STM 115

Thoughts that once would have made him laugh now became a heavy weight, dragging his heart to the floor.

But Hoiga was standing before him, talking about the Kun family curse. The family trapped in the castle. A tiny shard of reason reminded Tairok of his goal.

‘I don’t care if you are Salvation or not. As long as you can break the Kun curse.’

‘I’ll break it. I’ll do it for you. So please, don’t let Montaine take me. If I belong to them, they won’t let me break the curse.’

He heard the answer he wanted. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to say he would take Hoiga as his partner. He slowly looked out the window, but his mind was a storm of confusion.

Why? Did he want Lu that much? Why did he desire Lu to this extent? …Desire?

That one word hit him like a stake, instantly clearing the chaos in his head. Facing the truth he had tried to ignore was surprisingly simple. Everything suddenly went quiet.

Ah, I… Lu.

The moment he admitted it, the heat died down and his reason returned. Because of that, he could look at Hoiga coldly.

‘You can’t be Emperor without the power of the divine beast. Besides, the Kun beast is different from the Borhumi beast that perished. You just have to find a way to wake it.’

Perished? He almost laughed. Someone who didn’t even know the truth couldn’t be Salvation. If so, the real Salvation… might actually be Lu.

Now that he had a clear reason to take Lu, his heart felt excited like a child’s. After that, things went as if God had given him a gift.

‘Grand Duke, will you be my partner? Then I will be your personal Salvation.’

Lu’s confession at the White Branch meeting gave him a satisfaction he had never felt before. Now Lu was officially his. Lu had walked right into his hands. But he knew he shouldn’t be arrogant about luck gained without effort.

‘No. I was lying.’

Adeye Lu looked troubled but spoke clearly. He said he was not charmed by Tairok.

Tairok felt his heart ache, as if a sharp blade had cut him. He didn’t know if the feeling was anger or disappointment. He barely hid it behind a smile and asked.

‘Why don’t you like me?’

‘My heart just doesn’t go to you.’

Lu even said there was no reason. Then, Lu turned the question back on him.

‘The Grand Duke hates me anyway, so isn’t this better?’

‘I do?’

‘Yes. Am I wrong?’

Yes, you are wrong.

A whisper echoed inside him. But if he had said it out loud, it would have been an ugly, angry scream.

Why don’t you like me? Why aren’t you desperate like me? Why don’t you kneel and beg like the others?

Tairok was very familiar with the face of ugly greed. Countless people had shouted it at him.

‘Please like me.’

‘Let me stay by your side.’

‘I’ll do anything, just please don’t tell me to leave.’

They were such annoying people. No matter how smart they were, they became fools babbling nonsense when they saw his smile. And now, he was just like those fools.

No, was he exactly the same? Well, it didn’t matter. The priority was simply keeping Lu.

It didn’t matter what Lu demanded or what secrets he had. This crazy urge to possess him came first.

Crack.

The sound of a fallen leaf under his foot rang through the air like the only clue in the dark. Tairok knew he had entered the fog, but he didn’t stop.

He couldn’t see at night, so he usually had to wait for morning or call out for a response.

But Tairok did the opposite. He muffled his steps and began to walk silently. He amplified his senses as though he was searching for a hidden enemy.

The impatience to find Lu and see him with his own eyes crawled over his skin like insects. However, he repeatedly repressed his urgency.

If he made noise or called Lu’s name with such high emotions, he felt Lu would run far away.

This was despite the fact that Lu wanted something from him and they had already taken an oath.

To the right?

Tairok stopped and changed direction. Since becoming a Sword Master, his instincts were rarely wrong.

This way led to the cabin. Lu was quick to judge situations, so if he found the cabin, he would definitely stay there until morning.

He would see Lu soon. Joy made his heart hot, but anxiety was still stuck in that heart like a stake.

He knew the answer. Lu’s eyes did not look at him. It would be so easy to just lock him up.

His selfish greed started to show. What if he hid Lu somewhere no one else could reach and only Tairok could see him? Just the thought made his heart pound.

But not now.

Tairok used his head rationally. He couldn’t act stupid like his followers.

