1.8 Like Rain That Soaks You Before You Realize It’s Seeping In

The waiting, which had begun after the mistress’s blunt response, ended sooner than the caretaker couple had expected.

“No… he’s been lying there for days…”

The loathsome Imperial Family—who had sent him to the heart of this enemy nation under the pretext of a livelihood when they needed him, and ignored whether he lived or died when they didn’t—had dispatched an investigator. The moment that investigator’s squire secretly stepped into the Duke’s bedroom, the man awoke from his long slumber.

The Imperial Prince’s party, having been half-shooed away by the caretaker couple, sat in the drawing room and waited for several hours. They were incredibly anxious, as they had to return to the Imperial Palace before sunrise the next day, but what could they say when told the Duke was sleeping? Unaware that the Duke had been unable to open his eyes for several days since collapsing, they had no choice but to wait for the host to wake up, as was the courtesy for guests—or rather, uninvited guests.

Eventually, after about three hours, Mikhail recalled the sight of the divine beast lying limp and lifeless the last time he saw it. Fearing that something might have happened to the man, he could no longer remain still and stood up.

When Marcel immediately asked what he intended to do, Mikhail didn’t explain further and simply placed a foot on the windowsill.

‘……?????’

Before Marcel could react in surprise and stop him, the Prince flung open the window and grabbed the railing of the upper floor. If nothing had changed, it should have been open as usual. Since there would be no assassins coming to this remote place to kill a criminal who was now no different from a stringless scarecrow, they had promised that the leftmost window would always be unlocked so that ‘Misha’ could come and go freely.

And just as Mikhail expected, the window was open. Leaping up with a bounce, he opened the window and entered the bedroom to find the Duke sleeping quietly on the bed, his face as pale as a corpse. Mikhail stealthily placed a flower he had plucked from the Imperial Palace garden—which he had hidden in his clothes—by the bedside and carefully placed the back of his hand on the sleeping Duke’s forehead.

‘He’s cold….’

His body was so cold that it wouldn’t have been strange if his breath stopped right then. It was only because of the hot water in the leather pouch he had kept against his body that some warmth remained; without it, he would have truly thought the man was dead.

“Duke….”

Mikhail called out to Isaac in a trembling voice, but there was no response. Was this why the caretaker couple had told him bluntly to wait until they woke him? Mikhail clenched his fists, blaming himself for not coming to check sooner.

If the appearance of the divine beast that day was truly the Duke’s doing, there was no way the Duke himself would be unscathed when the divine beast had been so badly injured. He could not forgive himself for feeling relieved when he heard that monsters had not spread to the place of exile. No matter how urgent it was, he should have confirmed if the most important person was truly safe.

However, even if he had checked, there was likely nothing the half-blooded second prince, Mikhail, could have done. He probably would have only realized his own helplessness in such a situation. But none of that mattered now.

“Please, open your eyes, Duke….”

Mikhail wrapped both hands around the Duke’s hand, which was frozen stiff and ice-cold, just like his forehead. After spending a long time warming the hand and cheek to transfer his own body heat, color began to return little by little to the fingertips that had been a pale, ghostly purple.

“…Duke.”

Having barely warmed the hand, Mikhail had a forbidden thought: perhaps he could warm the Duke’s frozen body in the same way. Of course, there was no guarantee that would work. He wondered if it was acceptable to harbor such vulgar desires after daring to put the man in such danger (even if it wasn’t strictly Mikhail’s fault), but before he could dwell on it, Mikhail lowered his head and brought his face close to the sleeping Isaac.

With every faint, rhythmic breath that echoed in his ear, his heart thundered loudly. Contrary to Marcel’s exaggerations that smelling Alphas was merely disgusting, the Duke smelled of a faint floral scent. This was because the caretaker wiped his face with toner every day, fearing the Duke, who could not get up to wash himself, might become dirty.

“…Duke.”

Knowing he shouldn’t, Mikhail carefully pressed his ear against the Duke’s chest to listen for a heartbeat. Just then—

Twitch—

The Duke’s finger, which had been motionless the entire time, moved.

“……!”

Startled, Mikhail lifted his head to check the sleeping Duke’s face and saw that the tightly closed eyelids were trembling slightly.

