Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Tomorrow, you'll start your lessons with the elders to become king… You don’t seem worried at all.”

“I’m not.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah—no, not at all. It’s actually good that you're so calm. It's just...”

Brian's lips moved slightly, as if there was more he wanted to say. His lover looked at him in silence. But once again, Brian ended up disappointing him. Soliette always hoped he could be honest with him rather than bottling everything up inside and always trying to process things alone.

Soliette looked straight into Brian’s eyes. In those clear pupils, his own reflection stared back at him. It was hard to read Brian’s thoughts from such a mirror, because in his eyes, Soliette’s figure loomed too large. That, perhaps, was the problem.

“Let me guess—you’re worried about me, aren’t you?”

The young knight lowered his gaze. After a beat or two, he sighed softly.

“...Was it that obvious?”

“It’s written all over your face.”

The Dragon Lord held him tighter, voice gentle.

“Tell me, what’s bothering my precious knight? Are you afraid I’ll be bullied?”

As he spoke, Soliette shot Brian a look that said: “Do I look like someone who could be bullied?” That expression alone brought a bright smile back to Brian’s face.

“No way! I’m more worried that you'll be the one doing the bullying!”

Then, his tone grew more serious again.

“But I guess… yeah, I’m a little uneasy.”

Brian’s expression seemed to say, “How do I explain this in a way you’ll truly understand?”

“The elders both respect you and yet, in their hearts, they may doubt whether you can truly become the king of this land.”

"If only, if only I could be with you in those lessons, but I have too many things to do. Besides, they are the ones who have lived longer than I have... " Brian hesitated a bit before continuing. "The things they can teach you are much more than what I can. Honestly, I feel a little reluctant, but I have to accept it."

After voicing the worries that had weighed on him, Brian’s face looked a little more at ease. He rested his head against Soliette’s warm chest. The Dragon Lord stroked his nape softly and pressed a kiss to his forehead—a silent thank-you for caring so much.

“Hearing you say that actually makes me a little sad.”

“Hmmp…?”  

“Hearing you say that makes me very happy. It turns out I’m not the only one who wants to be by your side.” 

Soliette paused, then spoke again.

“Though, there’s still one thing I don’t get. I promised I’d study hard. Even a sacred dragon’s vow isn't enough to earn their trust? I thought everyone wanted me to become king.”

Brian replied patiently:

“That’s because they don’t understand how complicated it is to rule a nation. Even though you was once the god who protected this land, when you began to live as a human, you theoretically resembled a child. There are many things you needs to learn to integrate with the people, and only then can you learn to become someone who can guide and protect others.”

Fairness. Responsibility. Empathy. Back when you was a dragon, life followed a rigid hierarchy. But now, everything must seem unfamiliar.

Brian knew these worries were unnecessary, but knowing that didn’t stop them from flooding his mind.

“I wonder if I could feel at ease leaving you alone..."

I’d worry myself to death if I left you alone!

And then—like sunlight breaking through clouds—Soliette’s soft laughter lit up Brian’s eyes. In the end, the only thing that could soothe all his worries was this warmth beside him.

“I wasn’t even thinking that far ahead, and you’re already overthinking. You’re always so thorough—planning out every step, thinking ten moves ahead. But sometimes, I think you're a little too sensitive. You put yourself in other people’s shoes far too often.”

Then, another warm, soft kiss landed on Brian’s forehead. It meant: I just fell in love with you a little more.

“Just trust me, like you always have. I promise I’ll do well!”

Yes. Soliette was the most beautiful, magnificent being Brian had ever known—even now, lying right beside him, nothing about his presence had faded.

“Of course I believe in you...”

Outside, the soft patter of rain began to fall. The temperature dropped quickly. Brian nestled closer into Soliette’s embrace and quietly promised himself a good night’s sleep. But...

“Brian.”

“…Yes?” Brian, already drifting, perked up at Soliette’s voice.

“Now that I think about it… the way I announced I’d become king, do you think I came off a little full of myself?”

Brian rubbed his eyes, and when he looked up, he immediately saw a gaze filled with great anticipation.

Since when did Soliette start caring so much about how others saw him?

Brian didn’t deny it. Still half-drowsy, he replied:

“Yeah… That’s exactly what it sounded like...”

