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chapter 71
After finishing his month-long tour of duty, Sian reported to the imperial palace and received an official vacation. Without hesitation, he headed straight for Lynette’s shop, Eclim.
It was already dusk. Inside the quiet store, Lynette was finishing up by herself.
Just seeing her made all the exhaustion from the past month of grueling work melt away.
The mere sight of her lifted his mood. Sian swallowed dryly and gently placed a hand over his heart — it was already racing just from looking at her.
If he were to hold her, he thought he might actually faint.
While he took a deep breath to calm himself, Lynette finished closing up and stepped outside to lock the door. As she stretched her arms and yawned, Sian suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“Lynette!”
“Si–Sian? You scared me!”
Startled by the sudden hug, Lynette froze for an instant. But as soon as she recognized the familiar scent and voice, she smiled softly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I missed you, Sian.”
“I missed you too — so, so much. Ah, I think I might cry.”
Seeing the tears glisten like red rubies in his eyes, Lynette pulled his neck down and pressed her lips against his.
“Welcome home.”
“Yes, I’m back. My little nightingale…”
Even that short kiss made his heart pound like mad. Sian buried his face in her shoulder, breathing in her scent, and hugged her tighter.
“Seeing you again makes me feel at peace. I think I’m getting sleepy now.”
“Oh dear, then we’d better get you home. I’ll take you there.”
Lynette took his hand and started walking toward his house. Sian looked so worn out — probably after being chewed out by his superiors while working out in the field — that she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
Still, the way he kept smiling at her with that gentle, boyish grin was unbearably endearing.
“Sian, you don’t smile at just anyone, do you?”
“Huh?”
“If other women saw that smile, they’d try to snatch you away. That soft face of yours could make any woman’s heart flutter.”
Sian tilted his head slightly — then smiled even brighter.
“I only smile like this in front of you, Lynette.”
And it was true — he never smiled at other women, not even out of politeness. He didn’t even bother smiling around his family; it just never felt necessary.
When they arrived at his place, Lynette was about to wave goodbye, but Sian caught her hand.
“After a whole month apart, you’re really going to send me in alone? Come in with me.”
“But you must be exhausted from your trip.”
“It’s fine. You’re my source of energy, Lynette. Just give me a minute — I’ll wash up and change, then I’ll be right out.”
He couldn’t bear to let her go yet, so he gently pulled her inside. Then he hurried straight into the bathroom.
While Sian was washing up, Lynette looked around.
It had been a month since she’d last been there, but his house was still spotless. When the bathroom door opened, her eyes widened.
“Ah… if you look at me like that, I’ll start to feel embarrassed.”
He’d forgotten to bring clothes into the bathroom, so he came out with just a towel hastily wrapped around his waist. Sian’s face turned red as their eyes met.
“Go on and get dressed,” Lynette said, turning away — though not too quickly. Her tone was teasing as she let him walk past.
As soon as he went to his room, Lynette clutched at her chest.
“Is it because I haven’t seen him in a month? That body… oh no, he looks way too good.”
Maybe it was the side effect of her long abstinence, she thought, shaking her head vigorously. Then she knocked on his door.
“Sian, I should probably head home for a bit. I need to let Katrin know where I am.”
“Wait! I’ll go with you.”
“No, no — you just stay here and rest quietly.”
Lynette hurried back home, where Katrin was already waiting with her head poking out.
“What are you doing here? The moon’s not even up yet.”
“Geez, you startled me! You’re home late tonight.”
“Yeah. But I might be home even later. Sian’s back.”
“What? That fragile man came back from his trip? Ahem! Then you’ll be… very late tonight, I take it. Take your time, my lady, hohoho!”
Pushing Lynette back toward the door she’d come from, Katrin clenched her fists like a cheerleader.
“My lady, good luck!”
“It’s not like I’m going to war…”
“Go until dawn and— ahem, never mind. I’ll just… go rest now.”
Spotting people nearby, Katrin quickly cut herself off and waved Lynette off with a grin.
Smiling helplessly, Lynette walked back toward Sian’s place — where he was already waiting outside.
“Why are you out here? You should’ve stayed inside.”
“There’s no food left at home, so I was going to buy some ingredients.”
It made sense — the house had been empty for a month.
“Lynette, wait here for a bit. I’ll run out and grab them.”
“No need. You just got back from a business trip; I’d feel guilty making you run errands. I’ll go.”