He had caught the right direction, as a dim light soon appeared. Tairok suppressed the urge to run and glared at the light as if he wanted to swallow it whole.

He wanted to dig a trap so Lu could never leave, find his weaknesses, and drown him in a pot of pleasure. But he had to keep this ugly inner self hidden. At least until he could bind Lu with even more chains.

Ha.

Tairok took a quiet breath and grabbed the cabin door.

Creeak.

The door opened. Inside, bathed in the light, was the only being that allowed him to breathe.

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Even before I saw Tairok, I knew who it was when I heard the door open. He was the only one who would walk directly into the fog.

But I couldn’t be sure. Even if this was Kun territory, I couldn’t let my guard down.

I got ready to summon my club and tensed up, but I relaxed when I saw the figure through the half-open door. I hadn’t even seen his face properly, but I knew it was Tairok just by his clothes and legs. I quickly lowered my head.

“It’s my fault. I went out without a lamp and got lost.”

“…….”

“……When we go back, I will stay in my room for four days as punishment to reflect on my actions.”

I immediately apologized like a child trying to avoid a beating, but there was no response. Not even the sound of the door opening wider or footsteps coming inside. Thinking it was strange, I looked up and realized he was just standing there in the doorway.

He just looked down at me with a blank face. My first thought was, Is he angry?

Why wouldn’t he be? I had ditched the guard and walked into black magic he told me to stay out of, making him come find me.

But when I looked into his eyes, that doubt vanished. There was no annoyance or anger like I expected. Instead, his eyes wavered as if he were suppressing something. As if he were happy to have found me.

No, that can’t be. I just saw him this morning. I shook myself and thought of the most logical reason.

“Grand Duke, did you get lost too?”

Is that why he looked so happy to see the cabin? He slowly pushed his bangs back with his hand, hiding his eyes, so it was hard to read his mood. Instead, I heard a murmur. I couldn’t hear it clearly, but I had the helpful Mo.

[Inference: “I guess I won’t get caught.”]

Is there anything he’s keeping from me? For a brief moment, I felt suspicious, but I quickly dismissed it. I, too, have many secrets.

More importantly, is he not angry? Even after I caused such a nuisance?

I watched him move slowly and sit on the cot in front of me while I tried to read his expression. Even when he smiled, I didn’t relax. He’s a man who smiles a lot anyway.

“Four days?”

He asked with a laugh. I had offered a self-punishment as an apology, but maybe he didn’t like that I decided the length myself. Even if I was wrong, I couldn’t help but look stiff. Does he want me to stay in longer?

“……I’ll make it five days. But I would appreciate it if you gave me at least one bottle of water.”

When I made the serious request, the smile vanished from his face. He tilted his head as if he was confused.

“Water?”

What, he won’t even give me one bottle of water?

“Then, even half a bottle.”

“Were you planning to stay locked up without eating anything?”

This time I was the one confused, and I blinked.

“Yes. That’s how a punishment works.”

“…….”

Wait, why did his eyes turn so cold? Damn, I was worried the punishment was too light, then he coldly asked.

“Does Lantuya usually lock you up and starve you?”

What on earth is he talking about?

“Why would my sister starve me? She makes sure I eat every meal. Even today, since I was leaving home, she fried chicken breast and gave it to me with pickled radish for breakfast.”

He looked at me as if measuring if I was telling the truth before speaking.

“Do you like chicken?”

“No. The pickled radish.”

“…….”

This time, he looked at me with pity. I quickly added an explanation.

“You don’t know how good it is. It’s not just salted; it’s made with vinegar and sugar…”

“I get it.”

Tairok coldly cut off my excuse. No, listen to the details so you can have your kitchen make it too. I wanted to demand it, but I wasn’t in a position to complain about food until I got my contract.

Thinking about it made me sad again. Damn, I won’t even be able to eat because of my five-day self-punishment…

“I won’t starve you.”

I quickly looked up from the floor at his sudden words.

“Am I allowed to eat?”

When I asked seriously, he let out a dry laugh as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Do I look like someone who would starve you?”