-12-

“Wh, what is this… Why do you both look like this…”

Tony, who had come out to the front door to greet them as he had when they left the house, burst out with a surprised voice instead of a greeting.

Yeon-ho, who had just stepped out of the car, hesitated and made an awkward expression.

What they looked like… Well, even he thought that what they looked like now was the kind of thing that could only be expressed as “what they looked like.”

Clothes that were completely covered in mud from rolling around on the wet ground. Hair that was a mess because of the man who had grabbed the back of his head and rubbed his lips until just before getting out of the car.

Their breathing was rough, and their cheeks were faintly flushed. It would be strange if they weren’t surprised to see this.

As expected. Tony, who had chased them to the front door in an instant, kept looking back and forth between the two with wide eyes.

However, the unexpected reaction was next. Tony, whose face gradually hardened, raised his voice in a tone that was different from before.

“What is it, you two? Don’t tell me you fought!”

…What?

“What did you fight about that made you look like this…!”

His eyes were boiling fiercely again, and his cheeks were twitching.

“No. No matter how upset you are, you’re old enough to know better… Is that how I raised you, young master? Dignity and grace are a man’s pride! And Yeon-ho-nim too. I thought you were a sensible person… I’m really disappointed in both of you. Yes. I’m disappointed!”

Marteo and Yeon-ho both raised their eyebrows.

They were old enough to know better, so how could they be scolded like this? Was the Metz Rat originally such a fierce species?

The injustice was a problem for later, and he was even starting to doubt the species.

At that moment,

“Antonio!”

The driver, who had gotten out of the car a beat late, stepped between the three of them at a fast pace. Tony, with a face that had become stern, turned to Tino, thinking he was right.

“Yes, you tell me. What the hell did these people do! What did you fight about!”

“That’s, well…”

Tino looked very embarrassed.

Tino, who had been ordered to prepare the car a few hours ago to return home and had faced the two of them, had the same misunderstanding as Tony now.

‘D, did they fight! Why do they look like that?’

But it didn’t take more than a few seconds for that misunderstanding to be broken.

‘Ah, it tickles~.’

‘Just a moment.’

‘Stooop. I told you to stop touching me?’

The two people who had been sitting at opposite ends of the seats as if there was a crevasse in the middle of the seat when they went to Bracciano, didn’t think of separating for a moment on the way back, as if they had been glued together.

Besides, that wasn’t all. What about the kissing sounds that could be heard every time he forgot about it? Thanks to that, Tino hadn’t been able to see the rearview mirror properly for two hours.

Tino, who had been thinking, coughed and glanced at the two of them. Then, he slowly approached Tony and whispered quickly in his ear.

It was clear that Tony’s stern face was changing in front of him. In the end, he began to look back and forth between Yeon-ho and Marteo with a face that was twice as surprised as before.

Yeon-ho bit his tongue in his mouth. He was second to none when it came to being shameless, but this was quite… embarrassing.

But fortunately or unfortunately, it seemed that all the shamelessness that Yeon-ho had given up had been concentrated on Marteo.

“Young master…”

Marteo, who glanced at Tony, who had barely moved his lips, pretended not to know and spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“Now you know?”

“……”

“I’m going to wash up. Prepare the bathwater.”

“……”

“Of course, I don’t need any help this time either.”

After saying that, he even wrapped his arm around Yeon-ho’s shoulder as if to show off.

It seemed that “together” was included before “I’m going to wash up.”

On the day that Yeon-ho’s chicken form was revealed(?). Marteo had asked this question at the Gunsan motel.

─Shall I wash you?

The words, which were a question in form but a subtle wish, were finally fulfilled.

No sooner had Myung-dae finished preparing the bath than Marteo, grabbing Yeon-ho’s hand, seated Yeon-ho in the water-filled tub. Then, neglecting himself, he busily massaged Yeon-ho’s body.

“Does your arm hurt?”

“……?”

“Where it was pulled earlier. You might have muscle pain tomorrow.”

He had been hanging from the tree root for a while, and as he said, his arm had been pulled quite a bit while being hauled up, so it was possible.

But that was the same for Marteo, who had used his strength. Yeon-ho, whose body was relaxing in the perfectly warm water, changed the subject instead of worrying.

“Aren’t you coming in?”

It was called a bathtub, but the Jacuzzi, large enough for two adult men to soak in, had a lot of empty space for one person.

Marteo, who had kept his distance, soon smiled with a bitter face.

“Now that I think about it, I don’t think I can stand it….”

Yeon-ho couldn’t ask twice and had no choice but to close his mouth.

Afterward, Marteo, who finished his own bath with a quick shower, washed Yeon-ho with all his heart. Washing his hair, lathering his body, rinsing him, and even drying him off.

Of course, it was also Marteo’s job to personally put a shower gown on him just before leaving the bathroom.

Yeon-ho, who hadn’t lifted a finger and had gone from a beggar to being all fluffy and clean, fidgeted his toes out of sheer embarrassment and only cleared his throat after leaving the bathroom.

“Thanks for your trouble…. Then, rest a bit.”

But no sooner had the words left his mouth than his wrist was quickly grabbed.

“Where are you going?”

“Where else? To my room?”

“Where is Do Yeon-ho’s room here?”

What, what is this? Why is he suddenly acting like the landlord?

The words “my room” are, of course, just a figure of speech. The room I’m currently staying in, how pathetic.

However, to Yeon-ho’s astonishment, the man who had been overflowing with kindness just moments ago now had a sulky expression. Then, he began to pull the wrist he was holding in the opposite direction.

Before long, Marteo stopped in front of an unfamiliar door and immediately threw it open. Still being dragged inside, Yeon-ho immediately realized.

An elegant space that was as meticulously decorated as the one Yeon-ho used. It was Marteo’s bedroom. However, there was also something very familiar in the room he was seeing for the first time.

Neatly folded new clothes and a cell phone on the table over there….

There was no need to ask who had prepared it. The expressions of the two people who simultaneously thought of Tony’s face were different.

‘It’s time to raise his salary.’

‘Should I say this guy has a sense or not?’

In any case, Marteo pushed Yeon-ho further inside and simply locked the door. Then, he feigned innocence as he turned to Yeon-ho.

“This is Do Yeon-ho’s room.”

“What?”

“I want you to live here from now on.”

“Huh? Even so… why so suddenly…….”

A more dumbfounded look spread across Yeon-ho’s face. But there was something that even Yeon-ho and Tony didn’t know.

It wasn’t sudden at all for Marteo.

Tony had diligently decorated a room for someone who would one day become the mistress of this house…… but for Marteo, that person had already been decided.

In other words, there was no need to use separate rooms for the rest of his life. Every year, he dismissed it as ‘useless’ to Tony for that reason.

After further thought, Marteo, who had finally given up on feigning innocence, hugged Yeon-ho back into his arms.

“Hey?”

Despite Yeon-ho’s feigned grumbling, his face was full of an unhidden smile. It was a bonus that he pressed his forehead against Yeon-ho’s as if he were acting spoiled.

“Say it again….”

“Ah, what.”

“Say what you said earlier again. Regardless of who I am, what was it?”

Yeon-ho bit his lip. He was clearly referring to the confession he had made in the forest. Now it was Yeon-ho’s turn to feel his face burning up.

Belatedly, Yeon-ho pretended to push Marteo away.

“Forget it if you don’t remember.”

“Do Yeon-ho….”

But it was the same for both of them, putting on a show and complaining on the surface. The room was filled with a sweet scent.

However, the loving quarrel, which anyone could see was full of affection, unfortunately didn’t last long.

Dring. Dring.

An unwelcome interruption that came at just the right time. Yeon-ho’s phone, which was on the table, began to ring. The movements of the two people stopped as if they had been rehearsed.

At the same time, Yeon-ho thought of someone.

Do Seo-jin. He remembered not answering the phone call he had received a few hours ago. Then, he also realized one thing.

Why he had agreed to this blind date in the first place. What his mission was.

Of course, telling Marteo that it didn’t matter if he was an Averto was 100% sincere……. But the reality was not so simple.

Above the easily unceasing ringtone, Yeon-ho timidly looked up at Marteo. And he had to flinch his shoulders.

Putting himself aside, Marteo’s expression was not good at all. It didn’t seem to be just because the good atmosphere had been disturbed.

‘Why……. Why is he so fierce?’

The moment he thought that, Marteo’s voice, which he had been grinding, cut through his teeth.

“Don’t answer it.”

“…Huh?”

“Don’t answer anyone’s call.”

The arms that held him tightened even more. It was a different feeling from simply holding him because he liked him. Yeon-ho blinked in embarrassment.

“What…. Why are you suddenly like this?”

“…….”

“Theon.”

Yeon-ho, who forcibly pulled his arm away, cupped Marteo’s cheeks. Only then did the strength in his arms, which had been holding him as if he would explode, loosen a little. Instead of an answer, a question came back next.

“Does that bastard know this number too?”

“…Huh?”

“Did you tell that bastard too?”

That bastard? It was a designation that he didn’t understand even after hearing it twice. Marteo’s eyebrows furrowed as Yeon-ho tilted his head. Then, a voice that sounded like he was swallowing bitter water flowed out again.

“The guy you met on the day you were supposed to go on a date with me.”

“……?”

“Does your new sponsor know it too?”

An exclamation mark finally filled his head as he pondered the meaning of the words.

That’s right……. Now that he thought about it, this story was still untold.

Marteo stared intently at Yeon-ho’s changed expression with a face that was now full of anxiety. At the same time, a broken laugh leaked out of Yeon-ho’s mouth.

“Why are you laughing!”

“…….”

“Don’t laugh and answer me. Have you ever contacted that bastard here?”

Marteo, who was increasingly anxious and impatient, repeatedly tightened his arms around him. At this rate, his body would explode before he could answer.

That’s what he thought, but of course he couldn’t hate a man like this. Finally, Yeon-ho, who had managed to control his laughter, narrowed his eyes slightly.

“No.”

“…Re…ally?”

“Yeah.”

“Then who were you talking to then?”

“Then?”

“The day I left a note saying I would call. You kept not answering the phone.”

“…What, you called that day? Weren’t you too busy?”

“What could be busier than you!”

“…….”

“You really weren’t talking to that bastard? You said you had to call at night and ditched me.”

He didn’t know how he had endured it until now. The jealousy he openly revealed was terrifying. Why was something so terrifying also so sweet?

Yeon-ho cleared his throat once more.

“Anyway, it’s not what you think.”

“Really not?”

“Seriously. How can I contact someone who doesn’t exist in the world?”

“……What?”

“The new sponsor story…… that was a lie?”

It was at this point, as expected, that Marteo’s face, which had been repeatedly confirming as if he couldn’t believe it, became completely blank.

Yeon-ho, who was doing his best to suppress the laughter that seemed to leak out again on his still handsome face, spat out a clear word once more.

“It was a lie. I’ve never made or met a new partner.”

Finally, Marteo’s eyes, which had been mumbling, slowly began to regain their strength. 80% was absolute relief. And the remaining 20% was…….

“Why the hell… what were you thinking when you told such a lie….”

“…….”

“Were you really trying to catch someone? Whose eyes were you trying to make roll?”

It was an outburst of anger. Yeon-ho, who had finally flinched at the man who was slapping his cheeks with his eyes, pursed his lips.

“I had my reasons, you know?”

“So what reasons!”

“……I thought you’d hate it that much and leave me.”

“What?”

“I had to go on a blind date soon. With another guy… no, since another guy is you, it’s not necessarily another guy…. Anyway, I can’t keep doing this with you when I’m about to get married for some reason. It’s obvious that it would only be a hindrance to your future, not a help.”

“What does that… explain it so I can understand!”

Marteo was now shaking the body he was holding.

So I can understand…. Yeon-ho, who was shaking his head as he was shaken, then turned to his phone. The phone that had been cut off for a moment was ringing again. That level of persistence seemed to be Do Seo-jin after all.

Finally, Yeon-ho, who had come up with a way to solve two problems at once, grabbed Marteo instead. Then,

“Come here for a second.”

He dragged the man to the table where the phone was. The caller ID on the screen was, as expected, Do Seo-jin. Without hesitation, Yeon-ho pressed the call button.

Marteo’s eyebrows were raised at the fact that he was answering the phone at this point, but the moment was short. Yeon-ho had turned the call to speakerphone.

“Yeah.”

As soon as he uttered a short word, Seo-jin’s sharp voice flew in.

「Hey! What were you doing that you’re only answering now.」

“Something came up.”

「What came up. You deliberately didn’t answer, did you!」

“Don’t waste your energy from the start. What’s wrong, noona?”

「Huh? Do I only have one reason to call?」

At this point, Yeon-ho glanced at Marteo. Marteo, who had an expression that he didn’t understand, was still listening to the conversation.

Before long, Seo-jin, who had sighed, continued in a somewhat subdued tone.

「I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first.」

The introduction was a bit different from what he had expected. He thought she would immediately ask how things were going with the Averto?

“Are you becoming like grandma, noona?”

「You little brat!」

Yeon-ho, who had frowned at the renewed anger, eventually spat out an answer while tilting his head.

“The bad news.”

It sounded like Seo-jin was taking another breath over the receiver.

「Grandma… knows everything.」

“…What?”

「She knows everything about you agreeing to a blind date you didn’t want because of company problems!」

Marteo’s eyes widened more than Yeon-ho’s. His head, which had created a gust of wind, immediately turned to Yeon-ho.

Company problems, a blind date he didn’t want. It was the word that Yeon-ho had been waiting for, albeit late. Similarly, Yeon-ho looked up at Marteo. Meanwhile, Seo-jin’s voice, full of annoyance, rang out again.

「Don’t even mention it. I don’t know how much I was cursed out until just now. Even if I had made a human sacrifice, I wouldn’t have been cursed out this much. If the kid knew, you should have consulted with him, what are you guys doing? Don’t you guys have parents….」

“We don’t… we don’t have them.”

「That’s right. I said that word for word and got cursed out like a dog again. Anyway, I really feel like blood is coming out of my eardrums.」

“Ahem. It’s not exactly… bad news for me? Besides, human sacrifice, it’s not a wrong word either.”

「Why are you like this? You agreed too! The fastest way to get through the blocked funds is to marry an Averto.」

Marteo’s eyes widened repeatedly. Now he had a clear grasp of how things were going. Yeon-ho, who had achieved his intended purpose, bit his bitter tongue and changed his voice.

“Anyway, what’s the good news?”

At this point, Seo-jin was heard inhaling. Then, unlike what she had been grumbling about, she opened her mouth in a calm but somehow excited tone.

「We found a new source of funds.」

“……What?”

「We’ve re-negotiated the Middle East deal that failed last time. The conditions are a bit worse than last time… but it’s still enough to catch our breath. We might be able to get a loan from the bank with this deal too.」

“Re…ally? Really?”

「Hey. Would I lie about something like this at this point? We set a meeting date for today. They have a conscience, so they paid a certain amount of the contract money first.」

Ha, haah. Belatedly, Yeon-ho’s breath poured out repeatedly.

Good news, this was definitely good news. Marteo quickly led Yeon-ho to the sofa as his body trembled slightly at the unexpected words. Yeon-ho, who had wiped his eyes, turned to Marteo with a much brighter face.

It was then. Now with a completely smiling face, Seo-jin finally burst out the remaining voice.

「So Do Yeon-ho. You can come back to Korea now.」

“……Uh, huh?”

「I’m canceling what I said about not coming back until you either catch a man or catch a job. You can come back~!」

She must have been really happy, as Seo-jin rounded off the end of her words unlike usual. And if that wasn’t enough, she even asked, “Should I make a reservation? Should I buy a ticket now?”