“No, no, I’ll go.”
After a short back-and-forth, they decided to go together.
Sian carried the shopping basket in one hand and held Lynette’s hand with the other, smiling brightly as they walked through the market.
“Goodness, isn’t that the owner of Eclim? You’re engaged? You two look perfect together!”
People who recognized Lynette glanced curiously at Sian — his face mostly hidden under a cap. She just smiled awkwardly rather than explain that they weren’t actually engaged. That explanation would’ve led to more questions about who Sian was.
“Lynette, I think we’ve got enough now.”
The basket was filled to the brim, but Sian didn’t even break a sweat carrying it.
“You must be tired after work. Should I carry you too, with one arm?”
“What?”
“I don’t need both arms to hold you, you know. One’s plenty — want me to prove it?”
“Ah, no thanks — I’d rather not.”
Lynette quickly declined. People around them already kept sneaking glances their way; if he tried something like that outside, the whole town would be talking by morning — probably saying she’d skipped engagement and gone straight to marriage.
If that happened, Edgar and Casper would storm Eclim in outrage.
Not wanting to endanger Sian’s career, Lynette wisely refused.
After finishing their shopping, they headed back to Sian’s house.
As soon as they returned, he had her sit comfortably on the sofa while he went to prepare dinner. Watching his back as he worked, Lynette couldn’t help but smile.
Her perfect husband-in-the-making.
She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Sian?”
“What would you like me to make tonight? I’m already excited.”
“I’m thinking pasta and a vegetable salad. Soup might take too long… but if you want it, I’ll make it.”
Sian reached down to hold her hands, then glanced over his shoulder. Lynette had her face pressed against his back, nuzzling softly. The sight made his heart melt.
He turned around, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her forehead. Then he gently lifted her up and set her back on the sofa.
“It’s dangerous to hug me while I’m holding a knife. I’ll hug you as much as you want later.”
“But you look so sexy cooking like that. I can’t help it.”
“Then I hope you find me just as sexy when we go to bed.”
He grinned and went back to cooking.
Before long, the pasta and salad were ready. Lynette tried to do the dishes out of guilt for making him cook right after his trip, but he wouldn’t let her.
Instead, she brewed coffee for both of them, and they chatted quietly on the sofa.
“If we drink coffee this late, we’ll never sleep.”
“Oh, I’ll manage. You can just stay up all night watching me. I sleep fine even after coffee.”
“That’s torture…”
They were both adults — and as Cordelia once said, how could two adults who loved each other just hold hands all night?
Sian’s patience was starting to wear thin. He gazed at her with eyes full of longing — like a drenched puppy. Lynette chuckled and shook her head.
Seeing her refusal, Sian hung his head, which only made him look even cuter. Lynette laughed out loud.
“My, my. There’s a puppy even cuter than our Cheese right here.”
“P–puppy? I’m… well, yes. I suppose I am. I wait for you, I only look at you — so yes, I’m your puppy.”
As Lynette stroked his hair, Sian practically melted.
Just as he wished she’d keep petting him forever, her hand slipped down to his neck, then across his broad back.
Her touch sent warmth through him, making him stiffen slightly — and blush.
He didn’t know how to react. When he looked into her dark, unreadable eyes, he saw only his reflection staring back.
“Lynette, if you keep touching me like that… I might react without meaning to…”
“Shh.”
Lynette pressed a finger to his lips and shook her head gently. Then she pulled him toward her.
Losing his balance, Sian found himself lying with his head resting on her lap. He tried to sit up, but she stopped him with a soft touch to his face.
“You just came back from a long trip. Rest like this for a bit.”
“This position must be uncomfortable for you.”
“It’s not. Just stay like this — I’ll be your pillow tonight. Consider it a little welcome-home gift.”
If it meant resting on her lap, Sian thought, he’d gladly go on more business trips — maybe short ones, just a day or two.
At first, he was stiff and awkward lying on her lap. But when she started gently patting his stomach, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
He tried to resist — told himself over and over that he shouldn’t fall asleep — but Lynette’s hand came up to cover his eyes.
“Don’t force yourself for my sake. Just for tonight, rest easy, Sian.”
Her voice was like an angel’s whisper.
That soft sound filled his ears and lulled him deeper. He struggled to move one last time — but his body grew heavier, sinking as if into a dream.
He’d wanted to stay awake, to build another kind of “fortress” tonight… but in the end, he drifted peacefully into sleep.
