DMHS 60

According to what was known, his reputation within the tribe was also outstanding. His magical skill was far superior, and about his character people said he was diligent and gentle, kind and caring, he respected his elders and looked after his juniors. The dominant opinion was that he was a next chieftain blessed by heaven.

It was also assumed that he had deep brotherhood with his half-brother Ivan Harkin. On the day Ivan Harkin left the Delia tribe for the kingdom’s tower, there is a story that Gimere Harkin clung to him in tears.

‘So the motive for the Blood Harvest Festival really was revenge for his brother’s death.’

After reading to the end, Kian folded the letter and placed it in the envelope. Then he looked at the box on the counter. The box had the inn’s address written, along with “To Sir Kian Semes.” There was no sender’s name.

‘There is no name here.’

It puzzled him only briefly. Since it had arrived with the letter, Kian assumed it was also sent by Ibrahim and pried open the box. Inside the crack he saw what looked like black fur.

‘It will not be a fur coat in this weather.’

Kian fully opened the box. A rotten smell rushed out. Kian stayed silent as he looked inside.

‘…A cat’s corpse.’

When he turned over the dead cat with its eyes still open, he saw the stomach slit open in a straight line. Inside, instead of organs, it was packed full with small beads.

‘This was not sent by Ibrahim.’

Kian carefully lifted the cat’s body. At the bottom of the box were words written in blood.

How do you feel seeing your future in advance?

Of course Kian felt nothing. Even if the sender had sent him a severed human head, he would not have been surprised. To Kian, who had lived for long years, death was as natural as life.

Instead, Kian thought of something else.

‘The handwriting is the same as the words left in the tower master’s room.’

Leaving the box on the counter, Kian ran outside. If the culprit was the shaman behind the incident in the tower, he guessed they might be nearby watching him.

‘Where are you?’

Kian spread his mana field. But contrary to his expectation, no presence was detected.

‘Do they know how to hide their energy?’

Kian circled the inn. He checked the trees, he checked whether any hidden storage was nearby. In the end he even reached the square, but there was no suspicious person.

‘A rat-like bastard.’

Having failed to find the shaman, Kian returned to the inn. By then the inn had grown noisy. So loud that it could be heard outside, Frederick, the princess, and even Daisy were all talking loudly together. Kian threw the door open.

“What happened?”

Three pairs of eyes turned to him. The princess reacted first.

“Are you alright, Sir Kian?”

Next was Daisy.

“You must have been so startled that you went out to get some fresh air. Please sit and catch your breath for a while.”

Lastly Frederick spoke.

“I will give you medicine to calm your nerves. Take it and you will feel better right away.”

The three of them pulled Kian to a chair and sat him down. Kian, bewildered, soon understood. While he was out, they must have checked the gift sent to him.

“Who would do such a thing. This is truly a vile prank. Do not let it bother you. It is nothing.”

“Do not worry. No matter what happens, I will protect you, Sir Kian. I swear it on the honor of the Bernstein family.”

It seemed they misunderstood, thinking Kian had run outside in shock after seeing the culprit’s work.

Kian lowered his eyebrows and smiled.

“I appreciate the concern, but I am fine. There was no direct threat.”

Of course, even if there had been a real threat, Kian would still have been fine…

“You do not need to pretend you are fine. Look, sweat is beading on your forehead.”

That sweat had come from running all the way to the square.

“You must have been shocked after opening the box. We should have stayed at your side. I am sorry.”

Again, Kian had not been surprised at all.

“This is medicine to calm your mind. Please take it.”

Frederick brought a vial. The princess and Daisy both urged Kian together.

‘Words will not be enough.’

It seemed better to just take the medicine and say it helped. With that decision, Kian tilted back the vial of pink liquid in one go.

Gulp.

A few seconds later, Lucien appeared, coming down the crooked stairway as if he had just woken from the noise. But his appearance was strange.

‘Huh…?’

It was like only he was caught in a spell of time.

The image of his long legs stepping down the stairs carved itself into Kian’s eyes in slow motion. Kian could not look away from what was nothing more than a man walking down stairs. His golden hair, darker than usual, shined brightly. His features showed no expression, like he was deep in thought, but their presence was overwhelming.

