#063

It was an unexpected statement. Cullen quietly traced the white wings before him with his gaze. Despite their bizarre appearance, unlike anything he had ever seen, they didn’t feel strange; they were simply beautiful.

The thought that a different shape had occupied that space originally was inconceivable. But it would undoubtedly have been just as wondrous. Because that, too, would have been Kiyen.

“Kiyen-nim…… is Kiyen.”

Seeing Kiyen’s profile, gazing silently out the window, looking subdued, Cullen spoke cautiously. He felt anxious, as if Kiyen might suddenly soar away. Kiyen turned his head again.

“I am a Dragon.”

His calm voice escaped his pink lips.

“According to your human words, the greatest being in the world. One who can do anything, and if it wishes, can endlessly burn the things of the earth. But at the same time, I am bound by your Larkan. A Dragon, held captive by humans weaker than myself, what am I?”

It sounded less like a question directed at Cullen and more like words spoken to himself.

“If the Larkan does not leave, I cannot leave the palace either.”

The uninterrupted monologue sounded like thoughts Kiyen had repeated hundreds, thousands of times to himself.

“Except for the fact that I do not die, am I any different from a bird buried within the palace? I do not know. Because there are no other Dragons in the world to ask.”

Listening to the questions that must have been replayed countless times, finally pushing Kiyen into confusion, Cullen recalled Kiyen burying a bird. Although there was a different reason for refusing the contract, Cullen had made up his mind that day after seeing Kiyen’s appearance.

He didn’t want to exploit a being who had to remain confined for an immeasurable age due to human greed.

And now, Cullen felt a different emotion that he hadn’t realized then. Kiyen was utterly alone. From birth until now, he had never not been alone.

Though the years were incomparable, Cullen also knew loneliness. The feeling of standing alone amidst countless people in the world.

But at the same time, he also knew the feeling of having someone precious by his side. It was a memory more painful than death, yet Cullen had undoubtedly been happy then. He had his family smiling beside him, and his colleagues supporting him. Kiyen had never experienced memories like the ones Cullen had.

Cullen wanted Kiyen to feel those emotions.

How dare he.

Someone like himself.

“But now you are outside the palace, here.”

Unsure how to comfort Kiyen, Cullen spoke first.

“You made a contract, Kiyen.”

Cullen suddenly recalled what he had thought Kiyen might have wanted from the beginning.

“If you grant my wish…… I will grant yours too.”

He didn’t know in what form that wish would be granted, but Cullen wanted to grant it by any means necessary. It was clearly different from before. What Cullen had prioritized then was only his mother’s revenge. He had thought it didn’t matter what happened afterward if that was achieved.

But now…….

“I do not wish to force anything upon you. To your eyes, I am still Larkan, but still…… I will not act like them.”

He truly wanted to grant Kiyen’s wish.

“I will keep my promise.”

He didn’t utter words like “I will find a way to free you.” Cullen didn’t want to make promises he couldn’t keep. Because he might fail.

However, granting Kiyen’s wish was something he could do.

Dust motes, illuminated by the sunlight, floated in the air. Silence settled. The light, scattering hazily, reflected in Kiyen’s eyes. Confusion appeared in his golden eyes. With a face that clearly couldn’t understand, he asked.

“Why are you…… doing this to me?”

His voice, unsteady, sounded both angry and flustered.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Why are you acting like this towards me? Pushing me away, saying you’ll protect me when you can’t, and then…….”

Kiyen’s wings unfurled. The flapping of his wings, as if expressing his emotions, created a small breeze. The bedsheets fluttered. Cullen’s hair also stirred.

This was a question Cullen had also asked himself.

It was a question he had been constantly asking, and something he had sought to understand. He knew. His actions were strange. He had never acted this way towards a comrade. It might seem like he was serving someone, but that wasn’t it either. Cullen had never intended to serve anyone.

The closest comparison was that he thought he was treating Kiyen like family. Despite the many humans in the world, Cullen was alone, and Kiyen was also an isolated being. Therefore, he might have felt a sense of kinship and inwardly considered him family.

However…….

No one wants to kiss their family.

Whether he was sane or not, when Cullen saw Kiyen’s lips, he lost his senses. When he kissed him, nothing else registered, and he liked it when Kiyen left marks on him. He liked it when Kiyen worried about him, when Kiyen got annoyed with him.

There was nothing he disliked.

For a time, neither long nor short, Cullen tried to understand his feelings. At first, he tried to avoid it, finding his wavering self unfamiliar, and then he gradually tried to grasp the emotions that stirred him. As he continued to ponder, he began to vaguely guess the nature of this turmoil.

And now, the question that fell from Kiyen’s lips had driven Cullen into a corner. It was an emotion he could no longer pretend to ignore.

This feeling can only be defined by one word.

“That I…….”

To you…….

The word that was about to flow out as if in a trance retreated. Noise intruded into the quiet space, as if only the two of them were present. With a thudding knock, a voice came from outside.

“Cullen-nim, are you there?”

It was Arne. Following her, Lasano’s voice was also heard.

“We’ve returned!”

