#101

Although Kiyen disliked humans, he didn’t usually display such direct killing intent. Since he showed no interest in anyone other than Larkan, his current demeanor was unfamiliar. An indescribable sense of unease rippled through the air.

Wasn’t this similar to that time?

When he had told me in the Duke’s room that I had dreamt of Carias, Kiyen had shown that same wariness. He had looked exactly like this when he asked if she had said anything.

“This is all I heard.”

The old woman reported calmly. But Kiyen’s eyes grew sharper. He was in turmoil, as if revealing emotions buried deep within.

“If you lie, I will destroy you and your entire clan. I will burn this place until not a single blade of grass can grow.”

The word ‘lie’ was imbued with power. Kiyen had always detested falsehoods to an extreme. Even setting aside the fact that he himself could not lie, considering the reason he had been bound to Larkan for so long, it was perhaps understandable.

Although he had called Carias by the familiar name Ria, he had ultimately become Larkan’s tool through a contract with her. I had always assumed Carias couldn’t have predicted the actions of her descendants, but hearing this story now, something felt off.

Carias had asked him to convey her apologies to her distant blood relative, that is, to Cullen himself.

She had also called it the reason for his birth.

If it wasn’t me, then it would have been someone else who eventually came here. The fact that she apologized to whoever that person might be… it must be because something significant happened.

The others in the group, excluding Cullen, were so stunned they couldn’t even breathe, perhaps because this was the first time they had seen Kiyen like this. Arne was visibly terrified.

“How could I possibly tell a lie? I am one of those who have waited for the two of you, upholding Carias-nim’s will for a long time. My role is to deliver this message. I was not permitted to share any other details.”

Kiyen let out a sharp laugh.

“You should. You are not Larkan, who bound me like a beast, so your life is as fleeting as a wisp of smoke.”

Having finished speaking, Kiyen straightened his back and slowly erased his expression. He looked empty and precarious, just like the first moment they met. That sight suddenly frightened Cullen.

He had grown accustomed to it. To Kiyen’s increasingly varied expressions, his crooked yet exquisitely beautiful smile, and this kind of vividness.

He didn’t want to see Kiyen like that. Wasn’t that why he wanted to make him happy?

“Kiyen-nim.”

He reached out a hand towards Kiyen, who looked as if everything had returned to its beginning. He carefully took Kiyen’s white hand, placed neatly beneath the table. Tension spiked, fearing he might pull away. Their different warmth met. Kiyen did not pull away. He merely gazed at Cullen with somewhat anxious eyes.

“Are you alright?”

Kiyen remained silent for a long time. The old woman’s gaze flickered, seeming to reach Cullen’s hand across the table. She broke the silence and spoke.

“I have fulfilled my role, so I will now go and fetch those who know Ruena-nim’s affairs well. If you have any questions, please come to me anytime. My dwelling is where the dead trees stand, facing the setting sun.”

Bowing her head respectfully, she rose, leaning on her staff. Kiyen tore his gaze away from Cullen. Cullen followed the abruptly severed line of sight, but Kiyen did not look back.

When the old woman tapped the door with her staff, it burst open from the outside.

“Pir-nim! Are you alright?”

“Don’t make a fuss. Stop your nonsense and report to the esteemed guests about who took Ruena-nim.”

As Hamann, who had rushed in first, hesitated, Pir had already left. Arne, looking awkwardly at the people watching them, cautiously waved.

“It seems you’ve passed the brink of death, so you can come in now…”

Ulli added to the conversation, trying to lighten the rigid atmosphere.

“That’s right. And tell me clearly who gave me this crap while you’re at it.”

Lasano chimed in.

“If you don’t die, I will heal you.”

Even as the others began to speak, Kiyen stared blankly into the air, unmoving. Seeing him like that, Cullen couldn’t pretend not to notice. He kept Kiyen’s hand firmly in his grip and remained silent.

After much ado, they finally heard the story about Arne’s teacher. It wasn’t significantly different from what they had heard in broad strokes. A few weeks ago, individuals in black cloaks and grotesque masks had appeared and taken Ruena. When three villagers who rushed to protect him died, Ruena voluntarily stepped forward before them and then disappeared.

“Did your teacher ever mention Akesis?”

Arne tried his best to ease the tense atmosphere. As he asked the question in place of the silent Cullen, Hamann and the other villagers nodded.

“Yes. When he taught us about the goddess, he also spoke of Akesis-nim.”

“Knowing about him means you are truly Ruena-nim’s disciple. Ruena-nim only spoke of Akesis-nim to those he trusted.”

The atmosphere gradually began to soften. Seizing the moment, Hamann apologized to Ulli.

“I am truly sorry. Because people died, our suspicion towards outsiders increased. It hasn’t been long since we welcomed strangers who rarely visit and then witnessed an unpleasant scene…”

Seeing that Hamann apologized only to Ulli, despite Arne having suffered the same, Lasano interjected.

