The fleet docked at the port within Edward's domain. Edward had received word of their arrival long before, and Tang Feiliu was also aware of it. Yet none had anticipated Jace and his crew returning so swiftly—likely owing to the cement roads those wealthy sea merchants had constructed leading to the harbor.
In any case, when Jace and his group arrived with a convoy so vast it seemed to stretch across several hills, the enormous trucks were neatly arranged in rows—so well concealed that their purpose was impossible to discern.
By the time Jace and his men reached the castle, night had fallen. Tang Feiliu remained unaware. The next morning, as he slept in Edward's arms, he began to whimper the moment he sensed Edward stirring to begin his exercises. Autumn had arrived, and the mornings and evenings in York were already turning cold. Tang Feiliu didn't generate much body heat, and once separated from Edward's human furnace, he quickly grew chilly. He squirmed like a little snake, clinging to Edward's body and refusing to let go. Edward's heart burned with desire, His large hand gripped the fearless little creature's waist, his intent fierce, yet his touch landed on the waist as soft as feathers. He murmured soothingly to the drowsy Tang Feiliu: "...Why not get up? Lao Li made chicken congee for you this morning, and there's a delicious apple pie too. Get up early, hmm?"
"No... I don't..." Tang Feiliu mumbled, still clinging to bargaining power. "Cold..."
His face scrunched up in a pout. Ever since the cold set in, he'd grown increasingly averse to going out. Lately, he hadn't even ventured to the fields or the city. Since his legs started aching, all his ambitions had vanished. Now he just lazed around clinging to the Duke, lazy and greedy. Luckily, the Duke still didn't know what a sloth was—otherwise, he'd surely suspect Tang Feiliu was a sloth spirit incarnate.
The Duke hadn't noticed anything amiss, only that the boy seemed listless and oddly downcast. He wanted to find something fun to cheer him up. Growing pains were common in children, and the Duke had experienced them himself, understanding how unpleasant that aching sensation could be. He couldn't help but indulge the boy a little. But Tang Feiliu's easy life would only last until today, because his days as the fake Doctor Tang were numbered—the true pioneer of this era had finally arrived!
They were the two individuals Jace had rescued along the way—an old man and a young boy. Not father and son, nor friends, they were said to be master and apprentice. Both were emaciated, clearly malnourished, with red hair and hooked noses. Though not related, they bore an uncanny resemblance to father and son, especially when they saw Tang Feiliu being carried out. The way their brows furrowed in unison was almost identical.
"Lance, what's wrong? Feeling unwell?" Jace, oblivious to the deeper implications, looked at Tang Feiliu with concern. After nearly a year adrift at sea, Jace's red hair was cropped short, his physique still robust. His skin had tanned to a deep wheat color, giving him the spirited vigor of a young colt, radiating an open, bold aura.
Clearly, Jace had gained much—in every sense of the word.
Tang Feiliu immediately noticed his friend's growth and felt a surge of happiness. He rallied his spirits and replied, "Nothing serious. Just growing pains in my legs. I don't want to move much, afraid it'll make them hurt worse tonight."
"Oh, right. Be careful then. Stay in bed." Jace replied blankly, seemingly lost in thoughts of his own growth spurt years ago, though the memory eluded him. Truth was, Tang Feiliu was simply lazy. He just couldn't bring himself to admit he'd been lying around too much, and Edward's indulgence only made him increasingly reluctant to move.
Fortunately, one of the rescued elders spoke up in disagreement: "Young sir, have you been losing your appetite lately? Feeling listless? Drowsy all day, yet unable to sleep soundly at night?"
Before Tang Feiliu could respond, Edward spoke up in a solemn tone: "Yes, what could be the reason for this?"
"...Lack of exercise," the newly arrived doctor said, his eyes filled with disappointment. "During this period of physical growth, prolonged inactivity causes human muscles and bones to deteriorate. While you wealthy gentlemen may think this is beneficial, over time it will only worsen your health..."
Tang Feiliu, listening nearby, grew increasingly uneasy. His guilt stemmed from knowing these words were true. Human nature is prone to laziness. After exhausting himself with play, compounded by the period of leg pain, he had indeed spent too much time lying down. Add to that Edward's indulgent parenting, and he'd been pampered to the point of nearly losing the ability to feed himself.
As the saying goes, it's easy to slide from frugality into luxury, but hard to return from luxury to frugality. Without others pointing it out, Tang Feiliu hadn't noticed his own pampered state—just two years ago in York, he remembered getting up every morning for his jog!
He'd fallen! Fallen so low!
Tang Feiliu beat his chest in frustration, engaging in deep self-reflection. Not only he, but Edward too began questioning himself—had he spoiled this boy so much that he’d become utterly unaccustomed to manual labor and ignorant of basic necessities? After profound introspection, the next morning, as Tang Feiliu was still mumbling and whining in a daze, the resolute duke picked him up, washed his face, and brushed his teeth. dressed him, and led him out of the castle. The cool breeze instantly sobered Tang Feiliu, however reluctant he was.
Having not exercised in ages, the Duke skipped training and instead led him out of the castle, slowly walking along a mountain path.
Fortunately, the first light of dawn was already visible on the horizon, making the forest path somewhat brighter. The Duke set Tang Feiliu down, took his hand, and slowly led him up the mountain. As they walked, a light sweat began to form, but Tang Feiliu felt increasingly alert. When Edward reached an open area, he removed his woolen scarf, laid it on a flat rock, and sat down, cradling Tang Feiliu in his lap.
