Chapter 238: The Hug That Fixed Everything

"My sweet home..."

Cherion let out a tired sigh as he stepped into the quiet foyer. Outside, the afternoon sun was starting to sink lower in the sky.

Honestly, even though the unexpected outing with Iryna had completely drained him, Cherion still found himself smiling a little.

"Well, that was certainly a lively afternoon," Marielle sighed, stretching her arms above her head as she and Reiner walked into the main hall behind him. Ezek walked at the back of the group, his usual stoic expression still firmly in place.

"Lively is an understatement," Reiner laughed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn’t think a Solaric princess would be the type to violently clear her nose in public while sobbing over a stage play."

"She was simply... deeply moved by the performance," Cherion defended weakly, though a quiet chuckle escaped him. He hung his outer coat on the rack, smoothing down his tunic. "It’s best to look at the positive side. Despite how suddenly she showed up, it was fun to show her around the markets. And the theater performance really was spectacular."

"I’m just glad she returned without accidentally causing a diplomatic incident," Marielle added, offering Cherion a warm look. "You look tired, little Healer. You should rest before my brother returns. The palace meetings always drag on."

Cherion nodded, bidding his friends a quiet evening before wandering deeper into the quiet sanctuary of the manor. He settled in the private drawing room, pouring himself a cup of lukewarm tea and letting the peaceful silence of the estate wash over him. As much as he enjoyed the bustling energy of the capital’s markets, this quiet space was where he felt the safest.

Nearly an hour passed before the heavy front doors of the manor suddenly creaked open, followed by a familiar, heavy sequence of footsteps.

Cherion’s eyes lit up. He immediately rose from his chair and walked out into the corridor, his face breaking into a bright, delighted smile the moment Zarius’s towering figure came into view.

"Zarius!" Cherion called out softly.

The Duke abruptly stopped walking. Zarius didn’t say a word. He simply closed the distance between them in two massive steps, reaching out to pull Cherion tightly against his chest.

Cherion let out a soft gasp as he was lifted slightly off his feet, but he wrapped his arms tightly around Zarius’s neck, burying his face into the alpha’s shoulder. He could feel the slight trembling in Zarius’s massive frame, the desperate, possessive way the Duke clung to him as if verifying that Cherion was still safe and sound.

"Oh, what a sight for my sore eyes," Zarius murmured into Cherion’s hair. He inhaled deeply, letting Cherion’s familiar, calming scent wash away the foul taste of the imperial palace.

Cherion smiled against his shoulder, gently patting the back of Zarius’s neck. "Good work today. You must be exhausted."

Zarius finally pulled back slightly so he could look down at him properly, and just like that, his expression softened completely into something warm and hopelessly devoted. He set Cherion back on his feet but kept his hands resting firmly on Cherion’s waist.

"You have no idea," Zarius replied quietly.

"So, how was everything?" Cherion asked, looping his arm through Zarius’s as they began to walk slowly toward the inner living quarters. He looked up at the Duke’s face, searching for any signs of trouble. "How did the grand meeting go?"

Zarius let out a smooth, effortless chuckle, brushing a stray lock of hair away from Cherion’s forehead. "Well, it was the same as per usual. Utterly boring. Lords arguing over borders, trade tariffs, and the kind of bureaucratic nonsense that makes me want to rip the parchment to shreds."

Cherion laughed, leaning his head slightly against Zarius’s arm as they walked. "So everything’s peaceful then? No wars? No political disasters? Nobody trying to destroy the empire today?"

"None," Zarius continued casually. "The empire is stable enough. But enough about that. What about you? What did you do all day?"

Cherion winced slightly, a sheepish smile touching his lips as he remembered the chaotic events of his afternoon. "Well... the Solaric Princess actually came here. And we ended up going to the market together."

Zarius’s footsteps didn’t falter, but his grip on Cherion’s waist tightened by a fraction. He kept his voice perfectly casual, though his sharp ears perked up instantly. "Ah, so it’s true she came here. But you didn’t just go out alone with her, right?"

"Of course not," Cherion said quickly, shaking his head. "Marielle, Reiner, and Ezek came along too. We practically had a full escort. We just showed her a few local shops and took her to a theater play." Cherion tilted his head, a playful, teasing spark dancing in his eyes as he looked up at the notoriously possessive Duke. "Why do you ask? Don’t tell me the great Northern Duke is afraid the princess is going to snatch me away from him?"

Zarius stopped walking, looking down at Cherion with a low, rumbling chuckle that vibrated pleasantly in his chest. "The princess is entirely unpredictable, Cherion. I wouldn’t put anything past her."

He pulled Cherion back into his arms, resting his chin on top of Cherion’s head.

"She certainly is unique," Cherion agreed softly, his voice muffled slightly against Zarius’s chest as he wrapped his arms back around the Duke’s waist.

They stood like that for a long, quiet moment before Zarius gently guided him forward again. They continued their slow walk down the familiar, softly lit corridors until they finally reached the privacy of their bedroom.

As the doors closed behind them, isolating them completely from the rest of the world, Cherion let out another small sigh of relief. He leaned back against the edge of the large vanity table, watching Zarius unbuckle his heavy sword belt and set it aside.

"You know," Cherion began, a thoughtful look crossing his face, "from the way she talked before she left, the princess seems to like this place a little too much."

Zarius paused, hanging his dark coat on the wardrobe rack before turning back around. A knowing, dryly amused look settled in his eyes as he walked back over to Cherion. "Or perhaps," he murmured, stepping into Cherion’s space and gently cupping his cheek, "she simply likes the people in it."

Cherion leaned into the warm touch, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment as the sheer fatigue of the day finally began to catch up to him. "Maybe so. But between her endless energy and your long palace meetings, I think we’ve both had more than enough excitement for one day."

Opening his eyes, Cherion reached up and gently caught Zarius’s wrist, his thumb brushing lightly over the steady pulse beneath his skin. "Speaking of which," Cherion murmured, a playful, teasing smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he looked up through his lashes, "what a coincidence... I haven’t taken a shower yet, either."

Zarius’s thumb stroked across Cherion’s cheekbone, his gaze darkening with a sudden, warm intensity. "Is that so?"

"Mmhm," Cherion hummed softly, his fingers shifting to lightly tug on the fabric of Zarius’s tunic. "Do you want to take a shower with me?"

Without another word, Zarius leaned down and effortlessly scooped Cherion up into his arms. Cherion let out a startled but delighted gasp, instinctively wrapping his arms around the Duke’s broad shoulders as he was lifted off his feet.

"Who am I to say no to that?" Zarius murmured, his low voice vibrating pleasantly against Cherion’s chest.

Cherion laughed, the bright, melodic sound echoing softly as Zarius turned and began walking toward the adjoining room. He buried his face comfortably in the crook of Zarius’s neck as they made their way into the bathroom.

My lower back is going to need some healing for sure, Cherion thought, his inner voice screaming as a flush crept rapidly up his neck. There is no world in which this ends with us merely using soap and water.