Chapter 2

Not knowing what response he should give Isaac, he returned the hug as he patted his friend’s back awkwardly.

He knew that if Isaac was like this, he could not push his friend to talk.

“Okay, okay. I won’t ask you again. You must have your reason.”

No answer from Isaac.

“Can you let go of me now?”

Isaac released his embrace. His hand gently touched Raphael’s lips.

“Isa—ng!”

His eyes widened as he found Isaac kissing him while the man’s hand went into his clothes, touching every inch of his body. It gave him a warm sensation that contrasted with his body temperature. Until he unconsciously let out a soft moan.

The silent room was now filled with the sound of their kisses, their moans. As soon as he had time to speak, he covered Isaac’s lips, who was about to kiss him again.

“Stop!”

Isaac was silent, obliged. He stopped kissing him, moving his body away from him and barely looking at Raphael.

“My apologies. Just forget what I did before.”

He did not understand why Isaac always kissed him every time they entered the potion room. Isaac kissed him on the lips as if it were the most natural thing he had ever done.

To be honest, he did not mind Isaac’s kiss. In fact, he enjoyed it. Still, he did not understand why Isaac did it. Isaac never wanted to explain everything.

Just like Isaac was doing right now.

“Isaac?”

His childhood friend did not answer his call, busy paying attention to the contents of the shelf containing his potion bottles one by one. Once again, he tried to call out Isaac’s name, but there was still no response. Isaac deliberately ignored him.

Annoyed, he walked over to Isaacbut there was and kicked the man’s ass until he fell over, touching the wooden floor of his potion room. Isaac immediately rose from his place, staring at him in disgust.

“You!”

“What? It’s your fault. I called you several times, but you didn’t respond to it.”

“But you don’t need to kick me!”

“Usually I’ll let go of this matter, but I’m already tired. So can you explain the reason you kissed me earlier?” he said, folding his arms across his chest, waiting for Isaac’s reply.

“Should I tell you?”

“What do you think?”

Isaac walked over to him. He touched both of Raphael’s cheeks, forcing Raphael to meet his gaze. Raphael swallowed, finding himself sucked into Isaac’s highly magnetized green eyes.

“If you object, I’ll stop doing it.”

He couldn’t take his eyes away from Isaac’s. He could not move his body, frozen.

In fact, he could not help but admire the structure of Isaac’s face up close. His lips were so thin. Eye bags that were visible from not sleeping for almost a week did not diminish Isaac’s handsome looks.

His thick eyebrows had deep creases. His firm jaw, coupled with the mint scent emanating from Isaac’s body, tickled his nose, perfecting the figure in front of Raphael now.

“You’re right. I better just say it now, before it’s too late,” Isaac took a deep breath, then smiled. A smile Isaac had never shown him before. “I love you, Raphael Lockwood.”

“You… love me?”

The surrounding time seemed to stop at Isaac’s sudden statement. His eyes widened, staring at the man who was staring at him with his green eyes, waiting for his answer. He blinked, waiting for his next words.

“Yeah. I loved you for a long time. Do you understand what I say? Should I describe how I feel to you?”

His body froze, still standing in his place. His brain was still processing what the man had just said.

Isaac, who had been his best friend for nearly 20 years, suddenly said he had feelings for him.

His heart, which had been calm, beat fast. He could feel his cheeks blushing quickly. The man moved closer to him, gently stroking his cheek. Isaac’s smile had bewitched him, making his eyes—for the first time—lock onto him.

Isaac’s hand then moved through his hair, rubbed his ears, and ended up rubbing Raphael’s back neck, creating an electric shock-like sensation that tickled him.

Seeing his reaction, Isaac laughed softly, removing his hand from Raphael’s neck.

“You are still sensitive in the neck, huh?” Isaac muttered softly, more to himself. No more laughing. His expression now looked serious. “I didn’t notice it before because I got used to your body temperature, but …”

“But what?”

