DSB 28

“You look handsome too.”

Yutis flinched and spoke in a small voice.

“…It was worth paying attention to my appearance.”

He sounded satisfied. Seeing Yutis in good spirits, Lebel no longer found the outing unpleasant.

When they stepped outside the manor, Shati was already waiting, yawning lazily.

“Are we going to ride that beast?”

“Yes. Shati will be better than a horse. Shati can also detect the scent of other demonic beasts well. If something happens, we’ll be able to respond quickly.”

Yutis stroked Shati’s head. Shati purred softly like a cat showing affection to its master.

“Would you like to pet it too?”

At those words, Shati’s eyes went wide. The beast’s look said, “How could you tell him to touch me?”

Lebel declined, reminded of Karon as he looked at the creature.

He used to get jealous whenever I came back smelling like another beast. I wonder if he’s doing well without me.

“My wife, what are you thinking about?”

The moment Lebel’s thoughts wandered, Yutis spoke up.

There was no point bringing up Karon. He wouldn’t understand.

“Nothing. Let’s just go.”

“Yes. Pardon me for a moment.”

Yutis wrapped his arm around Lebel’s waist and lifted him onto Shati’s back, then climbed up behind him.

Lebel leaned his back naturally against Yutis’s chest. When Yutis tapped Shati’s side, the beast started to run.

As the cold wind brushed his face, Lebel let the tension leave his body.

Yutis’s heart beat faster as he watched Lebel lean into him and take in the passing scenery.

“I thought the same last time… You’re quite natural at this. Have you ridden with anyone before?”

“Hmm? No. You’re the first.”

I had wings, after all.

“But…”

“Is it uncomfortable?”

He must’ve leaned back only thinking of himself. He didn’t even consider if Yutis might feel awkward. He hadn’t said anything though.

“No. You can lean on me. I just wondered if you were this comfortable with anyone else.”

Lebel looked up at him at those strange words.

Maybe because he had just been thinking of Karon, Yutis’s behavior reminded him of that clingy creature who constantly demanded attention.

Their words and manners were different, yet something about them felt similar. Karon always spoke up too whenever he got lost in thought or looked far away.

Maybe it’s because both watch him so closely, protect him, and fuss over him.

Lebel leaned his head back and tapped Yutis’s chest lightly.

“Of course not. You’re large enough to block the wind, and you’re warm because of all that heat in your body. You should feel honored. You’re the only one who’s ever held me in their arms.”

No demon had ever dared to embrace or lift him. Lebel laughed.

“You don’t even remember being held as a child?”

“As a child?”

Lebel tilted his head.

The memory was distant, but when he was born, the two gods had been busy, and even the newborn Lebel had much to do.

“Hmm, no.”

Yutis almost pulled him into his arms right then.

It meant no one had ever held him with affection, not even his parents.

He felt a strong urge to comfort, but he tightened his grip on the reins instead. He didn’t want to mention it. Lebel didn’t even seem to think it was unusual.

He felt that he was pitiful, but so did something else. The scent coming from Lebel tempted him. He had thought it was the rose scent, but it wasn’t that. It was a soft floral fragrance, different from any flower.

He clenched his jaw. He had been taking his medicine regularly, yet his chest still felt heavy.

Looking at Lebel’s calm face, he realized that Lebel probably had no idea what he had said, or that he was releasing pheromones unconsciously.

‘It seems I’m the only one who can sense his pheromones.’

Whenever Yutis caught that scent, he would ask those around them, but they always said they couldn’t smell anything.

He shamelessly felt relieved that he was the only one who could smell it.

But every time this happened, it became harder to control himself.

If no one else could sense it, he might end up giving in to the temptation to touch him.

At the annex where Yutis lived, there were many alphas, but Lebel was the only omega.

The reason Yutis lived away from the main castle was because of his rut.

Omegas reacted sensitively to the pheromones of alphas. Some would go into heat unexpectedly, others would collapse, unable to withstand a strong pheromone.

Even ordinary betas were affected when he released pheromones. There was no way omegas could endure them.

‘I should make sure everything’s prepared for when he stays at the annex again.’

The medicine couldn’t delay it forever. No matter how much he suppressed it, his rut always came.

