Chapter 97: A confession with no words but lips

Julian’s world narrowed down to the point of contact.

He felt the Duke’s lips brush up against his. The kiss was hesitant, a brush of a touch that carried the weight of the Duke’s unspoken fears. It wasn’t the demanding, forceful gesture Julian might have expected from a man who broke iron with his fists and led armies.

And it was unlike the kiss from that night as well, where it felt like the Duke would actually devour him.

Instead, it was gentle—a quiet question asked in the stillness of the room.

’Do you feel the same way I do?’

’Will you run from me if I show you my true feelings?’

’Does the real me scare you?’

These questions were ones that could only be felt through the contact of the lips. The questions the Duke could not say by mouth.

Julian’s breath hitched, trapped in his throat.

His heart was no longer just racing; it was hammering against his ribs, a frantic rhythm that made his head light. The scent of the Duke and the faint, lingering warmth of the fire swirled around him, tethering him to the moment.

For a second, the Duke did not push it far. He left it at a light brush, testing to see Julian’s reaction, but when he realized Julian wasn’t pulling away, those worries fell miles away, and he deepened the kiss. His tongue found the inside of Julian’s mouth, and Julian still did not pull away, not disgusted and not disturbed by the intimacy with another man, as the Duke had feared.

This gave the Duke even more confidence to go further, his own heart thumping frantically like a caged bird.

Slowly, Julian’s fingers drifted up from the silk sheets. They were pale and trembling as they brushed against Alaric’s jaw, the stubble there prickling his skin, and then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around the Duke’s neck, his fingers digging into the Duke’s wild hair that was surprisingly soft.

For a moment, the Duke paused, but then his frantically beating heart eased down.

This here was a silent, soft answer from Julian.

’Yes, I feel the same way.’

’No, I won’t run.’

’No, it doesn’t. The real you could never scare me.’

The Duke’s heart felt warm, warmer than it had ever gotten in years, and he let out a low, shuddering breath against Julian’s mouth, a sound of pure surrender.

The restraint and fear he had been holding onto seemed to melt away. The kiss deepened a bit more, moving from a tentative inquiry to something more certain—a promise of protection, a vow that no matter what madness the Capital or the Marquis threw at them, the North would stand as an unbreakable wall.

HE

would stand as an unbreakable wall.

When they finally pulled apart, Alaric didn’t go far. He rested his forehead against Julian’s, their breaths mingling.

The Duke’s eyes were still closed, his lashes dark against his tanned skin, which was still flushed with that uncharacteristic heat. He did it. He finally confessed, even though that was not a typical confession.

Still, he had told Julian how he felt, and Julian responded positively.

He felt the same way.

"I won’t let them take you," Alaric whispered, his voice thick and raw as he opened his eyes to gaze into Julian’s. "I won’t let anything happen to you."

Julian pursed his lips. This was real. It really happened.

He could still feel the tingling sensation and the warmth the Duke left behind. It left him with a sense of clarity, but it wasn’t enough.

He pulled the Duke down again and kissed him, this time initiating it and not regretting a moment of it. The Duke, slightly taken aback, did not pull away and gave Julian what he wanted, the deep satisfaction of a kiss that was both a promise and a wish.

’It’s hot,’ Julian thought, barely breathing through the gaps of their lips, but he didn’t stop. ’It feels nice,’

He kissed the Duke passionately, and the Duke kissed back. It felt amazing, and he didn’t want this moment to end. Not yet. Just a little bit longer and—

"Hmm," Lucius little hum as he shifted beside them caught them off guard, and they froze in place, rolling their eyes to the side with their lips still connected, preparing to be caught.

But thankfully, the boy hadn’t woken up yet. But it did look like he was in pain, trying to sleep on his side.

They had to end the kissing there, regrettably, and tend to the boy.

Julian had his focus on Lucius, and Alaric saw it, noting that no one cared for Lucius as much as Julian did. And Lucius loved Julian as well. He was sure his son would accept Julian as his new partner.

Julian reached his hand to the boy’s side and parted him to sleep, hoping he would be relieved of his pain, the poor thing.

After a while, Lucius finally settled, and Julian felt relieved.

"Julian," The Duke called, and Julian turned his gaze to him. "I will definitely find a way to heal you."

His eyes were firm now, but they still held that warm light from a few seconds ago, just with a lot more determination to protect.

"I have already sent my men, and they will arrive in two days with a priest from the Holy Empire that is currently hiding in the Capital." He said, and Julian’s eyes widened.

A priest? From the Holy Empire? In the Capital?

"Your Grace, isn’t that dangerous?" He asked. "If it is known that you took in a priest from the Holy Empire into your house, they will frame you for colluding with a spy to bring down the Viremount Empire," he was concerned, deeply but Alaric held no such concerns.

He held a straight face and then declared,

"I will only be convicted if I am caught," he said, and Julian’s breath hitched.

"You mean..."

"Yes, if they do not find me with the priest, they have nothing against me."

"But..." Julian looked at his legs. "The proof is right here. If I suddenly start walking, they will surely..."

"Julian," the Duke called and then kissed him again, his calloused hand on Julian’s face. "You do not need to worry about anything. All you need to do is focus on your recovery. I will take care of the rest."

But how could Julian not worry? How could...?

He bit his lip and gripped the sheets tight. He just had to believe in the Duke and pray that the worst does not come from this.

Just then, the system chimed, and Julian took a look.

> [NOTIFICATION: Relationship Milestone Reached]