HPV 111

Extra Story 2-7

Riarun had completely fallen for it, so much so that it felt like if left alone, he might be swept away into the sea.

Even as his body tilted dangerously, leaning heavily over the railing, he kept his gaze fixed on the endlessly blue horizon. Banwes stood behind him, holding him close to keep him from slipping.

Bzhan sat casually on top of the mast, enjoying the sea breeze as if it were solid ground. He must have gotten heavier with his rapid growth, but he seemed completely at ease. It helped that he had gotten used to ships while traveling the continent with Paronai.

Penzey watched Riarun in silence, then brought a glass of wine to his lips.

They began exchanging updates naturally as the conversation flowed.

“It hasn’t even been half a year since you took off the black dragon’s head. And you’re already accepting commissions like some kind of pushover? Is it another oracle?”

“There was no such oracle.”

Yurichen, seated in a chair secured to the deck, replied.

Paronai, leaning on the railing, mumbled under his breath.

“The Crown Prince personally?”

It was said that the second-highest figure in the kingdom had personally asked Paronai for this favor—and informally, at that. If that was the case, it made perfect sense that Paronai would agree to depart without hesitation. However…

Hmm, Penzey gave a sly smile.

“Come to think of it, the Crown Prince is a woman, right? And single too?”

Paronai blinked in surprise, then leapt back in protest.

“N-no! It’s not like that. I wouldn’t dare…”

But his face was already as red as an apple.

“Rather than choosing one of the noble heirs, wouldn’t it be better to pick someone free from political pressure?”

Surprisingly, Yurichen, who had been quietly listening, added to the conversation. Penzey, half teasing, passed the topic back and forth.

“A royal consort isn’t supposed to get involved in politics.”

“But Paronai isn’t lacking in qualifications. He’s an honorable Swordmaster and a Dragon Slayer.”

“After Prince Dodio’s rebellion, the Crown Prince must have felt vulnerable. If she had a Swordmaster nearby, it’d be easier to get rid of a backstabbing relative.”

“He’s connected to both the High Priest and the Tower too.”

At this point, Paronai had completely lowered his head and was just mouthing words without speaking. Penzey, still grinning, finally turned to Yurichen a beat late.

“You, I understand. But why me? It’s not like I’m going to become the Tower Master.”

“You really need to ask?”

Though Yurichen’s eyes were closed and they didn’t meet gazes, Penzey suddenly had the illusion that he was surrounded by a pair of golden irises that didn’t exist.

“You’ve changed since that journey. Becoming the Tower Master isn’t that far off for you.”

A few hours later, the mage leaned alone against the railing, looking up at the sky.

I’ve changed? Since when?

Was it when I turned my back on my father’s grave?

—Try convincing me, Yurichen Viezlyn. Convince me with your own words to drop the disguise. That’s your mission, isn’t it?

What had the High Priest said back then, when he had come so close his breath brushed against Penzey’s ear?

—Take off your disguise.

—Why?

—Well… because you’re handsome.

It was such an absurdly simple reason. And yet, because it had come from Yurichen, it had struck Penzey as oddly refreshing.

He burst into laughter.

Any polished excuse would’ve made him scoff. But that one had hit him right in the gut.

Or maybe it was in front of the black dragon?

—No, whatever it is, don’t say it if it’s going to be your dying words!

—This is why I didn’t want to travel with you. Because I knew I’d grow attached.

Penzey, lost in thought, sighed.

There was a faint bitter smile at the corner of his lips, but his eyes were heavy with unspoken thoughts. It was a smile that seemed to say, Well, this is a mess.

***

Some of the crew found it awkward that the seemingly happy couple were both men, but once the drinks started flowing, that too gradually faded.

When they heard me calling Banwes “Wes,” the look on their faces was priceless.

“You two look like there’s a bit of an age gap.”

The sailors, flushed and tipsy, even started teasing Banwes, whom they had instinctively been wary of. Someone even called him a thief.

Penzey, of course, added fuel to the fire with his mischievous remarks. Just like that, Banwes was painted as a thirty-year-old late bloomer who had never been with anyone before, then fell completely for me and spent six months circling me like a beast until he was finally blessed with a reward of divine proportions.

“He was just too picky, that’s all.”

“Exactly.”

Banwes looked like he wanted to kick every last sailor overboard, but for my sake, he held it in.

I sipped from a small glass, grinning to myself. The drink was diluted with water, not too strong, and the sweet fragrance made it go down smoothly.

Listening to the rowdy laughter, the sailors’ crude jokes, and stories of life at sea, my eyelids began to droop.

“Should we go in?”

Banwes tried to take me to our room, but I shook my head. I liked this atmosphere. I wanted to stay a bit longer.

So Banwes simply picked me up and set me on his lap.

A few whistles broke out around us, and I shot a sharp glare in that direction before whispering to him.

“I’m not a baby, you know?”

He was just as shameless.

“I’m helping you stay awake. I’ll talk to you and give you a shake now and then.”

“Still, how can I sit on your lap in front of everyone?”

Of course, I was sitting there just fine. Paronai, drunk and exasperated, looked at us with a sigh.

“You two act like you’ll die without each other. Why did you spend the whole journey bickering like that?”

“Because we’re in love.”

“Because we love each other.”

Banwes and I answered in perfect unison, like it was scripted. We were both pleased with ourselves. Paronai, for some reason, turned red and shook his head.

Back when I was bothered by every little thing, when I just wanted to provoke him but didn’t know how. Or back when I didn’t even understand those feelings and genuinely thought I hated him.

When our eyes met, we both cracked a small smile at the same time.

The night wore on, the drinking party came to an end, and I went into the cabin with Banwes. We had a single shared room.

“That cabin’s soundproofing is amazing! The captain once got busy with some lady he met on an island, and we didn’t hear a peep!”

I ignored the sailors’ comments. I had no intention of giving them the satisfaction of seeing me embarrassed.

No matter how much they joked, Banwes wouldn’t dare do something that vulnerable in a place like this.

Not in a place where, if anything went wrong, there was nowhere to run, no option but the sea.

The door slammed shut. Then clicked from the inside. There wasn’t even a window on the cabin door, so no one could see in.

Banwes took something from his bag. I watched, eyes wide.

A sound-suppressing artifact?

He activated it to form a boundary inside the room, then walked over to me without hesitation.

“Ah…!”

I should’ve been used to it by now, but I still flinched when he lifted me up so easily in his impatience. I fell back onto the narrow bed. His thick, muscular torso loomed over me.

“This is… we’re on a ship… the crew is just outside…”

“That’s exactly why I don’t want to miss it, your moans laced with sea breeze.”

I was stumbling over my words in panic, but when I looked into his flushed, opaque eyes, my mind went blank.

A deep red hue had spread around his eyes, turning them into the most sensual shade imaginable. My favorite color.

His breath clung to my ear. His hand, lacking any force, slowly brushed down across my chest. I could already see the bulge straining against his pants, threatening to burst. I swallowed hard.

This is all part of Banwes’s evil scheme. He messes with my head, makes me weak, then devours me completely.

I’ll just ignore the implication that I’m easy.

“Just one time. I mean it.”

I poked the tip of his erection with the sole of my foot. The bulge, already tight enough to tear his pants, surged up instantly, soaking the front in an instant.

“If you come, that’s it. We’re done.”