Raphael opened the lid of the cauldron, waving his hand to bring the scent of wood and plant roots emanating from the cauldron to his nose, making sure that the potion was correct, according to the recipe his father taught him.

“Perfect,” he said, satisfied.

Slowly, he put out the fire in his stove, then hurriedly took out the ten small glass bottles that he had sterilized beforehand. His lips moved to chant a spell to transfer the contents of the potion into the bottles.

The most crucial stage, because this potion would lose its effectiveness if it was poured into a bottle when it was cold. The cauldron floated as the spell worked, transferring its contents into the bottles while keeping the concentration from losing its concentration.

Then, the cauldron floated to the sink, along with the other items that he used to create the potion.

Looking at the ten glass bottles, which were now turned to a transparent red, he smiled with satisfaction. He rushed the bottles onto the wooden shelf near the entrance to the potion room, leaving one bottle for him.

His hands were shaking, holding the bottle. His satisfied face turned anxious. Fear enveloped him. Repeatedly he gave himself affirmations so that his anxious feelings each time he drank the potion will go after he drank it, but still failed. And this was part of the side effect of the herb he hated the most.

He took a breath, then exhaled slowly. His eyes were aware of the drops of blood staining his desk. Reflexively, his hand touched under his nose, aware of blood coming out of his nose.

The first symptoms have appeared. Yes, there was no time to worry. His fear would only kill him. He wiped the blood on his nose, then drank the potion in one gulp.

His body absorbed the potion rapidly, sending out a sensation like an electric shock that directly attacked his heart. His breath caught as his body slammed into the floor of the room, causing a loud thud.

His vision slowly blurred before it finally went completely dark.

After that, he remembered nothing.

***

Raphael opened his eyes. He could see vaguely the ceiling of his bedroom, showing that he was no longer in the potion room where he had spent his last time.

His eyes were accustomed to the sunlight rushing in through the gaps in the closed window blinds. To his left, he saw the figure of a young man named Isaac Kanon reading a document in his hand with a serious face behind thin gold-rimmed glasses.

The man’s green eyes scanned the contents of the document, signing each document with a deep sigh. Then the man’s attention turned to him, looking relieved to notice him.

“Are you awake?” Isaac turned his body toward Raphael. “How do you feel?”

“I feel so much better,” he said, looking around. “You brought me here?”

Isaac nodded.

“Thanks,” Raphael got out of bed. Isaac placed the document on the nightstand, along with a pile of other documents, then helped him to his feet. A gesture that he immediately brushed off because he didn’t need his childhood friend’s help just to help him get up.

“What brought you here? Did you finish your work at the palace?”

“Yes.”

He glanced at the pile of documents, questioning the whereabouts of a pile of documents on the nightstand.

“Already finished, huh?” he said with sarcasm.

Isaac did not seem to realize his sarcastic tone. The man got up from the chair where he was sitting, opened the window blinds, and turned off the bedroom light. Allowing sunlight to enter his room through the window.

“There are some potions I want to buy from you, so I’m here.”

“Why don’t you just ask your men? Why bother coming to my house?”

“I’m not comfortable with that. I’m afraid you’ll get angry if I did that.”

“I won’t, dummy!” Raphael had his hands on his hips, stifled by the excuse the man always said whenever he asked why he had taken the order himself. “Are you preparing for war again?”

“Yes.”

Raphael took a deep sigh while shaking his head lightly, walking out of his room to the potions room downstairs.

“I’ve always wanted to ask you this. Why are you so obsessed with controlling another kingdom?”

“It’s not an obsession, Raphael. Our kingdom needs to expand—”

“Our territory and show the strength of our kingdom. I know,” Raphael covered his ears as he rolled his two blue eyes, walking out to the stairs without even looking at Isaac. “But aren’t you being too much? Try to put yourself in their shoes. Also, in terms of your subordinates. Did they all agree with your decision?”

“They said it didn’t matter to them as long as we can win. Many parties also agreed with the plan.”

“Is it true? Not because they were afraid of you?”

“No. It has been a long time since this proposal existed when my father was still in charge.” Isaac looked annoyed at his question. “How many times do I have to tell you?”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried. Don’t get me wrong,” Raphael snapped his fingers, turning on the light to illuminate the downstairs corridor, which was dark as there were no windows.

His hand pressed against the doorknob, opening a potion room that was still in the same state as before he lost consciousness earlier. He walked one by one to the shelves where he kept the potion he had made while humming after turning on the room light.

“But it’s also for your sake …”

His ears caught Isaac’s whisper, turning his attention from the shelf in front of him, towards Isaac, who was standing behind him.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“I heard what you said earlier, Isaac,” Raphael walked over to Isaac, who now looked away, not looking at him. “Explain it to me right now!”

“And I told you. It’s nothing.”

He grabbed Isaac by the neck, forcing the man to meet his eyes. “Say it clear now, Isaac! You know, I’m not someone who hides in the shadows!”

Isaac squeezed his wrist, looking back at Raphael. His friend’s eyes were so sad, so gloomy, that he could not hold to look into the man’s eyes any longer.

