SWY Side Story 2

The air inside the cave was so cold with magic that even the heating stones couldn’t stop the chill from stinging their noses. A few stones weren’t enough to keep the house warm. Of course, they could use more, but who knew how many years they might have to stay here? Even if they had plenty for now, it wasn’t unlimited.

Only the house used by the nanny and young Iris was generously supplied with heating stones. Everyone else had agreed to conserve them as much as possible.

“Are you cold?”

“Yeah. It’s still chilly since we didn’t use that many heatstones.”

“Really? I don’t feel it that much. Shan, when I’m next to you, I don’t feel cold at all.”

“And what, when I’m next to you, you don’t feel hungry either?”

“Of course I…”

Knock knock.

A careful knocking came at the door.

“Young masters, breakfast is ready. Are you awake?”

It was Kuph, the butler.

“We’ll be right out,” Lestel called back loudly, taking Sharhan’s hand. “Come on, let’s go. I’m hungry.”

“Didn’t you just say being next to me made you feel full?”

“Honey, you’ve got to let me finish talking. I was about to say I don’t feel full.”

As Sharhan gave him an incredulous glare, Lestel lifted his wrist and kissed the vein that pulsed just beneath the skin, smiling with a sparkle in his eye.

‘I’ll let it slide because that smile is too pretty.’

Sharhan had been about to scold him, but found himself smiling too when another round of knocking rang out.

Knock knock knock!

“Brother! Hurry up!”

This time it was Iris. Sharhan quickly pulled his hand from Lestel’s grasp and straightened his clothes, flustered. He didn’t want to risk showing something inappropriate to his little sister.

‘Thank goodness we picked the most secluded house.’

To be honest, they had chosen it for that exact reason, it was set apart from the cluster of other homes deep inside the cave. No one knew why this one was isolated, but Sharhan was grateful. When having sex with Lestel, no matter how careful he was, it was impossible to stay completely quiet. Imagine if his sister and her nanny were right next door.

‘I’d rather not do it at all.’

Sharhan shuddered, face twisted in horror. Lestel tilted his head, watching him silently.

“Shan.”

“What?”

Just as the voice outside called, “Brother!” again, prompting Sharhan to hastily open the door, Lestel asked,

“Are you ashamed of me?”

“What are you talking about?”

Turning around, Sharhan saw Lestel pouting, eyes narrowed like a sulking child. He was about to ask what that face was for when he spotted Iris standing outside, bouncing impatiently.

“What took so long?! The nanny’s already done making breakfast. I’m starving, my stomach’s been growling forever!”

She had been taught not to open doors without permission, even if it was her brother’s house. Iris had waited anxiously instead of barging in. She shot them a pouty glare.

“You should’ve eaten without us.”

Putting his conversation with Lestel on hold, Sharhan stepped forward.

“The nanny said we all had to eat together! Did you two oversleep?”

Though it had only been a few days, Iris looked much healthier after some decent rest and meals. Her face had filled out a little, though she was still thin. Her bright violet eyes – just like Sharhan’s – sparkled with life, filling him with warmth and a twinge of emotion.

“Yeah.”

“Geez, you sleepyheads.”

Hands on her hips like she was scolding them, Iris looked adorable. Kuph, who watched her like a doting grandfather, smiled. Sharhan couldn’t help laughing either and reached out to ruffle her hair, but she stepped back seriously.

“Don’t touch! The nanny just did my hair. Oh? It’s Sir Rael! Brother, I’m going ahead, so hurry up!”

She turned to scold Sharhan but darted away the moment she saw Rael. Kuph gave a quick bow and followed after her.

Watching his little sister walk away hand in hand with Rael, Sharhan felt a stab of disappointment.

“She acted like she’d never leave my side.”

When he first brought the group into the Ice Cave, Iris had clung to him like a shadow. That first day, she followed him everywhere, and the nanny even joked, “The young miss is like your tail, young master.”

But by the second day, she began to branch out. Now, she barely showed up except in the mornings. She explored the cave with the nanny, sat beside Rael chatting away while he tended weapons, and sometimes even ventured outside the cave with Kuph to scout the area.

Of course, they’d warned her never to go far and to stay close enough to flee quickly if any undead or survivors appeared.

‘And now she won’t even let me touch her hair. She used to love it when I patted her head.’

Sharhan clicked his tongue inwardly, watching Iris disappear without even glancing back. He felt a little abandoned but was also proud to see her regaining her energy.

“Feeling left out?”

Lestel came up beside him and nudged him lightly with his shoulder.

“Hmm? Yeah. A little. Just a few days ago, she wouldn’t leave my side. When we picked this house, she nearly cried asking why it wasn’t closer to the nanny’s. And now? Seems like I’m already old news. Just now she even looked happier to see Rael.”

“Now you understand how I feel?”

“What? What do you mean, your feelings?”

“As soon as you heard Iris’s voice, you tossed me aside like nothing.”

“When did I do that?”

“Did you already forget how fast you let go of my hand?”

“T-that was just because I didn’t want Iris to see…”

“Why? Are you ashamed of me?”

Lestel folded his arms and tilted his head again. Only then did Sharhan realize what he had meant by that earlier question. He had wondered why Lestel asked out of nowhere if he was ashamed.

“I’m not ashamed. I just… if she found out we’re together, I thought she might be shocked.”

Her big brother dating another man, especially Lestel, someone he used to bicker with constantly. Sharhan could only imagine how jarring it would be for her.

“So how long are you planning to keep it secret? Don’t tell me you’re going to hide it forever?”

“…”

He missed Lestel’s question, too caught up thinking about when would be the right time to tell Iris without hurting her.

“Honey, don’t even think about using Iris as an excuse to push me away. I’m not letting you go. Not even when I die.”

Lestel raised Sharhan’s hand and bit down hard on the back of it. Sharhan, snapped out of his thoughts, flinched and glared.

“Are you a dog or what?! Why’d you bite me?!”

“Because you weren’t answering.”

“What did you even say? I didn’t hear it, I was thinking.”

“You’re not planning to keep me hidden forever like some secret lover, are you?”

Lestel as a secret lover… That didn’t suit him at all. Sharhan burst out laughing.

“That might actually be fun…”

“Do you want to see how fun it gets if I really become your secret lover?”

Sharhan batted away Lestel’s hand that had grabbed his butt and said,

“I can’t turn the noble son of a Marquis into my hidden lover. Just wait a few more years. Once Iris is a bit older, I’ll tell her myself.”

“You expect me to sneak around and show affection in secret for years?”

Lestel’s eyes narrowed with dissatisfaction. Sharhan gently smoothed the frown from his brow with a finger, then quickly looked around. Everyone else had already gone to breakfast. They were alone in the cave.

“Secret affection is… kind of thrilling, don’t you think?”

He nipped softly at Lestel’s earlobe, then backed away. Lestel, flustered, coughed and grabbed Sharhan’s waist, pulling him in and kissing him.

Their lips met. This time, their tongues brushed. Their chests pressed together, not a sliver of space between them. The warmth spreading between their lower bodies grew steadily hotter. Before things could go further, Sharhan pushed Lestel away and licked his lips. His cheeks were burning.

“Honey, where’d you learn to be such a damn tease?”

Lestel’s breath was rough as he rubbed Sharhan’s cheek with his thumb.

“I must’ve learned it from you. You’re the only one I’ve ever been with.”

That answer made Lestel laugh aloud, pleased.

“Brothers, hurry up!”

Iris popped her head back in, waving them over.

“We’re coming,” Sharhan replied. He briefly held Lestel’s hand before letting go and said, “Let’s go.” The cave’s chill cooled the heat in his face just in time.