Chapter Text
Day XX, Year YY of the Imperial Calendar.
“We hereby bestow the surname ‘Aile’ upon the Omega Yuder, who has received the blessing of being His Majesty’s 209th concubine!”
“Kneel down and receive the imperial decree!”
Yuder, now Yuder Aile, knelt down on one knee before the official, taking the royal scroll in his hands. He recited the blessings to the Emperor, according to etiquettes he was briefly taught before the ceremony, before returning to his assigned seat. The next candidate repeated the process.
———
Day XX, year YY of the Imperial Calendar.
A month before he was known as Yuder Aile.
Yuder, born a commoner, bore no surname. He was an Omega, who lived alone in the depths of Airic mountain after his grandfather’s death. He sometimes went to the village at the foot of the mountain to trade for necessities, but made no efforts to socialize. Nevertheless, he still heard news of the empire or the imperial family through the spreading rumors, about which he normally wouldn’t care. That day, however, as Yuder was selling the woods he gathered, he witnessed a grand announcement coming from the Imperial.
An extravagant, golden carriage bearing the crest of the Imperial family arrived in the central plaza of the village, accompanied by the sound of trumpets, announcing the arrival of a royal decree. A man, dressed like a noble official, stepped out of the carriage and took out a red scroll, reading aloud its contents.
“Citizens of the Orr Empire, gather and receive the Imperial Decree! With the concern of the imperial heirs in mind, His Majesty the Emperor, Keilusa la Orr, is looking for Omegas to receive his blessings. Participate in the test and have the honor of being His Majesty’s concubine!”
The official concluded his announcement and tucked away the scroll, then a soldier took out a piece of paper and hung it on the bulletin board. It was a flier about the concubine recruitment, its information, participation rules, benefits and so on.
“We will only take your registrations today! Sign up if you want to take the test. You will be compensated even if you failed”
The people started murmuring noisily as the nobles set up a registration area. The timid villagers kept a distance at first, partly due to their fear of the royal officials, and partly due to being taken aback by suddenness. After a while, a few girls approached bravely and successfully registered themselves, encouraging the other Omegas in the village to step forward.
Yuder, witnessing the whole ordeal, had an indifferent expression on his face. He stared at the gathered crowd with his deep, black eyes, as if he didn’t understand why people would be interested in such a nuisance. In every citizen’s knowledge, the Emperor, Keilusa la Orr, was a devoted husband. His genuine love for the Empress had always been a widely-known topic, even for the commoners. He continued to deeply cherish his empress, even when both of them hadn’t had any heirs in years after the royal marriage. Thus, Yuder couldn’t understand why such a decree was made, nor why people, blinded by greed, staking on the slim chance of becoming a member of the imperial family.
“Yuder, aren’t you going to sign up?”
The merchant, who traded with Yuder often enough to become acquainted, nudged him.
“…No”
“Why not? You’re an Omega too, right? Why don't you take a chance?”
“I don’t like to mingle with nobles”
“They said they will have compensation”
“Not interested”
’And I have no intention of getting married’, he thought.
The merchant sighed.
“Too bad…I think you’d be likely to win with that looks of yours”.
Yuder was about to retort at the remark, but he missed the opportunity as the merchant quickly excused himself due to another appointment. Yuder stood in his place and thought about what he had just said. He had never cared about his appearances or thought that he looked good. His hair, though a rarer shade of black, was dry and slightly burnt from his life as a commoner. His eyes, sharing the same color of his hair, were always hidden behind his long bangs, looking as dull as a starless night.
He dodged a person trying to get in the crowd, which had grown bigger in a short time, sighed and decided to leave the area before it got worse, casting the useless thoughts aside.
…
…
…
By the time Yuder finished his errands, the sky had been painted orange, tinted with a reddish hue. He passed by the central plaza once again, and saw that the big commotion that morning had almost dispersed. The line only had a few people left, and the servants had started to clean up the area. Yuder was somewhat amused by the event, which came and went like a storm, but in the end, it was of no interest to the omega.
However, life took a turn Yuder had least expected.
“Hey, you”
Just as Yuder was gathering his belongings and about to return to his house in the mountains, someone called out to him. Glancing up, it was the same official who made the announcement, who suddenly appeared before the omega.
“…Hello”
Born as a commoner, Yuder had never learned proper etiquette, but at the very least, he knew that he had to greet one of a higher status. He straightened his posture and bowed his head, looking polite as much as possible. The official nodded softly, looking satisfied.
“You. What’s your name?”
“My name is Yuder”
“How old are you?”
“I’m 10 this year”
The noble widened his eyes momentarily, looking somewhat shocked after hearing his age. It was an expected reaction, whenever Yuder said his age, since he looked much taller and more mature than his peers. However, in the Orr Empire, children would have the coming-of-age ceremony at ten, thus, that made Yuder an adult as well.
“Ahem”. Clearing his throat, he continued. “Are you an Omega?”
“…Yes, I am”
Yuder hesitated before telling the truth. He could have lied, but he didn’t. If he said he wasn’t one, he would have to introduce himself as an Alpha, one which he definitely didn’t look like. The other option was to answer as an unscented person; however, at first glance, anyone with a secondary gender would be able to tell that the official and a few knights standing guard were Alphas. Just as Yuder could tell the fact from their scents, they could have discovered the truth from the omega’s distinctive aroma as well. Lying wasn’t even an option, if Yuder didn’t want to get arrested.
The official looked him up and down, as if to scrutinize him. Then, he muttered something in a low voice.
“…Yes, this will do. Omega Yuder, you will be listed as a candidate for the Emperor’s concubine exam. Pack your belongings and gather here tomorrow morning, we will leave for the capital”
“What…? Wait…”
Yuder tried to stop and ask the official for what he meant by making him a candidate, but the knights were a step faster than him, blocking his way and telling him to obey the orders. After their leave, Yuder was left utterly dumbfounded, bewildered, shocked, and he was probably making the stupidest face for the first time. Never in his life had he faced such a ridiculous situation.
Yuder never wanted to take part in the test, no, it was true to say he wasn’t the least bit interested. It had been another normal day for the omega, he went to the village to sell wood, bought necessities, and then returned to his home before it got dark. It should have been like that! However, fate played a dirty trick on him.
’Damn it. Should I run away?’
Yuder thought of running away before the next day came, but the plan was instantly abjured, since it would be treason if he disobeyed a royal decree. Besides, how would a mere 10-year-old boy like him survive in the harsh world out there without any experiences? If lucky, he wouldn’t starve since he’s accustomed to his wild lifestyle; if he wasn’t, he would be captured and sold as a slave. Imagining the latter, Yuder shuddered and thought that accepting his fate and becoming an imperial’s plaything might be a much better scenario.
Only when he heard small murmurs from the remaining villagers around him, which was about Yuder being the one who was directly selected, did he retreat to the depth of the mountains.
When the next rays of dawn came, Yuder grabbed his bag, which contained a few sets of clothes, some necessities and the bracelet which was his grandfather’s memento, and dragged his feet onto the carriage prepared by the knights in the village. He quietly sat in the far corner of the spacious carriage, listening to the excited chatters of the other omega candidates, mostly young girls. The carriage slowly rolled its wheels, and Yuder headed to the capital with a heavy heart and mind.
…
…
…
Despite the unwillingness in his heart, Yuder couldn’t deny the fact that he also felt a bit thrilled, coming to the capital of the Orr Empire for the first time.
’So this is the Seven Walls of Archmage Luma…’
Yuder stared outside the window, feeling his heartbeat fastened when the carriage passed the most outer layer of the Seven Walls, which was the 7th wall. He couldn’t help but feel excited for witnessing it firsthand; all citizens of the Empire grew up hearing tales of Archmage Luma and the First Emperor, after all. Time passed as he looked at the lively and noisy streets of the Seventh Wall District, and they reached the place where the test took place in no time.
Yuder got off the carriage and was guided to a waiting area for the candidates, he was surprised to see that many people were gathering. Well, the Emperor’s concubine recruitment is a big event after all, he guessed.
’…At least there is compensation. I’ll just fail and take the money’
Thinking about the coins he was about to receive comforted him a bit, that was, only until he held a piece of paper in his hands.
’The 209th candidate. Passed.’
“…...What is happening”
Yuder stood in a corner behind the test area, his body was hidden by the shadows of the pillar. He frowned, recalling deeply if he had done anything bad in his life for God to punish him like that. Being forced to take the test is the first of his unlucky encounters, and he never expected to pass the test that easily.
There were two parts of the test.
The first one was simply to choose the Omegas with passable looks, and half of them were eliminated quickly. Despite Yuder being skeptical about being passed, it was plausible. One must appear good enough to serve the Emperor. He just needed to fail the next one then, he thought.
Yuder thought the next part would be a literacy test, and he could feign ignorance for that. His grandfather had taught him how to read and write, although his writing skill is unrecognizable. However, reality shook Yuder greatly.
’A health checkup and a fertility test…what kind of ridiculous situation is this…’
The omega rubbed his aching temples, recalling the events that just took place. He went into a room for the second test when his name was called, and the first thing they did was to perform a health checkup. The old men, who Yuder presumed were doctors, were amazed by his top-notch results, which was expected from someone living while farming like him. ’What a healthy young man!’, was what they all exclaimed excitedly.
Paying no heed to their compliments, Yuder proceeded to the next room, where he found a tired looking man with gray hair and lemon-colored eyes, grumbling something under his breath. The man, who had been constantly frowning and mumbling, finally noticed Yuder as he walked in. His furrows deepened the moment he glanced at the omega.
’Why the heck is a brat like you doing here?’
Yuder was a bit annoyed at being called a brat, but he was also surprised that someone could tell that he was young without any misunderstanding for the first time. Still, with his stubbornness, he retorted with a frown.
’…I’m not a brat. I’m at the eligible age to be considered an adult’
‘What? Do you think a few ceremonies will turn you into an adult overnight? What kind of joke is that?’
‘……’
Yuder remained silent as the other man kept on rambling for a while. Then, he let out a sigh and ruffled his already messy hair.
’Haaah…whatever, it’s pointless trying to figure out the reasons. It’s not like I can quit my job and kick you out of here either’
‘Come and sit there’
The man pointed to the chair in front of him and gestured to Yuder to take a seat. Then he was told to place his hand onto a magic tool that looked like a crystal ball with a big red gem attached in the center.
’...!’
Yuder flinched when he felt slightly itchy as if a thorn pricked into his finger, drawing one drop of his blood. The gem, which had absorbed his blood, started glowing brightly in red. The black-haired man squinted his eyes due to the brightness and opened them again after the light had faded away, revealing the crystal ball beneath, which had changed from its original clear state to a sparkly golden hue. Yuder stared at the strange phenomenon with great curiosity, while the other man had a bewildered look on his face, as if he had seen something unbelievable.
’This is impossible…how…?’
Yuder tilted his head, looking at the gray-haired man.
’...Is something wrong?’
‘No…it’s nothing. You passed. Congratulations. You’re done here’. He said those words with the most monotonous tone Yuder had ever heard. ’Now take this and turn right, go to the end of the hallway and show it to the soldiers there. They will guide you to the next place’
Yuder wasn’t even given enough time to process all the information, and before he knew it, he had already been driven away by the man, after shoving a piece of paper in Yuder’s hands, and the latter found himself standing outside the room he had just been inside just a moment ago.
And that was how Yuder was left alone in the empty corridor with the most devastating expression he ever had, holding the pass in his hands. He remained in place, until a wandering guard noticed him and urged him to go to the place that man previously told him to. Yuder had no choice but to go along, now, he truly had no ways of returning anymore.
—---
The playful chirpings of the birds could be heard from outside as the morning rays of sunshine gently shone, illuminating the room which was hidden away by darkness of the previous day, and a young man, with raven-color hair, shifted his body on the spacious and luxurious bed, frowning to the sudden brightness. He slowly lifted his eyelids, revealing the obsidian orbs beneath. The deep yet clear eyes, still drowsy, blinked a few times before fully opening, as Yuder sat up and looked at the illuminated window.
’...It’s morning. I should get ready’
Yuder stretched his body and got up from the bed, a strange feeling washed over him as his feet touch the softness of the carpet laid on the floor, a sensation that he still hadn’t gotten used to, despite having lived in that place for some time as Yuder Aile. It had been two years since his acceptance into the Emperor’s harem. There were 300 candidates who passed the test, all of which had a big ceremony to be wed to the Emperor, Keilusa la Orr. However, none of the concubines had had the opportunity to meet his Majesty since that day, including Yuder. In fact, the Emperor didn’t even attend the wedding ceremony properly, as if he only showed his face briefly enough to fulfill his responsibilities, and quickly retreated to the Empress’ chambers under the excuse of being unwell. Many nobles and concubines were disappointed at his Majesty’s behavior, however, none dared to protest.
Well, not that Yuder cared. Truth to be told, he was glad that he didn’t need to serve the Emperor at all.
After the royal wedding, each concubine was assigned to an individual place to reside. And Yuder was given the ’Serene Palace’, which was located in an isolated part of the First Wall. At first, Yuder stood out quite a bit, since he was the only passed male Omega, plus the rumors of how he got selected due to being in favor of a noble, which somehow got spreaded among the harem. Those rumors brought him quite a few malicious and envious stares from other concubines, but Yuder heed them no mind.
Thankfully, due to his indifferent personality and being the 209th concubine, he easily avoided the attention of the others. The Emperor’s cold attitude towards everyone also played a role in soothing the jealousy between them. Additionally, he didn’t accept any servants or guards when moving to the new palace, and he had never left that place; thus, the rumors of Yuder Aile slowly dissipated as time passed. Whilst the others were busy finding ways to catch the Emperor’s attention, Yuder was busy adjusting to his new life in an unfamiliar place.
There were no other living people in that place, to be exact, it was more like an abandoned palace where only Yuder lived. However, he never felt scared or lonely, in fact, he was content. Although it wasn’t the familiar forest scenery of the mountains he used to live in, and he couldn’t move as freely as before, it was the last remaining of ‘freedom’ he owned, after accepting his fate. Food and necessities were still provided regularly so surviving wasn’t a problem, Yuder would disguise himself as a servant and receive those things. The only con was that he had to do the cooking and cleaning all by himself, the latter was especially hard since the place was so big, but Yuder had all the time to himself anyway.
’The weather looks nice…I should do the laundry today’
Yuder thought to himself as he put his clothes and bed sheets in the laundry basket, there wasn’t much to wash since he didn’t have much clothes to wear to begin with. His cheap and worn out clothes of life in the rurals were replaced by expensive ones the moment he stepped into the imperial palace, but he only chose a few of the simplest ones, for example, white shirts and loose pants that were easy to move in, were his favorite.
Holding the freshly washed laundry basket in his arms, the black-haired man started hanging them on the rope hung at the back of the kitchen. All of a sudden, a strong gust blew by and the last fabric in his arms got carried away by the wind and flew into the nearby woods. Yuder calmly went after the runaway shirt. It wasn’t his first time having his laundry blown away, but he didn’t expect for the wind to be that strong that day, as he ventured deeper into the forest. He made small marks on the trees nearby, a skill he had learned in order not to get lost in the mountains. While Yuder was looking for his shirt, his keen nose picked up a familiar scent, the scent of water in the air.
’I didn’t know there was a pond nearby’
Yuder felt a slight thrill with the anticipation of a lake, or a pond nearby, thinking of visiting it in the future if possible. Going deeper into the forest, he could see the sparkles dancing on the horizon, affirming his suspicion. However, his hastened steps came to a halt as soon as he reached the destination and his nerves sharpened as he sensed something in the air, a scent of an Alpha.
A man, looking like was in his twenties, standing straight with his tall and well-built body, was holding a piece of clothing in his large hands. His brown hair gently waved in the wind, the silky locks seemed to reflect the light, enhancing his handsome facial features further. The contrast between the brightness and the shadow embracing half of his body made it look like it was a scene coming straight out of a fairy tale, simply dreamy and captivating.
Yuder held his breath, he couldn’t tear his gaze off the stranger before him, as if something was scratching, choking and pulling him apart from the inside. His inner voice was whining, almost pleading, as if rejoicing in meeting an old lover. Unfathomable emotions gnawed at his heart the moment he saw those brown eyes, shone with a faint reddish hue, locked gaze with his.
“…!!”
Yuder quickly hid himself behind a nearby tree, his heart thumped loudly inside his chest while thinking of the possibility of being caught. Noticing the young man at that distance seemed unbelievable, but Yuder couldn’t shake off the feelings of the man’s gaze on him, as if drilling at the deepest part inside him.
“…Oh my”
The omega flinched when he heard the stranger, who had been quiet until then, spoke for the first time; and Yuder’s heartbeat quickened at that soft, yet low tone.
“A fabric fell down when I was strolling along the lake, and I was reminded of the children’s fairy tale, where the farmer picked up the fairy’s lost garments. I thought that it would be nice if this shirt really belonged to a fairy but…”
“I never expected to meet a real one”
The brown-haired man chuckled before continuing.
“Will you reveal yourself to me, or will I come to you?”
Yuder clenched his fists, listening to the man’s offers.
’No…it sounded more like an order…’
Sweats formed on his forehead as he debated whether to show himself or not, and ultimately, he chose the former. With caution in each of his steps, Yuder moved away from his hiding spot and slowly came closer to the man. He stopped at a plausible distance, enough to face the stranger but also enough to escape if problems arose. Meanwhile, the taller man, who had an amused look on his face while scrutinizing Yuder, as if he was looking at a cautious cat approaching him, slightly widened his eyes before narrowing them, smiling softly.
“Hello”
“…”
The man waved his hand and spoke in a friendly tone, despite Yuder’s ignorance and keeping his guard up.
“Is this shirt yours?”
“……Yes”
“May I ask how did it get here? There wasn’t anyone live nearby, at least, to my knowledge”
“…I do work nearby, at the Serene Palace”
Yuder was about to say he lived at the palace, but he lied that he was a servant working there instead. He was taught not to trust strangers easily by his grandfather, after all.
“Serene Palace?”. The man’s eyes widened momentarily before returning to his normal look. “That’s weird. I thought I heard rumors of it being a place where a vengeful spirit resided and haunted anyone coming near, thus, was abandoned”
“…”
Yuder didn’t expect that there would be such a rumor about the palace, since the servants who delivered ingredients on a weekly basis didn’t show much care, and neither did he.
“The vengeful spirit turned out to be a young and beautiful fairy instead. This is precisely why you shouldn’t trust rumors”
The brown-haired man smiled sweetly at Yuder, and the latter wondered if there was something wrong with the man’s head…
“…Why do you keep calling me a fairy?”
The man’s smile faltered for a moment before he covered his face and laughed heartily, his shoulders shaking.
“Haha..! Why, you ask? What else should I call a beautiful fairy, if not fairy?”
The omega frowned deeply, thinking that it would be best to drop the topic, as he didn’t feel like arguing further.
“…The shirt. Please give it back”
The strange man stared at Yuder’s outstretched hand, tilting his head.
“Hmm, what to do…”. He suddenly rubbed his chin, as if contemplating something seriously. “Suddenly, I want to act meanly like the farmer in the story. Should I hold onto this and make you my wife?”
He smiled widely and winked, but Yuder was dumbfounded at how utterly absurd he was. His hand was still hanging mid-air awkwardly, as he glared at the stranger with the most annoyed expression on his face. Losing a piece of his clothes wouldn’t be a big problem, he thought.
“…You can keep it. I’ll leave”
“Wait”
Just when Yuder was about to turn around and leave, a strong hand suddenly grabbed his forearm and pulled him backwards, causing him to misstep and stumble into something broad and hard. Lifting his head, he quickly realized that he had fallen into the man’s arms, his face resting on the wide chest, and heat immediately rushed to his head.
Without warning, something aromatic wafted in his nostrils and Yuder was instantly reminded of the fact that, the man before him, was an Alpha. The scent emitting from the other man’s body lingered around Yuder, making him dizzy. The omega tried to move away, however, his attempt was for naught, as the firm grip on his arm prevented him from doing so.
“…Please let go”
The alpha looked at the smaller boy in his arms, his gaze lingered for a few seconds, which felt like hours to the latter, before taking a step back. Grabbing the opportunity, the omega also distanced themselves immediately, glaring at the other man.
“…Sorry. Here, I’ll give this back to you”.
The brown-haired man gave back the shirt with a sheepish smile, which was snatched from his hand.
Yuder didn’t hesitate to turn around and run.
Notes:
Do you know why Yuder is the 209th concubine?
Chapter Text
“…”
The brown-haired alpha stared at the young man, who didn’t waste any second retreating, his gaze never left him until the silhouette couldn’t be seen anymore.
“Nathan”
Upon his quiet call, a shadow appeared from the nearby bushes and revealed itself, a man with light reddish skin and grayish-blue hair. He bowed before the other man and offered his greetings.
“Yes, my lord”
“Is there any omega among the newly hired servants?”
Nathan paused momentarily, then carefully opened his mouth to answer.
“No, sir. As far as I know, omegas can’t work inside the First Wall, according to the imperial laws”
“That’s right. Omegas aren’t allowed to serve near the First Wall, where the Emperor resides. Even though there’s been a surge of recruitment recently…”
“Still, all of them is unscented”
The man squinted his eyes, the reddish hue seemed to glint brighter as he smiled softly, recalling the face of the boy he just met.
“Hmm, it is as you said. However, you can tell from his scent that he’s an omega”
The brown-haired man, who decided to skip work that day, was taking a walk with his adjutant, following at a distance, beside the lake which had been unnoticed by people for a long time, when he saw something flutter in the wind and landed before him. He picked up the fabric lying lifelessly near his feet, confirming that it was a white shirt, still damp from the laundry. It was a shirt designed for men, though the size was a bit smaller than average.
The first thought popping up in his mind was that someone was taking a bath in the lake, whose clothes unluckily got blown away. The second thought was that this belonged to someone living nearby, but the lake was located at an isolated part of the First Wall, only upon which the man stumbled accidentally. He recalled a palace was built nearby, but it hadn’t been occupied by anyone for quite some time.
The third one he thought of, which he chuckled at himself for how childish it was, was simply a fairy tale that was often told to the children. A group of fairies descended to the mortal realm to dip themselves in the cool water of a majestic waterfall. A farmer, who had passed by by chance, hid himself and was captivated by the beautiful scene, and he had the guts to steal one of the fairy’s clothes. He accidentally made a noise during the act, which startled the fairy sisters. They frantically put on their clothes and went back to the sky, however, except for one, which was the fairy that the farmer had stolen her clothes from. Without her garments, she couldn’t return home, thus, she started crying. The clear and sad tears pricked at the man’s heart, and he revealed himself in front of the beautiful fairy, offering to return her clothes under one condition, that was to become his wife. She was wary at first, but had no choice but to accept the man’s deal and went home with him.
…And the story went on, the rest could be told at a later time. The answer to his suspicions was soon to be revealed.
“He could have lied to get in here. Should I investigate?”
“There’s no need. I don’t think he did something like lying and hiding his distinctive traits to step foot in the imperial palace. Moreover, his scent was so strong that I could sense right away, showing that he held no impure intentions”
Whilst the alpha was inspecting the white shirt in his hands, he flinched momentarily as his nose picked up a scent, ’an Omega’s scent’, coming closer towards his direction. He ordered his adjutant to hide in the bushes nearby and kept his composure, waiting for the opponent to expose themselves. Judging from the clumsy footsteps, the person didn’t seem like an assassin; even if they were, he was confident he and Nathan could take them down easily.
The sounds of footsteps and leaves crumbled underneath were getting closer, the scent also thickened. Soon after, a silhouette was seen between the trees. Even though the person was still somewhat far away, with his keen eyesight, he could still spot them without troubles.
’Thump’. The brown-haired man’s heart skipped a beat the moment he clearly saw the person approaching him. He was a young man, whose face looked like they hadn't had many experiences in life; his obsidian orbs , which had the same color as his fluttering hair, scanned the surroundings curiously, widened for a moment, before sparkling faintly as if something had caught his interest. The alpha’s tightened his grip on the piece of fabric involuntarily when he saw those eyes stared directly at him.
He quickly avoided the gaze, which he didn’t need to, if not for the voice inside his head. ’You want him’. He resisted the urge to rush towards the omega, holding him tightly in his arms, and locking him away in a place no prying eyes could reach him. The man himself was surprised at the possibility of harboring such thoughts towards someone he had met for the first time that day. He stared at the poor shirt, which unfortunately crumbled due to his strength, still feeling the stare burning on his face.
Ah. He wanted. He wanted to return that gaze. He wanted to see what kind of expression that young man had while peering so intently at him. Desire to lock eyes with those deep, dark pupils bubbled and stuck in his throat, as he swallowed a dry gulp.
And so he did.
“There shouldn’t be any omega in the First Wall, until recently. So he must be…”
”…Oh my”
‘Such a beautiful fairy.’ He almost said that aloud when joy rushed to his brain, the moment he knew the omega had noticed his existence through the shocked look in his eyes. His heart beat wildly inside his chest, which was even more loudly in the midst of the quiet and peaceful forest.
Just a moment ago, he thought it was childish of him to use a children’s fairy tale as an excuse. And then, he once again laughed at himself for thinking about it for the second time.
“I never expected to meet a real one”
“Will you reveal yourself to me, or will I come to you?”
Unbeknownst to the alpha, a wide smile bloomed on his face when he saw the omega hesitated, but slowly approached the man.
The brown-haired man looked down at his hands, which had just been grabbing onto the other one earlier, recalling the small frame fitting into his embrace, and the freshness of his alluring distinctive scent. For the first time, he found it hard to restrain his joy and the desire to caress those adorable cheeks, turning a bit pinkish. He only hoped that the boy didn’t notice his rapid heartbeat during their brief contact a moment ago.
’Did he say the Serene Palace?’
“Nathan”
“Yes, my lord”
“I believe I don’t have much work to do tomorrow, do I?”
“…No, my lord”
Nathan softly sighed at his lord’s obvious intention, which only widened his grin.
“That’s good to hear. Now…let’s go back to the Eternal Palace”
He glanced at the direction, where the small black figure was last seen before running away, for one last time, then he turned around and left the forest with a satisfied hum. He could still sense the sweet yet faint scent of the omega in the air, as he looked forward to meeting him again.
———
Yuder ran away from that place, from that man, as fast as he could. Thanks to the signs he left on the trees beforehand, he exited the forest in no time. He stopped at the familiar sight of the backyard behind the kitchen and caught his breath, panting heavily as lungs desperately grasping for air. His heart was still beating loudly in his ears, and it didn’t calm down for a while.
’What was that…?’
Never before had Yuder encountered such a phenomenon. He had met and was in the vicinity of many Alphas, however, he had never had such a strong reaction to one like earlier, to the unknown man he had just met for the first time in life. In truth, he didn’t know such desires existed within him. Yuder considered himself as a dull person, as he always had no interest in the opposite gender’s scent or whatsoever. And yet, just a faint whiff of the man’s distinctive aroma in the air was enough to make his mind go blank, and the omega had almost succumbed to his inner voice, to his omega’s instincts, to just surrender himself into the warmth wrapping around his body.
While Yuder was wondering how his remaining bits of consciousness pulled him out of that mess, he finally remembered the shirt he had taken back from the stranger, which had become dirty again after rolling in the dirt. A noticeable thing about the fabric was that it had been crumbled beyond imagination. There was no way for him to know whether that was the work of that man, or due to Yuder himself exerting force on the shirt on his escape. The poor thing definitely needed to be washed again, he thought.
Just when Yuder was about to revive his shirt, he sensed a faint scent from it, which was the alpha’s, still lingering on the fabric. Feeling a bit hesitant, he moved the sleeve to his nose and inhaled deeply, where the scent was the strongest. An aroma rushed into his sense of smell, as cool as peppermint, or a weak breeze of winter, immediately soothed Yuder’s taut nerves, washing away the nervousness unknowingly remained even after parting ways with the man.
Only after the wind calmed down did the omega let go of his desires and returned to his boring routine, hoping that he would never meet the man ever again.
———
“…….”
Yuder wondered if his eyesight had gone terribly bad after the fatigue of the previous day’s events, or it was just God’s way of unfavoring him by granting him the exact opposite of his wishes?
The boy frowned at the sight of a brown-haired man, still looking at him with his umber orbs and a never-fading smile plastered on his chiseled face, waving at Yuder from a distance, who was sweeping the fallen leaves in the garden.
“Hello again”
‘Let’s just ignore him’
“I guess it was true when you said you worked at the Serene Palace”
Yuder turned his back to the invader of his life and carried on with his task, the sounds of rustling leaves were his only response. The other man, despite being ignored, kept on talking as if he was having a solo performance.
“The weather’s pretty nice today, isn’t it? Don’t you think it’s a perfect day to meet people?”
“I was wandering around here when the scenery reminded of the beautiful fairy I met yesterday, and I couldn’t hold back the urge to meet him again”
“……”
Yuder inwardly let out a devastating sigh, wondering why the man was still blabbering about that fairy nonsense. Maybe he should be the one to get his eyesight checked, not Yuder, the latter thought.
“At first, I thought it would take a while to find you in this big palace. But fortunately, the sounds of the dry leaves had brought me to you sooner than expected. Don’t you think it’s fate?”
’First fairy, then fate. What kind of life did this man lead to have such a cringe fantasy?’
“…Come to think of it”. The omega, for the first time since his appearance, finally turned his head around to face the stranger. “How did you even get in here?”
The black-haired boy gripped his broom and stood in a defensive stance, as if he was ready to chase that annoying intruder away, by force if necessary, at any moment. The said intruder, who didn’t feel even a morsel of offense, in fact, he looked intrigued as he looked at Yuder with his reddish-brown narrowed eyes, who was pointing the broom in his direction. Adorable, he thought.
“Oh? There were no guards at the gate, so I just helped myself in”
The alpha smiled brightly as if him breaking in someone else’s place was a normal thing to do in the Empire, especially within the First Wall where imperial family members reside.
’…Besides, aren’t the gates locked?’
Yuder refused any personel attendants when he started living here, thus, it was natural that there was no one guarding the gates. Furthermore, the boy had never set his foot outside the palace once during the two years, and so the gates had always been closed.
“…Are you saying you broke in here?”
“It’s not extreme to that extent, so please don’t glare at me like that”
He surrendered with his hands, before taking something out of his pocket. It was a golden medallion, with exquisite designs and the detail catching Yuder’s attention the most was the imperial family crest, engraved in the middle of the plaque. Yuder thought he had seen something similar…
“This is a first-grade pass, with this I can freely visit any place within the First Wall. Unfortunately, there were no guards to check its authenticity, so I had no choice but to rudely intrude”
The brown-haired man smiled softly and offered such a sincere apology that Yuder forgot his initial anger. His obsidian eyes were still full of suspicion, but his body had released some of the tension as he lowered the stick.
’Ah’. He remembered. That golden plaque with the imperial crest, he also had one. Among the few things given to him after the ceremony was that medallion with the same design, the only difference, however, was that his was made of silver. The official who taught him about the imperial palace rules and etiquettes explained that, the silver plaque, was a second-rank pass, which was granted one to each concubine. That meant, except for the Emperor’s and the Empress’ Palaces, they could go anywhere within the imperial grounds. Yuder had no intention of going out, nor could he recklessly leave a medal engraved with the imperial family’s crest in some random place. Thus, it had been stored safely in his nightstand since then.
“Is something the matter?”
Only when the taller man noticed Yuder’s long absence of words and spoke, did he snap back to his senses.
“…No, it’s nothing. I was just reminded of a similar object my master has”
The omega acted like he was a servant, as he had lied the previous day. There was no need to reveal his real status to a stranger.
“Hmm? Ah yes, of course”
The man momentarily widened his eyes then stroked his chin, as if was fascinated by what he had said. The omega finally had the chance to look at the man closely, since his heart had calmed down immensely after their first encounter. He had brown hair and umber eyes, which he had noticed before, a color that was considered common in the Orr Empire. What intrigued him the most, was the reddish hue in his gaze, which was barely noticeable under normal circumstances, but seemed to shine brighter whenever the man was amused, judging from their few interactions.
Then, Yuder took a look at the man’s attire. Although a long black cape was draped over his broad shoulders, the omega could still see the white silk shirt hidden beneath, and the sleeves were cuffed with golden buttons, accentuating the elegance more. It was ironed and tucked neatly inside the dark blue pants, which somehow embraced his ridiculous long legs perfectly, Yuder thought.
’He even has a first-grade pass…this man is no ordinary person’
During the past two years, Yuder had learned that the bronze plague, which was the third-grade pass, had already been considered precious and that only a few honorable ones could be granted. Silver plaques were even rarer, and golden ones were Yuder’s first time.
Despite the simplicity in designs, one couldn’t hide the high-quality materials they were made of, or how well-kept they were. Yuder suspected that the man was an attendant of a high-ranking aristocrat, at the very least, for him to dress in such expensive garments.
“…The lord you serve must be very generous”
“My lord?”. The man widened his eyes, thinking about something, then he chuckled. “Yes…indeed, my lord is a very generous person. He cares about me a lot”
A kind aristocrat who cared about his servants? That surprised Yuder a bit, since the nobles he knew from rumors here and there were mostly selfish bastards, who looked down on servants and commoners.
’Well, with that handsome face and built body, then maybe…’. Yuder involuntarily frowned upon that thought.
…
…
…
The brown-haired man quietly observed the younger man, whose gaze was busy scrutinizing him from head to toes, and the former was more than happy to let him do as he pleased. With an indifferent look in his eyes, he talked about the man’s lord; it seemed like he had somehow mistook him as an attendant, and he made no plan of correcting it; after all, he did serve someone, one and only one person. Thus, it wasn’t a lie to say that the one he served cared about him a lot, probably more than himself. However, as soon as he said that, the omega’s expression suddenly turned solemn as if he was thinking hard about something, then it became distorted as he looked him up and down. His intuition was telling him that the latter was having strange thoughts about him.
“…Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not like that”
Yuder stared at the man, confusion was visible on his face as if saying ’What? Can he read minds now’. The man made an embarrassed smile, deciding that it was best to change the topic before things got worse.
“By the way, I know I should have asked sooner, but I think I have never heard your name?”
Yuder Aile. The 209th concubine.
The alpha had ordered his adjutant to gather information about the black-haired fairy he met the previous day. It was true that his physique was quite more mature compared to those of his peers that could easily lead to misinterpretation; however, after a few encounters, he could see the innocent look on his face, still young and full of curiosity, which the alpha found adorable.
The commoner omega who joined the harem at the age of ten, and was the only male omega among the passed candidates. There were quite a few malicious rumors around him, but those only came from the envious eyes of the other concubines. As the omega chose to isolate himself within his palace’s walls for the past two years, the rumors naturally died down.
The man gazed directly at the deep black eyes, faintly reflected with a bit of purple hue if one paid close attention, which belonged to the young man who disguised himself as a servant without knowing his identity had been discovered. To be honest, the man had wondered what kind of face the omega would make were he knew this truth, he wondered if the boy would make a surprised face, which was a different expression from his usual stoic and cautious one, and would try to run away from the alpha again. With that thought in mind, the taller man secretly hummed in satisfaction, as the black-haired omega’s response had never failed to exceed his expectations.
“…Why should I give my name to someone who doesn’t even tell theirs?”
The alpha’s eyes’ widened, and he soon bursted into a laughter, which startled Yuder a bit.
“Oh my, I apologize. That was indeed rude of me…please let me introduce again”
The brown-haired man wiped the corner of his eyes, which had teared up a bit after laughing his heart out. Then, he straightened his posture and held out his hand towards Yuder, his reddish-brown gaze fell softly on the latter’s face.
“My name is Akit. Now, would you please grace me with the sounds of your name, o beautiful fairy?”
The way he talked could make one’s hair stand on end; however, with that sweet tone, low voice, and a face so handsome that could immediately melt one’s heart, Yuder found it ridiculously fit for him. He was a beat late in responding, but the man was still waiting patiently without lowering his hand.
“…Yuder. My name is Yuder”
“Just Yuder?”
“…Yes”
Akit suppressed a laugh when he saw the boy averting his gaze, tensility flashed in his eyes despite his effort of hiding it. He was keen on disguising himself as a servant, who should bear no surname, and the former decided to ignore the white lie. There was no greater joy than slowly breaking down the walls of a person he wanted to get closer. They had plenty of time to get to know each other, after all.
A second passed as Yuder was lost in thought, before he noticed that the man, Akit, was still hanging his hand awkwardly in the air, which made him feel a bit guilty. Akit showed no discomfort nor impatience, as he waited for the omega with a gentle smile. Hesitantly, Yuder also reached out and held that hand, which was much bigger than his. A handshake was expected, however, the moment that small and slightly rough hand placed on top of his, Akit instantly tightened his grip and pulled it towards his face, pressing his softness on the flinching fingers. The alpha threw a sneaky glance at the young boy, who had a shocked expression, and soon his cheeks lost their original pale complexion, dusted with a faint pink color. The sight of the embarrassed omega reminded him of the events of the previous day, and before he knew it, his distinctive aroma had seeped out and made its way towards Yuder. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he focused on the other boy, observing him holding his breath, his gaze softened. Did the omega realize that the moment he sneakily wrapped his alpha scent around the young one, he had also released his own?
“What are you doing?”
Yuder instantly withdrew his hand as soon as he regained his consciousness, and Akit chuckled when he saw the boy glaring at him, though the faint blush was still visible, even spread to his ears. The alpha held back the urge to slide his fingers along the outline of those lovely flushed earlobes, giving them tender strokes while trapping the omega in his embrace, spoiling him with his scent. Nevertheless, it remained unknown as his selfish fantasy.
“My apologies. I was just offering a greeting, but you were so lovely that I couldn’t help myself”
“…Please don’t do that again”
Yuder grabbed his broom, turned around and was about to run away again, but Akit was one step faster in halting his steps.
“Yuder”
He called out the omega’s name, in a low, slow, yet resolute tone. And he could clearly see the hesitation in the latter’s movements. The black-haired boy didn’t turn around, but he didn’t run away either; and Akit’s heartbeat raced gazing upon that small back. He slowly parted his lips again, his heart was beating loudly with anticipation.
“Can I meet you again?”
There was a long pause. Akit exhaled softly, his mind was preparing for a rejection, after all, they were just strangers and he knew Yuder had somewhat had the impression of him being an eccentric man. It wouldn’t be strange if he didn’t want to meet him anymore after that. However, the answer was beyond his expectations.
“……Do as you please”
This time, Yuder truly ran away, without another glance at the man or the lingering scent in the air. Little did he know that Akit’s gaze had never left him, until his shadow could no longer be seen under the bright sunlight.
Chapter Text
Akit stared at the small, agile back for a long, long time.
Even the sounds of the wind and the rustling trees, or the bright sunlight which shone upon his brown locks could not sway the man, as he was lost in thoughts. Only after a considerable amount of time, when his adjutant came to fetch him, did he leave the garden.
–––
The man returned to the Eternal Palace, where he resided, followed by his adjutant. He left his coat to the greeting retainers and left for his room, which was located at the top of the place. Nathan naturally went to the magic stove and threw a few magic stones inside the fireplace, soon a flame with seven different hues burned brightly, illuminating the room hidden in the shades in an instance. Then, he started heating the kettle and putting in the tea leaves, and soon the fragrance of chamomile filled the room. He skillfully poured the warm tea in a ceramic cup, placing it in front of the man who had settled down onto the sofa. The alpha smiled and thanked his adjutant, before telling him to retreat, which the latter obliged. With the sound of the door being closed, Akit was left alone in the room.
He wrapped his long fingers around the handle of the cup, picking it up and taking a sip. The warmth and the soothing aroma immediately filled his nose, and he exhaled in satisfaction. The alpha took his sweet time enjoying the tea, it was until the cup was empty did he put it back onto the tea table. He then moved his gaze to his hand, landing on a ring wrapped around one of his fingers. Using his other hand, he gently caressed the surface of the gem attached in the middle, and as if responding to his touch, a light emitted from the jewel, which shone brighter, until it engulfed the man himself. A few seconds passed, the light faded away, revealing the person within.
His brown hair, which could no longer be recognized, was replaced with radiant golden locks, seeming to sparkle dazzlingly under the rays of sunlight; and his eyes, which had lost his umber colors, were then burning with a passionate crimson shade. The man, who bore the distinctive traits of one of the imperial bloodline could only have, was none other than the Emperor’s only younger brother, and the Duke of Paletta, Kishiar la Orr.
The appearance earlier was one of his disguises, whenever he skipped work and sneaked out for a change of air; and using his childhood name, Akit, was the most suitable way to accompany his fake identity.
Akit, then revealed his true self as Kishiar, leaned against the sofa and closed his eyes. Almost immediately, a mirage of a black-haired boy, with purple-tinged obsidian orbs appeared in his mind. The young man was none other than Yuder Aile, an omega he met by chance just the previous day. The image of the boy’s various expressions, his indifferent look, his annoyed frown, his shocked face or the slightly flushed cheeks when he came in contact with the alpha instantly brought a smile to his face.
He then opened his eyes, glancing at his hand, where he could still feel the lingering warmth of a smaller one cautiously touching his, and the softness of flesh that his lips had grazed upon. He raised his hand, slowly tracing his fingers along his red lips, reminiscing about a certain scent, as sweet as ripe grapes, waiting to be plucked and eaten. The alpha had never encountered such a strong scent, nor had one fascinated him as much as Yuder’s. For the first time in his life, he acknowledged the unquenched emotions as well as the desires he never knew possibly coexisted inside him.
He once again recalled the last words the omega told him as he retreated. Yuder told him to do as he pleased, saying that they could meet again. Oh, the man’s heart couldn’t contain all the joy he was feeling at that moment.
He wanted him.
Kishiar wanted Yuder. He wanted to make the omega his. However, one single fact had kept him from doing so.
He was the Emperor’s concubine, he was his brother’s legal companion.
Therefore, Kishiar la Orr couldn’t have Yuder Aile. It was a sin itself for desiring someone who had been betrothed, especially when the person he was tied to was his own brother, the Emperor, Keilusa la Orr.
His brother loved the Empress wholeheartedly, which was a well-known fact. However, while their harmony was perfect, they had yet received the blessing of bearing an heir. Under the pressure from the nobles, he had no choice but to agree to an absurd thing such as taking in concubines. He knew his brother would be more than happy to immediately abolish that decree, were he had the chance.
’But those stubborn old men from the temple wouldn’t allow it easily…’
Kishiar had never been a greedy person, not even when his title of Crown Prince was taken away from him; or when he was stripped of the succession rights and was forced to inherit the Paletta northern lands, never had he voiced a complaint. And yet, for the first time ever, he had something that he desperately wished for, someone that he must have by his side, by any means. A young man, an omega, who had enchanted him since the very first moment they met; and his heart, as if restrained by invisible threads, was ruthlessly stolen away, and before he knew it, he had ventured deeply into the emotional maze, without a means of escape.
“Ah”. It was then, he realized.
Kishiar la Orr was in love with Yuder Aile.
–––
“......”
Yuder stopped chopping the onions in his hands when he heard the creaking sound of the wooden door leading to the kitchen being opened, which could not possibly happen in a place where only Yuder lived, unless it was the doing of a ghost or an unwelcome guest. He wondered if he could really call the person, whose footsteps were approaching, an unwelcome one, though.
“...Akit”
The footsteps grew closer and stopped at a distance. The omega didn’t even bother turning his head around to check who it was; after all, the cool scent evading and filling the small space of the kitchen was more than enough. He heard a low chuckle behind him, followed by a soft voice.
“Oh my, Yuder. You didn’t even look at me this time”
“Anyone would have reacted the same, if one person visited them every day”
Yuder huffed without stopping his work, which only made the other man laugh louder.
“Haha! Then…would you look at me if I asked nicely?”
“……”
“Yuder, please?”
The black-haired boy sighed. After a week being harassed by the man named Akit, he had come to acknowledge that arguing with him would never end peacefully, since the man seemed to have his ways of words; and in the end, it had always been Yuder who suffered more. He put down the knife he was holding and turned around, staring at the brown-haired man who was smiling at him, with a satisfying look in his umber eyes.
“…Happy now?”
“Yes, very much”
The alpha smiled brightly, and Yuder thought his alpha scent had gotten a bit stronger at the same time, too. The omega turned his head slightly, trying not to inhale the alluring scent, since it would always make his mind hazy if taking in too much. He didn’t mind the normal amount, though.
“Yuder? What’s wrong?”
Yuder once wondered if the man’s eyesight was that good, or it was just that he had a sharp sense for him to be able to notice any unusual changes in the omega, without fail.
“…It’s nothing. Please just take a seat over there and don’t bother me. Unlike you, I’m busy”
He pointed at the small table used for dining in a corner of the room, urging the man to leave him alone, and the latter happily obliged. To be honest, it was such a strange sight seeing a huge man like Akit sitting on a stool, which was already small, making it look even smaller; Yuder wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but made no comment. None of his business anyway, he thought.
He picked up his knife again and the onions were quickly chopped into pieces, before being thrown into a bowl. Then, he picked up the potatoes and rinsed them under the water.
“You’re good with knives”
The alpha, who was resting the chin on his hands, hummed as he observed Yuder’s cooking.
“Of course. I’ve been learning how to use one after my grandfather passed away”
The smile faltered on Akit’s face, unbeknownst to the omega.
“…I’m sorry. Is that a hard topic for you?”
“No…it’s okay. I’ve always lived alone, and I don’t feel bad about it anymore”
Yuder’s expression remained calm as he put the freshly rinsed potatoes into a pot, sliding on the lid, and turning on the stove. He crouched down to check the fire, making sure the heat was just right.
“Can you tell me more about your grandfather?”
“Why?”
“I want to know more about the person who raised a beautiful and talented fairy like you. Ah, only if you want to, of course”
Yuder sighed again, he had gotten used to being called a fairy, despite expressing his dissatisfaction every single time. He quietly listened to the crackling sounds of fire of the magic stove, and the sound of boiling water; slowly, he started speaking memories of a distant childhood.
“My grandfather…was a great man. We might not be rich, but he never let us starve”. An unknowing smile appeared on his face as he softly sighed, though unnoticed to the alpha since he was facing his back towards the latter. “He was a good hunter, he also knew how to do many things as he took on many jobs. Thanks to that, I learned how to read and write”
“…Oh? Do you know how to read and write?”
The man, who had been listening to every word of Yuder without a sound, raised his eyebrows. Since most commoners were illiterate, his interest was reasonable, he thought, stealing a glance at the alpha.
“I can read to some extent, but I haven’t written anything for a while…it probably looks bad”
The brown-haired man chuckled. “Do you want me to teach you?”
Yuder widened his eyes at that offer and fully turned his head around, staring at the smiling gaze of those brown orbs.
“…Are you really that free?”
“I would always have time to spare, if it was for you”
“……”
Yuder was once again amazed at the man’s speech, as if spouting embarrassing words was second to natural to him.
’What…? Did he even mean the things he said’
Nevertheless, something inside the omega bubbled, thrilled, as if expecting. He tried to restrain the scent, which had been threatening to leak out in response to his unidentified emotions. Fortunately, the boiled pot immediately drew his attention as he turned his body around, averting his eyes from the piercing gaze. He acted normally, as if unbothered, finished his cooking and placed the food onto the table. Soon, breakfast was served.
Yuder wondered when he started to naturally prepare food for two people. He glanced at the man before him, who muttered a thank-you while smiling softly at him, squinting his eyes, as the latter placed a plate before him. He averted his gaze to the served meal, giving a good aroma. It consisted of a few slices of toast, butter, onions, and mashed potatoes. The breakfast was simple, just like its owner.
“Thank you for the food”
The alpha said as he spread the butter onto the freshly baked toast, added onion, sprinkled some salt and pepper. Yuder did the same thing and took a small bite, the salty seasoning and the creamy texture of the butter melted on the tip of his tongue. The omega was content with his food being bland or slightly seasoned; however, he didn't care about other people's opinions as he had never cooked for anyone. The huge man before him was definitely a first.
From the first glance, anyone could have told he was someone who had had better, and tastier food before. Nevertheless, that same man sitting across from him in a humble kitchen and dining table, who was munching on a simple slice of toast, intently ate his portion as if it was the most precious delicacy in the world. He who had joined Yuder’s meal for a few days, had never once showed any slight hint of disappointment.
“...Hmm? Yuder, are you not eating?”
The man, seeming to have noticed Yuder staring at him for a while, asked with a hum.
“...I am”
Yuder took a bite, followed by another one, then another one, and he finished his first slice in no time. He intended to end his meal there, however, before he could get up, a second slide was held before him. The omega glanced at the culprit, who was grinning at his confusion.
“Yuder, here”
“I'm not hungry…”
“For a young man, you're too skinny, you need to eat more. Hurry, my arm is going to fall off”
The alpha said in a pitiful tone as if his muscular arm was actually tired, but he showed no intention of giving up until the other one complied. He only showed a brightened smile when he saw the black-haired boy groaning, but still took the toast and put it inside his mouth. He finished the second slice, followed by a third one, only after that did Akit feel satisfied. They finished the remaining food and Yuder cleaned up the table with his quick hands; he refused when the other man offered to help him. They continued to accompany each other in silence, though Akit started small conversations sometimes, which Yuder surprisingly didn’t find bothersome.
“Yuder, do you want to visit the market?”
The black-haired man, who was drying his wet hands with a towel after doing the dishes, looked at the man, his obsidian eyes momentarily showing a hint of interest.
’...I also want to go, but…’
He couldn’t leave easily. He had never set foot outside the palace for two years, not to mention the foreign busy streets of the capital, where he could easily get lost. Leaving that place meant breaking the peaceful life he had built up so far, and that was the least thing Yuder wanted to happen. Feeling a bit disappointed, he shook his head.
“...I can’t leave the palace”
Fortunately, his servant disguise served well as an excuse to refuse, but Akit didn’t look a bit offended.
“If you can’t leave through the gates, then how about sneaking out?”
The alpha winked at him, after saying the most absurd thing he had ever heard. Was the imperial palace’s security that loose? Yuder frowned, but the former only laughed at his expression. ’Come. I’ll show you’, he said that and then took the omega’s hand, leading him away.
…
…
…
After a while being led by the brown-haired man, the place they arrived was hidden deeply inside the woods, Yuder was surprised to see a wall, assuming to be the border, appeared before them. They continued to walk along the tall wall, until they reached a part, which was covered with overgrown bushes.
“We’re here”
Pushing aside the vines, a small, old wooden door was exposed to the eyesight. While Yuder was fascinated and curious about many things, Akit explained softly.
“This is a hidden route only known to me. I always sneak outside this way”
Akit winked playfully and laughed when he saw the dumbfounded look on Yuder’s face. Then he put his hand onto the door and pushed it lightly, and it opened with a creaking sound, revealing a dark tunnel beyond it.
“The path is a bit dark, stay close to me”
Yuder followed the taller man into the tunnel, and the door closed behind them. Hesitation appeared in the young man’s steps when darkness engulfed him, hindering his sight. He tensed up instinctively when he couldn’t see anything, neither the ground or the person in front of him. He would have thought he entered the path alone if it weren’t for the warmth coming from his hand, and the scent that gently wrapped around his body the moment his senses heightened. The omega let out an edible sigh, only then did he notice he had been holding his breath.
Perhaps, having sensed Yuder’s discomfort, Akit also slowed down and tightened his grip around the latter’s hand, giving it a soft squeeze. The omega was then reminded of the fact that they had been holding hands ever since leaving the palace; what surprised him more was that Yuder had never once felt uncomfortable during the whole trip.
’I normally dislike it when others touch me like this, but why not with him…?’
His eyes soon adjusted to the darkness around him, and he could finally focus on the figure walking in front of him. His heartbeat quickened as he sensed the warmth radiating from the broad back, from the strong hand intertwining with his own; which Yuder wondered if it had always been that big; and from the distinctive scent the other had been emitting strongly, yet cautiously, to calm his taut nerves. His heart didn’t calm down any bit until they reached the end of the tunnel, and Yuder covered his eyes when brightness suddenly came over him in an instance.
“Open your eyes, Yuder”
The omega frowned and slowly opened his squinted eyes, blinking a few times to get used to the contrast. When he fully opened them, what welcomed him was the handsome face of the brown-haired man, who was gazing down at him with softened umber orbs, smiling sweetly when Yuder locked gaze with his. The latter was so mesmerized by the sight that he almost forgot how to think. He only returned to his senses when he heard noises coming from nearby, the sound of people, and he turned his head to look at his surroundings. He realized they had escaped the boundary of the imperial grounds, and entered an isolated alley.
“This is the area within the Second District”. Akit explained. “This alley had been abandoned for so long that no one had bothered coming here anymore, and the path was surprisingly hidden so well no one discovered it. Except for me, who got lucky”
Yuder inwardly questioned whether the man was actually ‘lucky’, or it was just one of the tricks up his sleeves.
“Come now, let’s not waste time by standing here all day”
Akit miraculously took out two cloaks from who-knew-where and Yuder was amused, wondering when he had taken those with them. The alpha wrapped the black coat around the younger man and tied the ribbons, finally pulling up the hood to hide his face; then he did the same thing to himself and turned to him with a smile.
“Shall we go?”
He held out his hand and Yuder, who had gotten somewhat used to it at that point, naturally overlapped it with his own, fitting it between the dancing fingers. The former tugged on the smaller hand, pulling him along; and together they exited the alley, blending themselves into the flow of the busy and lively streets, filled with people and their daily activities.
The chaotic scene soon enveloped the black-haired man, stealthily concealing the missing beat in the rhythm of his heart.
Chapter 4
Notes:
I don’t know why the publish date is never accurate, but oh welp.
Please forgive me if this chapter is weird I don’t know what I wrote while life being a mess either ;;;w;;; anyways, enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Although the 2nd District was known as the place most nobles lived, Yuder was surprised to find a large and busy market right next to the luxurious stores lined up on the marbly paved roadside.
“Are you surprised?”
Akit, whose half of the face had been covered by the hood, looked at the younger man and asked. His expression was hidden, but the latter, for some reason, could see that the man was trying to hold back his amusement after seeing him turning his head to and fro, glancing around at his surroundings like an excited child (which was true). Yuder at some point had also acknowledged the man’s ability to read his mind in an accurate manner.
“…Yes”
Akit laughed.
“It’s a common reaction, most people wouldn’t expect there would be a market near the place nobles reside. But there is, isn’t it?” He continued to explain while strolling on the streets with Yuder in hand. “You might not have known, but there are aristocrats enjoying commoners' activities too. They often disguise themselves and blend in the crowd, just like us”
The man winked at the end of his speech. Yuder instinctively pulled down his hood more to hide his troubled expression. The alpha’s tone was unmistakably playful, but the latter somewhat felt that wasn’t a jest at all. He decided to put away his suspicion for the moment, though.
“Hmm? Yuder, you’ve gotten quiet. Are you perhaps unsatisfied?” The alpha stopped walking and glanced at the man beside him. Then, his eyes glinted mischievously. “Do you want to visit that place?”
Yuder’s gaze followed the direction where Akit’s finger was pointing at, and he immediately frowned at the sight of a big and luxurious store, with many extravagant clothes displayed behind two large windows. Akit laughed out loud when he saw the omega turning his head and looking at him with the unchanged distorted face, as if asking him if he was for real.
“As expected, you don’t like it. It’s a shame, actually, I would have bought you some new clothes if you said yes”
“…Why?”
Akit pondered for a moment.
“‘To compensate you for the ruined shirt’, would you believe me if I said that was just an excuse? Well, partly, to be exact. I just wanted to have the honor of watching you adorned with the clothes I choose”
“……”
Yuder was so speechless that he didn’t know whether to be stunned by the man’s dazzling smile, or the shameless nonsense he just spouted with those beautiful lips of his.
