Antidote

I parted ways with him and returned to the Glenberg residence.

Kirsten, who had just woken from his nap, led me to a corner of the garden, asking to play with the sand. As he built a flimsy sandcastle, I thought about my conversation with Ismion and the dream. A massive bridge spanning the Grand Canyon—was that something I had proposed in the past? Why? For what purpose? Lost in thought, I began building a small sand bridge next to Kirsten’s castle.

“What’s that, Slan?” the boy asked innocently, and I gave a small smile.

“It’s a bridge.”

“A bridge?”

“Yes. You can cross from here to there.”

I used my finger to dig a deep groove under the sand bridge.

“It crosses this ravine.”

“No, no,” Kirsten began to whine.

“If you do that, the enemy will attack! What if the enemy crosses the bridge and attacks us?”

His question caught me off guard, leaving me speechless. After a brief pause, I slowly nodded.

“You’re right… It’s better if there’s no bridge.”

Muttering to myself, I pushed the sand away with my hand, collapsing the small bridge.

***

It was only a few days ago that I’d been elated, talking with Ismion about the dream and the signs of my memories returning. But this time, I had a nightmare. Unlike the last dream, it was a memory I vividly recalled from the past.

I stood at the top of the stairs. My raised hands were trembling. I didn’t want to look down, but my chin lowered on its own. My gaze reached the bottom of the stairs.

At the foot of the stairs lay my father’s body, twisted at grotesque angles, crumpled like paper. His neck, bent in the wrong direction, bore a long jeweled necklace. Blood spattered across the surface of the jewels, making it impossible to discern their original color. His blood-soaked violet silk robes stood out starkly. His pale face stared up at me, his wide, dilated eyes fixed on mine.

I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. Instead, someone else’s scream tore through the air. Footsteps and chaotic murmurs surrounded me.

I… I could only stare blankly at my fallen father.

And fortunately, that’s where the dream ended.

I shot up from my bed, gasping for breath.

My entire body was drenched in cold sweat. My damp clothes clung to my skin uncomfortably.

With trembling fingers, I touched my forehead. It was slick with sweat. The headache felt like a hammer pounding nails inside my skull. I scratched my temples furiously. Only after digging deep enough for blood to pool under my fingernails did the headache begin to subside. I looked at my bloodstained hands and burst into tears.

The tears wouldn’t stop. Whether it was madness or something else…

I cried relentlessly as I left my room and walked down the hallway. It was still dark outside, and no one was around. I made my way to the well and managed to draw some water. After washing the blood from my hands, I realized I was barefoot.

When I returned to my room, Lisbeth was already there. Her face was dark and somber.

“Are you alright?”

Her sorrowful eyes swept over my face and my bare feet. I covered the nail marks on my temple with my palm.

“…I’m fine.”

“Sit down.”

I obediently sat on the bed, and the aging servant applied ointment to my temples.

“There won’t be any scars. Your nails are short…” she said, then quietly withdrew.

“Wasn’t the medicine the problem? You haven’t had an episode in a while.”

As soon as the door closed, Lisbeth asked anxiously. I wiped the lingering tears from my eyes with the back of my hand. Fortunately, they were finally starting to subside.

“No. I just… had a dream. An old one.”

“What kind of dream would cause this?”

“I dreamed of my father. His final moments.”

At my answer, Lisbeth fell silent. She covered her trembling eyelids with her hands. After taking several deep breaths in quick succession, she lowered her hands.

“Slan, I know it’s not easy, but you have to overcome this. Forget and move on.”

“I’m trying. I’ll try harder.”

I answered obediently.

At the same time, the headache pulsed with a different answer.

Forget? Forget the horrible crime I committed and find peace? How could a traitor do such a thing?

Lisbeth came closer and took both my hands in hers. They were warm. She whispered softly.

“Please, forget. Start anew, for your sake…”

I nodded several times, promising I would.

“Take the day off. No need to struggle dealing with the children today.”

With a gentle voice, Lisbeth said this and left the room.

I remained alone for a moment, staring blankly at the ceiling. Thoughts whirled through my head, spinning faster and faster until they became a violent current, sweeping everything away and leaving my mind blank.

I crawled back into bed. After tossing and turning under the covers, I eventually sat up and fished out Jiyod’s cloak. Hugging it tightly, I curled up under the blankets.