“Duke! Are you awake?”

Mikhail stroked his shoulder very gently, as if afraid the Duke might break. Then, the Duke’s firmly closed eyelids began to part slightly.

“Ugh….”

With a low, hushed groan, the Duke opened his eyes fully and looked up at the ceiling. Forgetting that he had sneaked into the bedroom, Mikhail shouted loudly.

“You—you’re really awake! Do you know who I am!?”

The Duke, perhaps not yet fully conscious, blinked his clouded eyes for a moment. Finally, his pupils cleared, and upon seeing Mikhail, he looked startled and tried to push himself up. However, since his body had been stiffly asleep for days, it was impossible to move as he wished. As the strength left his hands and he collapsed back down, Mikhail caught his frail body and said,

“Don’t overdo it, just stay lying down! I’ll go call the caretaker!”

Overwhelmed with emotion, as if he might cry at the fact that the Duke had woken up safely, Mikhail stood up to bring the caretaker to look after him. Or rather, he tried to stand, but was immediately stopped by the Duke.

“……?”

Mikhail looked at the Duke with [unauthorized copy]a confused stolen contentexpression as a frail visit our sitegrip suddenly seized his wrist. Hyeon asked in an urgent voice,

“Are you… are you hurt anywhere? Is anything wrong…!?”

Mikhail tilted his head, unable to understand what the Duke was talking about for a moment. Then, realizing that the Duke was worried that something might have happened to him the moment he opened his eyes, he jumped in place and answered,

“What? I—I’m fine! As you can see, nothing happened! I was just worried that something terrible might have happened to you, Duke….”

Mikhail’s words were cut short. The newly awakened Duke had struggled to pull himself up and suddenly pulled Mikhail into a tight embrace. The body heat meeting his was very cold, but far from cooling, Mikhail’s heart beat even faster, and his face began to burn.

“Thank goodness. I… I thought perhaps, just perhaps….”

As he spoke, he stroked Misha’s back, waist, shoulders, and forearms, checking if he was truly unhurt. For a moment, Mikhail felt a strange emotion, something he had never felt before, welling up from deep within his chest.

“Were you worried about me…?”

When Misha asked in a small, whispering voice, Hyeon didn’t answer but instead buried his face in Misha’s shoulder and tightened his grip. Only then did Mikhail realize that this unfamiliar feeling filling his chest was joy.

It was strange. Normally, if someone else was surprised and anxious because they worried about him, he would feel grateful yet apologetic. But the fact that the man had been so anxious and distraught over him was utterly ecstatic.

“I… I’m not hurt anywhere. So you don’t have to worry.”

In that moment, Mikhail unconsciously wondered what would have happened if one of his arms had been cut off or if he had become lame. Would the Duke have suffered, feeling guilty as if it were his own responsibility, for failing to fully protect the person who had come all the way to the place of exile to see him?

After a brief, forbidden fantasy, Mikhail felt the hand patting his back to comfort him and hugged the Duke back with all his stolen contentmight. He held him until the Duke finally calmed down, [Read on Read BL Novels]let Misha go, and made an unexpected proposal.

“It may be difficult, but there is something I wish to ask of you….”

The request the Duke struggled to voice was something Mikhail never wanted to refuse, yet it was something he could not accept in any way.

“If you are alright with it, I would like to request the Imperial Family to appoint you as the caretaker of this mansion.”

If Marcel, who was anxiously waiting for the Prince downstairs, had heard this, he would have fainted from shock. To begin with, a person named Misha did not exist in the Imperial Palace. An investigator might be sent with an assistant secretary, but never a squire; it was a fake identity made up on the spot.

If the Duke sent an official request to the Imperial Family, they would discover that such a person did not exist in the world. Mikhail didn’t know what had struck the Duke, but he was incredibly lucky that the man was considerate enough to ask for Misha’s opinion first rather than making a reckless request.

“I….”

For a moment, Mikhail was so happy he wanted to shout his acceptance, and he felt as if he were walking on clouds knowing the Duke regarded him so closely. However, it was a proposal he could never accept. If only to save the man from the terrible curse that was driving him toward death. Mikhail feared that his refusal would hurt the Duke’s feelings, but there was no other way.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think my master would allow it.”