“Do you think they’ll hate a king like that?” Soliette asked, sounding worried.

Brian took a moment to think, carefully choosing his words.

“Like I said before, there’ll be a wall between you and them in the beginning. But once they get to know you, they’ll come around. You’ll exceed their expectations, I’m sure of it!”

“Now come on, let’s sleep. Wake me up early tomorrow, okay?”

Chapter Text

Neither Soliette nor Brian could sleep. The anticipation for tomorrow kept them wide awake. So, they decided to keep talking—just a little longer—before the coming day pulled them each in different directions.

"Brian. What’s the earliest you think you’ll finish tomorrow?"

“Hmm… Could be by late afternoon, or maybe later. It’s hard to say. If you finish your lessons earlier, just head home first. I’ll try to be back before dinner.”

"So... apart from our morning kiss, I won’t get to see you all day?"

"..."

Isn’t that normal?

Brian looked at the Dragon Lord, half helpless, half amused. He tried to comfort him with a smile.

“I’ll be home tonight, I promise.”

“I know.” Soliette sighed. “I was hoping we could at least have lunch together. Why is it so hard to find time to be with you lately?”

"Haha! Can’t help it! This isn’t the time for relaxing. This just isn’t the time to be idle. Both you and I have our reasons to stay busy.”

“But a whole day without you feels way too long!”

Sol’s face clearly said: “I don’t like this one bit!”

Where did he even learn to pout like that? Now he was using it on Brian, who was both surprised and defeated. All Brian could do was indulge him.

"Don’t be mad! I’ll stop by your classroom every now and then. I promise."

Sol thought quietly for a while before replying with something even Brian didn’t expect.

"No need."

"...What?"

Brian’s face froze instantly.

"I’m not mad. I’ll just… feel miss you a lot, but I’ll endure it. This is part of the challenge so I can become someone you can rely on. I promised you, didn’t I? I’ll do everything I can to earn that.”

“Even when I’m not around, don’t you dare overwork yourself, got it?”

Brian felt something tighten in his chest. Maybe he realized he was falling even deeper in love.

"I know."

No one had ever cared for him like this before. To Brian, this love felt like a massive wave crashing onto the shore — unstoppable, overwhelming, all-consuming. Sometimes it felt hard to breathe. No, more accurately, he just wasn’t used to it yet. This was love he had to learn. And the one who taught him how to love was also the one who showed him how it felt to be loved.

"Brian."

Why am I suddenly feeling uneasy?

"I changed my mind."

"…"

Sol said it like he’d forgotten everything he just said.

"I want you to come pick me up after class. I want to go home with you!"

A soft sigh escaped Brian, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly. The earlier emotions flew away with the wind, leaving behind only a quiet sense of resignation. Sometimes, spoiling someone too much led to this. But by the time Brian realized it, it was already too late.

"Do you remember what you just said to me?"

"No."

Brian: ???

His beloved Dragon suddenly gave him a mischievous grin

“Just kidding! Of course I remember!”

"But how could you let a poor child go home all alone on his very first day of school? Don’t you love me anymore? Has my dear knight stopped loving me?! I’m so heartbroken!”

The smile on Brian’s face was already halfway to a grimace. Soliette’s dramatics had thrown him completely off guard.

“Oh dear! That was just an example, okay?! You're not a child anymore! And where in the world did you learn how to whine like this?”

Unbelievable!

Soliette gleefully rubbed his cheek against Brian’s forehead, his voice turning sweeter by the second.

“Don’t you like it when I act spoiled? I only do this with you!"

“…”

I give up. You win.

"I really have spoiled you, haven’t I!" Brian said in defeat.

"So are you going to give me what I want?"

The knight kissed his beloved Dragon Lord on the cheek, finally compromising:

"I’ll finish everything that must be done tomorrow. Anything that can wait, I’ll push to the next day. That’ll free up about two hours before dinner, but still about fifteen minutes after your class ends. That’s the best I can do. I can’t cut it down further."

"Once you’re done, wait for me in the West Wing. Since it’s raining now, the air will be fresh tomorrow, and the sunset from there is absolutely beautiful. We can go for a walk.”

"I want you to tell me all about your first class when we’re together. At that time, I will praise you as much as I can!”