DSB 64

“I think it’s ordinary.”

Apparently, even that had gone far beyond what humans could call ordinary.

“Was that friend of yours a great mage? Is that why he knew so much about beasts?”

When questioned about the source of his knowledge of beasts, Lebel recalled the excuse he had once given to Mahan. He had said he learned it from a friend, thinking of Karon at the time. It was true that Karon had told him about beasts, but strictly speaking that wasn’t magic.

From the beginning, Lebel had always been the one to teach others. He had no memory of ever being taught by anyone.

“Well, something like that. He was a talkative friend, so he told me a lot of things.”

The word ‘friend’ didn’t only mean Karon, so he decided to leave it vague.

Bron found Lebel’s calm reaction unbelievable, even though he had done something extraordinary.

“Then why was the Empire calling you the Foolish Prince? Did they treat you that way even though they knew you were a mage? They have an impressive talent for throwing away their own fortune.”

“Hmm. They did not know.”

That body had been a trick by the Demon God, made for me, a demon, to possess. If I hadn’t come north, I would probably still be suffering in the imperial palace by now.

No, not suffering. I might have destroyed the place.

Lebel laughed softly and shrugged his shoulders. Bron sighed as he watched him and spoke.

“…I understand that Young Madam isn’t a threat to the North, but I hope you’ll tell everything you’re hiding one day. Not to me, but to Lord Yutis.”

“……”

That made it the second time.

Lebel knew he was hiding many things. It seemed that others could see it as well.

Well, he had never really tried to earnestly hide it, so of course it would show.

Even so, since Yutis was restless, Lebel thought he had done his best to tell him as much as he could.

“I explained as much as I could.”

Yutis probably knew there were still unclear parts.

During that time, Lebel cast protective magic on everyone.

“Thank you, Young Madam.”

“We’ll return without injuries!”

“Hey, that’s obvious. I’ll bring back at least one good trophy.”

“We’ll do our best. So even if the Empire bastards tell you to come back, please never go!”

“Why bring that up?”

Why were the knights talking about the Empire now?

Lebel remembered Yutis’s words about being afraid that someone might covet him and that he might follow someone else. At the time, he had thought Yutis was just imagining things, but maybe there had been a reason.

If the imperial castle found out that he was a mage, they would probably regret sending him away. Even then, since they couldn’t find another dominant omega, they would have had no choice but to send him.

He had no intention of ever going back.

“I’m already Yutis’s mate, so I have no thought of leaving. I heard a couple shares one heart, isn’t that right?”

“Haha, of course, Young Madam!”

“Lord Yutis will be happy to hear that.”

“Look, Lord Yutis is coming now!”

When he looked toward where they pointed, he saw familiar silver hair. As Yutis approached with quick steps, Lebel softly smiled.

“All the work is…”

The moment Lebel took a step forward, his head started spinning.

‘This feeling…’

He felt déjà vu, Karon was the first to notice something wrong with him.

[Lord Lebel…?!]

“Huh?”

“Young Madam?!”

“What happened?”

Lebel’s vision turned blurry and his body swayed. Before he could fall, Yutis rushed in and caught him in his arms. It wasn’t enough to make him faint, but his head was spinning, and he was frowning.

Through his blurred sight, Lebel saw eyes filled with worry. He clicked his tongue inwardly.

How troublesome. He must have overused magic too much, thinking his demonic energy would never run out like a human’s. He had enough demonic energy to cast spells, but his body was too weak to handle it.

Yutis shouted in a nervous voice.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m not hurt. I just pushed myself too far.”

He felt sorry for worrying him, but the thought of being confined to bed again for recovery made him feel weary already.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop it.”

Mahan bowed toward Yutis, his face pale.

“Bron, what happened?”

Yutis turned to Bron, who sighed as if he had expected this. Bron scratched his cheek and confessed everything.

“Well… Young Madam cast protective magic on us before we set out.”

Yutis looked at him with a cold gaze. Lebel averted his gaze and muttered an excuse.

“I thought it would be fine.”

“And what were you all doing, not stopping him?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I told you to be especially careful because you’re weak.”

