By Zephyria 
58
Tae-muk, who was watching, said with annoyance.
“Why are you so slow to heal?”
“……”
Ho-eun had been sick his entire life, but this was the first time he’d heard such a thing. Not why he was sick, but why he was slow to heal. He couldn’t understand what was slow about it. If Tae-muk wanted him to heal as quickly as he did, that was impossible. Ho-eun wasn’t the God of War.
Ho-eun gave up resisting Tae-muk’s hand, which kept probing at his wound, and simply buried his face in the blanket. He flinched whenever the pain stabbed at him, but he didn’t groan.
How long had it been? Finally, Tae-muk’s hand fell away. He carefully set Ho-eun’s chopstick-thin ankle down. Then he firmly closed the ointment lid.
“……”
Ho-eun stared blankly at Tae-muk. Perhaps sensing the gaze, Tae-muk looked at Ho-eun as well. But the moment their eyes met in the air, Tae-muk’s eyelashes seemed to bristle, and he slowly averted his gaze. It was an action that didn’t suit his usual confident and dignified self.
Ho-eun frowned as if puzzled. Tae-muk, in an action that was either covering Ho-eun with the blanket he had rumpled, or throwing it at him, asked.
“Are you going to sleep more?”
“Yes? Uh……”
Ho-eun blinked slowly. He wasn’t sleepy, but if he was told to sleep more, he couldn’t say he wouldn’t. But was it day or night now? His last memory was soaking in the bath, and he didn’t know when or how he had gotten out of there. He only vaguely felt that quite a bit of time had passed since then.
“How long have I been sick?”
“Five days. And half a day.”
Tae-muk answered, placing the ointment on the table. Ho-eun’s eyes widened.
“F-five days?”
He had been lying down for that long? He quickly examined his limbs. Indeed, the blemishes that had covered his entire skin had faded. Come to think of it, his voice was only hoarse, not cracking. He wasn’t sporadically aching here and there either. If he had to pick one, it was only his rear, which Tae-muk had been touching until just now.
“You can sleep more. But eat first.”
“Eat……”
“Yes, eat.”
At those words, Ho-eun felt his stomach was empty. He had only been sick for five days, so it was only natural.
Ho-eun stroked his stomach and glanced at Tae-muk. He was puzzled that he was taking care of his meals. Wasn’t he angry at him? Very angry, at that. But for some reason, the Tae-muk from the sexual affair and the Tae-muk now were quite different. The atmosphere, the expression, the actions, even the voice was different.
What should he say, he hadn’t become affectionate, but he hadn’t become gentle either, if he had to describe it… Ah, that’s right. He had become docile. Like a well-fed beast. Or like a tamed beast.
But Ho-eun was still uncomfortable with Tae-muk. He would probably be uncomfortable with him for a while. Maybe forever, he might be uncomfortable.
“Then I’ll go… eat.”
Ho-eun laboriously raised his upper body. He didn’t know where to eat, but he could just go out and ask. Chilbok or Gil-sang would help him.
He threw back the blanket and lowered his feet to the floor. Then he belatedly realized that he wasn’t wearing pants. He had to get dressed before going out. He also needed to tie up his disheveled hair.
He couldn’t help but sigh, wondering when he would get dressed and braid his hair, but he couldn’t go outside like this.
He looked around for clothes. But he couldn’t see anything. Well, he hadn’t unpacked his luggage after arriving at the garrison. Where could it be? How should he find it? As he was wondering, Tae-muk, who had been wandering near the bed, said as he passed by.
“Just stay here. I’ll tell them to bring a table.”
“No. I’ll go eat.”
Ho-eun sat on the edge of the bed and carefully stepped onto the floor. He was thinking of finding Tae-muk’s tent first. But then someone else’s feet came into view. Tae-muk’s feet, which were twice or three times larger than Ho-eun’s.
“Stay.”
“……”
Ho-eun’s eyes hardened at the somehow coercive tone. He had a bad feeling. Indeed, a chilling glint was embedded in Tae-muk’s eyes, which had been docile until just now. Ho-eun decided to retreat for now. He had learned painfully that he couldn’t win against Tae-muk.
Ho-eun lowered his eyes and obediently followed his command.
“Yes, I understand. I’ll eat here.”
The atmosphere, which had been sinking, lightened a bit at those words. Tae-muk’s gaze, which had been stabbing at Ho-eun like bars, also fell away. Then, Ho-eun added in his unique, neat voice.
“But I have to get dressed. I can’t eat like this. Do you know where my luggage is?”