He waited for Isaac to open his mouth. But Isaac remained silent, burying his face in Raphael’s neck. As if Isaac was afraid his existence would vanish if he wasn’t holding him this tightly.

***

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.

***

His younger sister—Ursula Lockwood—has just returned from the magic academy after spending her first semester in her final year of school.

The first thing the woman with long silver hair in the red dress, who would soon turn seventeen when she saw him, did was jump right up to him, who was reading a book on medicinal herbs.

"Brother!"

The shrill voice of his sister, coupled with Ursula’s merciless jump, knocked down the book he was reading. He screamed in pain when Ursula’s body hit him.

Apparently, his younger sister did not notice that things were so different. It was impossible to keep jumping on his lap with the body of a mature woman. She was no longer the three-year-old girl who kept following him like a duck. 

"I’ll die instantly if you crush me like that!" He still grimaced, picked up the book he had read earlier, and placed it on the table in front of him. "When did you come home?"

"You won’t die easily like that, duh!" Ursula rolled her eyes. "Just now. I called, and you didn’t answer, so I went to the library. And it turned out you are here."

Ursula peeked at the title of the book he was reading earlier, then frowned. "Didn’t you already finish reading this book five years ago? Why are you reading it again?"

"It’s for research. There are several new recipes I want to try." He dodged her question quickly, as he didn’t want his curious little sister to know the real reason he was reading the book.

His sister accepted his reason with a nod of understanding, not asking any more questions. Instead, his sister stepped away from him, sat in the chair beside him with her legs bent and resting her hands on her knees.

"Since I’m on semester break now, do you want to go out?"

"Eh? To where?"

"To the forest."

"On what occasion?" He raised an eyebrow, confused. Ursula rarely offered to take him out because, usually, his younger sister preferred to spend time with him in the library room every semester break.

"Do I need a reason for that? Besides, it’s been a while since we spent time together since I entered the magic academy. Damn that academy! How dare they take away my precious time with my beloved brother!"

His eyes narrowed, staring at his sister, who was puffing out her cheeks. He was waiting for the real reason. It was really strange for him to find Ursula taking the initiative like this. But Ursula escaped his gaze.

Finally, he gave up.

"All right. When?"

"Tomorrow." Ursula smiled broadly at his question. "Of course not today! I want to have some rest first. I’m tired, and I want to eat Mom’s food. The food in the dorms isn’t delicious at all."

"You’ll graduate soon. Try to hold it until your graduation. But as far as I can remember, the lasagna in the magic academy’s dorm canteen is delicious. I mean it."

"Yes. When you were still there, yes. The school has changed the chef now. A fat woman with a mole near her enormous nose and a stern face, always glaring at every student who likes to be picky about food. All the dishes are spicy, like her face!"

Ursula now buried her face on her knees, crying hysterically.

"You’re lucky, Brother! I envy you! You could eat delicious food when you were at the academy ..."

He shook his head slowly while laughing at the childish reaction of Ursula, who looked so cute in his eyes. His hand moved to caress the top of his little sister’s head. "Come here, my poor little sister."

Ursula’s crying stopped when her nose smelled the smell of food entering the library room, provoking their hunger. His sister looked up and sniffed the scent with sparkling eyes, like a dog. She immediately jumped out of her chair while pulling Raphael’s hand away without waiting for his approval, exiting the library room to the dining room. 

As soon as they arrived at the dining room, he found the figure of their mother wearing an apron, holding a pot of freshly cooked pasta that was still steaming hot, spreading the aroma of Ursula’s favorite pasta—a tradition their mother made every time Ursula returned from the academy.

It was just like when he was still at a magic academy, where their mother always made his favorite chocolate pudding. Their father, who had just finished tidying the dining table, cast a spell on the pot that their mother was holding, flew the pot from their mother’s hand, and landed it smoothly in the middle of the dining table.

"Woah! As usual! Mom’s food is the best!" Ursula was already in her seat, wiping her hands while waiting for their mother to give her share.

"Ursula! Fix the way you sit. A lady doesn’t sit like that!"

"But, Mom, it’s my day off! How come I have to behave at home too? I’m tired! Hmph!"

"Your mom is right," said their father, now sitting on the chair, waiting for their mother to get his pasta on his plate. "Try to act like your brother. You need to always maintain the attitude, anywhere, anytime."

He did not respond to their father’s praise and sat beside Ursula, who was currently devouring her food.

"Let her be. It must be tough for her to live far away in the dorm without Mom’s food, right?"

Ursula swallowed the pasta and then pointed proudly at him. "My brother understands me more! Not like Dad and Mom!"

Mom rolled her eyes, facing Raphael, before finally sitting in her chair and enjoying her lunch. She looked irritated. "You too, Raphael. Stop spoiling your little sister. It’s not good for her in the future!"

"I’m not spoiling her, Mom."

"Not spoiling her, you said? Then what? Your attitude is spoiling her even more! If this continues, when will she be independent? Ah, seriously, you two..."

Mom glanced at them. There was a moment of silence before the four of them laughed at once, melting the hot atmosphere that their mom had created earlier.

***