CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 104 UNDER THE MOONLIGHT .

Falling into the huge bed in the room he’d chosen, Daniel picked up the book he was reading back during the car ride. He was right at the suspenseful part, and it was driving his skull insane. The main character was so manipulative — exactly his cup of tea, the kind that made him vow he’d one day be like that.

Humans could be despicable, so using one’s senses to escape enemies wasn’t a bad thing. While he flipped through the pages, the door opened, and Draven walked in.

"Not this, Dan. You didn’t come all the way here to read. Let’s go downstairs — or better yet, let’s play a game," Draven suggested, repulsed that Daniel was glued to that boring thing he called a book. Who in their right mind would be so invested in such dry nonsense?

It sounded too ordinary — and nothing about this honeymoon was meant to be normal.

"Draven, maybe worry less about me having fun and more about the fact that after this vacation, you’re going back to school," Daniel finally said, setting the book aside. He looked at Draven, who seemed determined to drag him out of bed.

"It’s not like that, Dan. Just come — it’s nighttime, perfect for the view outside," Draven insisted. Without hesitation, he pulled Daniel up and led him out.

"You’re not refusing me, Dan. We arrived late, and out there, it never really gets dark. Let’s go sightseeing," Draven grinned, excitement written all over his face as he led the way.

They were just heading for the door when Xylander emerged from the kitchen and caught them.

"What are you both doing?" Xylander asked suspiciously, side-eyeing them. Daniel, confused about why he was being dragged like a helpless person, simply shrugged.

He honestly had no idea what Draven was plotting.

Draven smirked. "A trip under the moonlight," he said with a wink.

Xylander’s face brightened instantly. That was one of the plans on his list — to spend time with Daniel under the moonlight. The villa’s view at half-moon was breathtaking, almost heavenly.

"Mind if I tag along?" Xylander asked, walking toward them. Draven agreed, and the three were about to leave when another person appeared — carrying the same depressing trail of food.

"Scheming behind my back, boys?" Alex drawled with his usual cocky attitude. Maybe praising him had been a mistake because he couldn’t stop boasting about making "the best dish in the world."

Couldn’t he taste that horror himself? Daniel wondered, baffled by Alex’s blind confidence in that rancid mess.

"We’re going for an evening tour — a picnic under the moonlight. You can join if you want, but please, without that thing," Draven said, pointing at the terror on the plate.

Alex’s gaze dropped to the food, confused. "Why not? This is perfect for such an occasion. We’re all having it," he said proudly, cutting a piece, tossing it into his mouth, and chewing with a sheepish grin.

Daniel and the others just stared in disbelief as he munched on that abomination before Daniel finally spoke up.

"Alexander, sweetie, I never wanted to say this because I didn’t want to hurt you, but your food tastes like poison. Something even prisoners wouldn’t eat. So why should we die before our time just because you’re experimenting?" Daniel said bluntly.

"My life isn’t an experiment, so please discard that thing before someone dies from the stench alone." His words hit like a hammer, but he stayed calm. If this were the real him, Alex wouldn’t be allowed near the kitchen again.

"But Draven said—" Alex stopped, glancing at Draven, who quickly looked away to avoid eye contact.

"So my food is really that terrible?" Alex asked again, and this time, Draven sighed.

"Worse than terrible. It’s a miracle I still have my organs. I nearly threw up," Draven admitted.

To their surprise, Alex didn’t get angry. Instead, he sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness. I thought you guys didn’t have taste buds. That stuff is a nightmare — even I couldn’t stomach it. But you all said you liked it, so I kept eating it too!" he confessed, finally free from the burden of pretending to enjoy his own disaster.

"Anyway, about that moonlight walk?" he added, brushing the whole matter aside like it never happened. Daniel couldn’t help but question this man’s personality. They’d been trying not to hurt his feelings, only to learn he hated his own cooking too.

"One more thing — I’m never stepping into that kitchen again. Nothing’s more evil than those plates and pots," Alex declared casually and walked off. The others followed until they reached the garden where the picnic was supposed to take place.

The garden at night was luminous — beautifully lit and magical. Daniel thought it looked straight out of a movie proposal scene, where the male lead invites the female lead on a date. The vibe was exactly that.

It was clear Draven had planned it all for him, and Daniel’s heart warmed seeing the others trying so hard to make him happy. Aside from the Golden Palace incident and that June encounter with the three, Daniel was rarely this content.

Fireflies floated around, their glow adding to the enchantment. The scent of flowers filled the air, and Daniel found himself lost among the blooms. A soft blanket was spread over the grass, surrounded by tiny glowing plants that gave the scene a magical glow — and under the moonlight, everything looked ethereal.

Draven stood opposite Daniel, secretly grinning. Unknown to Dan, a little game was about to begin — and he was the reward.

"So, as I said earlier," Draven announced, "the first person to find Daniel gets a long, steamy kiss session with him, followed by cuddles and... other fun activities tonight. All you have to do is find his scent. May the luckiest guy win."

Alexander immediately switched into his competitive mode, and so did Xylander.

Xylander wanted this moment badly — to be with Daniel under such a beautiful setting. This game could bring them closer again.

"No cheating, boys!" Xylander warned. Everyone nodded.

A bell rang, echoing through the air, and the three dashed off in different directions.

The garden, blanketed in flowers of every color, made finding Daniel difficult. They’d all been with him intimately, so his scent was familiar — especially to Xylander and Draven. Alex, though, was struggling.

He wandered into a dimmer area where the moonlight barely reached. He could faintly sense Daniel’s sweet pheromone in the air — but when he followed it, he hit a dead end and nearly fell into a deep ditch.

"What the heck? Who leaves a hole this dangerous here?" Alex muttered, frustrated. The blocked moonlight made it harder to see, and he groaned.

Why him? Daniel was supposed to be his tonight.

Meanwhile, Xylander sniffed the air. Lavender, roses, sunflowers, lilies, even lemon... but Daniel’s scent was missing.

"And here I was thinking this would be easy," he murmured. Calling out was against the rules, so he had to play fair — though losing as Daniel’s husband stung.

"Come on, Xyle, you’re his husband. Don’t embarrass yourself — it’s just your sweet hubby," he whispered to himself.

Then he caught it — that soft, strawberry-like scent, faint but growing stronger as he moved through the flowers. It thickened with each step until finally, he found it.

"There he is!" Xyle exclaimed in triumph — only to stop short, eyes wide in shock.

"What—!!"