❛ 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆 ❜

12

as howl trudged back to the castle, every step was heavy with exhaustion. strands of his blond hair fell haphazardly over his face, partially obscuring his tired eyes. his usually elegant clothes were scuffed with dirt and dust from his recent endeavors. he'd do anything to tidy his appearance, so he wouldn't look so disheveled when he greets y/n, but no, the only way he was going to look presentable was if he had a bath.

with a weary sigh, he peeled open the door and stepped inside.

he climbed the stairs slowly, each step a small effort as he fought the urge to collapse into bed. but when he reached the top, his tired eyes widened in surprise and amusement. the entrance of the castle was now completely spotless. books were neatly stacked, surfaces gleamed, and the lingering scent of cleaning supplies replaced the usual mustiness. it was relieving.

almost breathless with shock, he turned towards calcifer, who was burning a little brighter at the sight of him. "what is all this?" howl asked, looking at the fire demon expectantly.

calcifer crackled happily. "don't look at me, this was all y/n," he explained, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "you should've seen her—she spent the entire day cleaning." he said, matter-of-factly which caused the wizard to stand there for a moment, absorbing the information. he felt an unexpected warmth in his chest, a mixture of gratitude and something deeper that he couldn't quite place.

the sight of the clean castle and the thought of y/n working so hard in his absence stirred emotions he wasn't used to confronting. "she did all this...?" howl repeated, almost to himself, as he glanced around the spotless room. the fatigue he had felt just moments before seemed to lift slightly, replaced by a subtle excitement. his gaze softened as he took in the details of the room.

the scattered crumbs, the piles of paper, the unwashed dishes—all gone. he felt a pang of guilt for having left the castle in such a state, but it was quickly overshadowed by admiration for y/n's effort. he had missed her more than he realized during his time away, and seeing the effort she put into making the castle a better place filled him with an unfamiliar sense of happiness. "well, where is our guest? I think i owe her a proper 'thank you'..." howl suddenly declared, his voice a touch louder than intended.

calcifer's flames flared slightly as he quickly shushed the wizard. "quiet or you'll wake her," he warned.

howl furrowed his brows, further confused by the fire demon's reaction. "wake her?" he repeated, lowering his voice to a whisper. calcifer then pointed behind him with one of his flame-like appendages. howl turned around, his curiosity piqued and saw y/n sound asleep at the dinner table. his expression softened immediately. her head rested on her folded arms, and she looked so peaceful, almost ethereal in the dim light of the room.

for a moment, howl stood there, just watching her. he could feel his very being swelling with a mixture of emotions—gratitude for her efforts, a deep admiration for her, and an inexplicable protectiveness. slowly, he approached her side, his steps light and careful not to make a sound.

he wanted to thank her, to express his appreciation for everything she had done, but seeing her like this, he couldn't bring himself to wake her. instead, he allowed himself a few moments just to watch her sleep, taking in every detail of her serene expression. her h/c hair framed her face delicately and instinctively, howl reached down, unable to resist the urge, and gently brushed some strands of hair away from her face. his fingers barely grazed her skin, but the contact sent warmth through him that he hadn't felt in a long time.

y/n stirred slightly at his touch, murmuring something incoherent, but she didn't wake. howl smiled softly, relieved that he hadn't disturbed her slumber. he continued to gaze at her, marveling at how someone so determined and strong could look so vulnerable and delicate in sleep. with that, he continued to watch y/n for a few moments.

then, he carefully slid one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back, lifting her in a bridal style. he was surprised that she didn't wake, merely shifting slightly in his arms and nestling closer to his chest. he began to walk upstairs slowly, savoring the time she was in his arms. she was so warm, her soft breaths brushing against his neck, and the serene expression on her face made her look even more beautiful. howl's heart beat faster with every step, his mind a whirl of emotions. 'how long has it been since i felt like this?' he wondered, the warmth of her body against his awakening something long dormant within him.

the journey to the spare bedroom seemed to both stretch on and pass too quickly. he was reluctant to let go of her, wishing he could hold onto this moment forever. before he knew it, he was standing at the threshold to the spare bedroom, a sense of dismay creeping in as he realized his time with her in his arms was almost over.

stepping inside, he made a beeline to the mattress and gently set y/n down, careful not to jostle her too much. she murmured softly in her sleep, curling into a fetal position and nuzzling into the pillow. howl crouched beside the bed, bringing himself to eye level with her. his eyes traced the delicate lines of her face, taking in every detail.

she looked so peaceful, so at ease, and it made him all the more desperate, as howl wanted nothing more than to lie down next to her, to feel her warmth against him once more. the desire to hold her close, to protect her, was overwhelming. he imagined wrapping his arms around her, feeling the rise and fall of her breaths against his chest, and the softness of her body pressed up against his. but he knew he couldn't, despite his feelings.

the fear of startling her, of breaking this serene moment, held him back. instead, he contented himself with watching her, memorizing the way her lashes brushed against her cheeks, the slight parting of her lips as she breathed, and the gentle rise and fall of her chest. howl's thoughts wandered as he watched her, wondering what it would be like to have her beside him always.

he envisioned days filled with her laughter, nights spent talking, cooking for her, and the simple comfort of her presence. the idea of waking up next to her, of her being a constant part of his life, filled him with a longing he hadn't known he possessed. soon, howl stood to his feet, and pulled a blanket over her, tucking it around her gently.

bending down, his face mere centimeters above hers, he whispered, "sleep well, my star." his voice was barely audible, a soft caress in the quiet room. his breath quickened as he fought the overwhelming urge to be closer, to feel her more intimately. unable to control himself, he planted a gentle kiss on y/n's forehead, the touch lingering for a heartbeat longer than necessary and when howl slowly pulled away, he frowned, the craving still gnawing at him.

he stood there for a moment, watching her sleep, the image of her peaceful form etching itself into his mind. reluctantly, he turned and left the room, casting one final glance over his shoulder. the door closed softly behind him, and he stood there, his hand resting on the doorknob. his thoughts swirled with possibilities and desires. what would happen if she stayed in the castle indefinitely? could she come to feel the same way he did?

howl couldn't help but sigh as he pushed a fistful of his blond hair back before making his way down the stairs, his mind still occupied with thoughts of y/n. he stopped halfway and glanced over at calcifer. "warm my bath," howl instructed, his voice firm yet distant.

"yeah, like moving the castle wasn't hard enough." calcifer retorted, rolling his eyes as the wizard disappeared back upstairs.