Yeon-ho, who had flinched, quickly looked at Marteo again. Then, he hurriedly picked up the phone again.

“I know what you’re saying. I understand, so hang up for now.”

「What? Why are you reacting like that? You don’t have to get married? Come back to Korea.」

“Well, a little! Let’s talk later!”

「Do Yeon-ho? Hey!」

Even as Seo-jin called repeatedly, Yeon-ho simply hung up the phone this time.

Only then did silence fill the room. Yeon-ho, who had been rolling his eyes for a while, eventually coughed dryly.

“As you heard… the situation has become like this…….”

“…….”

“I’m saying again… it’s not like I wanted to do that either? Our company suddenly had problems… I couldn’t help it….”

“…….”

“Hey, why aren’t you saying anything.”

Yeon-ho, who had been talking alone, eventually couldn’t stand it and gently touched Marteo’s arm. Then, his hand was grabbed again in the opposite direction.

Marteo, who had tightly gripped his knuckles, moved his lips with sunken eyes.

“Why… didn’t you tell me.”

“…….”

“You could have explained that the situation was like this, that the company was in trouble.”

“…I didn’t know you were an Averto then. Even if I told you, you’d be upset too… I just thought a melodrama was better than a love affair….”

“What about after you knew?”

“Hey. What was our atmosphere like that day? In that situation, you want me to say that my family’s situation is bad? It’s just a figure of speech, but you were really annoying that day? I wondered if you were the same guy I knew.”

“So…… you didn’t tell me about the pregnancy either?”

Yeon-ho, who had made his neck inside, scratched his cheek with his other hand.

“I was confused about how you thought of me then, and what your real intentions were when you approached me. And…….”

“And…?”

“I didn’t even know I liked you this much.”

The last word was a perfect cheat key. He made people anxious when he told them to do it again like that…!

Marteo finally touched his forehead in front of the lovable muttering that was so hateful. Then, he lightly glared at Yeon-ho after wiping his face deeply.

“If I had known about your family’s situation in advance, things wouldn’t have gone this way. I would have threatened you and snatched you right away!”

“…What are you saying. It would have been a similar situation even if you didn’t know?”

“A little!”

Marteo, who was finally getting angry, raised his voice and Yeon-ho pulled his chin. Only then did he poke Marteo’s chest with a smiling face.

“Anyway, as long as we go to Seoul, it’s all good. It’s good if the end is good. I don’t really like the saying that you have to do your best in the process.”

If only he couldn’t talk…. Marteo groans again. It was then that he suddenly raised his eyes.

“Wait. So what are you going to do. Are you really going?”

“Where?”

“Seoul!”

“What. That was just an example?”

“Never mind that. Do Seo-jin said it earlier. Come back to Korea.”

Ah……. He understood what he meant. He could clearly read Marteo’s expression, which was tinged with slight anxiety. Yeon-ho deliberately dragged out the words.

“Well… I have to go in once anyway… but it’s impossible right now, right?”

“……?”

“Long-distance flights in early pregnancy are a bit much, right?”

Then, at the end of the sentence, a mischievous smile was finally buried. A sigh burst out of Marteo’s hesitant mouth.

The day he came to Italy, the anxious expression Yeon-ho had on the plane. The reason he repeatedly refused the alcohol he had offered. The reason he had never looked for coffee here. In addition, he understood all the reasons why he had refused all the leisure activities he had recommended.

His heart ached with the regret of not knowing or realizing it. He put his hand on Yeon-ho’s stomach with that feeling.

“You said you haven’t been to the hospital yet.”

“Not really?”

“…….”

“Really. I’m completely fine.”

Marteo, who had been gently stroking his stomach several times, muttered as if he wanted him to hear.

“Now that I see it, he’s a filial son in many ways.”

“Yeah. Now that I see it, I think he looks like me.”

“…….”

“Oh, why. What. He’s trying to revive the family, huh? He even planned to marry a guy he didn’t want, but if that’s not a filial son, what is it?”

He should only resemble him in half of his shamelessness….

Marteo, who shook his head from side to side, eventually lay down on the sofa as if he had lost his strength. Then, naturally, he found Yeon-ho’s thigh. Yeon-ho, for his part, intertwined his fingers through the man’s hair.

Marteo, who had folded his eyes at the ticklish touch, soon opened his mouth again in a low voice.

“You said you haven’t been to the hospital yet.”

“I didn’t have time for that, what with being dragged around.”

“…Come with me tomorrow.”

I tried to be deliberately mean, but it didn’t work. The gesture of grabbing the hand that was stroking my hair and kissing it was just filled with affection.

Yeon-ho hesitated, leaving a space, then cautiously parted his lips the other way around.

“But… what if the baby… isn’t an Eagle?”

“…?”

“Statistically, it’s almost always paternal… but what if it’s a Chicken?”

“Is that what you’re worried about?”

Marteo slowly opened his eyes again, his different colored eyes staring up at Yeon-ho. Yeon-ho, pouting his lips, nodded honestly.

In his view, the fight for succession wasn’t over yet. If a Chicken was born into the Eagle family, would it really be accepted?

No. Even if they said they didn’t care about such things, the reality was that it was undoubtedly more advantageous to live as an Eagle than as a Chicken.

His complicated thoughts continued for a moment longer.

“Well… it would be a problem, I guess.”

Marteo’s face hardened seriously. Then, he buried his face deep into Yeon-ho’s belly, whose expression had frozen even more.

“If it looks like you, it’ll be too pretty… how am I going to handle that?”

His words were overflowing with sincerity. Yeon-ho, dumbfounded by Marteo, who was already sighing with worry, couldn’t help but sigh as well.

If nothing else, he had to give birth to an Eagle to avoid seeing Marteo turn into a hopeless fool that the world couldn’t bear to look at.

♥ ♥ ♥

On the first day they arrived in Italy, just like at the airport, the influence of the Averto name was valid even in the hospital.

As soon as they got out of the car, a hospital employee who had come out to greet them led Yeon-ho and Marteo directly to a separate elevator.

After going up to almost the top floor, hospital officials who seemed to be of considerable rank and people presumed to be professors welcomed Marteo.

“You’ve arrived. We’ve been waiting.”

It was just a checkup for his spouse, but the protocol was excessive. Yeon-ho, twitching his displeased cheek, unconsciously muttered in a low voice.

“Do I have a terminal illness?”

Marteo, twitching his eyebrows, lightly glared at Yeon-ho as if he was talking nonsense. Seeing this, Yeon-ho couldn’t help but sigh.

Well, he wasn’t in a position to call others excessive.

“Who is the doctor in charge?”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Massimo Santis, a Morpheus obstetrician who will be in charge of your examination today.”

“I look forward to… working with you.”

Marteo bowed politely to the doctor who stepped forward, even bowing his head, something he hadn’t done to the hospital director. And that wasn’t all. On the smooth marble floor, there was nothing to trip on, but even on the short distance to the examination room, he didn’t leave Yeon-ho’s side for a moment.

‘Why. Why don’t you just bring a wheelchair?’

That’s what he thought, but he swallowed the words. If he said it out loud, he felt like Marteo would really do it.

Anyway, after a calm yet flamboyant welcome, Yeon-ho was finally able to enter the examination room.

While watching Marteo, who was sticking close to Yeon-ho’s side, the doctor skillfully asked about Yeon-ho’s condition in English.

What his current condition was like, whether he felt any discomfort, or whether there were any changes in his body. Then, after the interview, he nodded.

“I understand. Let’s start with an ultrasound.”

Normally, the basic procedure in gynecology was a urine and blood test. But for the ultra-VIP, the process was simplified. Led by the nurse, Yeon-ho entered the low-saturation examination room and lay down on the bed.

He thought it was nothing, but when the cold gel was applied to his stomach, it felt strange. Marteo, who immediately noticed Yeon-ho’s slightly stiffened body, quickly grabbed Yeon-ho’s hand.

It’s okay. He didn’t say the words out loud, but the warmth transmitted through his fingers and the reassurance in his eyes made him feel secure.

“Let’s begin.”

The doctor, who had moved his chair closer in the meantime, placed the probe on his stomach.

He carefully moved the transducer over the slippery gel, constantly checking the monitor. To the untrained eye, it was difficult to discern what was what on the black and white screen.

That time passed for a while. Finally, he removed the machine from his stomach and frowned slightly. Marteo’s mouth opened before Yeon-ho’s.

“Why. Is there a problem?”

“Well……”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Well, it’s not certain yet. I’d like to do some other tests first and then tell you exactly.”

The procedure that had been skipped earlier was now done in reverse.

Was there something wrong with the baby? What if there was something wrong? Now, it was Yeon-ho who was gripping his hand tightly.

The wait for the blood test results felt unbelievably slow. At the end of it, the test results finally arrived.

The doctor carefully and meticulously checked the chart again. Then, with an expression that was difficult to explain, he looked back and forth between Marteo and Yeon-ho, who were sitting side by side. He swallowed hard and spoke.

“I’m sorry to say… but you’re not pregnant.”

…What?

“Neither the ultrasound nor the HCG levels are within the pregnancy range. Moreover……”

There were repeated explanations, but Yeon-ho, whose eyes had already widened at the first sentence, had no room for other thoughts.

Only the words ‘not pregnant’ were spinning around in his head. He unconsciously touched his lower abdomen.

Marteo, who had been as frozen as Yeon-ho, came to his senses at this point.

“Do Yeon-ho…”

Marteo quickly took Yeon-ho’s hand and held it tightly. Yeon-ho, finally startled, turned to look at Marteo. Then, he turned his gaze back to the doctor, who had his lips tightly shut.

“I took a pregnancy test… it was definitely two lines…?”

“It was probably… a hormonal imbalance.”

“Hormonal, imbalance?”

“Have you had any recent instances of Morphosis releasing on its own…?”

When a low exclamation of ‘ah…’ escaped Yeon-ho’s lips, the doctor, noticing, cleared his throat once more.

“When the environment suddenly changes, or when you’re physically or mentally tired, or when you’re under a lot of stress, these unusual signs sometimes appear. Above all……”

Above all?

The doctor, who had spoken up to this point, coughed awkwardly with a face that was different from before.

“Well… excessive sex life between Morpheus can be seen as the biggest influence. Of course, it’s rare, but… the stronger the pheromones of the other Morpheus, the more the body reacts to it and enters a state where it can become pregnant…. In other words, it’s a signal that you’re ready for pregnancy. If you use a pregnancy test during this time, you may get a positive result.”

Excessive sex life…. He couldn’t help but feel guilty.

How many times had he and Marteo clung to each other at the slightest glance or touch!

As the past rushed in like a panorama, Yeon-ho’s cheeks flushed belatedly.

“So, anyway, the conclusion is… the pregnancy test was wrong, and I’m not pregnant now?”

“I’m sorry.”

Even as he said that, the doctor bowed his head deeply at the words that demanded confirmation.

Of course, when you think about it, he had nothing to be sorry for. But as someone who had seen countless pregnant women and their partners, he could tell at a glance.

The mighty Eagle family. How much the third son of the Averto family cherished his partner. How much he had been longing for the other’s pregnancy.

For example, after diagnosing that he wasn’t pregnant, Marteo couldn’t say a word properly.

Finally, he chewed on his tongue and tried to offer some comforting words, even if they were inadequate as an apology.

He was still young, so he would have plenty of opportunities. The fact that the pregnancy test showed such a reaction was quite encouraging.

But… he didn’t have a chance to realize his plan. No, he wasn’t given the time to do so. The moment he opened his mouth and said, “I…,” a loud sigh, a voice filled with relief, cut through the examination room.

“That’s, that’s a relief. Oh, well…. I wasn’t pregnant!”

The culprit was none other than Yeon-ho.

It was no wonder that the doctor’s eyes widened in surprise. For a few seconds, he even doubted his ears, wondering if he had misheard something.

But, fortunately or unfortunately, his worries were soon dispelled. It was because he witnessed Marteo’s face distorting faster than ever.

On the other hand, Yeon-ho, with a face that had now cast off all the worries of the world, even began to shake Marteo’s arm.

“Did you hear? You heard, right? I’m not pregnant!”

The doctor, who had repeatedly hesitated, glanced at Marteo’s face once more instead of Yeon-ho’s.

After a few seconds of doing so, a deathly voice finally flowed from his handsome lips.

“…Are you happy?”

“Huh?”

“Are you that happy that you’re not pregnant?”

Only then did Yeon-ho realize.

Damn it, look at his eyes. He’s going to eat me alive without even plucking my feathers….

But the lips of truth were inevitable. In the end, Yeon-ho shrugged and nodded.

“Honestly, isn’t it a relief?”

“What did you say…?”

In fact, he had tried hard not to show it, but Marteo’s disappointment at the news that he wasn’t pregnant was immense.

Yeon-ho and his child. Honestly, he would love the child, but above all, he was happy that there was an excuse to tie Yeon-ho down more securely, that such a connection had been created between them.

But what was this reaction now? What was so relieving about it?

Just as the chronic anxiety and unease that had become chronic were slowly creeping in, Yeon-ho opened his eyes wide once more.

“That’s right. You said you were going to marry me. Or are you not?”

“…Why is that….”

“Why? Honestly, I was so scared that I’d have to get married while pregnant.”

…You’re different from my son.

Yeon-ho, who had brought up the topic of marriage with Sergio yesterday, came to mind at this moment.

Could it be… that wasn’t a refusal to get married, but a problem with the timing!

At the same time as the realization, Yeon-ho pouted his lips once more.

“And hey, if you get married and have a baby right away, there’s no honeymoon or anything.”

“…Honeymoon…?”

“Why. Do you have dreams about marriage but not about a honeymoon?”

Ah… Marteo’s expression began to brighten more clearly.

Words that assumed that his marriage to him was a foregone conclusion, even if he wasn’t pregnant and didn’t have a child. Disappointment and resentment slowly began to dissipate.

The doctor, who couldn’t understand the conversation between the two in Korean, was completely clueless and blinked his eyes. At the same time, Yeon-ho glanced at the doctor.

Then, with a more sulky face than ever, he leaned his head towards Marteo’s ear.

“Besides, there’s one more thing that’s a relief about not being pregnant?”

“…?”

“We can have sex right now.”

“…!”

It felt like his words were melting into his eardrums. Heaven was never far away.

No sooner had the words fallen than Marteo grabbed Yeon-ho’s wrist tightly and jumped up.

“What are you doing? Get up.”

Yeon-ho’s laughter, almost dragged out, echoed through the hallway.

♥ ♥ ♥

Clothes that had been loosened right in front of the door without even having the leisure to enter were scattered here and there on the floor, following their steps.

While taking off each other’s clothes and taking steps, their lips, which had been mixed countless times, were also a mess with saliva.

Thanks to this, when they barely reached the front of the bed, the excitement of their two bodies, which were not wearing a single thread, was already clearly erect.

“Do Yeon-ho…”

Marteo, calling his name as if groaning through his intertwined lips, now poured kisses all over his face instead of his lips.

As Yeon-ho’s stomach naturally tightened at the tender and hot touch, heat spread even to his lower body, which had not yet been touched.

Marteo’s large hand, noticing this, immediately began to grope down Yeon-ho’s stomach. However, while constantly groaning at the ticklish sensation, Yeon-ho quickly stopped Marteo’s wrist just before he grabbed the erect flesh.

“Wait, wait a minute….”

“Why, are you going to cum right away?”

Yeon-ho glared at the highly likely mischievous joke for a moment. But it goes without saying that it was even more stimulating.

Despite Yeon-ho’s objections, Marteo stubbornly raised his finger and rubbed the tip of Yeon-ho’s glans with it.

