But soon a shadow overcast Yi-Gyeolâs face. As if about to get up, he pulled the blanket up to his lips and curled the corners of his eyes.
âNo, just go by yourself.â
ââŠ.â
Sethian, looking down at Yi-Gyeol, pressed the tip of his curved eye with his fingertips lightly so that it wouldnât hurt. He didnât like the forced smile in Yi-Gyeolâs eyes either.
âDo you care about others that much?â
There were only two things Joo Yi-Gyeol was concerned about. To cause trouble to someone, and to show someone his bare and skinny appearance.
Even though it has been three days since Sethian first created his body and settled in this world, that part has not changed. Even now, whenever he receives help from Lenox and Kirsty, he doesnât know where to put his eyes and would crouch while habitually saying sorry.
That was also the reason why he could not fully entrust Yi-Gyeol even to his close aides. He is infinitely comfortable with him, but to others, he is unnecessarily careful and conscious. Perhaps even now, he changed his thoughts because heâs worried about other peopleâs eyes.
Looking down at Yi-Gyeol, Sethian suddenly hugged him while still covered with the blanket. Then, he wrapped Yi-Gyeolâs body in an even longer and bigger quilt.
âWhat are you doing?â
Yi-Gyeol let out a startled sound. Before he knew it, his body was completely wrapped in a blanket from his chin to his toes. With only his head sticking out like that, no one will be able to recognize his body.
âPut me down. I said I donât have to go.â
As Sethian headed to the door without answering the embarrassed voice, Yi-Gyeolâs eyes wandered aimlessly. He hasnât even gone outside yet, but he already looks scared. By the time Sethian opened the door, Yi-Gyeol was completely frozen with his face buried in Sethianâs shoulder.
Kirsty, who was waiting outside the door, was startled.
ââŠYour Highness?â
Wondering what was going on, Kirsty belatedly read Sethianâs thoughts and tried to take Yi-Gyeol away from him.
âIâll move him for you.â
However, Sethian just gave Kirsty a short glance and walked past him.
âItâs okay, so just wait and stay here.â
âYes.âŠâ
Intimidated by the look in Sethianâs eyes, Kirsty stopped and replied. His eyes didnât fall off from the ashamed Yi-Gyeol who had been rolled up in the quilt.
Yi-Gyeol was hugged by Sethian and was not able to raise his head the whole time he moved. Occasionally, Sethian seemed to have encountered a servant or a knight, but Yi-Gyeol doesnât know exactly how many people have passed since he had buried his face in Sethianâs arms. After being nervous for a long time until he had completely hardened, Sethian finally opened the bathhouse door. Only then did Yi-Gyeol mumble his complaints.
âI donât think this is rightâŠ.â
Sethian blinked at the attendants who were waiting for their clothes and took off the blanket while holding Yi-Gyeolâs body with one arm. Subsequently, as soon as he took off the clothes that were covering Yi-Gyeolâs skinny body, like a young tree branch, without any delay, Yi-Gyeol closed his mouth and looked away in embarrassment.
Sethian laid Yi-Gyeol down for a while on the soft blanket, and also took off his clothes. Yi-Gyeol, who was looking up at Sethianâs figure while crouching with his knees up, had envious eyes.
Sethianâs body was much better than those famous action stars he had seen on TV before. Heâs tall enough to be 190cm, with broad shoulders and back, and muscles all over the body that you can tell theyâre solid just by looking at it. In addition, he was not only physically fit, but also capable enough to knock down large knights with ease.
Yi-Gyeol was looking at Sethianâs exposed body and recalling as he fought the knights in the training ground, then suddenly averted his eyes with a start. Not only is Sethianâs body fit, but the important parts are also quite large. Without realizing it, Yi-Gyeol closed his legs a little more to cover his.
Yi-Gyeol, who was embarrassed and flustered by himself alone, stiffened unrealizingly when he felt his body being lifted. They usually hug each other often because of moving, but this was the first time they touched each other completely bare.
âRelax.â
Sethian, who had already started to step into the bath, thought that it was because of the hot water that Yi-Gyeol was nervous and calmly soothe him down. Fortunately, by the time they were completely inside the bath, he was already comfortably lying in his embrace.
Sethian placed Yi-Gyeol between his legs and wrapped an arm around his waist. Sitting with his back against Sethianâs firm chest, Yi-Gyeol felt his body languishing in the warm water that reached around his shoulder. A satisfied breath flowed out unrealizingly.
âFeels goodâŠ.â
His eyes are half-open and a pleasant smile is hanging on his lips. Sethian looked at Yi-Gyeolâs side face and thought that he should bring him often, and stopped the hand that was pouring warm water all the way around Yi-Gyeolâs neck. Then, he wrapped his hand around Yi-Gyeolâs small neck.
