention back to the performance. You crossed your arms in front of you, leaned back, and fixed your eyes on the stage. You were ridiculed for not being one of the bourgeois, how nice.

A second chuckle followed as you frowned. You didn't even need to look to know it was Pantalone.

The relationship with the these men, be it yours or theirs, had become... unusual over the years.

As Pantalone's assistant, you naturally accompanied him to meetings, negotiations, and the occasional gathering involving the other Harbingers. Since many of those events involved Dottore, the three of you inevitably spent a great deal of time together.

Then somehow, without you realizing when exactly it happened, Dottore had started dragging you into his own work from time to time. You weren't paid for any of it, of course. Your actual employer remained Pantalone.

But occasionally helping the doctor had become surprisingly enjoyable. Especially when dealing with the 45-year-old segment. Compared to some of the others, he was easier to talk to.

As the music swelled through the theater, you glanced at the two men seated beside you. They were some of the most dangerous individuals in Teyvat. Yet right now they simply looked like two well-dressed gentlemen enjoying an evening at the opera. But this thought almost made you laugh because experience had taught you that whenever either of them appeared harmless, it usually meant trouble was on its way.

And now it was making it's way on your leg.

Dottore was caressing your leg affectionately which made you look at his hand and then to his face for a second to only see his eyes remained fixed on the stage, as if he were completely absorbed by the performance unfolding before him. The orchestra swelled, the singers continued their tragic tale, and Dottore looked every bit like a gentleman enjoying an evening at the opera.

The memory of Pantalone's words immediately resurfaced. "If Dottore catches this ribbon, you lose."

It was still tied around your upper thigh beneath the layers of fabric. You absolutely could not afford to lose. Not when a mountain of reports was waiting for you back at the palace. If they weren't neatly arranged on Pantalone's desk by tomorrow morning, he would make sure you regretted it.

Trying to stop Dottore without drawing attention, you tried to cross your legs, hoping to trap his hand between them and stop

Before you could though, another hand settled on your leg, it was Pantalone's hand. He sent you a brief glance and a small smile before returning his attention to the stage, looking no different from Dottore. As if neither of them were doing anything unusual.

His hand remained where it was, gently squeezing your thigh in silent warning. His message was clear, don't interfere.

Dottore's hand continued its slow ascent, moving higher and higher along your thigh until it slipped past the hem of your skirt. You nearly cursed as he was getting dangerously close.

The constant presence of their hands was already making it difficult to focus on the performance. The music echoed through the hall, the singers carried on with their tragedy, and meanwhile you were struggling to keep your breathing steady. You couldn't afford to make a sound.

But then it happened, Dottore's fingers brushed against something that wasn't lace and his movements paused. Slowly, he traced the ribbon with his fingertips, feeling the contrast between the silk and the stocking beneath it.

"Oh?"

You turned your head and met his gaze. For the first time that evening, his attention had completely left the stage. Your eyes practically begged him to let it go but of course, it was Dottore.

Dottore pushed the fabric aside just enough to reveal the blue ribbon neatly wrapped around your thigh. Then Pantalone spoke. "Oops."

The smile in his voice was unmistakable. "You got caught now what?."

Dottore's eyebrow lifted. "Hm? What do you mean?"

"We made a little game before arriving." Pantalone adjusted his glasses. "If you discovered the ribbon, she lost and will be at our mercy."

Realization immediately crossed Dottore's face. "Ah." His smile widened as he continued,"How delightful."

You hated how pleased they sounded. Both of them looked far too satisfied with themselves. Without giving you a chance to argue your case, they returned their attention to the stage as though nothing had happened.

The opera continued, the audience remained unaware while you were still under their capture, feeling their hungry hands.

And judging by the expressions hidden behind their composed facades, the two of them were already discussing your fate without saying a single word.

end.

While you were focused on putting away the books, Lohen had already quietly crept up behind you. Leaning casually against one of the tables, he simply stood there and watched you. Just as you were about to place the last book onto the top shelf, he finally spoke.

"Aren't you tired of all those books?" The sudden sound of his voice startled you.

Your hand slipped and instead of placing the book onto the shelf, you promptly dropped it onto your own head. "Aww," you groaned, rubbing the sore spot as you turned to glare at him.

Lohen immediately grinned. "Hey, that's on you. You're the one who dropped the book." His grin widened. "Don't give me that look. It turns me on, you know."

You let out an irritated sigh. Bending down, you picked up the fallen book and shoved it back onto the shelf with a little more force than necessary. Then you placed your hands on your hips and approached Lohen, who had already made himself comfortable at the nearby table.