I didn’t want to sleep, so I didn’t close my eyes.

The crumpled cloak in my arms carried a faint, soft scent. I buried my nose into it, inhaling deeply. Though the musk had mostly faded, the subtle smell of fur alone helped calm me down little by little.

As Lisbeth had suggested, I spent the entire day in my room without moving.

Late in the morning, the boy from before sneaked into my room, carrying a large porcelain bowl. It was filled with hot, thick potato soup, and he handed me some soft wheat bread, suggesting we eat together. He whispered, “I snuck it out of the kitchen,” as if it were a secret. I mumbled a quiet thanks. The boy winked knowingly and left.

I spent the entire day like that, and by the end of it, my mind had settled. The noisy creatures buzzing in my head slowly fell asleep, and only then was I able to return to my routine without dwelling on the nightmare.

Several days passed, each filled with anxiety as I waited to see if Lister would seize me again upon his return from Stravin.

The scent of oranges thickened, signaling the nearing of summer.

Day after day, dry and mild winds blew under clear blue skies. In contrast to the bright weather, the atmosphere at Karlac Castle grew increasingly gloomy.

The Duke of Stravin had fallen ill after losing his eldest son. It was said that the shock had compounded his old age, though no one really knew the truth. There were even whispers that the Lord of Ipsen had poisoned him, but nothing ever surfaced; it all quietly faded away.

It wasn’t until more than ten days after Jiyod had returned to Stravin that I saw him again.

One early morning, after flipping a coin and returning to the courtyard at dusk, I found him waiting for me there. The moment I stepped out of the camellia pathway and placed my foot on the first tile of the colonnade, he grabbed me by the waist.

His hot lips pressed down onto mine immediately. Startled, I pushed at his chest, but he only pulled me closer, holding me even tighter. After a long moment of kissing, he finally pulled away, seemingly satisfied. Though, whether he was truly content was uncertain—his gaze still burned with intensity. Embarrassed, I lowered my head.

“Have you been well?”

His hand roamed my back, and his lips brushed between my eyebrows.

I reached out to touch his chin.

“And you?”

“Do you think I’ve been well without you?”

With a low growl, he began sucking on my lips again. The pressure on my upper lip hurt, so I tapped his chest in protest. Jiyod finally pulled back slightly.

“Ismion said you had something to tell me?”

At his whispered reminder, I recalled what Ismion had said about sharing my dream with Jiyod.

I nodded.

“It’s nothing big.”

“What is it?”

He kissed my forehead, urging me on, while his hands continued to slowly and softly stroke my back.

“I had an old dream… you were in it.”

I didn’t need Ismion’s advice to know there was no need to mention that I had a dream where I spoke intimately with Ismion in front of Jiyod.

“I think dreaming of the past like that is a sign that I’m slowly regaining my memories…”

Before I could finish, he kissed me fiercely. His lips engulfed mine, and his hand grabbed my chin firmly. My mouth opened naturally, allowing his tongue to slip in and explore. It ran along the roof of my mouth, then coiled around my tongue like a snake. As our tongues intertwined, a shiver ran down my spine, making me tremble and moan.

He pulled back with a smacking sound, his gaze filled with a sweet intensity. His slitted eyes, faintly narrowed in amusement, overflowed with a shameless grin, enough to make me blush even more.

“Is that what you wanted to tell me?”

His fingers pressed lightly just above my tailbone, making my waist tremble involuntarily.

“Acting so cute…”

He playfully bit my cheek.

“That hurts.”

As I turned my head away, he licked the corner of my eye with his tongue. I lowered my eyelids, feeling his warm tongue brush across them.

“The change in medicine is naturally causing these dreams. There’s no need to rush. Still… the fact that you waited to tell me first…”

He let out a soft sigh. His rough thumb traced my lips, then pressed gently against my cheek.

“Open your mouth.”

Obediently, I opened my mouth and closed my eyes. His fingers slipped inside, stroking my tongue, the insides of my cheeks, the roof of my mouth, and even deep down my throat with a tender touch. I quietly moaned, occasionally trembling as I accepted his touch.

After some time, he withdrew his fingers from my mouth.

Unable to bear the sight of his fingers glistening with moisture, I lowered my head.

