SWY 141

“Do you think he’s circling the castle, looking for a chance to sneak in?”

Parel’s target had always been the Emperor, from beginning to end. And now that the Emperor was holed up safely inside the castle, he was probably racking his brain, desperate to find a way in.

Sharhan, lost in thought and silent for a moment, leaned back to look at Lestel’s face.

“He has mana explosives. Why hasn’t he used them?”

That had been bothering him all along. Wasn’t this the same man consumed by vengeance, just like Lord Luhas, who had offered up the entire Empire as a sacrifice?

Parel was the type who wouldn’t bat an eye at sacrificing hundreds, even thousands, as long as it meant he could kill the Emperor.

So why hadn’t he used the mana explosives? With their power, he could have broken through even the most tightly sealed gates.

Lestel’s hand, which had started to pull Sharhan back close after he shifted away, hesitated in midair. With a furrowed brow, he opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.

“…”

“It’s not because of the people in front of the gate, is it?”

A single mana explosive could easily open the gate, but it would also take the lives of everyone standing in front of it.

At Sharhan’s words, Lestel gave a short, incredulous laugh.

“Parel? That bastard? No way.”

“Yeah. Even I think it sounds ridiculous now that I’ve said it.”

“He probably couldn’t use them. Or he has something else in mind. If the chance came, he’d throw it without a second thought.”

Lestel gave his sharp, decisive evaluation of Parel, then pulled Sharhan into a tight embrace, wrapping both arms around him as if he had no intention of letting go.

They were so close that it was hard to breathe. But instead of pushing him away, Sharhan wrapped his arms around Lestel’s waist and buried his face against his shoulder.

The Parel Sharhan had met, however briefly, matched Lestel’s description. Still, the words of the villa children, who had spoken fondly of him as a kind man, tugged at his mind. Children were surprisingly perceptive, so Parel’s kindness couldn’t have been entirely fake.

‘It must’ve been a momentary lapse. There’s no way that bastard Farrel held back out of sudden sympathy. He must have another goal.’

Sharhan shook off the fleeting thought and closed his eyes. Then he felt Lestel’s hand slowly creeping downward and tensed.

At first, Sharhan pretended not to notice. But the moment that mischievous hand passed over his butt and moved toward his perineum, he couldn’t hold back and opened his eyes.

Lestel’s erection was pressing against him through their joined lower bodies, and in response, Sharhan felt himself stirring as well.

“What… are you doing?”

“We haven’t done it in a long time.”

“So you want to do it now?”

“…We can’t, huh?”

“Of course we can’t! So get your hand off my ass.”

Lestel reluctantly withdrew his hand, but not before giving Sharhan’s firm butt a few lingering rubs. He then moved his hips back, creating just enough space between them for a fist to fit.

Sharhan quickly steadied his breath and looked at him. Lestel’s pale face was flushed with arousal, making him look indecently alluring.

‘I want to do it too.’

It had been so long that he’d lost count. If it were up to him, they’d have done it countless times already, but circumstances hadn’t allowed it, and that was frustrating.

“When can we?”

Lestel mumbled like a dejected wolf.

“Soon.”

“And when’s ‘soon’?”

“After we rescue Iris and the nanny, and after I avenge my parents.”

“…”

“Then we’ll go to the Ice Cave, see what’s there, take anything useful, and head somewhere quiet and safe.”

“…”

“Oh, and if Derry hasn’t shown up by then, we’ll have to go get him. He’s family now too, we can’t just leave him behind.”

As Sharhan listed out their ever-growing tasks, Lestel’s brow scrunched in discontent. Sharhan sat up and glanced sideways at him, watching him lie there with half-lidded eyes, as if daring him to keep going. It almost made him laugh.

Feeling mischievous, Sharhan continued as if oblivious.

“I’m also thinking about the kids at the villa. Should we bring them too? Iris would like having friends to play with.”

“Why not throw in Ardelle while you’re at it? And hey, why don’t we just bring everyone from the storehouse too?”

“That’s a good idea. Especially Randall and Samson, they’re really competent. They’d be a big help in setting up somewhere quiet.”

