“What’s wrong?” Hael asked once the advisor was within earshot.

  “…The King,” the advisor began hesitantly. “He’s going on one of his nightly… walks. Since you’re now his personal guard, you’re to accompany him.”

  Hael’s frown deepened. He noticed the complicated expression on Anemone’s face when he said nightly. “What exactly are these nightly walks that illicit such a reaction?” He thought to himself

  Anemone’s lips twitched before he sighed deeply. “I had hoped they might have ended with your arrival, but... anyway, you’re to take him to his destination and escort him back once he’s finished.”

  “Oh, and there’s no need to change into your uniform for this,” he added. “It’s best not to draw attention.” With that, he turned and left.

  Hael stood there, utterly confused.

  “What just happened?” Loki remarked, echoing Hael’s thoughts exactly.

  After dropping Loki off in his room, Hael—now serving as the King’s guard—made his way quickly to Ceremus’ chambers. The King was already waiting, in the midst of putting on his robe.

  “Your Majesty,” Hael called as he entered. He paused, momentarily distracted by the sight of Ceremus.

  The King wore a simple bck tunic, adorned with gold-lined strings, and matching trousers. His jewelry was understated, consisting of a single dangling gold earring and an elegant gold bangle. Despite the modest attire, the wealthy and powerful King still exuded a quiet, dangerous allure that made it almost impossible for Hael to look away.

  “It’s about time you arrived. And I told you to call me Ceremus,” the King said, his voice pulling Hael from his trance.

  “I’m on duty now, so it wouldn’t be proper for me to address my employer so casually,” Hael replied, his voice steady.

  Ceremus gave him a sidelong gnce before shaking his head. “Ah, I see you have manners. Very well, I won’t force you to indulge my whims. Let’s go. I’ve grown tired of waiting.”

  With that, the King walked past him, heading toward the stairs. Hael followed close behind.

  Once outside the pace gates, Ceremus pulled his hood up and strolled leisurely through the deserted streets. A few people were still out, but they paid no attention to the pair. Hael found it odd—given how striking the King’s robes were—that no one seemed to take notice.

  “They’re drunk out of their minds,” Ceremus said, as if reading Hael’s thoughts. “They won’t even notice us. Now hurry. The night markets will be closing soon.”

  “Night markets?” Hael asked, still puzzled.

  Ceremus nodded. “Sometimes I like to go out when most people are winding down for the night. Do a bit of sightseeing, or... inspecting, I suppose.”

  Hael shot him a confused gnce.

  “People usually find my presence overwhelming—scary, even. If I were to step outside the pace and mingle with the common folk, even if all I want is to enjoy some tasty treats, they’d assume I’m out causing trouble… which, to be fair, isn’t entirely wrong... at least, not most of the time. Whenever I go on my nightly walks, Anemone always thinks I’m heading to the night district to seek out immoral pleasures, but most of the time, I’m just at the market,” Ceremus expined.

  The night districts in the city were typically located near market pces. They featured taverns, gambling houses, exotic auctions and salons with the purpose of entertaining special guests and the like.

  Hael, genuinely curious, asked, “What do you do in the night district?”

  Caught off guard, Ceremus blinked at him with wide eyes. “Quite forward, aren’t you?” he excimed.

  Hael tilted his head, clearly puzzled by the response. It wasn’t until Ceremus realized Hael was asking out of genuine curiosity that he began to ugh.

  “Hael, you’ve been alive for twenty-five years and don’t know what the night district is?”

  The young man shook his head. He had little knowledge of the world beyond the forest. Ceremus suddenly felt an odd pang in his chest. When he looked into Hael’s eyes—clear, untainted by malice or impure thoughts—he felt an unexpected sense of guilt, as though he were tainting the young man’s innocence.

  Ceremus sighed and rubbed his forehead. “…It’s probably for the best if you never find out,” he said finally.

  Hael’s brow furrowed in displeasure. His curiosity burned, and he hated being left in the dark. He didn’t like feeling ignorant.

  “Please, tell me,” Hael insisted. “What is this pce you’re talking about? I really wish to know.”

  Ceremus pursed his lips as he contempted on whether or not to enlighten Hael on the depraved nature of humans. “The night district is a pce men, or women I guess, go to when they wish to fulfill certain…physical desires.” He said, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

  A knowing look took over Hael’s face. “Oh, it’s a pce for mating!” He excimed.

  Ceremus stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth hanging open in complete disbelief. After a long, stunned silence, a chuckle escaped his lips, which quickly erupted into full-blown ughter.

  Hael stood there, still confused, unsure of what had triggered the once-haughty man to ugh so suddenly. Yet, despite his confusion, Hael couldn’t help but feel something stir in his chest as he watched Ceremus—who so often wore a cold, distant expression—ugh so freely and joyfully.

  “You truly are an amusing fellow,” Ceremus said, once he had calmed down. “No one has ever made me ugh this hard before.” No one except father that is.

  The thought of his father fshed briefly in his mind, but Ceremus pushed it away, forcing the dark cloud threatening to consume him back into the recesses of his mind. He looked at Hael then, his expression softening.

  He quickly brushed off the darkness that was threatening to take over him and looked at the man before him.

  “You at least know what mating is. I guess you’re not beyond hope after all.”

  “….”

  “But yes. That’s what Anemone suspected me of doing every night.”

  Hael pursed his lips when he heard this. “….Was he wrong?”

  “Not entirely. I am a man after all.”

  Hael felt his heart sink when he heard this. “Aren’t you supposed to do those kinds of things with your mate?”

  “My mate?”

  Hael nodded. “It’s a sacred act you are partaking in, it should be done with someone you love, no?”

  Ceremus was taken aback by his words that he almost passed by one of the thermopolia’s that were serving the fried potatoes he had been craving.

  “What would ever make you think that?!”

  It was now Hael’s turn to be surprised. “…I thought that was what everyone did…am I wrong?”

  Ceremus held his hand up, letting the man know he was going to pay for his potatoes first. The white haired man watched as The King handed the older woman a silver coin and she handed the snack with trembling hands.

  “T-Thank you for your patronage, Your Majesty.”

  Ceremus let out a low grunt before walking off.