My face felt hot, and my breathing was uneven. I tried to control my breath, but every time his hand stroked my back or gently tickled the area above my tailbone, my body trembled, and my breath hitched.

With my waist in his embrace, he led me further into the colonnade, his steps a little hurried.

“Let’s go inside.”

Though night had already fallen, Jiyod wrapped his cloak tightly around me from head to toe, hiding me from any potential prying eyes. I simply followed his lead.

As soon as we reached his quarters, he bent down and slipped his arm under my knees, lifting me effortlessly as if I weighed nothing. Though my body rose suddenly, I wasn’t surprised—it wasn’t the first time—so I wrapped my arms around his neck without hesitation.

A sweet, fragrant scent of grapes wafted from somewhere. I looked around, trying to find the source of the aroma, but before I could figure it out, Jiyod stepped inside the building. He strode quickly across the corridor and kicked open the door to his inner chamber. The room was dark. There was a lamp in one corner, but it wasn’t enough.

In the dim light, he laid me down on the long sofa, then climbed on top of me. His pale gray eyes gleamed faintly in the dark as he gazed down at me. Without breaking eye contact, his lips slowly descended toward mine. I closed my eyes first. Our lips touched, and he began sucking gently at first, but when I parted my lips, his tongue slipped inside.

“Mmm…”

The hot tongue licked the inside of my cheek and the roof of my mouth. I opened my mouth wider, letting him explore inside more comfortably. His thick tongue rubbed roughly against mine, the friction intensifying as I moaned softly, my hips wriggling a little. Saliva pooled inside my mouth, and with each kiss, wet, sticky sounds filled the space.

“Mm… ugh…”

I closed my eyes, focusing entirely on the kiss. The texture of his tongue against mine felt good. He sucked on my tongue hard, then pushed his tongue deep inside, pressing firmly against the back of my throat. As I gasped for breath, his tongue withdrew, only to push back in again, like he was thrusting with his tongue the way one would with another part of the body. I couldn’t move, helpless with my throat open wide, enduring it.

Only after a long while did he finally pull away.

My lips were drenched with saliva, and what had pooled in my mouth dribbled down my chin. Jiyod leaned in, sealing his lips over mine again, sucking up the excess that had dripped.

His hand slid inside my collar, gripping the skin of my chest, squeezing it painfully. A small cry escaped me as his rough, calloused skin dragged hard over my sensitive chest, rubbing so intensely that, despite the discomfort, pleasure began to seep in.

“I was thinking about you the entire time I was in Stravin,” Jiyod whispered roughly, kneading my chest with fierce hands. When I winced in pain, he withdrew his hand, hurriedly tugging at my clothes.

“Before the funeral even began, those idiots saw me arrive first, and—ahhahaha!”

He let out a loud, boisterous laugh.

“The looks on their faces… It was worth rushing there just to see that. I wish you could’ve seen it too.”

He spoke quickly, almost breathlessly, before bending down to suck hard on my upper lip.

“Ugh…”

A mix of pain and pleasure made me moan softly.

By then, my upper clothes had been completely stripped off.

His hands moved behind me, loosening my belt, and pulling off my pants. I could never undress myself this fast. Though the room was dark, the fact that I was naked in a place other than a bed made me feel embarrassed, so I instinctively curled my body.

“You said you didn’t like it when only I was undressed.”

Grumbling, I grabbed the front of his shirt.

Jiyod smiled softly, pressing a kiss to my cheek, while his hand moved down my back. Every spot he touched prickled as goosebumps rose, followed by a shiver.

“Then, why don’t you take mine off?”

“As if I can’t…”

I shot him a brief glare before slowly unbuttoning his shirt from the collar down. My fingers trembled slightly. I couldn’t tell if it was fear of what was about to come or excitement. The two times I remembered were shockingly intense. The pleasure I had felt back then had skirted the edge of something far beyond ordinary sex.

As I undid the buttons near his collarbone, his hands gripped my buttocks, squeezing hard, the touch off-target.

“Not yet…”

“Keep going.”

“But, you… Ah!”

His fingers slipped between the crack of my butt, brushing over the tightly closed entrance.

“Why is it so tight again?”

He muttered.

“Well, of course… Ah…”

My hands shook as he kissed my eyelids, licking the bridge of my nose while pushing his lower half firmly between my legs. Even through the fabric, I could feel his arousal. My face flushed as his hardened length rubbed slowly against my thighs.