’I’m surprised he still remembered about that…’
He ignored the remarks he wanted to say, which he had also forgotten at some point, and tugged on the man’s hand.
“…Let’s just go. I want to see the market”
The brown-haired man happily let himself be pulled by the smaller man through their intertwined hands, humming as he watched the latter stride confidently ahead despite being not familiar with the streets.
…
…
…
Yuder walked around the busy market with Akit by his side, earnestly answering any questions he had. To be honest, the black-haired one was truly glad to come there that day. It was quite amusing to see a place as lively as that, with a large number of stalls and many people. The only market he had seen in his life was the one in his village, but it was much smaller and less crowded, since the customers were mostly the villagers and a few merchants passing by sometimes.
“Young man! Do you want an apple?”
Yuder snapped out of his curious thoughts when he heard a loud voice nearby. He turned his head and saw a middle-age man, who seemed to have called for him, grin and wave at the omega, beckoning them to come closer to the fruit stand he was guarding.
“Come and take a look! We have freshly picked frui— Wait, aren’t you Akit?”
“Huh? Did you just say Akit?”
“It’s Akit!”
The nearby stall owners who had heard the shout and also poked their heads out. Soon, gazes were focused on the two men in cloaks. More people had joined in the commotion and flocked to the scene, surrounding the two of them. The omega somewhat tensed up when many people suddenly closed in around them; he instinctively moved closer to the taller man, softly tugging on the hem of his cloak. He could hear a faint laugh vibrating above his head, but it might have just been his imagination, he thought. A gentle rub circling his thumb, and a familiar scent wrapping around him helped him calm down.
“Akit! Where have you been lately?”
Yuder widened his eyes at the man in question, who had stopped fiddling with his hood, albeit too late to hide his face, smiling wryly. The alpha shrugged and removed the hood, revealing his silky brown hair to the rays of sunlight, which fluttered in the gentle breeze, as he smiled softly at the others.
“Long time no see, everyone. It seems like business has been well”
“Oh my, it’s all thanks to you, Akit!”
Yuder stayed silent as he observed the brown-haired man displaying a friendly attitude towards the crowd as they chatted happily. From what he could guess from the conversation, Akit had visited the market so often that most people could recognize him, since he would sometimes give them advice on their business. He was surprised to see the man, whom he always thought to be frivolous and shameless, would be so well-loved by other people. Well, it was understandable, seeing how outgoing and how good he was with words.
“Hey, return to your places! Can’t you see he got company?”
The owner of the fruit stand suddenly shouted grumpily and waved his hands at the crowd, shooing them away. The others appeared to be annoyed by the blunt words and retorted under their breath, but they still obediently left, after saying goodbye to the smiling man. Only then did the two were left alone, as if such a fuss had never happened in the first place.
“Sorry about that. Those folks are too excited because you haven’t shown up lately”
“Haha, it’s fine. I’ve been busy with something, you see”
Yuder wondered whether he should re-examine his hearings after his ears faintly caught some weird words mixed in, for example, ’something adorable’, spoken in such a small and low tone that no one could have known; or he should ignore the sneaky glance at him at the end of his sentence. Nevertheless, the stall owner didn’t seem to notice anything unusual as he nodded.
“By the way, you have a different companion this time. Where is the boy you always bring with you?”
The omega flinched at the mention of another person, who seemed to be Akit’s previous partner during his sneaky affairs. He glared at the other man, his gaze demanding for an explanation.
“…Owner, please don’t use misleading words. If you’re talking about Nathan, my aide, then I’ve left him behind this time”
“Ah…”
Akit smiled sheepishly at Yuder, who had been drilling holes into his face with his sharp gaze, quickly explained. Only known to the latter, the alpha subtly released more odor and stroke at the air surrounding him, as if asking permission to soothe the omega’s upset scent. Yuder softened his gaze upon hearing the name Nathan, allowing the said scent to wrap around him.
During his time constantly being bothered by Akit, Yuder had seen his aide, Nathan Zuckerman, a few times. He was a quiet man, only appearing to drag the alpha away with him when he spent too much time at the omega’s place, and disappearing without a trace. Yuder didn’t mind his presence, he thought.
“Hmm, I see! Well, it’s understandable when you’re going on a date!”
’……A what?’
“We’re not dating”
Yuder firmly refuted. The owner widened his eyes, looking a bit flustered.
“Ah…really? You two were holding hands and looking good together, so I thought…”
“…!”
He was instantly reminded that they had been holding hands all that time in front of all those people, and heat rose to his cheeks. The omega withdrew his hand in a heartbeat and hid it behind the cloak, moving one step away to distance himself from the alpha. The only thing he couldn’t see while averting his gaze to the ground, was how the other man silently looked at his empty hand, before clenching it. A somewhat awkward smile appeared on the alpha’s face, as he stepped forward.
“Yes…we’re not dating. He’s new to the place, so I’m just showing him around”
The owner nodded acknowledgingly, he continued to chat with Akit as the latter skillfully diverted the topic. Yuder quietly stared at the man who kept talking with a smile and his usual friendly tone, as if he wasn’t bothered by the omega’s strong objection. He clenched and unclenched his hand, which felt empty after losing the cool warmth it had been holding onto, feeling somewhat irritated by the fact. The omega didn’t know he had been keeping his head lowered, hadn’t it been for the freshly red apple covering his sight, making him glance up. There, he found a handsome man locking gaze with his, smiling softly.
“Yuder, take this”
The black-haired boy stared at the apple, which was dropped onto his hands, then lifted his gaze to look at the man, and repeated, unsure of what to do at that moment. Akit laughed quietly upon seeing Yuder getting flustered.
“You can take a bite. The owner has given each of us one as a gift”
Yuder then noticed another apple in the man’s big hand. It appeared to be the same size as the one in his hands; however, the alpha only needed one hand to perfectly wrap his long fingers around the apple, while it barely fit in both of his hands. Yuder discretely pouted at the taller man, before taking a small bite. His eyes widened at the crunchy sound it made by coming into contact with his teeth, and the overflowing juice pouring into his mouth deliciously.
’Sweet…’
Yuder immediately took another bite, followed by another one, until he finished the whole apple.
“Is it good?”
The brown-haired man asked. Only then did he realize that Akit had been watching him munching on the fruit with the gentlest smile. His cheeks flushed after the embarrassing act he had displayed before the man.
“Yes? I—”
Before he could respond, however, Akit suddenly grabbed his hand and brought it to his face. Yuder flinched when he felt something soft and damp wrapped around his index finger, wiping away the sticky juice dripping on it.
“…It’s delicious, indeed”
Yuder didn’t quite catch what he was mumbling, as the sensation came and passed like a passing breeze, making him shiver. Akit calmly took out his handkerchief and cleaned the remaining stains on his fingers. Then, he held his untouched apple and placed it on the omega’s hand.
“You can have mine, Yuder”
“Huh…? But…”
“It’s fine, I’m overjoyed to see you eating it so intently. Like an adorable fairy”
Akit’s fingers lingered on his skin for a moment, and fell away as the man walked a few steps ahead.
“Let’s continue to walk while eating, there are still more for you to see”
Yuder tried to gather his hazy mind as he followed the man, who had been patiently waiting for him when he was a beat late in response. Walking alongside the brown-haired man, he sneakily glanced at the space between them, where no hands were touching and linking. The alpha didn’t initiate like before, and Yuder felt a prick inside his heart at the emptiness. He slightly gripped the apple with both hands, to hide his disappointment.
The two of them visited the stalls that had recognized Akit earlier. And similarly, all of them were so happy at the sight of the alpha and the omega, that they ended up getting freebies wherever they went. Akit couldn’t suppress his laugh at the sight of Yuder holding various foods as the owners all shoved them into his hands, after seeing the young man chomping down a skewer with much excitement in his black eyes, like a night sky sparkling with stars. All the food happily went to his stomach soon after, though.
Time passed as the two of them explored every corner of the market, and when the sun reached its peak, they decided to take a rest at the plaza.
Yuder sat down on the bench nearby and rested his feet. The market was bigger than he had expected, it took more time to look around since Akit was keen on visiting every stall and even intending to buy everything that caught the slightest bit of Yuder’s eyes, if it weren’t for the omega’s quick intervention. Oh, the dejected look on the alpha’s face when Yuder scolded him was quite satisfying to see though, he mentally admitted.
’Come to think of it, it’s been some time since he went to buy some drinks…’
Akit had found a comfortable place under the shades for Yuder, before he told him he would get something to drink. However, it had been a while, yet the alpha was nowhere to be seen. Worried that he might have gotten into some kind of trouble, Yuder decided to search for the man, since he had also rested enough.
He got up from his seat, straightening his cloak and returned to the route leading to the market. Tracing the way backwards wasn’t a difficult task for Yuder, who had grown up memorizing every path in the mountains. Thus, he was proud to rely on his quick memory. He tried not to stray too far away from the main road, reducing the risk of getting lost. Thankfully, he didn’t have to go that far to notice a tall man with brown hair among the crowd.
“Akit—”
Yuder’s steps halted when he saw the man he was looking for, looking so friendly to a girl standing before him, and smiling brightly when she handed him a small bouquet of flowers. The omega could recognize the gaze when he looked at the flowers in his hands; of course, how couldn’t he, after all, it was the same gaze the alpha always wore on top of his sweet, sweet smile whenever he looked at him.
His heart sank deeply inside his chest, as if some invisible force was weighing down on it, gripping so tightly that it hurt. The feeling didn’t go away even after that girl left. He turned on his heels, and was about to get away from there when a familiar voice called out to him.
“Yuder?”
The black-haired stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around. He saw Akit, who had somehow appeared before him in a nick of time, hands still holding the flowers. Akit was having his unchanging smile when he found him.
“What are you doing here? Did I make you wait for too long? …Oh, perhaps, are you worried about me?”
The last part was a joke, but the alpha’s playful smile faltered when he sensed the omega’s unusual silence, which was somewhat different from his usual indifference to his remarks. Yuder was wearing his hood, causing the latter to notice his gloomy expression belatedly, since half of his face was covered.
“…Yuder? What’s wrong?”
Yuder flinched when he felt a cool warmth slipping under the hood and touched his cheek. At the same time, he could feel the unwelcomed hand, slightly halting when the omega startled, didn’t retreat but proceeded to caress his skin a bit slower, and more carefully, as if he was handling something fragile. The movement stopped when a thumb touched his lower lip, unbeknownst to the omega that he had been biting it.
“…Don’t bite it, you’ll get hurt”
Yuder glanced at the taller man, whose gaze had gotten worried as he looked into his eyes.
’Why…Why do you look at me like that…?’
The black-haired turned his head away, his heart couldn’t bear looking into those darkened brown eyes.
“I’m sorry”
“…What for?”
“Anything, I must have unknowingly done something that upset you. For that, I apologize”
The omega felt a lump in his throat facing the sincerity shown to him, whether through the gaze, the voice, or the anxious scent stroking at his back. The guilt tugged at his heartstrings, causing ripples of unfamiliar emotions throughout his body. Words flowed out of his dry lips, sounding like a different person.
“…I got worried, but it turned out you were just taking your sweet time with your lover” Yuder felt the bitterness lingering on his tongue again, when he thought of the girl he was smiling at a moment earlier. “Please just tell me next time if you want to sneak out to meet her, don’t use me as an excuse”
“……”
Akit remained silent for a long time, his hand moved away from Yuder’s face.
“….Hah”
Were his ears playing a trick on him? Or did that man just laugh at him?
Sadly, his five senses were all working well, as he saw the brown-haired man cover his face with his hand. He could hide his expression, but he couldn’t hide the trembling shoulders while holding back his laughter. How could he laugh in a situation like that? Yuder frowned, feeling more irritated.
“…Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh at you. It’s just” He wiped the corner of his eyes. “…You were so lovely, I couldn’t help myself”
This time, the omega truly couldn’t put up with his nonsense anymore as he clenched his fists, wondering if he could give him a punch, once, just once. However, he thought of the possibility of being arrested for assaulting a nobleman; and furthermore, much to his self-denial, he didn’t want to hurt that handsome face, who was looking at him with an affectionate gaze, and a smile so soft that the black-haired omega forgot his violent intentions.
“Yuder”
The alpha reached out for Yuder’s hand and spoke in a low voice, as sweet as the scent penetrating the air around them.
“She isn’t my lover, and no one else is”
Akit placed the bouquet, made of small purple flowers, tied with a yellow ribbon, in his hands.
“These are lilacs, seeing them immediately reminded me of you, who are as beautiful as the flowers, and I couldn’t help smiling at the thought of giving these to you, as soon as possible. I wanted to make it a surprise…but unfortunately, you caught me”
He sheepishly chuckled.
“…Does this ease your mind, even for a little bit?”
“….”
Yuder stared at the small flowers in his hands, his brain couldn’t keep up with what was happening. He then glanced at the man, who had been smiling so gently, his gaze only focused on Yuder. All of the sour mood disappeared without a trace the moment he saw that sight, and his cold heart started thumping against his chest once again. Warm blood rushed to his head, and Yuder felt a bit dizzy at the sudden fever. He lowered his head, hiding his embarrassment, his fingers wrapped around the bouquet a bit tighter.
“…Next time, just tell me”
Akit beamed, overjoyed when the omega’s scent overlapped his, indicating his forgiveness. The alpha held out his hand again, and this time, Yuder grabbed it without any hesitation.
“There’s still some time left before we return, do you want to look around for some more?”
Yuder nodded. The inner voice inside his head cheered quietly when he reclaimed the sensation of a stronger, and bigger hand squeezing around his, refusing to let go.
Notes:
I could have chosen carnations but I went with lilacs because, purple, and for some reasons. Ahem.
Please tell me what you think!
Chapter Text
“Yuder, come here”
After dragging the omega around for the whole morning, Akit had found a nice place under the shades for the latter to take a rest. He guided Yuder to the bench and made him sit down, despite his stubborn protest.
“I’m not tired”
“You are. Do you think I haven’t noticed your slowed pace?”
Akit hummed as he saw the flustered look in those black eyes, when he pointed out the truth. He chuckled softly when he heard a small grumbling like ‘It’s your fault’ under those slightly plump cheeks. So adorable, he thought. He gently patted the top of his black hair, making the latter widen his eyes.
“I’ll get something to drink. Yuder, wait for me, okay?”
Akit turned around and returned to the market, after one last glance at the black-haired omega, who was touching his hair sheepishly.
…
…
…
“This should do it”
The brown-haired man filled the leather pouch he brought with water and put it inside his cloak, humming cheerily when he thought of a certain lovely person waiting for him. A small voice called out to him when he was about to leave.
“Do you want some flowers, sir?”
He turned his head and saw a young girl, probably the same age as Yuder, holding a basket full of small bouquets of flowers. Akit immediately noticed one particular flower among the many, and the certain color it showed.
’Purple lilacs’
The alpha recalled having seen a similar color before, yes, it was the color he had always noticed glinting, albeit faintly, in the omega’s deep, black eyes. Akit’s gaze softened instantly at the thought of the younger man, bringing a smile to his lips.
“I’ll take that one”
He gave the girl a gold coin, which made her flustered but soon beamed brightly when he said there wasn’t need for the changes, as she handed him the flowers before leaving. Holding the bouquet in his hand, he squinted his eyes and his smile widened the more he thought about Yuder. His heart raced at the imagination of how the stoic young man would react to him. Would he be surprised? Flustered? He was looking forward to seeing the faint blush, which was rare to appear on the omega’s cheeks.
While he was lost in his blissful thoughts, a faint scent, as sweet as ripe grapes, whiffed through the air and his eyes lightened up. He thought he was having hallucinations after being too excited, but the second time confirmed his suspicions. He turned around and saw a silhouette clad in a black coat, and his alpha instincts instantly overjoyed at the sight of his dearest omega.
However, the joy was short-lived. His heart sank deeply the moment he saw the darkened gaze on Yuder’s pale complexion. His blood boiled at the thought of someone upsetting his omega, but his thinking changed when he sensed the omega’s scent rejecting him, pushing him away. Akit’s heart throbbed painfully when Yuder flinched under his touch, but he felt a bit relieved seeing how the latter didn’t avoid his hand.
“…Don’t bite it, you’ll get hurt”
The omega paused, it seemed like he wasn’t aware of his habit of biting his lips when feeling troubled. He then glanced at the alpha, confusion, sadness, and anger were faintly visible in his gaze. He wanted to ask what was on his mind, but how could he, after witnessing such emotions. There should be only one thing he should be focused on at the moment.
“I’m sorry”
“…What for?”
“Anything”
Anything that made you upset. I’ll do anything if it means to see you happy. He vowed, so.
’…Please don’t look at me like that’
The alpha waited, he patiently waited until the emotions inside the omega’s wavered, contradicted, and dispersed. He braced for the next words, he was ready to accept any blames the omega placed on him. However, Yuder had always gone beyond his expectations…
“…I got worried, but it turned out you were just taking your sweet time with your lover”
Akit paused. …Lover? He couldn’t possibly be talking about the flower seller girl, could he?
The alpha could no longer contain his joy the moment he realized the reason behind Yuder’s sudden burst of emotions, and a laugh inevitably slipped his lips.
’Ah. How could someone be this lovable?’
He wanted to hug Yuder at that moment so badly that his body was shaken with thrills; he wanted to hold him so tightly in his arms and soaked him fully with his scent, to caress his back gently and shower him with many loving words that the omega would be relieved of his worries.
For the moment, he shall be content with just those feelings.
…
…
…
The sky’s bright blue color had started to change to an orange-hue, by the time the two men finished another round around the market, and they decided it was time to return before it got too dark. Walking alongside the tall man on the paved roadside, Yuder quietly looked at the district, whose liveliness hadn’t diminished in the slightest, despite the lack of busyness. Most stalls had closed for the day, and were replaced by the ones which could only be seen when the sun was resting. The magic lamps had also started to give off a dim light, illuminating the streets.
“Did you have fun today?”
“Mmn…”
Yuder weakly nodded, he could hear a light chuckle coming from his side, from the man who just witnessed his sleepy response. The omega felt a bit drowsy from all the walking, however, the warmth radiating from the tips of his fingers were enough to keep him awake, though hidden behind their long cloaks.
“You can lean on me if you’re tired”
“…I’m fine”
While the two of them were enjoying the small, yet peaceful talks, a commotion was heard from afar. Yuder’s drowsiness dissipated when he heard people’s shoutings, sounds of horse galloping and something rumbling the ground approaching.
“All of you make way for Viscount Pie!”
The chaotic scene unfolded in an instant when passersby scrambled on their feet to avoid the carriage running on the road like a mad man. Akit pulled him closer to the sides and protected him from the approaching danger. However, in the corner of Yuder’s keen eyes, something flashed before them and before he knew it, he had already broken away from the alpha, and dashed to the scene with his hastened feet.
“…Yuder!”
Darkness engulfed Yuder as he heard the screeching of the horses, feeling his whole body crashed into something hard, then they rolled on the floor a few times before stopping with a thud.
“Akit—”
He opened his eyes to see Akit, who had wrapped his whole body around the omega, taking the impact in his stead. The alpha firstly helped Yuder up and checked his body for any injuries, and he exhaled softly after he made sure there weren't any.
“…Are you both alright?”
“…Yes, we are…fine…”
Yuder swallowed a gulp when he stared into the crimson-hue brown eyes, worriedly apparent, showing that he had more to say to Yuder, but holding back when he noticed the small child crying in the latter’s arms.
The black-haired boy instantly rushed out when he saw a child being pushed amidst the chaos, and stumbled right in front of the carriage’s way. Yuder’s quick reflexes allowed him to reach the kid in an instant and pull him. He might have been injured by the rampaging horses, even when he had avoided them successfully; however, he was still in one piece, thanks to Akit’s help. The alpha’s anxious gaze tugged at his heart, he slowly parted his dry lips to apologize, if it weren’t for the shouting behind them.
“You! Do you want to die?! How dare you get in the way of the Viscount!”
A man, dressed in fancy clothes, got off the carriage and shouted angrily at Yuder and his party. The omega frowned at the absurdity of the man, they almost ran over a child, and yet still had the audacity to blame it on the innocent citizens. Just when he was about to retort, however, a tall figure moved in front of him and blocked his view, securely hiding him behind his back.
“Do you think you have the right to raise your voice here?”
“…What? How dare this commone—”
“According to the imperial laws” Akit cut off the angry man’s words, as he slowly spoke with a low, cold tone. “Driving a carriage recklessly at high speed on the streets is prohibited. Furthermore, deliberately causing casualties, this will add to your criminal charge”
“W-What? Do you know who you are talking to?! No—in the first place, how do I know if your words are true?!”
“Do you want to confirm it? I’d be more than happy to accompany you to the imperial guard headquarters”
Yuder felt goosebumps listening to Akit. His voice was calm, but his tone was chilling. Yuder had never seen this side of him. His view was blocked by the broad back, and he couldn’t move due to an arm holding him back. Perhaps having noticed the tension slipping into the omega’s scent, the alpha also released his own and protectively wrapped it around the former, as if assuring him ‘It’s alright. Leave it to me’.
Akit softly chuckled when he sensed a slight tug on his cloak, followed by the feeling of a human warmth moving closer to his back. His lip corners slightly curled up, and his gaze softened momentarily before he moved his attention back to the angry and confused noble. Warmth disappeared from his darkened brown eyes, without a trace. The other man sweat profusely, he couldn’t meet Akit’s gaze, as if being pressed down by an invisible force.
“How about it? I assure you that the Imperial Guards will properly settle this matter”
The noble was shaking without knowing, as he stood frozen in place. Another voice urged him to hurry up, and he shouted something under his shaky breath before running away. The carriage then left the scene as if an accident had never happened in that place. The dumbfounded citizens started to get on their feet and helped the surrounding people. Akit also turned to Yuder, the chilly tension on his face instantly melted away the moment his eyes met the younger boy. Soon after that, the mother of the kid clinging to Yuder came to them and took him away, after thanking the two of them.
“Yuder, are you alright?”
Akit called out to the omega, but there was no answer. The latter had wandered away from him, crouching and searching for something on the ground.
“Yuder?”
The alpha placed his hand on the omega’s shoulder and turned his attention to him. The latter looked up at Akit, in his hand holding the bouquet the man gave him earlier, however.
“...It’s ruined”
Yuder had dropped the bouquet when he dashed out to rescue the child; unfortunately, the poor flowers had probably been stepped on in midst of the chaos. The petals had fallen out and the paper wrap had crumbled beyond its original state. Yuder felt a prick in his heart looking at the ruined bouquet, unable to suppress the frustration on his face.
“Yuder” The brown-haired man secretly released his pheromones, gently wrapping it around the omega and stroking his back, until the latter finally relaxed his shoulders. “You don’t have to feel too bad about it. They’re just flowers”
“.....”
He bit his lips, yes, he knew they weren’t worth it, especially for someone who grew up with a silver spoon like Akit. But hearing from the man himself hurt more than he thought. Yuder quietly collected the fallen petals and put them inside his pocket.
“...Let’s go back”
“.....”
Yuder didn’t avoid the hand that grabbed him, nor did he say anything during their return trip.
…
…
…
They returned to the Serena Palace soon after, an awkward silence hung between them. Akit was the first one to reach out, as Yuder was about to go inside.
“Yuder”
Yuder glanced at the big hand gently caressing his, then stared into the deep brown eyes, which looked a bit saddened.
“...Yuder, I understand you want to save that child but…please don’t put yourself in danger next time” He softly stroked the back of Yuder’s hand. “I…don’t want to see you get hurt, I don’t know what I would do if that happened again”
The black-haired omega stared at his feet, his guilt couldn’t bear looking at the other man’s emotions reflected in those eyes, so he just avoided his gaze.
“Promise me, Yuder. Please?”
“....Yes”
Only when Yuder had said yes, did the other let out a soft sigh.
“Go inside, Yuder. You must have been tired”
Yuder weakly nodded and turned his body around, feeling the hesitation in Akit’s hand when his fingers kept stroking his palm, prolonging their touch as much as possible. By the time the omega turned his head around when he heard a whisper, saying ’I will see you soon’, the brown-haired man had been nowhere to be seen. Only a breeze blew in the place he stood. Yuder quietly stared into the empty space, trying to recall the warmth, the scent, and the expressions he had made.
Notes:
It's quite shorter than previous chaps but it's also because it is too long xD
Chapter Text
“Please sign here”
Yuder picked up the pen and quickly signed at the bottom right corner of the paper to confirm the weekly supply, a procedure that he was overly familiar with. Even the delivery guys had remembered Yuder as a young servant boy who was surprisingly literate, they even often gifted him with candies whenever it was time to bring the ingredients. Yuder didn’t mind that either.
“Hey, did you hear the news?”
“Which one?”
“The one about that Viscount?”
“Yes, him. I heard he was caught for embezzling money and illegally raising taxes. The Emperor directly brought out the proofs”
Yuder perked his ear up at the mention of the Emperor, whom he hadn’t heard of for two years, while checking the supply carts.
“The Emperor did?! Then it must have been quite a large incident…”
“Yeah, I heard all of his properties got confiscated, even his Viscount title was revoked”
“So he’s just a commoner now?”
“Yeah, there have been people seeing him and his family running away in the night. They all didn’t look good though”
“Serves him right, I despise nobles who only think of themselves”
“…….”
Yuder quietly listened to the conversation, feeling somewhat suspicious. He thought of the one causing a fuss in the midst of the streets in the Second District a few days ago. He heard the driver shouting something about a Viscount, but he couldn’t remember the name.
’…The Viscount they’re talking about…it can’t be that man, right…?’
While Yuder was lost in his thoughts, the servant who gave him the checklist to sign, approached him again.
“Ah, that’s right, Yuder. Take these”
The man threw a big bag towards the young man, the weight of its contents weighed down on his arms. His eyes widened as he peeked inside the paper bag.
“These are…apples?” Yuder could tell at first glance, they were the very same apples he saw at the market, the ones he shared with Akit. “I didn’t order these”
“Those are extras. Someone paid them for you”
“Ah…”
Yuder didn’t need to guess to know who the culprit behind that was, his chest felt warmth at the thought of a certain handsome man.
“Also” The other man continued. “That person also gave this to you”
He handed him a big bouquet of flowers, and Yuder immediately recognized them.
“...Purple lilacs?”
It was no doubt purple lilacs, the flowers he received in a small wrapping before, though he couldn’t count the number this time since the bouquet was so big, fitting in both of his arms. He was a bit flustered, noticing a small card attached between the flowers.
------
’To my dear fairy,
Something came up, so I haven't been able to visit you these days. Please accept these gifts as my utmost sincere apology. The real thing will come later.
Again, I apologize for hurting your feelings the day before. This might not be enough as an apology, but I hope you will forgive this foolish man. I wish you would always be as beautiful as these flowers.
Yours, always.’
------
Yuder read the letter and stared at the gifts in his hands, a strange warmth wrapped around his heart in an instant, and a small smile unconsciously bloomed on his lips.
“Oh my, Yuder. Did you get yourself a lover?”
The other man teased Yuder, even though he didn’t see his smile hidden behind the pile of gifts.
“...We’re not lovers”
“Then is it a one-sided crush? Damn, Yuder, you’ve already got yourself some followers with that looks of yours, huh?”
Yuder ignored the man’s laughter and spoke.
“...I’ve already checked all the carts. Please hurry up and go back”
“Haha, I guess your indifferent attitude is your charm too! Then, I’ll see you next week”
He sighed as he watched the supply team leave, and that man was very eager to spread the news of someone having a crush on Yuder to the others. The omega entered the kitchen and placed the things he had been holding on the table. He stared at the bouquet, his fingers gently caressing the soft petals.
’I should put them into the vases’
It was quite a challenge to find empty vases, since he never thought there would be a use for them, so he found cups, mugs, or whatever could contain water. He was quite satisfied to see all the flowers having been put away. The omega picked up the letter and re-read it, starting to expect the day he would meet Akit again.
…
…
…
“Akit”
Yuder stopped sweeping the garden and turned around to where the rustling sounds of grass and footsteps were, though there was a slight halt while approaching the omega.
“...Yuder”
Standing there was a tall and built man, his brown hair swayed in the wind and his umber eyes locked gaze with Yuder’s, though looking a bit awkward. It’s been a week since he received the gifts from him. It would be a lie to say that he didn’t feel any bit disappointed at the long absence, but the thought of getting angry at the alpha flew away the moment he saw those eyes. The omega sighed, putting down his broom.
“I’m not mad”
“Really?”
“…Yes, you did send me a letter. That’s enough”
Yuder felt a lump in his throat when he saw a sweet smile appear on Akit’s face. He braced himself for the alpha’s overly affectionate reaction, however, nothing happened no matter how much he waited. Instead, the man only stood in the same place as he came.
“Why are you standing over there?”
Yuder tilted his head when he saw the man either keeping a distance from him, or moving backwards when the omega came closer, and it somewhat tugged at a corner of his nerves. Feeling irritated, he took a large step and grabbed Akit’s hand, preventing him from escaping. The alpha flinched slightly under the abrupt touch, but didn’t avoid Yuder’s intense glare.
“Are you avoiding me?”
“Hmm? I would never”
“Liar. You’re clearly avoiding me”
Akit chuckled while being interrogated by the younger man, turning his hand around to hold the omega’s hand instead.
“Alright alright, you got me. But forgive me, I have a reason for this” The alpha scratched his cheek sheepishly. “…I just spent my heat, coming too close might be dangerous”
’His heat…?’
Yuder blinked a few times before widening his eyes, heat rose to his face as he once again was reminded that the man before him was still an Alpha, a fact that he often forgot.
’…Have I gotten too used to his scent?’
“…Is that why you didn’t come to meet me for a week?”
The omega said, almost mumbled, but it didn’t get past Akit’s ears.
“Yuder, did you…miss me?”
“……….No”
Akit stared at Yuder for the suspiciously long pause, but the latter avoided his gaze. His lips curled up into a wide smile as he squinted his eyes, dancing with joy. And he pulled their intertwined fingers to his face, softly pressing his lips on the smaller hand.
“I missed you too, Yuder…a whole lot”
Yuder was in a daze staring at the pair of lips on his fingers, and he shivered at the ticklish sensation at where they touched. He was still embarrassed, but he didn’t withdraw his hand this time. His heart thumped strongly inside his chest. He couldn’t take his eyes off the gentleness in the alpha’s eyes when he gazed at him, or the sweet smile the moment he returned that gaze, or the faint blush tinting his cheeks. He was so handsome, Yuder thought. The other man chuckled when the latter stared at his face for too long.
“Did you like it?”
“......What?”
“The gifts” The alpha laughed seeing Yuder averting his gaze with an embarrassed look after he said that. “I could have prepared better, but something came up”
Yuder wasn’t sure whether that ‘something’ had gotten anything to do with the news of a Viscount being arrested, or it was just his cycle. He decided not to ask, though.
“...No, that much is fine. I’d prefer them over the extravagant gifts”
The black-haired boy grabbed Akit’s hand and led him inside, the act was so natural that it made the latter surprised, though he happily complied.
“Yuder is inviting me inside? This is a first”
“You just had your heat. You didn’t need to come here if you haven’t recovered yet”
The omega led the big man to the kitchen and made him sit down on a stool. Akit wanted to say he was fine, but he decided to keep it to himself seeing how the younger man was so keen on making him rest. Yuder boiled the water and prepared the tea in a rough manner. Then he placed a cup in front of Akit, the lavender scent quickly evaded the space.
“I see that you can make tea now”
“Didn’t you tell Sir Zuckerman to give this to me? I have never made tea before, don’t blame me if the taste is weird”
“I would eat even poison if you’re the one feeding me”
That was some extreme example, but it was nice to see the man drink the tea he made for the first time so happily, Yuder thought.
“...Hmm? Are those the flowers I gave you?
Akit noticed the purple lilacs placed in a small cup on the table.
“Ah…that. Most of them have wilted away, only these ones remained, but” The alpha was about to say something, but was cut off by Yuder. “I’ve dried the wilted ones and preserved them in the drawers, their scent is quite persistent”
Yuder then grabbed something on the shelves and showed it to the other man. It was a small bookmark, between it was the same purple flowers, but looked more tattered as if someone had stepped on them.
“This is…”
“Yes, they’re the ones you bought me at the market”
“...You could have thrown them away”
“I don’t want to” Yuder stared into the man’s eyes. “...It’s the first gift you gave me, so I want to cherish it”
Akit tightened his grip on the cup’s handle, using his other hand to cover his face, though a blush could be seen creeping up his ears.
“...It’s not fair, Yuder”
“.....”
“Really, how could a loveable fairy like you exist? It’s hard to resist, Yuder”
The alpha smiled so sweetly at the younger man, unable to hide the emotions in his umber eyes, glinted red with joy. Yuder stared at the man, feeling a familiar scent wrapped gently around him, as warm as the sunlight beaming through the windows.
…
…
…
Another year passed in a flash, Yuder also slowly got used to Akit’s presence. He was annoyed at first, but the present him surprisingly found it normal to be accompanied by the alpha, to feel the cool warmth holding his hand whenever they went out for a stroll at the market or other places he recommended, or to be wrapped in the alpha’s scent, subtly and gently. The omega would always feel a churn in his stomach whenever he took a whiff of that aroma, or when Akit smiled so sweetly at him. It was a weird feeling, but it wasn't bad, he thought.
“Yuder”
The young man lazily lifted his eyelids upon hearing the voice that softly called his name. The gentle breeze must have made him doze off while having tea with Akit in the garden. On the tea table were cakes with many types and flavors, which the latter had brought with him. He looked at the half-finished slice of fruit tart in front of him, picked up the fork again and took a bite. The freshly picked grapes rolled on his tongue and popped, releasing its sweet juice.
“Are you sleepy?”
“The weather is nice today”
Akit hummed, agreeing with him.
“Yuder, do you want to go for a stroll?”
“Hmm..? Didn’t we already visit the market yesterday…”
“Not there” He laughed. “It’s somewhere else but…you also know it”
The omega took another bite, tilting his head at the mysterious wink the other man threw his way.
…
…
…
Yuder, holding Akit’s hand, passed through the thick forest and arrived at a familiar destination. The strong wind carrying the scent of water swirled in the air, while multiple sparkles reflected on the surface as if they were dancing on a milky way. Yuder stared at the flowing stream before him, which reminded him of a certain time.
“This place is…”
“It’s where we first met, isn’t it? I still vividly remember the day a beautiful fairy appeared before me, bestowing me the grace to befriend him. Ah, that fairy is still as beautiful as ever, though”
Akit glanced at the omega and winked. The latter had gotten used to the man’s shameless words, as he chose to ignore them and walked closer to the lake. He took off his shoes and stepped into it, trembling slightly when the water hit him.
“...It’s cold”
The brown-haired man also joined Yuder in the water, he chuckled.
“Indeed, the water is still cool despite being in the summer”
The alpha crouched down and dipped his hands into the water, then he suddenly scooped up some water and splashed it towards Yuder.
“....!!”
Akit laughed out loud when he saw the younger man widening his eyes at his sudden attack, causing his hair and top to get soaked. The omega, however, also didn’t stand still. He scooped water with both of his hands and threw it at the other man, but to his surprise, the alpha skillfully avoided it.
“You…?”
The smugness on the man’s face only provoked Yuder’s competitive spirit furthermore, as he continuously attacked Akit with water. The latter also responded accordingly and soon time flowed quickly while two men were splashing water at each other.
After a while, Akit and Yuder returned to the land, both of which were drenched from head to toe. The alpha picked up a big towel that somehow mysteriously laid on the grass nearby, and wrapped it around the latter.
“You should dry yourself, Yuder, or you will get sick”
“...What about you?”
“Hmm? It’s fine, I’ll do that after taking care of you. Besides, I don’t get sick easily”
Yuder sighed, noticing the second towel on the ground, which the alpha didn’t pick up.
“...Please take care of your own, I can do it myself”
Yuder took the towel from Akit and started drying his hair. The alpha seemed a bit reluctant, but he also complied with the order. After roughly drying themselves, they wrapped the blanket closely around to warm their wet bodies. They sat down on a, once again, miraculously laid out cloth on the ground, big enough for two people. Yuder could feel a cool warmth radiating from the shoulder leaning against his, and the soothing scent that came from it. His clothes were soaking wet, but he didn’t feel cold at all.
The two of them just sat there, no words were spoken. They quietly enjoyed the scenery while listening to the rustling sounds of wind and trees. Occasionally, Akit would tap the omega’s hand with his long fingers to the rhythm of the chirping birds. Yuder was the first one to break the silence, when the peaceful atmosphere started to make him drowsy.
“Sir Zuckerman was the one preparing these, right?”
The brown-haired man turned his head to Yuder. He slightly widened his eyes, but didn’t look too surprised.
“How did you know?”
“…Anyone could have known after that much time. Besides…he would always follow you whenever we went outside”
“Haha! Nathan, did you hear that? He knew that you were here”
Akit laughed heartily as he spoke to himself, only a silence responded to him. Yuder sighed. After all, Nathan was the one bringing all the presents and letters to Yuder whenever Akit couldn’t come, and he would always appear at the right time to remind the alpha of his work. He mentally told himself to give the adjutant some gift for all the trouble he had gone through.
“And that makes me think….”
He turned his head at the other man.
“Akit, are you a noble?”
“…..”
The alpha gazed into the deep obsidian eyes that were looking straight at him, no doubts were visible in those dark orbs. He smiled sheepishly.
“I didn’t mean to hide it from you”
“It’s fine. I had already suspected it, I heard that servants of high-ranking aristocrats are also nobles. Isn’t that why you have Sir Zuckerman as an aide?”
“…….Yes, you’re right”
Yuder thought the long pause was a bit unusual, but nothing seemed wrong as he stared at the man’s handsome face, who was smiling as gently as ever.
“Then….you must have known”
“…….”
“Akit”
“….Yes”
“Since when?”
“From the beginning”
“…Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I…wanted to wait for you to tell me first”
Akit took Yuder’s hand and pulled it towards him, pressing his lips against the soft fingers.
“Can I have the honor to know your real name now, Yuder?”
“………” The omega looked at the tip of his fingers, which were still tingling slightly, as he slowly parted his lips. “………le”
Their gazes intertwined at the next moment, neither of them could look away from each other.
“….Yuder Aile. I…I am the 209th concubine of His Majesty the Emperor”
Yuder lowered his gaze and mumbled in an almost inaudible voice. His throat grew dry as he introduced himself as a concubine, a title that he had almost forgotten about. For some reason, he hated the idea that the other man then knew his true identity, as he clenched his fist tightly.
“But His Majesty has never touched me, not even once” He quickly added. “I—”
“Shh…It’s fine, I know”
Akit took his hand and rubbed circles on the turned-white knuckles, bringing back its original colors.
“Yuder Aile…” The alpha spoke in a soft tone. “...Yuder”
The omega was in a daze as he stared at the man, who kept chanting his name while smiling so brightly it was hard to breathe. His bad feelings disappeared in an instant.
“...Yuder, when it is time for you to fully become an adult, if His Majesty still doesn't show interest in you, will you allow yourself to become mine?”
“........”
Yuder was at a loss of words at the man’s proposal. It was absurd, in fact, especially when they both knew it was impossible. Yuder was the Emperor’s companion, and divorcing a member of the imperial family wasn’t easily allowed, not to mention someone coming from the commoner background like him.
“......Okay”
Having an affair was treason, eloping was also a treason. The whole thing itself was treasonous. Unless the man only proposed because of the mood, Yuder couldn’t understand what he was thinking. However, the omega still couldn’t bring himself to refuse, not after seeing the look in those eyes. The brown-painted orbs that sparkled happily when he said yes, showing a tint of crimson hue when they squinted with joy.
’.....He will forget it anyways’
The omega believed that it was a joke as usual; however, it would be a lie to say he didn’t feel happy in the slightest. For the moment, he shall hold onto their secret promise.
Notes:
Finally, Keilusa was mentioned, but only *mentioned* XD
And trust me, I started this whole fic just because of that one line/idea "Will you become mine if you still keep your innocence until you've grown up?"
Please comment!
Chapter Text
“Yuder!”
The young man with black hair swaying in the wind turned his head around, his obsidian eyes looked dark and deep, yet brimming with life. Yuder was walking around the market when a man, standing behind the food stall, called out to him.
“Can you help me bring those things over there?”
“Ah Yuder, you’re here?” The fruit stand owner also poked his head out from his spot. “Can you lift these too after you’ve done over there?”
The owner pointed at the crates in the distance and Yuder nodded, heading towards them. The omega, who had grown much taller in the past 5 years, picked up the heavy crates in his arms with little effort.
“Should I place them here?”
“Yes yes, thanks for your help” The fruit owner patted him on the shoulder, while laughing. “Man, you’ve turned into a fine young man, huh! Look at you! You don’t even break a sweat”
“It’s nothing…I’m just happy to help”
“Haha! I wish my foolish son could be as good as you. By the way, Akit isn’t coming with you this time?”
Akit and Yuder had visited the market so many times that the sight of the pair, sticking together, has become a well-known fact within the neighborhood. Yuder had memorized the way to the secret passage, so he sneaked out to buy a few things. Many people recognized him on the way; thus, the omega had been called for help from various acquaintances. He would also get gifts in return while helping others, so he didn’t mind.
“...No, he’s busy today”
“I see. It’s somewhat weird to see only one of you though. Anyway, take these as my thank-you gift”
The owner gave him a small paper bag, and a sweet scent immediately permeated the air.
“Those are your favorite apples, right?”
Yuder nodded.
“Yes, your apples are the best in the whole empire”
The older man laughed heartily at the remark.
“It looks like your height and muscles weren’t the only things growing up. By the way, here’s some extra for you”
He handed Yuder a small pouch, making a small rattling noise when placed in the latter’s hand. He instantly recognized what was inside.
“...I don’t need payment”
“Just take it, everyone here has agreed, since you’ve always helped us so much”
“That’s right Yuder!” A nearby middle-age female owner chimed in. “Use that to buy something to eat later”
“.........Then I’ll gladly take it”
Yuder softly sighed, reluctantly accepted under the pressure from others around him, as he thanked them for the generosity.
“Honestly, you’re still too skinny for a 17-year-old man. Did Akit that boy not feed you properly? What did he think, taking care of his lover like this?!”
“............”
’We’re not lovers…’
Even though that was a line that he would always say whenever someone mistook him for being Akit’s partner, no one believed his denial at all and started to acknowledge them as a real couple. And at some point, Yuder had also stopped correcting the rumors.
“You need to tell him to pay more attention to you next time!”
“....Yes, I’ll make sure to tell him”
The omega didn’t know that a smile unconsciously bloomed on his lips when he thought of the alpha being surrounded and scolded with a flustered look on his face if he were here. His heart felt warm and beat loudly inside his chest. He excused himself, after spending some time with the locals.
“....Did he say they aren’t dating?”
“Maybe he’s just shy. Stop teasing him and get back to work!”
The people sighed and scattered, and Yuder was the only one who was oblivious.
…
…
…
Yuder took a bite of the freshly picked apple, making a crunch sound, his facial muscles relaxed as the sweetness hit his taste buds. He finished his errands in the market and returned to his palace. He glanced at the small flowers on the table, tied with a golden ribbon, and attached with a letter, which the sender was none other than Akit. The alpha would always send him a small bouquet with a message like that, whenever they couldn’t meet. Yuder told him that he didn’t need to, but the man insisted on it. Thus, the number of dried flowers stored had almost filled up his drawers.
The omega exhaled softly and put the flowers into a vase, which was also a gift from Akit after seeing his poor excuses of a flower vase. He refilled the water and looked satisfied to see the small flowers, vibrant with its purple hue, bloomed quietly in the vase. He then picked up the opened letter and opened the cabinet, taking out a box and lifting the lid. Inside was full of similar letters, tied in packs and organized neatly. He added the new one and returned the box to its original place.
Then all of a sudden, a cool scent blew by and gently wrapped itself around Yuder. He turned around and searched for a pair of umber orbs, which always shone with joy when looking at him. His obsidian eyes locked gaze with the said ones.
“...You’re late”
The man who was leaning against the doorframe, chuckled as he walked towards the black-haired one.
“My apologies. Work took longer than I expected”
For the past 5 years, Yuder had seen the man excuse himself for work sometimes, but it had increased a bit lately. He never asked for details, though he did feel quite disappointed when the alpha didn’t show up.
“Hmm? Yuder, did you go outside?”
Yuder’s heart skipped a beat when Akit walked towards him, brought his face closer to his and took in his scent. The alpha’s breath slightly tickled his ear as the former chuckled.
“I’m sad. Did you go alone without me?”
Akit made a hurtful expression while pretending to wipe his tears.
“It wasn’t my fault that you were late” He lowered his voice and sighed. “.....I did wait, though”
“What did you say, Yuder? I didn’t catch that. Can you say it again?”
The alpha’s face lit up as he squinted his eyes, smiling widely.
’...Liar. He definitely heard what I said’
“....I’m not going to fall for that trick of yours again”
The brown-haired man laughed when he said that. After the laugh, he smiled softly and ran his fingers through Yuder’s hair at the back, which had grown considerably long during the period.
“....It’s gotten long. It’ll be hot when it’s summer. Don’t you want to cut it?”
“No, it’s…fine. I don’t mind…”
The omega slightly shivered when he felt his finger grazing over his nape near his scent gland. Yuder startled, as he quickly withdrew the aroma that was subconsciously seeping out, hoping that he didn’t make it too obvious. He decided to change the topic before the other man noticed his embarrassing behavior.
“But how did you know?”
“Hmm? Ah, did I tell you can tell a lot from one’s scent? For example, I can sense dust, food and fruits on yours. I guess everyone has been bothering you again, huh?”
“It wasn’t a bother. I’m glad I could help”
“I see, I know you would say that. I also found the scent of grass on you, did you roll on the ground?”
“...A cat was stuck in the tree, so I helped the owner to rescue it, but it kept running away”
“Haha, it must have been quite a sight! Too bad, I wasn’t there to see” He shook his head, looking pitifully. “Lastly, I scented flowers on you, it was very faint so I don’t think you’ve been strolling in the garden…and it’s a very familiar one. Is it, perhaps, the purple lilacs I gave you?”
Yuder had never ceased to be amazed by the man’s deduction skill, precise to the point that it was scary, as if he was present at the scene. He lifted his head and stared into the alpha’s eyes, who was a head taller than him, and locked gaze with him. Yuder couldn’t take his eyes off him, whose gaze was softened the moment they laid on him, and he was left in a daze.
’Recently, I….’
Heat slowly rose to his head and his heartbeat quickened when he heard a chuckle ringing in his ears.
“Oh my, I’m going to get embarrassed if you keep staring at me like that”
“....I was just surprised that you could guess everything from my scent. Or did you actually have Sir Zuckerman to follow me?”
Akit widened his eyes momentarily before bursting out laughing.
“Do you really think so? Too bad, it wasn’t like what you think, your scent is just stronger than usual today, that I could pick out the smallest details”
’….It’s stronger?’
“……”
Perhaps, his heat was coming near, he thought. A complicated expression showed on his face.
“Is it time for your cycle, Yuder?”
“….Perhaps”
“‘Perhaps’? Do you not know when it’ll come?”
Yuder shook his head. “No…they just don’t repeat at the exact time each year. I usually have very mild symptoms, so I can’t really tell when. And I couldn’t sense that my scent is getting stronger”
“…I see. Thank you for telling me, Yuder”
The omega felt a slight disappointment when the fingers, which had been playing with the end of his hair, flinched ever slightly, and withdrew as the other man took a step back. A transparent voice at the back of his head was whining at the emptiness, and he barely held back the impulse to grab those long fingers and bring them back to where they were.
“It seems that I’ll have to distance myself for a while”
The man said with a regretful look on his face, whose gaze never left Yuder, burning the latter’s skin under it. The omega almost reached out his hand and touched that face, tracing his fingers along those handsome figures. However, his hands had already retreated behind his back before he could commit such an act.
“Can you stay for a bit longer today?” Yuder blurted out, causing the other man to widen his eyes. “....I mean, you haven’t been showing up much lately…and my heat is coming…so…”
’What am I even saying’
A wave of embarrassment washed over Yuder, but it was too late for him to take back what he said. “....No, nevermind. That wasn’t what I meant–”
The black-haired man tried to withdraw his hand which had previously pulled the other man’s sleeve impulsively; however, it was caught mid-air, causing it to flinch slightly, as if he was caught doing something bad, but soon relaxed in the familiarity of a much firmer hand. Then, the fingers naturally intertwined.
“...How can you be this lovely, Yuder?”
“.....”
“If that is what my most precious fairy wants, how could I have the heart to refuse?”
Heat rushed to the tip of his fingers where Akit’s lips touched softly, and Yuder’s heart beat wildly inside his chest when he saw the forever sweet smile directed at only him, whenever they were together. The omega secretly hoped that the other man wouldn’t be able to hear his thumping sounds.
“Where do you want to go today, Yuder? Your wish shall be my command”
It was weird seeing a noble man like him acting like a servant who would listen to any words he uttered, but oddly enough, Yuder felt a faint satisfaction he didn’t know existed inside him before he met the man.
“...I don’t know. Just anywhere is fine”
“Hmm…” The alpha pondered for a moment. “How about Le d'Or Patisserie? I know you don’t like fancy stores, but eating some sweets once in a while doesn’t sound bad, does it? Besides, the cakes I brought are from there”
Akit chuckled as he saw Yuder’s eyes slightly lightened up at the mention of cakes, even though the latter didn’t notice it himself.
“Then it’s settled. Shall we depart?”
The alpha led the way, and Yuder’s heart squeezed internally, just like how the strong hand holding his carefully did.
…
…
…
Akit said he would take him to the dessert shop, or so he thought, until he found himself standing in front of a big double-mirror inside a luxurious boutique, donning clothes that screamed nobility and elegance. He was currently trying on the seventeenth outfit Akit chose for him, despite his attempted objection.
Dressed on him were a black top and white coat, accompanied by two black sashes that wrapped around his shoulders like a shawl, and the rest were attached off-shoulder by two emerald crystals, and let loose, reaching his thigh-length. Yuder thought they looked somewhat like wings, as they were made from translucent silk with small stones at the end, fluttering and glittering like stars in a dark night sky. Even the top he was wearing was made of high-quality fabric, incredibly soft to the touch. It was decorated with two lines of buttons on the chest, with strings connecting them. On the collar of his coat pinned a golden button, shaped like a sun medal, connected to one of his sash, with small tassels dangling. The silky sashes were held in place by two black belts hanging on his waist. And a pure red ruby was engraved in the middle; an exact yet smaller gem could also be seen on the high neck of his shirt. His trousers were as white as the top, as they wrapped around his legs perfectly. A pair of leather shoes similar in color was also chosen.
Despite the lack of colorful colors like the other clothes displayed in the store, its elegance wasn’t diminished one bit. Yuder stared at his own reflection in the mirror, amused at how much a simple piece of fabric could drastically change one’s look. The omega wasn’t one to be indulged in lavish things, yet he couldn’t help but admire the clothes Akit had chosen for him, as if they were made with his image in mind.
He was suddenly reminded of the conversation they had prior to that event.
”...I told you I don’t need fancy clothes”
“Yuder…” Akit looked at the obsidian eyes, which had been glaring at him the moment he led the younger man to the boutique, smiling sheepishly. “I know. I also like the way you usually dress, simple yet could never hide your beauty. In fact, you would still look cute no matter what you wear”
“......”
“But Yuder, won’t you please indulge me with this for just once? I assure that you wouldn’t be dissatisfied”
“......”
“Yuder, please?”
The black-haired man could feel his irritation slip away the moment he saw those brown puppy eyes looking at him so intently, and whatever complaint he was about to voice went out of the window. In the end, he couldn’t refuse the other man.
“......Fine. Do whatever you want”
Yuder let out a deep sigh, not knowing that he would feel regret coming inside later.
The boutique’s staff greeted Akit cheerfully the moment he entered, as if he had visited the store frequently. Yuder’s useless thoughts dissipated when the owner personally greeted him, smiling.
”Oh my, is this the ‘fairy’ you’ve always been talking about?”
The omega flinched slightly, not expecting for that nickname to show up on another person’s mouth. He glanced at Akit, who was smiling shamelessly, demanding an explanation.
“That’s right. Isn’t he beautiful? Please bring out everything you have”
The next scenario unfolding in front of Yuder’s eyes was a chain of bewilderment, amazement and vertigo. He was dragged away and had his measurements taken. Then, multiple rows of clothes were displayed in front of them, and Akit was the one giving orders. Yuder started trying on the first outfit, then the second one, third, fourth and so many more that he stopped counting at one point, as the exhaustion had begun to catch up.
He had donned various types of clothings, from comfortable ones used for daily activities, to fancy ones he thought he would never have the chance to wear for the second time in his lifetime. At around the tenth round, the omega was about to stomp out of the changing room, and tell the alpha to stop the nonsense. However, his quickened steps halted after witnessing the serious look in Akit’s umber eyes scanning the shelves, and as they squinted when a soft smile naturally bloomed on his face when he had picked up a suitable piece. ‘Yes, this would look good on him’, was what he barely heard.
“......”
Yuder sighed and went back to behind the curtains, where the dressing room was. He quietly apologized to the staff member, who looked troubled when he suddenly dashed out of the room. She looked relieved upon Yuder’s return. And the omega cooperated without another complaint until the current outfit.
‘Well, it’s true that it wasn’t dissatisfying…’. He thought while looking at the mirror, when he heard a voice coming from behind the curtains.
“Yuder, can I come in?”
“...Yes”
The black-haired man heard the sounds of the curtains being pulled open behind him. He saw all the staff gasping and covering their mouths, before hurrying leaving the room; a silence remained. Yuder fixated his gaze on the mirror, listening to the approaching footsteps as a tall figure slowly appeared within his sight.
Only when Akit’s image was reflected in the mirror did he understand why the staff looked surprised and flustered. The brown-haired man had changed into a different outfit, in fact, it was almost identical to the one he was wearing. He dressed in full-white, and instead of two silk sashes like Yuder, Akit only wore one on his waist and draped over his broad shoulder. He also had black belts and the red rubies, one on the belt, and one on his top. The omega’s gaze fell to his chest, where a similar golden pin shone under the light, though shaped like a crescent moon.
Thump. His heart beat loudly, matching the rhythm of each footstep that was coming closer. He didn’t turn around, but his eyes remained fixated on the reflection of the other man, who seemed to have noticed his staring, as they intertwined their gazes. Yuder had always thought Akit was a handsome man, even when he was in normal clothes. However, this was the first time he had seen the man in formal clothing, and the omega couldn’t help but be surprised at how good-looking he was. Only times like that reminded him that the alpha was also a noble, he thought.
The reflection grew larger as Yuder was lost in his thoughts, until the sounds of footsteps halted. He felt a familiar warmth radiating from the body behind him, along with a distinctive scent. The black-haired omega’s heart thumped wildly, as he was standing between the alpha and the mirror. It wasn’t as if there were no means of escape, however, he couldn’t help but feel helplessly trapped, like a prey in a predator’s sight.
Yuder felt his throat go dry when he saw those umber eyes faintly shone with a crimson hue, scanning his whole body, which had gotten stiff under that scrutinizing gaze, as if it was burning his skin. Those said orbs had done their inspection and finally landed on the obsidian counterparts; almost instantly, a smile appeared on the man’s lips as he picked up the omega’s silky fabric, and softly kissed the end of it. Yuder thought he wanted to touch those lips. A low chuckle rang in his ears before his impulse got him.
“...You’re beautiful, Yuder. How can you look so perfect?”