“I did it because I wanted to. Don’t scold them.”

But Yutis, already angry, didn’t hear Lebel’s words. When Lebel tried to stand on his own, saying he was fine, Yutis didn’t let him go.

He lifted Lebel into his arms. Lebel wrapped his arms around Yutis’s neck to keep his balance.

“I can walk on my own…”

“I don’t feel at ease.”

Lebel murmured and looked at the passing servants. Once this news spread, there would be another uproar.

“Since Young Madam even cast magic for us, we’ll make sure to return safely.”

“Yes, understood.”

Lebel was flustered by the sudden parting, but he still nodded in farewell to the knights who waved to him. Then he turned his eyes to Yutis and saw his demonic energy violently swirling.

“Are you angry?”

“I’m angry at myself. You spent time with me, yet I failed to stay by your side, and this happened.”

He said it was his fault that Lebel collapsed from overexertion. How foolish could he be?

“It’s not your fault. I did it because I wanted to.”

“…If you were just a bit smaller, I’d carry you under my arm everywhere.”

“What?”

Lebel laughed at the absurd statement. Wasn’t he already doing that? He carried him around just fine as it was. His body was already small enough, so smaller than this?

“You don’t want those men to get hurt either.”

“I’d rather my strong subordinates get injured than have you collapse.”

“If you say that, they’ll feel hurt.”

“They already know it.”

“Hm…”

Lebel recalled how everyone had panicked when he staggered.

“Mahan, bring Illa here.”

“Yes, understood.”

As if waiting for it, Mahan left. Lebel frowned.

“Even Illa? I only felt dizzy for a moment, and now I’m fine.”

He just hadn’t expected his demonic energy to run out that easily. Now he was fine again, since it was already recovering on its own.

“You can’t be sure.”

“Holy power doesn’t even work well on me.”

“It’s still better than doing nothing.”

“You’re the one who helps me more.”

“Me…?”

“Yes.”

Yutis didn’t know, but his demonic energy was slowly seeping into Lebel. He instinctively sensed that his mate lacked energy and was replenishing it.

It was absurd that a demon was receiving demonic energy from a human. But as strength returned to his body, it didn’t feel unpleasant.

“Good.”

Lebel completely relaxed in Yutis’s arms. Yutis’s pace slowed. He didn’t need to receive demonic energy, but he had no reason to refuse it either.

As he tasted Yutis’s energy and rested comfortably in his embrace, Lebel suddenly felt his body react strangely.

Yutis thought Lebel’s restlessness came from the way he was being held, so he pulled him closer to his chest. The closer the distance became, the clearer it felt.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No. I think you’re the one who might be in trouble.”

“…Me?”

Yutis couldn’t sense the movement of his own energy, so he didn’t realize what was happening. But Lebel knew he was devouring Yutis’s demonic energy greedily.

“…As long as you’re fine, that’s enough.”

He was short on energy, but not to the point of craving it like this. Was this related to his heat? If not, then it must be because of this body.

‘This might be troublesome.’

Yutis quietly watched Lebel’s thoughtful face. Since Lebel looked somewhat serious, Yutis also became serious. Naturally, he assumed it was because Lebel’s condition had worsened.

When Lebel, feeling his gaze, insisted that he was fine, it did nothing to convince him.

***

“Karon. Stop being angry.”

[I’m not angry! I just can’t accept that you collapsed for the sake of those humans! This is all because of those damned humans…]

Isn’t that what being angry is?

Karon was a demon. Because of that, he had sensed that Lebel’s demonic energy had been drained and that it affected his body. His fluffy black fur trembled slightly.

Lebel heard Karon muttering under his breath beside his ear like a curse. Then Illa, who was checking on him, spoke calmly.

“You’re fine now.”

“I was fine from the start.”

“That’s by your standard, Lord Lebel.”

Lebel clicked his tongue at Illa’s firm tone.

“You’re just like Yutis, making him worry even more.”

When Illa had come to check his condition, his expression turned rigid as soon as he saw Lebel. Since Illa usually smiled a lot, Mahan and Yutis were startled as soon as they saw his face.