It was obvious that this would be taken as an excuse and a polite refusal. Although the Duke had been stripped of all his wealth, lands, and power, a Duke was still a Duke. If the Duke persistently demanded a single squire on the grounds of receiving treatment befitting his status, an investigator—likely a second son or lower of a minor noble who wouldn’t even inherit the family line—would have no way to refuse. Therefore, saying he couldn’t accept the proposal because of his master was no different from saying he didn’t want to.

“…Yes, I suppose so. You are still too young to reside in such a harsh land. I have made an unreasonable request. Please forget it.”

Hyeon gave up immediately. Indeed, even to himself, it was a proposal with no benefit and only loss, even if it had been accepted. What joy would there be in guarding a place of exile beside a living corpse who would die within a few years? Visiting for a few days a month to check in was one thing, but waking up every day on this desolate island where no one came or went would be an unbearable environment for someone with such a bright and cheerful disposition.

Furthermore, if he stayed in the Imperial Palace under the investigator, he might catch the eye of high-ranking officials and nobles and be hired as a servant for a powerful person. Then there would be a chance for a more comfortable life and higher wages. Here, such things were an impossible dream. If anything, he might be ostracized [stolen content]for associating with a traitor. No one would [Read on Read BL Novels]unauthorized copywant to risk that just to watch over his final years. It was only natural that Misha, who was so soft-hearted and kind as to willingly give his time to a traitor like him, would not want to go that far.

The relief that Misha was unhurt was short-lived; Hyeon clutched his chest as a cough erupted from deep within his lungs, accompanied by a pain that felt like raw flesh being sliced.

“Cough, ugh, hack….”

Fortunately, there was no blood, but the pain was too severe to bear nonchalantly, and his expression crumpled reflexively. Startled, Mikhail tried to stand up.

“I’ll go call the caretaker!”

However, Hyeon shook his head to stop him, as if he were fine, and closed his eyes, resting his forehead on Misha’s shoulder for a moment. Throughout the time he calmly caught his breath, Misha’s shoulder trembled slightly. It felt ridiculous that he had once thought he had nothing left to lose. Had opening his heart to someone left him with a lingering attachment to the world? He felt foolish for having been wary of a kindness he thought was unnecessary.

“No, I am fine. Just let me lean on your shoulder for a moment. Just a very short while….”

When Hyeon silently gripped Misha’s wrist, he stopped trembling and stood straight. Mikhail’s mind was filled with only one worry: what if the Duke could hear his heart beating excessively fast? Whether it was a blessing or a curse, the rapidly weakening Duke was gradually losing his sight and hearing. He could no longer see clearly in the dark or hear sounds as small as a crawling mouse, as he had in his young and healthy days.

After debating for a moment whether he dared to embrace the Duke’s shoulders, Misha spoke in a hesitant voice.

“I may not be able to visit as often as before… but I will write to you every week. I’ll tell you what flowers bloom where I stay, what trees bear fruit, and every little thing, from the rain to the wind.”

Mikhail could not bring himself to look the Duke in the face. The Duke must have thought a lot before asking him to stay in the place of exile. Since he had refused a request that was so difficult to make, he had to resign himself to the fact that the Duke might hate him. Nevertheless, to convey that he was refusing not because he disliked him, but because of an unspeakable circumstance, he hurriedly continued.

“I mean it. I will not forget you, no matter what.”

After emphasizing this several times, Misha let the Duke go. He knew that the affection the man had for him was not the same as the feelings he harbored. unauthorized copyIf I truly defeat Elder Brother visit our siteand become the Crown Prince, and if I can save him with an elixir that can break the Duke’s terrible curse… Vowing to confess this clumsy desire then, he went downstairs to call the caretaker.

Soon, the startled caretaker brought in some simple porridge to fill his stomach, and Mikhail and Marcel watched as the Duke sat up, took a few sips of the porridge, and went back to sleep. Then, before dawn broke the next day, they hurriedly rode their horses back to the Imperial Palace. Now that he had thrown down the gauntlet to become the Crown Prince, he could no longer live as he pleased, like a discarded child of the Imperial Family.