Each word he breathed ticklish Yuder’s ear, making the omega dizzy as he took just a whiff of the latter’s scent. A voice rang inside his head, telling him to turn around, urging him to embrace the beast, taking in more of that alluring aroma until his brain became completely numb.
’Am I acting this way because of my heat…?’
However, his heart sank when the alpha took a step away from him, withdrawing his pheromones and a slight coldness washed over Yuder’s back. He suppressed a groan as he turned around, then he met the other man’s flustered gaze.
“....Your scent is getting stronger”
“....!” The omega quickly withdrew his scent, not realizing that he had been emitting it. “....Sorry”
“There’s no need to apologize” He held Yuder’s hand and rubbed his fingers, leading him as they left the changing room. “Do you like the outfits?”
“...Yes, I like this one”
“No, not only that”
“Yes?”
“I meant all of them, the ones you’ve tried on”
“….I think they’re all beautiful…but—”
“Alright, then we’ll take them all. Please deliver them to this place”
Akit gestured to the staff and gave the order, immediately bringing joyful smiles to their faces. They quickly prepared the clothes Yuder had tried on. He remembered there were roughly around seventeen outfits, including the one he was wearing. However, the actual number of boxes they were packaging was more than that. In fact, the extra bags were the ones that briefly caught his eyes during the dressing. He was somewhat amused that the alpha noticed such small detail.
“Wait, Akit—I don’t need that much”
“Don’t worry, they’re all comfortable clothes you can wear every day”
“That’s not the problem here”
Akit tilted his head, feigning ignorance. “Please just think of it as another selfish gift of mine. You don’t need to use it if you don’t want to”
“……”
’How could I not…’
Yuder had never once thrown away any gift Akit gave him, even the smallest ones. He was thinking of his almost empty wardrobe, which will soon be filled up, while the other man settled the payment. Then, he held out his hand, which the latter took.
“Shall we go now?”
Finally, they departed for their original destination.
Notes:
For their outfit references, please check out my post!
I'm so bad at clothes describing that I resorted to sketching it 🥹🥹🥹
Please comment!
Chapter Text
Le d'Or Patisserie, or The Golden Patisserie, as Akit explained on the way, appeared just like its name. Yuder was somewhat amazed at the big building covered in gold tiles, engraved with elegant and detailed sculptures. It looked a bit too grand for simply being a dessert shop though, he thought.
’Just how much money was spent in building this…?’
Another thing that surprised him was the long queue in front of it. By long, it was very long. Yuder couldn’t see the end of the line at all. While he was contemplating on whether they should suffer waiting or they should just choose another place, he heard a chuckle besides him.
“This place is the most famous patisserie in the empire. Rumors said that the head chef was a retired patissier from the palace, thus the quality is top-notch. You can tell this, don’t you?” Akit winked at the dumbfounded omega. “Even the imperial family have to wait for months to get a reservation”
“...Even the imperial family? Shouldn’t we go back…?”
“Hmm? Are you concerned about that line? Haha, don’t worry, Yuder. In fact, I’ve made a reservation a long time ago, hoping for a chance like this to come. I now can finally use it”
Yuder stared at the mischievous look on the man’s face, disbelief showed on his expression.
“....Didn’t you say not even the royal family can easily come here?”
“Hmm?”
The alpha tilted his head and smiled, playing the innocent card.
“.....”
Yuder sighed. He had already given up on being curious about many of the alpha’s mysteries, so he just accepted them as they were. “Fine, let’s just go in”
The brown-haired man beamed when the omega gave his permission, as he put one arm behind his back, while holding out the other and bending slightly like an escort. The act was so elegant that Yuder was momentarily at a loss of words.
’Is this the right thing to do…?’
The alpha smiled sweetly when Yuder shyly wrapped around the former’s arm and placed his hand on it, trying his best to imitate how the aristocrats he had seen throughout the years did. The omega sneaked a glance at other people. There were more nobles than wealthy commoners in the queue, all of which were wearing fancy clothes. So the both of them didn’t look out of place at all. He wondered if that was the reason why the alpha took him to the boutique earlier.
He noticed a few glances from the crowd of people on them, some of which even whispered something to each other, whether due to curiosity as they skipped the line and went straight to the entrance earlier, or because of the scene they made at the entrance. Nevertheless, that didn’t bother Yuder one bit, as he felt safe embraced softly by the scent of the man beside him. Akit showed the waiter at the entrance some kind of pass, and the latter politely welcomed them inside.
From afar, one’s gaze followed the black hair swaying in the wind.
“That is…?”
…
…
…
The waiter took them to the balcony on the second floor. Unlike the interior which was crowded with customers, the balcony seemed more like a private space as there were seats prepared for only the two of them, a set of tea tables and chairs made from marbles placed under a big parasol, ensuring enough sunlight to brighten the place, but not too much to become uncomfortable for the guests. Furthermore, they could see the lively streets of the Second District clearly from that height, so the scenery was just perfect. The gentle breeze accompanied by the gentle aroma of decorative flowers also complimented the atmosphere.
“Do you like it here?”
“Yes…it’s beautiful, and comfortable”
Akit smiled softly. “I’m glad to hear that”
The two of them leisurely chatted until the tea and desserts were served. In front of Yuder was a five-layered tower stand full of various cakes and sweets, it was so grand that he could barely see what was behind, since it had occupied most of the space.
“…Why did you order so much?”
“There were so many, it was quite hard to choose so I just ordered everything I thought you’d like” He winked shamelessly for a man who just said to purchase the whole menu. “Let’s start with this one”
Akit took a plate on the tower and placed it in front of Yuder. It was a slice of a chocolate cake decorated with pure white cream and cherries on top, sprinkled with gold dust. The black-haired man sighed and picked up the fork, taking a bite. The bittersweet chocolate melted and mixed with the sweet cream on his tongue, a taste he was overly familiar with. And before he knew it, the first piece was finished in no time. A second slice with a different flavor miraculously appeared before him, followed by a third one, and so on. When the fifth slice was placed in front of him, he lifted his head and met the culprit's eyes, who was smiling innocently at him.
“...Aren’t you eating too?”
“It’s fine. I prefer watching you eat so well”
“.....” Yuder silently pushed the plate of macaroons towards the opposite side. “At least have one”
“My, what a sweet offer. But what should I do? I think it would be more tempting if someone were to give me one himself” He said, smirking mischievously. “Alas, that was a joke. Yuder, you don’t have to–”
“Here”
The brown-haired man froze when the younger man picked up a yellow macaroon and held it towards him. He only said it as a jest, to tease the latter; however, he immediately became flustered before the omega’s bold action. Yuder watched as the playful smile disappeared from the man’s face, replaced by a bewildered and embarrassed expression. The alpha remained silent for a while, yet showed no intention to receive the sweet. He had hidden his face with his hand, so the younger man couldn’t see the faint reddish hue subtly spreading to the former’s cheek ends. Yuder just wondered if the man didn’t want to eat it.
’....I forgot, nobles don’t like eating from other people’s hands…much less coming from a commoner like me.
Spending too much time with Akit, who normally didn’t act like an usual nobleman, had dulled Yuder’s impressions about the aristocratic world. His heart throbbed thinking of the fact, he had hoped for the man to be at least different.
Perhaps, he also…’
“...Nevermind, I was getting ahead of myself. I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable–”
Before he could take back his arm, which had grown a bit tired after holding out for some time, however, a strong grip had caught his wrist and he was pulled forwards. Yuder widened his eyes at the abrupt force causing him to collide with a pair of soft lips. Perhaps due to the suddenness, Akit not only took a bite of the macaroon, but his lips had also grazed over the tips of his fingers ever so slightly. Goosebumps spreaded from where they were in contact to his spine in an instant, and heat rushed to his cheeks as they slowly turned into a faint pink hue. Judging from his perspective, it looked like the alpha was eating not only the sweet, but also his hand. The way those umber orbs slightly glanced upwards and met his gaze was surprisingly seductive, as he thought.
Yuder was left in a daze even after that handsome face moved away and his wrist was released, staring at the soft smile appearing on the latter’s lips.
“....It’s sweet”
“......”
“What’s wrong, Yuder? Do you want to feed me another one?”
“....Do it yourself”
Akit laughed at the omega’s cold response. But he didn’t notice the rapid heartbeat of the younger man, who hid his hand beneath the table, his fingers still tingling from the brief contact. The omega proceeded to take another cake slice and pick up the fork, acting like nothing happened. He hid himself behind the dessert tower, though he couldn’t stop the flush creeping up his earlobes.
…
…
…
“Was it good, Yuder?”
“Yes…they were delicious”
Surprisingly, they ended up finishing more than half of that enormous amount of desserts, and Yuder was the one eating the most. They had ordered the rest to be packaged and taken back. Their identities couldn’t be revealed, so he knew it would be the southerner adjutant who would deliver the cakes, as well as the clothes later.
“I wonder if Sir Zuckerman would also eat sweets…” Yuder mumbled with a low voice, but Akit had caught on to his words.
“Oh my, are you suggesting buying souvenirs for my adjutant? What about me? I’m going to get jealous, you know”
He let out a sigh at the man’s shameless confession.
“….I just want to thank him for running between my and your places. I feel bad for making him do all the work every time”
“I know, I was just teasing you” He laughed softly. “Nathan would feel appreciated hearing those words, I’ll make sure to convey them to him. As for sweets…he might not be a big fan, but he wouldn’t refuse were you to give him one”
“I see…”
“If you want, I can go back inside and buy a few extra cakes”
“There’s no need to—”
“Your favorite was that fruit tart right? But you enjoyed eating the chocolate and blueberry ones too…oh dear, should I just order everything?”
“……Just the fruit tart”
Akit laughed heartily. “Alright, I’ll return soon, Yuder”
Yuder nodded, looking at the man returning inside the patisserie, whose gaze lingered on the former for a tad too long. A foreign wave of emotions stirred through his unchanging eyes, reflected in those of umber hue. The alpha hadn’t been away for long, yet the longing sustained.
The omega chose a more secluded spot to wait for the other man, to avoid people’s curious gazes. His fingers fiddled with the swaying tassel, though his mind was some elsewhere. Only when he heard a voice calling his name did he regain his consciousness.
“Hey. Are you Yuder Aile?”
The black-haired man lifted his head and met a woman’s gaze. She wore a very fancy dress, to the point it looked ostentatious, with many sparkling jewelry. She was holding a fan to cover half of her face, exposing only her scrutinizing gaze upon Yuder. The latter stared back at her in confusion, yet having no intention to answer the stranger.
“I asked you. Are you Yuder Aile?”
“…..I am”
Yuder reluctantly spoke when the woman got impatient and frowned. He didn’t understand how she could have known his name, nor had he been acquainted with any nobles, except for one man. No one could have known him after all those years living alone in his place, except for the people working in the market. Even so, they didn’t know he had been given a surname.
“Ah! I knew it from the moment I see that eerie black hair and eyes”
“Is that the omega you talked about, honey?”
The man standing beside her smirked at his way. It wasn’t that Yuder didn’t see him, but he just decided to ignore the person who the woman was clinging to so closely. He frowned at the way he sarcastically referred to him as an omega.
“Yeah that’s him, the only omega who passed the test using connections”
Ah. It was then Yuder realized.
’…She must be one of the concubines’
One of those who spread malicious rumors about Yuder being chosen due to favoritism. Among the passed ones, a few of them actually were from aristocratic bloodlines. Naturally, a ranking system was formed within the harem.
’…If I remember correctly…she was the one bothering me the most’
Unwanted memories of the past resurfaced, leaving a bitter taste in his throat. He recalled the days when he was nothing more than a young naive 10-year-old boy when he first stepped foot into the palace, and the incident that made him shut himself inside his place for years.
He, too, was a young boy like all others. He was at the age when his curiosity started to ignite. And the imperial palace was the perfect place for him to wander around, satisfying his thirst for knowledge outside of his small world deep within the mountains. Everything looked grand and sparkling in the eyes of the young man.
”…Oh god, no wonder why it started to reek of commoners here”
The young Yuder turned his head towards the voice, where he found three older girls were standing. One of them was covering her face with a fan, frowning at him as if she was looking at something filthy.
“What a pity for the servants, seeing how they have to clean everything again”
The girls behind her started to laugh after what she said. Yuder at that age didn’t fully understand the hidden meaning in their mocking tone, but he at least noticed that the target of their sarcasm was himself.
“…Who are you?”
The girls stopped laughing among themselves and stared at the omega. The one in front glared at him.
“Hmph. How can a filthy omega like you deserve to ask for my name?” She narrowed her eyes. “…I’ve heard the rumors, no wonder why that official adores you. It must be nice to have someone to pat your back”
“…I didn’t have any connections”
“Don’t get cocky yet. Just because you managed to seduce one, do you think you can use the same trick to His Majesty? I will be the one to capture his heart, not some filthy commoner like you!”
‘I didn’t even want his attention in the first place’
Yuder felt like he didn’t need to listen to their nonsense any longer, as he turned around and left the place, despite their angry insults. He felt annoyed when people kept talking behind his back when they didn’t know the full story. He didn’t want to run into them anymore, so he tried to change his route. Fortunately, he didn’t. He was relieved, thinking that he could continue exploring in peace. However, he didn’t expect that to just be a calmness before the storm.
“…Is that him?”
Yuder slightly flinched when he overheard a few maids talking nearby, sneaking their not-very-discreet glances towards him.
“You could never guess…he’s still a kid but…”
“I guess even kids would do outrageous things for wealth and glory huh…”
The rumors of him using his connections to pass the tests didn’t stop there. It somehow turned into him being someone who seduced, and sold his body to the official in order to get a seat in the harem. And that he would do anything to claim the position of the Prince Consort, which was the highest ranking among the harem.
At first, he didn’t care about them. After all, rumors were still rumors, destined to be forgotten after enough time had passed. However, he had underestimated how much it slowly weighed down on his heart.
Whenever he went, he was met with curious, pitiful, and contemptuous gazes, whether they were from the servants, or other concubines. Even a few familiar faces from his village, who also passed the test, started to distance themselves from him. His patience finally snapped when one alpha servant, claimed to be someone who served the Emperor, could help him meet with His Majesty if the omega was willing to warm the bed with him. Yuder couldn’t remember what happened to that servant after the young man had almost beaten him to death.
Yuder Aile was no longer seen outside his palace after that incident.
“I didn’t expect you to show your face after all those years at all. I thought you had dried up inside that run-down palace of yours!”
She smirked, folding her fan.
“What are you doing here? This isn’t some place for a commoner like you to come” She looked up and down at Yuder. “…And what’s with that fancy attire? How could someone like you afford to wear something like this?”
“…It’s none of your business”
The woman’s face turned red, fuming with anger.
“…?! You dare to talk back to me?! This insolent commoner—”
“—!!!”
She raised her hand and swung it towards Yuder, with the intention to slap the latter. However, before it could come in contact with the omega’s cheek, a large hand had grabbed her wrist in time, halting the action. The other hand slipped around Yuder’s waist and pulled him close, causing him to slightly lose the balance and fumbled into a firm embrace.
It could have been considered a sexual harassment were someone to grab his body like that in the daylight, but the cool fragrance drifting off the person’s body gave him absolute insurance, as he trusted them wholeheartedly. He placed his hand on the broad chest, allowing himself to be protected in the safest place ever.
Turning his head slightly upwards, he met a worried mixed with angry gaze imbued in those brown eyes of the man.
“Are you hurt, Yuder?”
The alpha asked slowly, though there was a faint trembling beat in his tone. His thick scent gradually softened the moment Yuder assured him he was fine, showing his relief yet leaving behind a trace of guilt, as if he was ready to blame himself if he was a second late to stop that attack. Yuder shuddered at the chilly sensation hidden in the depths of his scent, aiming not at him, but at the alpha himself.
“What are you doing—Let go of this instant!”
The woman’s companion stomped towards Akit and tried to remove the hand that gripped around her wrist, though it was in vain. The grip wasn’t tight enough to break the wrist, but it was enough to make the woman flustered and horrified at the force applied.
“L-Let go!”
She tried to yank her hand back, and when Akit suddenly released the grip, it caused her to step on her long dress and stumble backwards. She would have fallen flat onto the ground if it weren’t for the other man to support her in time.
“…What’s the meaning of this? I didn’t expect to find a lady like you assaulting others in the broad daylight”
The woman flushed, raising her voice.
“What do you mean assaulting?! I was just teaching that commoner omega a few etiquettes!”
“Does that give you the rights to slap people in the middle of the streets? It seems like the one who need etiquette lessons isn’t him, but someone else”
Since she had stupidly raised her voice too loudly earlier, it had attracted quite a few spectators. A few nobles among them were amused at the unfolding scene. The woman’s face turned even redder due to the fury and embarrassment. She bit her lips, gripping the fan tightly as he glared at the alpha, then at Yuder, who was still gently embraced by the former.
“…Hah, I see, now I understand” She unfolded the fan and hid her smirk. “What a little whore you are! Not only did you sell your body to the officials to get into the imperial palace—but you also performed scandalous acts with another man!”
“….What?”
“Yes…yes, that explains the luxurious clothes you’re wearing…and also the reason why you appeared at this place today” She kept on rambling nonsense. “Hah—I thought you’ve learned your place and chose to live quietly for the rest of your life. But I guess one couldn’t hide his true nature!”
Yuder frowned deeply, feeling his blood boiled with anger at the false accusation. He would have been fine were he the only subject at her lies; however, a different feeling of anger bubbled up within him when the alpha, too, had to bear the same weight as him.
The black-haired omega softly placed his hand on top of the other man’s, when he was about to speak. Their gazes met and the latter was a bit surprised seeing the newfound determination within those deep black orbs. No words were spoken, yet the intentions were transmitted clearly. The alpha exhaled deeply, his gaze softened as he watched the younger man leave his embrace, stand before him and look straight ahead.
“W-What..? You dare to look at me like that? Are you not ashamed?!” She flinched, couldn’t fully look into those unwavering black eyes.
“Why should I? I haven’t done a single thing to be ashamed of, and—” He spoke with a clear voice. “—there’s no need for me to bow my head before you”
In other words, we were of the same status, why must I lower myself?
’I never thought there would be a day I would use the title I’ve almost forgotten like this….’
The title of a concubine.
Yuder never relaxed his straightened back and gaze, nor did he need to glance at the man behind him, for his scent was alone to reassure the omega. He thought of the alpha’s face, whose gaze never left his side, so tender and full of affection and trust for the former. The imagination alone was enough to fill his chest with warmth, and his heart once again thumped in a familiar rhythm.
“I’ve never wanted to enter the palace in the first place, and I don’t care if you fight each other to gain His Majesty’s favor. I absolutely have no interest in those matters. But…I won’t stand still anymore if you keep spouting nothing but lies”
“…Besides, aren’t you the one performing scandalous acts here? How do you explain the man you’ve been clinging to next to you?” The couple flinched at Yuder’s remark, hitting the bullseye. “I could inform this to His Majesty, and I believe he will be a fair judge in this matter”
The woman gripped the fan even more tightly, her hand trembling strongly, yet the anger in her eyes seemed to have disappeared completely.
“N-Nonsense..! The Emperor wouldn’t believe words from the likes of you– Do you have proof that I’m having an affair?!”
She still tried to act high and mighty, yet her pale face couldn’t be hidden in the instant the Emperor was mentioned.
“Do you really think so?” Akit, who had been silent all the time, spoke. “I didn’t intend to interfere, however, there are two things I’d like to clarify. Firstly, His Majesty isn’t someone who discriminate people based on their status”
He stepped forward and stopped beside the younger man, the cool fragrance emitted gently wrapped around the latter. Yuder’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the alpha sneakily give him a smile.
“And secondly, you said you wanted proof, didn’t you? I believe that I, along with many spectators gathering today, will more than be enough to bring forth the truth”
The alpha stared at the trembling woman, who obviously had all colors drained from the face, with his brown-colored orbs faintly shone with a chilling crimson hue sending chills to whoever facing them.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“I…I…”
“Tch, who do you think you are—threatening a lady from house Larna—”
“S-Stop!” The woman frantically stopped the companion who tried to shout back at Akit and Yuder. Then she pulled on his arm and tried to leave the scene. “L-Let’s just go..! I can’t stand dealing with these commoners anymore..!”
“Wait”
“Wh-What else do you want?!”
“You still haven’t apologized to Yuder, for slandering him in the publics”
“Why should I—”
She tried to refute, however, words stuck inside her throat upon seeing the icy look within the brown-haired man’s eyes, an invisible force pressing upon her. Clicking her tongue, she turned towards the omega, raising her voice.
“Fine…! I apologize—There, happy!?”
It was obviously not a proper apology, but Yuder didn’t care as he watched the annoying pair scurrying away. Then he noticed the people’s curiosity had switched to them, since those two had escaped.
“It’s quite noisy here. Shall we go somewhere else?”
He felt a strong hand at that moment grabbing his, and Yuder entrusted himself to be led away.
Chapter Text
“Are you alright, Yuder?”
Moving away from the scene, they escaped to the central plaza and found a place to sit down. Akit had put the coat he brought along on themselves, to avoid attracting attention.
“Yes, I’m fine”
“…You know I didn’t mean it that way”
Yuder widened his eyes for a moment, then he casted his gaze downwards, on his fingers fumbling the hem of the coat. He knew the man didn’t ask only about his physical condition, but also about his feelings.
“I’m…fine” He gazed into the man’s eyes, staring at him so tenderly yet worriedly. “I truly mean it. I’ve never cared for those rumors, as long as they bring no harm to me”
“…I see. You looked quite worked up earlier, so I thought you must have been upset”
Yuder was surprised, did he really look that way?
He had always had an indifferent expression, he rarely showed emotions on his face. It must have appeared so if Akit, who had always been keen on the slightest change of Yuder, noticed. He pondered, perhaps it was an effect due to his coming-soon heat, when his rationality was all messed up.
However, he clearly remembered the anger he felt at that time, a feeling that he never knew existed within him before. But why did it appear the moment the alpha was mentioned?
‘I’m fine if it was me alone…but I don’t want Akit to be involved in shameful rumors…’
Was that the reason? Was that the real reason why he stood up and fought back against the rumors, which he deemed unnecessary for the first time?
He glanced at the alpha, and their gazes met. The moment he saw his own silhouette, still ever so strongly reflected in those umber hues of the orbs, blood rushed to his cheeks and warmth filled his chest. His heart beat loudly as he stared into that deep gaze, or those long eyelashes, the chiseled nose, the soft plump lips.
His face heated up once again, recalling touching those lips earlier, as he turned his head away. Unfamiliar yet familiar feelings bubbled up and bursted.
Was it really a side-effect of his heat?
No.
It wasn’t the first time the omega had felt this way. He just decided to ignore it, that was it.
‘Perhaps I have…’
While Yuder was lost in thought, a cool thing gently caressed his cheek, it was Akit’s hand.
“…You’re warm. Your heat might be coming soon. We should head back early today”
“……Ah”
Akit stood up and held out his hand as usual, and Yuder knew where they would go next if he took that hand. However, a rebellious voice inside was telling him otherwise, that he didn’t want it to end yet, that he still wanted to spend a little bit more time with the other man. He softly bit his lips.
“….Is it fine if we look around more?”
“Hmm? But Yuder, you should rest”
“I’m fine, this is just a slight fever. My heat won’t come right away” He tilted his head ever so slightly, the long bangs that covered his eyes fell to the side, revealing those black orbs looking at the other’s eyes. “…Is that a no?”
The alpha flinched momentarily, and Yuder couldn’t help but notice the faint blush spreading on his cheeks, a common phenomenon whenever the omega asked for something. To be honest, it was way out of character for him to act cutely in front of others.
’It’s embarrassing….’
However, that was something he had learnt from the man himself, and surprisingly, it had always been super-effective. It was nice to see him being the one flustered, who always had Yuder’s way with his smooth words, after all.
“.....Yuder, you’re so….” Akit smiled softly, an inaudible sigh escaped his lips. “…Alright, if that’s what you wished for”
Yuder took the hand that was outstretched towards him, and stood up together with the alpha.
“How about we visit the 7th District today?”
True to his words, Akit took Yuder to the outermost layer of the capital. Passing the barrier between the sixth and seventh districts, the atmosphere changed almost instantly compared to that within the second district, since it was the place most commoners resided. There were no tall and extravagant buildings, nor many people in aristocratic dresses walking around. Instead, there were only simple houses and citizens in their normal clothes doing their daily activities. It looked more comfortable, like the small village where he grew up, and a nostalgic wave washed over him.
It’s been a long time since Yuder had visited places that made him feel like home, so he couldn’t contain his excitement. Akit saw that and chuckled.
“Let’s look around, shall we?”
He took the omega’s hand and they started roaming around the busy streets. Contrary to the 2nd District’s streets, it was much more chaotic and livelier here. There were noises from everywhere, from the merchants selling their products, to the children’s laughter as they ran around, or sometimes from the drunkard people having a toast in the middle of daylight. Overall, it was a total mess. But those chaotic scenes weren’t something foreign to Yuder, as he was born and grew up in the rurals, which looked much worse than here.
They took their time looking at the stalls which could not be found in the inner layers’ market, and listened to the unique products they offered. The two of them were wearing their coats to hide their clothes, although mostly no one was curious about their identities. Of course, there were always exceptions. Like how a merchant tried to rip Akit off when he tried to buy a small pen that caught his partner’s attention. Even Yuder found the price ridiculous, however, the man didn’t pay any mind, or even found it interesting, and was willingly to pay for it if it weren’t for the former to drag him away.
“....Akit, you must have known, right?”
“Hmm? Known what?”
“That he was a swindler. No one would sell a normal quill pen for a silver coin”
“Oh, but I thought it was a fine price if it pleased my precious fairy. I would have even paid more for it”
“..........” Yuder was made speechless before the man’s shameless words, but his heart was beating wildly as if he was happy. “.....Just don’t do it again. It’ll only attract more troubles”
Yuder started scolding him and talked about how the life of a commoner worked, as well as their tricks, since he thought a noble like him wouldn’t know. Akit listened to every word of his, a smile naturally bloomed on his lips.
“Would you mind telling me more? I want to hear stories about your childhood”
“....It’ll be boring though”
“Nonsense, nothing about you is dull. When I’m with you, there is no second that isn’t meaningful, dear Yuder”
Yuder pretended to look far into the sky, which had started to change into an orange hue, to hide the blush creeping up his ears, and the vivid sound of his heart racing against his chest. His eyes wandered around, trying to find anything that would help him distract.
He then noticed a small stall on the side of the streets, where all sounds didn’t seem to reach the vendor. Coming closer, he noticed an old lady was selling small gemstones and accessories; however, the colors looked dull and the shapes were…somewhat clumsy, to the point Yuder couldn’t figure out whether it was a bracelet or a necklace. Furthermore, the prices seemed a bit high for something of that quality. It was a given that there were no customers at all.
“Young man, do you want to buy a gift for your beloved?”
Yuder was staring at the products when the old lady called out to him. She smiled kindly when their gazes met.
“You must be thinking that these unsightly things are being sold for a high price”
“I didn’t….”
“It’s fine, it’s fine…I know everyone says the same thing. Those people only looked at what’s on the outside, and ended up missing what’s inside”
“The inside…?”
“Yes! These items, in fact, have magic imbued into them. It will bring fortune and blessings to those who can see their true colors…”
The old lady went on rambling about the effects of each item, for example, that earring but only had one side with a poorly cut blue gemstone was said to bring luck to oneself, or that bracelet that was tied very roughly was believed to bless one with good health, and so on. Yuder couldn’t understand much, actually. However, the man standing next to him seemed to take it differently.
“Interesting…I do sense magical power in them, albeit faintly”
’…Huh? It’s actually real?’
Yuder was looking at the alpha in bewilderment, while the old lady showed her joy at the alpha’s remark.
“Oh?! That handsome young man over there, you can feel it?….This is the first time that someone actually believed me…”
“……”
Yuder wondered if this was really okay. At this rate, wouldn’t Akit be scammed and ripped off again? Should he intervene once more?
While the omega was contemplating whether to leave or not, a hand plopped onto his head, followed by a small laugh.
“It’s okay, Yuder. It’s the truth. The magic isn’t very strong, but the fact that it’s still visible” He smiled. “Shall we take a look? You look very interested in them”
Well, despite looking quite unsightly, it was true that Yuder had been somewhat intrigued. He nodded and crouched down in front of the vendor, browsing the contents. The products included a variety of accessories, from rings to bracelets, necklaces, brooches, cuffs and even earrings. Though most of them had a very shabby display, a few ones that were supposed to be worn in pairs missed one of each, too.
Among the miscellaneous things, a couple of rings caught Yuder’s eyes. He picked up the rings and examined them. The ring shank, which looked somewhat like silver at first glance, was actually made of common metal. And the outer surface, as if it had been carved in a rush, appeared rugged and didn’t shine much.
“Oho? You have good eyes, little man. Those rings are the best thing I have. It’s the best gift for young couples like you two! They’ll bring you protection, happiness, and the blessing of good health”
Yuder listened to the explanation and wondered whether this was another lie to trick customers into buying their stuff. He looked at the ring galleries attaching the small, rough gemstones, one ring with a dark brown color, while the other was deep black. The colors seemed a bit too dreary to be a couple charm. Akit also crouched down next to Yuder and examined the rings.
“That one is garnet, and the other is amethyst, right?”
“I knew you’d be able to notice. Try bringing it under the light”
While Yuder was still surprised that the alpha could recognize the name of the jewels, he did as he was told and held the rings to the sky, letting the remaining sunlight shine through them.
“.....!”
The omega widened his eyes at the phenomenon before his eyes, and he was at a loss of words. The dark and gloomy colors of the gemstones were nowhere to be seen, instead, they shone brightly on where the sunlight reflected. The dark brown gem took off its original color, replaced by a deep red hue; similarly, the black one also sparkled with bright purple rays.
’I’ve heard of rare stones that can change colors under the sunlight…this is unexpected’
“....They’re beautiful”
Yuder was so mesmerized by the sight that a small sigh escaped his lips. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the stones, especially the garnet. His heart warmed up at a certain thought passing his mind.
“....These rings. I’ll take them”
Akit had already prepared to pay ever since Yuder laid eyes on those. However, Yuder had placed his hand on the other’s, preventing him from taking out his coin pouch. The latter was surprised at his action.
“I’ll pay for them. How much are those?”
“Yuder–”
“I like you, young man!....Originally, it’s two gold coins, but I’ll only take one today, considering it as a reward for listening to this old woman’s story”
“In that case…thank you. I wish that your business will go well”
The black-haired man nodded and gave her one gold coin before Akit could even protest. Putting the rings into his pocket, he tugged on the man’s coat and pulled him along, preventing him from saying another word.
“....May your eternity be blessed, young men” Yuder thought he had heard something before leaving, but he wasn’t sure.
…
…
…
“Yuder”
After walking for a long enough distance, they slowed down and halted their steps. Yuder then finally turned around and looked at Akit’s face, which looked like he had a lot to say. But the omega was one step faster.
“Don’t” He pressed his hand against the man’s lips. “Please consider it as a gift from me, since I’ve always received from you”
It wasn’t that Yuder was financially lacking, in fact, he had quite a lot saved up. Despite being a forgotten concubine, he still had a constant monthly budget, even though he rarely had the chance to use it at all. No, it was okay to say he didn’t spend it at all. Since he had always been content with the weekly supply, and most of the time it was Akit who kept giving him things. Thus, at one point, he had requested for his monthly budget to be given annually, and it was accepted. Nevertheless, he had a lot left.
“...You may think that I was being ripped off after all those talks I gave you but…didn’t you say those items were real? Besides….” He bashfully bit his lips, wondering whether he should tell him or not. “...I bought them because the color reminds me of…you”
Ah. He had said it.
Yuder stared deeply into the man’s eyes, which were reflecting his own image, as he continued parting his lips.
“Your eyes, to be exact…”
’since I’ve always been observing’
“....so i thought….”
“...........really”
A long sigh was heard from his opposite side, tickling his palm. Yuder flinched slightly when his wrist was gently grabbed and bent, and the next thing he knew was the sensation of something incredibly soft and hot breathed onto the skin of hand, sending a shiver to his spine. Akit was kissing the back of his hand, his gaze never left Yuder, which was burning with unspoken emotions. It looked so intense that one might have misunderstood he was upset, if it didn’t seep into the scent that had surrounded Yuder, gently yet cautiously embracing him. Pure joy, happiness and an unidentified feeling could be sensed from the alpha. Yuder wondered if the other could also feel him through the scent leaking out of his own body like that.
“...I surrender. I have nothing to say”
Yuder was glad that the sunset shades were able to blend the pinkish dust on his cheeks, as his heartbeat quickened. They remained silent for a long time, no one said a word. Akit’s soft breaths lingered on his skin before lowering his hand. They both smiled softly as they intertwined their gazes and fingers.
“....Ah, right. I should give one to you”
Yuder tried to change the topic due to his own embarrassment. He took out the garnet ring and gave it to the other man. Akit took it and, however, lifted the omega’s right hand which he was still holding, sliding the ring onto his ring finger. The alpha then pressed his lips against the hand, once again.
“...It fits you”
Yuder was so dumbfounded by the smooth act that he was left in a daze, unable to say anything for a while.
“...I was giving it to you, though”
“Didn’t you say the color reminds you of me? If so, it’d be better for you to hold onto it, so that I can hope that you are thinking of me whenever you look at the ring”
“.......”
’...He always says I’m unfair, but isn’t he the one being unfair now…?’
He then remembered something and took out the other ring, bearing the amethyst. He grabbed Akit’s right hand and stared at the rough, big hand. Would the ring even fit, he thought. Surprisingly enough, however, it slid on the ring finger perfectly without any troubles, as if it was made in his size.
He stared at the black gem, which looked considerably small when worn on those long fingers. Yuder pulled the hand towards his face and lightly placed his lips on the tip. It could barely be called a kiss, since he was embarrassed by the act, but he still wanted to imitate what the man did. Then, he lifted his head and met Akit’s gaze.
“…It also fits you”
The alpha didn’t say anything, he just slowly narrowed his eyes as his lips curved into a bright smile, giving warmth to its surroundings. The heat from where their fingers connected spreaded to his chest in an instant, and his heart was full.
Yuder didn’t remember whether he was mesmerized by the sight of his soft brown hair soaked in the sunset, or how his eyes shone softly with umber and crimson hues, like the way the little gemstone on his finger sparkled with the same shades under the light.
He just thought he wouldn’t want to forget that beautiful sight for as long as eternity.
Both of them basked in each other’s scent only until the sun had almost gone down did they return to the palace. Standing before the entrance of Yuder’s place, Akit used his hand to check the omega’s temperature for the last time.
“It’s gotten a bit warmer. Get some rest before it starts, Yuder. I guess I won’t be able to visit you for a while. If you need anything, please call Nathan and I’ll come right away. You know the way”
It meant that while Akit couldn’t be physically near Yuder during his heat period, he would still send his most-trusted aide to protect him. His words warmed Yuder’s heart immediately.
Akit looked at the younger man, looking a bit regretful and longing. Actually, it wasn’t him alone. Yuder also felt somewhat regretful, as if he wanted to prolong their moment, just for a little while more. However, everything eventually met its end. When the alpha finally released his hand and bid his farewell, Yuder called out to him for one last time.
“…..Akit” The man stopped in his tracks, turning his head around towards the voice calling his name. “….Do you still remember the promise we made that day?”
The brown-haired man smiled softly.
“Of course, how could I ever forget? I’m still diligently waiting each passing second, until the day I can have you in my arms”
“……”
If anyone had heard their conversation, both of them would be executed for treason. Since Yuder was, even in name only, officially the Emperor’s partner. And yet, here he was, making a scandalous wish with another man.
‘Perhaps…what that woman said wasn’t completely false’
Yuder couldn’t possibly imagine how their future would play out at all. Perhaps, if they were lucky, a happy ending was waiting for them. If not, an impending end was inevitable at the end of the thorny road.
But, strangely as it seemed, Yuder found all of that alright. It was an indescribable feeling, he just felt like everything would be fine, as long as the man stayed by his side.
“……Me too”
Yuder wasn’t sure if the faint shock on Akit’s face before turning away and going inside was an illusion or not. However, the happiness wandering in the scents that lingered in the air was enough to tell.
Notes:
I might write Yuder’s heat in next chap? 👀
Feel free to comment!
Chapter 10
Notes:
Warning: R18 chapter, please either skip/proceed to the next chapter if you’re a minor/uncomfortable with this. The story flow won’t be affected.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Hah….hngh—Mmn!”
The squelching sounds echoed in Yuder’s ears, seemed to get louder and more clearly in his hazy mind whenever his fingers delved in and stretched the insides. They were such obscene sounds that could bring shame to anyone upon hearing, and they were coming from none other than Yuder’s body.
Yuder was lying on all fours on his bed, with his hips lifted high and a hand moved between his spreaded legs. Three fingers were diligently digging inside his entrance, the source of the wet noises filling the bedroom. Sometimes his fingers missed their tractions due to the slippery membranes and scratched a certain spot within, causing him to arch his back and scream quietly. He collapsed into the pillow, his chest heaved heavily as he sensed his stomach convulsed, and the climax came, again.
The front, which had been rubbing against the bedsheet, bursted with a clear liquid. The dark taint on the white sheets was clearly obvious, since the deed had been done many times, even Yuder couldn’t keep up with the counting anymore. And it wasn’t just his front that had climaxed, but also his backside. The hot and sticky slick oozing out from the inside soaked his hand, eventually his perineum and trickled down the insides of his thighs, which were still trembling from pleasure.
Yuder slowly withdrew his hand from his still sensitive hole, lazingly staring at the thick, sticky liquid damping his fingers. He suddenly thought of how all those embarrassing things had started…which was a few hours prior to his heat…
…
After parting ways with the alpha, his heat didn’t start immediately but one day later. So he just continued his daily life normally, while keeping an eye on the symptoms. He also made sure to tightly lock all the doors and windows, ensuring no intruders could break in. Even though the probability of a guest is almost impossible at his place, Yuder couldn’t help but be more careful than usual, since nothing could be more vulnerable than an omega in heat, especially in such an isolated place.
After finishing up the preparations, Yuder returned to his room and decided to rest for the day, since he could feel his rising fever.
His heat was determined. He could tell that much after having experienced it so many times in his life.
Much true to his suspicions, Yuder woke up the next morning with a more sluggish body. His skin was warm to the touch, his temperature had risen so high that he had a slight headache due to the heat. He exhaled deeply, even the breath felt hot.
‘I think…it’s going to start soon…’
He fluttered his heavy eyelids, slightly dampened as if to keep his dry gaze moisturized, and glanced at the nightstand next to his bed. He moved slowly to it and opened a drawer, taking out a vial of some medicine, which was the sleeping pills.
When people with a scent went into heat, they either choose to spend their estrus with the opposite gender, to satisfy their body in the most natural way; or to take suppressants. However, suppressants were costly and hard to produce, therefore, mostly only nobles were able to have their hands on them. How about the commoners that didn’t have such privileges? They relied on sleeping pills, since the body wouldn’t get tired during the heat, so sleeping through it was also an alternative method. Nonetheless, whichever medication they took, still came with side effects. Thus, most people would prefer the traditional way.
Yuder chose the latter since he originally didn’t have anyone to spend the heat with anyway. Under normal circumstances, the omega concubines didn’t need any medication, since their only legit partner was the Emperor. However, they were still supplied with a small amount of suppressants, just in case their estruses triggered without the Emperor’s company.
Yuder also took them once, and never again, for the side effects were so bad. Taking sleeping pills were no different, but the aftermath was less severe and more tolerable. Of course, he couldn’t always rely on drugs, since it would harm the body in the long run, so sometimes he let his body act instinctively. He wasn’t really a fan of it, after all, he thought such things were troublesome and embarrassing.
He stared at the vial in his hands, thinking of taking it. However, something in his mind that day was holding him back, and an image of a brown-haired man naturally appeared in his thoughts.
‘……I wonder how it feels to spend an estrus with an alpha…’
It wasn’t the first time he had thought of Akit, the only alpha he was close to, during the abnormal states of his mind. However, something felt different that day, and his reasoning was shaken. Perhaps it was due to the object on his right ring finger, a shabby-looking ring with a dark-brown colored gemstone attached. He held his hand towards the brightness, letting the sunlight shining through the curtained windows reflected on the stone. Immediately, the dull color changed into a bright crimson hue, and the illusion of the man appeared even clearer. His heart sank deeply at the sight.
While he was still deep in thoughts, the next moment, without a warning, something tightened inside his stomach and Yuder was instantly out of breath, as if someone was gripping his heart. Opening his eyes after a moment of losing consciousness, he instinctively knew, that, his heat had triggered.
“Ugh…!”
He clutched his chest and clawed at his shirt, trying to calm the heart that was beating so wildly and loudly inside his rib cages, as if it could burst at any moment. His lungs expanded tremendously, desperately gasping for air as his breathing became ragged and hot to the point of making oneself dizzy. Amidst of all the pain, a familiar heat had pooled in his abdomen, traveling further down, and gathered between his legs. Glancing down, he saw a noticeable bulge at the front of his pants, and felt something wet , soaking his bottom…
‘I need to take the pills before my heat fully explodes…!’
Using somewhat of his remaining sanity, he reached for the medicine; however, it was nowhere to be seen. Frantically, he looked around and found the small vial on the floor, which probably had slipped from his hands during the incident. He tried to reach for it, however, moving in that state was Yuder’s mistake.
“Ah…!”
Yuder groaned and collapsed onto the spot he was sitting. Each of his bones creaked painfully due to the sudden movement and cold sweat broke out of his pores, sticking onto his itchy skin, as if he was being pricked by needles. He could feel the swelling thing below his abdomen throbbed even more after not being properly rubbed, but just frustratingly grazed against his pants.
There wasn’t a single part of his body that didn't scream in pain, impatiently demanding to be satisfied, to be let loose to his instincts. Even the clothes sticking to his skin due to the sweat felt incredibly cumbersome and suffocating, so much that Yuder just wanted to tear them off.
He glanced at the vial once again, which was only an arm away from him if he were to try to grab, using all of his remaining strength. However…
‘…Is it really necessary to take it?’
Yuder blinked with much difficulty, the corners of his eyes felt hot due to the heat. He could feel his mind getting hazier with each passing second, however, one particular image never left his thoughts. And soon the small vial was forgotten on the carpet.
…
“Haa…hah, ah…”
Yuder was leaning against the headboard with a pillow supporting his back, being fully naked since his clothes had been long discarded onto the floor. He was holding his manhood in his hand, so painfully hard and especially hot when exposed to the contrasting cool air. He flinched when he awkwardly grabbed the thing, clumsily moving his hand up and down despite not being his first time. He wasn’t a young naive boy anymore, he had also learned about a man’s needs. Yet he still found the act was something extremely embarrassing to do by himself.
However, Yuder in heat wasn’t someone who cared about such things, since instincts had taken over reasons, and his body was left with only a craving to be touched. Even the awkward movements felt like a blessing, giving him the pleasures he was desperately pleading for. Eventually, he got used to such act and his hand moved with much more stability. His member, being rubbed intently, leaked so much precum that it soaked his palm, increasing the pleasures he was receiving.
He either bit onto his lips, or buried his face into the pillow to prevent himself from making weird noises. However, he couldn’t completely stop the moanings that leaked out, which was muffled into the pillow. A familiar heat pooled inside his stomach as his member swelled up inside his hand. Yuder could feel his first climax was coming.
“Huh..! Ah, ah….Ah!”
Yuder’s back arched into a beautiful curve while his hand picked up its speed, and soon the tension between his legs burst forth and a hot, thick liquid exploded. It soaked not only his hand, but also his stomach and chest, leaving behind a white trail wherever it reached.
Yuder whined and panted heavily, his fingers still twitching from pleasure and the after effects of a climax. His manhood, despite the intense burst, regained its vigor immediately, longing for release again. He knew doing it just once would never be enough when he was in heat. However, Yuder felt like something was amiss. The discomfort he sensed not only came from his standing rod, but also from a place further below, a part that was equally wet, having been twitching and convulsing, as if desperately begging for something .
He traced his drenched fingers along the perineum, traveled further down, and circled the entrance.
“Hngh…!”
Without waiting, Yuder pushed his fingers inside. His hole, which was also soaking wet during the climax, accepted two digits easily thanks to the excreted slick, a natural phenomenon for omegas in heat. His insides only twitched slightly at the intrusion, but soon relaxed and pulled them in. Yuder pushed his fingers in deeper with little effort, until the whole digits fit inside.
Yuder’s chest heaved up and down heavily, a part of his mind was satisfied with the feeling of something filling his empty void, albeit nowhere near enough. He knew exactly what his body, what he wanted. And he should just do it.
Withdrawing his hand but not completely, he pushed his fingers inside again with much more force, hitting the walls within mercilessly, causing him to throw his head back and scream in pleasure. He repeated the process many more times, and he could feel his needy hole getting looser and wetter with each thrust. Sometimes, his nails pressed against a certain spot, which normally lay dormant, but never failed to swell up when his mind was clouded with lust, and a high-pitched sound escaped his mouth.
Amidst the pleasures, Yuder noticed a glint reflected under the sunlight, and he saw a ring sparkled with a reddish hue together with the movements of his hand.
‘Yuder’
“….!!”
The omega flinched and halted his actions when he heard a voice ringing in his ears. No, he wasn’t hearing it. He was just imagining things. In fact, he wasn’t in the right mind to know whether it was real or not, but he couldn’t deny the illusion of a man, who would always gaze at him with the most affectionate gaze, the brightest smile and the softest voice as he called out his name.
‘Yuder’
Yuder lifted his eyelids, which he didn’t realize had been closed until then; his eyelashes were damped with sweat, hindering his vision, and within his hazy mind, a blurry figure started to take shape. He was a tall man with shiny brown locks, his umber eyes which seemed to often glint with a crimson hue were looking at him, filling his vision.
Only when he felt his insides throbbing painfully, begging for attention again, did he remember his unattended business. Yuder suddenly thought of the man’s fingers, which were much larger and longer than his own, and he didn’t even realize the gulp he made while a train of thoughts occurred within his brain.
‘Ah..…if it were him…..’
Yuder narrowed his drowsy eyes, all sorts of fantasy came to his mind as the illusion overlapped his vision. He withdrew his hand and placed it on his skin, imagining a large hand stroking the flesh of his inner thighs and pushing them, spreading his legs further apart. Then that same hand would gently caress his burning skin, poke at the entrance as if teasing him, and finally dig inside when the omega whined helplessly.
Yuder gasped as fingers invaded his cave once again, even deeper than before. His hands weren’t relatively small, but he knew they were still smaller compared to those of Akit. Yuder quickly added another finger, imitating the size difference, and he moaned loudly as he felt the inner membranes clenched tightly at the sudden invasion, but soon grew soft and stretched after the rapid thrusting.
“Oh, ah…ahh…!”
He pressed against that one spot that would make him cry out, but couldn’t help but lament the fact that his fingers weren’t long enough to hit it precisely each time. He thought if it was the alpha, he would have no difficulties finding it, and mercilessly abuse the swollen organ while the omega was writhing with pleasure.
And during the whole moment would there be a pair of eyes, a gaze that burned with emotions, never left his side. Yuder instinctively felt a shiver up his spine imagining being scrutinized under the heat of that gaze. The thought of being fully exposed with nowhere to hide, every part of Yuder was seen by the man, even his deepest, most embarrassing parts, was enough to bring a shiver to his spine, and he felt his very core trembling. As if there were electric waves, every pores of him shuddered with a strange excitement, and his fingers picked up the pace while listening to the sweet, sweet words inside his head.
‘Yuder, yes.…you’re doing well, so well.… Yuder….’
His toes curled up as another intense wave of pleasure hit him hard, and his eyes flashed white at the mercy of his second orgasm. His mouth hung open and drool leaked from the corners of his lips as his whole body convulsed with thrills. His front had spurted out liquid once again, although not as thick as the first time, but the satisfaction from reaching climax was still as vivid as ever. Not just his front, but also his back. The hot slick that flowed out like a broken damp, drenching his fingers and dripping onto the sheets, making a stained pool underneath. Yuder felt an emptiness where his hand was removed, leaving only a sticky string, and his stomach churned.
Oh, it was a mess. Yuder was a mess.
He was resting his head on the pillow while gasping for breath, his black hair, which had been damped with sweat, sprawled everywhere. His long bangs got swept up to the sides, revealing his messed up face. His half-opened eyes seemed wet but still burned with a hidden desire; and his cheeks, which had lost their original pale colors, were replaced by a bright red color. The blush didn’t stop there, but spread to his ears, his neck, collarbone and even his chest, which stood out more due to his pale skin. The sweat, sticking to his skin and mixed with the liquids that were still not dried, created an extremely obscene sight.
He lazily tilted his head to the side. There, he noticed an object that had been folded neatly, placed on top of his nightstand.
Yuder instinctively reached out and grabbed the piece of black cloth, it was the cloak that he had worn the day before. Bringing the fabric close to his nose, a cool scent immediately filled his nostrils. The fire within him quickly rekindled.
‘Ah…it’s Akit’s scent…’
Realizing it was the alpha’s scent, something at the back of his head screamed, an indescribable feeling resurfaced and brought him endless joy. The fragrance that was as cool as mint, or as the winter breeze, wrapped around him as he hugged the cloak closely to his body. He imagined being in the embrace of his alpha, leaning against that broad chest and felt his warmth, as the man leaned in his ears and whispered softly.
‘Yuder’
“Haah….”
Before he knew it, his hand had already found its way to his buttocks and disappeared between the flesh. His soft moans soon echoed within the walls of the bedroom along with the squelching sounds, as his fingers once again stirred up the insides.
He buried his face into the cloak and his half-rejuvenated manhood rose again when he took a whiff of the alpha’s scent.
While diligently stretching his insides, which had gotten so soft and slippery, with the same force as before, his mind decided to stop fantasizing about the larger and longer fingers, as he thought about something else , something much more intimidating and powerful , thrusting inside and inciting the sweetest sounds within him.
‘Yuder…. Ah, Yuder, my beautiful fairy….’
Oh. Yuder couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of the alpha, perfectly holding the omega in his arms, whispering nothing but sweetness in his ears and drowning him in his scent until the latter resigned his entire being, making Yuder his…
Climax came to him just as quickly as before.
Yuder didn’t stop satisfying his selfish desires, even after the cloak had long lost its purpose. And when he came to his senses, five days had passed.
Notes:
Please tell me what you think!
Chapter Text
The Sun Palace, where the Emperor resided, had seven buildings. And inside the second building, which was located the innermost of the complex, was a large room that served as both an office, and a bedroom. Somewhere in the room, the crackling sounds of fire, caused by the multi-colored flame burned from the magic stove, rhythmically harmonized with the quiet scribbling of a pen and rustling sounds of papers. Sitting in the desk beneath the window pouring white lights, was a man with golden hair and red eyes, hidden behind a pair of round glasses.
He was Keilusa la Orr, the Emperor of the Orr Empire.
With a dignified posture, he skillfully looked at the submitted documents and solved them one by one. At one point, however, the Emperor let out a deep sigh and pushed his glasses, lifting his gaze from the papers. Then, he stared at another person, who was sitting on the couch in the center of the room with one of his arms draped over the back, leisurely drinking tea from an exquisite cup. He occasionally hummed, savoring the taste and the soothing aroma.
“This new herbal tea is quite exquisite. Did you grow it yourself, Your Majesty?”
He smiled and spoke to the person who was sitting opposite him, a beautiful woman with pale blond hair, wearing a simple blue dress, who was also smiling back at him.
“Yes, I did. It’s a new plant I discovered lately, how did you know?”
“It’s not hard to guess since only the best tea in this world is produced under Her Majesty the Empress’ care”
Oh dear. The Empress, Rosa Faria la Orr, exclaimed, showing her joy with a soft chuckling.
“Duke Peletta” The Emperor interrupted their quiet conversation with a firm tone. “What kind of business brought you here at this early time of the day?”
The guest, whose golden hair shone even brighter than the Emperor’s, put down his tea cup and squinted his crimson eyes, a playful smile bloomed on his face. That man was a member of the imperial family, the Duke of Peletta, and the Emperor’s one and only younger brother, Kishiar la Orr.
“Oh my, I’m going to get hurt, Your Majesty. Do I require any reasons to meet my one and only dear brother?”
Keilusa stared blankly at his brother, unfazed by the latter’s flowery speech.
“Stop beating around the bush. Didn’t you say the same thing years ago when you asked me to punish the Viscount?”
Instead of answering the question, Kishiar just took a sip of the tea.
“I was just helping you root out the corrupted nobles, brother. You made it sound like I did it because of my personal grudge”
“………”
Keilusa sighed, rubbing his furrowed brows. He swallowed the urge to argue with his stubborn little brother.
“Nevermind. So what is it that you want to tell me?”
Kishiar smiled.
“Have you heard of the rumors, Your Majesty?”
“.….Which one would you like me to refer to? Is it the one that you’ve been playing around with another woman? Or the rumored ‘debauched’ duke has had a change of heart and started to visit the temple more often lately?”
He looked at his brother, who had an unchanging amused expression on his face, despite being the center of most of the rumors he was listing.
“...Or perhaps, it's the one about you seducing the concubines?”
“Oh? The last one is new? I guess not even I have the ability to know everything circulating in the social circles”
He laughed playfully.
“But you see, that rumor, I’d like to clarify a few things. I didn’t seduce concubines, but only ’one’ concubine and I’m still trying my best. No, in fact, it couldn’t even be called my seduction in the first place, because it was just me being seduced one-sidedly from the beginning. For that reason, Your Majesty, I hope you could clear this misunderstanding the next time you encounter such story, for the sake of this foolish brother’s reputation”
“……………”
Kishiar chuckled quietly when he saw the look on his brother’s face, who didn’t know whether to be confused by his shamelessness, or to be upset for spouting nonsense. Aside from that, the alpha didn’t care much about that rumor, since the ‘Kishiar’ Yuder knew was ‘Akit’, and barely anyone knew about their relationship, except for a trusted few. Therefore, it must have been a few concubines who were attracted by his looks that had caused it. Nevertheless, he only spoke the truth and only the truth, that, it was him who fell hard first.
“Oh my, I didn’t know you were such a romanticist, Duke”
Faria covered her mouth, her cheeks turned slightly pink at the bold confession but her turquoise eyes were sparkling with interest.
“I’ve heard the Duke mention this concubine so many times over the years. When are you planning to introduce him to us?”
She smiled brightly while clasping her hands, showing her sincerity in wanting to meet the person that had received Kishiar’s affection.
It was no secret that the Emperor and the Empress knew about his affair with Yuder. Kishiar still vividly remembered the day he declared before his brother and sister-in-law that he would make Yuder his, no matter what the cost. It was right after he realized his feelings for the omega that he immediately rushed into the Empress’s garden, where both Majesties were having a tea break together, and confidently spoke.
”Brother! Please give me your concubine!”
He felt sorry for making his brother choke on the tea he was drinking and cough so hard that tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, after he managed to calm down with the help of the Empress. But important things needed to be said. Besides, who would blame Kishiar, who was barely past the age of 21 at that time, for being overly excited about his first love? He just couldn’t wait to share that immense happiness with the people he cherished the most.
Keilusa adjusted his glasses, which had dropped low due to the shock, and glared at the rude guest who just barged in and interrupted the sweet time alone with his wife while spouting some nonsense.
“…..Kishiar….what, what did you just say”
“Oh, I apologize. Did I perhaps speak too fast? I’m saying that, I hope that Your Majesty will bless me by giving me the hands of a fairy residing in your garden, who had gracefully stolen my heart”
Keilusa frowned and rubbed his temples, which started to ache from hearing his brother’s ridiculous words. What fairy? Who had stolen his heart? Did he just confess that he had feelings for one of the concubines?
