TOPWL 104

Khalid spoke in a voice that was almost pleading. There was something about that strange tenderness that made it hard to breathe. After a moment of silence, Yudit took Khalid’s hand and brought it to his cheek. Khalid’s hand cupped his face—it was large, calloused, and rough, with thick joints that told of years of hardship. If someone had to pick the most unattractive part of Khalid’s otherwise flawless appearance, ten out of ten would point to his hands. But Yudit didn’t dislike them. On a man who looked like he had never struggled a day in his life, those hands hinted at a harsher past. It made Khalid seem… just a little more like himself.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

Khalid’s fingers grazed over Yudit’s smooth forehead and brows. Yudit nodded.

“…It doesn’t hurt.”

“You’ve got long eyelashes. Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Sometimes they poke my eyes.”

“Should I trim them?”

“I’m alright.”

“Why?”

“It only happens every so often… and it’s not such a bad thing, being reminded I have eyelashes.”

At Yudit’s words, Khalid’s fingers paused where they’d been brushing his lashes.

“You really… carry so much loneliness inside you.”

A shadow passed over Yudit’s face, followed by a kiss. Perhaps it was nerves before the hunt, but Khalid seemed… different. Even before the hand on his jaw could tighten, Yudit parted his lips. As if given permission, Khalid’s tongue swept in hungrily, exploring Yudit’s mouth with feverish intensity. It slid over the soft membrane, teeth, the roof of his mouth, claiming every inch. Their tongues tangled deeply, breath growing ragged.

“Nngh…”

At least now he knew how to breathe through his nose. When Yudit gasped for air, Khalid’s lips curved slightly. His tongue moved with determined intent, brushing every corner—under the tongue, the roof, even the inside of his cheeks—then wrapped around Yudit’s again. It was overwhelming, hard to keep up with.

“Mmgh…”

When Yudit tried to pull away, Khalid laced their fingers together and leaned in further. As Yudit opened his eyes, he caught sight of Khalid’s lowered lashes—long, like his own, but darker, jet-black. Clad in full armor from head to toe, Khalid looked every bit the part of a warrior, while Yudit, in only his sleepwear, suddenly felt completely exposed.

Khalid’s knee pressed between Yudit’s legs. The weight across his chest and stomach was stifling, yet oddly not unpleasant. Isn’t it strange to feel this much just from a kiss? Yudit thought, and yet he was helpless, swept along by the pleasure Khalid gave him.

By the time Khalid finally pulled away, Yudit was a complete mess. Khalid, too, was breathless. As he looked down at Yudit, a quiet curse escaped his lips.

“Damn it…”

He leaned in again, leaving small kisses along Yudit’s jaw, cheeks, and earlobes before biting down gently on his neck.

“Ah…!”

The warmth of his breath and teeth in place of the cold morning air made Yudit’s sensitive neck flush red. Overcome by the intense sensations, he squirmed beneath Khalid. Just as Khalid undid the buttons of Yudit’s shirt and slipped his hand underneath, a soft knock came at the door.

Yudit instinctively turned his head, but Khalid covered his eyes with one hand.

“K-Khalid…” Yudit said, flustered.

Instead of replying, Khalid pressed his lips to Yudit’s collarbone, lingering in the hollow there. Then came another knock.

“My lord, are you not ready yet?”

Still leaning over Yudit, Khalid let out a long sigh and, wordlessly, gathered Yudit up—blanket and all—into his arms. For a brief moment, Yudit worried he might give up the expedition altogether.

But Khalid met his eyes, resting his chin on Yudit’s chest.

“No matter what anyone says, once I’m back, I’m taking three days off.”

“Uh…”

“So get your big tasks out of the way while I’m gone.”

With that, Khalid rose to his feet.

“I’ll be down shortly. Wait for me there.”

“Yes, sir,” came the reply from beyond the door, followed by footsteps descending the stairs.

Morning was slowly breaking. The pale light of dawn outlined Khalid’s form in soft silver. Yudit didn’t even blink—he just kept watching him. He thought he understood now, just a little, why Khalid had wanted to touch his face earlier.

Khalid, now fully armored, placed a gloved hand on Yudit’s head.

“Sleep a bit more.”

“…Alright.”

“And what I said just now—was a joke. Take it easy.”

