(Y/n) stared blankly outside the window, peeking her head between the curtains like a cat preying upon a squirrel rushing up a tree. Her features softened and she gave a small whine, tugging her blanket over her shoulders with a pout. It made her huff as she watched the blonde pack his things in his car. He would return later that day, but it was always unnerving to see she would be alone.

The male appeared focused, sipping freshly brewed tea as he placed his briefcase in the car. However, as he looked up once more, that expression was quickly replaced by one of shy serenity. He rubbed the back of his head as his eyes darted to the side and soon vanished from the younger girl's sight as he walked back into the house. With excited nerves, the (h/c) haired girl looked over at the door with hopes that the older male would come to give her at least one last hug.

Of course, Kazuki came to grant her wishes, taking her in his arms and shyly placing a kiss on her lips. They were both conservative in nature, each one shy and fearful to take too much from the other. They saw the other as fragile and delicate and handled them like fine china they valued too much to use. That being said, they wanted so desperately to never part, so much so that it affected their daily lives negatively. It was a paradise for both the vulnerable (h/c) haired girl and the possessive blonde male.

"Can't you work from home today?" (Y/n) asked quietly, tugging on the male's shirt with flushed features.

In the past, he might have been able to hear her words directly, and his heart would have soared with the possibility, but it had slipped away as quickly as it came. The male was deaf, done so by his own hands though she would never know. He wasn't keen on telling her what kept her drawn to his side. It was best as it was. Some sacrifices had to be made in order to keep on living, and for him, the payoff was ten times the amount he had paid even if, at times, it could be regrettable.

With the lack of communication, it quickly proved difficult to remain so perfect. The (h/c) haired girl exhibited signs of despondency over her inability to talk with him normally. He had panicked, immediately heading to a close family friend for help. It wasn't as if he could erase his deafness. That was part of the deal. However, he could at least make it more bearable for the younger girl without inviting anyone into their lives that wasn't replaceable.

Although it hadn't been cheap, the male had commissioned for a specialized feature on his devices that would allow (Y/n) to communicate more directly with him. She could speak and the programming would translate it into the exact words she used. It would then send it to his devices, negating any passwords and inform him of her words. Of course, the technology would only be useful until he learned to read her lips, but he wanted immediate relief for her loneliness, and it would take a handful of months to get the gist of it. Looking down at his phone, the male gave a strained sigh.

"I have to go into the offices at some point, you know. If I stay here with you all week, I can't very well do my job. Everything just falls apart without someone at the top."

The younger girl gave a disappointed expression, hugging the male tightly as if he wouldn't return that day. It seemed far too often where she was left alone, and while he prioritized her over his prior commitments and responsibilities, leaving only one or two days a week, it was still far too much. She wanted him there every day, waking up right by his side. The very idea of going outside back into society frightened her to no end, so naturally, she would worry for the person she loved more than anyone else. Even if his gift for language was by nature, it didn't make him any more comfortable in public than her.

Kazuki attempted to resist the urge to promise anything to the clearly worrying younger girl. She clung tightly to him as she often did, fearful of other people's intentions. He sighed at such a thing, the irony laced in it more poisonous than the glares or deeply cutting tongues of other people. When he didn't take care to shield his guilt through faint-hearted excuses, it was more than obvious that he enjoyed the way she clung to him.

When she did that, a part of him took far too much delight in it. If she feared others, she would rush into his arms, and should such a thing happen, he wanted nothing more than to nurse that uncertainty. Isolating her from everyone else allowed him more pleasure than he should have felt and though there was guilt, it was not enough to make him stop feeling such a way. Of course, his empathetic nature towards her only resulted in breeding more guilt, continuing the cycle repeatedly with no sight in end.

"Do you at least know when you'll be back?" she mumbled, resting her head on his chest as he pet her head, "I don't want to fall asleep tonight."