To begin with, it had been two years since the noble faction pressured him to take in concubines. But he had almost forgotten about it, since he never showed any interest in the slightest in any of them. He felt sorry for the youths to be tied to the palace for the rest of their lives, with their freedom to choose their marriage partner permanently revoked, since divorce within the imperial family was considered impossible. Therefore, he had given them many privileges, as a form of compensation.
And what. Did his one and only younger brother, who had always been praised for his smartness and talents, just declared that he wanted to commit the unspoken taboo?
“Kishiar. Are you saying, that, you’re going to have an affair with someone who is legally married to me?”
Keilusa tried to calm down. After all, this might be just one of his new ways to tease his brother, yes, he wanted to believe so. However, the answer that came back completely shattered his expectations...
“Yes”
‘Oh. My. God’
That was one remark that everyone present there exclaimed, including the Emperor and the Empress. Fortunately, since Keilusa wanted to spend the tea time alone with his dear wife, he had ordered all attendants to wait for their call at a distance. Except for Yuliver, the Emperor's chief steward, though he could also be trusted for his loyalty. Therefore, there was no need to worry for a new forbidden rumor to spread.
Keilusa rubbed his nape, attempting to ease his rising headache but to no avail, and looked at Kishiar’s eyes again, intending to give him a harsh scolding. However, he was surprised to see the sincerity in those red orbs similar to his, the playfulness he usually carried within was nowhere to be seen.
“…..Kishiar, I know you’re faking the rumors that you like to indulge in women in order to withdraw from the battle of succession. But isn’t this going a bit too far?” He looked at his younger brother, his gaze glinted with a hint of sadness while mentioning the past. “…You, you don’t need to harm your reputation this way”
“Brother”
Kishiar returned the gaze that was directed at him, as he smiled softly.
“I know what is worrying you, but I’m serious about this”
“…….”
“And I know you’ve been finding ways to demolish the harem system. Now that I’ve fallen in love, can’t I use this as an excuse to support you with everything I have”
Silence took over the space after Kishiar’s speech. After a long while, Keilusa let out a deep sigh, leaning against the chair and covering his tired face with his hand.
“…..It won’t be easy”
“I know” He smiled, his gaze softened as he recalled the face of a certain omega. “But I’ll do anything I possibly can, for him”
After that, Keilusa just had a defeated look on his face, whenever Kishiar spent hours just to sing praises about his beloved person. On the other hand, Faria seemed very interested in her brother-in-law’s first love, as she demanded him to tell her more about Yuder, or that she would love to meet him in person. Kishiar chuckled as he recalled his history of being kicked out of the Emperor’s office a few times by his own brother, without being able to say half of what he wanted to tell.
“Duke?”
Oh my. It looked like Kishiar was so immersed in the past that he was lost in thoughts during their conversation. He gave the Empress an apologetic look.
“I apologize, I was thinking about something else. But unfortunately, I cannot bring him to you yet, despite how much I long for that moment to happen”
Faria gave an understanding nod. After all, Yuder hadn’t known Kishiar was a royal. The omega only seemed to think that Akit was a high-ranking noble, never could he imagine that he was an imperial family member. Revealing the truth without preparations would be a huge shock to him.
“…Now that you mentioned, why haven’t you visited him these days. Normally, at this time, you would have already run to his place and stuck to him all day” Keilusa said.
“Oh my, brother, you know me so well”
“…Of course, how could one not know when they have seen too much for many years?”
Kishiar laughed, taking another sip of his tea.
“I also would love to, but Yuder is having his heat period right now”
The two Majesties made a knowing look. They once wondered why Kishiar didn’t ask to help Yuder with his estrus since their relationship had gotten so much better as time passed. Furthermore, they were two people with opposite secondary genders. As they have been together for so long, just like putting straws near fire, an ignition was bound to happen. Nevertheless, it was quite a surprise that there hadn’t been any incidents, whether accidentally or intentionally, despite the chemistry between them.
When being asked about this, Kishiar only gave a vague answer, so they only knew there were some kind of promises between him and Yuder, but not the details. The imperial couple didn’t pry, either.
“I guess I should give him some herbal tea, then! It’s good for omegas’ health after their estrus”
“That would be great, I’m sure Yuder would be delighted to receive it”
The Empress clapped her hands excitedly, as she called a maid and gave orders to pack the gift for the omega, as well as other things, before sending her away.
“Well, that should be enough rumors about me. Unfortunately, none of those is the one I wanted to discuss”
“…There were more rumors?”
“Yes…for example, stories within the harem… It’s been circulating around quite recently”
“…Ah” The Empress exclaimed. “Are you talking about that, about one of the concubines daring to have an affair with another man?”
Kishiar nodded. Keilusa also stopped writing on his documents and lifted his gaze. He never showed interest in the battle between the concubines, however, this was another matter of scandalous acts.
“…Did that happen?”
“Yes…I’ve also heard it from my maids recently. At first, I thought of handling it myself first, since it was originally my responsibility to manage the harem but…I think it wasn’t just a rumor”
“…Faria, I told you to not overwork yourself. You should have told me” He softly sighed. “Putting that aside, what do you mean it wasn’t just a rumor?”
“I had someone to investigate, and it seemed like one of the concubines actually had a history of sneaking out and met with a man”
“Did they dare to do it so blatantly?”
“Actually…they hid their affair quite well, claiming that their relationship is just purely for business. But thanks to the Duke’s help, we managed to secure evidences as well as witnesses”
Keilusa stopped thinking for a moment and looked at his brother at the mention of his name. There, he saw the man, who was grinning so widely and shamelessly, didn’t even try to hide his real intentions. Oh God, what should he do with this brother, he lamented.
“…Alright, I get it. I’ll personally investigate this carefully and punish them according to the laws. Are you satisfied with this, Duke Paletta?”
“How dare I question Your Majesty’s decisions? Please do as you wish, as I believe that Your Majesty will resolve this perfectly, since he’s always been a wise emperor”
Kishiar’s smile widened more, while the Emperor can only sigh and rub his temples in dejection.
…
…
…
Kishiar hummed after leaving the office, holding a basket containing the Empress’ gifts for Yuder. The look his brother gave him at the last moment was quite…remarkable, but he decided not to dwell on it.
“Your Grace”
A familiar voice called out to him the moment he left the office, and stood there in the hallway was his trusted adjutant, Nathan. Kishiar had sent him to Yuder’s place after they parted ways the other day. He ordered the aide to wait nearby and checked on the omega regularly, so that he could assist him right away if the situation demanded. Seeing him there must mean Yuder’s heat had ended, or something had happened to the omega. However, given that the adjutant had appeared calmly, the latter was less likely to occur. He politely saluted his lord before reporting.
“It seems like Sir Aile’s heat has ended”
“Ah, I thought so. How many days has it been?”
“It’s been five days, my lord”
Five days, the number perfectly matched the previous experiences, he thought.
“How about his condition?”
“He seems fine, my lord. Sir Aile personally contacted me this morning and asked me to convey the message to you”
Kishiar smiled, his heart fluttering with joy at the fact that the omega had thought of him first after his heat ended.
“What good timing, the Empress had given me a few gifts for him as well. Shall we pay a visit immediately?”
Turning around, they headed to the Serene palace, where a beautiful fairy resided. The blond alpha couldn’t contain the joy in his impatient footsteps as he quickly departed.
…
…
…
Kishiar hid himself behind a tree in the woods near Yuder’s palace, after sending Nathan away. He arrived at the destination, however, he didn’t look for Yuder right away. There was one more thing that needed to be done.
He glanced at a fancy ring on his hand and ran his finger over the magic stone embedded in the middle. Consequently, a bright light burst forth and embraced the alpha. The blond hair that sparkled beautifully under the sunlight instantly turned into a plain brown color, and his fiery crimson eyes were also painted in that of the same palette.
When the light dimmed, Kishiar la Orr also disappeared, and stood there was only Akit.
The magical ring, which had done its purpose, lost its brilliance and returned to its quiet state. Akit then moved his gaze to his right hand, where another one could be seen on his ring finger. He looked at the deep black gemstone turning purple whenever it was in contact with the sunlight, and he couldn’t help but chuckle at the image of a familiar omega, who possessed such eyes sharing the same beautiful hues. Ah, the longing in his heart was intensified in an instant.
After making sure the magic had worked properly, he picked up his belongings and entered the palace. He confidently walked through the main gate, after being scolded by Yuder for sneaking in in the most unthinkable ways, for example, climbing over the tall walls of the palace, or jumping through the windows of the bedroom appointed on the second floor, which gave the omega quite a scare. The alpha was thoroughly scolded afterwards for doing such dangerous acts, although he didn’t mind it at all.
Akit gently pushed the golden gates without a single guard standing watch, and they opened with ease. It seemed like the omega had truly awoken from the heat, seeing how they weren’t locked. It was an endearing fact that Yuder would always unlock the main gates first after his recovery, for welcoming one guest.
The alpha passed through the gates, walked across the garden and the sight of the main building came into view. However, instead of entering the mansion, he took a turn and walked along the corridors, leading to the backside of the palace, to where a sweet scent was leading him. It didn’t take him much effort to find the omega, all he needed to do was to follow that aroma, which was like ripe grapes, a scent distinctly Yuder.
The more he walked, the stronger the scent, signaling he was heading in the right direction. At the end of his pursuit was the backyard behind the kitchen, and the corners of Akit’s lips lifted upon seeing a familiar figure, sitting in the middle of the yard, hands covered in bubbles.
Yuder hadn’t noticed the visitor’s presence yet, as he seemed to be focused on doing the laundry. The alpha took the chance to sneak up to the other; he was amused that Yuder didn’t notice yet, despite the former standing right behind him. A mischievous smirk creeped up his face as he moved his face closer to the latter’s ear, and breathed softly.
“Yuder”
“—!?”
Splash!
Yuder jumped from his seat and stood up abruptly. The alpha was somewhat taken aback by his intense reaction, since Yuder had never shown this much shock on his face, despite being surprised by him many times.
“…….Akit?”
The omega managed to regain his senses after a few seconds, though the bewilderment still remained on his face as he widened his eyes at the other man, his hand covering the ear Akit had whispered into and the alpha’s gaze naturally followed the gesture. There, he noticed a faint blush peeking out from the exposed tip of the earlobe, and his heart skipped a beat.
…Wasn’t that too cute? He thought.
Akit completely forgot about figuring out the reason why his ear turned red under his breath, which rarely happened. He was so captivated by the sight that a wide smile naturally bloomed on his face, and he expressed much joy.
While Akit was immersed in his thoughts, he saw Yuder’s gaze, which had gotten back to normal, glanced up and down his body, before frowning slightly.
“……Your clothes are wet”
Only then did he notice that, in fact, his front were completely drenched. The reason was that, during Yuder’s shock, the omega had thrown whatever he was holding in his hands into the laundry basin, causing the water to splash around with a large force. Akit chuckled at the belated realization, as he was seduced by the adorable sight.
“Haha, so are yours, Yuder”
Yuder’s expression changed from somewhat bewildered to flustered, as he looked sorry for ruining the man’s clothes.
“Sorry….let me get you a towel”
“It’s fine, it was also my fault for startling you earlier. I apologize” He laughed. “But Yuder, why were you so surprised?”
“That…”
Akit stared into the obsidian orbs, observing his reactions. This was undoubtedly one of his favorite things to do, and he was never disappointed. The omega’s pupils shook slightly, then wandered around trying to avoid his gaze, before dropping to the ground. Yuder softly bit his lower lip, a habit of his whenever he was embarrassed about something. Normally, he would have slid his finger between those small lips, preventing self-harm. However, Akit’s hands were covered with soap water, and he couldn’t risk getting bubbles inside his mouth.
Instead, he scooped up the bubbles with his fingers and tapped Yuder’s nose. Startled, the latter raised his gaze and widened his eyes at the alpha. That caused him to release the force on his lip. Akit saw the bubbles on his nose and started to laugh, squinting his eyes.
“Haha..! How adorable”
“….!”
It seemed that Yuder wasn’t someone who would accept defeat easily, as he copied the act, and spreaded bubbles on Akit’s cheek, causing the alpha to flinch momentarily.
“…..It was for payback”
Perhaps, belatedly realizing that his action was childish, the black-haired man bashfully retreated, but not surrendered. His gaze never left Akit’s, showing his unyielding spirit. The brown-haired man didn’t say anything, he soon bloomed a smile as bright as the sun as a mischievous hint glinted in his eyes.
And Yuder wasn’t sure whether to feel regret about his actions later or not, but he could not think of anything upon seeing that sweet smile while getting splashed with water.
…
…
…
“Hah….”
Yuder sighed, looking at his attires, which had been drenched after their water fight ended a moment ago. The sight of two grown up men splashing water at each other like kids was somewhat embarrassing to imagine, but that was what had happened. It felt like deja vu, he thought. He sighed again, glancing at the other man, who was squeezing the water out of his dripping wet shirt.
The alpha wiped the remaining bubbles on his face, and Yuder watched as water drops rolled on his cheek, and fell to his exposed collarbone. The omega felt something weird prickling his skin upon seeing such a sight, and a slight chuckle was heard.
“I’m going to get embarrassed if you keep staring at me like that”
Yuder flinched and quickly averted his gaze, his cheeks felt a bit warm. Then, he remembered his unfinished chore. He looked at the laundry basin, which was half-emptied due to their child fight, and the black cloak inside.
Yes, what he had thrown away in a panic earlier was the cloak they always wore whenever they went outside. Embarrassment flooded back to him in an instant, as he recalled all the things he had done during his heat. Thus, he still found it difficult to look straight at the alpha’s face at the moment.
’I knew he would visit once it ended…but I didn’t expect for him to come shortly after I informed Sir Zuckerman…’
The reason why he reacted so intensely when the alpha whispered into his ear before, was because he mistook it as one of the illusions haunting him in his hazy mind while being confined to the bedroom for five days.
’Yuder’
Heat rose to his cheeks again as he recalled the soft voice lingering in his ears, the voice that had called his name countless times during the estrus. He pressed a hand to his forehead, which felt cool compared to his still feverish skin, probably because of the after effects that hadn’t yet subsided. A person in estrus was when they were the most vulnerable, allowing their deepest desires to surface and lust clouded their mind.
Yuder, of course, was no different.
His heat period was filled with his illusions of the alpha. The omega still felt utterly embarrassed about his fantasy, which he never knew existed. His libido intensified the moment he sensed Akit’s scent lingering on the cloak, as he succumbed completely to his desires. When he woke up from the heat, what he saw in his arms was only a ruined cloak, wrinkled beyond imagination and stained with various fluids here and there. It was difficult to compare to its original appearance before the incident anymore.
’….At least it’s a good thing that it didn’t tear off then’
Yuder was quietly thankful for its good quality, seeing how there weren’t any holes or signs of it being ripped off due to his violent actions. He picked up the cloak in the basin and took a look. Most of the stains were washed away, though still hard to be noticed due to the dark color; and the wrinkles could just be ironed later. He was glad that he didn’t have to throw the cloak away, which Akit gave him.
“Yuder? What’s wrong?”
It seemed like the alpha had seen him staring so intently at the fabric with a serious look, so he walked over and spoke. Yuder tried to hide his blush as he answered calmly.
“….It’s nothing. I was thinking of finishing the laundry”
“Hmm, in that case, let me help you”
“You don’t have to. Please go inside and dry yourself before you catch a cold”
“Oh my, Yuder, are you worried about me right now? I’m happy to hear that, you know” He laughed teasingly. “Thank you, but I’m fine. I assure you I wouldn’t get sick easily. Besides, it was partly my fault that you got delayed in your work. Therefore, it’s only natural that I help you out”
“…….”
“Furthermore, you’re also soaked. Shouldn’t we finish this faster so we both can go inside and get warmed?”
Yuder couldn’t utter any words as he saw a smile on his lips, spoken so well that he couldn’t refute. He let out a defeated sigh, thinking that he could never win against this man’s words.
“….Fine. Then please hang the clothes on the rope over there, they’re washed”
Akit nodded and started working as he was instructed. Yuder also returned his focus to the cloak, finishing washing it.
“You know” The alpha spoke while hanging the shirts onto the rope. “This reminded me of our first meeting. Thanks to this shirt, I was able to meet the most beautiful fairy in the world, for which I still feel thankful”
Holding a white shirt in his hand, the man lifted one of the sleeves to his lips and pressed them against it. He intertwined his gaze with Yuder’s while doing so, and spoke slowly.
“….If I were to steal this shirt again, would I get the answer I want to hear this time?”
“…….”
Yuder didn’t look away.
No, he couldn’t look away.
He was trapped within the faint reddish hue glinting in those umber orbs, which was looking at him so intently, carrying intense emotions. His heart, which had been beating slowly, picked up the pace as if it was anxious. He instinctively felt bare and exposed under such an honest gaze, and fear soon filled his heart.
“…….”
The omega squeezed the heavy water off the cloak and held it in his arms as he walked towards the place where Akit stood, placing the fabric over the rope, smoothing the wrinkled parts out. The act was natural.
“…..It’s done. Let’s go inside”
Then, he turned around without missing a beat and started walking towards the building, not even glancing back once. Behind him, quietly followed the alpha, words unheard.
Notes:
I might have enjoyed teasing Keilusa too much
Chapter Text
“I’ll prepare the bath. You can use this in the meantime”
“Thank you”
Yuder handed him a towel and headed towards the bathroom to heat the water. The omega had stubbornly refused Akit’s offer to dry him earlier, saying that it would be just a waste of time, since he wasn’t as soaked as the former.
Akit sat down on a chair and rubbed his wet hair with the towel, damping it. There was something he had noticed before, but soon forgot when he was enchanted by the other’s charm. After the chaotic moments and he had calmed down, once again he could feel it clearly, even getting stronger now that he was inside.
It was Yuder’s scent.
A scent that was as sweet as fruits, grapes specifically, such an intoxicated scent that one would find it hard to resist. An unforgettable scent once you’d had a taste.
Akit had found his way to Yuder relying on his pheromones, and when he met the said person, he was almost lost in a trance when the omega’s scent hit him. It was probably due to the effects of the heat that hadn't completely gone away. Even at that moment, the room he was sitting in was full of the lingering aroma.
Akit took immense joy in savoring that sweet scent, radiating from the person he loved. He longed for the day he could press his lips to the soft skin of his slender nape, just below the sensitive ear, and drink that intoxicated fragrance until he was drunk.
While Akit was enjoying his time, Yuder came back from the bathroom.
“The water is ready, you can come in now. You can put your clothes in the basket and…”
Yuder glanced at the man’s attire, which was soaked wet and wrinkled. He felt somewhat sorry for ruining his expensive clothes, though.
“...I’ll ask Sir Zuckerman for a new set of clothes”
It wasn't like Yuder was lacking spare clothes, but he doubted any would fit the big man sitting before him, who seemed to have understood his intentions, and bursted into laughter.
“That would be great, thank you, Yuder”
“In the meantime…hmm…”
The omega pondered for a moment before opening the closet, searching for something. Then he took out a white bathrobe and handed it to the man.
“You can wear this”
“Is this yours, Yuder?”
“......Yes, please don't worry, it's still new. I’ve never used it, anyway”
“Oh, what a shame”
“......”
Yuder couldn't quite understand what the alpha meant by that. Or maybe he could, but he just decided not to think about it.
“What about you? Won't you have a bath too? You’ll get a cold at this rate…unless you want to join me?” Akit said teasingly, squinting his crimson-tinted brown pupils. “....Of course, that was a joke. We have a promise to fulfill, don't we?”
Akit chuckled and took the bathrobe from Yuder, who was standing still, frozen by his words, and headed towards the bathroom. He couldn't remember what he had responded when the alpha advised him to quickly warm himself.
’….Has he always been this shameless?’
The omega knew it was just his way of teasing, but that didn’t stop his heart from skipping a beat. It might be an extended aftermath of his estrus, he convinced himself again while moving his feet to another room.
At first glance, one would think it was a storage, as there were so many boxes decorated beautifully stacked inside, taking over all of the space. In fact, they were mostly things Akit’d given him over the years. The omega couldn’t possibly use every thing he gave so he put them away in an unused guest room. He thought he ought to tidy up soon, since the gifts had piled up considerably.
Among the piles were a small table with some papers. Yuder took the quill pen next to it and started to scribble something on the paper. Then, he folded it neatly and put it inside an envelope, before placing it over a crystal ball. The said ball glowed brightly when Yuder whispered the name of the recipient, which was none other than Nathan Zuckerman. The light dimmed out gradually and the letter vanished along it.
The crystal orb, which was a magical tool that allowed users to send and receive letters immediately once sent, even at a distance, was something Akit gave him so that he could keep in touch with the aide if needed. Sending letters using the normal method would take days to arrive, and longer to get a reply; but thanks to the item, Yuder had never had difficulties in contacting either Akit or Nathan. He might have heard that this kind of communication tool was incredibly rare to find within the Empire, but any thoughts of questioning the man about where and how he got it went out the window the moment he saw the wide smirk on the alpha’s face, and Yuder could say no more.
Anyway, even the papers and the quill pen were given by the man. They were just normal papers you could find anywhere on the market; the quill pen was of a slightly better quality, but the design was plainly simple with one pure black color and a red gemstone embedded at the end. Yuder looked at the ordinary items, and a warm memory came back.
’…When was it? I think it was my thirteenth birthday…?’
It was the first birthday he had spent with someone else beside his grandfather after his passing away, and it was one year after meeting Akit. The alpha kept his promise to teach Yuder how to write, and the latter’s skills had improved significantly. Yuder said it was thanks to Akit’s guide, his teaching was so easy to follow and efficient that he couldn’t help but feel impressed. However, Akit kept on insisting that it was because Yuder was such an excellent student that he didn’t need to do much.
The omega found it absurd at that time, but Yuder, having gotten so accustomed to the man’s lip service, only thought of it as an amusing moment. The quill pen wasn’t the first gift he had attempted to give Yuder, but it was the first fancy one that Yuder had accepted quite willingly.
It was no secret that he disliked luxurious gifts such as clothes, gems and jewelry. He couldn’t understand the pleasure in receiving such things whose only value was their beautiful surface. Given his circumstances, he couldn’t even exchange them for money. However, were he to accept those, they would only be left rotten in the storage, since he had no uses for them.
Akit had also attempted to give him luxurious clothes at first, but was flatly refused by the latter. And he stopped bringing those stuff again after that, perhaps having sensed Yuder’s discomfort. The pen, however, was a gift given to him to celebrate his progress in writing. He cleverly timed it with Yuder’s birthday, making it harder for the omega to refuse. The latter was a bit reluctant at first; however, after seeing the sincerity in that warm gaze, his lips shut tightly as if they were entranced, and he accepted it with his heart.
Yuder could still feel his chest warmed up as he recalled the brightest smile Akit had ever shown after he took it. Yuder faintly smiled unknowingly.
While the omega was reminiscing, the crystal orb glowed again and a response came in. Yuder took the letter floating above the light and opened it with a small knife, reading it. The contents were simple and straight to the point, very Nathan-like, he thought.
Yuder previously had briefly explained the situation and asked the aide for another set of Akit’s clothes, although he didn’t go into details of their childish water fight. The reply also didn’t question the matter, only consisted of an affirmation to Yuder’s request, and that he would arrive shortly.
Finally, he put the letter away and headed towards another bathroom in one of the guest rooms.
…
…
…
Yuder had finished washing up and changed into new clothes, though it didn't look any different from the previous set. He came back to the room where he received Akit, and stopped before entering. It seemed like the alpha had finished his bath before Yuder and returned, proven by the cool scent seeping out from behind the door. He paused for a second, before turning the doorknob.
“Akit, have you finished washi—”
Yuder flinched at the sight welcoming him. Akit was wearing the bath robe he gave him, however, despite being the largest size he could find, the poor thing still looked miserable as it desperately clinging to the man’s body. The length, which would normally reach Yuder’s knees, only reached the alpha’s mid-thighs, and the omega’s eyes were naturally drawn to the revealed strong muscles of his ridiculously long legs.
After a few seconds, his eyes slowly trailed upwards. The body was so big that the robe couldn’t fully wrap around it. Fortunately, he was still able to tie the string around his waist and cover whatever beneath. However, the top wasn’t that lucky. The fabric embraced his arms so tightly that he could clearly draw out the outline of the thick muscles, and the front, which couldn’t be closed properly, opened and exposed his wide chest.
Yuder knew Akit had an impressive figure as it had already shown through his usual attire. However, this was the first time he had witnessed it so blatantly and explicitly, his mind couldn’t keep up with the situation. His irises shocked violently and lost their focus, he didn’t know whether to look at the muscles below his legs, or the droplets still moist and rolled on the wide pectorals, or the adam's apple visible on the white flesh of his neck.
After a long struggle, his gaze finally went upwards and met the sharp one of the brown pupils, glinting with mischievousness. The latter immediately squinted his eyes and smiled so sweetly, as if he had been waiting. Various emotions swirling in those umber irises conveyed his intentions clearly, asking if Yuder had liked what he was seeing. The omega’s face grew hot upon the realization as he turned his head away, hiding the flush creeping up his cheeks.
“So” The alpha chuckled and spoke softly, causing the other to flinch slightly. “What do you think, Yuder?”
“………There’s nothing for me to think about”
“Oh my, I was talking about whether Nathan would arrive soon or not. Did you perhaps…have something else in mind?”
“……..”
Yuder turned his head again and glared at the other man, who was leaning against the table and crossing his arms, smirking so mischievously. He had fallen for the man’s trap, again.
“……I don’t know what you mean”
“Is that so?”
The brown-haired man looked like he still had something to say, but thankfully, the knockings on the door interrupted the atmosphere. Yuder quickly opened the door for the familiar guest, and it was Nathan, as expected. The aide paused briefly before entering. Yuder believed it was an illusion that he saw the knight’s gaze flickered quietly between Akit and Yuder, something changed in his eyes but quickly dissipated as he came to the alpha’s side.
“I’ve brought you new clothes, my lord”
“Ah, my adjutant. You’re as diligent as always”
Akit accepted the clothes Nathan handed to him then turned towards Yuder and gave him a relatively heavy basket. The omega confusedly checked the contents, and he found food inside, confusing him.
“I think….I didn’t ask Sir Zuckerman for this”
“It was my lord’s request. He asked me to prepare breakfast beforehand since Sir Aile has just recovered. And your letter came just in time, so I brought both things over”
Yuder sneaked a glance at the man behind this, who was still looking at him, and he soon forgot about all the bad feelings upon seeing that affectionate gaze. A new warmth enveloped his heart once again.
“….Thank you. Then I’ll go and prepare first…you can come when you’re done”
Yuder went to the kitchen and prepared the dishes. There wasn't anything fancy, just a few sandwiches and mashed potatoes, mostly food that was easy to digest, probably because he didn’t want to upset the omega’s stomach, who just had his heat.
His heart fluttered at these small gestures no one would normally notice, as he naturally put out the utensils for two people. There was a dining room in this large palace, however, they had never used it, not even once. Rather than the spacious room, the two of them prefer dining in the small, but cozy kitchen place. Ever since they had their first meal in that place, the kitchen’s table had become their regular spot to eat together.
The simple wooden table, which was enough for a few people, seemed relatively small when Akit and Yuder squeezed in. Their knees and legs sometimes bumped into each other as a result, though neither of them paid attention. Yuder was somewhat bewildered when he first served his roughly cooked food to Akit, who looked like a noble, in a cramped place. However, his worries soon melted away after seeing the man eating everything he gave so happily.
Yuder let out a sigh, thinking about how fast time flew. It felt as if just yesterday when a strange alpha kept following and harassing him, to the point of annoyance, and yet now they shared joy in smallest moments like these. An indescribable feeling engulfed his heart, as if choking. The creaking sound of the door opening saved him from the suffocation.
“Did you wait for long, Yuder?”
The man entering was Akit, then having changed out of the bathrobe and into new clothes. He wore a white shirt and a gray vest and pants, with a cravat around the collar. The cuffs of his sleeves were embroidered with golden threads and buttoned neatly with a golden button. The fabrics embraced his figure perfectly; however, unlike the strangely obscene sight of him in the bathrobe, the alpha looked much more elegant despite the simple attire. Yuder unconsciously stared at that handsome face who was smiling at him.
“…..No. You arrived just in time”
The omega responded a beat belatedly, acting calmly as if he didn’t blatantly stare at the man a moment ago. He looked around, trying to change the topic.
“By the way…I don’t see Sir Zuckeman. Is he not going to join us for breakfast?”
“He has other works to do, so I sent him back first”
“Ah…I see”
Yuder nodded and watched as the alpha naturally sat in the seat opposite his, as well as the omega. They started their simple breakfast in silence as usual. Akit sometimes started small conversations, short but not uncomfortable. Unbeknownst to him, a part of his mind still lingered elsewhere…
’As expected, he looks better in those clothes, although it was a shame…’
Yuder froze and halted his chewing.
’?’
…What exactly was a shame?
’…No way…’
A faint wave of dizziness washed over him as his fingers felt cold due to his sweaty palms.
’…What kind of thought I just had in the middle of a meal… Is this a side-effect of the heat…no, it has ended…but I’m sure that was the cause…wasn’t it…?’
The black-haired man furrowed slightly, he was busy fighting with his thoughts that he failed to notice a confused gaze laid upon him.
“Yuder?” Akit softly called the omega’s name when he suddenly stopped eating and looked troubled by something. “Are you perhaps still feeling unwell?”
“…No, that’s not it… I’m fine, I just remembered something, after all…”
“Is something bothering you?”
Akit tilted his head, his expression was full of concern for him. For some reason, seeing that innocent puppy face pricked a corner of his heart, he felt somewhat guilty as if he had done something bad. The omega cleared his throat awkwardly.
“That’s not…um, it’s nothing important. Forget it. Please”
Yuder hoped he didn’t sound too awkward. Fortunately, Akit didn’t ask any further and just smiled, saying that he could tell him anything if the latter had any problems. The strange feelings gradually faded by the time they finished their meal.
“That’s right, Yuder. I have something to give to you”
Akit wiped his wet hands from doing dishes after successfully snatching the work from Yuder and smiled. He took out a basket and placed it on the table, it was something he had been carrying since his arrival but soon forgotten due to the incident. Thankfully, it was imbued with a waterproof spell so it wasn’t ruined during their fight. The alpha removed the lid and took out two exquisite boxes. The act caused Yuder to come closer out of curiosity.
“What are those?”
Akit opened the box on the right and didn’t miss the slight excitement in the other’s obsidian eyes.
“There are cookies, macaroons and scones. Please tell me if you like them after trying, I’ll bring more next time”
Yuder nodded and reached out for a yellow macaroon. The crispy shell crumbled when he took a bite and the sweetness of the cream in the middle melted on his tongue, mixed with a hint of lemon flavor, enhancing its rich taste.
“It’s good”
Akit’s lips curved up, forming a smile.
“Do you know that sweets taste better when they’re served together with tea?”
The alpha opened the other box and took out its contents.
“Tea leaves?”
“Yes” Akit skillfully prepared the tea, putting the leaves into a pot with boiling water and soon an exquisite aroma filled the air. “This is a new type of herbal tea, it is believed to be good for an omega’s body after spending the estrus. My sister-in-law wanted to gift you this”
The man poured the hot tea into a ceramic cup and placed it in front of Yuder, who was widening his eyes in surprise not because of the other’s acting like a servant, but because of what he had said.
“Be careful, it’s hot”
“You have a sister-in-law?”
“Ah…yes, I have an older brother. He’s married and loves my sister-in-law very much”
That was the first time he had heard about Akit’s family, even though he never asked. Suddenly, a strange feeling stuck inside his throat, leaving a bitter taste, and his gaze darkened.
“…This is my first time hearing this”
“Yuder?”
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
It was strange, he thought. It was clear that Akit had no obligation to tell him, yet he couldn’t understand his slight sense of betrayal. After all, Yuder had told the alpha many stories of his childhood, and yet he didn’t know anything about the latter. He lowered his head, staring at his reflection in the tea, steaming with aroma.
“…Oh my god. Yuder, you…”
Yuder definitely heard his chuckle right as he looked up and stared at the other man, confused and somewhat annoyed. Akit quickly explained before the omega misunderstood him.
“Please believe me, it wasn’t my intention to hide it from you…it’s just, I intended to introduce you to them once everything has sorted out”
“……”
“Forgive me…please?”
Yuder sighed, glancing at the big dejected puppy in front of him. It was relatively a cute pitiful sight for someone as huge as Akit.
“……Fine”
The brown-haired man beamed brightly at Yuder’s permission, his eyes squinted with joy as he spoke.
“My sister-in-law’s hobby is to grow and dry herbs herself. Not only her tea taste exquisitely, but they also has therapeutic effects”
Akit sat down and began to tell various stories, even though Yuder didn’t ask. There’s a strange eagernesses in his voice, as if he had been waiting to speak for a long time.
“You see, tending the garden has always been her favorite pastime, but she gained more knowledge about herbs all thanks to my brother, who has insomnia”
Yuder listened to Akit intently, finally taking a sip of the tea before him. The strong fragrance of tea filled his nostrils and faint bitterness lingered on his tastebuds after swallowing felt incredibly good, and the omega relaxed his nerves in an instant.
“…I can see why you have so much praise. Please tell her I like the tea very much, and thank you for the gifts”
“She’d be delighted to hear that”
Akit smiled, sneaking his share of scones on the omega’s plate.
“Come to think of it, isn’t it your birthday soon, Yuder?”
Chapter 13
Notes:
I'm sorry in advance for any cringe you feel in this and the next chapter
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Come to think of it, isn’t it your birthday soon, Yuder?”
Yuder’s 18th birthday.
It was also the day when their relationship would change, for better or worse.
’Strange…I used to make a fuss about it, but now when the time comes… I…’
He looked into Akit’s gaze, smiling softly.
“…Yes…”
“……I see”
Yuder thought that Akit’s gaze had darkened for a moment, but he soon realized it was just an illusion when the man smiled gently, and his reddish-brown pupils shone softly.
“I heard that there will be a festival in the 7th District near that day, do you want to go with me?”
“A festival?”
“Yes, it’s one to embrace the end of spring, and wish for a bountiful summer. But the truth is, it has some other meaning”
The man went on with the explanation of its history.
“It is said the spring when the First Emperor declared his love to his lover was extremely beautiful, because all flowers within the empire bloomed magically, as a proof of His Majesty the First Emperor’s deep affection. A few others said it was actually his magic used to impress his partner”
“However, as time passed, people started to wonder if that was the truth, or if it was just a coincidence that the weather at that time was just that good. Either way, it was a very romantic tale. Thus, whenever they have a successful spring, they hold this festival to commemorate it. But the hidden purpose is that—”
Akit looked at Yuder, smiling softly.
“…if you attend the festival with the person you cherish the most, the both of you would be blessed with eternal happiness”
“……”
“Very romantic, is it not? Well, that’s what most love stories are. It can just be used as an excuse for lovers to spend a passionate time together. Aside from that, you see, this one has a special trait to it”
“A special trait?”
Akit chuckled when he saw the intrigued look on Yuder’s face, as he naturally reached out his hand and wiped the crumbs on the latter’s cheek with his thumb, without batting an eye. Yuder did not try to think when he saw the man licking the crumbs he retrieved afterwards so shamelessly.
“Yes, but that’s a secret, for now. You will know if you come with me”
The brown-haired man put a finger to his lips, acting all mysterious. But Yuder knew it was just an act to display his mischief.
’A festival huh…?’
It’s been a while since Yuder had been to one. The first festival he attended was a hazy memory from his childhood, when his grandfather was still alive and took him to the village to celebrate the Harvest Festival. But the village population was relatively small, so it was held in moderation. Actually, he couldn’t even remember things that well.
After becoming the concubine, he mostly confined himself within the imperial palace. The nobles wouldn’t usually attend festivals like commoners, they held banquets instead. And of course, Yuder would never go to those parties. Akit was also busy on those days, probably due to his duties as an aristocrat; thus, he couldn’t bring him outside.
’I really didn’t mind…but Akit always looked sad and guilty for leaving me alone… Well, I’m contented that he would send sweets and take me outside the next day though…’
This would be their chance to spend the first festival together and to be honest, it would be a lie to say Yuder didn’t feel any slightest excited to witness the festive mood in the capital with his own eyes. Besides, his heart raced at the thought of enjoying it with a certain man by his side… Without any hesitation, he nodded.
“Alright…let’s go together”
Akit’s face brightened up instantly at mere words as a wide grin appeared on his lips.
“That’s great! It’ll start around next week, so when it’s time for the night to fall, I’ll come and pick you up”
“It’s not in the morning…?”
“Oh? Did I perhaps not yet tell you? The funfair…only starts when the sun sets”
…
…
…
“……”
Yuder, standing alone in his bedroom, stared into the tall mirror placed beside the dressing table. He saw a tall young man with black hair staring back at him with his deep obsidian eyes, glowing faintly with a tint of amethyst hue. He wore a white shirt that seemed oversized for his size, but the black belt, wrapping twice around his slender waist with its end let loose, strangely fit his body. He also wore comfy pants and shoes that matched his top. He adjusted the strings tying the split cuffs on his wrists and looked at his reflection in the mirror once again.
Then his gaze moved to the table next to it, landing on the object placed on the top. It was a white mask with silver linings. Yuder picked it up, tracing his fingers along the surface. The design might look simple, but it was actually delicately carved upon closer inspection. In fact, the mask as well as the clothes he donned that day was delivered by the alpha, just a few days prior to the date.
”On this day, people must wear plain clothes and a mask to hide their identity”
“Why?”
“Hmm…I’m not sure, since it’s an old tradition. However, don’t you think it’s exciting to be able to recognize your other half behind a layer of the mask?”
Yuder silently sighed, recalling the man’s words when he handed him the attire. He glanced at the clock, it was almost time for their appointment. The omega put the mask over his face, tying the string tightly around his head to secure it in place. The feeling of having something covering and somewhat hindering his sight was uncomfortable; however, after some moment, he got used to the sensation.
He looked at the mirror and checked his appearance again, now that was hidden behind the mask. When he was wondering if anyone could recognize him looking like this, the knocking sounds were heard on the door.
“Yuder, can I come in?”
“Yes”
A familiar voice and scent came in, and Yuder instantly gave permission. Akit opened the door and stepped inside.
“As expected, it looks good on you”
How would commoner clothes be any good, he retorted in his mind, but didn’t word it.
’If anything…it would be him who looks good’
The alpha also wore a simple white shirt, with a slightly different design from Yuder’s. The collar was much wider and attached together with strings, although loosened enough to briefly show his clavicles and a bit of his chest. The omega’s gaze was somehow drawn to the gap within. Aside from that, unlike Yuder’s split cuffs, Akit’s neatly rounded his wrists with buttons. There was also a similar-looking belt hanging low around his abdomen, with a small pouch attached.
Finally, without missing, was a mask. While Yuder’s was white with silver linings, the alpha’s mask was black and gold. What caught the omega’s attention was how it only covered half of the man’s face, while the other half shaped like a crescent moon, revealing one of his umber pupils, which was looking at him softly. When their gazes gently intertwined, the latter’s lips lifted up into a curve.
The next moment, Akit reached out and touched the side of his face. Perhaps it was an intention to fix Yuder’s mask, but the alpha’s long fingers accidentally brushed against his ear while he was fiddling with the string, causing him to shiver slightly due to the ticklish feelings. The large hand eventually withdrew, leaving behind only a tingling sensation mixed with a hint of regret.
“…Alright, shall we go?”
Yuder nodded and placed his hand onto the other’s, and the fingers naturally intertwined. Together, they passed through the familiar secret passage to the outside world. Since the sun had set, the path was even darker and harder to see ahead. However, there wasn't any slightest hesitation or discomfort in Yuder’s steps, as he felt completely safe feeling the warmth of the person beside him, while being enveloped with a cool, gentle scent. He closed his eyes, entrusting himself to the alpha.
…
…
…
“Waaahhhh!!”
“Splash him! Splash him with water!”
“……”
Yuder stared blankly at the sight of people splashing buckets of water on other people in the middle of the streets. At the very least, he didn’t flinch or get startled like the first time he saw such a scene after arriving at the place.
The 7th District, unlike its daily ordinary and quiet vibe when the night fell, was brightly lit with magic lanterns all across the streets. Moreover, colorful flags and banners were hung on every house, flowers and confettis were thrown here and there along with the cheerful shouts from every direction. Aside from that, Yuder was surprised to see the streets filled with people wearing masks, a ‘rule’ just like what Akit said. He was momentarily stunned by the festive atmosphere.
“Lively, isn’t it?”
The alpha, having been standing beside him and holding onto his hand, chuckled.
“Earlier, you asked me why we must wear a mask, right? Well…you’ll probably find out very soon”
“Huh…?”
While Yuder was tilting his head in confusion, a loud splash and shouts were heard from behind, causing him to jolt in surprise. He reflexively turned around and what welcomed him was a sight of the pedestrians pouring water onto the passersby, not just one, but many.
“Are they fighting…!”
“Fighting? Haha, no Yuder, look closely to the ones getting splashed right now”
Yuder did as he said and looked around, then he realized that not anyone, but only the ones without a mask were targeted.
“…The mask…they’re not wearing one”
“That’s right. Good job, Yuder” Akit gently patted the omega’s head. “There’s another reason, actually. It is said that if you wander around the streets alone, without a partner, you’ll also get splashed”
The alpha then chuckled and pecked the soft flesh between his fingers, a sly smile appeared between his beautiful red lips.
“However…that is something not needed to care about, is it not? Since I’ve gotten such a lovely fairy to accompany me right now”
“……”
“Oh, my dear fairy, you’re so captivating that not even the mask could hide your beauty, the fact torrenting me so much I’m holding back the urge to hide you away from the prying gazes of others”
’What kind of nonsense are you spouting now’
Yuder softly sighed, but his expression showed no irritation nor disgust. Perhaps it was thanks to the festive mood, but the omega felt like playing along with his antics for now. He smiled faintly.
“…Mmn, let’s do that later. Didn’t you bring me here to enjoy the festival? Everything will end if we keep standing here…let’s go”
Yuder squeezed the man’s hand, who suddenly got quiet as he obediently let himself be dragged away by the omega. The former felt a slight satisfaction sensing the emotions mixed in cool scent.
They wandered around the lively streets, occasionally buying food and drinks from the vendors. There was music, arts and all kinds of plays at every corner, and they took their time trying out everything. The omega was fascinated by one of the magic shows, where they used tools to make lights in the air, sparkling magically.
The more they walked, the more Yuder saw people without a partner got soaked wet. His heart raced whenever Akit pulled him close, to prevent the water from hitting him.
“Wow! What a lovely couple! Here, take this!”
Since Akit was with him, they weren’t splashed with water, but instead, offered with flowers. A couple of passersby handed each of them a red rose before continuing to scatter the petals. Yuder quietly admired the flower in his hand.
“…It’s beautiful”
“Yes, you’re right. It’s truly beautiful”
He wondered how could the man compliment when he didn’t even look at the flower? The alpha stared into Yuder’s eyes, smiling softly as he offered the rose he was holding.
“For you, beautiful flowers are meant for the most beautiful fairy”
The black-haired man accepted the rose and brought it to his nose, taking in its aroma. The sweet fragrance mixed with the alpha’s distinctive scent warmed his heart.
“…Thank you”
Just then, music played in the plaza they had just arrived at, and people around them started dancing to the rhythm. While he was looking around, the hand that had been holding his released its grip and extended towards him. Yuder stared at the man, who crouched slightly while bending one arm behind his back, smiled brightly as he slowly parted his lips.
“Will you honor me with your hand for a dance, Yuder?”
“But I don’t know how to dance…”
“Don’t worry, I will take the lead”
Albeit reluctantly, Yuder placed his hand on top of Akit’s and almost abruptly, his body was pulled along with a soft tug. His body stumbled and fell into close contact with the man’s chest, and he could feel the faint vibration from the chuckling above as a hand slipped on his waist, holding him steadily. With one hand being held and an arm around him, Yuder found himself being trapped within the alpha’s embrace and scent. He could no longer escape, so he put his free hand onto the firm shoulder, and let himself be led away by the other.
Yuder’s body tensed up at first when he was pulled. His gaze kept glancing down at the ground, feeling anxious that he might step on the man’s feet with his clumsy steps. However, contrary to his worries, the alpha skillfully moved their bodies to the rhythm, and soon his tensed muscles relaxed, finally accepting the lead.
Yuder was once again amazed by Akit’s skills, who could easily spin a tall grown man like him around, without intertwining their legs or breaking a sweat. He even ensured they didn’t bump into others as their bodies continued to touch and sway.
He lifted his head and met the gaze of the man before him, peering into a pair of brown eyes, one peeking through the mask, while the other was exposed. As if had been waiting, the alpha squinted his eyes and smiled sweetly the moment they locked gazes.
Then, Akit spun Yuder, turning him around. His back softly leaned against the alpha’s chest while the latter slid his hands between the crevices of Yuder’s fingers, completing the connection. The omega was slightly surprised when the position changed; however, even in this posture, the dance was still as smooth and enjoyable as the start.
Yuder slightly turned his head to take a glimpse of the man’s face, who was still staring at him as softly as possible, as if he was holding something dear. He had seen enough of the glamour of the other man under the sunlight, but Akit, basked in the moonlight, also has its own charms.
His soft hair gently swaying in the wind looked a bit duller due to the low saturation, and his eyes darkened in the shadow, but sparkled brightly when they reflected the silver hues of the satellite, giving off a strangely mythical aura. Within those beautiful orbs, only the omega’s image was seen.
For the time being, Yuder immersed himself in the sight, the dance, and the sound of two beating hearts overlapping each other.
Notes:
Finally I can show the art wahhh ;w;
Scream kishyu with me on Twitter @/RoseNiji2704! 🫶🏻Update: if you can’t see the inserted art 🥲 please visit this LINK to my twitter!
Chapter 14
Notes:
I forgot to mention in the last chapter’s note but I ship the First Emperor with Luma (and a supportive First Empress) (゚∀゚)
Chapter Text
The two of them danced for a while, then stopped when they finished the second song. They sat down on a nearby bench to take a quick rest, when someone else approached them.
“Hello the couple over there! Congratulations!”
Both Akit and Yuder looked at the strange man in confusion, while the latter continued.
“I saw your dance earlier, I can see that you two are so madly in love!”
“No we…”
“That’s why!” He cut off Yuder’s words before he could even respond. “You have been chosen as the last couple to enter our small contest! It’s the main event tonight, you wouldn’t want to miss it!”
They didn’t have time to refuse, and were dragged away by the enthusiastic stranger. The place they were led to was a relatively large open space, as they were guided to get on a stage, with a large crowd of audience below. Three other couples had arrived before them, while Akit and Yuder stood on the furthest of the stage left. They stood out quite a bit, due to their heights.
Their concerns were soon left behind as the man from earlier picked up the voice amplifier tool and spoke into it.
“Alright everyone! Thank you for waiting! It’s time for: Mission! ☆ The Blindfolded Knight Saves The Blindfolded Princess! ☆ to officially—Staaaaart!!!”
What the heck is that ridiculously long and cringy title?
Yuder maintained his stoic expression, however, he was momentarily taken aback by the weird name. He glanced at Akit, who seemed to have the same thoughts as him.
“……”
…Was it the wrong choice to come here, after all? While Yuder was contemplating his rash decision, the audience cheered loudly as soon as the emcee announced the start of the event.
“The rules are simple! We have chosen four couples to participate in the rescue mission, one of them will play the role of the captive princess, and the other will play the role of the shining knight in armor. However—both of them will be blindfolded! So how could the knight save the princess? The princesses are tied with a thread and our knights will choose the right one leading to their happy ending. The pair that get it right will be the winner! Remember—you only have one chance to find your destined partner!”
“…Hmm, so it’s a game based on luck”
Akit whispered beside the omega, his voice sounded somewhat amused after hearing the instructions.
“Then without further ado—let’s get the event started! Each pair please select one person to be the princess and follow the staff for preparation!”
The contestants were given a minute to divide the roles by themselves. The other couples completed the task in no time, leaving only the two of them. Yuder pondered for a few seconds, then he glanced at the other man, declaring his decision.
“I guess…I should be the princess”
“Oh? I was thinking of playing the princess. I’ve always dreamed of being rescued by a beautiful knight with black hair, you know?”
“……”
The alpha was pretending to have a pitiful face yet again, but Yuder didn’t give in this time. He pushed the big man aside and followed the waiting staff, after giving a clear signal that commanded ‘Stay here. Do not move’.
“This way, please”
The staff led the ‘princesses’ behind the big curtain, where some other props were prepared beforehand. There were four wooden poles visibly seen, and Yuder could roughly guess what they were going to be used for.
“We will blindfold you now, please tell us if you feel uncomfortable or the knot is too tight!”
Some other staff brought out a few black cloths and threads. One of them approached Yuder, wrapping the fabric around his eyes over the mask, and darkness immediately covered his vision. He wasn’t surprised by the sudden blindness, but he felt weird for some reason. It wasn’t as dark as the secret passage they had always ventured, since he could still recognize the brightness from the surroundings. The feelings, however, weren’t the same.
Yuder felt the staff tying something onto his wrist next, probably the thread they had explained. Then, he was led to somewhere else.
“It might be uncomfortable, but please bear with us for now. And one more thing, if you have a secondary gender, please refrain from using your scent to give a signal. Cheating will result in your disqualification and a penalty, okay?”
Yuder nodded. The next moment, the omega’s hands were wrapped around a wooden surface, and tied together loosely enough. The hard thing touching his back was probably one of the poles he had noticed previously. Well, his role was to be a ‘captive’ princess, it was expected that he would be restrained in some way or another.
“Alright! It seemed like our princesses had also done their part! Then let’s get started, shall we?”
The voice of the emcee was heard in the distance, followed by the sounds of something being pulled. He could tell that the curtain had been lifted, as the brightness behind his blindfold changed subtly, together with the applause of the crowds.
He faced forwards, even though he was unable to see, his heartbeat quickened at the thought of a certain man standing somewhere out there, blindfolded just like Yuder, waiting for him.
“Knights! Are you ready to gamble with fate? Choose one of the threads here and follow it to where your destiny leads!”
With one sense obstructed, the others were naturally heightened. Amidst the loud cheers of the audience, as soon as the starting signal was given, Yuder felt the thread on his wrist being tugged slightly. He could clearly hear the sounds of footsteps coming from only one direction; and the sounds of his own heart, ringing more loudly in his ears the closer the sounds were, as well as the faint odor of winter breeze in the air.
Finally, the footsteps stopped, right in front of Yuder. A hand gently touched his face and fingers caressed his cheek, but he didn’t avoid it.
“…Yuder”
The voice calling his name was as soft as feathers, fluttering slowly. Then the other hand moved to the back of his head, and his blindfold was removed.
Yuder furrowed slightly due to the sudden brightness; when he opened his eyes, stood there was Akit, who had also removed the cloth around his face, smiling at him ever so softly.
“It looks like we have a winner! It’s the couple no.4!
The crowds made a thunderous cheer for the pair, but neither of them paid attention to the loud noise at that moment.
“Are you okay, Yuder?”
Akit swiftly removed the cloth tying his hands, freeing Yuder, and rubbed his wrists.
“I’m fine. They didn’t tie it that tightly in the first place”
“That’s good”
“How did you find me? It must have been hard, not being able to see anything…”
It was a situation where both parties were blindfolded, and pheromones were prohibited, the chance of getting it right was one-in-four.
“Hmm? I guess it was ‘fate’ that led me to you… Besides, didn’t I tell you I’d definitely come to you, no matter what?”
“……”
’I’ll come to you right away, so wait for me, Yuder’. Those were the words the alpha had whispered into Yuder’s ear the moment right before he left. And he had kept his promise.
Just when he was about to call out the other’s name, the audience cheered again and Yuder was reminded that both of them were still in public.
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
Perhaps having seen their affectionate display, they shouted loudly, demanding the winners to kiss. Yuder, however, looked very much troubled, not because of the embarrassing act, but because of another reason only two people knew.
“Oh my, what to do…”
He glanced at Akit, who looked less bewildered than him, but had also noticed the situation.
’….Should we run away?’
Yuder glanced around restlessly, but they were already surrounded by the crowds, it seemed that everyone would not let them go until they kissed.
“...It can’t be helped, right?”
“...…Huh?”
Yuder flinched when the alpha’s face swooped down in an instant. He reflexively stepped backwards to avoid it, but his waist was firmly held in place by the man’s strong arms, and he couldn’t escape. His pupils shook violently when he saw Akit’s face inching closer and closer.
’Is he really going to do it…!’
In the end, he shut his eyes closely, waiting for the impact to come. However, contrary to his expectations, something solid pressed onto his lips, causing him to open his eyes in surprise.
Using his hand to lift Yuder’s chin, Akit slipped his thumb between their faces. Akit’s red lips, then, overlapped perfectly. He adjusted the angle, making it look like they were actually kissing, but in fact, their lips never touched. After a plausible moment, the alpha moved his face away as he looked at the bewildered omega, and chuckled.
“That should do it, don’t you think, Yuder?”
“……”
The black-haired man couldn’t think of anything. He didn’t know whether the wild thumping of his heart ringing in his ears, or the excited shouts and whistlings of the audience, was louder. He only came back to his senses when he got hit with something cold.
It seemed like the audience got too excited that they started to pour water at them. Soon after that, Yuder was soaked wet. And it wasn’t just him alone, but Akit also shared the same fate.
Noticing Yuder’s gaze, the alpha also looked back at him; both of their faces were dumbfounded, as they were at a loss of words.
“Haha…”
Suddenly, Akit squinted his eyes and laughed heartily. Yuder’s head felt like spinning, since it had yet processed everything that had happened. However, perhaps because he had seen that innocent laugh, or he had sensed the joy in the scent that the corners of his lips unconsciously curved up into a smile.
“Kiss again! Kiss again!”
“Oh dear, it seems like one kiss wasn’t enough” Akit swept back his brown locks, which had gotten darker after gotten wet, and winked at the younger man. “...Shall we run away?”
He grabbed Yuder’s hand and started running away. The latter didn’t have any hesitation in following the man’s lead, as he watched him skillfully slip through the gaps to escape. Behind them were audible gasps of the people demanding to chase after the two of them.
“They’re running away! Let’s catch them!”
The commotion had drawn the passerby’s attention, some of which even joined in the fun and splashed more water at the runaways. Akit and Yuder took a sudden turn and hid themselves in a dark alley, cutting the tail. Only when some time passed and the chaos was no longer heard did the two of them exhaled softly, almost simultaneously. Their gazes naturally drew to each other at that moment, and they chuckled upon the realization that they had been holding their breaths.
“—Haha! In the end, we still got splashed, huh?”
“...Didn’t you say we would be safe if I came with you?”
Even though he couldn’t see the alpha’s expression in the dark, he could tell that he was surprised at Yuder’s words. A moment of silence passed, followed by a small, low laugh.
“...My apologies, it was a miscalculation on my part. I’ll make sure to reflect on it and—to make up for you…” He spoke softly. “......How about I give you a kiss”
Yuder widened his eyes, only then did he realize the situation they were in at that moment.
A pair of strong arms were wrapping around him, and his body leaned closely to the man’s chest. Wet clothes stuck to their skin, and the warmth of flesh pressing against each other could be felt more explicitly, causing heat to rush to his head.
Ba-thump. Ba-thump.
Within that distance, he could hear the rhythm of their heart, beating and resonating as if they were dancing. He tried to move back a bit to make some space, however, his back immediately met the wall, since the alley they had run into in a hurry was narrow.