“Heut!”

The skin, already wet with pre-cum, quickly showed a trembling that was both lewd and cute even with a small stimulus. Naturally, Marteo’s eyes narrowed as he looked down.

It was no wonder that his trembling finger reached for Yeon-ho’s again. At that moment, wait a minute! This time, Yeon-ho even pulled his butt away.

“What’s wrong. Seriously.”

Marteo’s voice becomes a little impatient. But that was only for a moment.

“Today… I’m going to do it first.”

“…Yes?”

“I’m going to do it first, so stay still.”

As if he had ever pulled his butt back, Yeon-ho, who had rushed into his arms as if he was going to pounce, pushed Marteo’s body away with a burst.

Marteo’s large body, which had lost its balance for a moment, fell onto the bed with a thud. At the same time, Yeon-ho knelt down between his naturally opened legs. His eyes were piercingly examining Marteo’s Cock, which was fully erect.

Marteo, who knew what it meant, immediately turned his hand, which had been awkwardly holding the bed, to Yeon-ho’s shoulder.

“Do Yeon-ho…”

When his eyes met Yeon-ho’s, Yeon-ho licked his tongue as if to show off.

“I’ve wanted to suck this since then. …I should have said that even if I can’t put it in the bottom, I can put it in the top.”

“…!”

“Did you jerk off alone that day?”

There’s no need to ask what ‘that time’ refers to. Marteo, recalling the moment he was rejected in his office, frowned.

“Would I have been in the mood to do that? You made me feel like I was going to die.”

“Heueung. Then… it must be really thick?”

Yeon-ho’s eyes curved wickedly. At the same time, the sharply pointed tip of his tongue ruthlessly licked up Marteo’s shaft.

“Keut.”

A suppressed groan immediately escaped Marteo’s lips.

Yeon-ho, who has no shame or hesitation when it comes to sex, has only done it with his mouth a handful of times. He said that the one who gets sponsored should do the service, not me.

But today, Yeon-ho didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving even a margin.

His teeth, which licked and chewed on the shaft with its bulging blood vessels, and the tip of his tongue, which sucked up the fluid pooled in his glans.

His lips, which moved up and down, even thoroughly scanned Marteo’s heavy balls without leaving them out.

And finally, he swallowed Marteo’s flesh as it was into his fully opened mouth.

“Heueu….”

A groan flowed from Yeon-ho’s mouth instead. Because his length and volume were so special, it was impossible to swallow everything like Marteo had done before. But his cheeks, which were bulging as if they were about to burst, were a sight to behold.

Marteo’s fingers, which had been holding Yeon-ho’s shoulder, naturally gained strength. The instinct to recklessly grab his waist and the hesitation that he might hurt Yeon-ho. The fierce conflict, however, was short-lived.

Even if Marteo didn’t move, Yeon-ho soon began to shake his head.

The skillful mouth movements of sucking the flesh while tightening his tongue and lips were terribly good.

The thrilling sensation of scratching the boundary of his glans with his teeth, and the feeling of curling the shaft against the roof of his mouth with the top of his tongue.

However, as good as it was, he was so impatient that he couldn’t stand it.

Yeon-ho’s lewd face, narrowing his eyes between his crotch as if tasting a delicacy. The fact that there was a place where he could put his mouth like Yeon-ho was more than he could bear.

Finally, unable to bear it, Marteo grabbed both of Yeon-ho’s arms and pulled them up. The moment Yeon-ho, who had just been sucking on his urethra, was pulled out, his heated genitals were pulled out in an instant!

‘Huh?’

Yeon-ho belatedly protested, panting at the mass that had been taken away while he was lost in thought.

“Hey!”

But Marteo, unconcerned, pulled Yeon-ho’s body onto the bed once more. No matter how hard he tried, he was no match for the overwhelming physical strength. Yeon-ho repeatedly shot out sullen voices.

“What are you doing? I said it’s my turn today?”

“……”

“Hurry up and put it back?”

The things he did were extremely lewd, but if you only listened to his words, you’d think he was arguing about parking. Of course, that’s why he loved him even more.

Marteo, who had been trying hard to hide his laughter, finally played it cool.

“I’ve been thinking about it, and I just can’t touch your Cock, right?”

“…What?”

“You keep doing what you were doing. I’ll take care of it myself.”

The meaning of his nonchalant yet suspicious words could be understood immediately afterward.

Marteo, who had laid Yeon-ho’s body on the bed, pulled him up again and simultaneously dug under him. A typical 69 position….

When he came to his senses, he was on top of Marteo’s body, with his head and legs lying in opposite directions.

Yeon-ho, who had been stunned for a few seconds, shouted ‘Hey!’ once more and reflexively raised his knees.

But it wasn’t a good choice. As if waiting for that moment, Marteo seized Yeon-ho’s hamstring and tilted his head up.

He could feel his high nose touching his testicles. Marteo’s tongue, pushed out, licked his perineum. The moisture that traveled up his skin ended between his buttocks.

Ah… He said he wouldn’t touch my dick… So this is what he meant….

It was too late to pull away, and if he bent his knees again, he would be crushing his flesh against Marteo’s face.

More than anything…

“Why are you stopping? You told me to put it back there?”

Just as he said, Marteo’s thing was right in front of him again.

The long, hard flesh glistening with Yeon-ho’s saliva looked even more appetizing than before.

A moment’s hesitation was ultimately useless. Thinking this way or that was meaningless at this moment.

As Marteo’s tongue parted his buttocks once more and pierced the narrow gap, Yeon-ho finally buried his head down without hesitation. Coarse pubic hair tickled his lower jaw. A strong masculine scent wafted from the man’s thing he had his nose buried in.

Yeon-ho, inhaling, frantically bit down on Marteo’s shaft, which was now almost up to his belly. He licked with his tongue, bit with his teeth, and alternately sucked the heavy balls, which were even easier to swallow than before.

Marteo was the same. The hand that had been gripping Yeon-ho’s hamstring now spread both buttocks wide open. The small, red hole seen from below was wriggling with heat.

As Yeon-ho’s tongue played with his cock, Marteo began to rummage through the narrow inside.

Wet, smacking sounds echoed loudly, both above and below. Yeon-ho’s moans, replaced by throat sounds as he held the man’s thing in his mouth, were conveyed to Marteo as subtle vibrations.

Each time, the flesh in his mouth continued to swell, eventually making it difficult to even move his tongue. Nevertheless, Yeon-ho did not release his lips.

Rather, he shook his head rapidly, clamping down on the fullness to the limit. Before long, the flesh in his mouth trembled greatly and spurted violently. The man’s semen poured relentlessly down the back of his throat.

The thick, rich bodily fluid spread throughout his mouth. Yeon-ho, shuddering, swallowed hard with a long nasal sound. Then, he collapsed to his knees.

He tried to hold on, but Yeon-ho’s thing ended up being crushed against Marteo’s chest.

Yeon-ho was the only one who sucked the cock, but Yeon-ho’s thing was just as wet with the pre-cum that was dripping down.

Marteo, who had briefly exhaled a rough exclamation from the long ejaculation, licked Yeon-ho’s trembling rear once more as soon as he caught his breath.

“Ah~! Ugh!”

Yeon-ho, bouncing his hips and rubbing the wet man’s thing against his cheek, now burst into moans freely. At the end of his panting, urgent words followed.

“Me too, I want to too. I want to go too….”

Marteo’s thing, spat out of his mouth, remained imposing even after ejaculation. It was clear that Yeon-ho’s feverish plea to go didn’t simply mean to touch his dick.

The already softened hole and Yeon-ho’s voice, stretched out even further.

Marteo, his face contorted with unbearable lewdness, straightened his upper body. Yeon-ho’s body, which had been burying its head between the man’s legs, was slammed onto the bed.

Marteo, having removed the body from underneath, immediately climbed onto Yeon-ho’s back, who was lying face down. A heavy weight covered his back. Hot kisses fell on the back of his head and shoulders.

And the next moment, Marteo’s thing thrust between his buttocks with a thwack. Yeon-ho, screaming at the merciless insertion, reflexively grabbed the sheets.

No matter how much he had sucked and licked, even after an ejaculation, the initial entry was accompanied by unbearable pressure. However, the sensation that followed quickly erased any physical discomfort.

Pulses racing, tangled together so much that it was impossible to distinguish whose was whose. Heat filling his belly.

“Do Yeon-ho, ssi….”

Even the fervent voice falling beside his ear.

The sensation of burning from head to toe was not simply due to pain. Yeon-ho wriggled his hips with force.

“Faster, move faster~.”

It was what Marteo had been longing for as well. The waist that had been still finally began to shake violently.

How long had it been since he had tasted Yeon-ho’s inner flesh? With each thrust of his waist, Yeon-ho’s cries grew louder, and Marteo’s already dwindling reason crumbled helplessly.

Before he knew it, Yeon-ho’s body, unable to withstand the force pounding from behind, began to slide forward. Not allowing even a slight separation, Marteo roughly pulled Yeon-ho’s waist down.

Thwack, the man’s lower abdomen collided with his buttocks, and the hole, widened to the fullest, trembled madly. Nevertheless, without showing any mercy, Marteo continued to thrust his lower body.

Pushed up and pulled down. With friction that lacked any control, Yeon-ho’s thing, constantly rubbed against the sheets, throbbed like his hole.

And when the man’s thing, pulled back to the fullest, thwacked! into his rear hole again, Yeon-ho’s thing, finally reaching its limit, burst with ejaculation.

“Ah~!”

The hole, instantly stiffened, bit into Marteo more strongly than ever before. The tightening, repeating relaxation in that state, was a thorough stimulation for Marteo as well.

Marteo’s hand immediately dug under Yeon-ho’s belly. It was also a bonus to clench Yeon-ho’s overflowing thing and thrust his waist as if encouraging the remaining ejaculation.

Without even enjoying the languid afterglow, Yeon-ho’s forehead eventually slammed into the sheets from the sharp pleasure that poured in one after another.

But that moment was fleeting. Marteo grabbed Yeon-ho’s waist and pulled him up. It was then that he twisted his body around with his flesh plugged into his rear hole.

“Ah…!”

The last remaining fluid of Yeon-ho’s was scattered over Marteo’s chest. Marteo’s teeth sank into Yeon-ho’s neck, whose head was bent back, unable to even breathe properly.

“Do Yeon-ho, ssi… Do Yeon-ho, ssi.”

The speed of thrusting his waist increased as much as his rough exclamations.

He should have been angry. Was he really trying to kill him?

But his thoughts were cut off by the eyes he barely met. The man’s expression couldn’t hide his affection beyond excitement. It seemed that strength would rather be put back into his lower body, which had been subsiding after pouring everything out.

It was good. Fellatio, sixty-nine, even being fucked from behind like a beast, everything with this man was good, but… even so, nothing could be better than doing it face to face like this.

Perhaps feeling the same way, Yeon-ho finally reached out his hand towards Marteo, who kept pulling him into his arms.

“Theon… Theon….”

Marteo, unable to bear the name flowing out instead of moans, quickly sought out Yeon-ho’s lips and bit them. Sweet breaths mingled several times, and the tips of their tongues were sucked until they tingled.

Then, it was a moment. Between the kisses that were briefly separated,

“Marteo….”

Yeon-ho suddenly changed his call.

Marteo’s waist thrusting, which seemed like it would never stop, froze as it was. His two eyes, different colors, widened greatly.

It was Yeon-ho who continued the interrupted kiss this time. Yeon-ho, who lightly bit and released the man’s lower lip, whispered again.

“Marteo….”

His ears tingled. No, perhaps it was his heart that was tingling. In the end, a moan with a different meaning was crushed into Marteo’s mouth.

When would he be able to hear this person call his name correctly?

The moment he had always thought bitterly about came without warning.

At the same time, hot fluids began to pour out of Marteo’s body, which was curled up to the fullest, and into Yeon-ho’s again.

“Ah…!”

Marteo hugged Yeon-ho’s body, which reflexively wriggled his hole at the sensation of heating his belly, even tighter. In that state, he returned the name as well.

“Do Yeon-ho…. Yeon-ho-ya.”

Like Marteo just now, Yeon-ho’s eyes widened.

It was a bonus that a rash spread across his shameless face, which never seemed to be embarrassed no matter what he did. The sight of him fluttering his eyelids while mumbling his lips was so precious that he wanted to keep it to himself.

Words leaked out like a breath again from Marteo’s mouth, who was inevitably suffering as if he was smiling or not.

“I love you…. I love you.”

Yeon-ho’s face finally contorted. As if wondering how much more embarrassing he had to be here to be satisfied.

Then, as if to hide his expression, he burrowed into Marteo’s arms. It was a long time before a small reply returned between the necks with their foreheads pressed tightly together.

“…Me too.”

Ah. The feeling of flying in the sky was nothing compared to this.

♥ ♥ ♥

A tender and gentle touch slowly caressed his body. Yeon-ho, who had been sleeping like the dead from the familiar sensation he had experienced before, raised his heavy eyelids.

He knew as soon as he woke up. Marteo’s side was close to his nose. The face he had to look up at. The fact that his body, fitted perfectly into the man’s arms, was not a human body.

But he wasn’t as surprised as before.

‘I thought this might happen….’

If excessive sex life caused instability in Anima maintenance, this was a natural result. From yesterday morning to dawn. Skipping meals and having sex all night was, as someone said, excessive and over the top.

Instead of sighing, he ruffled his comb, and Marteo, who immediately realized that Yeon-ho had woken up, lowered his gaze. Then, with eyes full of curves, he quickly pulled Yeon-ho’s torso up onto his chest.

“Are you awake?”

Cluck… Cluck cluck.

“It’s a little past 7.”

Cluck cluck, cluck cluck cluck?

“About an hour or two after you fell asleep?”

What time is it? When did I change? It was a bonus that he immediately recognized the questions and answered them fluently.

As he said, the outside with the curtains drawn was already bright. Marteo stroked the chicken’s body, which was exposed without a place to hide, once more.

Just by looking at it, the chicken feathers were shiny, so he had probably been caressing it like this for a long time before he woke up.

At the persistent touch, Yeon-ho pecked lightly! with his beak. Even after pecking his hand, he was so happy. Rather, Marteo, who smiled brightly, tilted his head towards Yeon-ho’s beak.

“Give me a kiss here.”

Then, as he said, a kiss fell on the hard beak with a smack.

Yeon-ho, startled, pulled his eyelids, then slowly composed himself. At the same time, his appearance instantly changed from a chicken to a human.

He wondered if Morphosis wouldn’t work properly like the day he first turned into a chicken, but… perhaps psychological factors also affected the transformation, unlike that day when he was flustered, it was a success right away.

The weight, completely different from when he was a chicken, and Yeon-ho’s smoothly shaped body quickly pressed down on Marteo. Marteo let out a small groan, ah….

“A chicken is fine too…….”

Yeon-ho, who was dumbfounded by the openly regretful tone, glared at him, then pressed his plump lips against Marteo’s lips instead of his beak.

‘…Even like this?’

Whether he was a chicken or a human, he could immediately understand the words he said with his eyes. Marteo’s face melted before long.

A large hand pulled the back of Yeon-ho’s head, and a tongue quickly dug into the lips that were stuck together once more.

A kiss that he couldn’t do when he was a chicken. His heart was in his whole body. The intensely sticky kiss that started in the morning continued for a while.

The saliva in their mouths almost dried up, and only when their breath reached the tip of their chins did their tangled lips slowly separate.

“At this rate, I’ll turn into a chicken again….”

Marteo laughed pleasantly as he muttered unconsciously.

