The faint rustling of fabric stirred Lumberling from his sleep. His eyes opened slowly, glowing faintly blue in the darkness. Even without light, his heightened senses easily caught the soft rhythm of footsteps approaching.

A familiar scent reached him, and soon after, a faint shimmer of gold came into view. Aurelya stood beside his bed, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders. Her golden eyes met his, playful yet calm, and the gown she wore gently outlined her graceful form.

Lumberling's brow lifted slightly. "What are you doing here?" His tone was even, though a trace of amusement lingered in it.

Aurelya tilted her head, her lips curling into a small smile. "Hey, it's been a long time, you know…" she said softly, her voice carrying a mix of teasing and warmth.

He exhaled quietly, amused. "You seem to find strange times to talk."

She chuckled lightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she sat at the edge of his bed. "Maybe. But it's easier to speak when everyone else is asleep."

Her golden eyes lingered on him, studying his expression in the dim light. "You've changed a lot, Lumberling. You feel… different."

He met her gaze, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Different, huh? Maybe I just absorbed too many essences."

Aurelya shook her head gently. "No. It's not that," she murmured. "You've grown, not just stronger, but more certain of yourself. Bolder. More decisive. It's like… you finally stopped holding back, finally stepped out of that little cage you built around yourself back in the village."

Lumberling said nothing, only watched her in silence.

Aurelya's lips curved into a faint smile as she added, almost shyly, "And I like you more this way."

The air between them was still, the kind that carried both comfort and tension.

Then Aurelya looked away, her voice quiet but sincere. "I just wanted to see you."

Lumberling smiled faintly. "Well… you did."

She laughed softly at that, her golden eyes softening. "Good. Then I'll stay for a bit."

Aurelya sat beside him, her golden eyes lingering on his face. The quiet between them stretched.

She shifted slightly, brushing her hair over one shoulder, the soft fabric of her gown slipping a little as she leaned closer. "You know," she said, her tone light but her eyes meaningful, "you could at least offer me a seat that's not this far from you."

Lumberling blinked, pretending not to catch the hint. "Ah, right. The chair by the window's probably more comfortable," he said casually, pointing across the room.

Aurelya froze, her expression blank for a second before she sighed, her cheeks coloring faintly. "That's… not what I meant."

"Oh?" he tilted his head innocently. "Then what did you mean?"

Her golden eyes narrowed slightly as she bit her lip, caught between annoyance and embarrassment. "You really don't get it, do you?"

"I'm trying to," he replied, expression perfectly straight, though his eyes glimmered mischievously.

Aurelya huffed, crossing her arms as she stood up. "Forget it. I shouldn't have bothered…"

Before she could take another step, Lumberling moved. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her gently back against him. His hand rested just below her stomach, the warmth of his body meeting hers.

"I'm just kidding," he whispered near her ear, a quiet chuckle escaping him. "You look cute when you're flustered."

Aurelya's breath hitched, and her face turned crimson. "You! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" she muttered, pouting but not pulling away.

He smiled faintly, lowering his voice. "I missed you."

Her body softened against him. "I miss you too," she said quietly. "I wanted to see you badly… I thought about you every day while we were in the empire."

He smiled against her hair. "Then let's make up for the time we lost together."

Aurelya turned her head slightly, pouting again though her blush deepened. "Hmph, I still haven't forgiven you for getting another woman while we were away."

Lumberling chuckled softly, resting his chin on her shoulder, the warmth between them settling into quiet comfort.

Lumberling's breath brushed against her neck as he spoke softly, "Do you hate her?"

Aurelya paused for a moment before shaking her head lightly. "No… it's not like that," she said, her tone calm but honest.

He could feel the truth in her voice. Without saying a word, he pulled her closer, his arms tightening around her. "I love you, Aurelya," he whispered, his voice low and steady against her ear.

Aurelya's eyes softened, but her tone still carried a hint of playfulness mixed with curiosity. "You even want us to teach her. Is she really that important to you?"

"She is," Lumberling said simply. "And you are too." He paused, then added with a quiet sigh, "Don't be too hard on her. She's been through a lot… growing up unable to walk the Knight's path, alone, even among nobles. She carries more pain than she shows."

For a while, Aurelya said nothing. The silence between them wasn't cold, it was thoughtful. Then, in a softer voice, she muttered, "I'll teach her… but only for a while."

Lumberling's lips curved into a faint smile, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "Thank you. That's more than enough. You really are a good person, Aurelya."

She turned her head slightly, pouting though her face was still warm. "I'm only doing it for you," she murmured. "And this will be the only time."

Lumberling's faint smile didn't fade. Instead, he reached out and gently turned her toward him, his hands firm yet gentle as his eyes locked with hers.

Then, slowly, he leaned in, closing the space between them. Their lips met.

The kiss started slow. Her lips were soft and warm, carrying that faint flowery sweetness he remembered so well. She breathed against him, fingers trembling as they rose to his chest.

His hands moved instinctively, tracing the curve of her back before resting at her waist, pulling her closer. When he deepened the kiss, she let out a soft gasp, her arms rising to circle behind his neck, drawing him in.

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