’This…is dangerous…’
The air around them changed in an instant. He was reminded of the time being on stage, when both of them were in a similar situation. However, unlike then, Yuder was neither restrained nor unable to escape. He now could easily shake the man’s arms off and run away, and he doubted Akit would stop him from doing so either. However, he didn’t move from his spot, or rather, he couldn’t.
A faint ray of moonlight passed by, illuminating the area. Thanks to that, Yuder could clearly see the face of the man before him.
Akit was staring at him with his crimson-tinted umber eyes, which seemed to be holding a desire only for Yuder as they focused on one point. What surprised him even more, however, was the reflection of a black-haired man in those orbs, which didn’t look any different from the former.
If one said Akit’s cheeks were painted with a pinkish hue, then Yuder’s were tinted with the same hue. The soft and affectionate gaze seemed to contain only one person in the whole world, and so was the other’s. And the two scents that were different at birth, but released simultaneously, stroking each other before entwining gently, were carrying the same unidentified emotions—No, Yuder knew, he had always known the names of the feelings haunting his heart.
”Ah...I see, towards this man…I have already…’
Yuder wrapped his arms around the other’s neck, feeling the broad shoulders beneath faintly tensed up, then soon relaxed. The arms around his body tightened slightly, their position shifted, and the heat between two bodies intensified. A rough hand gently wiped away a droplet of water on his cheek, then stroked it. In the dim illumination of the moon, he could see Akit narrowing their distance.
Was this okay? Was this really the right thing to do? Wouldn’t it break the promise to keep the purity until the destined day?
Various thoughts went through his mind as he felt the other’s breath on his skin. Those questions kept echoing in his head, however, deep within his heart, answers had already been found.
“......!”
The brown-haired man blinked, widening his eyes. The atmosphere was good, the pheromones were enticing, and two people seemed to be in deep understanding of each other. At that moment, Akit had leaned in as his instinct told, however, he couldn’t feel the other’s breath with his lips. Yuder had covered the alpha’s mouth with his hands, just right before their faces came into contact.
“...Uh…this…” The omega flustered and rolled his eyes. He lowered his head, his feverish ears peeked out under the silverish veil of the night. “We…We can’t, not yet…”
“……Right, we can’t yet”
He couldn’t utter a full sentence, but both of them knew the meaning without fail. It was weird to be stubborn over something simply made orally only, but at the same time, he didn’t want to break that one simple thing.
“Akit, I—”
In the midst of the awkward silence, he tried to break it by saying something, but soon was cut off when he felt a soft sensation landing on his nose. Heat gathered in the place that had just been touched, and Yuder stared blankly at the man withdrawing.
“…I suppose I should be content with this much, for now”
Akit was chuckling, but his voice sounded somewhat sad and regretful, tugging at the omega’s heart. Just then, a cool breeze flew by, and Yuder felt a slight shiver on his skin; only then did he remember that they both were still soaked wet.
“Oh dear, you’ll get a cold at this rate… It’s also gotten late, shall we head back?”
“……Yes”
Yuder couldn’t remember what happened after that, and before he knew it, they had already arrived in front of Serene Palace. Their time together was coming to an end.
In the veil of the moonlight, the man’s hand extended and kept caressing his cheek, but the latter didn’t move away either, as if both of them were desperately trying to stall time, wishing for the contact, for the embracing scents, for the lingering images reflected in each other’s eyes, to last a little longer.
“…Tomorrow” Yuder was the first one to break the silence. “…tomorrow will be the day I turn eighteenth”
He held his breath.
“And then…”
“……”
Akit stared at the younger man for a while, then smiled softly. He pulled the omega into his arms and embraced him gently; however, Yuder couldn’t see his face since he was hugged from behind. A soft whisper then breathed into his ear.
“…Happy birthday, Yuder”
“…It hasn’t even been midnight yet”
“I know… I just…I’m feeling so happy that I couldn’t hold it in…”
Yuder chuckled softly as if he had heard something strange, coming from the Akit he knew, who had always been clever and composed.
“It’s fine. You can say it again tomorrow”
“Tomorrow…yes, tomorrow…”
Akit turned Yuder around and removed his mask, revealing the eyes as dark as a starless night, yet mysteriously alluring. He stared at them for a long, long time, as if to ingrain the beautiful portrait into his memory.
“…Yuder”
“Yes?”
“Yuder…”
“…Yes”
The alpha kept calling out the omega’s name, as if enchanted. His voice was low and sweet, however, Yuder couldn’t possibly shake off the faint uneasiness in his heart.
“…Yuder, I’ll definitely come back soon…so wait for me, okay?”
It was a strange thing to say when they were going to meet again the next morning, as usual. But before Yuder could question that, Akit had lifted the latter’s hand and kissed the top of it, where a small shabby ring was visible.
“Then…I bid you goodnight, my dear Yuder”
Their intertwined hands inevitably disconnected. Although warmth was still lingering on his skin, Yuder had already missed his touch as he watched the man, who glanced at him for a while, then disappeared into the night.
Yuder stood there and stared into the darkness, his heart beating loudly inside his chest from all the excitement during the festival, their moments together, and from the anticipation of what would come later. He closed his eyes, savoring the fresh scent in the air that had been mixing with his, and yet to fade away.
Then, he returned inside, embracing the emotions.
Those were Yuder Aile’s last memories of the man named Akit from two years ago.
Chapter 15
Notes:
I’m back woohoo! Sorry for the wait, please enjoy and tell me how you feel~
Also Happy (belated) holidays!
You can check my arts for Christmas
and New Year on X/bsky! Thank you 🫶🏻
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Chirp… Chirp…
The quiet chirpings of the birds could be heard from outside as the morning rays of sunshine that seemed to shine brightly, yet weren’t able to illuminate the room which was drowned in darkness, hidden behind the tightly-shut curtained windows. A silhouette was faintly seen shifting its shadow on the large bed. A young man with raven-color hair slowly opened his pitch-dark eyes, holding nothing but the void, as he stared blankly into the dimmed distance.
’.…..It’s morning’
Yuder Aile pulled the blanket over his head, trying to get back to sleep. However, his body had developed a habit to wake up at the exact same time every morning, without fail. The time he got up was always a bit earlier than normal people, because he used to clean up and prepare breakfast for a particular circumstance. He no longer needed to do so, but it was hard to break a fixation engraved into his mind.
He turned and tossed around, however, sleep didn’t come. Letting out a sigh, he threw the blanket away and got up. Yuder slowly put his feet onto the high-quality carpet laid on the floor and felt its softness, a feeling he still hadn’t gotten used to, despite having lived there for more than ten years. He thought that the floor was particularly colder than usual that day, but he soon concluded it was due to still being in the middle of winter, even though spring was coming.
After a few stretches, he stood up and walked past a silent magic stove, towards the wardrobe. There, he noticed his reflection in the mirror.
Yuder Aile had grown even taller than before, now that he was twenty. His black hair had grown over his nape, and his bangs were long enough to cover his eyes, since he had rarely trimmed them. The obsidian orbs were as ominous as ever, yet seemed to look even more tired alongside the time passage. The faint dark circles around his eyes and the sharp gaze made him appear more mature than his looks. Aside from those, Yuder thought he hadn’t really changed over the years. His skin was pale, his lips were bloodless, as if he was a breathing corpse. Perhaps, the only thing that changed was his heart…
’I should stop thinking about useless things……’
He shook his head and grabbed his change of clothes; then, he headed towards the bathroom to wash up. He closed the door with a creak, and absolute darkness once again engulfed the cold bedroom.
…
…
…
After washing up, Yuder headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He never felt the need to make anything fancy, since he lived alone anyway. However, he decided to have it even simpler that day. Perhaps the dream last night was the cause of his lack of appetite, a dream he thought he had forgotten about, yet still returned to haunt him.
He opened the cupboard and the first thing catching his eyes was an extra utensils set stored away in a corner, which seemed to haven’t been used for a long time. Nevertheless, he ignored it and took out another plate, placing the freshly baked toasts on it and grabbed the jam jar.
He sat down on the table which looked relatively small for someone as tall as Yuder, but still felt strangely empty. Spreading the jam on the hard surface of the bread, Yuder took a bite, chewing slowly.
The toast was crunchy and aromatic with the smell of butter, the jam was both sweet and sour; to the young man, however, they tasted just as bland. He unconsciously took a bite, chewed, then took another bite, and swallowed. He ate them as if it was just an obligation in order to stay alive, and he soon finished his meal with an unchanging attitude.
He didn’t get up, even after the meal, as he sat there and stared blankly at the grayish sky, clouded by the winter weather. He ran over a quick thought of his schedule that day.
’The weather is dry today…the leaves in the garden must have piled up again…I’ll have to swept them later’
The chores he had to do were just trivial, as he didn’t have much to do in this large place anyway. Thus, he didn’t feel any need to rush. Still, after a while, he got up, cleaned the table and started his work.
Yuder picked up his broom and watercan, and headed towards the garden. The path leading there was eerily quiet. Unlike other nobles’ gardens, the one within his palace was closer to a large backyard with many trees growing without an expert’s care. The omega still tried to trim them a few times when it had gotten too overgrown, roughly enough.
Yuder quietly passed by a small corner of the garden, which looked obviously different from the rest. While the other places were only full of dull overgrown trees, one particular spot brightened by various colors could easily be seen. It was a small field, bloomed with many flowers.
He watered the flowers with the right amount, just as he was once taught. When the flowers first bloomed, he felt somewhat proud of his efforts. But now, his heart was strangely cool and indifferent. Yuder had never been a person interested in growing flowers, but he had never been an irresponsible man who abandoned what he had been given.
His gaze turned to a corner, where small purple flowers were blooming. A petal softly fell to the ground as soon as Yuder touched it. He crouched down, staring at the half-withered flowers for a while, and wondered if the cold weather was the reason behind its lost vibrancy. He cared for the purple buds a bit more than the others, since they were his very first flowers. However, his interest soon waned as he stood up and left the place that lacked the warmth of the sun.
Yuder walked deeper into the garden, which, as he had expected, was full of fallen leaves. It had been days since he last visited there, after all. He softly sighed, picked up his broom and started sweeping. The sound of straws brushing against the ground, and the rustling leaves seemed to echo within the isolated place. Only at times like these, he was reminded of being the only living being there.
“……!”
A sudden noise came from a nearby bush, causing him to jolt his head towards that direction. However, it was just a gust passing by, as leaves swayed back and forth.
“……”
Yuder tightened his grip on the broom, then relaxed it a second later after realizing there was no one—nothing there. The omega thought that the sound of the wind had never sounded any more lonely than that moment.
…
…
…
“Yuder, thank you for helping out!”
The omega nodded as he put down the last crate, heavily containing fresh fruits. He looked at the owner who was smiling widely at him.
“You sprained your back. It’s only natural that I help”
“Tch…if only my unfilial son was as good as you… Oh, you can take as many as the apples over there, it’s your reward for you helping me out these days”
Once or twice a week, the omega would visit the market like this, to change the air or just to buy a few things. He often lend a hand to the acquaintances, just like he did for the fruit stall owner. The middle-age man hurted his back while moving boxes, so Yuder had been visiting him for the past few days.
He firmly refused money as payment, he was simply content with small stuff like these. Yuder picked up one of the apples and took a bite; a sweet juice flowed into his mouth, which seemed to have lifted his mood a bit.
“Father, did you say bad things about me to Yuder again?! I told you he would get misunderstandings about me!”
“What misunderstandings? What good things are there about a son who plays around until noon when his father is injured?!”
The owner’s son, who hadn’t been seen since his father was injured, finally showed up when the sun had risen high in the sky.
“But father! You know it’s rude to keep the ladies waiting”
“Did you play around with women again?! Ugh, when will I ever get to rest my mind…”
The owner slapped his hand to his forehead, rubbing his temples. Meanwhile, the son had noticed Yuder leaning against the boxes and eating the apples, and immediately approached the omega with a wide grin.
“Yuder! It’s been a while—hmm?” He suddenly tilted his head as he studied Yuder’s face. “Did something good happen? You look…less gloomy than the last time I saw you”
Yuder was surprised to see that he could notice that, given his personality. Well, that just meant his complexion had really improved, to the extent that a very dense person could detect it. It was probably thanks to the sweet apples he just ate.
“…I guess so”
“That’s great! You’re done helping, right, How about we go somewhere today, just me, and you huh?”
The son moved closer to Yuder and sneaked his arm around, but the latter had reflexively moved his body and evaded. The sinister arm ended up hovering in the air awkwardly before withdrawing.
The omega sighed, it was so obvious that the other was making a move on him. Yuder had seen him a few times, he had somewhat good looks, which suited his notoriety for being a playboy. However, the omega couldn’t understand why others fell for the son; to him, his looks were below average. Now what was he called again? Yuder didn’t even bother to remember his name.
“No thanks. I need to get back to my place”
“Aww, don’t be shy! It’s still early, I promise you will have a good time—”
“You brat! Stop bothering Yuder!”
The father gave him a smack on the back of his head, earning a groan from the son.
“Ouch! Father! Please don’t ruin the mood. it’s not every day I can meet him—besides, he’s not accompanied anym—”
“—?! You idiot!”
The man hit him again, much harder this time. The son, however, before he could even protest, his head was pressed down by the owner.
“S-Sorry, Yuder. This brat is really stupid—I should have taught him properly—”
The owner kept apologizing and said random excuses as he nervously glanced at Yuder; the slightest comfort he had vanished in an instant, a cold breeze brushed past him again. However, there wasn’t any change on his face as he slightly lowered his head.
“…It’s fine. I…don’t mind. Besides, he’s not wrong. I’ve been coming here alone”
“That’s right, Yuder! Then why don’t you go on a date with m—”
“You shut up!”
The old man hit his son again and huffed in pure frustration. At this point, he had been shouting so loudly that the ruckus caused other nearby vendors and passerby to glance at them. He paid them no attention as he looked at Yuder, smiling awkwardly.
“B-By the way, Yuder. Since you like our apples so much, you can take as many as you want today—my treat!”
“I’m really fine, you don’t need to feel bad about it”
Yuder gently soothed the owner, but the latter’s restlessness didn’t go away; even the lady from the next stall, who also knew the omega, came over and helped her poor neighbor. She changed the topic before things got more awkward.
“Are you going to help us tomorrow too?”
“Hmm…I’m sorry, I don’t think I can come here for a while… There’s a lot of things needed to be cleaned at the place I live”
“Ah…”
The people at the market all thought Yuder was a servant for a noble family, so they nodded understandingly with a regretful look.
“Then you should stay for a bit longer! After all, today is a festive day! Everyone is celebrating the return of the monster subjugation team”
Ah, no wonder why the market was busier than normal that day, Yuder thought.
The monster subjugation army. About two years ago, the Emperor had issued a royal decree, recruiting all brave warriors to join the team and travel around the empire, due to a sudden increase of the monster frequency. Of course, people with less experience in dealing with monsters than the skilled imperial knights would be awarded generously. Thus, many courageous ones voluntarily joined.
‘It’s been a year and a half…’
At first, upon the announcement, Yuder felt a bit desperate, yet only to be disappointed when he checked the list of participants.
’…….What do you mean?’
‘What? Like I said, there are no knights like the one you’re described’
‘…Maybe you just don’t remember everyone?’
Then imperial pharmacist with grey hair and lemon-colored eyes, Enon, furrowed as he stared at Yuder.
‘I’ve been treating those idiots every day, are you telling me I can’t tell?! I have the best memory in this whole empire, I’ll let you know—knights aside, I’ve never even heard of any nobles, or servants, with that name before!’
”………”
The memory of that day, when he returned to his palace with a heavy heart, was hazy. He spent the next few days in denial, and returned to his daily life shortly after. From that day onwards, Yuder Aile had made a decision.
“Y-Yeah! You should go see the parade—they probably will arrive through the 7th District soon. Maybe that’ll cheer you up!”
The old man misunderstood the darkened gaze on Yuder’s face, as he urged the latter.
“Alright…I guess I can take a look”
Yuder also didn’t want to continue making the owner feel bad, so he greeted them and left for the place they recommended. The sound of the owner arguing with his son was faintly heard after the omega had disappeared into the crowd.
“What were you thinking?! I know you’re a bastard, but to think you had the nerves to hit on someone with a lover…!”
“He never said it was his lover…moreover, what kind of boyfriend would leave them without saying a word—haven’t they already broken up at this point—”
“Oh just shut up, will you!”
The man gave his son a loud smack, then looked at the direction Yuder just went, with a sad gaze.
…
…
…
Yuder followed the path to the 7th district, where the parade was said to happen. On the way, he noticed every street was decorated with flowers and petals fluttering in the wind, prepared in advance to welcome the empire’s heroes. The citizens were overjoyed with news of the return of their families, friends, and loved ones.
Yuder soon found a big crowd gathering on both sides of the main street, where they were waiting for the subjugation team to arrive. He naturally joined in at a suitable distance, ensuring that he wouldn’t blend in too deep into the crowd, but also had a good enough view. In the meantime, he overheard a few rumors from the lively chatters around him.
“I heard that the subjugation this time is the most successful in history! No one had finished it in a year and a half like this!”
“Normally, it would take at least three to four years—or even longer if the monsters were ferocious”
“You don’t say! Furthermore…I heard the victory was thanks to the excellent lead of the Commander..!”
“Huh? By the Commander, you don’t mean?”
“Who else? I’m talking about the Duke of Peletta, Kishiar la Orr!”
Duke Peletta, an infamous name even Yuder couldn’t help but heard of a few times. He was the Emperor’s only younger brother, well-known for the beauty worthy of dozens of long poems praising it. However, his looks were used for anything but good, as he was notorious for being a debauched duke, a playboy indulging in depravity. There were quite a few rumors about him within the palace, though Yuder never really paid attention to, besides the basic knowledge.
’Duke of Peletta, huh…is he different from the rumors after all?’
While Yuder was lost in thoughts, the sounds of trumpets rang out, followed by the loud announcement of the arrival of that day’s main characters.
“Welcome the return of the monster subjugation army! Praises for His Highness, Duke Peletta!”
The crowd cheered and scattered flowers everywhere. The next moment, the protagonist emerged from the main gate. Cloaked in a white cloak and riding on a majestic horse, the person leading the parade entered the streets filled with petals and confettis, brightening the atmosphere with the vibrancy and aroma. His golden locks fluttered, sparkled brightly as they reflected the sunlight. The imperial crimson red eyes burned brightly like shining flames, looking so mythical as they directed towards without a hint of doubt.
The rumors about the duke’s handsomeness were never-ending praises, and Yuder finally understood the reason for that. No, in fact, those rumors didn’t do any justice at all. His beauty was simply ethereal, as if he was the Sun God’s incarnation.
Just then.
For a fleeting moment, he saw a pair of red eyes, burning brightly as they stared directly at him. An eerie chill ran over his spine in an instant. He quickly stepped backwards, averting his gaze and hiding himself in the crowd.
His heart thumped widely inside his chest, as he slowly raised his head to look at the man—the only one possibly possessing the crimson orbs that seemed to have pierced the deepest part of his soul, which was none other than the commander leading the parade. However, when he glanced at him for the second time, the man was still looking in front of him with a smile, waving at the crowd, as if an illusion.
Yes, that must have been a mistake. There was no way the duke could have looked at him in the midst of that dense crowd. Moreover, there could have been no reason for an imperial family member to lay eyes on a commoner like him. Perhaps, it was just a coincidence that the duke was looking in that direction, and they happened to lock their gaze for a mere second.
’…But that felt too real to be an imagination …’
He gripped the cloak and pulled the hood lower to hide his face. He convinced himself that it was just an illusion of his exhausting mind, and yet, an ominous feeling remained in his heart.
Yuder quickly fled that place, without a single glance of what was behind him.
…
…
…
Yuder locked himself inside his palace for the next few days. Contrary to his uncomfortable feelings, he spent his days in peace. The news of the successful exploration came a bit late, but it was still able to reach where he lived.
They had a week-long banquet to celebrate the victory, and everyone was able to participate. Yuder, of course, received an invitation, but he didn’t come. He never attended any before, and this one wasn’t an exception; furthermore, for some reason, he didn’t feel like meeting that man again after what he had experienced, especially when the image of those crimson irises creeping on his flesh was still so vivid in his mind.
Despite all that, the thing that surprised Yuder the most, was a new decree the Emperor announced during the banquet. The content went as so,
『The Duke of Peletta has once again brought peace to the Orr Empire. Therefore, thanks to the Duke’s generosity, the Emperor declared the abolishment of the harem. Any concubine who hasn't received His Majesty’s grace will be bestowed a chance to leave the palace with the highest rewards. They are allowed to find another partner outside the palace…』
In short, they could divorce the Emperor and remarry another person while being compensated for their time living in the imperial palace. It was a very fair trade, however, one must go through a verification to prove their innocence. The rule was made since there was a big incident not long ago, when a few concubines were punished for having an affair.
Yuder held in his hand a piece of paper, a copy of the imperial decree, as he read the lines over and over again. He had entered the palace grounds against his will, and he had lived in this isolated place for a long time; thus, it was unimaginable for him to think he could leave one day. He was played by fate, but it would be a lie to say he didn’t feel any slightest attached to this place. Because…
There was only ‘one’ reason.
Even then, that ‘one’ reason no longer existed.
That was why.
Yuder gripped the paper in his hands.
“Should I……just leave too”
Notes:
Did you notice I tried really hard not to mention that name?
I also wrote this in a way paralleling to a certain chapter~
Chapter 16
Notes:
Hello again! Sorry for the long wait~ Holiday prep was mean to me lol
Please enjoy the chapter and Happy (belated) Lunar New Year!! 🧧🧧🧧
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Click.
Yuder unlocked the room that had been forgotten for two years, where many gifts were stored, and was immediately greeted by the chilly and dusty smell. He covered his nose with one hand and waved the particles away with the other one as he entered inside.
’…I should have cleaned up this place more often’
Although the lack of tidiness was urgent, it didn't matter. Yuder had no trouble navigating among the piles of untouched boxes. He carefully opened the curtains so as not to dust them, allowing the sun to shine through the windows, illuminating the room as it had always been waiting to.
The rays gently brushed over the furniture placed nearby, exposing the layers of dust as a result of accumulation over the years. Yuder slowly approached the wooden desk, glancing at the small pile of blank papers. They were still usable, albeit looking a bit old. His gaze then moved to the object beside them, which was a pure black quill pen, leaning still against the stand.
Yuder picked up the pen, tracing his eyes on the small stone embedded at the end. He gently wiped away the layer of dust on its surface, and the stone quickly regained its brilliance, as its hue was as red as the sun.
“……”
Useless thoughts appeared while he tested the pen on a piece of paper; thankfully, the ink still worked well after a few strokes, for a magical item. After making sure the flow was consistent, he grabbed another paper and lightly titled the pressure to the tip, weaving words onto the page.
『Dear Akit』
The hand holding the pen paused at the familiar, yet unfamiliar name he hadn’t seen for two years, albeit just for a moment. He struggled to think of how to start the letter, despite having been taught before.
『…It’s been a while since I last wrote a letter to you, given that I’ve already given up at some point.
This isn’t the first letter I’ve written to you after that…incident two years ago. The event that made me wonder if everything has been a lie, that our connection was nothing more than just an illusion played by a human’s mind.
Nothing had really changed in my life during those years. My health is still good, and the others at the market are still as kind as before. Everything was so ordinary, to the point that I forgot about the time that my mind almost went disarrayed—』
Yuder quickly scratched that last sentence away. Just what was he about to write down, he thought. He threw away the damaged page, and rewrote for the second time.
『Everything was ordinary, very much so… Anyway, I didn’t write this to inform you of my daily life. Did you know the monster subjugation was a success? Everyone was cheering for the new hero and a week-long festival was held. Thanks to that, His Majesty has declared a new decree, and the harem system is no more.
Therefore, I,
…
……I think, it’s time for me to leave this place.
I,
I do not wish to stay here anymore, now that the chance to reclaim my freedom is here in front of my eyes, for which I’ve always been longing.
…There was a time I nearly forgot about that wistful wish, thanks to the days I spent with you. However…nothing could hold me back anymore, as soon as I realized those memories were like a dream, the happiest one I could ask for after resigning to my fate.
…I have no regrets.
Therefore,
I shall give you forgiveness.』
Yuder’s heart throbbed with each word. Emotions welled up inside him, however, he bit back his feelings as he kept writing the letter.
『…Winter is coming to an end, but the weather is still cold enough to walk outside with a coat. The capital’s weather is stable thanks to Archmage Luma, but I heard that other regions suffered a harsher winter this year. I don’t know about your whereabouts, however, I hope for you to be in a place warm enough to read this message.
As for the previous attempts to reach out to you…well, you could say that at some point, I had stopped bothering to keep the count. Therefore, this will be my first letter after so much time has passed, and, the last one I’m writing to you.
This time, I sincerely wish for your well-being, and for this message to be safely delivered to your hands.
Your ‘fairy’,
Yuder Aile.』
The omega chuckled at himself for ending the letter that way, a thing he normally would never do. But alas, would it matter, now that it was the last time?
He carefully folded the letter and put it in an envelope. He then activated the magic orb and sent the letter away. He stared at the tool for a long time, even after the light had diminished and the envelope had disappeared into particles. He had sent a few before, perhaps out of desperation, but never got a response. Now, it didn’t matter anymore, since he wouldn’t be around to receive a reply anyway.
He stroked the quill pen a few times, before putting it back on the stand. The red gemstone sparkled dimly in contact with the sunlight. He strengthened his resolve and closed the door behind him as he exited, without a glance behind.
…
…
…
…
As if, his fate has been tampered since the beginning.
“……What is the meaning of this?”
Yuder slammed his hands onto the desk in the office where scholars were handling the pass to leave the palace. He raised his voice at the staff who just handed him the most ridiculous results, not caring whether there were glances at him from the people around or not.
“Sir Yuder Aile…the 209th concubine, I’m sorry, but your request to relinquish your title has been declined”
“Why was it declined? Give me an explanation for this”
“…I apologize, but it was an order from the higher-ups. I also don’t know the details, so please return to your palace until further announcements”
Yuder clenched his fists tightly. He had been pressing for an answer, but didn’t get any information at all. A few people around him started whispering among themselves, they probably thought that the omega committed adultery or something bad enough to get disqualified like that.
“…I understand. I’ll take my leave for now”
He turned his head once last time before leaving.
“Can’t you at least tell me the person who rejected my request?”
“…I apologize, Sir. That person’s identity is strictly confidential”
“…Alright”
Yuder thought about the many possibilities during his way back. First of all, he couldn’t think of any reason for him to be disqualified. He hadn’t committed any sin, if he had, they wouldn’t have let him go that easily.
’……Did they know about my relationship with Akit?’
A certain thought passed his mind, sending chills to his spine. But he quickly shook his head, denying the probability. Were they to discover his secret affair, instead of being allowed to return to his isolated place like this, he would have already been dragged to the integration room without any resistance.
Yuder was confident that there were no rumors about them during all those years at all, even after that unlucky encounter with another concubine years ago, as if someone had deliberately blocked them.
Moreover, they haven’t done anything to bring shame to their names. The requirement was only to prove one’s chastity. Therefore, there was no reason for Yuder’s request not to be accepted at all.
’……There wasn’t even a name to define our relationship’
Yuder let out a hollow laugh at the mere fact. They who neither could be called complete strangers, nor their acts were suitable for the word ‘friends’. In the end, nothing was certain.
’But…who was this person meddling with my submission…?’
He erased the unpleasant memories, and the second question came to mind. They said it was an intervention from the higher-ups. Who could possibly defy the orders from the Emperor? Unless…
’…it’s the Emperor himself’
Yuder quietly shook his head.
’No, that’s impossible. There was no reason for His Majesty to interfere with a mere commoner’s affairs. Aside from the brief glance at the ceremony, we’ve never had any interactions after that…so he couldn’t be interested in me all of a sudden, one of the many insignificant concubines…’
Then who was it? Who could possibly possess powers enough to ignore the imperial family’s orders?
Yuder wondered hard, still the puzzle was unsolved. Perhaps, however, the answer had come to him sooner than he expected.
“….!!”
The omega hid himself behind a nearby tree when he saw something that should have never been there—right in front of his palace’s gate, blocked by a grand and extravagant carriage. Anyone could tell from just one glance that it belonged to a very important figure. That would be the case if only, however, the royal crest of the imperial family wasn’t engraved proudly in front of the carriage’s door. Furthermore, knights wearing imperial armor could be seen surrounding the place.
’What…What is happening…?’
Blood drained from the omega’s face as his head spun, aching from witnessing something so absurd. Why would a messenger from the imperial palace appear at his shabby place? Did they really come here to arrest him? Should he reveal himself? What would happen to him then? Various thoughts ran through his mind as he started to feel dizzy.
’……First of all, I should get away from here’
Yuder decided not to confront the knights. His guts were warning him of something ominous. He needed to grab his bag in the bedroom, since he had prepared for his leave beforehand. He couldn’t possibly go inside through the main gate, so he sneaked to the other side where the back gate leading to the kitchen was. The omega also made sure to minimize his pheromones as much as possible, so as not to alert the knights who could detect his scent.
He took a detour around the woods to get to the backyard in order to avoid being seen, which was easy for him since no one would know the paths here as much as himself. And soon enough, the familiar shape of the wooden door leading to the kitchen was within his sight.
He quickly ran to the door; however, just when he was about to open it as he placed his hand on the doorknob—
“Are you Yuder Aile?”
Thump. Yuder’s heart skipped a loud beat as it sunk deeply inside his chest. Sweat soaked his palm, which was tightening its grip on the doorknob.
’How……’
How were they able to find him? The knights couldn’t have possibly known of this path, or neither could they have arrived here before him.
“I will ask again. Are you Yuder Aile?”
Yuder could hear the sound of a metal pole slamming onto the ground, serving as a threat.
“….I am not. I’m just an errand boy working here”
His heart thumped loudly, as he kept his head down. He tried his luck by lying that he was a servant, a trick he had been using so far. However…
“Don’t lie. No omega workers are allowed within the imperial palace”
Damn it.
That knight was an alpha, Yuder could tell as much as the other could tell he was an omega. His attempt to get away was shattered in less than one second. Having no choices left, he slowly turned around to face whatever was lying in store for him.
“….What business do you have with me? I don’t think you’ve trespassed into my place without a proper excuse, haven’t you?”
The knight flinched when Yuder glared at him, and he quickly saluted, bowing his head as a trained knight. Maybe he had misunderstood Yuder’s gaze as a means to reprimand him. After all, the omega was still a member of the harem, he was someone that a mere knight couldn’t casually talk to.
“I-I’m sorry, Sir. It wasn’t my intention to speak rudely to you. It was just that, an imperial decree was addressed to you, and I was told to urgently deliver it as soon as possible”
“…An imperial decree?”
“Y-Yes! Please excuse me—Ahem!” The knight took out a red scroll and untied the golden string wrapping around it, then cleared his throat. “The 209th concubine, Yuder Aile, heed the imperial’s order!”
Yuder got down on one knee and lowered his head, the etiquette he was taught when receiving the royal decree.
“By decree of His Majesty the Emperor, His royal Highness, Duke of Peletta, is bestowed with utmost honor and rewards for his achievements during the expedition. His Grace has expressed his wish to take Yuder Aile in as his official life companion. Therefore, the honorary omega shall be relieved of his duties of a concubine, and be wed to the Duke. By the will of His Majesty, the royal wedding will take place in one month’s time”
The knight finished his speech and rolled the scroll with a calm face, a complete opposite of the expression on Yuder’s face that moment.
’What……?’
What did he just hear?
Did he actually hear it right?
A royal wedding? Who? To the Duke?
’How is this possible…?’
Dizziness came as if being hit by a cold wave of the ocean in the middle of winter, as Yuder suppressed the nausea creeping up his throat like a disease. His quickened heartbeat rang inside his ears, blurring out whatever sounds the knight was making. He felt like passing out already if it weren’t for his hand on the ground, slightly supporting his trembling body.
He was reminded of that fateful day, when he was selected as a concubine and brought to these tall walls of the imperial palace. And finally, ten years later, he was given a chance to obtain freedom—or at least, that was what he thought, until that edict came upon him like a thunderbolt.
Could he, as powerless as a commoner he was, protest against an imperial decree?
No. Of course not. The answer came simply.
A low, hollow laugh devoid of all hopes quietly escaped his lips.
’…In the end, I’m still destined to be a royal’s plaything’
He secretly cursed the god who had tampered with his fate, wondering what kind of heinous crime he committed in the previous life for him to deserve this kind of punishment. To them, Yuder Aile was merely a chessboard piece to be used and discarded.
Amidst his maddening mind, the image of a certain man flashed within the illusional abyss.
’Akit…’
He wondered. What would happen to him—to their promise, their relationship from now on?
He chuckled. Why should he care for a man who didn’t bother replying to his letters? He wasn’t sure if that person would actually hear the news of his wedding…or rather, the news of him being sold from one to another of the imperial family. But then again, this would be a royal wedding, it was expected to be widely announced soon.
Suddenly, a fragment of memory flashed before his mind. It was the gaze of the honorable royalty, red eyes burning brightly like transparent flames, piercing his own. A brief moment was all the heart’s demand, and a familiar heat rose to the surface, his senses became numb as if laced with a sweet, deadly paralyzing poison.
’…Did he recognize me with just a glance?’
The thought seemed neither reasonable nor unreasonable, but it was the only plausible answer one could think of.
Only when the knight called out to him for the second time did he temporarily untie the tangled knots in his mind.
“Sir Aile, please receive the imperial decree”
Yuder held out his hands and felt the soft fabric of the scroll, heavily weighing down on him despite being only a small object. He stood up, staring at the golden string tangling with his hands, which he didn’t notice a moment before, as if binding his mortal flesh.
“And one more thing, His Grace has ordered us to escort you to the Eternal Palace, where you will be residing until the wedding ceremony”
“…Eternal Palace?”
“That’s where His Grace has been living since his princehood”
“What do you mean, the Duke…” He wanted to say something, but the intention was quickly adjourned. “…Nevermind, when will we depart?”
“Right now. There’s a carriage waiting for you at the main gate”
“…..What? Don’t I need to pack my stuff…”
“Please don’t worry, His Grace has instructed servants to bring all of Sir Aile’s belongings to the palace later. After you move in, you can make a list of anything you need. If you don’t know what to write down, we can just bring everything”
Yuder’s hands grew cold. There wasn’t much to bring in the first place, but the thought of people intruding his place definitely wasn’t pleasant. Moreover, he couldn’t possibly let them discover that space, where everything Akit gave was stored inside.
“…No. Do not enter this place. I don’t need anything, besides, I…have already packed up, I just need to grab the bag I left in my room”
“That is… But…”
The knight looked a bit confused why he had already done the preparation, and then shuttered as if hesitating to let the omega go.
“…I won’t run away or anything”
Not that he could anyway, he lamented.
“Please wait here”
He briskly walked away without glancing at the flustered knight behind him, and went straight to the bedroom. He turned the doorknob, a bright stream immediately illuminated the gloomy space.
Yuder walked towards the bed, where he placed his bag. He checked the contents for one last time before plopping it over his shoulder. His job was done, however, he didn’t leave the room right away. His feet stay stilled, as if stalling for time. He then glanced at the nightstand beside, noticing two objects within his darkened gaze.
’Right…I almost forgot’
The omega’s fingers softly brushed over the small items. The first one was a simply sewed bookmark, with a dried up flower in the middle. Thanks to the pressing technique, its violet hue was still as gentle as the first time he received it. Yuder admired the carefully arranged petals for a while before moving his gaze to the second item, which was none other than the shabby ring he bought on an impulse from that suspicious vendor.
The black-haired omega quietly slid the item onto his right ring finger, which fit perfectly. Due to the lack of sunlight in the room, the dark gemstone could only change into a lighter brown shine, yet showed more resemblance to that man’s eyes than ever, he thought.
Those were things that had never left his side ever since he got them; however, Yuder then contemplated whether to bring them with him or not. He closed his eyes, listening to the quiet rhythm of his heart.
“……”
Clack. The door softly closed, narrowing the thin stream of light until not even a thread could be seen. On the cold surface, two small objects remained still.
…
…
…
“I’m done. Let’s go”
Yuder ignored the knight who almost cried out of joy when he finally saw the former return after a considerable amount of time. He also decided to ignore words such as the latter was thinking of searching for the omega if he had appeared a bit later, or how he shuttered and said he was actually hesitant to do that because he thought Yuder would be dissatisfied with his unpermitted action and so on.
The omega went straight to the main gate without waiting for instructions, where the carriage was said to be waiting for him. Upon his presence, all the knights guarding around saluted politely and opened the door for him.
“Welcome, Sir Aile. We’ve been waiting for you. Let us escort you to the Eternal Palace”
Yuder looked at the splendid imperial carriage welcoming him, which seemed no less different from a golden birdcage. He quietly stepped inside, knowing his fate would be sealed once that door shut.
“Giddy-up!”
The sounds of horse hooves digging up the dirt could be heard, and soon departed the carriage. Yuder slumped against the window, absentmindedly looked outside as the wheels of destiny started rolling. He closed his eyes, only his slow breathing was audible.
When he opened them again, spring had come.
Notes:
Please tell me what you feel!
Chapter 17
Notes:
It’s *too* long I have to make this into two chaps (sweats)
Next chap in progress! 🥺
Chapter Text
“Lord Aile, please wake up”
Yuder slowly opened his eyes and saw the face of the young servant who had been softly calling his name. The young one’s face immediately brightened up when he saw Yuder as he helped the latter get up.
The omega, despite still being slightly drowsy, turned his head and looked at the sky beyond the windows, which was still dark.
“Why at this hour…?”
He wondered why they woke him up when the sun hadn’t even risen yet, but the servant still smiled brightly at him and explained.
“Of course you need to! Today’s your wedding after all!”
Ah. Right. His wedding.
Yuder could feel the dull headache resurfaced at the mention of a single word. He pressed his fingers against his temples and rubbed in circles, hoping to ease the pain while watching the young boy excitedly running around, as if it was his own joyous occasion.
“Please rest assured! We’ll do our best to make you into the most beautiful person today! Oh there’s still so much to do…!”
Time flew fast, really so. Yuder still felt like it was one month ago when he was taken to this place, accepting his pitiful fate.
The Eternal Palace, where the Duke of Peletta resided, was beyond what the omega had originally expected. The buildings were splendidly glorious, each curve was skillfully sculptured, even someone without an artistic sense like Yuder could tell they were made by the most talented artists. Furthermore, it was so grand that for the first time in his life confined within the imperial walls, the omega could clearly feel the sorry state of his own palace, almost pitifully so.
Unlike the roughly paved pathway to the Serene Palace, one would only find rocks and overgrown trees everywhere, the palace where the Duke resided, as expected, was delicately highlighted by an abundance of flowers and golden ornaments. The path was smoothly paved with stones that one couldn't find any discomfort upon passing through by carriage. Yuder clearly remembered the awe as he was entranced by such brilliance.
“Lord Aile!” The servant’s excited voice broke him away from his reminisce. “Let’s wash your face first!”
“…Alright”
Yuder was a few seconds late in replying to the other’s call.
’I’ll never get used to being called a lord…’
Nevertheless, he accepted the young servant’s help, who beamed with joy. He had firsthand experience in dealing with the latter’s persistence, so he’d better give in to avoid further complications.
Yuder got off the bed, feeling the softness of the fur carpet beneath his feet. It gave a familiar feeling to the one in his place, but the quality was, of course, much better.
He followed the servant to the bathroom, allowing him to perform anything that was told as a must, to make his skin as smooth as silk before the wedding. Well, Yuder couldn’t understand a word, so whatever.
While sinking himself in the warm water, steaming with a rich aroma. The expensive scented soap used only by rich people melted immediately when put into the water, painting it in a golden hue. Yuder scooped up a handful of bubbles, one of the scattered rose petals gently floated into his palm. He questioned why nobles loved wasting money on things like these, valued only in the flashy effects.
The omega leaned against the tub and felt the warmth embracing his bare skin, while glancing around. The room he was given to wasn’t the Duke’s room, the servants explained kindly, since they have yet vowed before God. However, one thing he had noticed after moving here was the similar interior structures, from the bedroom, to the attached bathroom. No, it wouldn’t be exaggerated to say that they were almost identical to the place he had lived before.
While it wasn’t the exact duplicate, naturally yet, all furniture was positioned the same as his old residence, to the smallest decorations hanging on the wall. Yuder thought it was just a common design in aristocats’ houses, but was it really the case? No matter what it was, thanks to that, Yuder adapted fairly quickly.
He submerged into the warm water once again, letting his thoughts ripple away.
…
The servants helped Yuder finish his bath and dressed him with an outfit for the day. He was thankful for them to not oppose his simple choice of clothes, despite the variety of fancy attires displayed before him. He was then guided to the dining room for breakfast, where two elderly attendants were waiting for him, smiling warmly upon his arrival.
“Good morning, Lord Aile”
A small smile appeared on Yuder’s face. They were the ones greeting him on his first day coming here, showing him the same kindness all the time. A fleeting memory flashed over the omega’s mind, when he was entranced by the grandiose of the new palace…
“We’ve arrived”
Yuder flinched, he was so impressed by the scenery that he didn’t notice the carriage had come to a stop in front of the main building, and that the guards were patiently waiting to escort him out.
“…Ah, uh, yes…”
Yuder slightly cleared his throat in an embarrassing manner, trying not to be bothered by the gazes as he got off the carriage. Then, he found a pair of elders, followed by a dozen of servants, who he presumed the stewards of this place, waiting for him. One of them had been looking at him intently, then letting out a chuckle.
‘Did they see me blanking out earlier…?’
Yuder wasn’t one to care about others’ opinions, but he couldn’t help but feel somewhat flustered when everyone’s gaze was on him. He expected a sarcastic remark for not knowing the proper etiquettes, however…
“Do you want to take a look at the garden?”
The steward warmly smiled. There wasn’t a faintest hint of hostility in that gaze, filled with only kindness, as if they were looking at their own grandchildren. They gently spoke.
“If you want, we’d gladly show you. However, you must be tired on the way here, so I suggest taking a rest today, and we can visit the garden some time later. Is it acceptable for you, Lord Aile?”
The omega flinched at the sudden change of his title, but couldn’t point it out before the sincerity. He hesitantly accepted the offer, he needed to sort out his mind first.
But alas, he never got the chance to take a look around after that day.
’Things were really hectic…’
A royal wedding was a bigger matter than he thought, especially because the Duke had instructed to make it grander than ever, or so the rumor he heard. He thought it would be the same as when he was made a concubine, however, that wasn’t normally the case.
’What a way to flaunt your wealth’. He clicked his tongue inwardly.
The next day, the servants explained the stretched list of procedures needed to be done in one month’s time while the omega was being dragged around all day. Yuder had lost count of how many times he was asked to take herbal baths for his skin, oil for his hair or massages for his tense muscles, and so on. He also needed to meet with the outfit designer, to take his measurements and try on clothes. The designer as well as the seamstress had been making wedding clothes for the imperial family for generations, so Yuder felt a bit pressured being left in their golden hands.
Nevertheless, the list was so long that he didn’t have enough time to think of anything else, and it had become a routine for the past month.
“Lord Aile?”
The steward’s voice brought him back to harsh reality and he was met with that kind gaze and voice once again, asking him worriedly.
“Is something wrong? You seem a bit tired…”
“Ah…no, it’s nothing”
Yuder slightly apologized for making him worried, and sat in the chair a servant had pulled out for him. He was sitting in the first seat to the right side, where the hostess of the house, or a guest of honor would be seated. Breakfast was served immediately, in a manner that he had gotten used to after moving here.
He glanced at the host’s seat at the head of the long dining table, which had always been empty. Uncharacteristic of him, he asked the question, despite having known the answer.
“Does His Grace not come today, too?”
He looked at the servants, who clearly had a flustered look on their faces as they sneakily glanced at each other, not yet giving him an answer. Seeing their reactions, the omega sighed.
’Again…as expected’
Ever since he stepped foot into the Eternal Palace, he had never seen Duke Peletta’s face. He had expected to encounter him at least once, however, he only spent his days with the busy schedule. The Duke hadn’t stepped foot into that place once, even until the last day. Yuder silently resented the man who would become his husband soon, yet never came to see him for a day; however, a corner of his heart was actually relieved, since he had not yet readied to face reality.
“…Nevermind. The Duke must be enjoying the company of one his many lovers right now, it’s a given he doesn’t have time to visit his fiancé”
“T-That’s not it! Lord Aile, His Grace isn’t…!”
The steward’s face grew obviously pale as they heard Yuder’s statement. They flustered and tried to defend their master, but they didn’t refute what he said at all, did they?
“It’s fine. Who am I to question the Duke’s affairs? I know my place well”
Yuder concluded the discussion with an icy tone and started eating his food before they got cold. It wasn’t the chef’s fault to be entangled in his misfortune. Seeing how the omega didn’t give further comments, the others couldn’t say anything either. Everything went silent, only the sounds of moving knife and fork against the plate were heard.
’…It doesn’t matter. We will have to meet today, eventually’
After all, it was his wedding day. His second wedding.
His heart sank at mere fact. He had been hoping to postpone this for as long as possible; or perhaps, if God still decided to have mercy on him, the Duke might call off this engagement as his rumored flickering whim suggested. Canceling a royal wedding might be impossible, but it might just be possible for someone who was the Emperor’s only brother, and the empire’s hero, he thought.
He concluded his train of thought while finishing his breakfast in silence. Ah. That was why Yuder had always hated eating alone in the large dining room.
…
“Lord Aile” The steward called out to Yuder while he was trying on jewelry sent by the designer. “The Duke has sent you gifts”
After the announcement, servants entered the dressing room carrying bouquets of flowers, so many that they filled up the room in no time.
“......”
Yuder stared at the once empty tables, now filled with colorful flowers of all kinds, emitting an intense yet harmonious fragrance.
’...Again?’
Yes, it wasn't the first time he got gifts from the fiancé he hadn't yet met even for once, but the latter would send him flowers…lots of them, like these, at least once a week. This was the fifth time he had received such abundance, making him wonder why he would bother with the useless affection, if he had enough time and money to pay a visit to the one he would be marrying soon?
“Oh my…! They're all rare flowers…how romantic!”
Ah. It was just a show. Of course.
The designers’ reactions reminded him of the realization. There was no way someone like the debauched Duke would actually fall in love with a random commoner. Showering Yuder with gifts was probably just a play he was interested in.
Despite the heartwarming tension in the room, a cold air blew through his heart. He looked at the pile of flowers, his face showed no change in his emotions.
“Please take all of them to the garden as usual”
The servants looked a bit regretful when Yuder gave the order instantly, as he had done the same the previous times. He never bothered giving them a second glance, admiring them, or expressing his gratitude to the Duke. Nevertheless, he was not too ruthless to take out his anger on innocent flowers. So he just left them to the gardeners.
Before Yuder resumed his task, he noticed some flowers that stood out from the rest as his eyes unconsciously followed them.
“Those are…?”
’Purple lilacs…’
“…Oh!? Do you like those flowers, Lord Aile? Should we bring them to your room?”
Purple lilacs were a fairly common flower, which could be found everywhere in the empire. They had a strong, sweet fragrance, so many people including both commoners and nobles liked to plant them. However, if you compared them to other flowers in that room, the rarity was not worth mentioning. In fact, this was the first time the Duke had sent lilacs among others.
The servant noticed the omega’s gaze lingering on them for some time, so he must have misunderstood that they had caught his eyes. But little did they know, the reason why Yuder noticed them was entirely different, due to a deep memory drowned in his heart.
“No” He answered coldly. “I don’t like them. Please throw them away”
Yuder ignored the flustered look on the servant as the latter hesitated for a moment, before gathering the purple lilacs as he was ordered to. The servant’s sad look did not linger on his mind at all.
“…Wait”
The servant stopped in his tracks when he was about to dispose of the flowers, tilting his head at the halt.
“……” Yuder sighed. “You can…do whatever you want with them”
The omega totally did not see their brightened faces the moment he changed his mind, as he dismissed everyone. Finally, peace returned to his mind once he was left alone with the designers. He didn’t see the grins on those people either. Not at all.
Time quietly passed as the maids ran around frantically, helping him try on clothes and put on makeup; until it was time for the main event.
…
“Oh my god…”
All the attendants couldn’t believe their eyes which had been staring at the young man standing before the mirror. They held their breath at each of his movements, so captivating it was hard to believe he was human.
Yuder, dressed in full white formal attire, simply looked divine. An eye-catchingly red, silky belt wrapped around his slender waist, decorated with a silver and diamond pin, clasped to the knot on his shirt. The white leather shoes were also decorated with the finest diamonds, exposing a bit of his ankles whenever he walked.
His long bangs, which usually obscured his sight, giving himself a rather ominous image, was then swept to the back, revealing half of his face along with the obsidians hidden deeply beneath, glowing with a faint purple hue. Tilting his head to the side, he could see a silver earring wrapping around his earlobe like vines, before dangling like a teardrop. The earring was also crafted with small pearls and diamonds, glistening like dewdrops on a flower petal.
“Lord Aile, you’re so beautiful…”
Some quiet sniffing sounds could be heard around somewhere, but the omega was so focused on staring at the mirror that he didn’t mind. He placed his hand, gloved with white gloves, on the mirror, tracing the reflection within.
If they said good fabrics can define beauty, then the human before him was an example. Yuder could never imagine how one’s appearance would change this much with just a few pieces of clothes and makeup. The attire suited him perfectly, as if they were made with his image in mind. He couldn’t help but admire the seamstresses’ work.
However, the more gorgeous he became, the heavier his heart was.
“Lord Aile” The steward stepped closer to him, smiling warmly at him. It looked like the old servant had shed a bit of tears. “Your veil, please”
Yuder slightly lowered his head and felt a soft fabric draping over his head. It was a custom to wear a veil during the royal wedding, until they had vowed before God. Although it was made from lace, the view beyond the fabric was still blurry, unless one looked at a close angle.
It was then when the bells rang simultaneously, and immediately, Yuder knew.
“It’s time, my lord”
He nodded, following the servants. The omega stepped into the carriage, similar to the one he rode before, but more extravagant fitting for a royal bride, as they headed to the First Palace where the wedding would be held.
Flowers bloomed beautifully along the stoned path, as per the Duke had instructed to prepare for the joyous day. Yuder quietly stared at the swaying petals as the carriage pulled over, arriving at the destination in no time. Lowering the veil, the black-haired man sat in silence, listening to the sound of the carriage door opened.
An extended hand, covered with white gloves in the same design as his, reached out. The omega, however, noticed the difference in size of the hand belonged to the old steward, who was supposed to be escorting him inside, and the one elegantly gesturing before him. Lifting his head slightly, Yuder could see a faint outline of the figure standing in front of him.
A tall and strong physique. Sunlight descended seeming to be caught somewhere; fluttering in the spring air like golden threads.
’Golden hair shimmering like the sun…’
Only then did he realize who was facing him. How could he not, even if he hadn’t caught a glimpse of the man before, recognize the evidence of the imperial bloodline?
Kishiar la Orr. The man who was bending his back ever slightly, and offering his hand.
“Y-Your Highness! You don’t have to do this…!”
Yuder could hear flustered whispers of the servants nearby, yet the gloved hand proffering before him never moved an inch, patiently waiting for him.
’…It can’t be helped’
He couldn’t cause a delay in a royal wedding, after all, especially not because someone who wasn’t supposed to be here. Normally, it should have been the bride’s family, in Yuder’s case his steward, who would escort them to the groom waiting at the end of the aisle. However, the Duke had broken that rule by showing up there.
Yuder quietly sighed, as he reached out his hand. The other hand brushed over his fingers, sending a slight shiver to the omega’s spine, the tips of his hand felt tingling in places they were touched, as if static. The man gently squeezed the smaller hand in his, and they fit perfectly. The heat from their hands caused Yuder to waver for a moment, missing a step on the foot of the carriage as a result.
“Ah…!”
An arm swiftly wrapped around his waist, as he lost balance. Kishiar was supporting Yuder’s waist with one hand, while the other one was still holding Yuder’s. The omega’s body leaned closely to the man, one of his hands was pressing against his broad chest, and he could clearly feel the strong pectoral muscles beneath the layers of clothes. Heat rose to Yuder’s face as he tried to move away, but the firm grip on his side refused to release him.
While he was trying to escape, a low chuckle vibrated from above.
“Be careful, now”
Yuder subtly tensed up at the whispering voice.
’It sounds familiar…?’
His heart shook at a mere thought passing his mind, as he recalled a forgotten voice from the past. However, the man before him wasn’t the person he had been longing for. He couldn’t possibly be. Besides, the accent was different.
His puzzlement soon dissipated in the next moment when Kishiar lifted his hand and softly pressed his lips onto Yuder’s fingers, causing the latter to flinch and yank his hand away. The omega was startled by his rude reflex, but fortunately, the Duke didn’t reprimand him, and just smiled weakly. While awkwardly rubbing the gloved hand where it tingled, he couldn’t help but notice how natural the man’s act was, as if it had been done countless times.
’…Of course…considering how many lovers he had dated’
Putting aside his remark, Yuder wrapped his arm around the man’s as they started walking towards the building. He couldn’t see that well due to the veil, so he had to lean on the other. Strangely, however, he felt a mysterious reassurance in the man, allowing him to lead the way.
There were knights wearing formal armors standing solemnly on the sidelines as they passed through. They stopped only a few steps before the entrance, and the guard immediately raised the banner, saluting in a loud, clear voice.
“Announcing His Highness the Duke of Peletta, Kishiar la Orr and his partner, Yuder Aile!”
———————————————————
A/N: This is my design for Yuder’s wedding attire (pls look at art because I suck at describing)!! I put lots of thoughts into the details 🥹🥹😭😭
For better art quality please visit my Twitter/Bsky @/RoseNiji2704!! 🥹💕
Chapter 18
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“Announcing His Highness the Duke of Peletta, Kishiar la Orr and his partner, Yuder Aile!”
Trumpets played welcoming the arrival of the main characters, as the giant door gradually opened with a creak. Yuder slightly squinted his eyes due to the sudden brightness from the sunlight shining directly through the glasses of the dome-shaped ceiling, reflected brightly from the huge stained glass windows from all sides.
Music and scented flowers accompanied them, scattered petals followed the trail of the aisle they walked on. The Duke led him on the path, until they had reached before the podium. He supported Yuder as they both knelt down on one knee. The omega wasn’t surprised by the gesture, since he had memorized the procedure beforehand.
“Raise your head”
Yuder lifted his head, glancing at the person giving the order through the lace, which was none other than the empire’s absolute monarch, the Emperor, Keilusa la Orr. Though his sight was hindered, he could still see the emperor’s red irises boring into them, or rather, into the man kneeling next to him.
“Here I thought something urgent might have happened to our honorary hero blessed by the Sun God, the empire’s Duke, and the protagonist of today’s event, however, it turned out that he was just too eager to meet this lovely young man, who shall be soon asking for his hand in marriage. Had you arrived a moment later, I would have sent the entire imperial force to politely escort you to the right destination. How do you intend to redeem yourself for causing such a disturbance on this joyous occasion, Duke?”
The Emperor was speaking in a slow, and elegant tone, however, to be honest, Yuder couldn’t process half of it. According to his own understanding, Keilusa was ‘gently’ showing concern for his younger brother, while praising Yuder along the way…he wasn’t sure about the latter, though. Anyway, despite the emperor’s words, the mentioned man beside him only let out an amused laugh.