“Your hands stopped.”

Startled by his remark, I quickly resumed unbuttoning his shirt. But before I could undo a few more, he pressed his hips hard against me, rubbing his arousal against mine. He pulled back slightly, then thrust down hard, his erection grinding against me through our clothes. He did it again, his hard shaft pressing repeatedly against the base of my own as if he were thrusting inside me. The sensation sent jolts through me, and my voice escaped involuntarily.

“Ah, ugh!”

I let out a small moan as my own arousal quickly stiffened, throbbing.

“Aren’t you going to undress me?”

His voice was gentle yet teasing as he bit my cheek lightly. Gasping, I somehow managed to undo the rest of the buttons. His shirt fell open, revealing his firm chest. Luckily, he had only been wearing one light layer because of the summer heat. When I reached for his waistband, his arousal jabbed at my perineum. I let out a short cry, wrapping my arms around him instinctively.

Jiyod chuckled softly. His hands squeezed my buttocks again, spreading them apart as his finger brushed over my entrance. Even as he continued teasingly thrusting between my legs, my hardened length twitched each time my body shook. Clear fluid slowly seeped from the tip.

His trousers had already become damp with both our fluids. His arousal pressed hard and repeatedly between my legs, the outline fully visible now from how worked up he was.

“Ah, ah, ah, ah! Ah, ahhh…”

I couldn’t keep my mind straight as I clung to his chest. He pressed his body against mine, thrusting forcefully. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and each time his hard length brushed against my perineum and slid up between my scrotum, stimulating my penis, precum spurted from the tip.

“Hah, ugh…!”

Jiyod panted roughly, quickening his thrusts between my legs. The stimulation became so intense that it hurt, causing my hips to twitch involuntarily. My penis, dripping fluid, trembled in response.

I was close to climax. My body writhed as embarrassed moans escaped me.

“Uh, uh, I’m going to—ah, ah, ah…!”

And just then, Jiyod cursed and stopped moving abruptly.

He sat up above me, quickly pulling off his cloak and covering my body with it. Then, without warning, he lifted me into his arms. Surprised, I squirmed, but he pressed his lips to my forehead.

“I didn’t realize the window was open.”

“The… window?”

I asked absentmindedly, to which he responded by licking slowly between my eyebrows while panting heavily.

“Let’s go to the bedroom. If anyone heard your voice like that… Damn it.”

He swore under his breath, rushing us into the bedroom.

We rolled onto the bed, still wrapped in each other. He hastily reached out to close the curtains, pulling down layers upon layers to ensure not even the slightest draft could enter. As he kissed me, Jiyod undressed himself.

“Took you that long to undress me?”

He teased, dropping his clothes onto the floor below the bed.

He reached outside the curtains to grab a bottle of oil. After popping off the cork, he poured the oil onto my lower abdomen. A fragrant scent quickly filled the enclosed space. The oil pooled around my navel before trickling down, and Jiyod’s hands began to gently rub it in.

His hand slowly slid down and gripped my still-erect penis, which was hovering right on the edge of climax.

“Spread your legs wider.”

I tried my best to open my thighs as far as they could go. When I spread them wide enough to satisfy him, he smiled as if to say I’d done well, then slid his hand between my legs, pressing against the now swollen perineum.

“Mm…”

I closed my eyes and let out a soft moan.

The oil trickled down between my spread legs, pooling near my perineum. Thanks to the oil, even his rough palms felt smooth as Jiyod slowly stroked my penis up and down, pressing firmly on my perineum with his other hand. Wet, squelching sounds filled the air as our skin slid together, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. My hips jerked, and each time they did, he tightly squeezed the base of my shaft, intensifying the sensation.

Eventually, I couldn’t hold back any longer and came in his hand. The climax lasted longer than usual, perhaps because he had kept pressing hard on my perineum. Shuddering, I released over and over into his palm.

“Hah, hah… ah…”

The insides of my thighs trembled. The oil mixed with my cum, creating a sticky mess between my legs. The fluid dripped down, soaking into the skin beneath my scrotum and all the way behind my perineum.

