Dakyres of Ardor | BoyxBoy ✓

11 | A Bridge Between Lovers

EREN

Eren spent the next two weeks wondering why the boy he once saw in the khaki uniform for male servants of the castle had started wearing the maid uniform, all of a sudden. The first day he saw the boy in the maid uniform; a black, knee-length flay gown with a white collar and sky blue arabesque around the flat-felled seams, he couldn't believe his eyes.

A week had passed since Eren first saw the beautiful boy dressed up and he came to realise that it wasn't a choice he made, it was most likely the doing of his sister. He confronted his sister on the issue, but she brushed him off. She claimed that his beautiful, slender form was a waste in male clothing, and that the boy loved to dress up anyway. But Eren knew better. He knew his sister was lying and she'd ordered him to always dress up, either because he was one of her personal maid servants or for some other depraved reason.

After another complete week, Eren decided that he was done watching from a distance. He was intrigued by this boy, and he couldn't find answers from the farness at which he watched. He knew it was time to make a move.

It was another day of running around for the boy, fulfilling his maid duties to his sister. Eren had unconsciously memorised the boy's daily schedule, knowing where he was supposed to be and when he was supposed to be there.

Strolling down to the kitchen, he'd already known a good number of the servants who worked in the kitchen by name. It was the peak of afternoon and the sun shone brightly up in the clear skies. It had been days since the last cloud formation was seen.

"Blazing greetings, Young Tal Dane." The servants chorused the second Eren stepped into the kitchen.

"What can I get you this time?"

"Would you like to taste the soup before it's ready?"

"Could I interest you in a rich plate of my juicy fruit salad?"

"Would you like salted baked potato?"

So came the wave of offerings.

Despite knowing no other life apart from this one, Eren couldn't get used to this. He was the only member of the royal family that other castle residents actually liked, the servants and a majority of the Flame Breather guards. The other half of the castle Flame Breather guards disliked him because they perceived him as weak, feeble and soft hearted.

But they'd never let the gossip that happens in the castle guards quarters, leave the castle guards quarters. They were well aware of the circumstances.

"No, it's fine, I'm full. Thank you so much," Eren flushed.

Scanning the vast kitchen with his eyes before catching Aphrodite, he motioned for her to come to him.

Eren had noticed quite a lot about the boy. He was utterly fascinated by him to the extent that it was proper for one to call it an obsession. He'd observed Aphrodite to be his only good friend. The only other person, apart from him, who seemed to care about the boy's wellbeing.

"What about the Crescent Moon boy?" He inquired from the green eyed girl.

Aphrodite had noticed the Young Tal Dane's interest in her friend, but she dared not speak to him about it.

"He left a while ago to deliver one of Aryola's juicy fruit salads to the Young Mistress. He should be back in less than five minutes, if the mistress doesn't send him on another errand." She answered, completely breaking everything down for him.

APHRODITE.

She had a feeling the interest the Young Tal Dane had in her friend wasn't harmful, or something she should be wary about. Spanning from the time he was still locked up in the room, recovering from his wounds he'd been watching him. At times she would see him leaving the quarters and then find the candle in Byron's room lit. She was the only other person, apart from the guards, who had a key to the room because she was tasked with bringing him food. Byron who could barely lift his head couldn't have been the one lighting the candle, and no fire Dakyre amongst the servants gave a dusty care about the dying water Dakyre boy. There was only one person who could be responsible for constantly lighting his candle and keeping him warm.

The Young Tal Dane.

He only reinforced her suspicions when he started spending almost half of his day in the terrace of the Green House facing the servant's quarters. She knew he was watching Byron, there was no day that passed without him visiting the Green House.

Despite being attracted to Bryon, she'd soon realised that perhaps he didn't fancy her, or girls in general. Byron had begun to get comfortable with wearing a dress, tying his hair with a pink ribbon and even sometimes applying makeup.

Aphrodite had began to weed out her feelings for her friend, getting rid of the emotions completely. She also didn't miss how Bryon always flushed and tensed up at the same time, whenever the Young Tal Dane was mentioned.

She'd began putting one and two together, coming to take cognizance of the thin string connecting the two boys. They'd never met or spoken to each other before, but they'd written tomes about each other in their heads without even knowing it.

She currently felt like the bridge between the two, concluding to try her best to bring them together. But reality pricked at her conscience. The two boys were realms and a breath apart, even if they did try to make it work, it wouldn't last. Byron would get torn away from him, either executed by the Tal Dane or absorbed by the Mage as replenishment. All the foreign Dakyres within the castle walls were bound to end up as replenishment for the Mage. They were all walking lifeforce supplements, waiting to be taken.

Aphrodite didn't let that dissuade her. As the nature animal whisperers in her tribe often said; true love always finds a way.

She held on to that, believing that if their love was true, then it would definitely find a way.

EREN

He sighed, getting provoked knowing that his sister did whatever she wanted with the boy.

He made to leave the kitchen because he couldn't be caught standing around by the guards. Those air heads conveyed everything they saw to his father.

"Hold on please, you can't leave yet. He's going to be back in less than a jiffy." Aphrodite urged him to exercise a little patience.

A smile formed on his lips hidden behind the scarf mask, looking at her beautiful green eyes. "I can't be seen standing around the kitchen grounds, doing nothing, my dad will call me for questioning."

Aphrodite couldn't see his smile but she caught the light in his eyes. She had always wondered why the Young Tal Dane began to wear a scarf mask all of a sudden. Various rumours were spreading around the servants but she never paid attention to any of them.

"How about you go to the Green House and wait in the terrace, I'll tell him you asked him to meet you there." She suggested.

"I didn't ask that," he furrowed his brows her.

"I know, Young Tal Dane, but you want to see him. I can tell that you want to..." she squeezed her mouth shut when she saw his frown. "Pardon me I'm very sorry. I don't know what I am saying please-"

"Will you tell him that for me?" His facial expression softened, and so did his voice sounding from behind the scarf.

"Yes, yes Young Tal Dane. I will." She beamed victoriously.

"Thank you, Aphrodite." Eren began to walk away but stopped and turned back to face Aphrodite who still stood at the same spot. "And please, call me Eren from now on." He walked away with excitement welling up within him.

But alongside that excitement came a tremor of dread which slid through him as he pondered what if?

What if the boy turns out to hate me?

(Play the song.)

_
AN: another chapter! Please don't forget to leave a vote to support the book. Thank you so much!

Till next time! <3