“Your body temperature is much colder than usual. Are you all right? You didn’t miss the schedule for drinking the potion, right?”

“I just drank it… wait. When did you take me to my room?”

“Two days ago.”

“Two days ago, huh?”

Raphael muttered softly to himself. The formula for balancing the two energies in his body—human and witch—was just right, just what his father had taught him so far.

The potion was not wrong. Until now, he has been fine as long as he drinks it regularly. He should have awakened after six hours of drinking the potion.

However, if what Isaac had said was true, it meant his body had created a new immunity against the potion he had been drinking. A sign that the potion he usually drank was not as effective as it used to be.

He ignored Isaac, walking towards the shelf where he stored his energy-balancing potion. He opened the shelf, then took out the potion bottle that was in front of his eyes.

Then he looked carefully at the red transparent liquid. Before finally opening the bottle cap and dropping a little of the potion onto the back of his hand.

The potion instantly evaporated, giving off a strange hiss, along with a strong fragrance. He gasped, immediately waved his hand that was numb after getting in touch with the potion, quickly closed the potion bottle, and put it back on the shelf.

His breath caught, holding his hand, which returned to normal after those few seconds with a gaze of horror.

No, no. The potion should not have evaporated so quickly. It would not make a hissing sound. It would only emit a fragrant smell that helped him fall asleep, allowing the potion to work to balance his unstable energy since birth.

While his sister, Ursula Lockwood, had no difficulty in balancing the human and magical energies within her body.

But not in his case. The type that was like his younger sister was rare, he had to admit.

Did that mean he fell asleep not because of the potion’s effect, but because the magic energy in his body had grown stronger, attacking his body’s cells, just like poison?

He bit his thumb subconsciously, feeling anxious.

Secretly, he glanced at Isaac, who was near him. He felt anxious. His death was getting closer. His dream of living longer with his family and reciprocating his feelings for his childhood friend had vanished.

Why did his death come when he was happy that Isaac had just confessed his feelings for him?

There was no hope. He could not possibly let Isaac bond with someone who was about to die like him?

His chest ached at the thought of that possibility. His eyes blinked, holding back the tears that had gathered at the corners of his eyes, so they did not fall down his cheeks.

No. He must not be selfish.

Although Isaac finally said the words he had been waiting for. Even though the man standing behind him already knew his unusual background, this man was still with him until now.

So he couldn't ask Isaac not to love him and find someone else. When he also realized that he had the same feelings for Isaac.

“Raphael?”

He jumped up in surprise—almost screamed—when Isaac tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, hiding the anxiety he had felt earlier.

“What?”

“That should be my line, you fool. Are you all right? Your face looks pale.”

He shook off Isaac’s hand, which was about to touch his cheek. “I’m fine. Wait, I’ll take your orders.”

Quickly, he ran past Isaac, down to the last shelf. He grabbed a few bottles and put them into a cloth drawstring bag on the shelf. Then quickly gave them to Isaac, who was still standing where he was.

“Here. If you have no more business, get out of here now. I want to take a rest.”

Isaac remained silent in his place and did not return his words. Half in shock, the man accepted the bag while muttering softly.

“And about your statement earlier, I’ll pretend not to hear anything.”

How can I do that when I already knew you had the same feelings as me? Raphael muttered to himself. Sadness enveloped him, although he tried to hide it by acting calm.

“O-oh ...,” Isaac nodded, regaining consciousness. There was a slight disappointment on Isaac’s face before it changed to a half-forced smile. “Y-yes, if you say so. Y-you’re right. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

His hands clenched when he saw Isaac’s face, holding himself back from retracting his words.

Yes. It was for the best. Isaac would not be happy if he chose to be with him. A king like Isaac should not just focus his life on prioritizing a weak half-blood witch like him.

There was no way he could allow his selfishness to be with Isaac to make this man fall into the abyss of sadness when he could no longer be beside him.

He walked past Isaac, who was cradling the drawstring bag, leaving the man there.

***