As I lay there, still overwhelmed by the aftershocks of orgasm, Jiyod slipped his hand under my knees and lifted my lower body. With my legs spread wide, the area between my buttocks was fully exposed. Jiyod moved closer, pressing his still-erect length against me. His swollen head twitched, visibly struggling to hold back excitement. The tip, wet with precum, glistened with a reddish hue. I gasped in nervous anticipation.

“N-not yet… It won’t fit yet…”

“It’s going in.”

With those words, he pushed my legs even higher until my feet were almost lifted off the bed. Then, he pressed his thick, swollen head against my entrance.

“It won’t fit…”

I whimpered, and Jiyod’s usually calm expression twisted slightly in concentration.

He exhaled slowly, his hands gently stroking the insides of my knees.

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

Reluctantly, I nodded, and he began to rub oil along his shaft, coating it thoroughly from the tip down to the base. Then, he positioned himself between my legs and pressed against my entrance again. The blunt tip rubbed against the tight ring of muscle, trying to push through. After lingering there for a while, it suddenly slipped inside.

“Hah…!”

I gasped, holding my breath.

My chest rose and fell quickly.

The thick head of his shaft slid deeper inside, aided by the oil’s slickness, stretching me as it slowly pushed its way in.

Jiyod panted heavily, gritting his teeth. His temples and forehead were slick with sweat. The veins on the back of his hands bulged as he gripped my legs tightly, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down several times. His broad chest rose and fell a few times before he let out short, desperate breaths, as if he couldn’t hold back any longer.

Watching his usually composed face twist with pleasure only made my body heat up even more. I liked knowing that I was bringing him joy. I wanted to embrace him, but the position made it impossible. Instead, I reached out and placed my hand on his arm. As I slowly stroked his sweat-slick skin, his body trembled.

“Mm…”

He gritted his teeth and pushed deeper inside. My inner walls stretched as his length penetrated further. I tried to relax the muscles below, but it was difficult. The tight space convulsed, gripping him tightly.

“I guess it’s clear you didn’t cheat on me while I was gone.”

Jiyod murmured with a faint smile.

At his absurd comment, I glared at him, and he grinned.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s all going to fit…”

He pulled out halfway, then thrust back in deeply.

“Ah!”

I let out a short cry of surprise, and he repeated the motion. The shallow thrusts gradually loosened the tension inside me. My inner walls gripped tightly before relaxing again, with the intervals slowly increasing.

“Hah… Good. Keep squeezing like that.”

He whispered, starting to thrust more deeply. In this position, with my lower body lifted and folded in half, it felt like he was piercing straight through me from above with each thrust.

But as his thick tip pushed past the tight walls inside me, friction began to ignite pleasure. Before I knew it, I was moaning uncontrollably, my body squirming in response. My entire body was slick with sweat, and wet, squelching sounds echoed from our movements. My own erection stood firm, and the lewd scent of cum and oil filled the air.

Jiyod’s smile had vanished, replaced by an intense, focused expression. He panted heavily as he repeatedly drove his penis inside me. Each time he pulled out until only the head was left inside, then thrust in fully again, my body convulsed from the overwhelming pleasure.

Jiyod cursed softly, panting hard. He furrowed his brow, seemingly trying to hold back his orgasm, and paused for a moment. His grip on the back of my knees tightened, and he released his hold on my legs to caress my thighs. I took the opportunity to wrap my legs around his waist.

“Kiss me…”

I begged for a kiss, and Jiyod mumbled something under his breath—likely a curse—before bending down to kiss me. As our lips met, a jolt of electricity surged through my body, making my hips jerk involuntarily.

“Mmm…”

I moaned as I twisted my hips.

It was hard to hold back the pleasure.

The place where I was holding him tightly twitched uncontrollably.

His tongue licked my lips before slipping inside my mouth, moving in and out repeatedly. I opened my mouth wide, yearning for him to suck my tongue more forcefully, but instead, Jiyod slid his fingers into my mouth, rubbing my tongue. His fingers tasted of cum, fragrant oil, and something else I couldn’t place.

“Mmm, mmh, mmm…”

I trembled as he held my tongue captive.

A moment later, he slid two fingers deeper into my throat, moving them like a piston. At that moment, I tightened my muscles and reached a light climax.

Jiyod cursed again as he pulled his fingers out of my mouth, then grabbed my hips with both hands. His length slipped out briefly, then slammed back inside with a wet slap.