"Don't you think you're getting a little too much pleasure out of silently watching me?" you asked. "Are you some kind of pervert, Vice-Captain?"

"Ugh." He placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "Do such harsh accusations really befit a lady like you?"

Even then, he made absolutely no effort to hide the smirk on his face. Knowing that arguing with Lohen was a hopeless battle, you simply reached for your bag resting behind him. Gathering your belongings from the table, you slung the bag over your shoulder.

"I'm leaving, Vice-Captain. If you require anything from me, you can find me in my office." You gave him a brief nod before turning to leave.

Just as you were about to leave, he suddenly grabbed your wrist. "What's with that 'Vice-Captain' bullshit, hm?" he asked. "You used to call me by my name."

Yes, that was true, you used to call him Lohen. But especially after the expedition began, you gradually stopped. Instead, you started calling him "Vice-Captain," just like everyone else. After all, Lohen was successful. Ridiculously talented. He had become Vice-Captain almost as soon as he arrived. He had even been expected to inherit the title of Benevolent Knight and become the captain of the Fifth Company. Unfortunately, due to certain unpleasant events, his promotion had been postponed for the time being.

So, since the two of you weren't really that close anyway, or at least that's what you kept telling yourself, you decided it was best to create some distance between you and so, you began addressing him by the title he had earned. Though, every time you called him "Vice-Captain" instead of his name, you noticed the faint disappointment that crossed his face. It was obvious he didn't like the distance between you but what else were you supposed to do?

His grip remained firm around your wrist as his thumb slowly brushed over your skin. "Isn't that your rank?" you asked quietly. "I'm just one of the knights serving under you. I should be respectful." Maybe you said it because a part of you genuinely felt inferior to him or maybe you said it because you desperately wanted him to tell you otherwise.

Lohen's expression softened. "You are not just a knight serving under the Fifth Company, and you know that." His thumb brushed against your wrist once more. "You are far more important than that to me."

You stared at him for a moment. "Oh, really?". "That's not how I feel, though."

His brows furrowed slightly. "Because what are we, even?" You had spent far too much time trapped in uncertainty. Far too much time wondering, waiting, hoping… And you didn't want to keep doing it anymore. Before he could answer, you slipped your wrist from his grasp and turned toward the stairs.

"They asked me to bring you to the meeting room."

You froze halfway up the stairs. The meeting room? Why? Immediately, dozens of possibilities began running through your mind. Had you done something wrong during the expedition? Maybe you hadn't been helpful enough. Maybe you had interfered with someone else's duties while trying to help. You had gone out of your way to assist other companies several times during the expedition. Had they considered that abandoning your own post? Were they going to punish you? Fire you? Send you away?

You had worked so hard to build a life here. You had left your home behind and dedicated yourself completely to Mondstadt. Were they really about to take all of that away from you?

The questions piled up faster and faster until your thoughts became a tangled mess and suddenly, all you could do was stand there and stare.

Seeing the blank expression suddenly spread across your face, as if someone had poured boiling water over your head, Lohen immediately pushed himself away from the table. Within seconds, he was standing in front of you. One of his hands settled on your hip while the other found yours, wrapping around it firmly.

"Hey." His voice was gentler now. "Whatever it is, I'm here, okay? No matter what happens, I'll do everything I can to protect you. I'll defend you if I have to."

The sudden affection caught you completely off guard. Your eyes immediately began to sting. When was the last time the two of you had held hands like this? Or when was the last time he'd touched you so naturally? You missed that a lot.

"I don't even know what I did," you admitted quietly. "But if I somehow harmed your unit, I'm sorry, Lohen. I really am." Your voice cracked slightly. "I just tried to be as great as you. I tried to be worthy of you. I tried to be a proper knight, that's all."

Lohen always hated seeing you like this. Even in the past, whenever your doubts got the better of you or your anxiety spiraled out of control, he was always the one who managed to pull you back together. Slowly, he released your hand. Then he lifted one of his hands and gently brushed his thumb against your cheek.

"Don't worry." His voice was barely above a murmur. "I've always been happy to have you by my side." The warmth of his touch lingered even after he pulled away. Unfortunately for you though, being suddenly summoned to a meeting room was rarely a good sign. Every knight knew that. Which meant there was no point delaying the inevitable.

The two of you made your way through headquarters in silence. When you finally reached the meeting room, you entered first. Lohen followed shortly after, taking a seat at the long table while you stepped toward the center of the room.