“Shan.”

“What?”

“Are you having fun driving me crazy?”

“Yes.”

With a sigh and a breathless laugh, Lestel reached out and twisted Sharhan’s nose. He didn’t put any force into it, so it didn’t hurt at all. Sharhan groaned, “Why is it so hard to have sex with my lover?” and patted Lestel’s back as he buried his face in the blanket.

“Soon, we’ll roll around as much as we want. Until we’re sick of it.”

“You’re wrong.”

“About what?”

“I’ll never get sick of rolling around with you. You might collapse from exhaustion, though.”

“Collapse? Me? Are you underestimating my stamina? The only one who’ll be begging for mercy is you. You’ve been looking rough lately. Your face looks worn out, and you’ve lost weight. Barely a handful left on you.”

Sharhan raised an eyebrow with a scoff, tracing a hand along Lestel’s waist to provoke him.

“Are you talking about yourself? You’ve lost so much weight I’m worried you’ll vanish. Your thick, springy ass used to be your charm…”

Sharhan narrowed his eyes as Lestel trailed off with a tut.

“It used to be? What? Why’d you stop there?”

“…It’s still sexy. That’s why I’m going crazy wanting to be inside you right now.”

Lestel nuzzled against Sharhan’s nape as he spoke. The spoiled gesture softened Sharhan’s sharp gaze. Internally deciding to let it slide, he patted Lestel’s head.

“Once everything’s settled, I’ll let you do it all you want. Just hold on a little longer. I’m holding back too.”

“You promise?”

“Yeah. I promise. Now let’s sleep.”

Sharhan turned over and closed his eyes. Not long after, as he drifted into deep sleep, Lestel’s whisper reached his ear: “Shan, thank you. I love you.” It had become Lestel’s nightly ritual, a quiet expression of gratitude.

‘I should tell him to stop saying thanks all the time.’

Thoughts kept swirling in his head, but Sharhan was already sinking into slumber.

***

A cautious knock stirred him from sleep, and warmth pressed against his back. It was Lestel, fast asleep, wrapped around him like a blanket.

It should have felt stifling to sleep with such a large weight on his back, but Sharhan had slept soundly, without a hint of discomfort.

Knock knock.

The sound came again, followed by Kuph’s voice.

“Young masters, are you awake?”

“Kuph? What is it?”

Lestel, still barely awake, responded without opening his eyes.

“I lit a fire while cooking with some flour. The parlor’s warm now, so please come out and warm yourselves.”

“Got it.”

Once Kuph walked away, Lestel took a deep breath with his face buried in Sharhan’s nape, then raised his upper body. He gently rolled Sharhan onto his back, gave him a quick kiss, and asked,

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah. You?”

“I slept great. Let’s go see what kind of magic Kuph worked with that flour.”

They had brought it from the storehouse when they left, but hadn’t been able to use it until now.

Stretching his stiff neck, Sharhan stepped outside. Thanks to the fire, the air was noticeably warmer than the day before. A kettle hanging over the fireplace rattled slightly as something boiled inside.

“It’s hot water. Please, come this way.”

Kuph gestured toward the table. As they approached, they noticed one chair was missing, likely used to feed the fire.

“What’s this?”

“I mixed the flour with water, added a bit of salt, and baked it. It won’t taste like much, but it should fill your stomachs. It’s barely food, really.”

Kuph awkwardly offered them a plate holding something like flat, baked bread. Sharhan and Lestel picked it up without hesitation.

It wasn’t tasty, but it was salted enough to be edible. Kuph, relieved that they were eating without complaint, fetched the kettle and poured them each a cup of hot water.

“Did you eat too, Kuph?”

“We had some earlier, so please, don’t worry and eat your fill.”

They hadn’t had much flour to begin with, so the portions couldn’t have been generous. Either he hadn’t eaten at all, or he’d had only a little.

Lestel, well aware of that, offered what was left to Kuph, Rael, and Adam. The three initially refused, but accepted after Lestel insisted.

“Didn’t we agree not to light fires, since it could draw attention?”