HRB 138

When the carriage stopped inside the Imperial Palace, Eddie could see Ketron as soon as he got out.

It seemed he had been informed of Eddie’s arrival time and location in advance, as he was waiting naturally. Ketron looked at Eddie, who had a dazed expression as he alighted from the carriage, with a smiling face.

Of course, Eddie’s dazed expression was partly because he hadn’t imagined seeing Ketron here, but also because Ketron was wearing a uniform that fit his body impeccably.

“……Oh.”

His jet-black hair, dark eyes, and striking features suited the sharp, tailored uniform so well that Eddie was momentarily lost for words.

Ketron seemed puzzled as Eddie, after a single exclamation of admiration, simply scanned him up and down without speaking.

“Eddie, why that expression?”

“Because you’re always newly handsome, no matter when I see you.”

Ketron’s expression shifted, as if caught off guard. Soon after, Eddie’s eyes caught the tips of his ears turning instantly red.

Eddie was, of course, sincere. He had never thought of himself as someone heavily influenced by appearance, but whenever he saw Ketron, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was perhaps too weak to good looks.

My cat is handsome. Extremely so.

But the cat didn’t seem to think so.

“…You’re the only one who says that to me.”

Why?

Eddie immediately wondered, and soon understood.

It was because, fundamentally, Ketron had a rather intimidating impression. Even if he were gentle, there was no one gentler in the world, but it was an absurd misunderstanding. Anyone seeing him for the first time would likely feel pressured by his large build.

My guy is quite… big. In many ways.

Eddie felt momentarily embarrassed by his own thoughts and fanned himself with his hand.

“Uh, you two.”

Augustine, who had been watching the entire scene unfold and was thus forgotten, tentatively raised his hand and interjected.

“It seems you’ve completely forgotten about me…”

Seeing Eddie startled, having completely forgotten Augustine’s presence, he scratched his cheek and said sheepishly,

“I’ll be going now?”

His face, as he said this, couldn’t hide his embarrassment, yet the effort to suppress his laughter was evident.

“Ketron, see you later.”

“Yeah.”

While Eddie was embarrassed, Ketron, who seemed to have been aware of Augustine’s presence all along, responded casually. Only Eddie’s face burned like a sweet potato.

“Uh, have a safe trip!”

It didn’t matter if Ketron skipped the farewell since he would be departing with them anyway, but Eddie wouldn’t see him for a very long time if he didn’t say goodbye today. As he hastily bid farewell, Augustine winked and walked away.

Once Augustine left, they were truly alone.

Ketron, who seemed to understand why Eddie was embarrassed, looked at the flushed Eddie and approached him.

Ketron naturally cupped Eddie’s cheeks, brought his face close, and Eddie, in turn, naturally parted his lips to meet Ketron’s approaching face, accepting him.

The series of actions, from the warm, soft lips lightly touching to separating, was very natural.

Eddie, responding diligently as if the cat were lapping up milk, licked and sucked at his own lips. He then tightened his embrace around Ketron, whom he had been holding gently.

Because Ketron’s body was larger than Eddie’s, it looked as though Eddie was being held in Ketron’s arms, but it was rare for Eddie to take the initiative and hug him first, so Ketron smiled with pleasure.

“Are you being unusually affectionate?”

“I won’t be able to see you for a while after I leave today…”

The future, where he wouldn’t see Ketron for at least two months, made Eddie unusually proactive.

The Teleportation hubs, which had been extensively destroyed during the Demon King’s reign, had been somewhat restored under Marquis Rivalt’s command, but they were not perfectly repaired, and this time, the personnel involved were significant.

The war was likely to be longer than in the past.

And Eddie, for his part, was about to be separated from his lover, whom he had only just managed to reconnect with. And for at least, at least two months!

He didn’t doubt Ketron’s victory, but he couldn’t ignore his anxiety. This expedition was one where everyone risked their lives.

“You know, Ket, I’m honestly scared.”

That fact made Eddie honest.

“Are you afraid I won’t come back?”

“It would be a lie to say I’m not afraid of that at all.”