Mikhail soon became accustomed to being dressed in formal attire by attendants and learned how to maintain the dignity of a member of the Imperial Family. A man who was already well-built and handsome was refined by the touch of Imperial experts, creating a noble youth with a splendid yet strong impression that left anyone who saw him breathless. When others weren’t looking, Mikhail complained that he felt like he was wearing clothes that didn’t fit, but Marcel, who had watched him most closely, did not think so.

‘Looking at him now, I wonder how I could have thought he was a mercenary no different from a beast rolling around in a field.’

That was evident just by looking at his face, which was so handsome it felt almost unfair to compare him to his Elder Brother, who always wore a hateful scowl and looked exactly like their mother. Once his peach fuzz was neatly trimmed and his gold-thread hair was softly styled, all the nobles of the Empire tried to emulate his striking appearance, and the Prince’s clothing and hairstyles began to trend.

The beast-like child who would sleep anywhere he could lean his back and eat anything as long as it didn’t kill him was gone. In his place existed only a sun-like hero—terrifyingly beautiful, upright, kind, and far too adept at stealing people’s hearts. Just as Mikhail was settling into his role as a prince, the Emperor finally issued the first test after long deliberation.

The first hurdle was to find a way to solve the drought in Ronika, which had suffered from a drinking water shortage due to a long lack of rain. To investigate the problem, Mikhail embarked on a long journey to a desert city at the western edge of the south. He did not forget to write letters to the place of exile in advance and ask Marcel’s acquaintance to send them. The journey to Ronika was very long, and after extensive exploration, Mikhail discovered that something solid was blocking the water vein at the peak of the mountain range. It was a sealing stone, appearing as if it had been used to block a demon’s den at least several centuries ago.

The Crown Prince proposed a plan to solve the water shortage by mobilizing prisoners to purify seawater from the coast bordering the desert for use as drinking water, while the Imperial Prince proposed breaking the sealing stone and subjugating the demon’s den himself. Having personally crossed the Desert of Ronica, Mikhail opposed the Crown Prince’s opinion, arguing that the climate was not one in which anyone could perform forced labor unless they were born and raised in Ronica. However, the Crown Prince countered that according to the report he had submitted, as long as the peak summer heat was avoided, it was not significantly different from the heat of the central region, and thus using prisoners would be better than subjugating the demon’s den.

Due to the risk of failure in the subjugation, the Emperor sided with the Crown Prince in the first trial. To prove whether the Crown Prince’s method could actually be effective, some of the death row prisoners from the capital were sent to the coastal region of Ronica. As a result, every single person dispatched lost their life to fever within a month.

This was because the temperatures written in the Crown Prince’s report were measured based on the shade, and the temperature under the scorching sun without a single spot of shade was several times higher. The Emperor was greatly enraged, and eventually, Mikhail was dispatched to the demon’s den once again. Like the Empire’s most valiant hero, Mikhail destroyed the core of the magic cave and created a waterway so that the water vein would flow into the village. Thus, the first trial ended in victory for the challenger.

Throughout that long journey, Hyeon read and reread the letters Misha sent, pondering their contents.

[Have you ever touched a camel in person? Their fur is incredibly dense, but short and coarse. Their eyelashes are so long that it feels as if they cast a shadow over a foot long.]

Misha’s excitement was vividly felt through the handwriting, which had been hurriedly scribbled in excitement. While the weather in the letters Misha sent changed several times, snow fell continuously in the place [visit our site]of exile surrounded by the ice lake. Every day, the same unchanging scenery continued. No matter [visit our site]how much the snow was cleared, it piled up again quickly, like an endless wait. Only the letters from Misha, delivered whenever the caretaker went to the mainland to receive food and supplies, and his own increasingly frail body told him that there was not much time left.

The frequency of coughing up blood increased. He could no longer lift a bag of soil with one hand, something he had been able to do just a few months ago. Consequently, the time he spent sleeping increased, and fatigue set in quickly even with the slightest movement.

While Mikhail struggled to win the second trial, Hyeon waited every day for the caretaker to bring a new letter. He gradually reduced the time he spent tending to the fields.

[I heard that martilla herb is good for fatigue and insomnia. I heard it’s effective if you sleep with it by your bedside.]