The moment you looked around, your stomach dropped. Every captain was present; even The Cavalry Captain, The Acting Grand Master, and The Grand Master himself.

So, Jean was the first to speak. "We know you were summoned here rather suddenly," she said politely. "We apologize if we made you nervous."

Immediately, you straightened your posture. "No, ma'am. It's no problem at all."

Then Varka leaned forward. "First of all, allow me to say that we are well aware of everything you have done for this headquarters. You are an incredibly hardworking and helpful knight. We are extremely happy to have someone like you among us, and—"

Before he could finish, you cut him off. "If I'm going to be fired, I can tell you that my pride can't accept being fired." The words came out before you could stop them. The room immediately fell silent. "So I'm resigning first. After all that effort, if what you think I deserve is to be banished from the city, then I'll leave on my own." The words spilled out rapidly, breathlessly, and with a very noticeable amount of anger.

For a moment, nobody spoke, the captains simply stared at you.

Then,

They burst out laughing, including Lohen.

"What?" You looked around the room, completely lost. You didn't understand what was happening. Slowly, your gaze shifted toward Lohen, silently searching for an answer.

Unfortunately, he wasn't helping. The bastard was simply sitting there with his cheek resting against his hand, watching you struggle. The corners of his lips twitched upward as he met your gaze.

Varka cleared his throat. "Well, if you had let me finish..." "We, and most importantly your Vice-Captain, had several conversations and came to the conclusion that an exceptional knight like you deserves to be promoted to the position of Benevolent Knight of the Fifth Company."

Your mind immediately went blank. The Benevolent Knight? You? No. That title was supposed to belong to Lohen.

"Of course," Varka continued, barely hiding his grin, "if you still wish to resign, we certainly can't stop you." His gaze shifted toward Lohen. "Though perhaps he can."

"No. No, I don't want to." The answer left your mouth so quickly. Another round of laughter spread through the room.

You immediately cleared your throat, trying to recover what little dignity you had left. "Please don't misunderstand me," you began. "If you believe I am worthy of such a title, then I could never refuse such an honor." "But I believe that title was already reserved for Lohen." Your gaze moved toward him. "Wouldn't giving it to me go against the wishes of the previous holder?"

So, after hearing that, it was finally his time to spoke. "No, it wouldn't." "The old man has long since passed away." For the first time since entering the room, the teasing expression disappeared from his face. "And I've realized that I think the title of Benevolent Knight suits you best." Before you could respond, Lohen slowly rose from his chair and he approached you.

In his hands was the insignia of the Benevolent Knight, the emblem that symbolized the title. Your heart pounded as he stopped in front of you. "You've spent years trying to become worthy of this position," he said quietly. His eyes never left yours. "But the truth is that you've already been worthy of it for a long time, dare I say that... I'm proud of you?" Carefully, he reached forward and fastened the insignia onto your uniform.

The moment it clicked into place, applause filled the room. Meanwhile, you were still trying to process what had just happened.

Captain. You had become a captain.

Eventually, you managed to straighten your posture. Your hand unconsciously touched the insignia resting against your chest. "It is an honor to receive this. I am grateful for the trust that has been placed in me."

You took a breath. "And I promise to continue serving Mondstadt to the best of my abilities. I will do everything I can to be worthy of this title and to fulfill my duties as captain."

And not long after, the meeting finally came to an end. One by one, the captains left the room. They congratulated you, smiled at you, told you that you are the best etc. etc.

Then eventually, it was only you and Lohen walking side by side through headquarters again. The evening sun painted Mondstadt gold as the two of you stepped outside.

A few minutes ago, he had grabbed your hand when you guys left the room and you hadn't fought it at all.

You glanced at him before speaking. "So..."

"Hm?"

"You knew."

A grin immediately appeared on his face. "Knew what?"

"You knew why I was being called into the meeting."

Lohen looked entirely too pleased with himself. "Well." He squeezed your hand. "Aren't you a smart cookie?"

You rolled your eyes and he laughed. "No wonder they made you my captain."

"Oh, shut up."

"I could tell you beforehand but watching you panic was much more entertaining."

"You are the worst."

"Yet you're still holding my hand."

Before you realized it, Lohen had guided you toward the edge of Mondstadt's city walls. The waters below reflected the orange glow of the setting sun.

"Lohen-" Before you could finish, he stepped closer. One hand settled carefully against your waist. The other rested against the stone wall behind you. Then slowly, so slowly that you barely noticed it happening, he captured you between his arms and the wall.

