STM 114

“Lord Lu’s escort has returned alone just a moment ago.”

The captain of the guard signaled the soldier he’d brought to explain, and the man hesitated before offering an excuse.

“Lord Lu shook me off and quickly disappeared into the darkness…”

His excuse failed to come out properly. A strange chill ran down his spine, and he raised his eyes, only to be met with a chilling golden gaze intent on killing him.

Eek!

As the soldier barely managed to swallow his scream, his fearful eyes turned elsewhere.

“Direction.”

Tairok asked the captain, ignoring the soldier. The captain, realizing the gravity, immediately glared at the soldier. The soldier hesitated before speaking.

“Uh, it seemed like toward the fog…”

“Nargal.”

Tairok called the captain again before even hearing the full answer.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Lu has keen night vision and is fast on his feet. It’s easy to lose him if his escort lets their guard down. But right now, this soldier is trying to cover his mistake by slandering Lu, who will become the Grand Duchess.”

Tairok’s voice was so dry it lacked any emotion, but the listeners’ expressions instantly tensed.

A sword master could emit killing intent as an intangible aura, which ordinary people found hard to endure.

Rick, being an ordinary person, could barely breathe and just watched the situation. Amidst it all, his mind was filled with confusion. Why on earth is he so angry?

“This is my fault for not training him properly.”

Nargal knelt on one knee and bowed his head. The soldier beside him, pale as a ghost, prostrated himself on the ground begging forgiveness, but Tairok acted as if he couldn’t hear the soldier’s words and cast a cold gaze at Nargal.

“Then set an example. I’ll strip you of your rank for the next month. Return to the lowest sentry and guard the gates without shifts.”

Then, as if to search for Lu himself, he vanished into the darkness. Rick finally exhaled the breath he’d been holding and thought: Whatever the reason, one thing was clear. Tairok cared for Adeye Lu.

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I didn’t want to cause trouble less than a day after arriving at the Grand Duke’s estate, but this time, I really had no choice.

Entering the fog without a lantern made it hard to find the way. I had Mo, so I could get the proper direction and just head that way.

But with visibility completely obscured, I missed a rock on the ground.

Thud.

I tripped over the rock and fell, hitting my knee.

“Ugh!”

I barely caught myself with my hands to avoid hitting my head on the ground, but in the process, I twisted my ankle.

As expected, when I stood up, my ankle ached, making it hard to put weight on it.

I’d already lost my escort, entered the fog I wasn’t supposed to, and now I was injured.

Wait, isn’t this exactly the damsel-in-distress protagonist route?

“Ow, damn it.”

If I run into Tairok coming to rescue me, it’ll be the peak of the nuisance cliché.

Anything but that!

I inwardly shouted, dragging my painful leg a few steps, but it hurt with every movement.

Shit, I have to walk even if it hurts. I can’t be the idiot who gets rescued in the fog. As I was scraping my grit and determination, helpful Mo spotted something in the darkness.

[There’s a shape that looks like a cabin at 4 o’clock direction.]

I pondered for a moment before changing course toward the cabin. Instead of pushing myself to find the path and worsening the injury, it might be better to wait quietly in a safe spot for rescue.

Fortunately, the cabin wasn’t far, and the door was open. Thinking it was an abandoned cabin, I stepped inside. But as soon as I groped the wall and lit the lantern, my assumption flipped.

The small interior was well-maintained. It looked like someone had been here recently, the bedding on the simple bed was folded and clean.

Who on earth uses this place?

Confused, I looked around and belatedly noticed various tools lined up on one side. Hammers of different kinds, saws, piles of ropes, and a large wooden barrel that looked like a toolbox.

It resembled a carpenter’s workshop. But for that, the other items were too luxurious.

The lantern I’d lit used expensive black magic stones as fuel, and the simple kettle and cups for tea were obviously high-end, fit for nobility.

It was a confusing combination, but thanks to it, I could guess who used this place.

In the fog where no one can enter, whoever is doing whatever here but takes breaks with luxurious tea, there’s only one person.

Ah, damn. Did I trespass into Tairok’s hideout?

It didn’t take long to confirm my unease.

Creak.

The door opened with a small creak.

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The sky was covered in clouds since the daytime, obscuring even the dim moonlight, and the world was pitch black.

The back of the castle had a clear boundary of darkness beyond a certain point, with no lanterns. Today, that line was even more distinct. Beyond it lay the fog, a warning not to venture further.

If you go in, something terrifying will happen.

Rumors spread among the people like a ghost’s whisper. Indeed, there were those who entered the fog and never returned alive.

That’s why the people working at the mansion never even glanced this way. The only one who’d set foot here would be someone new to the Grand Duke’s estate, ignorant of everything.

But the fog was just a warning; the actual curse began around the main estate, surrounded by high walls. Lu, who had entered, wasn’t in any real danger.

He’d probably just wander in the fog until he collapsed from exhaustion. Knowing this, Tairok didn’t need to hurry right now.

But the anxiety clung to him like glue, growing ever larger and choking him. It all started when he returned to the mansion and realized Lu wasn’t in his room.

For a moment, his nerves felt sharp as a knife. Ironically, he’d been feeling quite excited up until then.

He was thinking of countless things he could say and do that would make Lu, whom he was about to meet, feel embarrassed and terrified. Just imagining his reaction made him laugh, so he had to force a frown the whole time.

When he was talking to the person he was meeting with, he imagined Lu’s irritated face, and his lower body started heating up.

Because he was going to climb on top of him and look down at that face that would be obviously annoyed. He was going to take off his clothes, dig between his legs, and rub his dick against him.

The mere thought made his head feel like it would explode. Tairok had never once in his life imagined rolling around with someone.

His lust had always been impulsive, and who the partner was didn’t matter. Sex was just a way to satisfy his urges, nothing more.

But Lu was different. He dominated Tairok’s mind at all hours. In those moments, it was like flames erupting, consuming everything until all he could think about was Adeye Lu.

At first, he didn’t want to admit he was in heat for Lu. Of all people, Adeye Lu.

He didn’t seek a reason, thinking it was a flame that would soon die out. But as if mocking his will, thoughts of Lu’s persisted.

How many times, unable to hold back, he thought of him and jerked his penis. His face, his voice, every single movement. Even his disapproving gaze made his blood boil.

It’s just lust.

He kept making excuses. But as time went on, whenever he thought of Lu, his heart, not his stomach, grew warmer.

After returning from Borhumi, that feeling reached its peak. When he regained consciousness after being injured in the fight with Dorgo, the first thing that came to mind was Lu’s safety.

Only then did he admit his own foolishness. If it was just lust, his heart wouldn’t be this tight.

As soon as he could walk, he devoted himself to training day and night. Those around him assumed he was trying to quickly regain his former strength, but they were half right and half wrong.

If he didn’t train this hard, he felt like he would do something stupid like run to Adeye right away.

‘They say Adeye Lu is on the verge of death.’

Hearing the news, a strong urge struck me in the middle of the night. He had to go see him. He had to see his condition with his own eyes.

But instead of running to Adeye, he went to the training ground and swung his sword until his wound opened.

Plop plop.

Watching his own blood dripping to the floor, Tairok was forced to confront the questions he had been trying to ignore.

Why can’t I shake him off?

He was angry at his uncontrollable, uncharacteristic thoughts. The answer he vaguely found came from a friend’s visit.

‘Please take me as your companion.’

Hoiga’s request suddenly chilled hid mind, as if he’d been doused with ice water. Even though the one who claimed to be Salvation was offering to lift the curse, he couldn’t hear him clearly. Ironically, those words made him realize something.

Then I can’t have Lu?