But Yeon-ho’s face turned sullen at the sight. Then, he thumped Marteo’s chest with his chin.

“Somehow, I feel wronged…….”

“…Yes?”

“When I think about it, it’s like that. We roll around together, but why do I always turn into a chicken?”

In fact, it was a simple mechanism. First, the basic physical strength was different. Second, Yeon-ho was the one receiving the essence.

Hormonal abnormalities were bound to have a greater impact on the receiving side. But he could quickly tell that Yeon-ho didn’t want this kind of logical analysis.

As expected. Yeon-ho, who was pressing down on his chin as if crushing it, raised his head with sparkling eyes.

“Release it.”

“……What.”

“Release your Anima, I’m telling you to.”

“Here… sud…denly?”

“Did I prepare and release it?”

“…….”

“Besides, you were the one who chased the pigeons in Seoul before, right? You were also the one who fought with the crows at the Paju site.”

“Well. I don’t know what you’re talking about….”

“Oh? Are you going to play dumb at this point?”

“…….”

“I couldn’t see it in detail back then. So, let’s take a good look once.”

Yeon-ho even shook his shoulders. The way he was snuggling was too cute to be simply an order. He was already someone he couldn’t beat, but his skill in manipulating his heart was gradually increasing….

Before long, Marteo finally touched his forehead. Okay! Yeon-ho, who noticed the gesture, immediately rolled off the chest he had been lying on.

Marteo, who exhaled a regretful sigh at the warmth that had escaped, slowly straightened his upper body.

Then, while looking into Yeon-ho’s eyes, the flow of air surrounding his body began to change.

‘…Ah.’

In reality, it was a change that took less than 1-2 seconds. Nevertheless, the sight of the man in front of him turning into an Eagle was etched into Yeon-ho’s retina in an unusually detailed and long way.

Instead of the long arms that always hugged him, rigid wings stretched out, and instead of the elegant lips that were beautiful when he smiled, a sharp beak took its place. Claws like hooks that seemed to tear anything apart….

It was a fierce and imposing figure. It was like a Golden Eagle, called the king of birds.

But… there was one thing. There was something that was the same as when he was a human. Two eyes, each containing the sun and the sunset. Those eyes looked at Yeon-ho with surprising softness.

He slowly approached and put his head on Yeon-ho’s hand. Yeon-ho, who had been staring blankly for a long time as if possessed, finally reached out his hand.

The cautious touch that flowed down from the Eagle’s head to its back soon continued to the coverts of its wings. Unlike him, who was a chicken, it was a very long and twice as hard texture.

Yeon-ho’s mouth opened without him realizing it as he stroked him several times with his fingertips.

“I want to see….”

“……?”

“You, flying.”

“…….”

The window he looked back at was open, not only the curtains but also the window. Just in time, a wind blowing from afar shook Marteo’s feathers.

The instinct engraved in his body. And the lover’s wish that he couldn’t resist more than that instinct. Yeon-ho, who took his hand off his wings, lightly pushed his back.

The expectant hand gesture was a urging that knew he would definitely return to him.

Finally, the Eagle’s spread wings, which had kicked the bed a few times, swept through the surrounding air with a whoosh.

The huge wings, which created wind in an instant, rose up and cast a shadow on Yeon-ho’s face. Ah, Yeon-ho, who let out a small exclamation, tilted his head back. Their gazes collided once more, and only then did Marteo fly out the window.

Yeon-ho also hurriedly jumped out of bed. His feet, kicking the floor, quickly headed for the window. Even in this short time, the Golden Eagle, which had already crossed the sky for a long time, was circling as if dominating the blue sky.

It wasn’t just because of the pouring sunlight that he was dazzled.

A strong, elegant, and incomparably beautiful flight….

His heart was pounding. He couldn’t take his eyes off it, just like the day he first saw the man, and stared blankly at the sky where the Eagle was circling.

After a while, the Golden Eagle, which had changed direction, began to descend towards the horizon as if pouring down.

He couldn’t not know where, who, he was descending towards.

Yeon-ho spread his arms without hesitation. It was obvious that the Eagle’s sharp claws would dig deep even if they only touched his bare skin, but he didn’t worry.

Because there was no way Marteo would hurt him.

The bird of prey, carrying a cold wind to the fullest, stretched out its long arms instead of its wings just before its body collided as expected. It was Morphosis that changed freely in an instant.

The softly changed fingertips pulled Yeon-ho, and Yeon-ho also hugged Marteo’s back as if he had been waiting.

The chilling wind that had risen gradually subsided into the chest that was tightly attached. Nevertheless, his heart was still pounding.

It was quite a while before Marteo’s question flowed out cautiously.

“How was it…?”

He knew the meaning of the question only after seeing his face. Why he had hesitated until he turned into an Eagle, and even right before he flew.

He seemed to be worried about what I, who couldn’t fly and said that Eagles were especially the worst, would think of his appearance as an Eagle.

Even though he knew, Yeon-ho spat out a sulky answer.

“Well… as I thought, you were still annoying, weren’t you?”

As expected. The man’s face hardens without fail. At the same time, Yeon-ho, who had been holding back his eyes, curved them to his heart’s content and pulled Marteo’s neck close to him.

“You were so annoying… that you were cool.”

“……!”

Yeon-ho, who was always teasing and smiling, was a little annoying and extremely lovely as always.

The grip of Marteo’s hand holding Yeon-ho tightened to the fullest. Then, the fire started to boil in his eyes the next moment. It was much more chilling now than when he turned into an Eagle.

‘This is… kind of a danger sign?’

Yeon-ho’s hips unknowingly moved back. But it was no use. Whether he had claws or not, whether he spread his wings or folded them, where was the tenacity unique to Eagles who had set their sights on prey going?

As much as Yeon-ho retreated, Marteo naturally narrowed the distance.

“What’s wrong?”

As if he didn’t know, he even nipped Yeon-ho’s ear. Yeon-ho’s body shivered. Now, Marteo was the one being mischievous.

“Are you cold, perhaps?”

“N, no?”

“Or… are you hot?”

Then, his large hand immediately delved down below. Yeon-ho’s member, which had been completely drained all night and couldn’t even manage a morning erection, was now, as he said, finally showing signs of heating up and waking up.

Yeon-ho couldn’t possibly not know what the man’s subtle touch, gripping that pillar and scratching at the glans, meant.

“W, wait a minute!”

Yeon-ho finally called a time-out.

“Are you seriously suggesting we do it now? At this hour?”

“When have you ever been so picky about the time?”

That was true. It wasn’t as if doing it without rhyme or reason was anything new.

But the emphasis wasn’t just on the time. Yeon-ho raised his voice again.

“No! Even if we’re going to do it, we should at least eat breakfast first! I’ve been starving since yesterday!”

That’s right. It wasn’t that he absolutely wouldn’t do it.

Faced with the repeated onslaught of outrageous loveliness, Marteo barely managed to suppress a laugh that threatened to burst out. Then, with a face that said he couldn’t understand at all, he tilted his head.

“What are you talking about? It’s still a long way until morning, isn’t it?”

“What are you saying? Did you fly with your eyes closed? The sun’s already up like that?”

“I don’t know. Didn’t I tell you before? Morning only comes when the rooster crows, regardless of whether the sun rises or not.”

“……What?”

“I’m saying I can’t get out of bed until it crows.”

Marteo, finally grinning, simply picked Yeon-ho up.

It was clear to anyone that he wasn’t telling him to turn into a rooster and crow.

A groan escaped Yeon-ho’s lips at the disaster he had brought upon himself. Yet, shamelessly, why were his cheekbones rising like that…?

‘No… well. Honestly, the idea of doing it until I crow is kind of exciting, isn’t it?’

In the end, Marteo pulled Yeon-ho into the nest-like bed.

He wrapped his arms and legs around him tightly, as if preening his feathers to prevent him from escaping, and pecked at his lips like a beak. It was the endless courtship of an Eagle, who only has one mate for life.

It seemed it wouldn’t be long before the rooster crowed and laid an egg.

-13-

One Feather Side Story

July in Southern Europe. It was well past lunchtime, but the sizzling sun showed no signs of waning, and the air, filling the atmosphere, felt scorching hot.

Even the gardens of Nido d’oro, usually boasting lush greenery, were somewhat subdued in the face of such scorching heat.

But that’s why there were those who enjoyed the honey-sweet leisure even more.

In a corner of the garden, a figure floated in the swimming pool filled with cool water—none other than Do Yeon-ho.

Sprawled out like seaweed on a bed-shaped tube wider than his torso, Yeon-ho was splashing water instead of sweat, messing up the shimmering surface as he pleased.

He didn’t particularly enjoy swimming, but entrusting his body to the Mediterranean breeze in his own private pool was quite a luxurious pastime.

‘Paradise isn’t anything special… this is true bliss.’

Yeon-ho, even exhaling a sigh of satisfaction, stirred the rippling water once more with his fingertips.

However, his peaceful leisure was soon shattered.

Someone was approaching quickly from the side of the pool.

“MR. Yeon-ho, are you here again!”

A now completely familiar voice, scolding Yeon-ho before he even looked up. Antonio Bellini. The butler of this mansion.

Clicking his tongue, Yeon-ho barely managed to lift himself from the tube he had been lying on.

A face, dressed in full uniform even on this hot day and stubbornly pursing his lips, cut through his vision.

With a look that said, ‘I’ve been caught,’ Yeon-ho jumped into the water, and only after a minute or so did he push his upper body out of the pool, where Tony was standing at the edge.

Tony, forgetting his grumbling at Yeon-ho’s water-soaked body, hurriedly grabbed a gown and towel from a nearby beach chair.

Yeon-ho belatedly pushed away the hands that were trying to cover his head and help him into the gown.

“It’s okay. What’s with this in the heat?”

“You never know when you might catch a cold.”

“I said it’s okay?”

“Listen to me. Summer colds don’t even affect dogs, do you want to become a dog?”

“Well… I’ve never heard of a rooster turning into a dog in my life? If that were possible, wouldn’t it mark a milestone in the Morpheus world?”

“MR. Yeon-ho!”

Another set of wrinkles formed on Tony’s face as he stomped his feet. The closer they became, the more fun it was to tease him. Yeon-ho giggled like a rascal, having tricked the old man.

But that was only for a moment. It wasn’t just Yeon-ho who was getting to know the other person. This time, Tony narrowed his eyes thinly with a stern look.

“If you keep doing this… I’ll call you ‘Madam’.”

As expected, Yeon-ho’s expression, which had been brazen, faltered at this point.

Six months ago from now.

After various eventful circumstances and push-and-pull ups and downs, Yeon-ho and Marteo, the rooster and the Eagle, got married.

The process was by no means smooth, but as someone said, all’s well that ends well. The marriage proposal that had been cursed so much transformed into an unbreakable marriage covenant, and the two became a legally and emotionally recognized couple, both in name and reality.

After the wedding, Tony greeted Yeon-ho, who had officially entered Nido d’oro in his new role, with great enthusiasm and sincerity.

He knew it would turn out like this in the end, he said. He knew everything~.

However, one unexpected problem arose in the process. It was good that he was welcoming him, but Tony, who had been showing off his emotional sniffling, suddenly made a solemn declaration.

‘From now on, I will call you Madam!’

The ink on the marriage certificate probably wasn’t even dry yet, but what was this talk of a farmhand and his lady pounding rice cakes?

No matter how much same-sex marriage was no different from heterosexual marriage in society, and even if it was common in the Morpheus world for males to play the role of females, the title was a separate issue. Naturally, Yeon-ho jumped up from his seat.

‘No, why go that far…? Why don’t you just call me as you always have?’

But Tony shook his finger from side to side.

‘Uh-uh. I can’t do that. How important is formality? Now that we’re on the subject, now that you’re married, I’m thinking of calling Young Master ‘Master’ too.’

That’s right. Marteo was the only one who could take his side. Yeon-ho quickly turned to Marteo. You don’t like it either, do you? Say something!

But… who said husbands are always on the other side?

‘Well… I don’t mind?’

How could they be so out of sync from the start!

Marteo, whose cheekbones had strangely risen, finally came to his senses only after Yeon-ho mercilessly pinched his side.

‘Ahem! There’s no need to rush… let’s do it gradually. Gradually.’

At least when I’m not around….

Tony wore a dissatisfied expression, but thanks to Marteo’s sacrifice of rubbing his sore side, he was able to defend his title.

However, when Yeon-ho acted like a disobedient child, when he seemed to forget his position as the mistress of the Averton Family, Tony would make the same threat as now.

“Put it on. You’re putting it on now, aren’t you?”

In the end, Yeon-ho, who had dropped his feigned nonchalance, hurriedly draped the beach gown he had pushed away over his shoulders.

‘Anyway, when I see things like this, I know what it’s like to be married into a family.’

While he was grumbling inwardly, Tony, who had finally relented, pulled his chin back in. Then he cleared his throat.

“There’s a call from Seoul.”

“…Huh? Who?”

“It’s MR. Yoon. He said MR. Yeon-ho wasn’t answering his phone, so he called the mansion.”

Ah…. Yeon-ho realized why Tony had come all the way here to find him. Yeon-ho turned his eyes to the cell phone that had been left alone on the beach chair.

“I’ll just take the call and go inside.”

“And then you’re going to float in the water again?”

“I haven’t been out for long, have I?”

“Don’t lie. Your fingers are already wrinkled. You might not become a dog, but you’ll become a seal at this rate!”

It felt like the second round of nagging was about to begin. Yeon-ho, feeling a sense of crisis, quickly shook his cell phone.

I’m going to make a call now, okay? Are you going to keep interrupting me? Tony’s face, which had been composed with such effort, crumpled again.

He used to be just a guest, but now he’s the mistress of this house, even if he can’t call him that comfortably. What can he do but do as the owner says?

“Hoo. Just take the call and come in quickly. I’ll prepare some warm tea.”

Tony, sighing and bowing, turned his steps towards the mansion. But before that, he glared once at the pool shimmering with blue water.

Only after that figure had completely disappeared from his sight did Yeon-ho throw the gown back down and lie down on the beach chair.

The shaded area was cool enough to feel slightly chilly. Roughly shaking his wet hair, he checked the screen of his phone with his other hand.

Five missed calls. The caller was MR. Yoon, Seung-won, as Tony had said. Yeon-ho’s fingers wriggled and pressed the remaining call button.

The signal connected, and before long, Seung-won’s voice, as if he had been waiting, burst out.

「Hey! Is your phone just for show? Why do you even carry it around if you’re going to be like this?」

It must be a talent to be so energetic at any time, even though it was already evening in Korea.

Yeon-ho, frowning at Seung-won, whom he couldn’t see, deliberately pulled up the corners of his mouth with a spiteful voice, as if he had just had a thought.

“Well, why is MR. Yoon Seung-won calling so often? Don’t you know that frequent calls with a strange man are also considered adultery?”

「…What?」

“What if ‘my darling’ misunderstands?”

「…Huh. …Huh? You, you crazy… are you really out of your mind? You… who are you? You’re not really Do Yeon-ho, are you? That’s right. The real Do Yeon-ho would never get married!」

His voice was filled with equal parts disgust and horror. He must be shivering with goosebumps all over his body by now.

Yeon-ho finally burst out laughing at the easily imagined face of Seung-won. Of course, Seung-won burst out in anger.

「Please, just stop it! If I get angina, it’s all because of you! I’m still a person whose heart races just thinking about that day, you know?」

That day…. The range was quite broad, but he had a good sense of what he was talking about.

After confirming their feelings for each other with Marteo after many twists and turns, and as the company’s work was stabilizing. But even after that, Yeon-ho couldn’t board a plane to Korea for a long time. What reason was there to say?