"Are you trying to guilt-trip me into staying?" Kazuki chuckled, placing numerous kisses on her forehead, "I wish that would work, really, but you know I would never leave you alone at night. I doubt I can even sleep on my own any longer. You've spoiled me."

"But you promise you'll be back before it's dark?"

The male nodded his head slowly, placing somber kisses on the younger girl's head. He truthfully would have rather stayed, but his company wasn't in the business of running without him. They were a perfectly organized machine when he was around, most everyone encouraged by his presence, but without him, they acted like chickens with their heads cut off. Though annoying, he supposed it was his fault for being away from the office for so long. If he could only stay at home all day with (Y/n), he would always feel at peace.

"I'll bring home some kind of treat, too. How does cannoli sound? It's a delicacy in Vethela, and to be honest, I'm missing the cuisine."

"Why don't we go visit? Ichiro must be lonely."

The blonde's eyes darkened for a split second before he looked down, presumably at the phone in his pocket. It didn't ring nor did it give a notification, just remained silent, but perhaps it wasn't the present state of the device that worried him. Then again, she wouldn't have access to such information. While he was happy to share whatever she wanted, he was oddly protective over his phone.

She furrowed her eyebrows in concern and gripped onto his shirt, hiding her face in his chest. As she did so, she missed the look of delight on his expression, instead, only feeling his soothing rubs on her back. His breathing was unsteady, his heart constricting with bliss. Even if she was worried about something, his slightly selfish nature took joy out of her jealousy. She didn't have anything to worry about, but he simply wanted to indulge in the fantasy a bit more than bring them back to reality.

"Stay here until I come back, okay?" he hummed, pressing a possessive kiss to her lips, wanting to take everything that even related to her for himself, "No adventures, no outings, no excursions."

"I understand."

"That's my good girl."

Kazuki chuckled, reluctantly pulling away from her warm grasp. It broke his heart when she reached out to him for just another second of companionship, elating it all the more. He fought back a grin until he turned around, biting down on his lower lip. He had no answer for why her desperate attachment brought him so much pleasure. All he knew was that he had to keep it that way. It was alright to be a little selfish, wasn't it? After all, she had taught him that those that loved him would gratefully accept him, no matter the flaws.

The male then drove off slowly, watching with great optimism the way she waved somberly. He supposed he called it his guilty pleasure to be able to indulge in such things. Perhaps he refused to show her how delighted he was to truly receive such undivided attention because he was aware of how evil it seemed. That being said, his intentions were far from it. He had given up far too much to learn something no one else in the world knew about her. It thrilled him to have such a monopoly over her, but some part of him was still aware of the hurt expression she would have if confronted with that misplaced satisfaction.

It didn't take long for the blonde to drive off into the distance, his car being barely visible through the thick greenery after his departure. The moment it happened, (Y/n) felt her heart beating painfully. It wasn't as though she expected him to cater to her every feeling of loneliness. She knew he had prior commitments before he had met her, and in order to continue living such a relaxed life, he needed the income. He didn't take as much of the company's income as other CEOs did. She smiled at the thought. The male prided himself on spoiling his employees.

No, he was not usually greedy, especially with those he didn't know. On the contrary, he was more of a giver than a taker, more than willing to cater to everyone else. She was probably the only one he would let give to him, and even then, from what she could see in him, he felt an immense burden from it. That being said, neither of them could stop their empathetic natures, wanting the other to love them and be loved in return.

Kazuki might have gripped onto her for fear of what happened with his previous commitment, but it was because she was so much more dear to him. With great reluctance, he had told her of what he had done, solely because Ichiro had told her out of a petty grudge. She had no idea what the grudge was concerning, the blonde's reaction to her question appearing frightened. In the end, he shook it off, but it didn't stop her curiosity.

Nonetheless, after learning of the blonde's treatment of Moriko - who had cheated on him - she felt great guilt. When noticing how he treated her, it was clear the thought of losing her was always on his mind. The (h/c) haired girl was no idiot. She knew he wanted to keep her in that house to minimize the chance of losing her to another. She was also well aware that he valued her far more than her.