‘Was he always this beautiful?’

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Kian’s heart started beating faster.

A halo of light seemed to shine behind Lucien, making it hard to look straight at him. Kian raised his hand to shade his eyes.

His gaze moved from Lucien’s heart-shaped lips, to his tall nose, and finally to his green eyes. Between the long lashes his eyes shined bright enough to be compared to jewels.

‘No, I have never seen a jewel this beautiful in my life…’

Kian realized his own thought a beat too late.

‘What did I just think?’

He hurried to turn his head. No, he tried to. But his head would not turn away, like a magnet pulled to the opposite pole.

Lucien came down the stairs and stood next to Kian.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Now Kian’s heart beat so fast it felt like it would explode. Heat spread from his lower stomach. Kian looked up blankly at Lucien.

“What is going on?”

Lucien looked at the group around Kian and spoke in a displeased tone. Daisy gave a short explanation. Even so, Lucien’s frown did not ease.

“For someone who just took medicine to calm down, his state looks far too strange. Are you sure this is a sedative?”

“Of course. Look, it says so here.”

Frederick held out the empty vial. Lucien did not even check the letters that read “Sedative.” He quickly tore off the paper label. Underneath was another slip. The words written on it were these:

♥ Make the one you have a crush on yours! ♥

♡ Works on anyone! ♡

♥ A potion that makes them fall in love ♥

“……”

“……”

“…Uncle, are you a pervert?”

Frederick’s already red face turned like a burning sweet potato. He waved his hands frantically toward the others who stared at him suspiciously.

“N-no, it is all a misunderstanding! I never use such medicine! I had no idea this vial was mixed in!”

“So in the end, you admit it is yours.”

Frederick blinked quickly and tried to explain.

“I received it from a mischievous classmate back in the academy. At that time, studying such things was a trend in the department of magic. I heard the effects vary depending on the person. I should send a letter to that classmate about the antidote. But Sir Kian, are you alright?”

“……”

“Sir Kian?”

“……”

There was no answer from Kian. From the moment Lucien stood beside him, he could not focus on anything else. Just looking at Lucien standing still made his chest overflow.

‘Pretty.’

He wanted to look at that face all day.

‘On top of that, cute…’

Even his frown looked adorable.

‘Even lovable.’

He wanted nothing more than to hug him tight and cover him with kisses.

‘Can I really do that?’

He could not hold back anymore. Kian tugged lightly on Lucien’s arm. Lucien looked at him with a blunt face, asking what it was.

Kian got up and pecked Lucien on the cheek. It was something Kian would never normally do.

“……”

“……”

“…Uncle, you take responsibility.”

The princess stood and left with Daisy. Frederick, with a face full of despair, called out to Kian. When there was no answer, he waved his hand in front of Kian’s eyes.

Only then did Kian notice Frederick blocking his sight.

‘What is wrong with this guy? I am busy looking at my Lucien.’

“What?”

The curt reply made Frederick respond.

“Can you see this, Sir Kian?”

In Kian’s sight, everything except Lucien looked blurry. He struggled to focus and checked the vial Frederick was holding out.

“A potion that makes someone fall in love?”

His clouded mind seemed to clear a little.

“I am sorry. I gave you the wrong medicine, so you drank something strange. How do you feel now? Any discomfort?”

If the princess had been there, she would have pointed out that Frederick was still trying to satisfy his curiosity as a mage even now. But only Frederick, Kian, and Lucien were present.

Kian answered blankly.

“I feel uncomfortable.”

“What exactly is uncomfortable?”

“Having to hold back.”

Kian spoke again before another question came.

“I want to kiss him.”

“……”

“I want to hug him and cherish him. I want him to look only at me, and I want to leave marks all over him to show he is mine. I want to love him all day, tie him to the bed so he cannot leave.”

Lucien sighed and pushed back his bangs.

“You heard that? I am taking him.”

Lucien grabbed Kian’s arm and pulled him up. Frederick bowed at a right angle toward them.

“Y-yes, yes! Please enjoy your time together!”