‘Stay for just one more week….’

‘Just one more day….’

‘Are you really going today?’

Every time he packed his bags, every time he picked up his suitcase, because of an excessively handsome and unnecessarily lovely man who rested his chin right in front of him and looked like he had been abandoned by the world.

Anyway, at the time, he didn’t even have the luxury of distinguishing between night and day. Marteo frequently skipped work, just like Yeon-ho had done in Korea, and instead was only absorbed in listening to Yeon-ho’s cries in the nest-like bed.

One of those days. Something happened.

What the heck was wrong with him, and was he even coming back to Korea? Marteo had answered the phone call from Seung-won.

Surprisingly, Yoon Seung-won recognized Theon’s voice right away.

Yeon-ho, who was always passed out from excessive sex, groggily opened his eyes only after hearing Seung-won’s voice, which was bursting out even beyond the receiver, not the ringing tone.

Marteo, who was hugging Yeon-ho’s naked body with one arm, noticed Yeon-ho’s presence like a ghost even in the midst of it all and pressed his lips to his forehead, saying, ‘Are you awake?’ Yeon-ho made a sound that was neither a response nor a groan, and only then did he go crazy over the phone.

‘Who…?’

‘…It’s Yoon Seung-won.’

Immediately after receiving the phone, Yeon-ho was able to properly understand what Marteo’s ambiguous expression had been just before, and what the strange noise he had heard a little while ago had been.

He had only uttered one word, ‘Hello?’ but the voice that poured out after that was so long….

‘You, you finally dragged that bastard all the way to Italy? No matter how much you like him, there’s a limit and a case to be made! You crazy bastard, get a grip! How are you going to live with two guys～!’

It was the most desperate, heartbreaking, and sorrowful voice he had heard since knowing Yoon Seung-won.

Yeon-ho, who was now laughing at the time that only made him laugh, belatedly cleared his throat.

“Well, there’s no need to bring up the arduous past, just tell me what you need. What did you call for?”

「It’s not arduous, it’s cruel! I’m still alive because I have two nostrils! How come you didn’t tell me right away that that guy was that guy? I haven’t been able to sleep properly because I’m worried about you, and I haven’t been able to eat on time, and half of my internal organs have melted!」

“Hmph. You’re laying it on a bit thick. What is it again? What are you trying to get out of me?”

Even though he had become a married man, even though he was floundering in honey, Do Yeon-ho was still Do Yeon-ho. How could the intuition of Director Do, who was said to be so sharp that he was too sharp, disappear?

Sure enough, Seung-won, who had been raising his voice for no reason and laying the groundwork, felt hesitant. Then, with an even smaller voice, he stretched out a servile smile.

「Ahem. It’s nothing else, but I was hoping that our Director Do would take a look at it with his broad insight….」

“Again? Hyung asked me to pick out a Ham Ji-yeon drama for him last month, too? And the month before that, too.”

「Hey, hey. This time it’s really important, the best of the best proposal. We’re going to invest in a new project next year, you know? But it’s a shame to miss out on either of them….」

“…….”

「Listen? One has a synopsis that’s been drawn up really well. But the director is a rookie, and the other one has a vague subject matter… but the production team has hit all of their previous works.」

“Ah, just do anything!”

「Please don’t be like that～ The opinions are divided internally, too. Our Director Do’s intuition is the best for things like this, right? Huh? Uh-huh～?」

“That Director sound…. Hey, I’m not a director anymore. I already submitted my resignation a long time ago? Why are you looking for someone who quit every time?”

That was true. Even though Yeon-ho had always cherished his resignation in one corner of his heart, he himself had never imagined that the reason for his retirement would be marriage.

Of course… he also never thought he would have a passionate love affair with someone he couldn’t live without.

Anyway, he was even getting married to such a person, which he never thought he would do in his life, and it wasn’t like they were a wild goose couple, and it didn’t make sense for a rooster and an Eagle to live 90,000 kilometers apart.

Even though the shape was a little different from what he had imagined—of course, it had changed for the better—Yeon-ho decided to move his life to Italy, just like he had resolved to do when he decided to go on a blind date.

Marteo was happy about this, but he asked carefully.

Was he really okay with it? If he didn’t want to, he didn’t mind living in Korea. The important thing was not the place, but who he was with.

But this was the same for Yeon-ho. He didn’t miss the company’s work at all, but he could be a little bored if he couldn’t see Yoon Seung-won.

He was not comfortable with the idea of leaving his sisters, grandmother, and his entire life in Korea and moving his entire life.

Still… the person he wanted to be with the most had already been decided. Even if he didn’t show it much, Yeon-ho’s heart was just as worried about the man.

Nevertheless, Yeon-ho always raised his eyebrows with the same nonchalance.

‘Hey. I can move alone, but you’re one plus one, right?’

‘……?’

‘MR. Antonio. He’s not going to follow you all the way to Korea, is he?’

Half joking, but the other half was sincere. Marteo, who easily imagined the appearance of his loyal butler packing his bags, eventually burst out laughing. Of course, the end of that laughter ended with a confession and a kiss that had become a habit, ‘I love you.’

「Do Yeon-ho?」

It was when he was momentarily stunned by the face of someone who was constantly interfering with whatever he was doing. Seung-won’s voice, still holding the receiver, rang out again.

Yeon-ho, realizing his mistake, hurriedly shook his head.

“Anyway, use the people you have, not the people who quit.”

「Ah, really. Am I doing this just for my own good? Frankly, you still have shares in our company, right? The better the company does, the bigger the profit distribution!」

Seung-won had also made his remaining arguments with all his might. But this was ridiculous. Yeon-ho raised his lips more spitefully than before.

“Hey, MR. Yoon Seung-won? I think you keep forgetting, but I’m not in a position to be greedy for that small amount of money from the entertainment company.”

「…What?」

“I’m wiping my nose with money right now. If I do well, I’ll be mopping the floor with money, and I’ll be wiping my butt with money. How about I brag about ‘my darling’ again?”

「You, you crazy bastard! Don’t do that, don’t say that darling thing!!」

“Then…… honey?”

「Huh? Huh. Okay, that’s enough. Let’s hang up! Just live in a golden toilet for ten thousand years!」

Seung-won, who couldn’t stand it any longer, finally screamed and hung up the phone first. Even when he cursed, it was just a soft curse like him.

Yeon-ho, who was laughing again while holding his stomach, soon opened his message box.

[Send it to me by email]

On Theon and his wedding day, there were two people who had red noses and were crying, leaving everyone wondering what was going on.

One was Antonio, and the other was Yoon Seung-won.

They were sometimes annoying and often bothersome, but… he couldn’t hate them.

♥ ♥ ♥

Four PM. Still far too early for the sun to set. The heavy Maybach passed through the gates of Nido d’oro.

The car continued along the driveway of the garden and soon came to a stop at the entrance of the mansion. As if waiting, a long leg popped out from the back seat of the car.

A man who could create a picturesque scene with the simple act of getting in and out of a car.

He was the young owner of this beautiful mansion, and an even more eye-catching Eagle himself, Marteo Averto.

The chauffeur, who rarely had the chance to open the door for his master these days, wore a bitter smile at his failed attempt at service.

Of course, the man, oblivious to his employee’s minor troubles, was already quickly ascending the remaining steps.

His pace slowed slightly only after he passed through the entrance and entered the central hall. Just as he was about to head straight for the second-floor staircase, hurried footsteps echoed from behind.

“Welcome… home.”

Having run as fast as he could, Tony, the owner of the slightly staggered breathing, was the one who spoke. Marteo paused for a brief moment, but then casually nodded.

“Yeah.”

Would it take him a century to spare more than two syllables? Tony’s lips pursed at the extreme indifference. He then closely followed Marteo, who was heading back to the second floor.

“What’s going on? You didn’t even let us know you were coming.”

Tony, who handled almost all the affairs of the mansion, had been reviewing the food supplies and necessities to be brought into the mansion next week until just a moment ago.

It was then that he belatedly received news that Marteo’s car had passed through the gate. Usually, he would hear about the arrival time in advance through Tino, the driver, when Marteo was coming home from work, but that process had been omitted today.

“Well, it just happened. More importantly, where’s Yeon-ho? Is he in his room?”

But Marteo, once again, brushed off the question, still oblivious to his employee’s feelings.

Not only were his lips pouting, but Tony now raised his eyebrows sharply. He shot out a voice full of suspicion.

“Don’t tell me this has started again? Are you going to do it like that time again?”

Flinch. A moment ago, he had only slowed his pace, but this time it had a real effect. Only then did Marteo completely stop moving and turn to look at Tony properly for the first time.

“…What are you talking about?”

“You know best what I’m talking about, young master.”

“Ahem.”

Marteo briefly brought his fist to his mouth.

What Tony said was true. Starting again. Like that time…. There were things that came to mind, plenty of them.

Six months into their marriage. It was a honeymoon period still full enough of honey to drown a bee, but there was a time when he was even more out of his mind than now.

Right after they had filed their marriage certificate, when Yeon-ho had officially stamped himself as his.

Even if the world collapsed and the earth split in two, he wouldn’t want to take a step out of the room as long as Yeon-ho was by his side, so how could he focus on work?

Even when he went to work, he would sneak back home for lunch, and business trips were practically early leaves. He even skipped work as if it were a regular meal.

That kind of life lasted for almost two months. In the first month, Yeon-ho was all for it, saying, ‘I didn’t want to go to work anyway.’ But as they entered the second and a half month… the words ‘Aren’t you working?’ came out. From none other than Do Yeon-ho’s mouth.

Marteo, who still hadn’t come to his senses by then, smiled brightly and whispered things like, ‘Should I quit my job?’ only to have his cheek pinched in the end.

‘I can freeload, but you can’t! I switched my retirement insurance from Yoon Seung-won to you! I don’t want to be canceled, so go earn money!’

With a warning that was 200% sincere.

After that, Marteo barely returned to his original pattern, but… lately, there were signs that he was starting to leave work early again.

Five days ago, he left work at 6 PM. Three days ago, he left work at 5 PM. And today, he left at 4 PM without even contacting them. How could they not say something?

Tony, who had already stuck out his lips, now glared even more at his precious young master, who was feigning ignorance and rolling his eyes elsewhere. He even let out a heavy sigh.

“Do you know what?”

“……?”

“You and Yeon-ho, you’re even starting to have the same expression when you’re pretending not to notice things!”

“…….”

“I’m not saying that to make you laugh. These days, I feel like I’m raising two kids!”

“Why are you making it sound like we’re children…….”

“I’m not joking. Since we’re on the topic, even today…….”

He must have had a lot pent up. Tony’s voice, which rarely rose to such a pitch, turned into a complaint at the end. Marteo pretended to listen for the first few seconds, but then he surreptitiously looked at his watch.

He felt like he was dying because every second that passed was precious. Tony felt like he was raising two kids, but Marteo felt like he was stuck with a chatty nanny.

‘I didn’t leave work early for this….’ Unable to bear it any longer, Marteo finally took drastic measures.

“Ha. Now that I hear it, it really won’t do.”

“……Yes?”

“Yeah. We can’t just let this slide. I’ll give Yeon-ho a warning.”

“You’re going to… warn Yeon-ho?”

Tony, who had widened his eyes in surprise for a moment, showed an even more crumpled face than before in less than a few seconds.

It was the kind of face that said a bird becoming a dog would be faster.

Of course, Marteo didn’t say it for Tony to believe him. Nevertheless, Marteo, who had once again feigned ignorance about the fact that he was becoming just like Yeon-ho, even grabbed Tony’s shoulder.

“That’s right. So, you don’t have to worry about anything and just go and rest.”

“…….”

“What are you doing? I said go and rest?”

As if that wasn’t enough, he openly pushed the shoulder he was holding down the stairs.

With the strength of someone who had no choice and no power, Tony, whose feet were pushed, was half-forced down the stairs. At the same time, Marteo began to climb the stairs again at twice the speed, as if to make up for the time he had wasted.

If he could, he would turn into an Eagle and fly away.

Tony’s face contorted repeatedly as he watched. Then, a long sigh escaped him. He wanted to go into the chicken coop that much….

‘Does he like him that much…?’

Tino had the same thought in front of the entrance a few minutes ago.

A shadow fell over Yeon-ho’s head as he lay sideways on the plush bed, looking at his tablet PC. The brief question of ‘Huh?’ was quickly resolved.

Before he even had a chance to turn his head, he was suddenly pounced on. Along with the arm that snatched his waist, a familiar scent stung his nose.

The next step was, of course, a kiss. Yeon-ho, who dropped his tablet, flinched, but even this moment was fleeting.

Soon, Yeon-ho, who had curved his eyes, likewise reached out and wrapped his arms around the long neck in front of him. The man’s tongue, which had been stirring inside his mouth, finally retreated after sucking up Yeon-ho’s saliva.

Yeon-ho, who had been breathing heavily for a moment, opened his eyes.

“I’m home.”

The excessively handsome face attached to his nose finally greeted him with a smile. It was, needless to say, Marteo.

It was something that happened almost every day, but for some reason, he was so happy every time it happened as if it were the first time…. With no answer in sight, Yeon-ho made a pouty voice for no reason.

“What is it? What time is it to be home already?”

“I should be the one saying, ‘What is it?’ What are you doing that you don’t even know someone’s coming home?”

His kiss had been more intense than usual…. Today’s kiss must have contained some spite. Yeon-ho ended up letting out a snicker at the man who was lightly glaring at the tablet he had dropped.

“Yoon Seung-won wanted me to look at something.”

“Again?”

“Again.”

“Are there no people there? Why do they keep asking someone who’s resigned….”

It was a line he had said himself a few hours ago. Yeon-ho laughed once more, but Marteo’s expression turned sullen instead.

Yeon-ho, who pressed his fingers between his eyebrows to smooth them out, raised his upper body from where he was lying.

“Well, I guess he’s choosing a project to invest in next year. He said he’d cooperate if I wanted to receive a large share of the profits?”

“Why are you saying such nonsense….”

Marteo, who had been frowning again despite having his eyebrows smoothed out, now wore a dumbfounded expression. He felt like he knew what was going on. Still pretending not to know, Yeon-ho played it off.

“Why? The more money, the better. To do that, it’s better to have two incomes than one.”

“…You’re not being serious, are you?”

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll get tired of freeloading and want to work.”

“You’re joking.”

Marteo snorted as if it wouldn’t work at all. Thanks to that, Yeon-ho, who had been holding back his laughter, burst out laughing again.

That’s right, he was joking. No one can guarantee the future, and there are limits to freeloading, but Yeon-ho was basically a free spirit by nature.

Especially after marriage, even more variety was added to this freeloading.

Horse riding, shooting, racing… and so on. In the past, Marteo had suggested these leisure activities, thinking he was pregnant, but he had refused them all. After getting married, he found it quite fun to conquer them one by one.

Of course, the biggest part of that fun was the fact that Marteo was with him.

While he was thinking, Marteo pulled his fallen body back towards him. He dropped a small kiss on Yeon-ho’s hair, which was buried in his chest, as if it had become a habit.

“You must be bored to be making jokes like this.”

“Maybe. A litttle bit?”

“Then shall we go on a date this weekend?”

“Where to?”

“Anywhere. The sea would be nice too…….”

Marteo, who was putting much more effort into kissing than answering, stopped moving. When he tilted his head as if to ask why, he frowned instead of the kiss he expected to fall on his forehead.

“…Come to think of it, you went into the pool today too, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

“Tony told me. He said you were floating in the water again when he wasn’t looking.”

A nag and a tattletale. Yeon-ho pouted.

“What’s wrong with that? It’s a pool made for that.”

