DSB 121

Yutis kept an eye on Lebel from across the room.

He knew Lebel hated crowds, so he had no choice but to let him go when Lebel claimed he was tired and needed a moment alone. Yutis wanted to stay by his side, but the other nobles wouldn’t let him go. He could only steal glances at him whenever he had the opportunity.

Lebel, standing alone against the wall, surveyed the crowd, exuding a sense of dignity. Dressed beautifully, he commanded attention. As he stood alone, a few nobles were seen loitering nearby.

Yutis knew Lebel could handle himself, but he still glared at the back of every man who dared to approach.

It was then that Josen approached Lebel. Things had been awkward between Yutis and Jorsen ever since a minor incident occurred during Yutis’s rut. Their engagement was called off because of it, but since neither of them had feelings for the other, they both saw it as a relief.

Yutis only worried about what Jorsen might say. He knew Jorsen’s attitude had changed since that day; he now looked at Lebel with the same wary eyes as everyone else.

Yutis, who saw the two together, wanted to know what they were talking about, but the surrounding noise made it impossible to hear anything. However, Lebel didn’t appear agitated.

I suppose they aren’t talking about the rut, Yutis thought. Just as he felt a moment of relief, other nobles joined the pair. They hoped to use Jorsen’s presence as an excuse to force their way into a conversation.

Lebel, who usually seemed so indifferent, actually began to speak. His aura was entirely different than it had been a moment ago. Yutis noticed the glass in Lebel’s hand. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and he was smiling far more than usual.

It was definitely the alcohol.

The nobles chattered away, staring every time Lebel laughed, which only made them talk more excitedly.

Yutis fixed his gaze on Lebel. He couldn’t hear a word anyone else said.

At that moment, Lebel brought his face closer to Jorsen’s. He knew Jorsen was an omega. He knew Lebel loved him. But he couldn’t suppress the jealousy boiling within him.

Before he could even process his emotions, his feet were already moving toward Lebel.

“You shouldn’t drink any more,” Yutis said. He snatched the wine glass, which had only a single sip left, out of Lebel’s hand and set it on a table. He didn’t have the heart to scold Lebel, so he turned his glare toward Jorsen instead, treating him like a scoundrel who was after his wife.

Jorsen didn’t even notice the look. He was profusely sweating because of something Lebel had just mentioned.

“I haven’t had that much,” Lebel protested.

Yutis looked the empty glasses placed on the table. There were far more than Lebel realized.

“I don’t get drunk, even if I drink all of those,” Lebel added. He sounded like he was making an excuse because he remembered Yutis teasing him about being drunk before.

“…Your stomach will hurt tomorrow if you drink too much. Would you like to go to the lounge if you’re bored? There are no chairs here, so your legs must hurt from standing so long. I’ll escort you.”

“But things were just getting interesting.”

“What’s so interesting?”

“We were talking about the war and the monster hunts where the young master distinguished himself,” one noble said, eager for a chance to speak with Yutis. The latter didn’t even look at the man; his eyes were on Lebel.

“…You could’ve just asked me.”

“It feels different when I hear it from others. It lets me know that everyone is proud of you.”

Lebel gave a soft, beaming smile, he was proud. Yutis’s face stiffened. It felt as though Lebel’s sweet pheromones were beginning to drift through the air.

As Yutis’s expression hardened, Lebel pointed behind him.

“What about the people waiting for you?”

Since Yutis had left his group so abruptly, the eyes of those nobles were now fixed on Lebel as well.

“I’ve said all I need to say.”

The noble who hadn’t finished his sentence had no choice but to shut his mouth. No one has the courage to speak when the greatest knight in the North glares at them and tells them not to interfere.

The other nobles near Lebel couldn’t withstand Yutis’s threatening gaze either, and they began to scatter.

“What were you talking about with Jorsen? You two seemed to be speaking for a long time.”

“Oh, he said a few things to clear up some misunderstandings.”

“I told you before. There’s nothing between him and me.”

“I know.”

They had been engaged, but it was only a match made by their parents when they were children. Yutis had explained the situation before, and Lebel simply nodded as he moved on.

It was Yutis who grew restless when he heard the calm response.

“Yutis, there’s something more important than that,” Lebel said.

“Yes?”

“That man over there. He’s likely involved with demons.”

As the nobles scattered upon Yutis’s arrival, Lebel pointed toward Jorsen, who was trying to slip out of the ballroom.