Sitting on the duke's lap, Tang Feiliu felt slightly awkward and shifted position. The pale dawn sky tinged with orange gradually deepened in hue.
Sunrise was an intensely moving spectacle, especially when seated deep within an untouched forest. Only the occasional bird call echoed around them, insects still asleep as the sky's hues gradually shifted from cool to fiery. When that salty-egg-yolk-like orb cracked open a sliver, and dazzling light flooded the earth, Tang Feiliu was turned around in the embrace. His back now faced the sun. The rising sun's rays were brilliant and colorful, illuminating Tang Feiliu's golden, radiant hair. Edward held him reverently and kissed him, starting from his hair, then his eyebrows, eyes, nose... finally sealing his lips with a kiss.
"You are my sun," Edward murmured softly, holding Tang Feiliu close. "Promise me you'll always stay in my sky. Don't let my world grow dim, okay?"
Only then did Tang Feiliu realize his recent listlessness had secretly troubled Edward. He hadn't expected this man to have such a stubborn streak. Softly, he said, "You're usually so fierce, yet you didn't even give my butt a couple of swats. Wouldn't that have made everything better..."
Though her words were stubborn, Tang Feiliu felt a pang of guilt inside. She stroked the man's broad forehead and murmured, "It was my fault. I just wanted to take advantage of the moment to act spoiled, to make you feel sorry for me... Never thought I'd end up lying around lazily."
He nuzzled Edward affectionately, clearly embarrassed by his recent over-the-top antics and the silent endurance of this usually fierce man. Through this incident, Tang Feiliu realized just how far Edward would indulge him. He firmly resolved to keep his minor mischief lighthearted but exercise caution with major shenanigans. This guy might look fierce, but when it came to his precious little egg, he couldn't bring himself to scold or even hit him. Except when collecting interest, when he was a bit hard to rein in, the rest of the time he was easy to push around.
"Do you just adore me that much?" Tang Feiliu's heart melted, then he couldn't help but gloat. He grinned triumphantly, "Look, I won't even walk on the ground anymore, yet you happily carry me up and down the stairs, even to the bathroom... How much do you have to cherish me to put up with me like this?"
"...I like you very much," Edward replied with a smile. His dark eyes brimmed with drowning tenderness as he kissed Tang Feiliu. Gently stroking his leg, he murmured, "Very, very much."
Especially the way he stretched out his arms, utterly dependent, able only to cling to him. Without him, Tang Feiliu couldn't move, couldn't survive—fragile and pitiful, forever... in need of his care.
Tang Feiliu chuckled smugly until a sudden chill made him shiver. He burrowed deeper into the duke's embrace, acting like a spoiled kitten who knew human indulgence and felt utterly unrestrained. "So cold!" he whined, "Hold me tight. I caught a chill in the wind."
Edward’s response was to wrap his coat tightly around the precious little egg, cradling him as they watched the sunrise. The little treasure refused to get down, insisting Edward carry him all the way back to where people were. Only then did he scamper about joyfully, clearly his spirits fully restored.
Edward watched him smile. Though... though his mind was filled with dark, inescapable desires and unshakable anxiety... compared to the fragile, dim Lance, he truly preferred this little one who shone like the sun, radiating light and energy.
"Don't leave me, Lance," he murmured softly, his dark eyes fixed on Tang Feiliu as he scampered away, deep and indulgent.
Tang Feiliu's laziness and clinginess were built upon someone willing to dote on him, indulge him, even hint at it. This suffocating, intense affection—being cherished like a soft rib, a tender wound in the heart—was addictive... Like a bird that loved to sing joyfully, its wings clipped, fed sweet millet, gently stroked and cared for, no longer exposed to wind and rain... Over time, it would become tamed. Even if the cage were opened one day, it wouldn't fly away.
But humans aren't like animals. Boiling a frog in warm water or training a bird might temporarily satisfy the urge to control, might ease the unease in one's heart... But what truly tames a person is never these things. It is genuine, accepting, even self-restrained love.
"Your Grace, have I ever told you how very, very much I adore you?" Tang Feiliu tilted her head innocently, her words laced with flirtation. Then she turned and scampered cheerfully toward Jace, calling out in a loud, joyful voice, "Jace! Jace! What wonderful things did you bring back? Tell me!"
Edward gripped his cane in stunned silence, watching the little one run off into the distance. He murmured to Dave, who was approaching from behind, "Dave... Did he sense it?"
Dave had grown old. Since the city-building project began, castle affairs had multiplied, and he rarely attended Edward anymore. Evans had practically become Tang Feiliu's attendant.
Yet Dave no longer worried as he once had. His children now had companions by their sides. Though their paths might not be smooth, at least they were no longer plagued by that bone-deep loneliness and solitude.
Dave replied softly, "Young Lance is a very intelligent child. He understands your heartfelt intentions."
He understood how difficult it was for you to suppress the darkness and unease that bred within the tower, how you yearned to tear off his wings and chop off his legs in twisted love. Yet when he came to his senses, though he may have feared, he still reached out, trembling as before, and embraced your broken, restless soul.
For he understood even more deeply how fiercely you loved him—how that very love had forced you to resist the burning urge to destroy him time and again.
Author's Note:
Yesterday nearly burned me out; today I'm rushing to finish early.