There was one thing to point out in the grumbling he spat out.

Not ‘existing’ for that, but ‘made’ for that.

In fact, the pool located on one side of the garden was a space that didn’t exist when Yeon-ho was first dragged to Nido d’oro.

The sudden appearance of such a thing was entirely Yeon-ho’s fault.

After they had come to an understanding, Marteo began to prepare for the wedding in earnest, and Yeon-ho didn’t have to lift a finger because the man took care of everything.

Still, out of conscience, he tentatively brought it up one day.

‘What can I do?’

‘…About what?’

‘I’m asking if you need anything.’

‘Hmm… Do Yeon-ho?’

‘Ah, don’t joke. Still, it’s a wedding, so it feels like I’m just passing by without doing anything. Is there really nothing I can prepare? Or anything the house needs.’

‘What… like a dowry?’

‘Let’s say that’s what I mean.’

At the repeated question, Marteo pretended to think for a moment, then quickly shook his head.

‘There really isn’t anything?’

Well, that was the truth. The Eagle’s nest, which was fully equipped, had no gaps inside or out, not only for the man but for everything.

Yeon-ho, who was also racking his brains, inadvertently let out a half-joking sigh.

‘Should I dig a swimming pool or something….’

That was the only thing that Nido d’oro didn’t have. Still, he thought the conversation ended there.

But… when he entered the mansion after the wedding and the long honeymoon, there was a real swimming pool there.

‘How fortunate that he didn’t say he would build an annex…….’

With eyes that had become hazy, Yeon-ho looked up at Marteo anew. Marteo, who didn’t know what he was thinking, was now frowning and finally attached and detached his lips.

“Still, there’s a limit. He said you don’t even think about coming out until someone calls you once you get in.”

“…It’s hot these days, so.”

“Then you should enjoy the air conditioning. As you said, the sun is so strong these days.”

“…….”

“Do you like swimming that much?”

Maybe if he said he liked it here, he would fill the swimming pool back up?

He suddenly became a little suspicious. But instead of checking, Yeon-ho shrugged. His honest answer came after that.

“I don’t know. The air conditioning hasn’t been great lately for some reason. Well… it feels a little comfortable to float in the water.”

Perhaps this was because the buoyancy of the water, as well as the water filling the pool, felt like the man’s embrace and heart.

A heart that doesn’t take even the smallest thing he says lightly….

In any case, Marteo couldn’t say anything more since Yeon-ho said he was comfortable.

Marteo, who gently rubbed his lips on Yeon-ho’s forehead once more, added a worry instead of a nagging.

“That’s good, but… make sure to apply sunscreen. Come to think of it, your neck looks a little sunburned.”

His lips, which had naturally burrowed into his neck, lightly bit his shoulder. Yeon-ho, who had unknowingly gathered his toes at the ticklish and sensual sensation, mischievously twinkled his eyes.

“Should I ask Antonio to apply it for me?”

“……?”

“No, it’s hard to apply it on my back alone. So, I just didn’t apply it… should I ask him to apply it for me starting tomorrow?”

The lips that had been caressing his skin affectionately stopped right there. Marteo, whose eyebrows shot up, quickly withdrew his words.

“Dark skin is also attractive.”

His intentions were so obvious. It seemed like it wasn’t his skin that was dark, but the man’s insides. When Yeon-ho burst out laughing again, Marteo’s hand rummaged under his shirt as if in retaliation and pinched his nipple.

Yeon-ho, who belatedly made an ‘eek’ sound, barely held back the whimper that was about to escape and hurriedly grabbed his wrist.

“Wait a minute. Come to think of it, you still haven’t answered me, have you?”

“About what.”

“Why did you leave work so early today? You didn’t even say you were coming.”

When he finished work and returned home, Marteo would contact Yeon-ho separately from the driver.

Even though he was distracted by the synopsis Seung-won had sent, he wasn’t so out of it that he wouldn’t know if the phone he had kept by his side had rung or not.

Although he regretted interrupting his play, Marteo made an ‘ah’ expression at Yeon-ho’s question. Then, he seemed to pull his hand out from under his shirt and groped around the bottom of the bed.

“Here.”

What he held out was the shopping bag he had hastily thrown aside because he was so eager to pounce on Yeon-ho. Yeon-ho, whose eyes narrowed, tilted his head.

“What is it? Again?”

There’s a common saying that you don’t feed the fish you’ve already caught, but that didn’t apply to Marteo at all.

After the wedding, he would often come back from going out with something in his hands.

Sometimes it was a watch or accessory comparable to a wedding gift. Sometimes it was a ticket to a movie or exhibition he was interested in. And sometimes it was a bouquet of flowers in full bloom. The types of gifts were also varied.

Even as he asked the question, Yeon-ho’s hand was already rummaging through the shopping bag. And before long, his narrowed eyes widened at the large box that confirmed the identity of the contents.

“Cookies?”

As he said, today’s gift was a snack. The rich smell that wafted out of the box was quite appetizing. Marteo smiled and nodded.

“There’s a place near the company that the employees say is good.”

“But… what does that have to do with leaving work early?”

“Ahem. They said it tastes best if you eat it within an hour….”

“…….”

From what he said, it seemed like they were baked directly in the store rather than mass-produced in a factory. In that case, the time for baking cookies was usually fixed. In other words, he had bought the cookies on time and made the effort to leave work to let him taste them before the appropriate time passed.

Yeon-ho, who understood what he meant, finally let out a faint sigh.

“You’re really…….”

It was too much. But he couldn’t say the rest of the words.

Perhaps because he also had a guilty conscience, Marteo quickly snatched the box and stuffed a large cookie into his mouth.

“Try it.”

It was a talent to say ‘don’t say anything’ so beautifully. The fact that he didn’t dislike his playful behavior was also a problem….

Before long, Yeon-ho, who couldn’t help but smile again, bit into the cookie in his mouth. The crunchy texture wasn’t bad. But… only the texture wasn’t bad.

Yeon-ho, who had rolled his tongue once more, finally raised his eyebrows.

“They say this place is good?”

“Why… is something wrong?”

“…It’s a little bitter?”

“Bitter?”

The cookie that Marteo had chosen to put in his mouth was the kind with lots of chocolate chips. The man, who had also frowned, put the remaining cookie into his mouth. Marteo also chewed a few times.

“How is it? Is it bitter?”

“…Hmm. Maybe it’s because of the high cocoa content. But it’s not that bitter, is it? Try it again.”

Marteo picked up a new cookie and put it in Yeon-ho’s mouth this time as well, and Yeon-ho, who had chewed half of it, put the remaining half back into Marteo’s mouth.

How big could a cookie be? If a stranger saw them, they would think they were being lovey-dovey, taking turns eating it.

In any case, their expressions changed repeatedly as a result.

“It’s still bitter.”

“I really don’t know….”

“Isn’t there something wrong with your sense of taste?”

He had taken the trouble to buy it, but the evaluation was very harsh.

But over the past few months, Marteo had become accustomed to Yeon-ho, so he didn’t get hurt by such things.

Of course, it would have been better if he had eaten the cookies he bought deliciously, but… honestly, did the taste of the cookies matter? The cookies were just being used anyway.

Without paying any mind to Yeon-ho’s grumbling, Marteo flashed a secret, satisfied smile. He seemed to take another bite of the remaining cookie, then suddenly pulled Yeon-ho’s face close and pressed his head forward.

“Mmph!”

The once-crisp texture, which was the only redeeming quality, was gone. The soggy cookie from Marteo’s mouth was forced into Yeon-ho’s. Needless to say, it was Marteo’s tongue that pushed the cookie in.

The doughy mass of cookie became even more mushy as it mixed in their mouths. Finally, Yeon-ho swallowed, and Marteo, who finally broke away, pressed his forehead against Yeon-ho’s.

“Still bitter…?”

No… It’s really sweet.

How they would finish the remaining cookies was decided at that moment.

♥ ♥ ♥

Did the kiss, which had sparked a second round of back-and-forth sparked by the cookie, really end with just a kiss?

The answer is… of course not.

The two, who had poured all the time they saved by leaving work early into sex, barely fell asleep by dawn. When Yeon-ho woke up again to Marteo’s presence slipping out of bed, the sky outside the window was faintly brightening.

Marteo, who also noticed Yeon-ho’s movement, quickly turned back to the bed. Then, he swiftly patted Yeon-ho’s shoulder as he let out a faint groan.

“Sorry… You can sleep more.”

“What time is it…?”

“Not yet six.”

It was a rare early morning for Marteo, who had been so engrossed in the fun of being newlyweds that he had given up his diligent rising habits. The reason was easy to guess.

Since he had left work early yesterday, the postponed company work would be his share for today. Thinking about this, Yeon-ho was sure that quitting his job was the right thing to do a hundred times over.

Having to work the day after sex. There couldn’t be anything more miserable in the world…

Yeon-ho, who buried his body further into the sheets, knowing he wouldn’t be able to get up even if he tried, waved his hand half-heartedly.

“Have a good day at work…”

But then, his hand was held. Marteo’s frowning face appeared before his eyes, which he was just about to close again.

Is he upset that he has to go to work alone? He thought nonchalantly, but the voice that followed was filled with concern.

“Is your throat not feeling well?”

“…Huh?”

“Your voice sounds quite hoarse.”

Even considering that he had just woken up from sleep, and setting aside the fact that he had sobbed to his heart’s content until dawn, Yeon-ho’s voice definitely sounded rougher than usual.

Marteo hurriedly stroked Yeon-ho’s body. It was a subtle difference, but his body seemed warmer than usual.

“Could it be a cold?”

“I don’t… know?”

“See? Your voice doesn’t sound good.”

He didn’t seem to be in real pain, but now that he listened, his throat did feel a bit scratchy. Still, sleep came first for now.

“It’ll probably get better when I wake up later… Don’t worry about it and go to work.”

“……”

“Ah, hurry up. I’m still sleepy…”

As Yeon-ho finally closed his eyes, a soft sigh scattered over his face.

“Call me if your condition worsens.”

Along with the reminder, a light kiss landed on his forehead. This time, he didn’t bother to respond.

If he answered, he might not go to work at all…

After sitting beside him for a while longer, Marteo paused before quietly entering the bathroom.

Yeon-ho finally peeked open his eyes, which he had closed with effort.

The spot where one person’s body heat had left. The side that was quickly cooling down due to the air conditioner now felt regretful.

Yeon-ho wriggled and buried his face in Marteo’s pillow. The faint but still lingering scent of the man… The regret lessened slightly.

‘I hope he comes home early today too…’

With the words he couldn’t bring himself to say, Yeon-ho fell back into a deep sleep.

It was well past lunchtime when Yeon-ho finally got out of bed and headed to the first floor with faltering steps.

Before the wedding, when he stayed as a guest, he still cared about his appearance… Now, the golden nest had completely become his home. It couldn’t be helped that his attitude had become somewhat lax. It was only because there were people watching that he at least wiped away his sleep crusts and brushed his teeth.

“You’re awake? Good morning.”

As he entered the tea room, Tony, who seemed to have anticipated that Yeon-ho would wake up around this time, greeted him with a bright face.

As if it were the natural course of things, the butler pulled out a chair by the window, and Yeon-ho plopped down with a movement that had now become a complete habit.

“Shall I prepare your morning tea first?”

It’s said that the Italian morning usually starts with an espresso, but Yeon-ho hadn’t gotten used to this yet. The morning coffee they drank was almost as bitter as poison.

But if he ordered an iced Americano, Tony’s face would turn so gloomy that he felt like he had committed a sin.

Thanks to that, the compromise was tea. He hardly ever drank tea when he was in Korea, but as he drank it, he got used to it in its own way.

Putting aside the taste, the leisure of sitting leisurely in the tea room overlooking the garden and rolling the teacup wasn’t too bad.

When he nodded, Tony quickly prepared the tea set and soon brought out a cup.

“Today, it’s lemongrass.”

The refreshing scent wasn’t bad. After slowly emptying a few sips of the cooling tea, Tony spoke again.

“How would you like your meal? Shall I prepare it right away?”

He hadn’t been awake for long, but he was actually hungry. He skipped dinner last night and put his energy into rough exercise, no, artistic creation…

But strangely, he didn’t feel like chewing on anything. He thought he would feel better if he slept more, but his throat still felt scratchy.

When he couldn’t answer readily and delayed his reply, Tony, who had raised his eyebrows, gave a mischievous smile.

“I’ve prepared something soft for your meal.”

“……?”

“I heard that your throat condition seems worse than usual. It’ll be easier to swallow, so please have a bite.”

There was no need to ask who had said that. Yeon-ho also chuckled at the easily imagined, persistently kind man.

“Then, please.”

Tony picked up the extension phone in the corner of the tea room, and before long, a servant carrying a tray entered.

The head maid, who had been in this house the longest after Tony. It was Letizia.

Yeon-ho gave her a light nod as she cleared the teacups and finished setting the table.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Although it was a short conversation, the words exchanged were in Italian.

Although he wasn’t as fluent as Marteo yet, Yeon-ho had been studying the local language in his spare time. He declined the title of ‘Madam,’ but his position was still his position. To manage people and properly understand the events happening inside and outside the house, it was advantageous to not have a language barrier. More than anything…

“Yeon-ho…?”

While his thoughts continued, Tony, who noticed Yeon-ho spacing out, lightly called his name.

“The food is getting cold.”

The unwelcome urging was a bonus. Yeon-ho, who finally straightened his posture, looked down at the table again. A generous green salad and freshly squeezed fruit juice. The main dish was Risotto.

‘It’ll definitely be easy to swallow.’

Beyond the nonchalant impression, Yeon-ho picked up a spoon. In doing so, he didn’t see for a moment. The gazes of Tony and Letizia, who were more focused on the food than Yeon-ho was.

The spoonful of soft Risotto was soon swallowed into Yeon-ho’s mouth. They were still staring intently at Yeon-ho, who was moving his mouth. After a while, Tony moved his lips.

“How… is it? Is it to your liking?”

Yeon-ho nodded.

“Yes. It’s soft.”

“No, I mean… not the texture, but the taste of the food… how is it?”

“Is the seasoning right? Or does it taste like undercooked rice… is it not like that?”

He had heard that the chef employed in this mansion had graduated from such-and-such place and completed such-and-such course, and was a former head chef at a 5-star hotel. As such, there had been no complaints about the food he had served so far.

How else would he have eaten so well even when he was forcibly dragged here?

But why was he asking such a random question now?

Yeon-ho, who tilted his head, took another spoonful of Risotto just in case. Only then did he furrow his brow slightly.

“Why, is something wrong?”

Tony, as Tony, rushed in again.

“No… it’s nothing… But now that I think about it, it seems to have a slightly burnt taste….”

“A burnt taste… you mean a burnt taste?”

“Maybe my taste buds are just weird. I tasted a bit of bitterness in the cookie yesterday too… Anyway, it tastes good enough, so don’t worry about it.”

Yeon-ho hastily spat out what he felt and an excuse at the same time. But Tony’s eyes widened once more at these words. Not at the former, but at the latter.

“It… tastes good?”

“…Yes?”

“Is it really good enough?”

The confirmation that came back repeatedly, as if that wasn’t enough. It was impossible not to find it strange at this point. Yeon-ho, who alternated between looking at the Risotto bowl and Tony’s face, narrowed his eyes.

“Why… did you perhaps spit in it or something?”

“What?! Even if the young master had avian influenza, there’s no way he would do such a thing?!”

Tony jumped up from his seat in horror. On the other hand, Yeon-ho’s movements stopped abruptly at this point.

Avian influenza, what? No, who would do such a thing?