“Hah, ah, ahh, ahhh…”

I let out a long moan, trembling violently.

His cock throbbed inside me before he began to release his cum.

“Hnn…!”

Jiyod groaned in pleasure. His heavy body pressed down on me as he thrust a few more times, spurting his cum inside. Finally, he pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Damn it! I didn’t plan to finish this quickly…”

He muttered roughly before kissing me again, more persistently this time. As his tongue ravaged my mouth, I could only moan in the lingering pleasure of climax, unable to resist.

It wasn’t until much later that he finally pulled away.

I didn’t want to be apart from him, so I reached out and clung to his side. Jiyod chuckled softly and hugged me, rolling over so we were lying on our sides, facing each other. We lay there for a while, sharing each other’s warmth.

After some time, Jiyod asked, “It might be a little late to ask, but should I grab us something to eat?”

I shook my head, still wrapped in his arms. The intense orgasm had left me feeling hazy and pleasantly weightless, floating in a blissful daze. I didn’t feel the slightest bit hungry. Perhaps understanding how I felt, Jiyod smiled down at me with a playful glint in his eyes.

“Do you not even think about it? Was it that enjoyable?”

“No…”

I quickly denied it out of embarrassment, but Jiyod’s sweet smile only deepened.

“Don’t worry. I’m the only one in all of Karlac who knows that you enjoy this more than a meal.”

With those words, he kissed my face several times.

“Anyway, for now.”

Satisfied with the kisses, he got up.

“I need to feed you something. I plan to keep you in bed all night, so you’d better be well-prepared.”

He said this while stroking my chest. Every time his palm brushed over my nipple, I gasped softly, eventually letting go of him and turning to hide under the blanket. I could hear him laughing from above. My face burned with heat.

While he was out, I pulled the blanket over my head, spread my legs, and inserted my fingers inside to check.

Thankfully, he hadn’t gone too deep, so there wasn’t much pain. Since he hadn’t ejaculated too far inside, I managed to scoop it out with my fingers, and it soon trickled out. Blushing, I wiped between my legs with the damp sheets.

Jiyod soon returned.

He was carrying a large tray with plates and a long pitcher on top. He set the tray on the bed. The large, oval-shaped plate was filled with a mix of foods. There were several small fruit pies, just the right size for a bite, and chunks of cheese cut into squares. The pitcher held cold fruit tea. He climbed onto the bed and pulled me into his lap, blanket and all, hugging me tightly. He kissed the back of my head repeatedly, then pulled the tray closer to our feet. A slice of pie, piled high with honeyed apples, was suddenly in front of me.

“I can eat by myself…”

I whispered softly, too embarrassed to say it any louder.

“I know you can eat on your own. But I want to feed you.”

With that, he pressed his lips gently against my cheek. I had no choice but to open my mouth and take a bite of the pie. Crumbs spilled down below my lips.

“Try this one too.”

The next one was a pie topped with a soft, pink cream. The cream melted in my mouth, blending smoothly with the pie crust.

“The chef was boasting that this is something you can’t find anywhere in Karlac. Let me know if it’s as good as his confidence suggests. If you say it isn’t, I’ll cut out his tongue for exaggerating.”

I licked the cream from my lips and nodded. When I turned to look at him, Jiyod was smiling tenderly and sweetly. Swayed by that smile, I stared at him for a while, and he lowered his head, planting a kiss on my lips with a soft

.

My heart fluttered warmly.

I leaned in and kissed him back twice. With a sigh, he pulled me closer into his chest, kissing me more deeply. Our tongues intertwined, and the sweetness left in my mouth slowly faded away.

When the kiss ended, I looked up at him and spoke.

“People are talking about you.”

“Doesn’t sound like it’s something good. But let’s hear it.”

“They say you killed your half-brother to take his title.”

Jiyod didn’t reply. He just smiled.

He reached out his long arm and picked up a glass of fruit tea mixed with ice. He handed it to me, and I obediently took it, drinking a few sips. When I finished, Jiyod took the glass back and brought it to his own lips.

“I’m a bastard. I can’t inherit the title anyway, so what would killing him do for me?”

He set the glass back on the tray.

Then he cupped my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his. I looked up at him. His ash-gray eyes, framed by his long lashes, had softened into a gentle hue.