Still, when she had confronted him with what he would do if she ever did cheat on him, the male had frozen. He took no time answering, but his expression suggested distress. From what she remembered, his exact words were "I'll forgive you. I won't hurt you, I promise". Being inclined to forgive her was even more worrying to her than the former option he had chosen with Moriko. He was such a fragile person, scared to open up himself to harm, and quick to close off any attempt it tried to pierce him with.

She clutched the blanket around her shoulder closer to her form with unease. To think he would react so calmly to a situation like that meant that he would take out his frustration and depravity elsewhere. The only other place he could do that would be on himself, and she couldn't stomach the idea he would intentionally harm himself. It brought tears to her eyes, so much so that she rushed back inside and buried herself under her pillows.

Why she wasn't at all frightened by Kazuki's past history with such situations went beyond her. Perhaps it was because she had already been shown Rei's unstable nature or plenty of other bone-chilling experiences, but she wanted to believe it was because he was worth the crime. If he needed, she would shoulder the guilt, but the likelihood of that happening was closer to nil than anything.

Sighing and attempting to shake her thoughts away from such a topic, the younger girl hugged a pillow close to her form. She could just faintly smell the older male from it, the mature aroma of champagne and raspberries comforting her. It didn't mitigate the absence of his presence or the toll it took on her, but it helped. She was hooked, and she was betting he liked it that way.

She blushed, looking at a picture of him hanging on the wall. They were hugging, his expression one of pure bliss. She couldn't imagine a day where his hugs would be out of her reach. He was always there to lend his shoulder, more than happy to be useful to her in any way possible. She supposed she was in the same position, eager to make him as happy as possible. It was likely the reason they were so attached to one another. Smiling, she snuggled into the pillow, hoping she would be able to do the same to the male when he returned.

In the meantime, Kazuki dealt with the continual issues that arose up in his workplace. It wasn't anything different from before he had moved in with (Y/n), but the fact of the matter was that he wasn't so much as used to the workplace atmosphere any longer. He was far more used to the idea of being smothered with affection while reading reports and attending electronic meetings. Still, it was a necessary endeavor, and certainly improved the functionality of the company as a whole.

Things were certainly different after he had lost his hearing, and many different practices had been implemented to deal with it. The matter wasn't as complicated as it could have been, most relaying of his wishes being done by those under him. His job was typically only to speak, not to listen, and in the event he did have to listen, it would be written on paper for him to look over at his leisure. There was also an assistant he had that spoke sign language, and though the blonde's vocabulary was few and far between, it was growing by the day.

Sitting down in his office, he indulged in the lunch that the younger girl had made for him. He blushed while doing so, grateful to have a taste of Vethela in the foreign country he resided in. Sighing, his eyes shook with joy, and while eating, he stared at the spot (Y/n) rested on whenever she did come to his work with him. It filled him with relaxation, and he brought it upon himself to eat there as opposed to his desk. It was only a shame he couldn't smell her scent. It'd been quite some time since she'd been there, after all.

And in the midst of his relaxation, his phone began to shake. Confused, he turned the device on and saw a text from his younger brother. It made his eyes narrow in disgust. The entire point of letting him be king was so that Kazuki could have (Y/n) to himself, and yet he never stopped requesting she visit him. Huffing, he replied negatively, only incurring another response from the bluenette.

You can't keep her away from me forever. You're not the only one that loves her.

Perhaps, but she chose me. I'm the one that sleeps next to her every night and that wakes up to her nightmares. You can rule Vethela all you like. I far prefer my position here in Athain with my darling treasure.

The conversation between the two of them went further on, neither one refusing to admit that the other one had (Y/n)'s heart. Of course, the answer to the question was clear, the younger girl more attached to Kazuki than anyone else in her life. She hadn't even been so close to her parents or her best friend. He had knowledge about her that no one else did, something that defined what their relationship was and how unique she was in comparison to any other human being.