It was then that his stiff head dropped towards the Risotto plate, creating a gust of wind. Tony finally looked like he realized what he had said, and Letizia, who was standing beside him, glanced at Tony slightly. Then, as if there was no other choice, she added a smile to a small sigh.

“As you heard, Marteo made Yeon-ho’s meal himself today.”

“…Mar…teo? When… did he?”

“Well, he prepared it before going to work.”

“All of this? He said he couldn’t… cook?”

“Thanks to that, he almost couldn’t go to work.”

“Ahem. Still, he’s gotten a lot better than before. When he first stood in the kitchen… Mamma mia. There was no such hell. I was so nervous that Moretti would grab the young master by the collar.”

“…I thought he was at odds with onions. I thought he was going to burn them all to ashes.”

Tony and Letizia were whispering, but they were ventriloquizing quite loudly.

According to their words, it seemed that today wasn’t the first time Marteo had challenged himself to cook.

Suddenly, he remembered the man who couldn’t even properly operate a microwave when he was in Korea. He said he wasn’t confident in cooking and asked if he could just have 1-on-1 tutoring instead.

And yet, he was secretly pulling off such adorable things behind his back…

Yeon-ho’s expression, which had been awkwardly smiling and not smiling, finally crumbled into a broken smile.

The slightly overcooked Risotto, which couldn’t be called perfect, was the most perfect dish there was.

‘How can I eat this, it’s too precious…’

This was what it meant to be full without eating.

How can I eat it, it’s too precious. That’s what he thought, but in the end, Yeon-ho scraped the bottom of the bowl clean and ate all the Risotto without leaving a single grain of rice.

What’s more, he even added another bowl when he heard there was still some left. After doing that, he was physically full, not just emotionally.

Tony looked worried at Yeon-ho, who had collapsed onto the table without even touching the after-meal dessert.

“Shall I prepare some digestive medicine?”

He just waved his hand, indicating that it was okay. He knew it was childish and foolish, but he wanted to digest it all on his own.

His gaze was now directed towards the garden outside the window. The sky was blue and the sunlight was pouring down. The weather was nice and sunny today too.

His stomach was full, his body was languid, and he felt like he could float around on the water.

Yeon-ho, who was watching Tony’s reaction, quietly got up from the table where he had been lying down. At that moment, as if he had read his mind, Tony spoke in a stern voice.

“You can’t go into the pool today.”

“I haven’t said anything yet…?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m telling you in advance. Judging by your poor throat condition, it could be an early cold.”

“It’s not…?”

“Well, you also have a slight fever compared to usual. See, what did I tell you? I said you never know when you’ll catch a cold.”

Again, there was no need to say who had told Tony about his condition. Anyway, the master and servant were both tattletales.

Yeon-ho’s lips, which hadn’t even taken their first step, eventually puffed out.

“Just enough to digest it a little…”

“See? You were going to go to the pool after all.”

“……”

“Since you said you don’t need digestive medicine, take some cold medicine. Take it and go up to your room and rest. Letizia, the over-the-counter medicine.”

Tony drove the nail in and gave instructions to Letizia, who was still in the tea room. Usually, Tony took care of most things related to Yeon-ho, but it seemed that he didn’t want to take his eyes off Yeon-ho right now.

He was afraid that he would run off to the swimming pool if he let his guard down. His words that he felt like he was raising a child were true.

Letizia, who was smiling and alternating between looking at the two of them, soon brought the medicine box.

Yeon-ho’s lips bulged out once more at the in-laws (?) who were handing him the pills and a glass of water in turn.

“It’s really not a cold…”

Even so, he had no choice but to take the medicine. It was at that moment that Letizia suddenly paused and quickly grabbed Yeon-ho’s hand. Tony raised his eyebrows as if asking what was wrong, and in the meantime, Letizia snatched the pills away.

“Wait. Just a moment. Yeon-ho.”

“……?”

“Please excuse me for a moment.”

Then, she slapped Yeon-ho’s forehead and tilted her head.

“Really, it’s not a cold? Mr. Antonio said you have a slight fever.”

“That’s because of yesterday…”

It was quite intense. Yeon-ho, who hastily swallowed the words that were about to come out, shook his head, thinking that this was his chance.

“I usually don’t catch colds easily. My throat is just a little hoarse, but I don’t really hurt anywhere…”

“…Well, if your body condition is different from usual, that’s a different story. Wait. Now that I think about it… you said earlier? That you tasted a bitter taste in the cookie.”

“……?”

“Besides that, have you noticed any recent changes in your appetite, or anything different from usual?”

Letizia’s face was serious. Thanks to that, Yeon-ho, who was at a loss for what was going on, unconsciously moved his lips.

“Not really…? Just that I don’t like the air conditioner wind?”

“That means… your senses have become more sensitive. …I see.”

What? Yeon-ho and even Tony blinked their eyes. At the same time, she excused herself, saying, “Please wait a moment,” and hurriedly left the tea room. And when she returned to the tea room, she was holding a long, small box in her hand.

In that moment, Yeon-ho felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘What is it? I feel like I’ve seen this scene somewhere before…?’

He would soon find out the answer.

It was because Letizia, who had quickly closed the remaining distance, carefully handed the box to the table. Yeon-ho’s pupils stopped at one point. Tony, as Tony, hurriedly opened his mouth.

“What is this…?”

A pregnancy test kit…

“It’s a pregnancy test kit.”

At the same time as he thought it, the same answer flowed from her mouth. Tony’s blinking eyes widened greatly. After stammering for a few times, he made a blank voice.

“When… did you get something like this…?”

It was the sound Yeon-ho also wanted to ask. Letizia calmly continued to answer.

“The two of you are so good together. I prepared it in case you might need it someday.”

“……Ah.”

It was a part that Tony, as a man, had missed. In the meantime, Letizia handed the test kit to Yeon-ho once more.

“It’s not a cold, but you have a slight fever, your appetite has changed… and you don’t like the air conditioner wind, which means your body has become sensitive. Just in case, why don’t you check it once before taking the medicine?”

“……”

It was certain. Déjà vu. About a year ago, on the day of his blind date, Yeon-ho had heard a similar story from a pharmacist at a pharmacy he had stopped by due to a headache.

She asked if he might be pregnant. If there was a possibility.

At that time, he had answered firmly that there wasn’t… but now, of course, the situation was different.

They used condoms, but there were more than a few times when they didn’t have the time or space to put on a new one when they were in the heat of the moment.

There was no need to go far, it was just like that yesterday.

Yeon-ho, whose face rarely flushed, looked down at the test kit box that was handed to him again due to the memories that naturally flooded in.

Half of him thought it was impossible. The other half wondered if it was possible. Anyway, he couldn’t know anything before checking.

After hesitating for a long time, Yeon-ho’s hand eventually grabbed the box, just like he had done sometime ago. And he quietly got up from his seat and headed to the second floor with quick steps.

About 20 minutes later.

Yeon-ho, who had come down to the first floor again, was dressed in an outfit for going out. Tony, who was pacing back and forth in front of the stairs, not being able to follow him in case he would be a hindrance, swallowed hard when their eyes met.

Yeon-ho, who raised the corners of his mouth with an ambiguous face towards him, paused before slowly moving his lips.

“Where’s the nearest obstetrician and gynecologist around here?”

♥ ♥ ♥

[Are you awake?]

[How’s your throat?]

[Have you… eaten?]

The messages sent a few hours apart had yet to show as received.

Was he still asleep from overdoing it yesterday? He couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment. Eventually, Marteo cut his meeting short and stepped out into the hallway.

His hurried hand searched for Tony’s number, not Yeon-ho’s, as it had done before. He didn’t want to disturb Yeon-ho if he was still asleep.

Unlike in the past, the ringing stopped before the fifth ring, and the call connected immediately.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Marteo, hearing the familiar voice, immediately stated his business.

“How’s Yeon-ho? Is he still asleep?”

“…He’s awake.”

Then why hasn’t he checked his messages? The thought briefly crossed his mind, but it was fleeting. Marteo spoke quickly again.

“How’s he feeling? Has he eaten?”

“He has. He ate well and enjoyed it.”

Marteo’s face softened at the added detail.

Yeon-ho’s voice hadn’t sounded good this morning, which was worrying, but it allowed Marteo to achieve something he had been wanting for a long time.

That damned cooking. That damned Risotto.

Marteo never gave up on something he set his mind to. Wasn’t it that tenacity that allowed him to get Yeon-ho in the first place?

Since their marriage, Marteo had been sneaking into the kitchen before Yeon-ho woke up. He couldn’t even count how many onions, how much rice, and how much butter had been wasted each time…

But this morning, his desperation finally paid off. He had finally succeeded in making edible Risotto.

‘That was a truly grueling battle… I wish I could have seen him eat it…’

The thought made him miss Yeon-ho even more. He needed to at least hear his voice to feel satisfied.

“Yeon-ho’s in his room now, right?”

Marteo, having gotten the answer he wanted, was about to end the call when Tony stopped him with a rather urgent tone. “Young Master.”

“Um… what time are you planning to come home today?”

“Why do you ask?”

“If you’re thinking of calling Yeon-ho… how about coming home early instead of calling?”

What was that supposed to mean? Was he saying to finish work first instead of goofing off?

Marteo’s eyebrows shot up at the suspicious remark. Then, a sudden anxiety gripped his heart.

“Has Yeon-ho’s cold gotten worse?”

Tony hesitated at the pressing question. He had assumed Yeon-ho’s condition had improved since he had eaten well, but perhaps that wasn’t the case.

“Antonio.”

Marteo’s voice grew sharp. Tony cleared his throat.

“…It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

“That’s… it’s not really my place to say…”

“…What?”

“Anyway, please come home early today. You’ll understand when you get here.”

It was strange. Not only was he repeatedly delaying the answer with an anxious tone, but it almost sounded like there was a hint of a smile at the end.

After ending the call, Marteo, who had been pacing, turned away from the conference room. The hand that found his phone this time dialed his secretary, Perrico.

“Postpone the remaining meetings. I’m leaving work.”

♥ ♥ ♥

He returned home much earlier than usual, just like yesterday. But Tony, who was waiting for him at the entrance, bowed instead of scolding him.

Of course, Marteo was in no mood to exchange pleasantries, either yesterday or today. The moment their eyes met, Marteo immediately bombarded him with questions.

“What’s going on? Is something wrong with Yeon-ho?”

Indeed. Marteo’s heart would sink even if Yeon-ho had an eyelash in his eye or a tiny splinter in his fingertip.

Tony, who had been bowing, straightened up and bit his lip. Then, barely managing to speak while trying to suppress a strange smile, he finally parted his lips.

“Something… did happen. He went to the hospital during the day.”

“What? Why the hospital? You said he wasn’t sick!”

“……”

“No, never mind. I’ll see for myself. Where’s Yeon-ho now?”

Thinking it was a waste of time, Marteo brushed past Tony and strode into the house. It took him less than three minutes to reach the room, running through the long hallway, the wide hall, and up the long staircase.

Without pausing to catch his slightly ragged breath, Marteo threw open the door again and entered the bedroom, passing through the reception room.

Unlike yesterday, Yeon-ho, who was sitting on the bed, seemed to know Marteo was coming and stood up hesitantly.

“You’re… here…?”

Marteo’s eyes narrowed as he reflexively scanned Yeon-ho’s body. His voice sounded somewhat strained, and his movements were uncharacteristically flustered. He seemed to have a slight fever this morning, and his cheeks looked quite red.

Marteo closed the remaining distance and cupped Yeon-ho’s cheeks instead of giving him his usual kiss.

“What happened? You went to the hospital. Are you not feeling well? I told you to call if your condition worsened.”

If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have gone to work…

Despite the accusatory questions, his expression was filled with unconcealed worry. Yeon-ho, momentarily stunned by the easily readable emotion, finally burst into laughter.

The anxiety and tension he had been feeling while waiting for the man to return seemed to vanish into thin air.

“Hey. I’m not dying.”

“Do Yeon-ho!”

“First, sit down. Let’s talk sitting down.”

Yeon-ho, whose cheek was gently rubbed by Marteo’s hand that still wouldn’t let go, pulled his wrist towards the bed.

Marteo was unsure how to react, both to the uncharacteristic display of affection and to the fact that he seemed to have something to say.

Still, his eyes remained fixed on Yeon-ho. Yeon-ho, who couldn’t possibly be unaware, laughed again and finally took a breath.

“I have something to show you…”

“At this timing?”

“Yeah. At this timing.”

With those playful words, Yeon-ho leaned over and began rummaging through the bedside table.

Why did he go to the hospital? Was he really not feeling well? He was burning up with worry, but the fidgeting movements were excessively cautious and careful.

After a while, Yeon-ho straightened up and glanced at Marteo.

“Here…”

Then, he gently placed something he had been hiding behind his back into Marteo’s hand.

It was a hard, slender plastic stick.

‘What… is this?’

For the first few seconds, his mind couldn’t process what he was holding. He even suspected it was some kind of prank.

Then, in an instant, he recognized the two clear red lines drawn in the middle of the stick.

“……!”

Thump. A loud sound echoed inside his chest, and Marteo’s two eyes, of different colors, widened to the same size. Perhaps his mouth did too.

Marteo, with a face that seemed to have stopped breathing, repeatedly looked down at the red lines on the stick before finally lifting his head as if he had been jolted awake.

At the same time, Yeon-ho broke into a bright smile.

“I’m pregnant. I confirmed it at the hospital, and I’m about four weeks along.”

“……!”

He had experienced it before. The day Yeon-ho first told him he loved him, the feeling he had felt then.

That when a person is too overwhelmed, no sound comes out. That it’s hard to tell whether it’s a dream or reality.

Yeon-ho, this time, cupped the face of the man who was still only opening his eyes and mouth, but who was endlessly handsome.

“What’s wrong? Why that expression? Aren’t you happy? Should I just take it back?”

After saying that, she spoke nonsense with a primness that didn’t match her hands. Even at times like this, he was so Do Yeon-ho. The mind that had wandered off finally returned with those words.

Marteo dropped the test and finally embraced Yeon-ho tightly with trembling hands! Arms that gave strength as if to burst. The beating of the heart that was pounding like crazy between the overlapping chests. The words that flowed through his teeth as if groaning were next.

“I can’t even cut open my chest to show you…”

Yeon-ho’s laughter, which had paused, burst out again. It was a sound that was clear and refreshing even to herself.

About a year ago, when she faced the two lines on the test alone at an unwanted blind date, she was just overwhelmed and bleak.

Why is the child in my stomach? What am I going to do with this when I’m not even going to give birth to it?

Of course, as a result, it wasn’t a pregnancy at that time, but the first thought she had when she thought it was a pregnancy often bothered her like a thorn.

I’m so happy that you came to me. You came well. I couldn’t welcome you…

At a moment when she should have been fully loved and blessed, she was just busy hiding it like a burden…

Marteo doesn’t know, but the biggest reason she was relieved to hear that it wasn’t a pregnancy at the hospital was this.

Disbelief and anxiety. Complicatedness and confusion. She wondered if the child would have felt all the uncomfortable feelings she felt, all the negativity she had recalled so many times… but that wasn’t the case.

And now everything was different.

Now, she didn’t have to throw the test in the trash like garbage like she did then. No suspicion or denial was needed.

In front of the man who said he wanted to cut open his chest to show her, it was enough to just smile.

Yeon-ho’s eyes curved once more as she looked back at the test on the bed.

Then, she finally embraced Marteo in return. She intertwined her fingers through his hair and dropped a kiss on his forehead first.

It was a natural course for such a kiss to be repaid tenfold.