“No.”
Tae-muk replied immediately. It was an answer that didn’t require thought or consideration, as if he had prepared it. But Ho-eun maintained his politeness.
“Could you please look for it?”
“I don’t know.”
“If I’m going to eat-.”
“Just eat naked.”
“……”
Ho-eun’s eyelashes fluttered. His heavy premonition had become a reality. He swallowed hard and slowly shook his head.
“I can’t do that. Please give me clothes.”
“……”
“General.”
“No.”
Tae-muk turned his head as if he wouldn’t talk anymore. But the body that stood in front of Ho-eun as if blocking or protecting him didn’t move.
Ho-eun’s eyes narrowed. It wasn’t like he was making a big request, but he couldn’t even get pants. He couldn’t understand what Tae-muk was thinking. After hesitating for a moment, Ho-eun fiddled with his thin knees and said.
“It’s chilly, so I’m cold. I might catch a cold if I don’t get dressed.”
At those words, Tae-muk’s fingertips twitched. He looked down at Ho-eun’s pale white legs. His skinny legs, without an ounce of flesh, certainly looked cold. He pulled his lips to one side and released them, and after hesitating, he came up with a solution that wasn’t very effective.
“……Cover yourself with a blanket.”
“General.”
“I can turn on the brazier too.”
At those words, Ho-eun’s delicate eyes turned up quite fiercely.
“Why are you doing this!”
“……”
Tae-muk didn’t answer.
“If you won’t give them to me, I’ll find them myself.”
Ho-eun, with his mouth shut, jumped up. But before he could even stand properly, he fell forward. His long hair flew up all at once.
“Ah……”
Ho-eun gasped in surprise. He couldn’t put any strength in his legs at all. It was as if his lower body didn’t exist. It was only natural, since he had been lying down for five days. Moreover, he had been starving, so it would have been stranger if he had strength.
Ho-eun closed his eyes tightly, expecting to collide with the floor.
Thud.
Tae-muk’s thick arm supported his stomach. Ho-eun was practically dangling from Tae-muk’s arm. Tae-muk lifted Ho-eun and gently placed him back on the bed. Then, unlike his careful touch, he sneered in a very cold voice.
“You’re going to go out like that? Showing off your bare legs?”
“……”
“Is that okay? You’re a nobleman. You can’t show that kind of appearance to the guys outside. What was it, ah, dignity. Aren’t you going to keep that?”
“……”
Tae-muk reached out and swept back Ho-eun’s disheveled hair. The hair that brushed his fingers was so soft. It was amazing how even a strand of Ho-eun’s hair was so ‘precious.’ A faint sneer spread across Tae-muk’s lips as he carelessly touched it.
“I like vulgar things, but that doesn’t mean I like catamites.”
At those words, Ho-eun bit his lip tightly. Then he slapped Tae-muk’s hand away and shouted.
“Then just give me the clothes! What is the reason for this! Why! Why won’t you let me wear clothes!”
Ho-eun couldn’t understand Tae-muk. What, was he going to continue the sexual affair after the meal? Even if that was the case, it wasn’t a reason. Even if he was wearing armor instead of clothes, it wouldn’t be too difficult for him to take it off.
Then was it a low-quality tease? Was he tormenting him like he had fed him rice balls until he vomited? Why now? To the Bondmate who had woken up after being sick for five days? What did Tae-muk gain from that?
Ho-eun’s eyes narrowed more and more. Then, for a moment.
“……”
His brow relaxed loosely.
He suddenly recalled the story of ‘The Fairy and the Woodcutter.’ He didn’t know why it came to mind at this moment, but it did. Tae-muk now was like the woodcutter who had hidden the fairy’s winged clothes, afraid that she would leave.
Could it be… that he didn’t want him to go outside? Why? Was he afraid that he would run away?
Ho-eun secretly clenched and unclenched his fist. He swallowed hard. Then, looking directly at Tae-muk, he said calmly in a low voice.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“……”
“I’ll keep staying here, in the Crimson Rain Brigade, by the General’s side.”
Ho-eun felt doubtful even as he spoke. Was that so? Did he really want to be here? Could he be? By the side of this terrifying Tae-muk? But it was too late to take back the words he had spoken.
“……”
“……”
Silence arrived. Tae-muk stared at Ho-eun’s large eyes and kept his mouth shut. At that, Ho-eun slowly lowered his gaze. It seemed that his guess was wrong. Then why- until he thought that.
“You said you wanted to go home.”
Tae-muk said.