“What do you think?”

“…Don’t act like you don’t know. Ismion already told me everything.”

I snapped back curtly, and Jiyod burst into hearty laughter, pulling me into another embrace. His bare arm wrapped around my waist, and his warmth enveloped me. His muscular body was firm, yet it had a slight softness due to its elasticity. I rested my head against his shoulder. He started to play with my hair.

“Do those rumors bother you?”

“I’m just a slave. And a madman at that… Why would I care about those things?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll kill every single one of those who made you a slave.”

His voice was gentle.

I quietly felt his hand stroking my hair before shaking my head slightly.

“No… If I hadn’t become a slave, I would’ve been locked in Helga’s tower until I died. And if that had happened, I wouldn’t have met you…”

“I probably wouldn’t have met you again.”

Jiyod laughed, as if he had noticed the words I swallowed back. He grabbed my chin and lightly kissed my lips several times.

“So what? I’m a lowly bastard, and you’re a lunatic. Don’t we make a perfect pair?”

A perfect pair…

His words suddenly brought a wave of melancholy over me. A conversation I once had with Ismion about my appearance resurfaced. I hunched my shoulders and lowered my head.

I’m not who I used to be anymore… How long could Jiyod’s tenderness last in front of a lover who is no longer the same as before?

Jiyod, sharp enough to notice the change in my mood, lifted my chin.

“What’s with you all of a sudden? Why that expression again?”

He asked in a slightly anxious tone.

His free arm, the one not holding my chin, gently stroked my back. His fingers, in contrast to the roughness of my skin, carefully traced my spine as if counting each vertebra.

“Didn’t you like the food? Was it bad after all? I’ll go deal with that lousy chef right now.”

“No, it’s just…”

His tender attitude stirred a childish longing in me.

And that weakness reminded me that I was no longer the High Lord or the Young Lord of Karlac.

Avoiding his gaze, I whispered in a shrinking voice,

“I’m worried you’ll get tired of me because of my shabby appearance.”

Jiyod didn’t respond for a long time after I barely managed to confess my true feelings.

Regret quickly swelled inside me. I shouldn’t have said that. What kind of answer could he possibly give to such a complaint?

“Never mind. Just forget it.”

I felt so embarrassed that I was on the verge of tears. I tried to push away from his embrace, but at that moment, he wrapped his arms around my waist tightly again, pulling me into his chest. This time, I found myself sitting on top of him, facing him. Jiyod looked down at me intently.

“Why would you think something like that?”

His expression was the opposite of what I expected.

His sharp features were twisted as he tried to suppress a laugh. The corner of his lips trembled as they curled up.

“How did you end up with such a ridiculous thought?”

He slid his hand under the sheets and grabbed my buttocks, squeezing them hard enough to hurt. When I let out a small cry, he pressed his lips against my forehead.

“Come on, spill it. Who put that awful idea into that tiny head of yours?”

“Ow, ow! It hurts!”

I squirmed, trying to get away, but he only slapped my behind so hard it made a loud smack. Startled, a small yelp escaped me, and my body jerked up.

“I-Ismion…”

“Ha. Is it Ismion again?”

“Ismion said… he said that compared to before, I’ve become shabby…”

“What?”

Jiyod asked, sounding incredulous.

“Is that bastard trying to find a faster way to die?”

“No, that’s not it. He was trying to comfort me.”

Jiyod clicked his tongue.

“I guess that’s what they teach as comfort in the capital? Hmm. Considering the thorns on that guy’s tongue, it’s not the worst assumption, but those are not words for you. Don’t worry. I’ll rip that insolent wizard’s tongue out and serve it to you on a silver platter.”

“Don’t…”

I whispered softly.

“It’s not like he was wrong.”

Jiyod looked down at me. A sly smile appeared at the ends of his narrow, long eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Really… I don’t get you. Do I also have to sing endless praises about your looks now? You already have a bunch of people who do that.”

I pouted in dissatisfaction at his words. I wanted to press him, asking who besides him even existed that would do that, but it felt too childish, so I stayed silent. Jiyod, still holding me, continued to speak.

“I’d actually prefer if you had a burn scar on your face. Or maybe I should cut your hair all messy and dress you in rags when I take you out…”

“Y-You’re awful, really!”