“As a token of apology, how about showing Ulli-nim around the village?”

Hamann’s face brightened rapidly.

“Yes!”

Conversely, Ulli scowled.

“What? I have no intention of doing that.”

Lasano opened his mouth. Extract as much as you can. As if sensing his intent, she stood up with a reluctant expression. Ulli reluctantly followed him.

The remaining people, now seemingly convinced that Arne was Ruena’s disciple, gathered around him.

“If you are Ruena-nim’s disciple, your cooking must be amazing too!”

“Ah, that’s right. My teacher cooks exceptionally well. Did he cook here too?”

It seemed Arne’s culinary skills stemmed from his teacher. Since Kiyen ate Arne’s food, Cullen glanced at him, wondering if he might be interested. However, Kiyen remained expressionless. His eyes held a look of futility.

“Yes! Among them, Tangtang Pie was the most delicious. We all watched him cook, but when we tried to make it ourselves, we could never achieve that taste.”

“Ah, I think I can make something similar to that.”

Arne, who had quickly befriended the villagers, smiled shyly. He seemed to have forgotten about being drugged with herbs just moments ago.

“I can make it for you, so if it’s alright, could you tell me more about your teacher and Akesis-nim?”

“We’d be happy to.”

“Lasano-nim, would you like to come along?”

Arne asked, perhaps wanting to give Cullen and Kiyen some time alone. Lasano shrugged.

“There’s no reason not to. I like Arne’s cooking.”

Upon his agreement, Arne’s face lit up noticeably. Lasano slowly followed Arne and the villagers out. As Lasano approached him, Arne glanced anxiously at Cullen’s location, then, steeling his resolve, quickly disappeared.

Once everyone had left and only the two of them remained, Cullen moved closer and whispered to Kiyen.

“You don’t seem to be in good spirits.”

Kiyen slowly turned his head. He glanced at the hand he was still holding tightly.

“If you have worries, I will listen. If it’s something I can resolve, I will do it. So… will you give me the precious opportunity to hear your heart?”

Kiyen had become drastically subdued after his conversation with the old woman. It must be related to him. What could it be? Carias was one thing, but the word ‘condition’ kept lingering in his mind.

“Ria was the first human I ever trusted.”

Kiyen finally spoke.

“And the outcome was not good. I never expected that the first person I trusted, of all people, would do this to me. Foolishly. The people of Larkan’s lineage have always been like that. They approached me as if they would set me free, only to abandon me in the end.”

This was the same story he had told in the Duke’s room. His promise of freedom seemed to mock him as Kiyen appeared anxious once more. The deep-seated distrust built over a long time could not easily disappear. He slowly withdrew his hand.

“I want to believe you, but…”

He felt the warmth gradually receding from his palm.

“Every time I hear about Carias, I wonder if any of this is even meaningful.”

Cullen urgently grasped Kiyen’s hand as he tried to pull away completely. Kiyen looked down at him with a lifeless expression. Cullen spoke carefully and earnestly.

“Didn’t we make a deal? You are keeping your promise, and I am not ungrateful. When you made the deal, you asked for one wish. I believe that wish was…”

He finally voiced what he had vaguely thought for a long time.

“Your liberation.”

Kiyen’s eyes, which had been blinking slowly, hardened.

“Even if that’s not the case, as I said before, I want to help you break free from Larkan’s chains.”

“…Why?”

Cullen smiled slowly.

“Because that is the only way for you to be happy. I want you to be happy, and no gift can bring you joy…”

He carefully knelt on the floor and whispered, looking up at Kiyen.

“I will find a way to free you, no matter what.”

Kiyen’s expressionless face broke. He could see countless confusions swirling within the golden light. Frowning, he bent down. His sweet blond hair brushed against Cullen’s cheek.

“You don’t know what price that will entail. If you had seen the Imperial Palace records, you would know. Everything has a reason.”

Kiyen whispered, as if testing him.

“It’s alright. I will never betray you. I will prove that I am different from them, so you can trust me. Just as I said I wouldn’t force anything. I desire nothing but Kiyen-nim’s happiness. I will do anything, whatever it may be…”

Vaguely, a premonition brushed past Cullen. But Cullen smiled, pretending not to notice.

“Please, don’t be sad.”

With those words, Cullen gently kissed the back of Kiyen’s hand. As if revering a sacred god.

It wasn’t wrong. Kiyen was Cullen’s everything, the reason for his existence, so it was fine even if he were his god. He was that precious.

In front of Kiyen, his own worth was meaningless.

“…I will believe you.”

Kiyen lifted Cullen’s chin with the hand he had kissed. Kiyen’s lips moved, and he slowly drew closer.

“I will try to believe in a human one last time.”

As if rewarding a good boy.

“Do not ever betray me.”

Kiyen descended upon his lips.