In a small envelope enclosed with the letter were a little over ten seeds of the herb. Hyeon closed his eyes, placing the letter, which was heavily scented with dried herbs, by his bedside. In truth, it was almost laughable to worry about insomnia since he had become so sleepy, but there was no harm in keeping it nearby. Every time he took a deep breath, it felt as if the fresh scent—like the smell of earth rising on a rainy day, which had clung to the clothes of the person who visited every month—was being fully conveyed. Hyeon gave a short kiss to the herb-scented letter and stored it deep inside a drawer, taking it out to read from time to time.

[If things go well, I think I’ll be able to visit you at the ice lake next week.]

Unfortunately, the contents of the letter, written while traveling everywhere to conclude the second trial, did not come true. This was because the Crown Prince won the second trial decreed by the Emperor: the task of restoring a ritual said to have been offered long ago to the Goddess to plead for wisdom and abundance.

Mikhail had traveled to various temples across the country, consulting with local believers and priests, while the Crown Prince bribed the religious order. This was thanks to a relative on the Crown Prince’s maternal side who held a high position within the order. The High Priest of the order knew that the ritual implemented by the Second Imperial Prince was more consistent with traditional rituals, but he closed his eyes in the face of power. The judgment was unfair, but what mattered to the people was the result: that the order had recognized the Crown Prince’s ritual.

Ultimately, the score of the duel became one win and one loss each, making the result of the third trial crucial enough to determine the final outcome. There were five trials in total. If he lost the lead in the third trial and the judges were bribed in the same way in the fourth, he would forever lose the chance to save that person right before his eyes. That alone could not happen. With a heart-wrenching determination, Mikhail wrote and sent a new letter.

[My master’s work suddenly became busy, so I’ve ended up accompanying him to a distant foreign country. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my word about seeing you soon, as I mentioned in my last letter. It might be a bit lacking as a substitute, but I’m sending a doll I carved myself.]

What Hyeon received along with the letter was a bird the size of a thumb, carved clumsily and haphazardly. Why a bird? Was this the easiest to carve? Hyeon couldn’t understand the reason, but he placed it on a corner of his study desk and stroked its head once every time he went to read a book. Perhaps because it received so much affection, the small bird’s head soon developed a polished sheen.

The long trials finally ended after a full year had passed. Mikhail fought fiercely in all five trials. Had the Crown Prince not used cowardly tactics, the result would have been decided by the third trial, but he had insisted on dragging it out until the fifth.

When given the problem for the third trial—to find a way to fairly divide the assets of [stolen content]Count Macron, a great wealthy man of the central region who was on the verge of [visit our site]death, among his twelve children—Mikhail felt as if his head would explode because the asset list was too complex. Can’t they just divide it into Read on Read BL Novelstwelve equal parts and take it? When Mikhail asked while clutching his head, Marcel answered firmly.

“You cannot.”

It sounded easy, but since a noble’s assets were not just money, it was common to inherit everything to the eldest son so that the legacy of the family could be continued. If he focused on the word ‘fair’ and divided it into twelve, the Macron family would be scattered and become a disorganized rabble. Then it was obvious that the children would not only protest but that conflict would break out. Thus, Mikhail visited the Macron estate disguised as a guest along with Marcel.

And he discovered why Count Macron had asked the Emperor for a way to divide his assets fairly among his children even though he was on the verge of death. Most of Count Macron’s children had long since reached adulthood, had become independent to start their own businesses, or were married; however, there was one. Only the youngest daughter was a young child, now six years old.

Even if he only has the strength to hold a spoon, to do such a thing… Mikhail almost failed to hide his physiological disgust, but after learning the story of how the child was registered in the family with Marcel’s help, he changed his mind. The child was not the Count’s biological child. She was the fatherless child of a maid who had been sold to the Count’s house at the age of ten and had served loyally for a long time. The maid, deeply shocked by the infidelity of the man she had promised to marry, had a relationship with a random man on the street and died while giving birth.

The Count, whose wife had passed away decades ago, could not turn away from the newborn and took her in as his own child. When the grown children found out that the child was not of the Count’s bloodline, the Count worried about how a six-year-old child, who had lived believing she was the Count’s biological daughter, would endure the reality.

