DSB 99

He’s so bashful.

Lebel looked around the room after watching Yutis. It wasn’t a training hall, so why were there claw marks from a beast inside the heir’s chamber?

Having to repair the room every time his rut came around must be troublesome, but those marks were probably equivalent to Yutis’s resolve.

His determination to maintain his sanity even if he turned into a monster. He must have blamed himself every time he saw those marks.

When Lebel saw his well-defined back muscles, he recalled the wing bones tearing through the skin and wings sprouting.

“Yutis, I like your other form too.”

Lebel muttered bitterly.

“You can say that only because you haven’t seen all of it.”

“Really? Then show me next time.”

A few words wouldn’t make things better, but Lebel didn’t want Yutis to avoid his other side.

In the meantime, Yutis changed into his nightclothes and lay down on the bed. But his body was precariously perched on the edge.

“Please sleep comfortably.”

After carefully tucking the blanket around Lebel, Yutis closed his eyes. Lebel’s eyebrows twitched. Glaring at the space between them, Lebel pulled him closer.

Yutis’s eyes widened as he was dragged in without a chance to resist.

“At least the power you gained was worth it. You’ve gotten quite strong.”

Yutis had kept his distance because he didn’t dare touch him, but Lebel approached without hesitation.

“You’re right. It’s cold here because of the next room. So lend me your warmth.”

Lebel burrowed into his arms, leaving Yutis frozen in surprise. The awkward embrace was pleasant.

“Yutis. I forgot to tell you, but don’t fall for Michael’s temptations. If he realizes you’re quite useful, he’ll definitely covet you. He likes strong ones. Especially since you’re exceptional in swordsmanship, he’ll like you even more.”

With that oddly sulky voice, Yutis’s gaze turned downward. Since Lebel’s face was buried in his chest, his expression wasn’t visible, but he could tell he wasn’t in a good mood.

It was adorable and endearing that he was jealous without even realizing it. He wanted to crush the small body in his arms until it broke.

Yutis clenched his fists and held back.

“If you had said you didn’t want that, I would’ve refused.”

“Forget it. I have no intention of blocking your path. So, spread your wings as much as you want.”

Every time Yutis heard him speak as if he were watching a child just learning to walk, Yutis felt the weight of the years Lebel had lived.

“Ah, right. I’ll teach you how to control the demonic energy too.”

“I heard that demonic energy is the power demons possess, is that right?”

Lebel lifted his head. It was to gauge Yutis’s expression.

“It means you’re special as a human. If you learn to handle it well, it’ll definitely become a great strength, and someone like Norman won’t stand a chance against you. I guarantee it.”

If that happens, there would be no one in this Middle Realm who could oppose him.

Just thinking about it stirred a boiling emotion deep in his heart. It was pride.

“Do you hate the demonic energy that turns you into a monster?”

“…I’m not sure.”

Yutis had despised himself for turning into a monster. But after meeting Lebel, his thoughts changed. There were times he thought it was fortunate because the transformation allowed him to marry him.

“You’re not hating me, right?”

“How could I ever hate my wife…!”

“That’s all that matters. Now, let’s sleep. We’ll be busy starting tomorrow.”

As Lebel patted Yutis’s back, his breathing gradually evened out. The sound of his breaths filled the room, and as Yutis quietly watched Lebel, his heart began to race.

“Why are you so defenseless…?”

He was already suppressing his desires, yet Lebel closed the distance and burrowed into his arms. Yutis couldn’t understand what Lebel trusted in him to show such defenselessness.

He only suffered in bed every time. So why wasn’t he afraid to approach him?

But with Lebel’s “let’s sleep,” his body relaxed languidly. The way he worried only about him with that small head until falling asleep was satisfying to the point of fullness.

He never thought he could love someone, endure a rut cycle, or sleep peacefully in the same bed. Yet Lebel easily shattered those thoughts and stayed by his side.

Yutis wrapped his arms around Lebel’s waist, pulling him closer, and fell asleep to the sound of his breathing as a lullaby.

***

Lebel noticed someone’s firm grip on his body. It felt confining, but also cozy. He almost wanted to fall into a deep sleep

The pleasant scent and warmth made Lebel burrow deeper into the embrace. Then, a small laugh and a voice so tender it was almost unfamiliar tickled his ear.

“Are you going to sleep more?”