There was then a pause in their debate, the bluenette taking quite a while to respond. He must have realized the argument was futile, and to that, the blonde grinned in pride. It shouldn't have been debatable that she belonged to him and vice versa. Then again, it seemed that Ichiro wasn't satisfied with just that. He then began to speak once more, this time shaking the older male much more than their previous argument.

I guess we'll never agree on that, but I was in a meeting earlier with some of the nobles. They're concerned I'm not taking a wife or looking for one.

Can you blame them? It's the duty of a ruler to provide an heir. I hope you're not suggesting you'll take (Y/n) for your queen. She's already married.

Yeah, you've been flaunting that for three months now. It's getting annoying.

It's not my fault you didn't value her over the throne. You made your choice and I made mine. I won't change it.

We'll see. But like I was saying, I refused to take a wife.

Can't imagine they would take kindly to that attitude.

No, they didn't, but I managed to appease them.

Please. How did you accomplish something like that?

I listed yours and (Y/n)'s child as my heir, and in the meantime, should I die before my time, it will be Celith.

Kazuki's entire body tensed in both rage and fear. Clenching onto the device in his hand, he neglected the fact the phone could break under the intense pressure. That being said, he probably would have preferred such a thing to happen. At least then he could have an excuse never to talk to his brother again. To think he would be so desperate to see (Y/n) that he would intentionally mark their child as his heir.

After all, it was only an excuse to see her in the future. Should they fail to reject the honor, their child would need to return to the palace to both formally present themselves as the crown heir as well as make regular trips to pay their respects. No doubt Ichiro wanted to use the opportunities to perhaps sway (Y/n) over to him again or simply take advantage of the situation to see her.

Bolting up from the sofa, the male begrudgingly returned to work, neglecting the meal that the younger girl had prepared for him. Instead, he busied his mind, attempting to fill it with duties and obligations to ignore the matter at hand. It wouldn't be easy to remove an heir from a King, especially the one of Vethela. However, as his son, and a member of the royal family himself, Kazuki figured he could work around it - with great difficulty, however.

By the time he had finished his work, the thoughts kept appearing, each one making him more and more aggravated by the situation presented to him. He wanted so desperately to crush his brother's windpipe and be done with it all, but despite that anger, he still cherished his siblings with all of his heart. Rei had died, he knew that and he had mourned tirelessly for him, but there was some part of him that knew it was for the best, somewhat grateful for the opportunity to be rid of him without dirtying his own hands. Perhaps such thoughts were the entire reason it came to be.

The male drove home as quickly as possible, ignoring any and all roadsigns that told him to slow down or stop entirely. He couldn't have cared less at that point. The only thing he wanted was to see (Y/n) again as soon as possible, and for that, a few tickets wouldn't bother him. It wasn't as if he was lacking for the funds to pay them off anyway, and it was highly unlikely any authority would attempt to impose a fine on him. He was the king's older brother, and regardless of their terms with one another, he was to be respected. His diplomatic immunity didn't hurt either.

Regardless, when he arrived at their home, he immediately threw his bag to a nearby chair and hurried further inside the house. His furrowed eyebrows exhibited just what he thought of the day he'd had, but with one look at the (h/c) haired girl, he expected all of that anger to dissipate entirely. That being said, he hadn't expected another emotion besides adoration and affection would rush to take up his heart.

However, upon opening the doors to their bedroom, he found himself still and petrified with fear and worry at the sight of (Y/n) cowering in a corner. Her arms protected her head as if she expected someone to subject her to the worst pain imaginable. Her eyes watered pathetically, streaming down her face in waves, the salty tears staining her cheeks red with the repeated rivers washed over her skin.