The Count was worried that the youngest daughter would not only receive nothing but would be robbed of everything by the eleven children who had already taken their shares of the property—excluding the estate and the castle—when they married or became independent; he even feared she might be harmed. Therefore, he had no complaints even if the assets excluding the estate were divided into twelfths. What he desired was for the inheritance method to be officially recognized by the Emperor.

However, if Mikhail also focused on dividing it into twelve equal parts like the Crown Prince, the Count wouldn’t care who he supported, and there was a risk of the victory being stolen by the Crown Prince. Thus, after long deliberation, Mikhail proposed the following:

The estate, the title, and the castle would go to the eldest daughter, who had been educated as the successor, and all assets that could be converted into tangible goods would be inherited by the youngest daughter. Furthermore, all tributes coming from the estate until the youngest daughter reached adulthood would be owned by the eldest daughter, but on the day the youngest daughter became an adult, the eldest daughter would give her 1% of the assets and distribute the remaining amount to her sisters and brothers. If the youngest daughter died before reaching adulthood, all assets would revert to the Imperial Family as relief grain.

The Count’s children initially protested, but upon realizing that the final share the youngest daughter would take was only 1%, they eventually agreed, even if they expressed dissatisfaction on the surface. The Count was overjoyed, saying he had found a way to protect his youngest daughter, and adopted Mikhail’s proposal.

Thus, the third trial ended in Mikhail’s victory. When Mikhail finally visited the place of exile again after more than half a year of waiting, Hyeon was surprised by how much Mikhail’s eye level had risen. He was clearly about half a palm shorter than him when they first met, but he had surpassed Hyeon’s height in the meantime.

“Boys really grow quickly.”

When Hyeon admired this unconsciously, Misha replied with a smile.

“I just grew quickly.”

“Neither of us is wrong.”

The time Misha could stay in the place of exile was not very long, but in that short time, Hyeon became accustomed to taking walks with Misha’s support. While strolling along the lakeshore in a way that did not strain the Duke’s body, Misha told him about Count Macron’s affair. Naturally, it wasn’t about the content of the task, but about the feelings of a father who had to leave the world behind, leaving a six-year-old child.

“I heard that my mother also passed away shortly after giving birth to me. I wondered how sorry and worried he was that the youngest daughter might be harmed by her sisters and brothers. I wondered if my mother felt the same way about me when she passed away.”

“…”

Hyeon could not easily find words. His biological parents had tried to kill him, and his adoptive parents were people who tried to discard him like waste after finding their biological son.

“…”

After pondering for a long time, Hyeon spoke with difficulty.

“Since it is a parent’s duty to raise a child with love until they can be independent… she must have felt sorry for not being able to raise you.”

Of course, unfortunately, Hyeon’s parents were not like that. Fortunately, it had long since faded into the depths of his memory, so he didn’t even remember well what he had been told. That he was born for nothing, or that things became like this because he was born. The memory of being pushed into the water along with absurd resentment was still vivid.

Mikhail pondered Hyeon’s words for a moment and then blurted out what he had unconsciously thought.

“If you had married, I think you would have stolen contentbeen [Read on Read BL Novels]a good father, Duke. Because you [Read on Read BL Novels]are a kind person.”

And as soon as Hyeon heard those words, he burst into laughter, forgetting that his body was fatigued. Me? If the people who knew him when he was Lee Hyeon heard this, they would doubt their ears. Everyone who had been involved with Alpha Lee Hyeon would admit that he was an attractive partner as an Alpha, but not a single person with ten mouths would say he was someone who would be a good father.

Even in situations where he was so excited by the scent of an Omega due to rut that he would lose his mind, Hyeon took strict precautions for contraception. It was as if he loathed the idea of an Omega targeting his body and wealth using a child as a hostage to hold him captive. No one realized that this was due to a profound self-loathing.

“A meaningless hypothesis. No one would want to marry a traitor who might die the year after next.”

It was only natural that Mikhail screamed inwardly at Hyeon’s cynical laugh.

“It was really just a ‘what if,’ really just a ‘what if’!”

“I haven’t done anything to warrant it, nor should it happen. If a child remained in the world, I wouldn’t be able to face death with a light heart.”