“Oh dear, His Majesty’s grace truly knows no bounds, your concerns are as tall as mountains, as vast as deserts, and as deep as the ocean, which have greatly moved my heart. I almost shed tears, if it weren’t for the guilt of unwanting to ruin the hard work of the attendants, who spent hours on this pitiful man, blinded with affection for the beautiful young man beside me, with the slightest hope to catch a glimpse of his attention. Dear my utmost respectable lord, I sincerely implore you to postpone the punishment imposed on this foolish brother, for the very least, after this blessed ceremony. I’d gladly atone for my sins, however, I would never be able to forgive myself were I to ruin the most important moment in life of my precious partner, even in my grave. Don’t you think so, Your Majesty?”
“………”
A brief moment of silence descended upon them. Yuder kept his head low and held his breath in midst of the tension. He couldn’t afford to interpret the conversation between two imperial brothers, so he kept his mouth shut. The Emperor was the first one to speak, with a soft yet audible sigh.
“That’s enough. Let us not delay any further”
The wedding started at Keilusa’s signal, followed by his short speech, congratulating the union of a new imperial couple. Then, he was escorted to the seat on higher levels, designed for the Emperor and Empress to witness the royal wedding. Following His Majesty, the Pope was the next person to take the podium and give another speech, albeit longer. Thankfully, they didn’t have to kneel while the Pope was reciting the holy scriptures.
“May the Sun God bestow his blessings upon this sacred ceremony, and tie these two noble souls with his golden grace. In the sight of the Divinity and these witnesses, I hereby pronounce Kishiar la Orr and Yuder Aile a married couple blessed by God, and until death do they part”
The speech ended with his blessings, and they were sprinkled with holy water. After the long and tiresome wait, it was time for the groom and bride to exchange rings.
Yuder was guided to face the Duke—now was his husband, as the latter gently lifted the veil over his head. The omega glanced at the other, now that he could finally see his face.
“……”
Even though he had seen Kishiar once before during the parade, the omega was still stunned by his beauty, looking especially more ethereal up close. His attire was strikingly similar to Yuder’s, with his hair also swept back, creating a more dignified image of an imperial family member.
’He really didn’t lie about the servant’s hours of work…’
Little did he know that some of them even fainted while applying makeup on Kishiar’s face, but mayhap, that would be a tale for another day and it only reached his ears in the form of rumors much later.
Yuder was so entranced by his face that he didn’t notice their intertwined gazes. Crimson irises sparkling dazzlingly like jewels and burned like transparent fires bored into him, as the man’s lips curved up, blooming into a smile that was ever so sweet.
“Yuder” Even his voice was low and seductive, Yuder felt a shiver run along his spine when his name came out of those red lips, as if yearning for someone he adored deeply. “Your hand, please” He chuckled.
The omega flinched at the request, he still had a wedding to complete, he forgot. He hesitantly held out his hand and placed it on top of Kishiar’s, as the latter received a ring from an attendant. The ring was made of two bands, one silver and one gold, intertwining each other. The silver band was engraved with small diamonds on the surface. In the center, a cushion-shaped red amber shone brightly, supported by the golden prongs stretched out like tree branches, harmoniously embracing the jewel. Even Yuder was amazed by the exquisite craftsmanship and how much dedication was put into making the ring.
Kishiar gently slid the ring onto Yuder’s left hand, and it fit perfectly. However, even though the act was done, the former didn’t show any sign of letting his hand go at all. Instead, he just stared at Yuder’s finger with an ambiguous smile.
“Your Highness”
Only when the attendant whispered to the Duke did he let go of the hand. Then, it was his turn. Yuder took the remaining ring, which had the same design except for the gem in the middle, which was a purple amethyst, and turned to Kishiar. He took the latter’s hand, imitating the procedure. Yuder immediately let go of the man’s hand as soon as the ring was put in place, though. It felt weird to grab another man’s hand, he thought, but got the job done nevertheless.
The ring exchange ended smoothly, and there was only one thing left to do, which was—
’—to seal the vow with a kiss’
What was bound to happen, would happen. Yuder knew that himself, yet his heart and mind acted differently.
Kishiar lifted Yuder’s chin with his fingers—ah, since when had the omega averted his gaze from the man? Yuder was forced to meet those red orbs once again, eyes that reflected his own image. Sweats pooled inside his gloved palms as the taller man slowly moved his face closer. A strong arm held his waist, holding him in place.
During the past month, he had steeled his heart to accept his damned fate. Had it really, however, when it had already been filled?
Yuder held his breath as the distance between their lips narrowed, his mind was clouded and trapped within those jewel eyes that never left his sight.
“…Your Grace” Just when they were about to connect, Yuder put more force onto the hand that was pushing Kishiar’s upper body away, and murmured in a low, desperate voice. “…Can we not…do this? I…not yet…”
His words were incoherent as a result of his brain having failed to form a proper thought. He didn’t understand why he must try so hard to delay something that had been decided, yet his heart acted before his mind. Belatedly realized he was asking for the impossible, he timidly glanced at the other man. However, the response he got was only a small laugh, as the latter parted his curved lips that looked spirited with blood running through the veins. The man’s breath tickled Yuder as he spoke in a low voice.
“Do you know deceiving God is a grave sin?”
As expected, he was refused. He had no rights to ask a Duke to listen to his unreasonable request. At that moment, the hand that had been resting on his waist regained strength, pulling him in with a force. Kishiar tilted his head, the corners of his lips curved up mischievously.
“…!!”
The crowd cheered and clapped their hands at the sight of the blessing couple finalizing their vow, unbeknownst to the secret beneath the veil. Instead of a similar warmth, Yuder’s lips came into contact with the soft fabric of Kishiar’s glove, as the latter slipped his thumb in between their faces. To the others’ perspectives, they appeared to be kissing passionately, as their blasphemous act was well-hidden under the sunlight.
“From now on, his name shall be recorded as Yuder Aile la Orr!”
Yuder heard the Pope’s declaration somewhere, but he didn’t pay attention. He couldn’t take his eyes off Kishiar for a while, even when the latter had moved his face away. Only when he heard a light chuckle did he regain his senses.
“…Didn’t you say it was a sin to deceive God?”
“Haha, yes indeed. However, what could I do if my husband didn’t want to do it? I’d gladly bear all the sins—ah, of course, since I deliberately decided it on my own, it’s naturally for only me to be punished”
Yuder didn’t really understand half of the nonsense he uttered, but the word ’husband’ lingered on his mind. It wasn’t falsity, it was just awkward. In the past, the Emperor could also be considered his husband, but it didn’t feel as embarrassing.
’The Duke is quite…lively. Do all nobles usually talk this much…?’
Of course not, but Yuder couldn’t help but recall a certain man, who was also naturally good with words. While he was dealing with his confusion, a gentle breeze brushed past him, carrying a faint scent, which reminded him of the winter winds that could no longer be found.
That made him realize that he was in the presence of an alpha—right, Kishiar was, too, an alpha. He realized that belatedly not because he was ignorant, but simply because he hadn’t been able to detect any scent from the man ever since meeting him at all.
’Huh…?’
Nevertheless, Yuder couldn’t even have time to be confused about it, as the wedding had yet to conclude. After the kiss, they would have to board a barouche, drawn by six horses, and make a tour from the First to the Seventh Wall, then return.
“Under the normal circumstances, that only applied to the wedding between the Emperor and Empress, or the Crown Prince and Crown Princess; however, there would be exceptional cases where they needed to show the face of the empire’s hero and his life companion to the curious citizens. It was a bit of a hassle, but since His Majesty insisted, please bear with me, Yuder”
’I didn’t ask though…’
Yuder bit back his impulse to retort, as he ignored words like ‘my husband is so beautiful that it was a shame I couldn’t stop this unsightly desire to monopolize him for myself’.
At the right moment, the steward brought Yuder’s cape belonging to the same set of his attire, a big white cape with smooth fur collar, which was made from the rarest arctic fox’s fur, draped over one of his shoulders and attached to the top with a ruby brooch, shining brightly. The length was so long that it spreaded on the floor, requiring an attendant’s help to move.
Yuder glanced sideways and saw that Kishiar was also donning a similar cloak, though with a high collar instead of fur, and the end was sewn with golden patterns. Noticing the former’s gaze, the alpha smiled brightly, proffering his hand. Yuder had to accept the offer and reached out. The glowing ring on his hand was an unfamiliar sight.
Then they again walked the aisle together.
…
The wedding continued smoothly after that. It took almost half a day to make a trip from the 1st District to the 7th District, and to return, especially when the carriage rode at a leisurely pace, so that the citizens could see their faces. Kishiar smiled and waved at the crowd during the whole trip, and Yuder wondered how he could maintain his expression for such a long time. Thankfully, the former told him that he didn’t need to do it if he was uncomfortable, he just had to sit straight and look ahead (or look at Kishiar if he wanted, the man jested).
Yuder did as suggested and focused on the scenery instead (while ignoring the last part). The streets were heavily decorated with golden ornaments and fairy dust. Full-blooming flowers decorated their way, so dense that the aroma permeated the air. Even one could smell them from a distance. From the seat beside him, Kishiar kindly explained that it was not easy to fill every corner of the seven walls with blooming flowers, but he was glad that he could prepare it in time within a month.
…Did he really go all out and plant flowers throughout the whole capital? Yuder almost felt sorry for the people who had to work extra hard to fulfill his luxurious demand, just for a wedding with a commoner concubine.
Nevertheless, since he had nothing better to do, Yuder occasionally received the flower petals the people threw out in celebration, or nodded his head slightly when someone in the crowd waved and cheered his name. The trip was both long and short, and it had been past noon when they returned to the palace.
…
’Hmm…’
After the tour, they were given some refreshments and a short break before preparing for the reception party at night. Yuder changed out of his wedding attire and donned a different outfit. It was quite similar to the previous one, though the fabric was black with less accessories, making it easy to move after a busy day.
Back to the present, the omega was standing next to his new husband, Kishiar, in his hand holding a glass of champagne. He took a small sip while glancing at the latter, who had also changed, constantly smiling and talking to other nobles. Yuder didn’t know whether it was because of his cold demeanor, or because of Kishiar’s smart intervention whenever someone got close to him, but none of the guests had started a conversation with the omega. Either way, it was fortunate for him since he was worried about having to entertain them as a host, but he himself wasn’t comfortable.
Yuder took another sip of the champagne, the alcohol soaked his tongue with its sweetness and flowed down his dry throat, creating a luscious aftertaste. He gently swirled the glass in his hand, failing to notice the gaze upon him.
“Yuder, are you tired?”
Kishiar leaned in and whispered in a tone almost as sweet as the drink he just had, though it was just his imagination. He wondered if he looked exhausted; well, perhaps so, it had been a long day, after all. Yuder turned his head ever so slightly, staring into the brightly red jewels reflecting concerns only for him.
“…Not really. As a host, how can I possibly leave?”
“If you’re tired, just rest. Who would dare to question your decisions, now that you’re an ‘Orr’?”
Yuder widened his eyes. Ah, right, his surname is ‘Orr’ now. It would definitely take a while to engrave this fact into his mind. Kishiar just smiled softly as if he didn’t notice Yuder’s obvious confusion.
“Make sure to tell me if anyone dares to disrespect you, okay Yuder? I’ll take care of everything for you” The alpha laughed as if he didn’t say such threatening words a moment ago, then he faced the middle-age noble he was chatting with again. “I apologize, Countess. I’d love to talk more, but it seems that my dear husband is not feeling well at the moment, do you mind if we call it a day here?”
“Oh, the conversation was so intriguing I didn’t notice Lord Aile’s conditions… Ah, should I be calling you Duchess now? Please take good care of your health, now if you please excuse me”
The countess bid them farewell with courtesy, and after Kishiar politely refused a few other people who came, they were finally left alone. Until an unexpected guest came.
“Oh my, was I perhaps too late?”
Yuder turned his head to the soft voice as his eyes widened. All of the previous exhaust almost disappeared in an instant, replaced by a new kind of tension.
Standing before him was the Empress, who was holding the Emperor’s arm while waving cheerfully. Yuder hoped it was his imagination that she was staring at him, however, it wasn’t. The Empress was still smiling sweetly at the omega, which greatly confused him.
It was extremely awkward. Yuder was a concubine and even though the Emperor hadn’t done anything to him, he didn’t think the Empress would be comfortable with meeting someone who used to share her husband. However, she was showing so much interest that he couldn’t help but feel the pressure rising.
“Your Majesties” Kishiar replied. “What kind of pleasure has brought you here?”
“I’ve been waiting to meet the new Duchess, but you never introduce him to us, Duke”
The Empress sighed, acting like she was disappointed, but her face and tone were telling otherwise. Kishiar also laughed and played along.
“Haha, please forgive me. My partner is so charming that I couldn’t bear leaving him alone even for a moment, especially when there are so many prying eyes around”
“……”
“That’s indeed true…but you should have brought him once…” The Empress turned her gaze towards Yuder, who slightly flinched when the attention was shifted towards him, smiling brightly.
“…I greet Your Majesty, the Moon of the Empire, who shines with grace and bestows blessings upon the people…”
The omega didn’t dare return the gaze, so he lowered his head and put a hand over his chest, bowing slightly. He quietly hoped he didn’t make any mistake in his sloppy greetings just then.
“You can drop the formalities, we are now family, aren’t we? So Duchess—no, Sir Aile—no…that still sounds too distant…can I call you Yuder?”
“…Of course, Your Majesty”
“That’s great, Yuder!” She clasped her hands. “I’ve been waiting to meet you for a long time, so I’m really happy to finally get the chance right now”
Yuder’s head spun even more from the Empress’s unusual display amount of affection. Meeting an imperial family member had already been nerve-wracking, but it was even more stressful being treated that nicely on their first encounter. Had the Empress known about him before?
“Your Majesty”
Yuder felt like he was on the verge of losing his consciousness if it weren’t for Kishiar’s timely intervention. The alpha slipped an arm around the omega’s waist, supporting him, as if he knew the latter was slightly staggering. Kishiar continued with a calm tone.
“I understand that you’re excited to see my lovely husband, however, it has been a long day for both of us. I suggest that I arrange a meeting for you another day, at a more appropriate time, don’t you think so, Your Majesty?”
“Oh dear…how rude of me..! I was so overjoyed that I forgot my manners”
Maybe it was just polite speaking, but the Empress’ face really looked apologetic towards Yuder, as she smiled ever so softly.
“It’s a shame we couldn’t talk much today, Yuder. But I believe more chances would come”
“I…um, I can stay if you would like, Your Majesty…”
“No can do, your health must come first. Duke, would you be so kind as to escort Yuder to his chambers?”
“Of course. How could I ever refuse a request from Your Majesty the Empress”
As if had been waiting for that, Kishiar smiled brightly and grabbed Yuder’s hand, saluting slightly as if leading him away. Yuder thought that the Duke might have been wanting to leave but couldn’t find the right timing, so he genuinely looked happy. However…
“Have someone else escort Sir Aile back and you, Duke, stay here. I believe we still have much more to discuss”
The Emperor, who hadn’t said a word all that time, suddenly broke his silence. He stared at the Duke, who was about to sneak away. The latter smiled awkwardly as he couldn’t defy the Emperor’s order.
“Well, in that case…it can’t be helped. I’ll miss you dearly, Yuder”
What was there to be sad about when they were going to be separated only for a short while? Yuder sighed at the man’s dramatic exaggeration as he shook off the long fingers on his waist, which didn’t move an inch even when the steward was called over, and the omega had to peel them off himself.
“Kishiar” The Emperor called out to the alpha, now that he was left alone after making sure Yuder had completely retreated from his sight. “Did you think your trick would really get past me?”
“Of course not. How do I dare to deceive you, the Emperor whose brilliance is brighter than the sun itself?”
Keilusa’s facial muscles didn’t change at all at the flattery, as if he had been too used to the situation.
“More importantly, are you sure about this, Kishiar? What if he refuses you?”
Kishiar paused, the smile that had always been evident disappeared. There was an indiscernible expression on his face, as he slowly parted his lips.
“…Then I shall oblige. That, too, is the karma I have to pay”
“…I see that you’ve made up your mind”
“Of course” There was no hesitation. “I, have always been”
…
…
…
The place where Yuder returned to was none other than the Eternal Palace, which belonged to the Duke—and now he too would be its master. The servants immediately welcomed him as soon as the main door opened, recording the footsteps of the new lord.
“Welcome back, Duchess”
’Duchess…’
A title he had heard so many times as people congratulated him during the banquet, yet still gave him an eerie sensation, like walking on an uncertain foothold he didn’t belong to. His mind wandered back and forth between dream and reality, and ended up getting lost without any clear directions. Perhaps, he was living in a fairy tale, but they had gotten the wrong protagonist.
“My lord, the bath is ready”
Yuder half-absentmindedly nodded when the steward called out to him. At least his tensed muscles could finally relax a bit thanks to the warm water. He had had a very, very long day, after all—from the long and tiresome wedding ceremony, to the sudden encounter with the Empress, and to another piece of fact that he had forgotten along the time…
“What is…this…outfit…?”
His pupils dilated before the sight of the most ridiculous outfit he had ever seen—no, could that thing even be called ‘clothes’?
The servants were presenting a robe for him to change into. He would have donned it like any other robes…if it weren’t for the translucent fabric it was made of. The fabric was so thin that it could easily flutter with a light breeze, revealing whatever was lying beneath. What would be the point of wearing something that could easily be seen through? It wouldn’t be any different from walking around naked.
“It’s the attire for your first night, my lord”
The servant kindly explained.
Ah. First night. Only then did Yuder remember the acts newlyweds would perform after their wedding. Of course, how could he ever forget that? No wonder why they had been applying scented oil to his skin and even sprayed perfume on his hair. It just showed how stressful he must have been to not realize their intentions. He could feel another headache resurfaced even after all those massage sessions.
“…Bring me my usual outfit”
“B-But my lord—!? His Grace would love this—”
“No, he wouldn’t. Please bring my normal clothes. Now”
Yuder ignored the disappointed look on their faces as they brought him another set of clothes. He put on his usual white shirt and loose pants, indeed, this gave him more comfort than seeing that poor excuse of a night dress.
After preparations, they led him to the chambers where they would spend the night together. One other thing had changed after becoming a Duchess was that now he would move to the Duke’s room, sharing one place with him.
“Please, have a good night, my lord”
The servants bid him farewell, closing the door to the chambers located at the highest point of the palace, where the lord of this place resided. The room was naturally much bigger than the one Yuder was given to, with a dome-shaped ceiling. It was equipped with glasses, and one could see the beautiful starry night from beyond, giving a mythical feeling.
Yuder’s gaze was naturally drawn to the bed in the center, a king-sized bed with silk curtains on all sides. Upon closer inspection, there were rose petals scattered on the sheets in a heart shape, it seemed like it was made on purpose for the night. The omega let out a sigh as he softly sat on the edge, carefully not to ruin the servant’s hard work. The bed gracefully sunk under his weight.
“……”
Emotions surged within him now that he was finally left alone, as if a storm was gradually forming. His mind became clearer in the midst of the silent night than the noisy times of the day.
Could he possibly avoid of what to come next? No, he possibly couldn’t, not when after the Duke had spared him before. He now bore the surname of another man, a reality he had yet to accept, however, the ring on his hand, the softness of his freshly bathed skin, and the alluring fragrance of roses in the room kept reminding him of such painful fact.
The very edge of bed Yuder was sitting on felt like thorns despite the highest quality mattress, prickling him with each second passed. On the surface of the nightstand beside him was an exquisite vase, containing flowers. He quietly stared at the small flowers, then carefully reached out, after much consideration, to caress the petals dyed in purple, a color he couldn’t forget no matter how hard he tried.
Did the servants think that he liked those small ones, so they put them there? Or was it also another play in the hands of fate? If so, well, he could only blame himself for bearing the divine punishment. Perhaps, it was a sign that God had known about his little mischief during the wedding, seeing how they sent a warning to confuse one’s mind. At least, fortunately, he didn’t feel as agitated as the first time he saw them.
’Maybe…it’s better to just forget him…’
Regardlessly, he quietly sat there like a mannequin, not moving an inch, waiting for his role to be fulfilled. Yuder couldn’t tell how much time had passed. It could be hours, it could also be just a few minutes. And finally, the person he had been waiting for arrived.
Click, clack. Click.
The sounds of footsteps stopped in front of the door, and Yuder’s heart throbbed as if someone was grabbing it. No, it didn’t thump because he was nervous, but his heartbeat quickened, which caused him to grab his chest, because of the strong scent permeating the air through the gap of the door. A distinctive scent as fresh as mint, giving a cool sensation as the gentle breeze of winter.
Yuder’s eyes widened and his irises constricted. No, it couldn’t be…it was impossible… Those were the words he had been muttering over and over in his mind like a broken record. He knew that scent—how could he not. He had always known, since it belonged to the one and only one person.
A single ray of light entered, illuminating both Yuder’s pale complexion, as well as the face of the other party. The omega’s heart sunk deeply inside his chest as if he tried to scream, yet only incoherent words weakly came out of his trembling lips.
“You…! Why…Why are you here…—Akit!”
Brown hair that looked soft and silky under the brightness. A chiseled face belonged to the young, handsome man who was looking at Yuder’s shaking obsidians with his own jewels, shining dimly with an amber hue. The fragrance radiating from his built body, which looked the same as the one in the omega’s memories, was evident.
The man named ‘Akit’ was standing before Yuder, intertwining their gazes, as the corners of his lips slowly curved into a soft, very soft smile. They then parted, breathing out a low, warm voice Yuder thought he would never get the chance to hear again.
“…Yuder”
Gently, the man called the name of the one person reflecting in his darkened brown eyes.
“I have come for you”
Notes:
I’m not sure what I wrote but please lmk how you feel!
Edit: I forgot to mention but here's what I imagine the ring would look like: here
Chapter 19
Notes:
This might be the longest chapter I’ve ever written, for the sake of the emotions. Brace yourself and enjoy 🫡
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“You…!”
Yuder gasped for air, tightening the grip on his chest so much his knuckles turned white. Was it agony that he was feeling? Or was it shock, rage, sadness, disappointment, and perhaps rejection? There was no definition for the torrent of emotions within him, rising and crashing down like a tsunami.
His eyes burned from glaring at the man having yet to move an inch from the doorway, whose expression was hidden by the shadows. It was a face he thought he had almost forgotten—no, it wasn’t that he forgot; after all, how could he. He just, perhaps, tried to erase the image of the man who cruelly took away his heart along with his disappearance. Yet with just a glimpse had brought back his memories from a distant past, and that made him realize how miserably he had failed.
“Why…are you here…?”
Yuder’s voice was strangely hoarse, ah, was it also trembling? His throat was dry, parched with an unknown thirst, as if someone was strangling him. An indescribable urge emerged, only to be stuck at the end of the esophagus.
“…Yuder” Akit softly called his name. “I…have come to get you”
Why.
“…Why now? After all those times—you—!?”
“Yuder!”
Since when did the man come closer and hold Yuder’s wrist, which was about to throw whatever he grabbed within his range at the former? Akit was kneeling on the floor, his hand gently yet firmly preventing the omega’s movement, as he looked at the latter with eyes filled with sadness and worry.
“Yuder, you can hit me, curse at me for all you desire. However, you must not hurt yourself while doing so” He gently rubbed circles on Yuder’s stiff knuckles. “So please…Yuder?”
“……”
Yuder halted, then gradually lowered his hand. The alpha exhaled, relieved when he saw the former’s fingers loosen up, as he instantly removed the item grabbed in between.
“Thank you” The man smiled softly.
Yuder somewhat regained his senses. He looked bewildered when he saw Akit resting his knees on the floor, an act that would be unthinkable for a high-ranking noble like him; however, it secretly evoked a rather satisfaction within him. Furthermore, he admitted it looked somewhat strange for a big man to be crouching before him and gently caressing his hands.
Yuder wondered if the alpha had grown even taller after the time apart. He couldn’t help but notice the bulging muscles on the broad back that seemed to be moving with each breath, completely obvious to the eyes due to the tight shirt he was wearing. Yuder unconsciously rested his gaze upon the obscenity for an unknown while, while swallowing his spit, feeling the insides of his stomach churned.
’……I must be crazy’
He swore, that, just a few moments ago, his rationality was badly blinded by rage. However, they now dissipated as if such feelings had never existed to begin with. To be honest, how could one stay mad for long after witnessing such a gaze from the man, the same gaze he had always had whenever he looked at the omega, as if he was someone dear, a precious beloved, his universe.
Yuder let out a short sigh. Rather than feeling disgusted, in fact, he felt…relieved, knowing that the feelings he once held for the alpha had yet to fade, and only came back stronger now that he was present before him.
However, that didn’t mean he was ready to fully forgive the man.
“……You. Where have you been all this time…? Did you know how much I have been looking for you, not even knowing where to start?”
“……”
“I…I sent you letters, but you never replied. It gave me the worst imagination I didn’t want to dream of—I thought you were dead, Akit! I didn’t even know whether you were alive or not…did you care about my feelings at all…!”
“Yuder, I…”
The questions having been stored inside Yuder bursted out at once like a broken dam. Akit must have sensed the sorrow and confusion mixed in the scent that were sent out along with his breakdown, but he could only keep his mouth shut before the omega’s outburst, though his gaze never left the latter whose breathing quickened.
“You…You never told me anything…and yet only now did you say you came back for me…? Akit—I…I have…! It’s—”
’—It’s too late’
Everything was too late. He had vowed an union before God, he had been owned by the imperial family. His name now bore the responsibilities shared with another man, and it was an irreversible wretched fact.
Yuder’s heart throbbed painfully as he looked at Akit—the man he loved, and had loved, weighing his judgment.
“…Akit, please leave”
“Yuder…?”
He covered the alpha’s lips preventing him to speak, as he stared into the dilated ambers. He didn’t know whether it was because the closed room was dark without a candle, with only the moonlight as its source of illumination, or because of the thin, transparent veil moistening his eyes that he couldn’t read the other’s face well. Nevertheless, he continued to speak with a trembling voice.
“You must have known I was wed to Duke Peletta, and this is…”
Clenching his teeth, he held back his emotions. There was still something he must do. For him, for them.
“…this is our wedding night. You must leave before the Duke is back—you won’t be able to escape execution if he caught both of us in this state…!”
’Leave and do not come back…forget me, Akit.’ The last words he wanted to say, but no sounds came out.
Yes…this should be the best outcome for both of them, who were bound to a cursed destiny. The omega might have resented him for not keeping their promise, but didn’t have the heart to watch the man with whom he was deeply enamored be punished because of his misery. Convinced himself as he tried to, he couldn’t stop the agony he was feeling seeping into his scent. He lowered his head, couldn’t bear to look at the other’s face any second longer as if it was too painful to do so.
Yuder knew he had to let him go.
He slowly moved his hands away from the other’s face, feeling the warmth lingering on his skin gradually fade away with deep regret. However, the withdrawn fingers only found their way to be caught by the larger hands, intertwining tighter once again.
“Akit…?”
He urged the man, yet the latter showed no sign of obligation. Akit, still kneeling, bent his head and pressed his lips ever so lightly onto Yuder’s slender fingers, taking his time savoring each of them. Each time the vermillion arches dove in, withdrew, and repeated, blowing hot air onto the omega’s flushed skin, sending heat from the tip of his hands to the depths of his body.
“Akit…stop! You need to leave—”
“It’s okay, Yuder. It’s okay…what you fear won’t come, nothing will happen to you, to me…to the both of us”
The black-haired man was perplexed, what did he mean by that, when the Duke could be coming in at any time at that moment? It was no doubt the most scandalous incident for one to witness his husband, staying in the same room with another man while performing intimate acts, on their wedding night no less. A chill ran along his spine, thinking of the consequences. Yuder’s complexion showed clear anxiety, yet the man was as calm as the first time he saw him.
“Yuder, please calm down…and listen to me. I promise you can do whatever you want afterwards, so won’t you trust me this time…please?”
After a brief hesitation, Yuder reluctantly nodded. Akit smiled at the given permission and whispered a soft thank you. He let go of the omega before reaching out to his right hand, his fingers fidgeting on a certain ring. The embedded stone glowed magically with his touch, then shone brightly until it completely engulfed the man. It was so dazzling that Yuder had to squint his eyes in reflex.
“…You can open your eyes now”
Yuder blinked a few times before timidly opened his eyes. The light gradually dimmed and faded out, revealing the being within, taking his breath away.
Reflecting the hue of the moonlight, golden locks shimmered under the silvery veil illuminating the surrounding area. A chiseled face with long eyelashes, shining the same golden color as his hair, fluttered slightly as if drowsy. Beneath those hidden fiery crimson eyes that were clear and sparkled like rubies bored into him, and the soft, velvet curves slightly parted, giving off an alluring charm.
Had Yuder met any person with such divinity? The answer was one. There had only been one. A human whose beauty transcended mortals’ standards, ascending godly realms. It was none other than the man who had never left his side for the whole day.
“…..Your…Grace…?”
Kishiar’s lips slightly shifted into an awkward smile, showing a complicated complexion. Yuder blinked, trying to confirm the person in front of him again.
’How…?’
Yuder’s pupils dilated in confusion, he had yet been able to process what was transpiring before his eyes. In front of him was one but two men.
Which one was the real him?
Was he Kishiar la Orr, the Duke of Peletta, his new husband who he had vowed eternity with; or, was he Akit, the man who had been by his side for years, and who he had given his heart to?
’There has always been one’. The truth was simpler than he thought, yet it took him eight years to connect the dots.
Akit was Kishiar. And Kishiar was also Akit.
Alone a mere sentence answered every mystery surrounding the man. From how the golden plaque was naturally in his possession; how he memorized the secret passages within the imperial palace that were unbeknownst to others; how he was able to make reservations at places that even the royal family would have difficulties to; how there wasn’t any scandalous rumors despite the frequency of them being together; and to how the Duke demanded to marry him, a concubine, despite their first meeting was nothing more noteworthy than a passing glance.
His heart sank deeply at the realization, as if the small world he had been believing in all crumbled down in an instant, and the path before him became dizzily unstable. He held his head to support it, as truth hit him like a tidal wave, leaving him vulnerable before the pitch-black maze.
A hand reached out towards him, but was coldly slapped away by Yuder’s trembling hand. The larger one froze in mid air for a while, before retreating as if knowing its place.
“……Did you have fun?” With a shaking voice, he asked. Anger rose again on the verge of his burning throat. “…Did you have fun toying with my feelings, Aki—no, Your Highness?”
He didn’t care if the person in front of him was an imperial family member, a Duke, or an alpha he had known for years. He couldn’t contain his feelings, rage, sadness, and dejection, as he poured them out all at once. He let out a hollow laugh watching as the alpha kept his mouth shut, he just stayed on the floor, never touched Yuder again without permission, as he looked at the latter cautiously, pain and sorrow were clearly visible in his eyes as the omega rejected him.
“…Your Highness, please answer me. Everything…was it a lie? Did you…approach me just so you could claim me like a trophy, was I an achievement deemed worthy of your time and attention?”
’…Did the time we spend together mean anything to you at all?’
He gazed directly at the other man for the first time ever since the truth was revealed, his obsidians darkened furthermore as if devoid of emotions, contrary to the pool of feelings mixed in his raging scent.
“……” The alpha’s gaze which had never left his side still looked pained, but never lacked the layer of affection beneath. Carefully, he chose his first words. “…I’m sorry”
But before the omega could misunderstand, he continued.
“I’m sorry for hiding everything until now…however, would you believe me if I said it was all because I’ve been in love with you all this time?”
“Huh…?”
“Yuder Aile, I love you. I’ve always loved you since the day we met in that place. I knew you were my brother’s concubine, however, despite everything, I still shamelessly, and desperately hoped for the day I could have you in my arms, the one who has gotten ahold of my heart”
He softly leaned his forehead onto Yuder’s knees, as if praying before God. Kishiar seemed to look a bit relieved since the latter didn’t push him away harshly like before. There was no hint of falsehood in the voice and the gaze he made.
“…so please don’t say you’ll leave me. I could no longer have the courage to let go of your hands. Everything you desire, I shall offer them to you, as long as you stay by my side, Yuder” He smiled, very softly.
“…I believe you’ve shared the same feelings as me, in the past at least, and even if those had changed after knowing the truth, I would never blame you. I could only shamelessly beseech you to give me another chance, not to make you fall for me, but only to prove my heart. And afterwards, were you still to reject me…I shall respect your final judgement”
Yuder widened his eyes at the heartfelt confession, a rare blush spreaded on his ears. He was expecting for him to make any kind of excuse, or worse but more efficient, he could have made an imperial order and he would have no choice to obey. However, Kishiar did neither of those, and only expressed a sincere answer.
But it didn’t mean he could trust him yet, after all, they were nothing but fragile words.
“Then how…do you intend to prove it..?”
Kishiar seemed to be a bit surprised hearing the timid question, but his gaze soon softened as he narrowed his eyes and parted his lips, curving them beautifully.
“Yuder, will you allow me to come closer to you?”
The younger man hesitated for a second, then shyly nodded his head. The man instantly stood up and approached the bed. Yuder flinched slightly when the sheets beside him shifted towards the heavier weight. Kishiar wrapped an arm around the omega, paused as if gauging his reaction, and only relaxed when the latter allowed himself to be pulled into an embrace.
A familiar warmth surrounded his whole body, only then did Yuder realize he had been missing this body heat. Kishiar patted his back gently like coaxing a child, and moments later, the omega found himself leaning on the other’s collarbone. His ear pressed against the strong chest, his tense muscles relaxed while listening to the rhythmic poundings. He didn’t know whether it was the sound of his own thumping heart, or the alpha’s, or perhaps both.
Just then, a cool scent gently wafted in the air.
Scent. Akit’s scent. Yuder hadn’t been able to sense it after the strong outburst when he entered the room. It wasn’t that he couldn’t detect its presence, he was just too riled up to notice. Now that the chaos within his mind had calmed down a bit, it came to his realization that the alpha’s distinctive fragrance had been scattered throughout the room, surrounding Yuder, but only stopped at the borderline.
It hovered around the omega’s own scent, but never invaded his territory. Since he had somewhat lowered his walls, the wandering pheromones bravely approached Yuder, cautiously stroking the latter’s as if asking for permission. With an inaudible sigh, he released more scent, returning the gesture.
As if waiting for that only single moment, the cool scent immediately swirled around the other and gently brushed the omega’s hair, face, arms, legs, anywhere that it could possibly touch.
Yuder shuddered as he instinctively felt an invisible force caressing his entire being, ticklishing his core. A low chuckle came from above, sending a vibration to the pectoral muscles he was leaning on. Before he could voice his complaints, a minty scent wafted into his nose, interrupting his other thoughts.
Agony, regret, hurtful, and worry dissolved and were fully conveyed in that aroma.
Humans could lie, but pheromones could never.
Yuder was baffled by the density of emotions, so vivid and intense it was almost hard to breathe. Had the man always been carrying those feelings with him?
Although overwhelming as they were, Yuder didn’t miss the faint presence of a warm sensation, secretly dancing beneath the tension. It wasn’t visible at first, but once it had been discovered, it bursted out like a spring well, filling Yuder’s heart. That warmth came from the man’s affection, and joy he held for him.
“Why are you…happy at a time like this?”
“How could I not experience joy, when I’m finally allowed to hold you in my arms?”
Yuder ignored the embarrassing confession and lifted his head. His mind was a bit hazy from being exposed to the strong scent, so he didn’t notice the man’s crimson orbs, still warm and red from expressing intense emotions. The image of a black-haired man remained reflected in those clear crystal-like eyes.
“…Don’t you have anything else to say to me?”
Kishiar slightly widened his eyes, though did not look surprised as if he had been prepared for the conversation about to take place. His gaze darkened as he spoke with a slow, low tone.
“…I’m sorry”
“For what?”
“I’m sorry for lying to you and disappearing without a word”
“…And?”
“I’m sorry I took so long, and I’m sorry for making you anxious”
“……”
“I’m also sorry for forcing you on a marriage you detest without a proper explanation… I finally have the right to tell you these words”
He gently lifted Yuder’s hand, which he had been playing with the fingers, and planted a soft kiss onto the back.
“…If my selfishness has caused you nothing but hatred and grief, I’m more than willing to pay for my crimes, while patiently waiting for the day you would throw a glimpse of your merciful glance towards this pathetic sinner. You need not to reciprocate the feelings this unsightly heart has shown, for that is all I desire”
’Are you saying you’re fine with me not forgiving you?’
It was absurd to think a Duke was desperately pleading for his attention like a rejected puppy…but that had unknowingly given him a thrill he never experienced before, he thought. Furthermore, how could he say something as grand as that while couldn’t contain the agony seeping into his scent? The omega wondered how Kishiar, who held much noble sentiment for Yuder Aile, was able to hold back his true feelings, and mutter such words.
“What if it takes a long time? A year or two…maybe more…”
“I’ve been waiting for you for eight years, adding a few more is nothing I can’t do. I’m willing to wait for as long as you want”
“…Even if it may take forever?”
“Then…I’ll work harder to earn your grace in our next life”
Yuder let out a short huff as if laughing at Kishiar’s childish statement. He didn’t think the alpha would be someone believing in preposterous theories such as reincarnation and the life beyond death. His tone sounded so serious he might start to think it could be real.
Nevertheless, thanks to the light joke, the tension around them had gotten a bit lighter, and Yuder started relaxing more into the embrace. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, then slightly parted the eyelashes, as if drowsy by the moment wrapped by a gentle scent, and a soft tune beating from beyond the chest.
“…Where were you two years ago? I…tried asking around for you, but no one claimed to have met you before. It was almost as if you were a ghost…”
“Of course, because ‘Akit’ was my childhood name, only the Emperor and a few that were close to us would know about it. Now it’s a name I go by when I disguise myself…and the name of the man who helplessly fell in love with you that day in the woods”
A tender sweetness caressed Yuder’s skin, spreading warmth as if he was recalling a precious memory.
“Were you forced to go on the subjugation?”
“Hmm…yes, and no” He replied. “It was, indeed, an order from His Majesty, but it was also because we made a deal with those stubborn old men from the church”
“A deal…?”
Kishiar nodded.
“Yes, a compromise to change the marriage laws. You must have known divorce within the royal family is considered impossible, the number of successful cases could be counted on one hand…because those worshiping God believe that a vow made with divinity cannot be broken arbitrarily. Thus, His Majesty and I have been working together in order to demolish the harem and, of course,” He gently smiled at Yuder. “…so that I could legally claim you as mine”
“……”
“It took all this time to persuade those people. Did you know, you were actually the key to this success, Yuder?”
Yuder widened his eyes at Kishiar.
“…Me? But I didn’t do anything”
“Actively, yes. They even called me outrageous and blasphemous for blindly chasing after a concubine… However, ever since I kept pestering them everyday, they eventually got fed up and somewhat agreed. Of course, things would never be that easy, wouldn’t they? The church declared the subjugation as a ‘trial’, for both of us, and little did they expect that victory was ultimately ours”
Kishiar must have understood why the omega was tilting his head at his words, as he continued to speak.
“The first condition was that I came back alive and glorious, and as for you, Yuder…they would judge whether or not were you staying faithful in my absence”
’…What kind of ridicule was that?’
“Yes, it was completely nonsense, wasn’t it?”
The alpha chuckled, agreeing with the baffled look on Yuder’s face. He could hear small mutterings of complaint, as he playfully poked the space between the omega’s creased brows, soothing them. Yuder soon shooed his hand away, though.
“…But why didn’t you tell me? Things would have been easier if you'd told me in advance…!”
Yuder felt bitter recalling the days he desperately waited beside the magical orb, hoping for a reply that never came, and eventually, he lost his reasons.
Kishiar showed an embarrassed smile upon reading Yuder’s mind, which showed on his face and scent. He apologized once more for causing him to recall something disturbing before parting his lips.
“I…was made to take an oath”
“…An oath?”
The alpha nodded. “Another condition is that I cannot meet, contact, or reveal anything before the return, be it directly or indirectly…if I broke that, they would immediately take action” His voice tensed up for a moment, the smile vanished from his face. “…If that happened, not only would our plan fail…but you would also not be able to avoid punishment, what I feared the most”
Right. Since the Emperor was on Kishiar’s side, he wouldn’t touch Yuder. All that left was the possibility of him having an affair, which was an unforgivable sin. It was disgusting to think they came up with such a ridiculous provision without one’s consent.
“It would also be the end if you’ve found another lover…though I never wished to imagine this speculation”
“…How would they have known?”
“They watched you. However, just as they’ve had someone to keep an eye on you, I’ve also assigned someone to protect you from harm. Ah, I guess I should also apologize for doing that without your acknowledgment…”
He continued. “…Anyway, the deal was only successful because of the patience you’ve shown, Yuder”
Suddenly, the arms around his shoulders tightened, as Kishiar embraced him closer, lowering his head. Since the alpha was burying the tip of his nose into Yuder’s hair, the latter couldn’t see his gaze. However, he could clearly feel his scent.
Gratefulness mixed with an overwhelming joy were what Yuder was sensing from the man.
“Yuder, I…I don’t dare to say it was for me after all the pain I’ve caused. However the case was, I’m thankful for that. Yuder, I sincerely thank you for trusting in me and…for waiting for me. It was the greatest blessing I could ask for, that you haven’t forgotten about me”
“……”
Yuder couldn’t deny what the man had said. It would be a lie to say he didn’t wait for him, even though it was a futile wish. It stemmed from a childish vow, made at the age Yuder couldn’t have known any better. Despite that, however, deep in his heart, he couldn’t bear breaking their promise, and hoped for a day Akit would really come back and take him away. Perhaps, that was the reason keeping him sane until this day.
“…Was it hard?” Red eyes met dark ones at the odd question. “…the battlefield, I mean…”
Kishiar blinked a few times, then smiled sweetly.
“…It was hard, I guess. I couldn’t bear being apart from you even for a second longer, so I really pushed myself at the front line. Nathan also had a hard time because of that. Ah, do you perhaps remember him?”
’Yes, of course’. He was Akit’s—
“…He was your aide”
Yuder almost said Akit’s name instinctively. He knew his true identity now, however, he still couldn’t help but treat them as two different individuals.
“That’s right. You have good memories” Kishiar patted his head as if he didn’t notice the suspicious shutter. “The winter was unusually more brutal, causing the monsters’s havoc more ferocious that year, and the impatience to return by your side as soon as possible…one could have gone insane, if it weren’t for your letters”
“My letters?” The omega couldn’t contain his surprise this time, as he pulled away to take a clearer look at the man, wondering what he meant. “Did you receive them…?”
“Of course, the orb was meant to send to me, or Nathan in my absence. It was disheartening, that I’ve received every single one of them, but had no means of returning the favor. I could clearly feel your confusion, anger, and resentment engraved in every word you wrote. You would send me many letters at first, then it got lessened by the days… And one day, they stopped coming”
A wave of regret washed over the alpha.
“…It was natural, I too would have given up and abandoned the other party who was selfishly unresponsive. One could only blame himself for the sins they’ve committed…however, believe me when I said they were my treasures. When the harsh winter days were at peak, your letters…your words were my only source of comfort. That way, I was relieved knowing I still own a spare room in your heart, no matter how small it was. I actually replied to all of them, although none have reached their destination”
“Huh…?”
Despite the bewilderment look on Yuder’s face, he began reciting his tale.
“Your first letter. When you asked me why didn’t I come to see you on the day of your eighteenth summer…I replied that it was because of my departure, instead of a sickness you thought I might have caught due to our playfulness the day before. You even scolded me for playing around too much, but still wished for my fast recovery…and I expressed my gratitude, briefly explained the truth, and asked that you wait for my return”
“The second letter. It came a few days after the first one. You were worried if my illness was that serious I couldn’t come even after a while, which was rare to see aside from my estrus. I replied that I was happy to hear your concerns, asking if I could receive them personally next time if I got the chance…well, I could always fake one even if I didn’t get sick easily... It had only been a few days, but I missed you dearly, Yuder”
“…The tenth one. It was around one month later. I could feel the tone of your words slightly changed, although a hint of your affection still remained. You asked about my whereabouts, did I join the monster subjugation without informing you, why you couldn’t find my name in the entry list. Yes, I joined the brigade, not as ‘Akit’, but as ‘Kishiar la Orr’. I didn’t include my real name but just wrote it as ‘someone whose identity will be revealed to you once the expedition is over’, not because I wanted to hide it, but was in fear that you might be shocked and pushed me away upon hearing the name of the imperial family”
“Half a year later…the twenty-third letter. The contents gradually decreased, the words became shorter and blunter. Your resentment directed at me like sharp knives, tearing my heart apart. You were…tired. You asked if I had forgotten about you; there was no way that I could. If you were only a noble’s pastime, abandoned now that my interest had waned; I’ve never stopped thinking about you, even for a mere second. And if I had forgotten about our promise…which was impossible, when I greatly desire you even in my dreams. I would gladly be sent to hell, even if that was the least thing I must do in order to grab ahold of your hand—that I was just a foolish man deeply in love…”
“And…the last one, the twenty-fourth letter…. There was nothing…Really, nothing at all. You sent me a blank letter, with only a drop of ink smeared on the paper…as if there was nothing left to ask. Your tender warmth, which had exhausted and grown cold, as you ended the days waiting in vain. I didn’t dare to ask for your forgiveness…like a coward, I could only utter my love for you with three words, begging you to put your trust in this unworthy man, while hoping that you would not forget to take care of yourself just because of the grief I’ve caused…”
“It was your last letter, but it wasn’t mine. I kept writing to you, every single day, even though I knew you wouldn’t be able to read them. Even so, still, it was my own joy thinking about how you would reply every time. That alone gave me strength to move forward”
Thump.
Yuder’s heart sank deeply as he listened until the end of the long confession.
…Did he really write all of those? It was hard to believe Kishiar, who was able to memorize every single detail, while not even Yuder could. He wasn’t in the right mind when sending those letters, so he didn’t really know.
However, how could one say those ones were their treasures? The letters were far from the ‘comfort’ he was talking about. How could he talk with a laugh on his lips, and a gentle gaze longing dearly at the other, when he could feel the throb within his chest? Yuder didn’t know whether the pain was coming from his own heart, or Kishiar’s. However, he could feel the urge to hug the other man—to ease the torrent of emotions swirling his insides.
He slightly twisted his body, breaking out of the tight embrace. Kishiar widened his eyes as Yuder reached out, and pulled him in. The alpha slightly flinched when the younger man’s arms wrapped around his nape, and his face was buried into Yuder’s shirt. The bigger hands hovered awkwardly in the air as if not knowing where to rest, before shyly returned the embrace.
The two of them sat alone on the bed in the dimly lit room, savoring each other’s warmth in silence. Kishiar’s breath tickled Yuder’s chest, but he didn’t care. In the tranquil night, only the sounds of two heartbeats could be heard. They played at different rhythms, then harmonized, creating a lovely yet sad melody. Within that close proximity, their scents intertwined gently.
“…Yuder” Kishiar was the first one to break the silence. “Truthfully, I didn’t intend to rush the marriage…however, after reading your farewell letter, I realized I couldn’t stay still anymore. If I were a bit later, you would have already left this place, so I decided to take action knowing that it would cause you confusion. I still regret seeing your pained complexion deeply, but I have no excuses to justify my behavior”
Yuder sighed, thinking that his ability to see the whole picture was still as accurate as before. That was indeed his original plan…if he weren’t abducted before anything could have happened. He was angry at first, however, after knowing everything, Yuder no longer felt strong resentment towards the man.
“…I’m still mad at you”
“I know…I’m sorry”
“Is the oath still in effect?”
“No, it was deactivated with my return. That’s how I was able to marry you”
“Then you could have at least given me a hint during this whole time. Did you know how devastated I felt when I received the royal decree?”
“I didn’t want to cause you more confusion before the wedding…”
“…But it was our wedding… You…kept the promise while I was blaming myself…if I had known it was you, I…I wouldn’t have refused the kiss back then…and it was our first kiss, too…”
Yuder’s voice gradually grew smaller and smaller at the end of his embarrassing lines. His head felt dizzy, wondering why he uttered those words. That was unusually uncharacteristic of him to be pouting over such trivial matters.
“No, nevermind—”
He turned his head away, hoping that the man hadn’t heard his shameful words yet. However, no syllables had escaped Kishiar’s ears.
A crimson gleam flashed by Yuder’s eyes with an extreme speed that couldn’t be followed. Before he could progress what was happening, a looming shadow jumped towards him, causing him to lose balance. His staggering body was caught and held tightly. Yuder tried to lift his head, however, his gaze immediately met those red ones drilling into only one person, burning brightly under the moonlight.
Only then did he realize they had switched positions. Yuder was then held lower than the other man by the waist, and Kishiar had moved so much closer that their foreheads were touched. Not only the foreheads, but their noses were also brushing against each other without any gap. Yuder instinctively held his breath, feeling the hot breath and cool scent coming from the other.
His heart pounded wildly, ringing in his ears. Did Kishiar just kiss him? No, their faces only collided in the upper parts, leaving the lower parts so close to touching that the omega couldn’t even move his lips, afraid that they might accidentally encounter another pair of curves.
“…Yuder” A husky voice slipped out of the prettiest vermillion arches Yuder had ever seen, sending a chill along his spine. “…Can I kiss you?”
“…Why…Why are you asking me something like that…? You’re a Duke, you didn’t have to—”
“I don’t want to do anything you don’t like. So please…Yuder”
Yuder’s heart beat so loudly he feared it might burst for real if that situation continued for any longer. The omega couldn’t bear saying it out loud, so he shut his eyes tightly. A soft fragrance that was as sweet as summer fruits seeped out.
The last thing he saw was the ruby-like orbs glinting brightly, hidden behind the half-squinted eyelids, and the velvet petals beautifully curved up as vibrant as the blooming flowers.
Soon enough, a tender softness descended, overlapping the shared breath.
Notes:
Next one might be smut~
Chapter 20
Notes:
Sorry everyone for the long hiatus ㅠㅠ
I’ve finally come back to bring you the spicy moment of the newlyweds! Ehe!Please enjoy and lmk what you think afterwards! (*^ω^*)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Mmn…”
‘It’s sweet…’
The kiss was tender yet enticing. Yuder wondered how human lips could be as sweet as the soft pair overlapping his at that moment. He fluttered his drowsy eyelashes, looking at the red eyes staring intently at him.
Perhaps having sensed Yuder’s shy satisfaction, Kishiar tilted his head ever so slightly, deepening the kiss.
The black-haired man was surprised when the other man moved away slightly, though only for a brief moment before diving in again. The soft curves rejoiced at the newfound union. Their lips were only touching, but the hot air between them seemed to be blowing throughout Yuder’s whole body. The omega shuddered at the new sensation he was experiencing for the first time in his life. It was a strange and terrifying feeling, yet it thrilled him to the core.
Haah. He started to crave for more. The sweetness lingered on his lips enticed him so much, however, yet lasted only for a moment, and seemed to evaporate too quickly.
’...It's not enough’
Yuder wondered if it's okay to be asking for more? He hesitated, being his first experience. However, the tingle in his body grew stronger with each second passed, as if pricking thorns. Whatever. He decided to listen to his instinct. His lips slightly parted, and a moist flesh bashfully peeked from between.
“…!”
Kishiar widened his eyes for a moment, then squinted them delightfully the moment the omega touched the velvet arches with just the tip of the tongue, as softly as a kitten’s lick. Grasping the rare opportunity, he pulled the other by his waist and slipped something in between the gasping curves.
Yuder groaned when the intruder entered his mouth, boldly exploring inside. The sweetness on his taste buds intensified when another slippery mucous membrane slid onto his own, wriggling and intertwining as if dancing, guiding the omega to ecstasy. The omega’s inner voice cried out in bliss when they’d finally had a taste of fulfillment he’d been craving for.
The back of his head suddenly bumped into something; only then did he realize he was too immersed in the moment that he unconsciously faltered, and his head almost hit the bed headboard, if it weren’t for Kishiar’s hand cushioning it. The crimson orbs narrowed with joy as their tongues swirled around each other, creating hot air between each gasp.
Yuder’s mind went hazy at the moist smackings, the sounds of their harmonized heartbeats when their upper bodies came close. The heat that seemed to melt his brain gradually subsided as they parted.
Kishiar rested his forehead against Yuder’s, feeling each other’s shortened breath on the skin. They locked gazes for a long while, enjoying the soft touch of the noses, or the gentle caressing on the omega’s cheek. A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a sweet and cool fragrance in the air.
“……I have another question”
“Yes?”
Yuder was the first one to break the peaceful silence. Kishiar nodded, responding to the omega’s oddly serious voice.
“……How are you so good at…kissing? Is it because you had a lot of experience?”
Kishiar widened his eyes momentarily, then bursted into laughter at the young man’s examining gaze.
“Oh, Yuder. How are you so adorable?”
Yuder groaned as if retorting the remark. The next moment, Kishiar bent down and lightly pecked the latter’s huffing cheeks a few times before moving away. He started into the confused obsidians, smiling sweetly.
“It’s not true, Yuder. Would you believe me if I told you that this was my first kiss?”
“……What?” The omega froze, utterly flabbergasted by what he just heard. “You’re lying…right? What about the rumors about you indulging in debauchery…?”
“……Ah, that”
Kishiar made an embarrassed smile.
“Those are all lies we spreaded on purpose to help my brother strengthen his position on the throne. I swear on my last name, I haven’t done anything to be ashamed of in my life… Oh, maybe there is one, my sin, that is, the desire to covet a black-haired beauty like you by my side”
Yuder sighed, the audacity to jest when he was being serious at the moment. He frowned, glaring at the beautiful smirk plastered on the man’s gorgeous face.
“…Why are you smiling like that?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking how adorable my beloved is when he’s jealous, and…” Kishiar gently pressed his lips against the narrowed space between the omega’s brows, whispering in a sweet tone. “…I missed you, Yuder”
“……”
Yuder couldn’t say anything before the swirl of emotions contained in the alpha’s voice, alone which was enough without further explanation. His heart quivered when the other continued to kiss his forehead, his temples, then his cheeks, and Yuder quietly gave his consent. Only when the shower of kisses, tender as if he was performing a sacred ritual, halted at the tip of the nose, did the warmth leave his skin.
“It’s getting late, we should spend the night now”
……Oh.
The soft and fuzzy sensation within Yuder almost dropped in an instant when he remembered the duties they were supposed to perform in the first place, if it weren’t for the unexpected incident that caused him to forget about everything else.
Yuder lowered his head and glanced around, too embarrassed to meet the intent gaze of the other man. He thought he was fully prepared for their marriage consummation, however, after finding out that his partner was Akit, the one he had been waiting for years, the storm again stirred within him. He shut his eyes, waiting for another type of heat, which never came contrary to his worries.
“I’ll sleep in the room next door, you can stay here tonight, Yuder”
“……?”
Yuder threw his eyes open when the scent gently wrapping around him slowly withdrew, and he grabbed the sleeve of the man’s clothes, who was about to stand up and leave.
“…What do you mean, you want us to sleep separately on our first night?”
It was somewhat embarrassing to emphasize the word ‘first night’, but it was an important question. Yuder tensed up and threw a glare at Kishiar, demanding an explanation. The alpha, on the other hand, looked confused for a moment before realizing something.
“Ah…if you’re worrying about the duties written in the rules, you don’t have to mind it at all, Yuder”
“That…yes, but, wouldn’t this cause rumors if others found out we didn’t sleep together…?”
“…Yuder” Kishiar sat down on the bed again, gently holding the hand clutching on his clothes as he looked into the omega’s eyes. “I’ve told you, you need not to heed other people’s opinions. You now bear the name la Orr, anyone dare to insult you is the same as insulting me or His Majesty”
The alpha placed a soft kiss on Yuder’s hand.