Kiyen’s gaze, which had been fixed on Cullen, turned towards the door. Cullen then realized what he looked like. Wrapped in Kiyen’s wings, he hadn’t properly examined himself, but his state was a mess.

Including the large bite marks on his neck, there were traces on his body unlike last time. There were bite marks on his collarbone too. He hadn’t known about this.

Looking down at his upper body, Cullen carefully touched his collarbone. It stung, and his skin was abraded, but it didn’t feel unpleasant; it was strangely alluring. Something surged within him, and he bit his lip. Then, he glanced at Kiyen’s body.

Kiyen’s white upper body was the same. His nape bore the marks of Cullen’s biting and licking. His back was likely covered in red lines, similar to last time.

The situation, subtly different from their first time, made Cullen uncontrollably excited. He became flushed, not realizing he was excited. Unlike last time, when only his ankles bore bite marks, there were more traces this time.

What is it about that…… that makes him feel so good?

“What are you smiling about?”

Kiyen’s question was heard. Cullen blinked and met his gaze.

“Was I smiling?”

Smiling. He hadn’t openly smiled in five years. Looking at Kiyen with a bewildered expression, Kiyen’s face drew closer. His white finger touched the corner of Cullen’s mouth.

“……That’s a new expression.”

His white finger stroked the slightly upturned corner of his lips. Cullen forgot to even breathe and let Kiyen’s actions continue. After a long time of rubbing the corner of Cullen’s mouth, his finger applied pressure. The finger pulled the corner of his mouth downward.

“Don’t smile.”

Was it an unsightly expression? Cullen thought so. He was just as bewildered, having not even realized he was smiling.

“……I wasn’t smiling.”

Cullen said quietly, and Kiyen stood up, saying.

“If you smile, I’m already annoyed thinking about what nonsense the High Priest will spout.”

It was an incomprehensible statement. Before he could ask for its meaning, Kiyen walked towards the door without even thinking of putting on clothes. His folded wings and the back between his shoulder blades were, as expected, covered in red fingernail marks. Cullen, who had been staring blankly at them, suddenly came to his senses.

“Kiyen-nim, please, clothes……!”

Cullen, who had tried to get up abruptly, sank back onto the bed due to his waist, which hadn’t yet regained its sensation. Kiyen, unconcerned by Cullen’s words, opened the door.

“You must have been so tired, not sleeping at all and bringing people back……!”

Lasano, who was about to lament as soon as the door opened, fell silent at the sight he could never have imagined. Arne, behind him, gasped and momentarily looked at Kiyen’s lower body.

“You look like you smell just by looking. Go wash up.”

Lasano’s lips moved. Although his long blonde hair covered some of it, Kiyen’s naked body was fully exposed. Arne, mouth agape, continued to look at Kiyen’s lower body, then cried out, “Oh, goddess,” and suddenly closed his eyes to pray. His face turned red.

“Uh……”

Lasano, uncharacteristically, looked flustered for a few seconds, then quickly returned to his usual self.

“This confirms Kiyen-nim’s gender for sure. He is a magnificent male. He truly deserves to be called the greatest being on earth!”

Lasano even started clapping his hands. Kiyen then quickly made a displeased face.

“Nonsense first thing in the morning. Your tongue never tires.”

Cullen, who had been listening to their conversation, became very displeased with them admiring Kiyen’s body. Covering himself roughly with the sheet, he got out of bed. Putting strength into his aching waist and lower body, he stood behind Kiyen.

“Go wash up.”

Lasano, with a face full of things he wanted to say, peered inside, but Cullen closed the door first. With a bang, the door closed, and Cullen immediately pulled Kiyen’s arm.

“You should put on clothes, or you’ll catch a cold.”

“……I am a Dragon. Human illnesses have nothing to do with me.”

“Still, it would be good to wash and put on clothes. So that others don’t carelessly see Kiyen-nim’s body……”

There, Cullen realized that what he was about to say was not something he should dare to utter. However, he felt bad. The thought of someone else seeing his sculpted, beautiful body made his insides churn uncontrollably.

“……Lasano talks a lot, so he’ll surely complain constantly. Then Kiyen-nim will also be bothered.”

“That’s true.”

Kiyen nodded. Cullen felt a little relieved. Cullen looked around in that state. His clothes had been torn by Kiyen and were no longer intact, so it would be good to stop by Arne’s room and get dressed. And then… it would be best to wash again.

As Cullen thought this, he hesitated for a moment, a sudden thought occurring to him. He spoke to Kiyen, his hesitation evident.

“May I… wash you?”

“Me?”

Kiyen raised one eyebrow. It didn’t seem like a complete refusal, so Cullen spoke cautiously.

“You showed me favor yesterday… This is my repayment for that.”

For a favor, a favor. When he said it with that nuance, Kiyen fell silent. Cullen could see his pupils narrowing. Kiyen, as if guessing Cullen’s intention, observed him before finally giving his permission.

“Fine.”

Turning his body, Kiyen added.

“Let’s see.”

Watching his blond hair flutter and then scatter, Cullen smiled involuntarily. This time, it was a clear smile that he himself could feel.