Lebel opened his eyes and looked up. Yutis was gazing down at him with a gentle smile.

Why is Yutis here?

There were times when Yutis would come to Lebel’s room, shook his body to wake him up, but he rarely woke up in his arms.

Since Lebel usually woke up late, by the time he opened his eyes, Yutis had already started his daily routine.

Even when they spent the night together during his rut, Yutis would move to clean up and take care of the aftermath while the half-asleep Lebel dozed. They had never just stayed in bed together, sleeping in or lazing around.

Then what happened yesterday came to mind.

‘I came into his room and slept with him.’

Last night, he had kept a distance like they were an estranged couple, but he seemed to have gotten used to it overnight. Lebel yawned and leaned his cheek against his chest.

“My wife, if you’re awake, could you please let go of this?”

Yutis, looking both troubled and awkward, held Lebel’s arm. When Lebel tilted his head and followed his gaze, he saw his own hand gripping Yutis’s collar tightly, refusing to let go.

He was holding on as if he wouldn’t forgive him for pulling away. It seemed he had held him unconsciously in his sleep. When he released his grip, Yutis’ clothes were wrinkled, a testament to how tightly they’d been held.

His strength had certainly returned. Even his grip now matched human standards.

“…I am sorry.”

“It’s fine. You really gotten healthier.”

Yutis laughed, saying he’d been startled as soon as he woke up.

“How are you feeling today?”

“Perfectly fine.”

He wasn’t as sleepy as before, and he felt refreshed after waking. Lebel didn’t get up and tried to roll around in bed, but Yutis pulled him up.

“Can’t I just sleep five more minutes?”

“You said the same thing earlier and slept for an hour.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“The sun is already high in the sky.”

Lebel looked a little displeased, but Yutis gently smoothed his messy hair, wiped his drowsy face with a wet towel, and even helped him wash up.

Lebel only blinked at how efficiently Yutis handled everything.

‘It really might be better for us to stay in one room.’

He liked the feeling of falling asleep beside Yutis and waking up to see him first thing in the morning. Yutis even tended to him without being told.

Maybe he had always wanted to do this, because there was no hesitation in his actions. Even when Mahan came in saying he would take care of it himself, Yutis refused and did everything alone.

After hearing that Karon, who had made a scene in the hallway last night, was locked in the cage, Lebel went to release him, then headed to the dining hall. He had a hard time calming Karon’s sulking mood.

After that, they took their time heading to the main castle to meet Damian. He was already waiting for them in his office, though he was buried in a mountain of paperwork.

“You insisted it was urgent and told me to clear time, yet you show up halfway through the afternoon?”

“I’m sorry.”

When Yutis bowed and apologized, Damian sighed while looking at Lebel, who stood there with a brazen expression.

“…Forget it. I know whose fault it is. So, how’s your health?”

“I’m fine.”

“Really?”

“You don’t have to worry anymore. It won’t happen again.”

“When did I ever say I was worried?”

But despite his words, Damian’s eyes had scanned Lebel from head to toe the moment he walked in, and only after hearing he was fine did he return to his documents.

When Lebel looked at the desk, he saw several papers stamped with the Imperial seal. Some of them had been torn to pieces.

“Did things get complicated because of me?”

“What?”

Damian frowned and lifted his head, looking at Yutis standing beside Lebel.

Since Yutis was shielding his wife, Damian probably didn’t hold Lebel responsible. And knowing Lebel’s personality, he wouldn’t have blamed himself.

“I can take care of it all.”

So it was just baseless confidence.

“Take care of what? There’s nothing to fix. The imperial mage intruded into your room first, and his true identity was a demon. That’s all. A delegation that can’t even tell there’s a demon in their midst deserves to fall apart.”

Damian didn’t bother hiding his hostility toward the Empire.

The problem was that the target of his insults included demons, and one of them was standing right in front of him.

Lebel’s expression turned awkward, but Damian didn’t notice.

“So what’s the important matter? You said you needed me to make time for it.”

“Ah, well…”

When Lebel hesitated, Damian’s gaze turned instantly cold. Lebel, who was usually calm and unhurried, was acting strange.

Damian gestured for them to sit on the sofa. Yutis and Lebel had faced the demon directly. Perhaps they knew why he had appeared in the North and his true intentions.

“First, allocate me a bit of the budget.”