“And I assure you, I’d never let any harm come your way, you wouldn’t hear a single word that would upset you”
“But…how about you…?”
“Haha, I’m overjoyed that you’re worried about me…but don’t worry, did you forget I’m the famous ‘debauched duke’? Another lie wouldn’t make any difference. By tomorrow morning, you will only hear the news of how the Duke of Pelleta, rotten to the core, was so indulged in pleasures that he was intoxicated beyond cure, so badly that he couldn’t lift a finger despite having an attractive husband beside him, as much as he wanted to entertain his lovely partner all night long”
Kishiar slyly winked while weaving an absurd tale that left Yuder speechless. The former still looked at him with a warm, loving gaze, as if he was the most precious thing in those crimson orbs.
“…Therefore, I do not wish for you to endure anything, especially if it's because of me. I have already committed a grave sin, I won’t ask for anything more than that. ……If you want a divorce, however…I can’t guarantee those people from the temple would cooperate easily for the second time but…if it’s truly what you wish for, then I’ll make it happen…no matter the cost”
“……”
Kishiar spoke as if he was willingly to let go of Yuder’s hand, which he barely got ahold of after shedding much blood and tears, as long as the latter wished for. However, his ever-so-composed expression was betrayed by his scent, lace with deep bitterness.
“……Do you truly mean so? If I said I want to leave you?”
“……”
Kishiar kept his mouth shut. After a few seconds, he nodded, albeit weakly. Yuder was once again troubled by the contrasted honesty shown in his pheromones. He had yet to fully forgive the man, nor could he ignore the excitement hidden deeply beneath his thumping heart.
However, he realized his mind and heart wanted one thing at that moment.
“…It’s okay. Let’s do it”
“Yuder, you don’t have to…”
“Didn’t you say you would listen to anything I wish for? I want to do it, now”
Kishiar’s hands wandered here and there trying to prevent Yuder from getting closer to him, using both his body and scent. He grabbed the omega’s hands, which were trying to grab Kishiar’s collars. Their eyes never lost sight of each other during the mild tousle.
“…Yuder, do you really want to consummate with me? It’s fine if we do this another date, it doesn’t have to be the night after our vow before God”
“I…”
Yuder noticed the caution in Kishiar’s eyes, they were nervous and reluctant, but still couldn’t hide the faint expectation in those faintly trembling irises. Witnessing the apparent emotions had shed off the omega’s last line of hesitation.
“…Yes”
Haahh. After a long sigh, the air surrounding the alpha changed instantly. Yuder thought it was an illusion when he saw the way the darkened rubies glinted, almost dangerously, but couldn’t confirm due to the force hugging his body tightly, and their lips clashed once again.
“Ngh…haa…”
Having experienced it before, Yuder’s mouth welcomed Kishiar’s tongue with more eagerness. The omega didn’t feel as overwhelmed as the first time, but the moist sensation still managed to shake his core.
Their tongues slipped and separated after a few exchanges, causing the younger man to express his discontent with a groan. Kishiar gently released more scent to soothe the upset omega while reaching his long arm towards the nightstand. Yuder’s gaze followed his movement and saw the alpha picking up a glass, the thing he tried to throw at the man earlier, and a wine bottle.
“Yuder, do you know what this is?”
“…?”
“It’s given to married couples on their first night to…well, increase the chance to reproduce, they said”
In short, it’s a type of aphrodisiac.
“If they were a pair of Alpha and Omega, the liquor would trigger a pseudo-estrus effect, it still works for other pairs though. Well, I guess it’s all about setting the mood for those who are too awkward to perform the deed…”
Kishiar filled the glass with the red wine, holding it before Yuder.
“…This is the last chance to revise your decision, Yuder. Say the word and I’ll stop immediately—”
Yuder snatched the glass from Kishiar’s hand and gulped it down in one shot. The pungent scent of wine lingered on his tongue, but he didn’t care. His dark pupils stared at the widened red eyes.
“…Would this satisfy your concerns?”
The last string of self-restraint shattered in Kishiar’s eyes as he grabbed the wine bottle and drank it directly. After putting it back onto the nightstand, perhaps with a bit more force, he plunged himself at the omega and kissed him deeply again. The bitter liquid, mixed with another sweet substance, entered the latter. It was hot enough to burn Yuder’s throat, which didn’t happen even when he drank the same thing on his own. The transparent threads glistened under the moonlight when their lips parted, and short exhalations carried the rich scent of wine.
Yuder reached out for the bottle and did the same thing as the alpha, however, he couldn’t imitate it perfectly as the latter, some of the wine ended up spilling out of the corner of their connected lips, trickling down Yuder’s chin.
Kishiar stared at the red stain on the omega’s skin as the droplet continued to roll downwards, lingering on the thin collarbone. The alpha broke their oral waltz to run his tongue along that faint trail, feeling how the latter’s skin slightly trembled on his papillae when it landed on the clavicle.
“…It’ll take a while for the wine to take effect. Shall we warm up some more, Yuder?”
…
“Ah, ugh…ah…”
Yuder shivered when Kishiar’s tongue slid over the tip of his chest, now exposed and clearly taut under the latter’s teasing. Yuder’s shirt was skillfully removed by the alpha’s hands and then laid stagnant on the cold floor, leaving half of his figures to be illuminated under the silvery hue. Kishiar’s hands traced the outlines of his body, before spreading them on his chest. The long fingers, while gently caressing Yuder’s soft skin, touched something else. The pale things, stuck between the alpha’s fingers, gradually hardened.
Kishiar lowered his head and pressed his lips against Yuder’s chest, red marks persisted at places he nibbled and sucked on, replacing his hand. The slippery organ that had been intertwining with his own a moment ago now gently licked his bud, twirling around it as if trying to get a taste.
Yuder squirmed slightly due to the unfamiliar ticklish sensation, however, a jolting current ran straight to his spine when he felt something hard graze against his flesh.
’What…What was that…?’
Yuder widened his eyes at the new sensation he felt, but his thoughts soon got abrupted by another shock coming from his chest.
“Ah, uh, wait—hngh!”
Kishiar focused his breath onto the center and sucked strongly, causing the omega to let out a sharp gasp. While having a sample of one bud, his hand kept the other side occupied by stroking it using his index and middle fingers. They would handle it gently, then crush it under them, or playfully twisting it around until the sleeping bud awakened, shedding its pale skin and flushing as if about to bloom. Sometimes, the mean bullies would flick the tip hard, to enjoy how it twitched and trembled in response.
The gentle yet rough act might have been painful, but to Yuder, the pain didn’t last long. It was subtle enough to feel, but as soon as it subsided, a greater sensation came over enough to make him forget about the discomfort. The omega had touched his chest a few times before during his own heat, but what he felt seemed like child’s play compared to the pleasure Kishiar was giving him at that moment. He could feel his lower abdomen getting hotter and hotter each second passed, pooling at the center.
“Wait…wait a minute…”
“Are you hurt?”
Kishiar immediately halted his movements the moment he heard Yuder’s plea, as he glanced at the latter with nervous eyes worrying that he had caused him pain. Yuder quickly shook his head, indicating it wasn’t the case.
“No, it’s not… It’s just…you haven’t taken off your clothes yet…”
Yes, all those feelings and yet only Yuder was topless, and he was somewhat bothered by that. Kishiar let out a sigh of relief knowing that Yuder wasn’t hurt by him.
“My apologies”
The alpha chuckled at the young man’s cute complaint, so he obeyed his words. He quickly unbuttoned his shirt and threw it alongside Yuder’s, revealing his fine body. The muscles woven firmly like tree branches, rippling like waves with each breath. The toned abs drawing anyone’s immediate attention was just as impressive, showing clear results of rigorous training.
’…I knew he practices swordsmanship but this is just…’
Yuder’s muscles had also hardened after many years maintaining his lone lifestyle in the imperial palace, but it would be a shame to compare his body to Kishiar’s. He had briefly glimpsed at the man’s body during the festival in the past, when they both were drenched and pressed against each other; however, it was a different matter upon seeing it clearly exposed under the moonlight, stirring something within him.
“Do you like it that much?” Kishiar chuckled.
“…What are you talking about?”
“You’ve been staring so intently…I could almost feel your gaze burning a hole on my skin”
“…I was just thinking how much training you did to have that kind of body…”
Yuder made some random excuses, but that only widened Kishiar’s smile.
“Is that so? Do you want to learn swordsmanship? I’d gladly teach you myself”
“Huh…? Aren’t you busy dealing with the subjugation aftermath these days…?”
“I told you I’d always have time for you, didn’t I? Nothing else matters if I could spend more seconds by your side. However…now wouldn’t be the appropriate time”
Kishiar hold Yuder’s legs and put them on his laps, causing the latter’s body to be slightly lifted. Yuder flinched when something hot, and hard with prominent outlines pressed between his tense bottom. The omega instantly glanced at the situation between his legs and felt his face heaten up.
“Yuder…”
A single call was enough to send a shiver along Yuder’s spine. He then sheepishly moved his gaze to Kishiar’s face, who was staring at him intently, the crimson orbs were half-covered by his long golden eyelashes, however, they couldn’t hide the fervent spark contained in those clear gems.
For some reason, Yuder instinctively recognized that gaze. It was the gaze of someone barely holding onto his reasons, while trying not to succumb to the deepest desires. It was then did he remember what kind of thing they had consumed, now that the aphrodisiac seemed to have taken effect for the man. The most apparent evidence would be the cool scent, which had grown so much thicker in a short time, almost drowning Yuder.
“…We’ve gotten other matters to take care of first, right?”
Kishiar whispered in a very low voice, almost growling. As if enchanted by magic, Yuder could only nod before such tension. Kishiar smiled sweetly, delighted by the given permission. He bent over and kissed the latter again with a passion no less heated than their previous sessions, if not, more intense.
Yuder released soft moans into the alpha’s mouth when he felt the stiff club applying more pressure onto his buttocks. He wasn’t sure to feel embarrassed by the muffled sounds he was making ringing in his ears, or the blatant heat rubbing against his lower body. Yuder instinctively felt a familiar dampness in midst of the rising fever.
Oh God. A sudden wave of coldness hit Yuder, especially in his lower region, causing him to shudder. He glanced downwards, realizing that his pants, which were tight at the front but still on him a moment ago, had disappeared to somewhere else.
’Since when did he…!’
Yuder couldn’t believe the speed of how a human could take off one's clothes without even noticing, or perhaps he wasn’t human at all.
The cold air once again reminded him of the current situation, which felt more clearly now that his excited body, which was fully exposed without a shred of clothes remaining, radiated more heat than before.
Yuder was born with a higher tolerance for all kinds of drugs, and aphrodisiac was no exception. However, even he could tell that his body had succumbed to its effects, and eventually his mentality, which had yet happened.
“Ugh…!”
Yuder groaned again at the friction between his legs, more visibly felt after his clothes were removed. He glanced at the culprit with a heavy gaze.
’…It looks like it’s about to burst…’
The omega’s stomach tightened at mere thoughts. He lifted his arms with much effort due to his hazy mind, to push away the man’s face. Their lips disconnected with a wet popping sound.
“……yours. Take them off, too”
Kishiar, without breaking their gazes, removed the last cumbersome layer of fabric obstructing them. With a thud sound on the floor, the alpha’s full glory now stood proudly before Yuder.
’……Hah. Damn’
Yuder was completely speechless before such a sight, something so monstrous that it might be terrifying to other people. But to Yuder, it looked simply perfect, fitting for someone like him.
The omega’s throat grew dry when he saw the prominent veins that looked about to burst at any moment, and his insides twitched when he gazed upon the reddened head as if angry, and a milky fluid was dripping from it. The sight was beyond imagination, now matter how many times he had dreamed about it.
Kishiar wasted no time after that, as he continued to plant kiss marks on Yuder’s body, from his neck to the navel. Each time the man’s velvet lips dove in, his skin heatened up; and when the former moved away, a more intense heat came as if burning his whole body, which came along with a strange frustration.
The entrance below his hips had been twitching the whole time, it continuously clenched, and released, as if irritated by the emptiness within. The contractions only got worse when he felt the alpha’s hot breath blowing onto the inner of his thighs, dangerously close to his standing vigor.
“Ah…”
Finally, something had reached the entrance. The latter instinctively poured out more of the translucent liquid that had been dripping for a while, trickling down between his buttocks and onto the sheets, as if seducing the prey to come inside.
Without the usual patience, Kishiar rubbed the omega’s perineum and circles around the entrance, as if spreading the sticky fluid, before pushing his finger through the slightly opened gate.
Yuder gasped when an intruder pushed his way into him. His insides helplessly twitched and tried to push it out not only as a reflex, but also because of the joy of having his wish come true.
After the initial alert had calmed down somewhat, Kishiar slowly moved his finger while observing Yuder’s complexion. The omega was moaning softly as he felt his walls being stroked from inside. Kishiar knew his fingers were longer and bigger than that of a normal person, so it should have caused discomfort on the first try, no matter how gentle he tried to be. However, perhaps, thanks to the effects of the drug that Yuder accepted him easily.
After making sure the omega was showing no unpleasantness, he added another one. The narrow path that seemed to allow only one to pass through, now had made way for another digit. Two fingers moved at the same pace as before, then sped up a bit and spread like scissors, expanding the territory within.
Kishiar released more scent as he continued exploring inside, the refreshing fragrance gently embracing Yuder’s trembling body to help soothe his nerves, which was effective. Yuder’s own scent was unconsciously drawn out in the process, seducing the alpha more. He thought he saw Kishiar’s front twitching when their pheromones mixed in the air. Yuder’s throat got dry upon seeing that sight. He tried to hold the thing, but his hand was caught sneaking towards it, and a frown appeared on his face.
“…Why…ah…!”
Kishiar’s fingernail scraped against a certain spot inside when the omega was about to protest, causing him to jolt and inhale sharply. Kishiar didn’t miss any reaction from the latter, as he started attacking that spot more persistently.
“Oh, ah, ah…ugh…!”
Between his parted lips, Yuder’s moan slipped out as if playing a melody ever so sweet to Kishiar’s ears. With half-lid eyes, Yuder shuddered at the thought of his past illusions coming to life, which was beyond expectation. The pleasure he was feeling was so thrilling that none of his attempts could be compared to this.
Against such intense feelings, his legs could only tremble helplessly as a heat hotter than before whirling in his core before surging forth.
“…!!”
When the rapture had reached its highest point, Yuder’s whole self convulsed violently, before slowing down like a high wave crashing into the shore. The only thing left for him to do is to bask in the ecstasy of the lingering warmth. A thick, white liquid spreaded on Yuder’s stomach, and all the way to his chest.
In the meantime, Kishiar slowly withdrew his fingers, which had gone up to three when Yuder was too drowned in pleasure to notice. A similar but translucent fluid flowed out alongside, drenching not only Kishiar’s fingers but also the perineum.
Kishiar smiled sweetly when he saw Yuder, with tired glistened eyes, staring intently at the former. His smile deepened when those obsidian orbs slowly shifted lower, focusing on only one thing.
The alpha bent down and tasted the stains had yet to dry on Yuder’s chest, causing the latter to flinch. Yuder touched the man’s cheeks, lifting his face. The moment their gazes locked, Kishiar knew Yuder’s mind had succumbed to instinct. His eyes were in a daze, however, they contained a fire burning fiercely under the dark veil of the night, which was the same as the alpha’s reflected in those clear mirrors, revealing only one truth.
Put it in. Inside me.
The back of Kishiar’s mind seemed to be burned by the fervent message, but he still needed to ensure his partner’s comfort. He kissed the other, briefly yet passionately, before whispering into his ears with a low voice.
“Yuder, do you want to…change position? Lying on your back during the first time could be uncomfortable…”
“…There’s no need” The omega noticed his worries, but he couldn’t care less at the moment. “I…want to see your face right now…”
A surge of scent poured out of Yuder and wrapped around Kishiar, urging him to continue.
“Hurry…”
The sweet pheromones and alluring plea drove Kishiar mad as he put Yuder’s sagging legs back to where they were, spreading them a bit wider.
Kishiar grabbed the scented oil bottle on the nightstand and poured a generous amount onto his rod, filling the air with a soft flowery fragrance. Yuder’s half-softened front rejuvenated at the sight of the alpha impatiently stroked his flesh, intimidating and glistening with a mixture of oil and another sticky fluid. His lower half instinctively tensed up when Kishiar positioned himself against his lower body, as he soon felt something much bigger than the previous intruders slowly enter inside.
“Ugh……”
The narrow entrance, even though was loosened up thoroughly, was still so tight as his inner walls clinging onto the impending force, slowly marching forwards. Yuder could feel his insides repeatedly collapse, torn apart, then stick together, making way for Kishiar.
The alpha, perhaps having sensed the distress in his scent, leaned forward and kissed the other. The slippery organ dancing around his mouth and the scent caressing every pores on his body eased the wrinkles between his brows, and Yuder’s mind melted once again helping his muscles to relax.
“…It’s in”
Yuder weakly fluttered his eyelashes at the whisper, casting his glance downwards. He saw a slight bulge pressing against his organs, creating a dent under his skin, even though Kishiar’s sword had yet to fully sheathed. A shiver ran along his spine imagining the what ifs if he could accept the whole thing inside, but for now, that alone was enough to make his heart race wildly.
Kishiar softly kissed the moist pearl lingering in the corners of the other’s eyes, before getting drawn to his curves again. They quietly shared the joy of becoming one with their shared breath, touched chests, resonating heartbeats and feverish gazes warming each other. After a while that seemed not quite long but also not too short, Kishiar began to move. The shift in their union caused Yuder to groan, as the alpha withdrew his lower body and entered again.
Yuder released moans when Kishiar’s swayed back and forth slowly, testing the water. The speed increased whenever they instinctively felt their bodies had adjusted to the unfamiliar sensation, and began to demand for a deeper pleasure. At one point, the small noises escaping the omega’s lips became more impatient. His erratic gasps sounded as sweet as his scent, making Kishiar’s movements more vigorous.
“Ah, ugh, ugh! Deep…too deep, Ak—”
Yuder flinched, covering his mouth which was about to shout the name ‘Akit’. He looked at the man, whose golden hair had gotten damn from sweats and stuck to his forehead but was still shining brightly under the moonlight, and the crimson orbs never left his side for a moment. The man before him was not Akit, he was Kishiar la Orr, even though they were one. He chose this position in order to take a good look at the alpha, and engrave this image into his mind. Still, he almost blundered.
However, none of his conditions escaped Kishiar’s discernment. The man smiled softly, perhaps looking a bit sad, but still whispered softly as he pressed his lips against the other’s forehead.
“…It’s okay, Yuder. Please call me Akit or however you want, until you’re ready to call my name”
“But, you…—ah!”
The intense pleasure piercing his stomach once again cut off any useless thoughts, all he could do was clinging onto the man’s neck like a lifeline, their sweaty skins sticking to each other felt strangely excited. Every time Kishiar shook his hips, hitting a different spot from previously, a shock-like current shot from his back to the end of his nerves, and Yuder threw his head back in surprise.
“Haa…! Ah, ah……Akit!”
Yuder’s body trembled as his insides convulsed violently. Kishiar frowned slightly, a rare expression visible on his face, when the hot cave closed in on him, squeezing his bulging veins tightly without any gaps.
Yuder’s toes curled and twitched as a scorching heat rushing in between his legs. At the same time, both his front and back reached climax for the second time, the air was filled with the smell of two scents constantly stroking each other.
Kishiar carefully pulled out and immediately, a mixed fluid flowed out of the still twitching entrance, leaving a wet stain on the bed sheets. Yuder was panting heavily, the tips of his chest, moving up and down with his erratic breath, had long lost their original pale colors and became as flushed as his swollen lips, as if tempting others to have a taste of the delicious buds.
Kishiar, instead of doing that, first leaned down and gently kissed Yuder’s face, licking away any droplets of sweat, the moisture in his eyes, or the secretion dripping from the corner of his lips. The alpha’s tongue trailed along the other’s chin, and the latter shivered when a wet sound accompanied by hot air pressing on his nape, where the scent glands were. A small nibbling on his skin, and a gentle suck was all it took for the remnants of a feverish flames to ignite again, spreading throughout his body.
While still immersed in ecstasy, a familiar heat pressed against his buttocks, still full of vigor as ever. Yuder unconsciously licked his lips and his eyes got dry from the fever, still never giving up as they stared into the blazing rubies. He had braced himself for another wave of heat.
The night was young, and it was only the beginning of their long reunion.
Notes:
Fun fact: I dozed off while writing this and accidentally pressed the delete button, when I woke up it was from 5k -> 2k 🥲 bless the undo button or else I'll cry for real
p.s. please lmk how you feel about this chap! (esp the smut >///<)
Chapter 21
Notes:
Happy first anniversary to this fic (June 4th)!! 🥳🥳🥳
Fun fact: I stole the prompt from last year’s Turning fanweek, and ran away with it~
And it’ll still ongoing until this day 🤣🤣🤣Anyway, please enjoy and comment~
Chapter Text
“……Ugh”
Yuder let out a small groan and twisted his body, blocking the sunlight with his hand. He slowly opened his eyes after adjusting to the brightness.
’…My head…it’s a bit dizzy’
After a few blinks, he recalled the events of the previous night, and a familiar fever unknowingly rose again at mere thoughts.
’…It doesn’t hurt’
The memories of them rolling around and getting tangled over and over again, until the bed creaked pitifully and the sheets were crumbled, drenched with sweat and other fluids, were still vivid to both his mind and body. However, it was strange to say there were no signs of exhaustion at all, even if it was thanks to the effect of aphrodisiac and Kishiar’s delicate care.
’That aside, more importantly…where am I…?’
Yuder belatedly looked at his surroundings, and he was shocked. They were definitely consummating their marriage in the imperial palace last night, however, the sight before him looked nothing like a luxurious room of a royal at all. No, in fact, one could say it was the complete opposite.
The room was made of wood, and the space was smaller than half of the Duke’s room…or maybe even less than one-third? There were no exquisite decorations, no golds, marbles, or jewelry; the room only consisted of a small table, chairs for two, a dressing cabinet and a small desk next to the bed, all of which was also wooden. The furniture looked like handmade items, but were all skillfully made.
Then, instead of the king-sized bed and its highest quality bed sheets, the one Yuder was sitting on was a bit longer than his height, and just wide enough for two people. The mattress was much flatter, but there was still a softness to it. Yuder could tell whoever made these things had paid more attention to the bed, unlike those simple interiors, to ensure one’s comfort.
’Did they move me here while I was sleeping…?’
Many questions ran through his mind while he tried to figure out the situation, which wasn’t very helpful. More importantly, he had yet to ask the most crucial question.
“……Come to think of it, where is he?”
Yuder had been wide awake for a while, however, due to the shock of finding himself in an unfamiliar place, he didn’t notice the emptiness beside him, which should have had someone staying there.
His chest tightened at the sight of the clean bed sheet beside him, feeling cold to the touch. He gripped the blanket, forgotten emotions he thought he couldn’t feel anymore threatening to rise at any moment, when the door suddenly opened.
“Yuder?”
A tall man walked in, and Yuder instantly recognized him by the distinctive scent. The omega glanced at the man, widening his eyes at the appearance.
“…Akit?”
The alpha smiled softly and walked towards the bed, sitting beside Yuder. His hand was about to reach out to the latter when he remembered something.
“Oh my, please excuse me”
The man took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand, which was covered with dirt. Now that he took a closer look, his clothes were simple, not that Yuder had ever seen him in formal clothes except for their wedding; however, instead of the usual expensive fabric, he now was wearing that of a commoner. Still, it couldn’t hide his prominent beauty at all.
After making sure his hands were all cleaned, he started caressing the omega’s cheek gently. Looking at the orbs gazing at him so lovingly, the discomfort in Yuder’s heart dissipated quickly.
“Good morning, my beautiful fairy. Were you surprised not seeing me when you woke up? You’re sweating a lot”
The alpha’s gaze then moved downwards, to be exact, it landed on his hips. He covered his mouth, making a bashful expression.
“Sorry…I know I shouldn’t have been too hard on you last night…but you were so lovely that I couldn’t help but—”
“—Ahem”
Yuder loudly cleared his throat, realizing what kind of thing he was talking about as he tried to change the topic by looking at what had been bothering for a while since he entered.
“Akit…your hair is…”
Yuder glanced at the other, whose hair was brown with umber eyes, the image of ‘Akit’ he used to know. At that moment, he wasn’t Kishiar, but Akit.
“…Ah” Akit touched his hair strand. “I stepped out this morning, so I had to put on the disguise. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to dispel it when it’s only the two of us”
Yuder wondered why he needed to do that when they’ve already officially married. But then again, they must have moved to an unknown place in a modest cabin in the middle of night without anyone knowing, the magic was necessary. However, he was somewhat annoyed that the alpha didn’t discuss this with him beforehand.
Before his mood could get any worse, Akit softly kissed Yuder’s forehead, then continued chirping with a cheerful voice.
“By the way, Yuder. The potatoes were growing so well yesterday!”
“Potatoes…?”
“I wanted to surprise you, so I went out earlier…but I feel guilty for seeing you making that face”
“What kind of face…”
“…You looked like you were devastated not seeing me by your side, and your scent was frantic, it was looking for me. I can sense you’re still angry right now, right?”
Akit kissed the back of his hand, a gesture so natural.
“Please forgive me, my love. I promise to tell you beforehand next time”
Yuder could tell he was being sincere, so he sighed, relaxing his pheromones.
“…Forget it. Anyway, why don’t you tell me where this place is? Why are we here? Weren’t we just in the Eternal Palace yesterday? And when did you move me here without…knowing…?”
Yuder’s voice gradually slowed down when he saw the confused look on Akit’s face. The latter tilted his head, staring at him as if he didn't have a clue about what Yuder was asking.
“Yuder…by any chance, are you still feeling sleepy? Did you have a dream last night? Hmm, maybe that was what is making you so bewildered this morning…”
’A dream?’
“I didn’t know my identity would still bother you until this day, even though I’ve confessed everything a year ago. However, I’m surprised you know of the Eternal Palace, where I used to live…”
’A year…?’
“Don’t you remember? We’ve moved away on the day of your 18th birthday two years ago, all the way to Nelarn. We built this small house together, and have been living here ever since”
“Ah…”
’Don’t tell me…?’
While Yuder was at a loss of words in confusion, Akit chuckled as he repeatedly kissed the latter’s face.
“Look at you, spacing out like that. It’s rare to see my dear fairy being so cutely flustered, you must have really enjoyed the events last night, huh? Let’s have breakfast, that will help you wake up”
Yuder blankly followed the man’s lead as he helped him get dressed, guided him to the kitchen, and pulled a chair for him to wait as he started to cook. Yuder couldn’t believe he would be able to see an imperial family member making breakfast in a kitchen as small as this.
Much to his surprise, Akit cooked very well and soon a splendid meal was laid out before him. Yuder stared at the fried eggs and bacon, with stew on the table, so luscious that they could trick anyone into thinking that the one making these was actually a skilled chef, not a royal with delicate hands.
“I used the vegetables I harvested this morning, I’m sure it’ll taste good. Eat a lot, Yuder, I’ll make more if you like it”
They started having breakfast, and the alpha’s words were true. The food tasted so delicious compared to what he always made. Yuder quietly recalled the days when the two of them would sit together in a small table in a cramped kitchen like this, sharing a meal with a light atmosphere and of course, with Akit being the one leading the conversation.
It was something that happened long ago, still, it wasn’t a bad feeling.
…
After breakfast, Yuder wandered around to figure out his situation. The cabin wasn’t that big anyway, so the exploration ended shortly. Then, he joined Akit for a tour to the garden in the backyard. It was small, but was filled with various vegetables and herbs.
Yuder listened to Akit as he took him to the potatoes he had been waiting to show him since earlier. The big, clean and firm potatoes sure looked very healthy, he thought. Yuder ignored him when Akit said it was thanks to his ‘fairy’s blessing’ that the plants all grew up well, though.
After a while, however, Yuder still couldn’t find anything helpful. He checked the surroundings, it seemed like the place they were staying was in the middle of the woods, or a mountain, with peaceful air and no signs of other humans.
There was also a stream and a waterfall nearby, when he went out with Akit to fetch the water. While Yuder was enjoying the coolness of water in the air, Akit playfully splashed at him when he let down his guard. They ended up playing in the water until both of them were drenched from head to toes. They later laughed when they saw the buckets they brought along were still empty.
…
“Akit, is there a town nearby?”
They quickly finished what they were doing by the stream and returned, washing up and changing clothes. Yuder asked when Akit was drying his hair with a towel.
“Yes, there is one on the foot of the mountain. Is there something wrong?”
“No…it’s just…”
“Do you want to buy anything? If so, I’ll get it the next time I go there”
“There isn’t any…” Yuder quietly shook his head, looking bashful. “…I just, I thought it would be nice to go there with you…”
Akit blinked a few times before blooming into a sweet smile. He chuckled as he showered Yuder’s face with lots of kisses, and only stopped when the other subtly pushed him away with his hands.
“Yuder, are you asking me out for a date?”
“…Huh?”
“Oh my god, I’m so happy! Let’s go right away after your hair is dry, Yuder”
…Well, it was alright to let him misunderstand his intentions that way anyway, Yuder thought.
They wrapped up their work in no time and decided to go on the date that day since the sun was still high in the sky, arriving at the town after some walking.
Yuder glanced around at the bustling place, striving with business. He was reminded of the small village he used to visit within the Arik mountain’s vicinity, though it couldn’t be compared to a town like this. He heard a faint laugh coming from beside him.
“What’s wrong, Yuder? Why are you acting like this is the first time you’ve visited here? Or…is it that you’re nervous because you initiated the outing this time? Oh my, you can still be so cute after having been together for so long, Yuder”
“……”
Yuder let him imagine whatever. Well, while he was thinking that way, he thought he could make full use of it.
“…Yes, you’re right. Since it was you who made it this way, why don’t you show me around yourself?”
Akit’s smile only grew wider before Yuder’s shameless demand. The alpha sneaked a kiss onto the smaller fingers through their connected hands under the cloak, then squeezing it tightly.
“Your wish is my command”
The alpha looked overjoyed when he said so. Meanwhile, Yuder was fidgeting with the hem of his cloak.
’…It’s the one we used to wear’
The cloaks looked a bit older, but it was no doubt the ones in his memories. His chest was once again warmed by the reminiscence. He set the emotions aside in a corner of his heart as he focused on looking around the busy town.
They visited a few shops first.
“Hey, you two! Are you coming to sell your vegetables again today?”
A man running a grocery store greeted them.
“Haha, that’s not it. My beloved wanted to go on a date today”
“Tsk tsk, what a sweet couple you are. Remember to give me your best patch first, okay? I’ll give you a discount on meat next time!”
“Alright, we’ll do that”
Next, they went to a fruit stall. It was as big as the one in the empire, but with a few different fruits Yuder had never seen before.
“Hmm…”
Akit must have noticed Yuder’s curious gaze, ao he went ahead and purchased the bright golden yellow with a tint of red fruit he was staring at so intently.
“…You didn’t have to—mnph”
The alpha suddenly put a small piece of the one he just bought into his mouth, and the latter slightly widened his eyes at the sweet yet faintly sour taste.
“Is it good? But I know, your favorite is this one”
Akit handed Yuder another one he bought together, which was glowing with a familiar red hue.
“…Apple?”
Yuder held the small apple in his hands, thinking about something else before making a crispy sound as he took a bite.
“Mmn…it’s sweet, but…”
‘It’s not as sweet as the one I ate before…’
Even though they were the same type, being grown in different soils made the difference distinctive. Yuder felt a strange sensation of homesick even though his last memory of eating one from the market shouldn’t be that long ago.
Perhaps, sensing his emotions, Akit smiled softly and whispered into his ears so that others couldn’t hear them.
“…If you miss it, I’ll bring some from the empire to you”
Yuder shook his head, wondering how the man was so confident with his words. Akit said they had ‘moved’ to Nelarn two years ago, when the day to fulfill their promise came; however, Yuder knew it was just a fancy term for two sinners breaking all laws and morality to elope for their forbidden tryst.
Even though Akit was a royal, he still couldn’t have been able to avoid judgement for having an affair with the Emperor’s concubine. The best he could do was to make a chance for them to run away together. Yuder couldn’t risk getting him in trouble again after going through so much.
“…I’m fine. This is good enough. Let’s go to the next place”
Yuder quickly changed the topic before things took a bad turn. Their next destination was a small temple.
“Oh my…who do we have here? It’s been a while since I last saw you two”
When they stepped inside, they were greeted with an old priest, who seemed to know them as he greeted the two warmly.
“You looked much better than the first time I saw you. I take it you’ve adjusted to your new life here?”
“God blesses you, priest Ian. It was all thanks to you that we were able to settle here, by allowing us to stay in the mountains”
“You flattered me. That old cabin was unused for a very long time, we were about to demolish it anyway. I’m glad I made that choice by giving it to you, after seeing how splendidly you two rebuild it”
The priest smiled gently.
“So, what brings you here today? Do you perhaps have any troubles seeking God’s guidance?”
“Haha, thank you, but we haven’t had our first fight yet. We were just going out under this lovely weather, and decided to pay you a visit and show God our gratitude for giving us his blessings”
“Oh, right…you two had your wedding vows here two years ago. Dear me, my memory is failing me each day”
“That’s right, I’ll be ever so grateful that you were willing to become a witness for us that day, when we were just some foreigners coming from far away lands”
Akit and the priest were happily chatting, talking about the events in the past that Yuder had no recollection of, while the omega could only listen in silence.
’We had a wedding here, too…’
He stared at his left hand, where no diamond ring was seen. On his finger was, in fact, none other than the shabby ring they had purchased from the suspicious vendor long ago, with an ominous design and dark red gem in the middle. The ring, which he had left behind, now appeared on his left ring finger.
“Do you remember the look on priest Ian’s face when he saw us exchanging rings? He seemed horrified that we insisted on using these for a sacred ceremony, but to us, they hold a more significant meaning, right?”
Akit whispered to Yuder after ending his talk with the priest, smiling softly as if recalling a precious memory.
“Yes…”
A complicated feeling tightened his heart.
After praying to God, they decided to get a few more stuff since they were at the market anyway, then climbed the mountains before it got dark.
“Is this the last one?”
“Hmm, yes. This should be everything we need, it’ll last for a few more months” Akit noticed a sweets shop nearby. “Oh, wait here, Yuder. I’ll buy some candies for you”
“We can go together. I want to take a look, too”
Yuder prevented the man from insisting on making him wait by himself, and so the latter gave up. They together browsed the jars containing colorful candies in various shapes, when Yuder heard the voices of other people in the store.
“…Hey, did you hear? The rumors in the Orr Empire”
Yuder stopped in his tracks when he heard a familiar name, the place of his homeland.
“The empire? Are you talking about the rumors about a certain missing duke?”
’A missing…duke?’
Yuder glanced at Akit, who probably didn’t pay attention to the conversation since he was choosing the omega’s favorite flavors to buy. He instinctively pulled his hood down further, while listening to the voices.
“Are you sure he’s really missing?”
“Yes, it’s true! My friend from the empire said it themselves. I’m telling you only…I heard it’s not an actual missing case, but it’s a runaway!”
Yuder’s heart skipped a beat when he heard that. Did the empire already find out about them?
“You’re lying. Why would a duke who’s gotten everything in his hands abandon his golden spoon?”
“That would be true if it were the normal case—but this is Duke Peletta who they’re talking about!”
“Duke Peletta? That debauched duke?”
“Yes—they said he had run away with his lover two years ago, though they only announced he’s missing recently. The Emperor didn’t have any say in this though”
“Tsk tsk, even his family is giving up on him. His notoriety is even well-known here in Nelarn…maybe there’s a hint of truth in those rumors after all”
“But you know what’s more surprising—that the one he eloped with is actually…one of the Emperor’s concubines!”
“What?! What a crazy assumption! As if playing around with others isn't enough, he had to gall to touch the monarch’s partner, too?!”
“I know right? I didn’t believe it at first either, but I heard a similar rumor about Duke Peletta a long time ago…that he had some kind of crush on a concubine…”
“Oh my God…who is that concubine then?”
“Actually…”
Yuder gripped his cloak tightly, sweat pooling inside his palm as he waited for the next sentence.
“Well…I don’t know?”
“…Huh? You don’t know?”
“Yeah, the rumors only suggested he had an affair with a concubine, not telling who he or she was. No one know if it were a concubine or not either”
“What? And yet you sounded so sure about it”
“I was only telling you what I heard! Anyway, about the other day…”
“…Yuder?”
Akit bowed down and stared at Yuder’s face, hidden under the hood, with a worried expression.
“Are you okay? You’re looking so pale…”
“…Ah”
Only then did he realize he had been sticking closer to the alpha, and grabbing the hem of Akit’s cloak, albeit lightly. He couldn’t know what kind of face he was making, but looking at Akit’s worried eyes, he could tell even without seeing.
“…No, it’s okay. I just feel a bit tired suddenly. I’m fine now”
“Yuder…”
The black-haired man only shook his head and changed the topic, and they went home urgently.
Thankfully, Akit didn’t ask any further about the awkward atmosphere on the way. Yuder offered to make dinner that day, though he had thoughts after seeing the clear difference between his food and the one served in the morning. Akit still ate everything with his most delighted smile, though.
After spending the twilight in each other’s presence, it was time to call it a day. They both climbed onto the bed, which was already small when Yuder was sleeping alone, now felt even more cramped when a big man like Akit joined. It barely fit the figures of too tall men, even when the alpha was hugging Yuder in his arms. The omega also leaned against the broad chest, the soft lullaby of one’s heartbeat gradually cradled him to sleep.
“Yuder, are you sleeping?”
“…No, not yet”
Yuder opened his slightly drowsy eyes and lifted his head, meeting the umber gaze. He wondered why the man didn’t dispel his disguise as he promised, but that wasn’t the top of the list he needed to mind at the moment. A soft smile followed by a gentle voice abrupted his thoughts.
“…You know, you don’t have to mind what they said at all”
Ah. So he did overhear that conversation, after all.
Akit chuckled.
“Your face looks like a naughty kid who got caught after pulling a prank. How adorable, however, I would never scold you even if you’ve caused troubles”
“…Akit”
“I’m fine, really” Akit kissed Yuder’s nose, then pressed his forehead against the other. “I know you’re worried about the rumors, but I’m sure those are the ones His Majesty deliberately made to cover up his little brother’s selfish mischief, who shamelessly asked him to protect his lover’s name at any cost”
“His Majesty…?”
“Yes, you know…my brother, the Emperor. He actually knew beforehand about the plan, as well as our relationship for some time. But don’t worry, he wasn’t the slightest offended by it. In fact, he had a hand in helping me running away”
Akit continued to speak in a soft voice.
“Therefore, I am truly fine, because I have you, Yuder”
Ah, only then did Yuder confirm his suspicions.
’…So, this really is a dream, huh?’
The situation, the timelines, Akit’s appearance, and the memories he never had, all pointed to one conclusion—that this world was nothing more than a product of his imagination.
Perhaps, if fate was telling a different tale, Akit might have really appeared on that fateful day, when he turned eighteen. The alpha would first wish him a happy birthday, maybe give him a gift, then together they would escape the seven walls hand in hand.
Yuder might have feel nervous, but he knew he would be okay since Akit was with him. They would elope to a faraway land in Nelarn, move from town to town, then finally settle in a quiet place in the rurals.
It was definitely not easy, since they needed to start their new life from scratch. But that didn’t matter.
Instead of a grand palace, they rebuilt the abandoned cabin, made a small garden and planted some carrots or potatoes. The two of them would look at each other and smile, holding the first patch of successful harvest, despite being covered in sweat and dirt.
They didn’t bring any gold coins when they left in fear of being suspected, and the little money they packed had also run out by the time they reached the current location. However, now that they had grown a lot of vegetables, they would sell them to the town at the foot of the mountains, earning their first hard-earn salary. Things also started to get better then.
Instead of having a chance to walk down the aisle in the grandiose hall of the First Palace, have a wedding in a spacious chamber with colorful stained glasses while receiving many blessings from the whole empire, they could only make their vows in a small chapel. There was no one there to congratulate them, since they were foreigners and were only allowed a modest private wedding. There were no luxurious rings worth a fortune to exchange with, only two bizarre rings from a shabby vendor paid with a gold coin on a whim. Nevertheless, the happiest smile shown on their lips as they sealed their bonds with the long-awaited kiss alone was enough.
It was a good thing they’d made enough to buy a better mattress for their new bed. Even though it was upgraded from being a straw bed, it could never be compared to the first-grade bed, where they could sleep peacefully without a worry. While spreading and rolling on the bed that barely fit two people, maybe they would need to worry more about how not to fall off, rather than the quality of their sleep.
Perhaps, they would spend the rest of their life in transparent anxiety, not knowing when they would be arrested and dragged back to the empire. However, everything felt fine as long as they were by each other's side. Even if what awaited them in this game was a bad ending, he thought it would not be that bad if both of them were able to say the last farewell at the same time, in the same place, while making promises for the next life.
Alas, all of those things could have happened, were it not a dream. That made Yuder wonder.
Was it just a dream? Or was it actually what he had always wanted this whole time?
Yuder didn’t know.
’…However, since this is a dream and all…’
“……Akit” He quietly asked. “Do you…regret?”
“Hmm?”
“Your status, your wealth……everything. Have you ever felt regret abandoning them just because of me?”
“……”
Yuder felt nervous, waiting for the alpha’s answer. He wondered if it would mentally hurt in a dream, if he heard something contrary to his expectations. The gaze that never left him softened greatly. The alpha leaned in and caught Yuder off guard by kissing him lovingly. The sudden contact surprised the latter, but also soothed his nerves. Only after the brief kiss did Akit softly speak.
“Of course…I don’t. I’ve never felt regret holding your hands two years ago…actually, you could say it was the happiest day in my life”
“Even if I’ve given you nothing but hardships?”
“Haha, what are you talking about, Yuder? You’ve been giving me many things, much more than I deserved. You gave me the chance to experience pure happiness, and to express it, and most importantly…you gave me your heart.”
A sweet curve appeared on his lips, melting anyone’s gaze.
“…So Yuder, thank you for choosing me, thank you for believing and waiting for me. Whenever you feel anxious, just ask and I’ll tell you again, no matter how many times you want, that I have, am, and would never regret staying by your side. And that—”
”I love you, Yuder”
Ah. Yuder wanted to look at the man’s face as he said those words, but a sudden wave of drowsiness hit him. He struggled to keep his eyes open, even when he was just fine a moment ago. It was then he knew that this dream was coming to an end.
“I…” The omega muttered something, though his voice had started to betray him. “I……too…”
Yuder closed his eyes while feeling a gentle warmth patting his back, until his consciousness completely faded away.
When he opened them again, noticing the sunlight beaming through the glass windows. And the first thing he saw, was a pair of eyes as red as rubies, sparkling like jewels staring at him. When those said irises noticed the omega’s gaze, they squinted, the end of the golden eyelashes curved up beautifully, followed by a low, husky voice.
“Good morning, my beautiful fairy”
Chapter 22
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“……”
…So damn bright.
Yuder wondered whether the radiance was coming from the sunlight above, the thread-like golden strands, or the smile fluttering on those beautiful velvet curves. Kishiar gently placed a kiss on Yuder’s eyelids, as an attempt to ease the latter’s discomfort, before whispering in a low, sweet voice.
“Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah…”
“How are you feeling?”
Yuder trembled slightly when he felt a hand sliding on his hips, then gently rubbing his back. Only then did he recognize the state of the lower half of his body.
“Is your body okay? Do you feel any pain?”
“……No, I’m fine”
Actually, his lower half felt somewhat sluggish, his senses had gone numb, especially the area between his legs, albeit slightly. He could still shift his body, but it felt heavy as if his muscles were all gone. Kishiar, who had noticed this, immediately grew worried.
“Should I call for the imperial physician?”
“…Please don’t”
Yuder sighed, summoning a royal doctor for something trivial like a mild disability post-intercourse sounded ridiculous. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t move at all.
To prove that fact, Yuder pushed his body up and tried to leave the bed; however, his legs were weaker than he thought and he almost stumbled over the bed sheets. Kishiar quickly caught him, pulling him into his embrace.
The moment their bare skins met, a sticky and sweaty memory of how two flesh hugging each other so closely that there were no gaps, and the sounds of wet skins repeatedly slapping against another filled his mind, and his fever rose.
However, instead of reigniting the flames burned brightly until there was nothing left but ashes, Kishiar gently helped Yuder lean against the bed, after carefully placing pillows behind him to support his back. The former softly kissed his forehead.
“Be careful, now”
Yuder’s face heated up. He was ashamed to bear such thoughts so early in the day, especially when the other party was kind enough to care about his well-being as the latter continued to ask about his health, while giving his body some massages.
‘It’s not like I’m in puberty…damn it…’
The omega inwardly cursed himself, when the other was staring at him.
“…Don’t make that face, Yuder. I’m also trying my best to hold back…though it seems like my efforts would be in vain if I received such an intense gaze…”
Huh?
While Yuder was confused about the man’s strange words, he noticed something within the crimson eyes staring at him. Behind those clear crystal-like irises laid hidden a spark, flickering dimly. Only then did he realize that the alpha, too, had been sharing the same heat as him, but was merely holding it back for Yuder’s sake.
Something stirred inside his heart before the gaze hiding neither affection nor desire for the other.
“…Yuder, can I kiss you?”
“…Are you seriously asking that?”
What Yuder meant was the point asked in which when they had performed a more intimate act than that. Kishiar chuckled, noticing the omega’s thoughts. He leaned forwards, overlapping their lips.
Unlike the previous night, their lips only softly pressed against each other, then moved away, and kissed again. Occasionally, their tongues briefly greeted each other through the slight gap between short breaths. It was a simple graze, but enough to encourage the glands within Yuder’s mouth to secrete more, watering his mouth.
However, before Yuder could push himself further, a rumbling sound was faintly heard from below, or to be exact, it came from Yuder’s stomach.
“…?”
The sound wasn’t very noticeable, especially when his ears were filled with the moist noises their lips made, but a second wave came. This time, neither of them had misheard.
Kishiar let out a small laugh, and the omega glared at him, his ears flushed with embarrassment. Yuder wasn’t so weak as to get hungry just because they barely had anything to eat on the wedding day, or because they were busy rolling on the bed all night. Kishiar softly explained while he was confused.
“It’s normal for you to be hungry, Yuder, after all…today is the second day after our first night”
“……?” Yuder widened his eyes. “…What?”
Yuder quickly realized the situation. He looked at the brightness outside, seeming like they had woken up at noon, not morning. If what the alpha said was true, then, they had been staying inside the room for a whole day.
“…This is unbelievable”
Yuder groaned and covered his face. He couldn’t believe that they had been having sex for a day, an entire day and only woke up when the sun was high up in the sky the day after. Even if the drugs were a factor…
“…Was it because of the wine?”
“Hmm…although it was an aphrodisiac, it was very weak, the effects usually went away after a few hours at most”
“……”
Kishiar’s explanation didn’t make anything better, in fact, seeing the shy and joyful look on that man’s face as if he recognized Yuder’s doubts only made the latter more embarrassed. Now he wondered how he could survive that long while not being in his heat and only ended up with a mild back pain.
’……Still, it wasn’t bad’
No, it was good, incredibly so. Even when his mind constantly switched on and off during the whole time, he could tell how much he enjoyed the pleasures as he kept clinging to the other man, whining and begging him not to stop. Blatant desires he never knew existed within him were engraved into both his body and mind.
The low chuckle of the man brought him back to his senses.
“Should we wash up first? Soaking in warm water will help easing the body”
Yuder nodded. He was startled when Kishiar slipped his arms beneath his legs and back, then effortlessly carried him to the bathroom. He wanted to flail in protest, but not only because his muscles had betrayed him, but also because the alpha held him so firmly that he could only be obediently embraced and moved.
Reaching the bathroom, Kishiar gently put Yuder down onto the edge of the big bathtub, then turned on the faucet. Thanks to the magic stone engraved, a hot stream of clear water soon flowed out, gradually filling the bathtub, and a steamy mist evaporated into the air.
“Yuder, which scent would you like?”
Kishiar showed him a variety of bath scents, some of which he had seen during his time staying in the Duke’s palace and preparing for the wedding, and some he didn’t recognize. However, none intrigued him.
“…Anything is fine”
The alpha nodded, he didn’t look surprised at Yuder’s response as if having expecting it. He picked up a random bar and threw it into the tub, the once clear water soon changed into a cloudy purple-ish color, accompanied by a gentle lavender scent.
After checking the right temperature, Kishiar started scooping up some water and washed Yuder.
“I can bath myself”
“Isn’t your body still weak? Besides, I want to take care of you, since it was my fault for making you like this”
Yuder didn’t say anything when the man admitted his faults. Well, they have already seen and touched each other in every corner already anyway, and Yuder certainly lacked the energy to protest, so he just let the latter do whatever.
Kishiar’s face beamed, showing clear joy at a simple gesture, his hands soon found their way to Yuder’s body again. It was unthinkable to imagine a Duke would diligently scrub soap on a commoner’s body, leaving no parts unattended. Wherever his large hands passed by, Yuder felt a slight current running through his body from his still sensitive skin, especially when the man rubbed the red marks all over his body.
“Ah…”
“Sorry, are you hurt?”
A gasp escaped the omega’s lips even though he had bitten his lips in time, when Kishiar’s fingers accidentally brushed past his chest. The alpha had deliberately avoided the tips, which were still obviously swollen from the rough handling the night prior; however, it didn’t mean the areas around them were any less sensitive. A mere touch around the rear was enough to arouse the center again.
“…Hah…I’m fine…please continue…”
Yuder pretended not to notice how the red pupils dilated at his blooming buds looking like a feast to naked eyes. Contrary to his imaginations, however, no warmth descended onto his chest after that, and Kishiar’s hands continued to attend to other parts of his body.
A lump creeped up his throat after being ignored, though that feeling soon disappeared when the soap spread further down, and a new crisis took place.
Kishiar slightly parted Yuder’s legs to wash the place between, which showed more evidence of their persistent love making. Yuder flushed when he saw marks visible there too, scattered here and there along his inner thighs and even more dense in places he couldn’t check.
“Yuder, can I touch you here?”
Perhaps noticing Yuder’s embarrassment, Kishiar asked. After some hesitation, the younger man slowly nodded, and hard yet gentle hands resumed his work. The alpha carefully lifted one of his feet, cleaning each of his toes then did the same to the other one, slightly making the other ticklish.
Yuder’s heart thumped wildly inside his chest before such scene, an imperial family member was scrubbing his legs gently so as not to hurt his flesh, but enough to wash away the stains that had long dried overnight. Yuder’s legs were pushed apart wider the more upwards Kishiar traveled, and a memory of the night overlapped his vision.
“……Oh”
“……”
Yuder groaned, wanting to find a hole to crawl inside, but there was nowhere to hide his shame at that moment. Kishiar had yet to touch past his middle-thighs, but his front had already responded. The thing had been quietly sleeping so far started to wake up, half-standing at the knocking sounds. The omega’s face heated up more when those red eyes stared at him, carrying the same heat he had shown in the bedroom.
Slowly, Yuder’s gaze also traveled to between the man’s thighs, and a familiar monster gradually arose from its slumber. It was in a state no different from Yuder’s, but the sheer size difference was undeniable. Yuder unconsciously swallowed his spit upon the sight.
There was no way the man couldn’t see everything happening with Yuder’s body, as he felt the burning gaze focusing on between his legs. The omega wanted to close them, but two firm hands prevented him from doing so. As a result, he was helplessly spread further, fully showing his deepest secret under the crimson orbs.
Oh, Yuder couldn’t believe he could still get excited after pushing himself to his limits over and over again for an entire day. And yet, here he was, sitting while still enduring the aftermath, blatantly expressing his lust.
Kishiar wasted no time as he grabbed Yuder’s front, causing the latter to jolt in surprise. Small sounds vibrated in his throat, his rod slowly rejuvenated while being massaged in the other’s hand. Then the alpha shifted, and Yuder felt a bigger hardness aligning perfectly with his own.
“…It’s still swollen, so I won’t put it in. This much should be alright for now”
“Huh…? Ah!”
Kishiar’s hand suddenly shook with two members in between. The stiffened flesh roughly rubbed against each other, creating moist noises with each movement, not only from the bath water but also from the fluids with different colors and thickness trickling down from the heads.
“Ah…ah, ugh…”
The dampness aided as a lubricant, and the movement around the shafts gradually sped up. Yuder’s hand awkwardly flailed in the air before wrapping around the man’s neck, pulling him in.
Yuder’s lips parted and a moan escaped when a hot breath sucked onto his chest. Kishiar had washed away the soap, then closed his velvet curves around the flushed areola, his tongue wrapped around the freshly cleaned flesh, subtly giving off a lavender aroma mixed with the omega’s distinctive scent.
Being assaulted in two places at once, his body quickly revived the sparks within, swirling around his core. A familiar heat pooled inside his lower abdomen, and his vision turned white as his body arched, his muscles spasming uncontrollably.
Yuder was out of breath by the time his vision returned, and he had to lean his head on the man’s shoulder as a support. Through his hazy sight, he saw his own squirting liquids. It was somewhat clear and thin, probably because he had exhausted everything before this. He was surprised to see there was still something left to let out.
Kishiar, on the other hand, had yet to climax. The man continued to stroke himself after letting the other go. Yuder couldn’t take his eyes off the long sword fitting inside Kishiar’s large hand.
Seeing his struggles, Yuder couldn’t hold back his urge to lend the man a hand, and so he did, literally so. Kishiar’s front twitched when the omega’s hand grabbed its flesh, and the former stopped for a moment, thought didn’t push Yuder away.
That was the first time had Yuder directly held the alpha’s manhood in his hand when he was in his right mind. Yuder’s hand was by no means small, but the hardened thing in his grip was even larger, his fingers barely able to fully wrap around its shape. When Yuder’s hand touched, it grew even bigger, almost spilling.
With their hands overlapped and Kishiar’s on the outside, his palm was tightly pressed against the reddened flesh as if enraged, he could even trace each veins bulging prominently if he wanted, but the heat radiating from both sides of his hand felt as if he was trapped in a spell, unable to move.
His worries lived short as Kishiar began to move his hands again, dragging Yuder along. Their hands shook in union, and the fever from their joint act spread thoroughly all the way to Yuder’s abdomen, as he felt a sticky slick trickling down his thighs.
The thing in his hand also became more rigid, and Yuder immediately knew he was near his limits. With a few more strokes, the alpha lowered his head, growling into the other’s ear.
Kishiar’s swell up and burst like a spring well, soaking both of their hands with a sticky, white liquid.
’…How is he still so energetic…?’
Yuder was shocked at the load so thick that it painted Yuder’s chest. Some even got onto Kishiar’s since their bodies were leaning in closely.
They intertwined their gazes for a moment before their lips connected with a brief kiss. Kishiar then softly kissed his cheek, the corner of his eyes that was damp with water, and the sweat rolling on Yuder’s forehead before moving away.
“…It seems like the wash was for nothing”
Yuder sighed, now that having taken a second glance at his body, which was once again stained with sweat and fluids. The freshly cleaned skin felt sticky again, and his body was soaked with the man’s scent.
Kishiar, realizing the situation in a blink, let out a small laugh.
“My apologies, I was planning on holding back until the end, but…apparently, it was more challenging than I thought” He picked up the forgotten soap again. “Let’s wash up quickly before we get a cold this time, okay?”
Kishiar kept his words and they really only washed properly, then submerged themselves in the bathtub. Thankfully, the water was still warm thanks to the magic tool and the man was right, the warmth really helped relieve his muscles and the floral scent had a therapeutic effect on the mind, he thought.