He was very gentle with his touch. Giving you every opportunity to pull away if you wanted to. Yet you didn't. Somehow, finally being able to stand this close to him felt amazing. Your heart was beating so fast that you were certain he could hear it.

Every time he looked at you, he looked with those soft eyes, too soft for a "hare".

"I hated it."

You frowned slightly. "What?"

"The distance." His voice was quieter than usual. "When you stopped calling me by my name. When you started acting like I was just your superior." "I hated every second of it."

"Then why didn't you say anything?"

A small, unintentional laugh escaped him. He lowered his gaze for a moment before looking back at you. "For the same reason you didn't."

He sighed softly and shook his head. "I kept thinking there would be a better time. After the expedition. After my promotion. After one more mission..." A faint smile appeared on his lips. "Then suddenly months had passed."

You looked away. "Well, I thought you didn't need me."

"What?"

"You were becoming Vice-Captain. Everyone admired you, also scarred. Everyone respected you." Your voice became quieter with every word. "I thought eventually you'd become captain and forget about me."

Lohen stared at you for a brief moment, but then bursted into a laughter as if you said something funny. Because he genuinely couldn't believe what he had just heard. "Forget about you?"

One of his hands slowly rose to your cheek again, his thumb brushing gently across your skin. "You are the first person I look for whenever I enter a room." "The first person I worry about whenever we're on the battlefield." His gaze never left yours. "The first person I want to tell whenever something good happens."

Upon hearing this, you didn't dare to speak. Only the sounds of Mondstadt drifted around you.

Then Lohen cleared his throat. "So."

You raised an eyebrow. "So?"

"Would you let me take you to dinner now that we're finally done pretending we're just colleagues?"

You couldn't help laughing. "Only if you don’t call me Captain."

His grin immediately widened. "Not a chance, Captain. I suffered that all these months, now it’s your turn."

You groaned loudly, and Lohen, looking happier than you had seen him in months, leaned forward until his forehead rested gently against yours.

It was such a simple thing and the things you could do with Ashveil were usually simple things like that. Otherwise, it felt like someone who knew him might see you at any moment, or you/he'd be called somewhere and have to part ways before he could even give that kiss. So, you squeezed it absentmindedly as you read over the case file.

"A wealthy lady claims someone has been stalking her," you read aloud. "She reported seeing the same woman outside her home three nights in a row."

"Hm."

You glanced up. "Hm? That is all you have to say?"

He grinned upon hearing that. "I am thinking, love."

"You always say that when you actually solved the case or do not want to explain your theories."

"And yet you continue to question me and try to learn."

"Because one day I'll be a better and more important detective than you, so…."

With the grin still on his face, he continued speaking. "There is hope for you yet, detective."

You rolled your eyes at his words. A few moments later the large estate came into view. Your steps slowed and without thinking, your fingers slipped from his.

The loss of warmth was immediate.

Ashveil's hand remained where it was for a second before falling back to his side. Neither of you mentioned it. You had both reluctantly gotten used to silently accepting it and moving on, at least you had.

You didn't want anyone to find out about your relationship. Both because you were currently a trainee working with him, and because you didn't want anyone to use you two as a threat against each other. Actually, you could have listed plenty of excuses, but none were convincing enough, and you knew it. Perhaps you simply didn't want to be the subject of gossip.

He had never argued about it, never complained. If this was what made you comfortable, then he respected it.

Still…Something flickered across his expression before his usual smile returned. He was very good at disguising himself, but he slowed down a bit when it came to you.

"You are staring." Your voice snapped him out of it.

Ashveil blinked before the corners of his mouth lifted. "I am."

You narrowed your eyes suspiciously. "Why, something wrong with my outfit? Do I look weird?"

"Because you are rather difficult not to look at." The answer came so quickly that you nearly stumbled over your own feet.

"Ashveil."

"What?" he asked innocently. "You asked."

"We are working."

His grin only widened. "Does telling my partner she’s attractive get in the way of work?"

You shot him a look that should have ended the conversation immediately. Unfortunately, Ashveil had never possessed the good sense to be intimidated by you.

"You should focus on the case."

"I am."

"You are not."

"I am observing an important detail."

You sighed heavily and picked up your pace toward the estate before he could continue. Behind you, his laughter followed. It was unfair how easily he could make you flustered.

When you entered the estate, you immediately adopted a professional attitude. You greeted the maids and then the woman who had filed the complaint.

It was a huge house, an incredibly expensive one. And the moment you saw the woman, you understood why everyone was always talking about her beauty. She looked elegant, graceful, and attractive without even trying. After instructing her maids to bring something to drink, the woman greeted only Ashveil.

