The late afternoon sunlight stretched long across the manor's library.

In the center of it all sat Akito Shinonome.

Or, to be precise, something in the form of Akito Shinonome.

The Crown Prince, who returned three days after entering the forest, was strangely immaculate. Not a speck of dust was on his clothes, and his orange hair, shining in the sunlight, was perfectly neat without a strand out of place.

He looked so fine that it was hard to believe he was the same person who had been missing for three days. The servants of the manor were simply relieved that the Prince had returned safely, and no one questioned the minor sense of dissonance.

However, someone who knew the usual Akito might have noticed. The way his gaze lingered too long whenever he looked at something, the playful smirk hanging on his lips, the slow movement of his eyes as if gauging others' reactions. It was as if a being imitating human behavior had just begun to grow accustomed to the amusement.

Akito lightly flipped a page of the book he was reading with one hand. An untouched cup of black tea sat on the desk, and the open pages were filled with unrecognizable ancient characters.

Of course, he already knew the answer.

At the very least, he was certain that he had no intention of giving this body back.

At that moment, a knock sounded at the library door.

Akito's fingers, which had been turning the page, stopped. A deep sense of interest spread through his eyes as he looked up. The presence felt beyond the door was familiar. Steady footsteps, a presence approaching without hesitation, and a scent that grew clearer as it drew near.

Toya Aoyagi.

The husband of this body, and the person the original owner, Akito, cherished most in the world.

He liked the look in Toya's eyes when he gazed at him. He liked the cautious touch when Toya held his hand, and the tenderness that seeped into his voice whenever he casually called his name. He wanted all of it to be his. Not as affection that existed only in Akito's memories, but as affection given directly to him, the one who possessed this body now.

So, there was no reason to return it.

Just before the door opened, the demon snapped the book shut. He then leaned back lazily against the chair and crossed his legs. The sight of him reading a forbidden book just moments ago was nowhere to be found. A sly and nonchalant smile spread across his face in the sunlight, as if he had been waiting for his beloved husband to arrive.

"You're finally here?"

The voice was unmistakably Akito's. The familiar rising intonation and the slightly playful tone were perfect. Instead of getting up from his chair, the demon looked up at Toya with his chin resting on his hand. Then, like someone who had been bored for a long time, he lightly tapped the desk with his fingertips.

"I was about to go looking for you myself since you weren't coming."