After that, the Duke immediately changed the subject. However, his expression looked strangely sad. Mikhail could say nothing at the sight of those eyes filled with loneliness, as if he longed for something more precisely because he knew it would never be allowed for him. If he had a child who looked exactly like him, would that soothe the loneliness? But Mikhail could not find the answer to that question. Instead, sensing the mood, he looked away without making him repeat the same words.

That night. Mikhail, who was trying to sleep in the guest room of the place of exile with Marcel, confessed to Marcel like he was talking in his sleep.

“Marcel…”

What on earth are you going to say now? Marcel asked, trembling in fear.

“Yes?”

And sure enough, the Imperial Prince spouted nonsense.

“How lovely would a child who looks like the Duke be?”

“Pardon?”

Marcel felt the sleep that had been slowly creeping in vanish instantly. What kind of nonsense is this crazy brat talking? Marcel asked with a face of utter astonishment.

“What… what did you just say…”

Only then did Mikhail realize what he had blurted out and hurriedly tried to fix it.

“No! I mean… last week and throughout, I’ve been with young children, right? When I imagined the Duke holding a child who looks exactly like him… I thought it would be… so wonderful…”

What the hell are you talking about regarding a living corpse who doesn’t even get ruts, you crazy brat? Marcel asked, his head spinning from shock.

“Y-you’re not saying you’re going to bring some Omega just to bear a child, are you?”

When asked assuming the worst-case scenario, Mikhail immediately shook his head.

“There’s no way I’d do something so inhumane! I’m just saying…”

Marcel barely let out a sigh of relief and summarized.

“So let’s talk slowly. You’re saying you [Read on Read BL Novels]want to see the Duke in unauthorized copya kind family, holding his own child, is that it?”

“Mm-hmm…”

“Now then, let’s assume there’s a painting of a family hanging here, and the Duke is on this side. And let’s say a child who looks like the Duke is on this side.”

As Marcel gestured toward the empty window, not as if it were a tailored education, Mikhail obediently nodded.

“Are you saying it’s okay if someone else is sitting in this spot?”

When Marcel’s hand pointed to the spot next to the Duke and asked, Mikhail’s expression instantly turned cold.

“That’s not allowed.”

“See. Your Highness, as you know, Alphas cannot produce offspring together.”

“I know that.”

Though it’s not like they can’t do ‘that’ act. If there was someone who could get excited by the pheromones of another Alpha, they would have an unusual appetite. Of course, considering how far gone the Imperial Prince was, it seemed possible on his end… Marcel clutched his head, finding the mere act of having such thoughts too painful.

“Anyway. Whether there’s a child or not, whether you start a family with the Duke or not, that’s for later. First, let’s finish all the trials and become the Crown Prince. After that! After the Duke’s curse is lifted! Think about it then, then.”

Regardless of the facts, Marcel just wanted to get plenty of sleep before entering the fourth trial. Imagining sexual intercourse between the Imperial Prince and the Duke was something he would rather die than do. Aaaagh. Aaaagh. Marcel writhed in agony and, after agonizing for a long time, added one last thing.

“Let’s make one thing clear. In [stolen content]any case, [stolen content]Your Highness… you’re the one who wants Read on Read BL Novelsto… take the Duke, right?”

Then, the Imperial Prince nodded with a shy face in the darkness.

“If… he allows it…”

Aaaaagh. Aaaagh. I heard nothing. I know nothing. Marcel rolled around on the bed, screaming silently, relieved at the same time as regretting that he had asked. But still, it’s better that our Highness is the one taking him. Marcel bit the edge of the blanket, sobbing without tears.

The next day, Mikhail, returning to the Imperial Palace, was so excited to meet the Duke again that he made a fatal mistake in the fourth trial. Of course, he had fallen for a plot devised by the Crown Prince, but Mikhail felt so much self-reproach that he wanted to become stardust at the fact that he had blown a chance to end the trial immediately due to an absurd mistake.

[My master’s work has become busy again, so I don’t think I’ll be able to stop by the ice lake until next year.]

Hyeon read the letter sent by Misha with a bitter expression and stored it in the drawer. How many years were left? Two or three? In that amount of time, there would be a few more opportunities to see each other’s faces. Without even a moment to swallow a sigh, Hyeon’s daily life also flowed by busily.