âIf I just give strength like thisâŠ.â
It was a neck so thin that it could be completely wrapped around with one hand. He thought that the neck of the slender male prostitute who came to seduce him in the past was similar to this, but unlike that time when he playfully broke it while wondering if he could break it with one hand, this time he took his hand off immediately in anxiety. He thought even a little bit of force would snap it without a pulse.
When he released the hand that was wrapped around his thin neck, Yi-Gyeol grabbed it in the air. Then, he pressed down on the big palm as if giving it a massage.
âYour palm is very hard.â
A man who could take his life in the blink of an eye was holding his neck until just a moment ago, but he didnât seem to be aware of that at all. However, rather than thinking that he should tell Yi-Gyeol to pay attention, the satisfaction of being relied on with such confidence came to Sethian first.
âIs this because youâve been practicing swordsmanship for a long time?â
âYes.â
Sethian, who had learned to hold a sword in his hand from the age of five, had never let go of the sword for a single day in his life from then on until now. It has the heaven and earth difference compared to Yi-Gyeolâs skinny but soft and tender hands.
Yi-Gyeol, who was pressing on Sethianâs callus-filled palm, spoke as if he was deeply impressed, and asked implicitly.
âShould I learn something like swordsmanship later too?â
âYou canât.â
Yi-Gyeol immediately pouted a little and punched Sethianâs palm at his answer.
âWhy not? Is it because you donât want to teach me?â
âYouâll get hurt.â
After giving a short answer, Sethian briefly paused. The words, âBecause you donât want to teach me?â that Yi-Gyeol just said comes to mind. He liked it quite a lot that Yi-Gyeol thought of himself first as the person to learn swordsmanship from the beginning.
Yi-Gyeol lowered the corners of his eyes in regret, but still sighed in agreement.
âIndeed, even just sparring is terrifying. You guys fight like hell. I couldnât do that even if I learned.â
It was the same with the other knights, but especially when he faced Lenox at the end. He was so scared that Sethian might get seriously injured.
Yi-Gyeol turned around with a stern face.
âYou be careful, too. Do you know how worried I was that youâd get hurt or bruised?â
The person whoâs not in a position to worry about others is worried about whom. Still, Sethian didnât particularly hate Yi-Gyeolâs words. Rather, the corners of his lips rise slightly.
âIs that why you came to see me?â
Yi-Gyeol flinched at Sethianâs question, and quickly turned his head and lowered his gaze shyly.
âI canât clearly watch from afar. And even if you got hurt, youâll surely just pretend that it didnât hurtâŠ.â
Whether it was because of the heat or his emotions, the reddish nape of Yi-Gyeolâs neck caught Sethianâs eyes.
It feels strange. It was quite different from when others said words wrapped up with the word worry. Sethian felt the tickling feeling from before coming back again.
Sethian placed Yi-Gyeolâs hand on his palm, and lightly stroked the back of the otherâs hand with his thumb. Feeling the touch of a thin, soft skin, he focused his attention on Yi-Gyeolâs slender hand and fragile wrist.
âIf you gain enough weight, Iâll teach you the basics.â
âReally? Youâre going to teach me?â
Yi-Gyeol looked back with twinkling eyes. Sethian belatedly realized in Yi-Gyeolâs eyes that he was faintly smiling. Nevertheless, he did not intend to lower the corners of his mouth.
Yi-Gyeolâs emotions, his moods, and his face are so clear. Compared to the time when everything was judged only by his voice, his emotions felt as close as they are now. As if he was holding them in the palm of his hand. The feeling of satisfaction and the tickling sensation that came every time he read Yi-Gyeolâs emotions was more than what Sethian could have imagined.
He let go of Yi-Gyeolâs hand and turned his chin so that he wouldnât hurt his neck. Yi-Gyeolâs eyes, which were obliquely showing over his shoulder, still reflected only himself.
âIn order to do that, we need to get you filled up with vitality first.â
Sethian thought it was amazing how the words âget vitalizedâ were coming out of his mouth. The corners of Yi-Gyeolâs eyes shook, and his eyes fluttered as they contained themselves.
âAgainâŠ? You just did it earlier.â
âItâd be better to take a lot when Iâm free like now.â
âUmmâŠ.â
His lips close as if agonizing, then open slightly as if breathing out, and then bite and nibble on the thin lips. It was an act(sharing vitality) that happens several times a day, but he still has the same reaction each time whether he was not used to it yet.
Then soon, as usual, his eyes held a determined light as if he had made a decision. Sethian slowly lowered his lips as he saw Yi-Gyeolâs tense face calm down.
âOpen your mouth.â
As if following Sethianâs command, Yi-Gyeolâs lips naturally opened.
TL Notes:
Whatâs this?! Why does it feel like a newly-wed having their honeymoon?! xD