“What he said just now?”

Yudit thought for a moment, then recalled Khalid telling him to take care of any major tasks ahead of time. It had been said in passing, and he’d nearly forgotten. But even in that brief moment, it seemed the words had lingered in Khalid’s mind.

“You push yourself too hard whenever you get the chance. Try to keep a regular schedule, and sleep before midnight whenever you can.”

“…I’ll try.”

“You say that so easily.”

Khalid spoke as he tried to smooth Yudit’s disheveled hair. But with his gloves still on, the gesture only made it worse. After snuffing out the candle, Khalid turned back at the door and said,

“Then stay well—take care of yourself.”

And with that, he shut the door behind him. Yudit lay there blankly, chasing the remnants of Khalid in the space he’d just left. Maybe it was the release of tension, but drowsiness crept in again. He was just about to doze off when a thought struck him—something in his bag. The hesitation was brief. Yudit sat up.

“Ugh…”

His muscles screamed in protest at the sudden movement. Bracing himself on the bed, Yudit rose awkwardly and stumbled toward his bag. Kneeling before it, he began rummaging through its contents. The room had no candles, so he had to rely on the faint pre-dawn light. But it was too dim to help much.

Outside, the sound of hooves began to echo. Panic setting in, Yudit dumped the contents of the bag out all at once. Cloth, handkerchiefs, a pocket watch, bandages, ointment, antiseptic, scraps of paper, a notebook, odds and ends—all spilled out in a heap. Yudit stared down at the mess, flustered. Next time, I really need to keep things more organized. He swept his hand through the pile, and then—his fingers brushed something soft, a long thread of yarn.

A hint of color returned to Yudit’s face.

Grabbing it, he stood up in a rush. The pain in his muscles had completely vanished.

He threw open the door and thundered down the stairs, each step booming beneath his feet. It wasn’t like him at all, this sudden burst of energy. Rushing out the front door, he called out just as Khalid was mounting his horse.

“Khalid!”

At the sound of his voice, Khalid slowly turned to face him. The outline of his forehead, thick brows, the bridge of his nose, the curve of his philtrum, and lips—all framed by that jet-black hair—stood out even more clearly than before. Yudit’s heart pounded from the few stairs he’d come down, and it showed no sign of slowing. Before Khalid could dismount, Yudit ran up and held it out to him.

“It’s a sword knot.”

“…?”

Khalid said nothing at first, seemingly caught off guard. Growing anxious at the silence, Yudit quickly added,

“I knitted it with patterns that are said to bring good luck. You’re already strong, but… well, it can’t hurt to have a little fortune on your side too…”

“You made it yourself?”

At Khalid’s question, Yudit lifted his eyes. He’d thought it looked alright when he finished, but now, seeing it in Khalid’s hand, it felt pitifully plain.

“Y-yeah, but if you don’t like it, you can give it back. I’ll buy you a better one next time.”

Yudit reached out as if to take it back, but Khalid lifted it out of reach. Even if he hadn’t been on horseback, Yudit wouldn’t have been able to snatch it easily—but from up there, it was impossible.

“I’ll keep it safe.”

There was a smile in Khalid’s voice, and Yudit couldn’t help thinking he was being teased. But when Khalid looked down at him, his expression… it was almost like the morning sun—flushed and warm.

“Go back inside. Your slippers are getting soaked.”

“Ah—!”

Only then did Yudit realize he was still in his indoor slippers. As he shifted his feet, half-melted snow had turned to sticky mud, clinging to the soles. His hair was a mess, his clothes wrinkled—he had run out just after waking up. Not only Khalid, but the other knights had likely seen him like this. The realization made Yudit burn with embarrassment. Did I really run out looking like this, just to give him that?

He quickly wrapped his outer garment tighter around himself, face flushed.

“May safety… and peace dwell in your domain,”

Khalid said, pressing a kiss to the sword knot. His tone sounded almost like an oath. The sword knot was black, embroidered with gold thread. And somehow, when Khalid kissed it, Yudit felt as if he were kissing his forehead instead. A strange warmth bloomed in his chest.

“…Please, come back safely.”

At Yudit’s quiet wish, Khalid smiled in reply and spurred his horse forward. Yudit stood there for a long while, watching them ride off into the distance.