Yuder had his first satisfying bath after a long time.
…
The events after that were embarrassing, for Yuder, at the very least.
While Kishiar was drying his damp hair with a towel, he asked whether the latter wanted to have lunch in the bedroom, or move to the dining room. Yuder thought unnecessary rumors would start if they had the meal in the room, so he decided to move. It wasn’t like he couldn’t walk at all, after all.
Little did he know it was the worse option of the two.
Kishiar refused to let Yuder walk on his own, probably after seeing him stumble on the sheets the moment he tried to get off bed, and after the affair in the bathroom. The man kept an arm around Yuder’s waist, constantly glancing and asking if he were unwell anywhere.
Yuder was sure there were many servants witnessing and gasping along the way, though he didn’t know whether they were surprised to see the newlyweds finally emerge from the bedroom after two days of no news, or the display of affection in the broad daylight. Their stares were quite obvious though, he thought.
The meal in the dining room wasn’t any less awkward. Yuder felt strange seeing the owner of the master seat of the palace finally present this time and it fit perfectly as Kishiar sat there, as if it had always been reserved for him.
The weird sensation didn’t last long, since he was receiving curious gazes of the servants in the room. He couldn’t tell all, but the ones within his sight looked excited. Especially the elderly butlers who took extra care of him since his arrival, they looked extremely touched and delighted by Yuder’s presence.
The omega averted his gaze, not being used to receiving such attention. However, someone else had mistaken his awkwardness as a sign of discomfort.
“As expected…I should have summoned the imperial physician, after all”
There was a slight frown on Kishiar’s beautiful brows, and a worried look in his gentle red eyes. His gaze wasn’t the only one directed at him though, as Yuder sensed others had also looked at him at the man’s statement.
“If it’s too uncomfortable, we should have an examination now and eat later—”
”Akit”
Yuder quietly called the man’s name, as a warning. The threat worked quite well, as the man immediately shut his mouth and expressing a pitiful look like a rejected puppy.
Thankfully, the meal was served shortly after, saving them from the awkward atmosphere.
Kishiar had asked the kitchen to prepare light food easy for the stomach, the aroma from the steaming cream soup enticed Yuder’s appetite even more. He took a spoonful to his mouth, the creamy texture and mushroom flavor immediately melted on his tongue, and his facial muscles instantly relaxed.
Another thing he liked here was the cooking. A satisfied sigh appeared on his pale lips, as he finished the plate in no time. It was only until he ate the third serving did his hunger subsided.
Yuder had a short tea time with Kishiar after lunch. Although he didn’t know much about tea as he listened to the man’s explanation, he enjoyed munching on the cookies more. There was a whole basket before him, and no one said anything even if he ate it all.
Kishiar excused himself when Nathan Zuckerman appeared. Was it the first time after a very long time had Yuder seen the aide? Four eyes met, but neither of them looked surprised nor awkward. Nathan offered a silent nod as a greeting, and Yuder did the same in response. Everything was normal until the duke uttered some nonsense.
“Oh my, why are you exchanging glances with another man, Yuder? I’m going to get jealous, you know”
“……”
Nathan had to drag his lord away quickly before Yuder threw him another disapproving glare. Kishiar just laughed, he didn’t forget to give Yuder’s forehead a peck and whisper ‘I’ll miss you’ before leaving. The warmth on his skin where the red lips lingered longer than expected felt prickly.
Yuder didn’t realize how much one’s presence could make the difference. The dining room, which had been noisy and lively a moment ago, now had become tranquil like before they entered. Still, it didn’t feel as isolated as before.
The servants were quietly cleaning up the tableware Kishiar had used or returned to their work. Yuder stared at his own reflection in the then lukewarm tea, organizing his thoughts.
’Hmm…what should I do now?’
Now that he had had some time to calm down after everything happened so abruptly, he started to wonder.
What would be the job of a Duchess?
Whether he liked it or not, he now had been officiated as the Duchess, and he had obligations to the duties that came with the title.
Was he supposed to follow Kishiar when he went to work earlier? Was it okay to ask? Would anyone even bother to answer a Duchess coming from humble origins like him? The best he could do was to read and write, but he couldn’t understand difficult words or political matters, since he had never been educated properly.
In other words, it was no different to say he was just a Duchess in name only. He doubted the high society would accept him that easily. Perhaps, the congratulations given to him at the wedding was simply a feint, and they would gossip about him the moment they turned their backs, laughing at how the Duke picked up a stray husband from the streets because he was temporarily interested. He wondered if the nobles had started to bet on how long Kishiar’s affection would last before he abandoned this new toy to where he originally belonged.
Yuder had been in the harem for a long time, even though he never mingled with the other concubines, he knew well how rumors could be as sharp as sword, and as poisonous as monster blood. And he knew the aristocrats loved those ‘stories’ more than anything else. That was also how he became to familiarize with the notoriety of Duke Peletta, even when he was a lowly forgotten concubine.
Yuder shook off the unpleasant thoughts. Kishiar had confessed his heart to Yuder, and he had revealed himself as Akit. Even if he had yet to trust this new identity of his, he knew he could believe in the man who had shown him the true meaning of actions spoke louder than words.
Seeing is believing, they said. He had stayed beside Akit for many years, even though they had never directly confessed, the loving gaze whenever the man looked at him as if he was the most precious thing in this world, the sweet words, and caring actions, and his gentle scent were more than enough to convey his feelings.
There was a time, perhaps, Yuder wanted to be ignorant of those emotions. However, he himself couldn’t even remember when he was swayed by such pure affection. And before he knew it, his still heart had started to stir.
When he thought it could no longer be moved, especially when he felt nothing but anger and disappointment after knowing the truth, Kishiar’s gaze melted his thoughts away, and his heart started beating again.
…Perhaps, one day, he could really find the key to unlock his true feelings, ones that once taught him happiness.
But for now, however, the path to that key remained unknown, solely lay within their choices, his and Kishiar’s, and no one else’s. Kishiar had shown him the threshold, and it was time for him to decide which route to turn next, for better or worse.
While Yuder was lost in the train of thoughts, a gentle voice came to wake him up.
“Duchess”
It took him a beat late to respond, he wasn’t used to being called like that. The old steward didn’t look offended in the slightest as he looked at his new master with the same kind gaze.
“Do you have any plans in mind?”
“…No, I’m not sure” Yuder contemplated for a few seconds before asking, carefully. “…What do you think I should do?”
The steward widened his eyes for a moment, bewildered by the question, then smiled softly as if understood.
“If you’re worrying about your marital duties, then please rest assured. The title of the Duchess might sound heavy, but the Duke has instructed us to tell that you could do anything you want”
“Aki…I mean, His Grace did…? But I thought nobles are skeptical when it comes to duties after marriage”
“Haha, it seems like your impression of the aristocracy is not good, though it’s not entirely wrong. However, you are now the Duke’s spouse, whatever you do, no one would dare to say a word about it, even if you decided to do nothing all day, or turn the whole palace upside down”
…The examples were quite extreme, but the slight hint of icy tone in his voice when he mentioned other nobles made Yuder think it wasn’t a joke at all. He took a sip of his tea to ease the awkwardness.
“…I wouldn’t do that, though. Is there really nothing I need to do?”
“Well, if you insisted…”
The steward pondered for some time.
“How about visiting the garden today?”
Notes:
I didn’t expect the spice in this chapter at all ㅎㅎ
Chapter 23
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“The garden?”
“Yes, didn’t you want to see it before?”
“…Ah”
He remembered. It was when he first arrived here and saw it in a passing glimpse. He was told to visit whenever he wanted, though the chance never came after that. He was so busy that he almost forgot about it, if the steward didn’t mention it again.
Yuder pondered, he wasn’t that interested…but maybe taking a look didn’t sound so bad. He had nothing better to do in the meantime anyway.
“Alright. Please lead the way”
The butler happily led him to the garden, kindly explaining anything that caught Yuder’s attention along the way. The omega was listening so intently he didn’t realize they had already arrived.
“Do you need my assistance, Duchess?”
“No, I would like to go on my own. Thank you”
The servant bowed politely and retreated, leaving him alone as he wished.
Yuder took a better look at the garden, which was filled with many full-bloom flowers. The aroma was so thick that one could smell it from afar. The garden was not too small, but also not too big. The flower beds were also systematically organized, so it wasn’t difficult to navigate around.
Yuder walked under a white arch with golden decorations, shaded with vines, and reached a small pond at the end of it. The colorful fish with petal-like fins lively swam around, creating ripples whenever they jumped above the surface. Yuder crouched down and watched them for a while before they dispersed.
He continued to explore the place a bit more, until he reached another place. It seemed like he had reached the center, which was much wider. There weren’t as many flowers as other areas, but the lush greenery and the scent of nature was refreshing. A gentle breeze brushed through Yuder’s face, messing up his hair.
Just when he was about to fix it, another hand blocked his way. Yuder turned around and was greeted by a dazzling golden light.
“…Akit?”
Standing there was Kishiar, whose golden locks sparkled even more brightly under the sunlight, as he undid the tangled black hair. Yuder was momentarily enchanted by the sight of the handsome man, squinting his eyes that the end of his fluttering eyelashes curved beautifully, and the corners of his lips slightly tilted upwards, bringing a warm sensation like a spring flower.
Kishiar quietly played with Yuder’s hair while humming, making the latter confused.
“Akit…?”
“There was a petal in you hair”
Kishiar showed him a small petal, which probably got stuck when the wind blew earlier.
“Why are you here? Didn’t you go to work earlier?”
“I heard that you’ve gone to the garden, how could I possibly miss this precious chance to go on a date with you?”
How would a stroll in the garden be called a date? And they could easily do this on another day, it was unnecessary for him to skip work and rush out like this. Yuder subtly sighed, forgetting that he too had long gotten used to the man’s antics.
“Furthermore, I came to give you this”
Kishiar was holding a small box with delicate carvings, it looked exquisite but worn-out judging from the fading colors, but Yuder could tell it was handled with much care.
“What is this box?”
“How about sitting down? You must’ve been tired from the walking, let’s rest and we can open it”
To be honest, Yuder’s legs were still fine, but he was curious about the thing he brought, too, so the omega obliged.
They sat down on a bench and Yuder opened the box with the small key Kishiar gave him. The lock opened with a click, revealing the contents. Several papers were stacked neatly inside, some of which looked new, while the rest looked rather older.
“What are these…?”
“Letters” Kishiar answered. “They’re the replies I’ve been writing for two years. I promised to show you everything, didn’t I?”
Yuder widened his eyes, he had almost forgotten about that.
“Everything I wrote was inside, this is where I kept your letters, too. The box is a magic tool with a subspace, so there would be more when you take them out”
Yuder was also thinking that the number of letters was far too few from what he had expected, but the explanation made sense. He chose a stack on the top most and took it out, more letters appeared heavier than he thought.
Yuder carefully opened a few ones, they were Kishiar’s first replies.
———
『 Day XX, Year YY of the Imperial Calendar,
Good morning, Yuder.
I hope you had a good sleep last night. Did you warm yourself up properly as I told you? It’d break my heart dearly if you were to catch a cold after yesterday’s fun.
I’m writing this letter because I want to let you know how much I, very much desperately so, feel the urge to rush to your side at this instant. I’d pay anything to become the first person you see when you open your beautiful eyes, to see your soft lips faintly curve up into a smile that has captivated my heart, and to hear your lovely voice as my name rolls on the tip of your tongue.
I’d want nothing more than to spend the morning when you turned eighteen, and the next mornings after that, too, if you’d allow me.
…But alas, I’m afraid the first words I utter on this precious day will not be a congratulations, but an apology.
Perhaps, you would think I was sick after a few days of my absence. However, after a week, a month, and a few more, you’ll start to notice something is wrong. You might think I’ve betrayed you, though I would never blame you for thinking like that. After all, I’m leaving without saying a word.
I do not dare to ask for your forgiveness, I could only wish for you not to neglect your health despite being kept in the dark.
…I love you, Yuder.
So please, resent me.
If that’s how my image could be kept in your memory, then I’d shamelessly make myself become the subject of your hatred. Let me be the blame for all your misery and pain. Please, do not forget me…
This letter has gotten quite long, yet there is much more I want to tell you. I promise to tell you everything once this is over. Everything.
Once again, congratulations on your eighteenth birthday, Yuder. I hope the day I can deliver this letter to you safely will arrive soon.
From the man, who always wishes for your well-being and happiness. 』
———
“……”
Yuder felt a pang in his chest as he finished reading the first letter. His fingers trembled slightly as he reached out for the second one.
———
『 Day XX, Year YY of the Imperial Calendar,
Good morning, Yuder.
I’ve received your letters safely, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to send you the replies I’ve written with much care. Still, I feel like you’ll be able to read these words one day, if you still wish to.
First of all, please rest assured that I’m still in good health. I’m more worried about you, since I couldn’t be by your side to make sure you’re unhurt in every way.
As for my whereabouts, I’m marching with the subjugation team, being the one leading them to victory. You must be confused to not see my name in the participant list, that’s a given, since there would be no one enlisted with the name ‘Akit’.
However, if you look to the very top, where you’ll find the name ‘Kishiar la Orr’, the Duke of Peletta, the Commander of the punitive force, and also…the real name of the man writing this letter to his most beloved.
I couldn’t tell whether you would be shocked or upset after hearing this, or maybe both, but believe me when I say there’s a reason for which I could not tell you, at the very least, not yet.
I hope the day I could return and offer my most honorable achievement to you, my goddess of victory, kneeling before you as my true self, would come soon.
From the man, who always wishes for your well-being and happiness. 』
———
———
『Day XX, Year YY of the Imperial Calendar,
Hello, my dearest Yuder.
In your letter, you asked whether I’ve forgotten about you, abandoned you, and everything was a lie…which were all false.
In midst of this icy battlefield, surrounded by the harsh cold of winter and horrific screams of monsters, there was no moment I didn’t think about you. Your face, your eyes, voice, scent, your everything…I yearn for them deeply...
From the man, who had sinned gravely, and who always wishes for your well-being and happiness. 』
———
———
『Day XX, Year YY of the Imperial Calendar,
…
…
…
…
I miss you, Yuder… I really, and…
From the man, who always wishes for your well-being and happiness. 』
———
———
『Day XX, Year YY of the Imperial Calendar,
…
…
…
…
From the man, who always… 』
———
———
『Day XX, Year YY of the Imperial Calendar,
…
…
…
From… 』
———
———
『Day XX, Year YY of the Imperial Calendar,
…
…
…I love you, Yuder.
… 』
———
Yuder folded the nth letter in his hands, his eyes shut closed. An indescribable feeling stirred inside him, it was neither uncomfortable, nor comfortable. The unknown sentiments intensified when he looked at the man, who had been sitting quietly beside him, watching Yuder read the letter without a word.
“…Did you keep writing like this every day…?”
The alpha’s letters always started with the date and time when they were written, so it wasn’t hard to notice the man had taken time to write every single day, even on the days Yuder didn’t.
Of course, there were times when the dates didn’t match, resulting in a few gaps between letters.
“Those are days we had to stay out in the battlefield all day and night. Sometimes, I would try to write in midst of the battle, thus those ended up short. However, as a Commander, I couldn’t be inattentive, so I regretted deeply not being able to express my feelings to you on those days”
It was true, a few letters were obviously shorter than others. Kishiar must have tried his best to put in his care, given the elegant handwriting; however, upon closer look, Yuder could tell they were hastily written. Still, none of them lacked warmth, since they would end with his sincere confession, always thinking of the omega.
How could one deny the man’s feelings after reading everything? The papers, which barely weighed, burdened heavily on Yuder’s heart.
’He talked as if it was a natural thing to do…I can’t tell if he was still bothered by it or not…’
Yuder stared into Kishiar with a complex expression. The alpha’s eyes, perhaps noticing the emotions behind those darkened obsidians, widened momentarily before curving softly. Kishiar smiled, comforting Yuder with a light kiss on the temple, then murmuring kindly.
“It’s okay, I’m fine, Yuder. I’m really fine, so please don’t make that face. If suffering is what it takes to be by your side, then I’d gladly repeat this as many more times as you desire”
Yuder lightly hit the man’s chest, scolding him ‘…Don’t say that, one time is enough’.
Kishiar laughed heartily, pulling the other into his arms. Yuder leaned on the man’s shoulder, feeling the soft feather-like kisses descending onto his head while two hands naturally found ways to another, fingers intertwining.
Yuder closed his eyes, untangling the knots in his mind, entrusting his body to the cool breeze carrying the faint scent of nature, mixed with cool, refreshing pheromones. They embraced Yuder perfectly, allowing him to immerse in the peaceful moment.
The tranquility made him feel like he was in the presence of the mysterious man appearing in his life one day, who looked of noble birth but was kinder to commoners like him than anyone else. It reminded him of the old days which he had lost, yet not completely disappeared. Then, a certain dream came back to his mind.
“…Akit” The chest he was leaning against slightly resonated with a hum. “…Why did you agree to such terms?”
He gazed into the unwavering eyes, as red as the sun.
“What if…the temple refused to listen to your request? What if we can just…run away?”
He might have asked the man in his dreams a similar question, however, ultimately, it was only his selfish wishes. There was no guarantee that the man before him would bear the same thoughts.
“If the temple didn’t approve of our relationship, you say… Then…who knows, I might make a fuss until those stubborn old men give in, but that would leave a bad taste in your reputation. I didn’t want anyone to point their fingers at you, claiming that you’re a seductress, ruining the hundreds of year tradition”
Kishiar smiled.
“Of course, I’d never let the blame fall on you, under any circumstances. However, as you said, I’ve thought of running away” He stared into the younger man’s trembling pupils, lovingly. “It’d be lovely if I could bring you to somewhere far, far away, where no one could find us. We could start a new life entirely ours, free from people’s stares and moral obligations”
“…”
“…However, I didn’t want to see you become a fugitive, living in unseen anxieties when you have never done anything wrong to deserve it. If God were to punish anyone, then it should be me who dared to crave for your affection. You might see me as being selfish, making excuses because I couldn’t shake off the material strings, however, my feelings for you will remain unchanged, as my heart yearns for you always”
Kishiar lifted Yuder’s hand, pressing his lips against the palm.
“Yuder…my beautiful fairy, my lovely omega, my love… I love you”
The omega’s heart thumped loudly against his chest, ringing loudly in his ears as he listened to every word, not missing even the faintest breath of the man, or the smallest sparkle reflected in his crimson eyes, framing nothing but Yuder.
Yuder was still unassured, even after hearing the most heartfelt confession. There was one thing he was sure, though, was that he wouldn’t regret his decision to kiss the man right here, right now.
The lips connected to another quivered slightly as if in shock, then relaxed in an instant as they melted into each other’s breath and embrace. Their tongues rejoiced at the reunion, even though they were entangled not too long ago, but the heat emitting from their rendezvous didn’t diminish in the slightest.
The last thing Yuder saw was the delighted look on the other’s face, before a strong hand slightly bent his neck backwards, deepening the kiss.
The moist sounds of their tongues twisting and twirling around each other, and the small noises vibrated from the back of Yuder’s throat when Kishiar licked his palate, sending a chill to his spine, resonated in his ears.
It was unthinkable that Yuder would allow himself to perform such frivolous acts in an open space where other people could accidentally walk in on. Little did he know Kishiar had prohibited anyone from entering the garden the moment he heard news of his omega’s visit, but the thoughts enticed him.
A hot stream flowed soon into his throat, even spilling out of the corners of his mouth, canceling any unnecessary thoughts. He wrapped his arm around the man’s neck, running his fingers through the golden locks, gleamingly reflecting the sunlight.
“Ugh…”
Yuder gasped when Kishiar’s scratched a certain spot within the wet cave. The man growled into it when he felt a slight tug in his hair, and Yuder momentarily flinched, wondering whether it was a crime to hurt a royal. But his worries didn’t last past a second, as Kishiar started attacking Yuder’s weak spot like a beast mercilessly hunting on its prey.
The embarrassing sounds that were once restrained now became uncontrollable, spilling out of their hungry lips. The urge to become closer to the being before them was unbearable, and Yuder had straddled the man’s laps before he was aware of it.
The omega no longer cared whether someone else would witness their shameless tryst, nor the heat forming in his pants, growing more fervent with each second passed.
After some time that was barely enough, yet felt like an eternity, their lips eventually parted, leaving only longing in their gazes. Senses gradually returned to Yuder’s eyes, clouded by the spur of the moment, when he felt a familiar firmness resting on his bottoms. However, he didn’t get flustered like before, a calm look appeared in his emotionless eyes as he stared at the man.
“…Maybe the rumors about Duke Peletta had their grounds, after all”
Yuder let out a satisfied hum seeing the man getting flustered and couldn’t make any excuses for once. But alas, who is he blaming for when he himself was no better? It was he who initiated the kiss, straddled his laps, and embraced the heat.
But Yuder would never admit it, never.
“…Should we take a walk to ease our minds?”
Kishiar shyly suggested a solution, his ears were flushed. The sight of those red lobes brought forth the omega’s strange desires, but he decided to hold back for now.
Yuder nodded and got down, pardoning the man from the visual torture. Kishiar also stood up, clearing his throat after gathering the neglected letters back into the box. Yuder pretended not to notice the massive dent behind those pants, and grabbed the hand when the other proffered.
Together they took another tour of the garden, now with Kishiar’s reliable guide. The excitement had died down by the time they came across a purple flower bed, which Yuder immediately noticed.
“Are those…?”
Of course, how could he not recognize the flowers the man had first gifted him?
Yuder approached the bed and crouched down next to it, caressing the small lilacs. The flowers softly swayed their petals, as if greeting the black-haired man. A memory of what happened not long ago resurfaced, when he hadn’t known the Duke was Akit, and was repulsed by the mere sight of them.
“…Thankfully, they have planted them instead of throwing away”
Yuder noted to thank the servants and the gardeners later. Kishiar quietly approached from behind, whispering in a low voice.
“In flower language, lilacs symbolize affection, innocence, and youthful joy. Especially purple ones, they could be used to express first love, passion, and new beginnings. They are quite the perfect gift for courtship, don’t you think?”
“Didn’t you say that because it reminds you of me?”
“That reason too, partly, yes. However, learning the meaning made the gift even more significant. It makes me feel like fate has brought us together, that you were a blessing from God above has sent to me, the fact that I fell in love immediately was the proof, my dear fairy”
“……”
Yuder was still not used to the man’s display of affection, even though he had heard of the word ‘love’ from those beautiful lips multiple times that day. He tried to ignore the embarrassment creeping up his face by looking at the flowers again, thinking of the little ones growing in his old residence. The vibrant purple hue, which no longer could be seen in his memories, somewhat felt both bitter and consoling.
’Speaking of which…I haven’t stepped foot into my old place once ever since then…’
Living in the Duke’s palace was fine, the place was luxurious and equipped with many good facilities, the food was abundant and the servants were extremely kind to him. Everything was satisfactory.
However, one couldn’t help but miss the isolated and rundown palace where he stayed for many years. There might be no knights to guard the gate, no chefs to cook delicious food, no maids to clean his room, and no gardeners to tend to the backyard, but he had always been content living alone, enjoying the privilege of the rare freedom within this fancy birdcage.
…Well, looking back, maybe his life wasn’t as lonely as he thought it would be. After all,
He peeked at Kishiar.
Yes, after all, it was where he stored the happiest memories of a certain man who suddenly appeared, and changed his life forever. It still took a wild turn when he appeared for the second time, but it was still the same person. The man who had gone through the past with Yuder, stayed in the present, and would share a future with the omega. There were more than enough reasons for him to be attached to the place.
Furthermore, there was still unfinished work he needed to do when he left…
Kishiar, noticing Yuder’s sneaky glance, smiled softly at him.
“Akit”
“Yes, Yuder?”
“Can I go back to my old palace?”
Kishiar didn’t respond for a moment, so Yuder quickly added, afraid that the former had misunderstood his intentions.
“I mean, just a quick visit, not staying there permanently. There’s something I forgot to bring…”
“I’m not reprimanding you for anything, so relax, Yuder. If there’s anything you want, you can ask the butler to get it for you”
“…No, it’s alright. I don’t want to bother them, besides…I miss it, I want to visit”
Was that okay? Yuder hoped the man didn’t feel offended hearing that he still preferred his old and shabby residence to the luxurious and splendid palace, fitting the status of a Duke.
However, Kishiar only smiled softly.
“Of course, you can. That place is your place too, you’re free to go wherever you want, whether it’s just a quick visit or if you want to stay forever. We can go now, I’ll take you there”
“Now?”
“Yes—Oh, unless it’s urgent, we can depart tomorrow, since your body is still…”
“…No, let’s go. Now”
Kishiar laughed.
“Alright. I’ll prepare the carriage”
They quickly returned to the main mansion and asked the steward to call for a carriage. The servants didn’t say anything when Kishiar suddenly appeared when he was supposed to be in his office, came back with Yuder hand in hand, or if their lords’ lips were strangely swollen and the air between them seemed to have warmed up more considerably than before.
Yes, there was nothing to worry about.
…
…
…
The trip from Eternal Palace to Yuder’s was longer than he had expected. Even though it was the same route he had taken, it felt much faster before since he only absentmindedly looked at the scenery while feeling uncomfortable as if sitting on thorns.
The carriage they used this time was the same, the scenery seen outside the glass window also unchanged, but Yuder’s heart was different. Perhaps it was because of anticipation that he was more impatient than before. Kishiar, sitting across from him, also chuckled sensing the omega’s excitement.
“The distance is quite far, so it’ll take a while. Do you want to hear some stories, Yuder?”
Yuder’s ears perked up at the word ‘stories’, like a small cat. Cute, Kishiar thought. The man started reciting his adventures during the expedition, things that couldn’t be fully conveyed through the letters.
Yuder quietly listened to every single word the man spoke, and the carriage pulled into a stop before he realized it.
Notes:
Discord said it’s okay for kishi to be horni for 3 consecutive chaps so here we are ( ˘ω˘ )
Chapter 24
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Serene Palace.
‘…I’ve returned to this place’
When he first stepped foot here, he thought the whole world was ending. He chased everyone out, even the servants and guards, the blanket became his sole comfort, and the tranquil darkness became his only friend.
For the first few days, or weeks, Yuder didn’t bother counting, he desperately prayed to the God he resented for sending him here, to at least take pity on the child whose fate they had toyed with. He had hoped that, if he continued to live quietly in the darkness like this, the Emperor would not notice and leave him alone, that way at least he would be able to keep the few remains of his free will.
A few months passed, Yuder wondered if God had really listened to his request, or maybe they had grown tired of hearing the same curses every day, the omega slowly crawled out of his cotton shell, squinting his eyes at the sight of the first sun rays beaming through the secretively drawn curtains. When the chirping sounds reached his ear, a strange, yet lively spark returned to his deep black eyes.
Yuder weakly put his foot onto the soft carpet, shivering when the coldness of dawn hit his skin, and dragged his body towards the window. He carefully pulled the curtains, allowing a thin stream of brightness to leak in, illuminating the room long hidden in darkness.
Yuder blinked a few times, adjusting his eyes, then he opened the windows. His face immediately got hit by the cool breeze of spring, as he looked at the blue sky for the first time after a long while, feeling refreshed.
He stared at the scenery beyond the windows for a long time, he watched the birds chirping, the squirrels chasing each other on the branches, listening to the rustling sounds of leaves as the trees swayed.
Yuder stilled, until a loud growl came from his stomach. He was hungry. In the past few months, he only occasionally munched on the little rations he had when he was assigned here, and some water if he were really thirsty. Thankfully, they were delivered regularly, so he didn’t die from starvation yet, but he never bothered to stuff his stomach properly.
Yuder looked at the mirror sitting in the corner of the room. He saw a young boy, a very skinny one. The omega had always looked thin, but after months lacking nutritions, he looked more like a walking corpse than a human. His hair had grown much longer, his bangs completely hid his vision. Beneath those, he could see the heavy eyebags around exhausted eyes, as a result of countless sleepless nights, worrying when he would be summoned.
Only then did Yuder realize how futile everything was.
How long would he be able to keep this up? A month? Half a month? Perhaps, a year?
He couldn’t risk spending his whole life worrying about something that had yet to come. His life might end even before the Emperor could touch him.
Yuder decided to live.
If God had put a curse on him, then he needed to live his own life before it was ruined furthermore. It was something he refused to let anyone control, even if it was a divine being.
He started to take care of himself more, washing up and changing clothes, cutting his hair, changing the bedsheets, then cleaning his room. He started to learn how to cook as he tried to recall his late grandfather’s teachings, feeling satisfied even though his first meal ended up mostly burned.
After his muscles had somewhat regained some energy, he started to clean off all the dust that had piled up over time.
…Well, there was certainly a lot of work.
The palace was quite big for him alone to clean, and he had yet to recover, so Yuder had to retreat to his bedroom early on the first day. He crashed onto his newly changed bed sheets, albeit clumsily, and his eyes immediately collapsed. It was the first night he had slept ever so soundly.
After two weeks, he started to get used to the new routine, and his life felt considerably better. After a year, he thought this lifestyle wasn’t as bad as he thought, as long as things stayed like this.
Two years later, there were still no hopes of the Emperor noticing and summoning him to his chambers, even the malicious rumors about him had disappeared, Yuder had truly become a forgotten concubine.
When he had finally accepted his new fate, another plot twist came into his life, and his world once again was turned upside down.
’Come to think of it…even if His Majesty never looked at me…in the end, I still got caught by the same bloodline…?’
He glared at the blond man helping him getting off the carriage, who was looking at him with that ever loving gaze, clueless about the omega’s thoughts.
Tch. Yuder felt somewhat bitter, thinking that he had played into destiny’s hands again.
“We’ve arrived”
Kishiar’s voice pulled Yuder away from his thoughts, and together they walked to the gates they were overly familiar with. However…
“……?”
Yuder widened his eyes when he saw someone standing in front of the gates…or rather, a knight?
“Greetings, Your Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess Peletta! What honor brings you here today?”
The knight saluted politely the moment he saw the both of them approaching. While Yuder was still bewildered, Kishiar calmly replied as if having expected.
“We’re here to get something. Do you mind opening the gates for us?”
“If you wish, please tell us the item and we’ll get it for you”
“No, it’s not necessary. We want to check it by ourselves, you can keep doing what you’re assigned”
“Understood, Your Grace. I’ll open the gates now”
The knight bowed and unlocked the large gates, welcoming the esteemed guests.
“Shall we enter, Yuder?”
Kishiar wrapped his arm around the still frozen Yuder, as they walked inside. The guard wasn’t the only shocking thing the omega saw in his palace that day, as he started to see more unfamiliar sights.
“……The cracks on the walls…have disappeared? And the overgrown bushes near the entrance are gone…?”
He couldn’t help but notice the obvious changes, since his run-down place had become beautiful again, just like before he moved in.
“……Did you do something to this place?”
“Yuder, my love, please calm down, I’ll explain…”
Kishiar gently released his scent to wrap around Yuder’s, which had turned as sharp as a knife pointing at the man, like a beast baring his claws at him for making changes to his nest.
“Were you trying to demolish this place now that I’ve gotten no use for it?”
“No, no, my dear. You’re misunderstanding…I expected that you wouldn’t like the idea of staying in the Eternal Palace forever, and would return here someday. After all, it’s a special place for both of us, isn’t it?”
Kishiar smiled, softly rubbing Yuder’s waist as if easing his anger.
“So I thought to fix this place a bit. I’m not making any huge changes, I only called some people to fix the cracks in the walls, make them a bit sturdier to protect you from the cold, and take care of the overgrown trees before you get hurt from tripping over a vine”
Yuder relaxed his nerves and withdrew his prickling scent upon hearing those words. Kishiar’s pheromones immediately used that chance to embrace the omega, appeasing him.
“Let’s go inside. I’m assured that everything will look the same as before, nothing was moved even the slightest”
Yuder couldn’t help but huffed before the sight of the big man, acting all flustered and cautious around him.
’…Hmph, he should be thankful that his face was good looking’
The omega lightly tapped the arm wrapping tightly around his waist, and the latter beamed realizing his intentions. They quickly went oinside before another fight broke out.
True to his words, nothing was changed. Even the chair in the kitchen remained in the same place before he left.
The workers only focused on fixing the outer parts, so the inside was untouched. The silence felt like Yuder had returned to the past once again, and a nostalgic sentiment filled him.
They decided to make a quick tour since it’s been a while since they had been here. Kishiar would occasionally reminisce about the old memories of each room they visited; sometimes Yuder would add his own stories after the man left, the air became a bit strange when he did that, but Kishiar looked happy listening to Yuder.
There were hardly many places to go to in the first place, anyway. Firstly, it was the kitchen. Then it was the room where Yuder kept the gifts, the layer of dust had gotten even higher than before, making Yuder speechless. He had to cover his nose due to the dust flying around when they opened the door.
Kishiar laughed beside him, saying that he would help the omega clean up the place when they returned next time.
“Is what you’re looking for here?”
“…No, it’s in the bedroom”
The final destination was the bedroom. The light coming from the hallway when Yuder opened the door became the only source of light in the cold, dark room. It felt even more lifeless after being unused for a month.
“……”
Yuder carefully walked inside, using his muscle memory to approach the stove. He fed it a magic stone, and immediately, a bright flame with seven hues came back to life, returning the lost warmth to the room.
It felt strange, seeing the room properly illuminated after a long time. After all, Yuder was only away for a short time, but this room had not seen light for almost two years.
The bedroom had also been collecting dust, though not as thick as the storage room. Yuder breathed in the scent of the place he held dear, relaxing his mind.
“Why are you standing outside and not coming in?”
He glanced at the man who was standing outside the door frame, having yet to take a step in.
“It’s rude to enter someone else’s bedroom when they haven’t given permission. May I?”
Yuder exhaled as if he had heard something ridiculous. He approached the man and grabbed his hand, dragging him inside. Kishiar acted like a shy teenager girl being touched by his crush when Yuder grabbed him, but still expressing his joy through the cool scent.
“Hmm…even after two years, this place never changed”
Kishiar walked around like his own place, as if he didn’t act all shy a moment ago; anyway, Yuder didn’t understand what was so fun about exploring his barren bedroom, but he left the alpha be, seeing his smile anyway. While the man was occupied, Yuder walked to his bedside, finishing what he came here for.
There weren’t many things on the nightstand, except for dust and a few dried purple petals, so it wasn’t hard to find what he was looking for, a crude-looking object which stood out.
Yuder picked up the ring he had left behind, blowing away the dust, though still looked as shabby as before. An incomprehensible feeling warmed his heart, now that he had held the small ring in his hands again.
“Is that what you wanted to find?”
The man, who had finished looking around, stood beside him at some point, as he recognized the thing Yuder was holding.
“…Yes, I left this behind when I moved out”
Kishiar smiled, he didn’t ask why. Yuder fidgeted with the small ring, feeling awkward before his gaze.
“Hmm? Are you wondering where mine might be?”
“……No”
Actually, yes. Akit had always worn it on his hand, but Yuder had never seen the other ring once ever since he came back. He couldn’t help but be curious.
“Don’t worry, even though I didn’t wear it, I’ve always kept it by my side”
Kishiar chuckled, then loosened up his cravat, enough to pull out something…a chain? Dangling before his sight was a similar ring, almost identical to Yuder’s except for the gemstone, attached to a silver chain wrapping around the man’s neck. Kishiar carefully undid the hook, separating the ring.
“To be honest, I wanted to wear this during our wedding, but the priests made such a fuss when they saw it. Even my brother gave me a strange look when I said that, you know. Haha, what a shame”
Kishiar placed his ring in Yuder’s palm, then held out his hand before the latter.
“Would you do me the honor of putting it on me, my lovely husband?”
“……”
Yuder almost cringed at the title, but he still did it anyway. He picked up the ring with a deep black stone, flashing violet hues where the sunlight touched, then held the man’s left hand, visibly larger. The ring slid on the long finger, fitting perfectly.
“Now it’s my turn. May I?”
Kishiar received the ring from Yuder after asking for permission. He gently lifted the omega’s hand, returning the favor. Yuder stared at the ring pushed to the end of his finger, right next to the wedding ring.
“…It looks even uglier now”
How could a low-quality ring from a street vendor be compared to an imperial treasure? Even the stone with dim crimson hues seemed to lose its brilliance when placed next to the shining diamonds. In other words, it looked pathetic.
However, if one asked which one he preferred, then he would choose that crude thing over the extravagant one. After all, it weighed more than any jewelry he might hold.
“This brings me back, the first time when I put this on you. You were so lovely then…of course, every moment of you were charming, but it was a sight I’d never forget for the rest of my life”
Kishiar held Yuder’s hand, staring fondly.
“……”
“Is there anything else you want to bring?”
Yuder shook his head.
’There are a few more I could think of, to be honest…but it’s bothersome to bring it up’
“Alright, if you desire, I’ll call for people to tidy up the storage, or you can always come back here anytime you want”
Even though Yuder said there was none, the man easily noticed his troubles, as expected. He had always been good at reading Yuder’s emotions, after all. The omega sighed.
“…Do you want to go outside?” Yuder murmured.
“Huh? Are you asking me on a date?”
Yuder wanted to reject, but he was temporarily blinded by the bright smile on the man’s beautiful face.
“Of course I do! Let’s go, right now!”
Thus, Yuder was half-dragged to the place they both knew very well, the secret passageway leading outside of the imperial palace. When they arrived, Kishiar widened his eyes seeing a small metal plate looking out of place on the old wooden door.
“Yuder…did you add a lock here?”
“……Yes” He cleared his throat. “I guess there was a time I was so upset I did this on a whim”
It was meant to ban Kishiar from entering through the walls, but at the same time, it also showed his faint hope that the man would return one day. The alpha stayed quiet, only offering a silent nod.
“The Eternal Palace doesn’t have a separate room for the Duchess, but I can change the locks in our room and the one you used before, and only you can keep the key. What do you think, Yuder?”
“Why would you do that…?”
“So that you can throw me outside whenever I do something wrong and needed to beg for forgiveness, of course”
Yuder rubbed his temples, how could he dare to do that, even if the man allowed him to? He didn’t understand why Kishiar always acted so differently from other nobles, especially when he was a royal himself.
“…No, that won’t be necessary"
“Alright. Tell me anytime if you change your mind, Yuder”
The omega ignored him and unlocked the door.
’Hmm…should I remove this later…?’
Since the alpha had returned anyway, he doubted there would be any need for it anymore, though he ought to think more about the rooms’ locks…
Kishiar, oblivious to Yuder’s plans, took the latter’s hand as they entered the passage. The path was as dark as ever, Yuder was worried that the man would find it difficult to navigate, since it’d been a while; his worries were unnecessary, however, since Kishiar led the way naturally, as if he had never been away at all. The warmth radiating from his back as their bodies pressed close strangely heated up Yuder’s ears.
“We’re here” The sunlight welcomed them at the end of the road. “It’s been a while since I was here. It didn’t change much, though”
They walked around the main streets, which was the same as before, except for the flower decorations here and there, since the empire was still in a festive atmosphere at the return of the punitive force, followed by the grandest wedding of the royal family.
“…”
Yuder still had a hard time accepting that everything was about him. He was just an orphan from a rural mountain area, a place that people rarely heard of. And yet, a single spark of curiosity changed his fate completely.
Yuder glanced at the man holding his hand closely, brown strands peeking from beneath their cloaks. Before sneaking out, Kishiar had activated his disguise magic, becoming the ‘Akit’ he had always known. Yuder had seen him transform twice, but it still felt surreal.
“Oh my goodness, is that you, Yuder?”
Someone immediately called out to Yuder the moment they came to the market, of course, which was the fruit stall owner, who was both surprised and happy to see him again.
“How long has it been—isn’t it a month?! You suddenly stopped coming after a while, I was worried something might have happened to you! I’m glad my worries were in vain seeing you so healthy”
The owner laughed and patted the omega’s shoulder.
“…Yes, it’s been a while. Things just…suddenly happened”
Yuder glanced at the taller man, who had moved behind the omega unknowingly when.
“By the way, who is that behind yo—“
“Yuder!”
Another man suddenly jumped at Yuder, but before the other could touch him, a force from behind had pulled him into his embrace, causing the attacker to stumble, almost falling on his face. Yuder didn’t even need to turn around to see who it was, feeling a familiar scent wrapping around him tenderly.
“Hey, you?! What do you think you’re doing?!”
The stranger earlier was none other than the owner’s son, who tried to flirt with Yuder before. He pointed at Kishiar, looking angry. Yuder could sense something moving in the air…was it pheromones? He recalled something he read in a book Kishiar bought before, that Alphas could bring out their scents to attack others, to show superiority, or served as a threat.
Yuder thought it might be the case since the mint aroma around him had also intensified, though still gently caressing his body.
“Ugh…!”
The winner was quickly decided. It was apparent the son couldn’t handle Kishiar’s pheromones, as he started to groan and stagger in pain. Yuder thought the other had suffered enough, so he lightly tapped the arm tightening around his waist. Receiving the signal, Kishiar smiled softly and withdrew his scent.
“Huff—!”
The son gasped and grasped his neck, sweating profusely. Even the owner had started to notice something was wrong, so he ran to his son’s side, looking worried.
“What is happening—?!”
“Oh my, my apologies. I didn’t mean any harm, it was just a defensive mechanism when I sensed someone intentionally spraying their scent on someone else’s partner, you see”
“Huh…? That voice, is that you, Akit?”
Akit smiled and removed his hood. Everyone gasped seeing the face of an old acquaintance, those who recognized immediately surrounded them.
“Oh my God, it’s really Akit!”
“Where have you been in these years? Did you really join the army?”
“Is it my imagination or did you grow even more handsome than before? Your skin is glowing…”
“Haha, please calm down, everyone. I can only answer one at the time”
’It’s amazing…’
Yuder tried to move away to give Akit some space when so many people flocked to him, but the arm holding him so firmly refused to. In the end, he gave up trying to escape the warmth until someone finally noticed.
“Huh? Did you come here with Yuder? And you two seem quite…close?”
The gazes then focused on the black-haired man with an indifferent complexion.
“It’s not that you two weren’t close before, but I can feel something is different about the atmosphere”
As expected of older citizens experienced in those kinds of matters, they could immediately notice the change in their dynamics. While Yuder was wondering how to break it to them, when a forgotten extra raised his voice again…
“Wait! Why didn't everyone say anything about him attacking me?!”
He acted pitifully, expecting to be treated as a victim, however, no one bothered talking his side.
“What are you talking about? Why would Akit attack you?”
“Tsk. All I saw was you shamelessly flirting with Yuder. Did you break up with the new girl the other day again?”
“Again? Someone like you could never hold a candle to Akit. Get lost”
“But it’s true! He threatened me with his pheromones. Look, my hands are still shaking!”
Some could even faint under the tension of an Alpha’s scent, but luckily for him, Akit stopped before things got worse, that was why he could still run his mouth like that.
“Oh? Didn’t I say it was just a defense? You intentionally threatened your pheromones at me first, all I did was to return the favor. Besides, it was natural for a husband to protect his dear spouse”
Everyone widened their eyes. It was shocking news, but he said it so casually. Even Yuder had a hard time following the flow when everyone got overly excited again.
“H-Huh? You two finally got married?! How, and when?”
“Is that why you disappeared for two years?”
“Well…yes, that’s partly the reason. I came back to ask for Yuder’s hand in marriage and thanked the heavens in stars he accepted my proposal after hearing my stories... We just had our wedding not long ago, actually, it was a pity I couldn’t relay this wonderful news to everyone sooner”
“……Akit”
“…! Yes, I’m sorry, my dear. I’ll be more careful next time”
It was the cue to tell the man to shut up, and Akit’s face immediately brightened up receiving an order from Yuder. The already lively market became more noisy after witnessing their display of affection.
The owner of the fruit stall only offered his petrified son a pitiful glance, then quickly joined in the celebration.
…
“Haha, they’re still as lively as ever, I see. I’m surprised they gave us so many gifts”
Yuder agreed. They were carrying so many gifts that it filled both of their arms, although most of the shares were in Akit’s. The market people gave them a lot of stuff, including food and other trinkets to celebrate Akit’s return and their good news; and of course, Yuder’s favorite fruit was included, a lot.
Perhaps because of the strange dream he had that morning, Yuder ended up craving for the apples more than usual, as he took a big bite of the crispy fruit, letting its sweet juice fill his mouth. Half of the bag disappeared in no time, and the alpha chuckled seeing him so content after eating.
“Are you hungry, Yuder? Should we go back? They’ve given us so many ingredients, it’d be a shame to not use them”
Yuder was surprised he suggested going back to the Serene Palace, not the Eternal Palace, but he nodded anyway.
They soon made a quick return and went to the kitchen. It wasn’t used in a while, so cleaning needed to be done. However, it was an unnecessary worry since the man had insisted Yuder stay put and let him handle everything.
The omega wasn’t too horrified by the sight of an imperial family member wiping the kitchen clean with a wet towel, since he had seen the man doing small chores during the past. However, it was definitely a shocking sight to see Kishiar doing a servant’s work, since he had changed back to his original appearance.
The man with brilliant golden hair, beaming with the aura of someone who was used to standing on the top, was happily cooking a few simple dishes for Yuder.
The omega sighed, looking at the beautiful cooked meal before him.
…
Shwaaaaa.
The sounds of rustling leaves swaying in the cool breeze carrying the scent of water resonated in the tranquil night. Two shadows walked under the brightly illuminated moonlight, along the small lake they frequented. They enjoyed the night air together in silence, sometimes Kishiar would talk, either asking about Yuder or continuing the stories from the day.
A cold wind blew by, Kishiar took off his outer garment and wrapped it around Yuder’s shoulders. The latter didn’t feel that chilly, but still thanked him anyway, accepting the warmth lingering with the alpha’s scent.
“Yuder, have you ever seen the sea?”
Yuder, who was sitting on the grass and leaning onto Kishiar’s shoulder, lifted his drowsy eyelids at the question.
“Mmn…no, I haven’t…”
“Then…do you want to go to Peletta?”
“Peletta…?”
The name sounded quite familiar, he thought.
’Ah’
Kishiar nodded, looking into Yuder’s gaze that seemed to have recalled, smiling.
“That’s right, that’s my land…and now it’s yours, too. I’m planning to choose there as a destination for our honeymoon, but I’d like to ask for your opinion first”
His opinion? Honestly, Yuder didn’t really care. He didn’t know anywhere to go anyway, except for the Airic mountains, but that place had nothing except the endless sierra, and a few villages with little population. It wasn’t even considered a good vacation spot, let alone for a honeymoon destination.
“If you want, we can also go to your hometown. It was in the Airic mountains, wasn’t it?”
Kishiar whispered, as if reading Yuder’s concerns.
“No, it’s fine” The omega shook his head. “I don’t have many memories there…except for the cabin I used to live with my grandfather”
“Then it’s definitely a place worth choosing. Don’t you also want to visit it?”
“I do, but I’m not rushed, I can always go back at another time... Besides, didn’t you say there’s the sea in Peletta?”
’I want to know more about you’
They instantly locked gazes, obsidian orbs met those of crimson hue, trembling slightly before softening, full of affection. They didn’t need to use words to understand another.
“…Yes, you’re right”
The voices gradually quieted down, and no more words were spoken, leaving only the sounds of rustling leaves, the gentle ripples of water, and the faint breaths from the gap between two pairs of lips, tender and warm.
“…Yuder” Kishiar rubbed his face against Yuder’s palms, feeling cool against his warm cheeks, then gently placed a kiss onto the latter’s hand, where two rings were placed side-by-side. ”I love you”
They alone stood in a place no other souls could be seen, where Yuder first met a stranger, an alpha he had never seen. In that place, two people with different status made a childish promise that sounded nonsensical, without any expectation that they both would get this far together. Even though Akit at that time didn’t say it aloud, Yuder could sense the warm and fuzzy sensation within his actions. Perhaps, it was what urged him on to take the man’s hand.
And now, in the same space, he finally got to hear the words he had unknowingly wished for, from both Akit, and Kishiar.
Yuder closed his eyes, soon feeling his breath shortened and taken away. He wrapped his arms around the other’s neck, causing the coat to fall onto the ground, but it didn’t matter, he knew the man would keep him perfectly safe and warm in his loving embrace.
Hands around the middle, and fingers twirling around hair strands. Two bodies pressing so closely there were no gaps, until Yuder sensed a heavy weight on his thigh. He parted his moist lips, exhaling softly.
“Do you have any excuses this time, Your Grace?”
“…None. I just want you, Yuder. Is that okay?”
With a whiff of a sweet scent in the air, Kishiar swiped Yuder from the ground with an arm beneath his bosoms, another one around his waist so the omega wouldn’t fall. Yuder was lifted to a higher position than Kishiar, so he had to bend down a bit when their lips connected, and remained even when the man walked towards the mansion.
“Do you want to spend the night here, or…”
Kishiar stopped kissing for a moment while moving in a small corridor lit by the moonlight, causing the other to frown.
“…Don’t talk nonsense. You’re already here”
The alpha chuckled, offering a light peck as an apology before stealing his breath again. Yuder faintly heard the sound of the old door opening with a creak, followed by a soft sensation on his back as Kishiar gently put him onto the bed. The mattress groaned under the weight of two men, who were busy touching each other with fumbling hands, entangling with the disheveled garments, while breaking neither the kiss nor burning gazes.
The bed Yuder used was definitely smaller than the one they slept on the wedding night, but it still had enough space for them to crawl on it. However, being as old as it was, the bed squeaked painfully under the pressure of two adult men, and Yuder wondered if it might really break like this.
His worries were cut short when a sharp force thrusted between him, and his body trembled violently as an intense heat surged from below, burning his mind blank. Soft kisses melted into his skin, followed by whispers repeating love spells.
Yuder closed his eyes, embracing everything the man had to offer.
”……der”
“…”
“…Yu…d…”
“Yuder”
“……Ah”
The black-haired man blinked his eyes, barely lifted due to the drowsiness. He rubbed his squinting eyes, a blurry mass of golden light hazing his sight.
“……Kishiar?”
The man with bright golden strands filled his view, sparkling crimson eyes curved beautifully as he stared at the other, red lips blooming into a breathtaking smile.
“Good morning, my dear” The alpha softly kissed Yuder’s eyelids. “Are you sleepy? Let’s go inside if you’re tired”
Yuder slowly came to his senses, realizing he was sitting under a pavilion with white arches in a garden he was well familiar with.
’This is…the Serene Palace…’
It was the small garden behind his palace, except now that there were flowers blooming in every corner. In Yuder’s memories, this place was just as barren and eerie as other parts of the palace, there were a few plants and bushes here and there, but none of which grew lushly. However, the scene before him was full of greenery and colorful petals swaying in the wind.
Yuder looked at the half-filled teacup in his hands, a mild herbal scent reached his nose. Ah. Now he remembered, he was having tea with Kishiar in the garden, perhaps the cool breeze was what had lured him to sleep.
“Should we call for the physician? You’ve been dozing off more often lately…”
“No, it’s okay. I do sleep less these days, but everything else is fine”
“But…”
While Kishiar was looking worried, a couple of footsteps could be heard approaching them, one was walking calmly from afar and one was with light and hasty steps.
”Dad!”
A young boy, looking about five years old, was running towards Yuder and jumped into his arms. Yuder also widened his embrace, welcoming the energetic child, giggling happily when the omega’s hand patted his shiny blonde hair.
”Kiran” Yuder called softly. “Didn’t I tell you not to run? What if you trip and fall?”
The boy called Kiran flinched slightly, slowly lifting his head. His cheeks softly puffed out while looking at the black-haired man with round, sparkling red eyes, tinged with a hint of violet. He flashed his pitiful gaze at Yuder, acting like a rejected pup.
“But Daaad…Father told me it was okay since he already took care of every vines in the garden, and he paved the road so that no one would trip…”
Yuder glanced at the other man, who was grinning widely with a face that just looked exactly like the little child. The omega suddenly felt like he was losing even though he wasn’t fighting against anything.
’…Tsk, they sure know how to make use of their faces’
“…Alright” Yuder softened his gaze. “Isn’t it time for your swordsmanship lesson soon? Sir Zuckerman is waiting for you”
“Mmn! I heard you two were here, so I wanted to come! Will you watch me practice today?”
“Not today, I still have a…talk with your father later. …Tomorrow is possible, though”
Kiran’s ears dropped when Yuder declined, but soon perked up again at the end. He looked like a small ball of sunshine, seeing how brightly he was smiling.
“You promised, okay!”
Kiran stood on tip toes and Yuder instantly understood his intention, leaning his head down so that the child could kiss him on the cheek. The omega smiled softly, pressing his lips onto the small cheek in return.
“Oh my, only daddy? Father is going to feel sad, you know”
Kishiar stood up and picked the child up from his seat on Yuder’s laps, blowing kisses on the little one’s face, eliciting giggles from the latter. The teasing didn’t stop until Kiran gave the man what he wanted, his small cheeks reddened from all the excitement. Feeling satisfied, Kishiar finally let the boy down and watched as he skipped towards the knight, who was waiting patiently from a distance. Kiran waved back at the both of them, before taking Nathan’s hand and leaving.
Kishiar chuckled, waving back.
“I wonder who he took after, being so adorable”
“…Yeah, I wonder”
Yuder took a sip of his lukewarm tea, a mix of bitter herbal flavor and floral fragrance filled his mouth.
“Come to think of it, Yuder, the tea tastes somewhat familiar…was there something like this in the storage?”
“The Empress sent this the other day, and…we drank it once before”
“Hmm?”
Kishiar tilted his head, trying to search his memories, though he didn’t need to do that at all.
“Yes, you know Her Majesty’s tea has therapeutic effects, right? She sent something similar before, when I was…”
Kishiar’s smile disappeared from his face in an instant, his pupils quivered tracing Yuder’s hands that were slowly placed around the abdomen. His body stiffened for a moment, before coming closer to the other, kneeling before him. He held the omega’s hands in his, his voice trembled slightly.
“…Yuder, is it true…? You are…when…?”
Yuder nodded. “It’s about two weeks, but I only found out a few days ago. Her Majesty’s gift came in the right time, so I decided to share it with you then”
Kishiar murmured a faint ‘I see’, his voice sounded somewhat suppressed. He switched places with Yuder, carefully placing the latter on his laps, and their lips naturally overlapped. It was a short, yet sweet kiss, confirming the joy that had already been leaked into their harmonized scents mixing into one. Kishiar continued to shower Yuder’s face with love while caressing the body with pheromones, leaving no parts untouched.
They met each other’s gaze that contained no one but the being before them, noses touching while their lips curving between small whisperings.
“Yuder…thank you for staying by my side, and…” Kishiar smiled. “…I love you, as I always have been, my fairy”
The omega softly sighed.
“…Still with that embarrassing nickname?”
“Of course. What else should I call a beautiful fairy, if not fairy?”
Yuder laughed, kissing Kishiar again.
…God might have given his life many twists, but there were also unknown rewards along the way. The omega believed in this small seed of joy he was carrying, which would soon bloom in the near future, and bring forth immense fortune.
Yuder would be happy as long as Kishiar stayed by his side.
~𝓕𝓲𝓷~
Notes:
Finally it’s completed!!! Thank you everyone for making this far ㅠㅠ
I was also surprised to see so many people liking my AU ueee 🥹🥹🥹Fear not, even though it’s the end, I’ll come back with the final epilogue later~ 😘
Lmk what you think wahhhhh! 🥹
I hope you will like my other kishyu fanfics too! 🥺🥺💕💕
You can visit @/RoseNiji2704 for arts too! Thank you! 🫶🏻P.s. There is one(1) easter egg dialogue I put in from ch.1 hehe, can you find it 🤭
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