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Hendrik's hands slid across the folded fabric of his general's uniform. He heaved a heavy sigh then set it aside, next to the other carefully folded clothing preparing to be packed away.
Two taps brought his head up.
Jasper stood in the threshold of the doorway, his arms crossed, back leaned against the wooden doorframe.
"I see you've waited until the last minute to start packing," Jasper said.
Hendrik shrugged. "I admit I have... struggled... to be as punctual with this departure than most."
How could he not? He would be leaving his beloved Heliodor.
"You seem displeased about moving to Zwaardsrust," Jasper said.
"You are mistaken," Hendrik said. "Of course I want to go. But it does require leaving Heliodor, which I, too, am fond of."
They had already talked extensively about where they wanted to go. Jasper wanted some time away from Heliodor, although his way of saying so had been rather roundabout. His rejection of proposed places to move had been swift, too.
Nowhere with too much sun. Nowhere with too much snow. No lava pits, no tacky straw hats.
That had ruled out many a place, although the Champs Sauvage area and Drasilian area had remained viable through his screening process. Zwaardsrust, too, had remained a natural choice.
"Are you sure you want to move to Zwaardsrust?" Hendrik asked. "There is nothing but wheat and cows out there."
"Cows I can handle. It's the people I don't like," Jasper said.
He sat down on the edge of Hendrik's bed and sighed.
"Is this really what you want?" Hendrik asked. "What if you get bored of the people, too?"
"We will find ways to keep ourselves occupied,” Jasper said. "That area presents bountiful trade opportunities, and enough unplowed fields to keep a certain knight busy."
"Is this what you really want?" Hendrik asked. "Would you not prefer to remain a royal Heliodorian knight?"
"I am hardly a 'royal knight' anymore," Jasper said. "Disgraced, maybe, but not royal. Let alone a knight."
"Ah. I suppose you are right," Hendrik said. He looked around his room a final time, studying all the things he was taking with him and even more things he would be leaving behind.
The decision to leave had been a mutual agreement. Hendrik had always dreamed of retiring out in the Zwaardsrustian countryside, but now that Jasper was indulging that desire thirty years earlier than Hendrik anticipated, he was wondering if it was really a good idea after all.
"You still have doubts about leaving," Jasper said.
"I just want to be sure that you are happy," Hendrik said. "I have brought you enough resentment to last a lifetime. I would not blame you if you changed your mind about coming with me."
Jasper scoffed. Hendrik looked at him, catching him rolling his eyes.
"It's not about Zwaardsrust, you dolt! You said you were coming with me, so we are going. Together."
Hendrik smiled. "Good. It is too late to back out now, I see."
"I..." Jasper started, then paused to clear his throat. "I don't care where the road leads us, so long as we are together."
Hendrik reached down, finding Jasper's smooth hand. He held it tightly, bringing it up to kiss the back of his palm.
"To us, and our long and prosperous future," Hendrik murmured alongside an amused scoff.