Although he could not hear her, the sound more than just distant from his ears, he could see the state she was in, and the sobs that echoed in the room went past his ears and pierced his heart directly. Unable to continue seeing the sight before him, he rushed to her side, dropping to his knees in front of her and attempting to clear the tears dried to her flesh. The blonde then scooped her up in his arms and held her tightly, laying her down in the bed.

As he jerked his head up to rush for some comforting supplies, he found her clinging to his hand tightly, her eyes threatening to cry further. Giving a soft expression, he placed a kiss on her lips, attempting to soothe her worries. Strangely enough, his heart gave him a lingering high of emotion, his affection - and predominantly, his obsession - for her sent pleasurable shivers up his spine.

"Don't worry," he hummed, stroking her hand delicately, "I'm going to stay here with you. Just let me help."

Though she was reluctant, the male reassured her by singing gently to her. For some reason or another, they always soothed her whether she wanted it or not. She was utterly relaxed and provided with more tranquility than she could imagine. His singing made more tears come to her eyes, but they were not out of fear. Rather, they were brought to her (e/c) irises for the sheer beauty laced in his siren-like voice.

The male smiled as he saw her reaction to his voice. Though it was extremely tempting to give up his voice for the tantalizing knowledge, he figured it would be better to have the ability to influence her in required matters. The situation before him was perfect proof of that. He could simply sing her into sleep or erase her fears. It was rare that it allowed something positive to come from his accursed lineage.

Kazuki continued to collect things for the girl's wellbeing. Draping a weighted blanket over her, the male took the time to brew some tea, boiling some milk while he placed stuffed animals beside her. Snacks were also important as well. The male was hopeless at cooking no matter how many times the younger girl attempted to teach him, but at the very least he could present her with snacks she adored.

The male then poured the tea into a cup and placed it on the nightstand. (Y/n) was still recovering from her fear, but she was getting better with the unconditional love he provided her. Of course, he was prepared for such things, taking the time to learn what helped her remain calm in such a severe panic attack. He had assumed it happened due to his absence from her side. The way she clung to him echoed that fact, but he didn't mind it in the slightest. Her hand clenched on his shirt provided warmth, fuel to his heated obsession.

"I told you not to leave."

The girl's trembling hands pulled on his shirt, her frustration with his absence obvious. He frowned, wishing he could have remained at home in order to prevent such an occurrence, but truth be told, he rather enjoyed it. To have her depend on him and fear utter despair when he was gone; he loved it, craved it, even. He bit down on his lip in an attempt to repress his smile, but it was visible nonetheless.

"You were right. You're always right, (Y/n)...but, you know, I feel like some kind of sadist."

"You enjoy leaving me alone? Please...Please don't."

"It's not that," the male sighed, burying himself in the girl's hair, "I'd like to stay with you every day, but it's just that this feels like a good thing. I mean...I get to take care of you and I want it to happen more often - A-And I know that you just had a panic attack! It's just...well, I feel...I feel useful to you. You're accepting it, too. I-I am useful to you, a-aren't I?"

"You are."

The male grinned wider, uncaring of if he appeared cruel. In her eyes, he seemed to be her knight, and while he had never thought of himself as a knight or a prince, in truth, he was most definitely both. To be able to provide that to her filled him with pride, a chuckle emanating from his throat. Bashful though he was, he found that he was becoming increasingly more confident by her side.

It was strange to think she would dislike him. Although he hadn't lost his self-conscious nature, he learned that the younger girl was very dependent on him. Whether it was because she couldn't go out into public without him or because she wanted the love he provided, she was utterly entranced by him. The same was true of her to him, but it was dangerous nonetheless, especially for the blonde. He found himself curious to see how reliant she could become on him. If she asked him to imprison her there with him forever, he wouldn't mind. That being said, after much reflection on it, he determined that the freedom she had to leave at any time elated him more. She could leave, but she didn't, and her loyalty brought a smile to his face.

"I love you, Zuki."

"I'm glad to hear it," he sighed happily, holding her close with a possessive need to suffocate her in his love.