A slow, soft, and long kiss as if sharing a breath…

Marteo, who finally let go of Yeon-ho only after his lips were completely wet, took a deep breath with eyes that were still burning with desire.

“I’m so happy, I don’t know what to do…”

“Well. You always just say that, but when I look, you do everything you need to do, don’t you?”

“…You!”

“No, that’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“Haa. Okay. That’s enough. How can I beat you?”

His voice was full of resentment, but his eyes were overflowing with affection that he didn’t know what to do with. Yeon-ho smiled mischievously as if to show off, and in the meantime, Marteo rubbed his cheeks, nose, and lips again.

“…Is your body okay? What about the fever, how’s your throat?”

“When you’re pregnant, your body temperature rises a little. The same goes for your throat. If you don’t have a cough or runny nose, it’s not a cold. Pregnancy rhinitis? Those symptoms are quite common.”

“You don’t have to take medicine?”

“Yeah. Unless it gets worse.”

“What about the baby…? Is the baby healthy?”

“The blood test confirms the pregnancy, but at about 4 weeks, the Gestational sac? I guess they can’t see the details yet. They said let’s check again with an ultrasound next week.”

“Is there anything else that’s uncomfortable?”

“There is.”

Marteo looked tense at Yeon-ho’s blunt words. But his face soon relaxed at the answer that came back.

“Antonio’s nagging. It’s been really terrible since earlier. Don’t walk fast. Don’t take off your clothes… He won’t even let me go into the pool today.”

Now was the time, Yeon-ho’s voice, which was complaining, was filled with rare whining. Marteo bit back a laugh. Then, he tried to make a stern face.

“He did well, though?”

“What?”

“While we’re on the subject, let’s move the room to the first floor. You can’t fall while climbing the stairs.”

“Hey. I’m only 4 weeks along, okay?”

“No. Just don’t come out of bed. Don’t walk at all.”

“Are you… is your goal to make me a living corpse at this opportunity? How am I supposed to go to the bathroom or eat if I don’t walk? What, am I supposed to roll around?”

Marteo spoke even more seriously at the words shot with an absurd look.

“Should I… should I take a leave of absence from work starting tomorrow? For about 9 months first.”

I guess the words not to walk meant he was going to carry me around.

I want to believe it’s a joke, but his expression was too serious.

Come to think of it, it was similar a year ago. I forgot that he’s even worse than Tony…

Yeon-ho’s face, which had been smiling well until just now, gradually wrinkled. Whether he knew it or not, Marteo held her hand tightly.

“Let’s definitely go to the hospital together next week. Now that we’re talking about it, why did you go with Tony today? I’m right here.”

Because I thought you’d be upset if the test was wrong again.

The words she wanted to say were clear, but Yeon-ho pretended not to know. Then, she held Marteo’s hand in return.

“Okay. Let’s definitely go together. I’ll go to the obstetrician. You go to the psychiatrist. We can get treatment as a couple.”

“Do Yeon-ho!”

Marteo, who realized what she meant half a beat later, frowned again with a complaining voice. Yeon-ho, who couldn’t last long in that state, ended up laughing again.

The baby’s father isn’t in his right mind… but at least one thing is perfect, isn’t it?

That you don’t need separate prenatal care when you look at his face. That his looks are vitamins and his voice is iron. Frankly, what other important role is there for a father than this?

Before she knew it, the two overlapping hands were placed side by side on Yeon-ho’s stomach as if they had made a deal.

‘Welcome, baby. You flew in well…’

It was a greeting written with an endlessly affectionate warmth.

♥ ♥ ♥

The VVIP examination room of the large hospital that she had visited about a year ago.

Like a reenactment of that time, Yeon-ho’s face, lying on the same bed in the same place, was somewhat nervous.

She had already been diagnosed with pregnancy at another hospital, but she couldn’t help but feel anxious. Marteo, who noticed Yeon-ho’s anxiety, held Yeon-ho’s hand even more tightly than a year ago.

But there is someone who is trembling and shaking even more than these two.

It was Massimo Santis, a Morpheus obstetrician who had examined Yeon-ho a year ago.

He was even more nervous, wondering if the previous hospital had misdiagnosed her, or if the blood test results were wrong.

Thanks to this, his hands, which were playing with the probe, were more careful and careful than usual. Only the faint mechanical sound from the monitor and the sound of the gel rubbing echoed inside the examination room.

How much time had passed? Santis, who had been carefully examining Yeon-ho’s stomach, suddenly stopped moving. Then, he burst out a small exclamation without realizing it, “Oh?”

It was natural that the hands of Yeon-ho and Marteo, who were holding each other tightly, were strengthened even more. Marteo, who quickly looked down at Yeon-ho first, smiled slightly as if to reassure her, and then turned to Santis with a 180-degree different look.

“What is it? Is something… wrong again?”

He tried to suppress his voice, but his tone was subtly sharp. Santis shook his head hastily with the probe twitching.

“No, no. Just, just let me take a look a little more.”

Then, he checked the monitor while moving his hands more carefully than before. After a few seconds of doing so, he swallowed his dry saliva and finally turned to Marteo with a much brighter face.

“Co, congratulations. Twins, it’s twins!”

……What?

“Can you see this round thing here? There are two yolk sacs, two embryos!”

Not only did Marteo’s eyes, who had been nervous, widen, but even Yeon-ho, who was lying on the bed, raised her upper body abruptly.

Marteo, who was surprised, called out, Do Yeon-ho! and quickly hugged her shoulder, and the doctor, who had dropped the probe, also hurriedly picked up the dropped probe.

But Yeon-ho was the most surprised.

Of course, after the marriage, she had been prepared that a child could come at any time. The reason she studied Italian hard was actually to have more conversations with the child who would be born someday.

But… to think that two of them would come at once!

Belatedly, the faces of Do Seo-hee and Do Seo-jin, her twin older sisters, flashed through her mind.

Could this also be genetic? Is it true that chickens are a symbol of fertility?

“Really… is it twins? You didn’t see something wrong?”

Finally, Yeon-ho stammered with a half-doubtful, dazed voice. The doctor cleared his throat and turned to Marteo.

“Um, can you let the mother…”

Marteo then carefully laid Yeon-ho, who was in his arms, back on the bed. Marteo also wanted to check with his own eyes.

“Excuse me.”

He squeezed a lot of gel on the tube again and brought the probe to Yeon-ho’s stomach again. The heart was pounding anew for everyone gathered here. The gazes were all stuck to the monitor as well.

At the end of that, Santis finally nodded with conviction once more.

“It’s definitely twins. Can you see this? It’s still too early to tell if they’re identical or fraternal, but it’s definitely twins. Congratulations!”

With this much reaction, there was no need to ask any more questions.

Finally, the strength drained from Marteo’s shoulders, which had been somewhat stiff. Instead, the corners of his mouth, which had been pulled up with all his might, began to rise uncontrollably.

Seeing Marteo like that, Yeon-ho slowly realized it.

That there were not one, but two children in her stomach…

The words that Marteo had said a year ago parted Yeon-ho’s lips this time.

“Are you happy…?”

Of course, it was a question that didn’t need to be asked. The answer came back with a burst of laughter. Then, a thick laugh that would make the examination room fall apart began to fill the room.

Marteo, who had bent over as he was, hugged Yeon-ho tightly, without caring about the gel smeared all over her stomach, or even the eyes that were watching.

Yeon-ho had a resigned look on her face as if she knew this would happen.

Even that expression was so lovely that he felt like he was going crazy.

Do Yeon-ho, who always exceeds my expectations. Even the moment the child came was no exception.

With a face that held the world, or rather, as if Yeon-ho was his entire world, Marteo whispered.

“I love you.”

The embarrassment, as always, was the burden of those left behind.

Well, perhaps it was an envy that might never come again.

♥ ♥ ♥

A week had passed since Marteo announced the news of Yeon-ho’s twins, like a triumphant declaration of a victorious general.

Nido d’oro transformed into an impenetrable fortress for Yeon-ho.

Not only did every employee in the house undergo hospital check-ups in turn, but the control of outsiders became even stricter than before. Even the food ingredients, daily necessities, and even a single tissue paper couldn’t pass inside without inspection.

At the forefront of this excessive protocol was, of course, Antonio Bellini, the majordomo of this mansion.

Well, the care had already doubled since he found out Yeon-ho was pregnant, so how much more now that the babies inside were not one, but two?

But even Tony had to take a step back; there was someone whose name card he couldn’t even present.

“Do Yeon-ho, where are you? Do Yeon-ho!”

Did he glue my name to his mouth? A man who wouldn’t take his eyes off me from the moment he opened them until he closed them. The father of the babies in my belly. It was Marteo.

Stepping on the stairs, taking a shower, even changing clothes—he acted like he couldn’t do anything without his hands on it….

At this rate, I’d really forget how to use my fingers. Even now, Yeon-ho smiled wryly at the man who was calling for him every moment. Then, he switched the receiver he was holding.

“I have to hang up now, Seo-hee.”

「Huh? Is that Marteo?」

“…No. It’s a crazy bastard.”

I was quite serious, but Seo-hee’s laughter erupted over the receiver.

「He must really love you a lot. Or should I say, he’s still the same? I really couldn’t have imagined it when I first met him.」

She understood right away. When Marteo and Yeon-ho visited Korea to get permission for their marriage(?). Seo-jin and Seo-hee couldn’t hide their surprised expressions at Marteo’s changed attitude.

Was the arrogant Eagle who had come to the company almost as a notification a past life? The Averto’s man, who was so polite and respectful in seeking Yeon-ho’s hand in marriage, looked as if his younger sibling would wear out and disappear if he even took a step.

It wasn’t just the overflowing conditions, but that was why they had agreed to the marriage without complaint. If they hadn’t, something big might have happened….

「I’m saying it again, but congratulations, Yeon-ho.」

“Geez. How many times have you said that?”

「Because I’m happy. I was so worried that I might have pushed you into a place you didn’t want to be.」

“That’s all in the past…. Ah, I’m hanging up now.”

Seo-hee’s laughter was heard until the end. Yeon-ho’s face, which had been frowning, eased a little.

After learning about the pregnancy, the first person Yeon-ho told the news to after Marteo was none other than Seo-hee.

It seemed better than letting her hear it from someone else. Even so, one side of his heart was slightly heavy.

How Seo-hee would feel about his pregnancy, whether she would compare herself to him and be upset.

But blood is thicker than water. There was no need to worry. Seo-hee congratulated him with all her heart, just like a moment ago. But what made Yeon-ho’s heart lighter than the congratulations was the advice she gave in a lowered voice.

『Hey. Now is the perfect opportunity.』

『…Opportunity?』

『From what I’ve heard, they’ll bring you the moon and stars in the early stages of pregnancy. You should take everything you can get this time! Wait, can you give gifts to the baby in your belly? Should I ask our lawyer?』

I couldn’t help but laugh. There’s someone here who went bankrupt pulling the slot machine…. Moreover, giving gifts to a bean-sized baby already.

Thinking about it again, Do Seo-hee might be the best of our three siblings.

While reminiscing about the memory of the first call, the presence was getting closer and closer. And at the same time as finishing the call, his back was suddenly covered.

“What are you doing here? I was looking for you.”

Slightly disheveled breathing. The same warmth and smell as always.

Suddenly, he was reminded of the day he bumped into the young Marteo behind the bushes. Yeon-ho, who looked up at the man who had turned him around a beat late, stared at the two eyes that he felt he could never forget now. Then, he deliberately crumpled his face, which had been involuntarily relaxing.

“Geez. I can’t even make a phone call in peace.”

“You were on the phone? With who?”

“Well. It’s definitely not a sponsor.”

“……Do Yeon-ho.”

“More than that, why did you come in so early? It’s not even 7 o’clock yet, is it?”

Marteo had asked if he should take 9 months off from work, but his heartfelt wish was put on hold due to Yeon-ho’s desperate dissuasion.

Of course, it wasn’t because he was worried about the company… If Marteo took time off, he was afraid that he would really forget how to use his hands and feet for 9 months, as he had worried before.

Marteo, who had obviously come to find him first after work, frowned when he said a word.

“Early? It feels like 100 years have passed.”

“…….”

“Anyway, why are you making calls in a place like this? What if you lose your mind and trip over a rock?”

A place like this… Yeon-ho was making calls in the garden. The garden, which was maintained every day, had even the dirt ground clean.

Where is there a rock to trip over? If you tripped over a grain of sand, that would be a talent.

But seeing the man acting as if even a handful of dirt and a blade of grass were all bothersome, it seemed like he would either cover the garden itself with cement or lay a carpet, or something.

Considering that he had previously ordered all the overgrown grass to be cut, the possibility was even very high.

Worried that it would be a waste of manpower, Yeon-ho hurriedly pulled Marteo’s arm.

“I was going to go in anyway. Can’t I even take a walk as I please?”

“Do it when I come.”

“How do I know when you’ll come?”

“That’s why I’m saying I’ll take time off from work.”

It was a repetitive conversation. He does this every chance he gets.

Yeon-ho pinched Marteo’s arm, which he was holding. But even that didn’t hurt him, and instead, he took his hand and dropped a kiss on the back of his hand.

“What did you do today?”

“What else? Eat, sleep, and poop. Then eat, sleep, and poop again, that’s what I did.”

“Good job.”

“……I might double in size at this rate.”

“Why only double? You should triple with the babies in your belly.”

“…That’s enough. That’s enough, so let go of my hand. Why do you keep holding on so tightly?”

“Bear with it. I like it.”

“Does it make sense to tell a pregnant woman to bear with it?”

“Then should I carry you?”

He really does this every chance he gets. In the end, Yeon-ho shook his head.

“Anyway, seeing things like this, there’s no such thing as old sayings.”

“……?”

“That marriage is the tomb of life.”

Marteo’s steps, which had been nonchalantly batting back the half-joke, half-truth, came to a sudden halt. Yeon-ho tilted his chin saucily at the eyes that seemed to be asking if he was serious.

Of course, he was serious. Living for over 30 years, Yeon-ho thought that there was no other famous saying that penetrated life as much as this.

Suppression of freedom. Subordinate responsibility. Loyalty or fidelity… A collection of promises that made you want to step back just by hearing them.

But… I realized after actually entering it. That tombs are tombs in their own way.

Pyramids. Taj Mahal. Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum. When you think about it, aren’t these all tombs?

A perfect tomb with everything was an unbearable comfort and peace. Who knew that afterlife(?) life would suit me so well….

Yeon-ho, who glanced at the anxious Marteo, finally burst into laughter. Then, he brought his head close to his chin and poked his chest with his remaining hand.

“Silly. I think this is my final resting place.”

Marteo’s eyes, which had widened, slowly began to curve. And then,

“Ugh?!”

He finally picked up Yeon-ho’s body….

“Yeah. So stay close.”

An grip that clearly showed the weight of affection. There was no way he would listen if I told him to put me down… Yeon-ho only raised his voice once, but there were no more words beyond that.

Marteo, who noticed, mischievously raised his eyebrows.

“What is it? Why are you being so docile? Aren’t you going to tell me to put you down?”

Yeon-ho lowered his eyes with a sulky look.

“No, well… Now that I see it, the dirt ground seems a bit dangerous? Pregnant women should be careful, right?”

“Pfft……. Right.”

“Your answer and expression are different.”

“Ahem. You’re mistaken.”

The two people look at each other with serious faces, as if having an eye fight. Then, without either of them being the first, they couldn’t help but burst into laughter together.

Even that sound was soon muffled into each other’s mouths.

6 months into their marriage. And 9 months until the baby is born.

It was truly days when I didn’t want to take a single step out of the tomb.

Feather One Fin.