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Sebek hadn't realized it at first.
For the longest time, he'd prided himself on his focus and dedication, especially when it came to his duties. Training, studying, and protecting Malleus were his primary priorities. So when he'd first met you, he had hardly paid you any attention. You were different from him—more relaxed, less serious, and somehow, to his bewilderment, you seemed to get along with everyone.
For a while, Sebek thought he had you all figured out. He saw you as just another one of those "unfocused" humans who lacked discipline and a sense of duty. But even he had to admit that you didn't slack off. You put in effort, took things in stride, and didn't let his criticism get to you. In fact, you even seemed to enjoy having him around.
As the months passed, Sebek found himself unexpectedly drawn into conversations with you. It seemed that whenever he was in the middle of passionately ranting about his training regimen or how important it was to show respect to Lord Malleus, you were there, nodding and listening to every word. And while Sebek told himself that he didn't care for your opinion, he couldn't help but notice the way your eyes would light up as you listened. You always had a warm smile and a question ready, even though Sebek could be long-winded in his explanations.
One day, you'd watched him sparring in the training grounds, cheering for him from the sidelines, and afterwards you'd approached him with that bright smile and said, "You're amazing, Sebek. You're so dedicated; I really admire that about you."
Sebek had frozen, unsure how to react. Admire? Admire him? For a moment, he'd tried to keep his usual composure, but his cheeks had flushed slightly, and his words had come out more stammered than he'd intended. After that, he found himself thinking about you more often than he wanted to admit. He began paying attention to little details, like the way you tilted your head while listening or the gentle way you laughed at things that weren't even all that funny. It bothered him. You were a distraction, one that he couldn't afford, yet he couldn't shake the way he felt around you.
Despite his best efforts, the people surrounding him started to notice something odd about him. Silver, in particular, was quick to pick up on the change.
One afternoon, Sebek and Silver were resting after training. They were sitting in the shade of a large tree, enjoying the rare quiet, when Silver casually mentioned, "You've been... different around Y/N lately."
Sebek snapped to attention, sitting up straight. "Different? What do you mean by that, Silver?" He tried to sound unaffected, but he could feel his pulse quickening.
Silver shrugged, closing his eyes as he leaned back against the tree. "You're usually very focused, but I've noticed you get distracted when they're around. And you tend to soften up, too. It's... unusual for you."
Sebek scoffed, looking away. "Ridiculous. I am as disciplined as ever. Just because I've... noticed Y/N's odd behavior doesn't mean anything."
Silver raised an eyebrow, giving Sebek a thoughtful look. "You're always talking about them, Sebek. I think you might care about them a bit more than you realize."
Sebek felt his face grow warm, and he shifted uncomfortably. "C-Care about them? You must be mistaken. I am merely keeping an eye on them to ensure they aren't causing trouble!"
Silver chuckled softly. "If you say so. But from where I'm sitting, it seems like there might be more to it." He opened his eyes, looking at Sebek with his usual calm expression. "You should think about it. Sometimes, you don't realize how much someone means to you until you see them for who they are."
Sebek blinked, taken aback. Silver's words echoed in his mind as he thought about all the little things he'd come to notice about you—the way your laugh softened the tension he often carried, the way you seemed to understand him without judging, the way you encouraged him even when he was a bit too intense. Slowly, he began to piece it all together.
It struck him like a lightning bolt. All this time, he'd been so preoccupied with his duties and his loyalty that he hadn't realized what these feelings truly were. He... he had feelings for you. And they weren't just mild or fleeting, either. Every little thing you did had somehow become precious to him. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had gotten to him in this way.
Flustered and embarrassed, he clutched his hands into fists, his cheeks burning as he processed the idea that he, Sebek Zigvolt, was in love. With you.
For the rest of the day, Sebek was unusually quiet. Silver watched him with an amused smile but didn't press him any further. Sebek, on the other hand, couldn't stop thinking about what he'd realized. Every memory of you flashed in his mind, and each one felt sharper, more vivid, than ever before.
A few days later, Sebek finally gathered his courage and found you in the courtyard. You were surprised to see him approach you so directly, but you greeted him with that warm smile that never failed to make his heart race.
"Y/N, I—" Sebek paused, momentarily flustered, his cheeks reddening. "I have something I need to tell you." He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I... I've come to realize that you are... important to me. More important than I had anticipated."
You tilted your head, a hint of curiosity and warmth in your eyes as you gently encouraged him to continue.
"I... I think... I may have fallen for you," he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "And though it may be unbecoming of me to say, I... hope you might feel the same."
A warm smile spread across your face, and in that moment, Sebek felt a strange calm wash over him. All his fears and doubts faded away as you stepped closer and took his hand in yours, your fingers intertwining with his.
"I feel the same way, Sebek," you whispered, your voice as gentle as a breeze.
Sebek's heart pounded, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts, but as he looked into your eyes, he realized something: perhaps, just this once, he could allow himself to be something more than a loyal knight. For now, he could simply be a boy in love with the person who had shown him kindness, understanding, and patience.
And as the two of you stood there, hand in hand, Sebek knew that, no matter what happened, this feeling was something he would hold onto forever.