Yutis looked confused to see Jorsen at the end of Lebel’s fingertip, but the word demon made his body move on its own accord. He approached the man with quick strides and grabbed him by the shoulder to spin him around.

“Yu… Yutis?”

The sword that had served as mere eye candy for the crowd finally found its true purpose. Yutis didn’t care that Jorsen was a childhood friend. Lebel had no reason to lie.

He used his strength to force Jorsen on his knees. He then drew the holy sword and drove it through Jorsen’s leg to ensure he couldn’t flee.

“Argh!”

Jorsen fell and let out a pained groan, he was pinned to the floor. A human scream echoed through the ballroom where music had just been playing. The nobles gasped and scrambled in horror when they saw the blood pooling on the floor.

“Yutis! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Damian shouted, pushing his way through the crowd.

At that exact moment, a foreign, otherworldly shriek rang out, confirming Jorsen’s connection to demons. A black shape emerged from Jorsen’s body. It looked like a shimmering mist, but it was actually a demon hiding inside a human shell. The creature writhed as if it were struggling.

[Lo… Lord Lebel…!]

The shape had no eyes, yet its gaze was fixed on Lebel. It called his name as if it knew him well.

Lebel didn’t care whether the demon was in pain or not; he only looked at Yutis. He was actually quite surprised. He had told Yutis about the demon, but he hadn’t expected the man to seize Jorsen right then and there.

He knew they had been close since childhood, were once engaged, and that their parents were friends. Yet, Yutis hadn’t hesitated for a single second to take Jorsen down simply because Lebel said so.

Yutis turned his head to look at Lebel. He didn’t doubt or hesitate. He had an almost triumphant expression, proud that he had captured a man linked to demons just as Lebel asked.

“Hahaha!”

A clear, refreshing laugh rang out through the ballroom that had just been filled with screams. Every noble turned their head toward the source of the laughter.

“Hey, you…”

Damian stared at Lebel. The corners of Lebel’s eyes were crinkled beautifully, and a bright smile spread across his face, looking almost innocent.

Yutis also watched Lebel with a stunned expression. The smile directed at him was so lovely that he didn’t want to share it with anyone. He wanted to run to him and immediately hug him, but he couldn’t let go of the man involved with demons.

Lebel realized what he was doing when he heard Damian’s voice and quickly wiped the smile from his face. He returned to a cold, expressionless mask so quickly that the onlookers wondered if they had imagined the laugh.

“Ah, my apologies. I suppose… laughing right now was a bit strange.”

But Lebel couldn’t seem to help the last bit of laughter that escaped him, and a small, soft sound slipped out.

The room fell silent as if time had stopped. They watched him, hardly daring to breathe. Lebel walked calmly despite the many shocked stares. He stopped in front of Jorsen and looked down at him.

“It was you. You weren’t a bad kid,”

Lebel muttered. He turned and spoke to Damian in a calm voice.

“Father, it seems this man has made a contract with a demon. You all saw it just now.”

The shape that had appeared behind Jorsen was gone, but everyone had seen it.

“No, that’s not it! I…! Argh!”

“Don’t move,” Yutis warned.

“Yutis…! You… You’re doing this to me just because of that person’s words…!”

“Just? That’s my wife.”

Jorsen tried to deny it, but no one stepped forward to help. Yutis’s aura was far too terrifying, and they had all seen the proof with their own eyes. Then, Jorsen’s father, Harvan, appeared from the back.

“Jorsen, did you really… make a contract with a demon?”

“…!”

The body of a knight who had survived countless battlefields trembled. Jorsen didn’t have the nerve to look his father in the eye and lie. His mouth hung open for a moment before he slowly hung his head.

“My wife, what should we do?” Yutis asked.

“You should ask your father. What will you do, Father-in-law?”

“It… It’s true that I made a contract, but I have never harmed the North! The North is my home! When the demonic beasts attacked and when the war broke out, I always fought for the North!”

Jorsen confessed everything, realizing this was his last chance to explain. Since his words were true, Edmund thought for a moment.

“Even if that’s true, we don’t know what the demon wants. Besides, demons are targeting the North right now. If there’s a connection between them, the demon you contracted with might have used you to steal and sell our information.”

Jorsen’s face turned deathly pale. He bit his lip and said nothing. The waiting knights stepped forward and restrained him at Edmund’s signal. Jorsen didn’t resist.