All the medicine could do was lessen its effects.

‘If I transform in front of him, it’ll be a disaster.’

That was why Yutis had insisted on touring the territory with him today.

Once his rut began, he wouldn’t be able to see him for at least a week.

Every time he remembered how Lebel had been treated when left alone at the northern castle, anger still burned in him.

That was why Yutis wanted to clear every misunderstanding about Lebel as soon as possible.

He wanted to show him around the territory, but he also wanted to prove something.

He wanted the people to see that he cherished and loved Lebel this much.

He wanted them to know that everyone was glad his wife had come, so that strange rumors wouldn’t reach Lebel’s ears.

“Hmm. Maybe I should try handling a beast myself.”

Lebel spoke quietly, satisfied with the feel of the ride.

He disliked walks, but getting some fresh air wasn’t bad, at least when the weather grew warm.

Yutis brushed aside his wandering thoughts and answered.

“Have you ever learned to ride?”

“No. But that’s fine. I’m good at anything that involves the body. If I learn, I’ll pick it up quickly.”

“Please don’t. Just call for me whenever you need to ride.”

“And if you’re not here?”

Lebel spoke casually, but Yutis’s expression stiffened.

It was a direct reminder of his situation. Yutis often had to leave the manor, and during his rut, he was forced to isolate himself.

He suddenly felt anxious. All he wanted was a safe life. Yet the North still hadn’t given him a really safe place.

The northerners were part of the problem, but the biggest problem was himself. He was a monster and a demon who could endanger those around him.

If Lebel became disappointed in him and decided this place wasn’t worth staying in…

When Yutis remained silent, Lebel looked up at him in confusion.

Hmm? I thought he’d say something like “I’ll come as soon as you call.”

Then he saw the anxious look on Yutis’s face.

Why is he like that all of a sudden?

Lebel made a small sound and continued speaking.

“I’ll just wait for you to come. I don’t like going outside much anyway.”

He had thought about learning to ride someday for the future, but he didn’t feel any particular need to.

“When you need something, I’ll make sure I’m by your side.”

“That’s not necessary to that extent.”

“But I want to.”

It was an excessive answer, but since Yutis insisted, there was no reason to stop him.

As they spoke idly, they arrived at the territory.

“It’s the young master!”

The moment they entered the village, people who recognized Yutis came running out.

Seeing the crowd gather so quickly, Lebel found himself missing his demons back in his own domain.

I wonder if they were alarmed when I vanished. The Demon God must have delivered the message. Even if not, Karon is there. It’ll be fine.

“Young Master, is there some trouble in the territory?”

“There’s no problem, don’t worry. I came to look around a little.”

“Ah, I see… huh?”

The villagers noticed the figure resting in Yutis’s arms.

Golden hair and red eyes, the same appearance as the imperial prince who was said to be coming north.

Realizing everyone’s eyes had fallen on Lebel, Yutis dismounted first, then carefully helped him down from Shati’s back.

Yutis stood Lebel beside him and spoke firmly.

“Let me introduce him. He’s my wife. Don’t do anything disrespectful.”

“Ah, yes…”

“Ah, hello.”

Lebel briefly glanced at the villagers awkwardly greeting him, then looked around.

It wasn’t as dazzling as the imperial capital, but its charm pleased him.

The snow-covered village shone white and clear.

“It looks like you.”

“…Do you mean the people?”

“If the people count as part of your domain, then yes.”

Yutis took that as a compliment. After spending several days speaking with Lebel, he had realized that Lebel was honest to the point of discomfort.

He spoke as if there were never a reason to decorate his words.

“Today, I came to show my wife the territory, so don’t interrupt us.”

Yutis, popular even among his people, was always surrounded by them whenever he came down to the village.

Normally he wouldn’t have minded, but today, he wanted to walk through the streets alone with Lebel.

Lebel met the gazes directed at him.

Contrary to Mahan’s worries, no one showed excessive hostility.

The people were more surprised by Yutis’s attitude than anything else.

They looked between Lebel and Yutis again and again.

The prince once rumored to be an idiot, the one said to be Yutis’s wife, was nothing like what they had imagined.