He knew from reading novels. How desperate that final battle had been. And what its outcome was…

“But more than that, I’m afraid of you getting hurt.”

And how much he had hurt him.

Ketron now knew that Eddie had glimpsed a part of his life. And that there had been almost no bright moments in that life.

He had become a hero by shouldering strength and duty, but he was a tragic hero, forgotten even for that.

Yet, he had ultimately stood on the front lines again, representing a forgotten world. For Eddie, and for the place where he could live with Eddie.

Because of this, unlike Eddie, who was somewhat subdued, Ketron seemed rather pleased.

“It might not be so bad.”

“Huh?”

Eddie wore a bewildered expression at the unexpected words.

“You worrying about me, caring for me, being anxious…”

The man, smiling as if even that was endearing, gave Eddie’s lips a light peck.

“Please keep thinking of me.”

“Uh…”

“Don’t forget me for even a single moment.”

Their lips met again. The ticklish sensation on the tips of their lips was soft and sweet rather than sticky.

This guy, sometimes, his personality is really…

Eddie clicked his tongue inwardly, yet he couldn’t refuse those lips. This was also the Ketron he loved.

After that, the two embraced each other for a long time. After all, if they parted here, they wouldn’t see each other for a while.

After holding Ketron for a moment and enjoying the comfortable silence, Eddie slowly opened his mouth.

“You know, I think I’m suited to being a merchant, despite how I look.”

Ketron paused, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“You said you were like that… in your past life too.”

He smiled slyly, remembering well the story of Lee Jeong-hoon that Eddie had told him not long ago.

“Yeah, everyone seems to hate dealing with people, but I think I’m better off with that.”

So, Eddie took a deep breath and, for the first time, revealed his grand plan to the world.

“When I come back, will you run an inn with me again? A bit more leisurely this time.”

Even though the inn had collapsed and they would have to rebuild from the foundation.

“I don’t think the Prince is my type.”

Still, wouldn’t that be better than playing the role of a Prince, which didn’t seem to suit him? Of course, Eddie knew that even if he disliked being a Prince, it wasn’t a position he could easily shed.

Then, perhaps it wouldn’t be Eddie’s Inn, but the Prince’s Inn, or maybe Eddie & Ketron…

As Eddie already envisioned sign designs for names that anyone else would recoil from as terrible naming sense, Ketron, who had been lost in thought, slowly opened his mouth.

“Me neither.”

“Hm?”

“I don’t think being a hero is my type either, so I want to be with you.”

Ketron smiled as he said this.

“For the rest of my life.”

Silence filled the air for a while. Only the sound of the cold winter wind blowing through the surroundings filled the space.

Eddie’s lips parted slightly, then closed again, then parted again as if he wanted to say something, then closed again, repeating the cycle.

His expression seemed to ask, Is this what I think it means?

Ketron, wearing a puzzled expression as to why Eddie looked that way, saw Eddie’s face flush red for a reason other than the cold and slowly realized how his words might be perceived.

He had merely spoken his truth, but upon speaking it, it had become a proposal. A clumsy proposal, lacking flowers, rings, the restraint of kneeling on one knee, or any earnestness.

“Ah, that.”

Ketron stammered, uncharacteristically flustered.

As if he knew that even he, usually indifferent, shouldn’t make such a clumsy proposal.

But at that terrible proposal, Eddie smiled.

“Yeah, me too.”

Ketron was silent for a moment.

Ketron knew how oblivious Eddie was. Eddie clearly hadn’t realized that what Ketron had just said was close to a proposal.

Feeling an inexplicable sense of disappointment at a proposal made by mistake, he made a resolution as he looked at that smile.

He would make a proper proposal to Eddie when he returned.

Remarkably, Eddie was aware that what Ketron had said was precisely a proposal, but he hadn’t reacted strongly because it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

After that, Eddie and Ketron kissed several more times, feeling each other’s warmth. The cold January wind was not even an obstacle to the two.

With a magnificent shared dream, the Demon King subjugation force, led by Ketron, set out on a cold winter day.