"Detective Ashveil," she said warmly, barely sparing you a glance.

Ashveil took the woman's outstretched hand and gently kissed it, a gentlemanly gesture of courtesy but your eye twitched unwilingly.

"Lady Cordelia."

You hated the way that smile looked. You could not stop yourself from thinking that he should only smile at you like that. The same smile was currently being directed at a woman who looked as though she had stepped out of a painting.

She guided the two of you to a sitting area, and the moment everyone settled into their seats, she began explaining what had happened, how anxious she had been, and how worried she felt. The way Ashveil listened to her so intently and offered comfort here and there only made things worse.

This was not your first time dealing with cases like this. And again, keeping your relationship secret had been your idea. Besides, he was only doing his job. But the woman was not even looking at you.

She only looked at Ashveil. Everything she said seemed designed to earn his approval. You could practically hear something like “Comfort me, please, oh Detective. I am a lonely, attractive woman who needs your help.”

Since they were talking, you had no choice but to record the conversation, so you focused on taking notes. While they spoke, Ashveil assured her that the two of you would do everything possible to ensure her safety and resolve the situation without putting her in danger.

Then Lady Cordelia placed a hand over her chest dramatically and sighed. "I am so relieved that someone as skilled and powerful as you has come to help me and offer me protection."

The tip of your pen snapped. The sound was quiet, but loud enough to make your hand freeze. A second later, dark ink spilled across your fingers.

Ashveil paused mid-sentence and glanced toward you. His eyes immediately landed on your ink-stained hand. The woman noticed as well.

"The restroom is upstairs," she said smoothly. "The maids can show you the way."

The implication was obvious. Leave before you stain her expensive furniture. You stood up so abruptly,taking a deep breath, you forced yourself to remain polite before turning and leaving the room.

The bathroom door slammed shut behind you so hard that the sound echoed throughout the estate. Downstairs, Ashveil involuntarily smiled. While the two of them continued talking, you found yourself standing in front of the sink, scrubbing at your hands far harder than necessary.

The ink barely faded.

'Why did you react like that? Why couldn't you just do your job? Why did it bother you so much? Why were you comparing yourself to her? Why did you care? Why had you been the one to suggest keeping your relationship a secret in the first place?

If you hated this so much, why had you insisted on it?'

You rubbed at your skin again and again. The motion had stopped being about removing the ink several minutes ago. Now it felt more like you were punishing yourself. You should have done your job properly. You were a detective, after all. The woman needed help, and there was a case to solve. You should not have allowed your personal feelings to get in the way. Ashveil would probably be disappointed to see you acting like this. Lost in your thoughts, you failed to notice the bathroom door opening behind you. You took a deep breath, bracing yourself against the edge of the sink and lowering your head.

A familiar presence approached from behind. One arm wrapped around your waist, the other one turned off the tap. Then he rested his head against your shoulder, gentle kisses brushed against your cheek.

"Shouldn't you be downstairs talking to her?" you murmured. "She'll get suspicious if you stay up here."

"I do not care," he replied immediately. "My darling's pretty hands got covered in ink. That seems far more important."

A deep sigh escaped your lips. "I'm sorry, Ashveil."

"For what?"

"I know I let my emotions control me. I keep failing to control myself. I—"

Before you could continue, he gently guided you away from the sink and leaned you back against the wall. Carefully, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

"You do not have to explain yourself, okay?" he said softly. "No matter what, I am always proud of you. And I am always happy to be by your side." A small smile appeared on his face.

"So," he continued, amusement slipping back into his voice, "you love me so much that you don’t even want to share me with people who need help, huh?"

A reluctant laugh escaped you.

"There she is." He continued. "If you still want to keep our relationship a secret, then so be it," he said. "But know this, you will always be my first choice. Understand?"

You nodded. "Good girl." He pressed a kiss to your forehead and looked at you with those unbearably affectionate eyes.

He was always taking care of you; he loved doing it. "Do not doubt yourself." His finger gently tapped the tip of your nose. "And do not put so many 'why's into that pretty head." His words made your throat tighten, "Thank you," was all you could manage.

Ashveil smiled before leaning down and pressing a brief, gentle kiss against your lips.

"Now then," he murmured, "shall we go solve this case, future great detective?"

You laughed. "Yes, sir."

Silently, he took a towel and carefully dried your hands. Together, you headed for the door.

And just before stepping back into the hallway where the maids might see, Ashveil could not resist reaching for you one more time, letting his fingers brush against yours for a brief moment before letting go.

end.