CHAPTER 08
It was such a peaceful time, almost comical, for me to be the bride of a monster.
All he did was roll around in a field full of daffodils for a while, roast and eat the game Mars brought him, laze around for a while with nothing to do, then wash himself at the stream and lie down to gaze at the night sky.
Of course, after returning from a long day of lazing around, the three of them, or rather, Marie, were sweeping and wiping the castle. In any case, I had to endure the glares of the three half-human, half-beasts.
Philiatus thought as he watched them, for some reason, unable to say a word in front of Mars.
‘Perhaps that little boy… is the son of Areias?’
If he were a normal human kid, the demigods wouldn’t even notice. Considering how he would shut his mouth and abruptly scurry away when Mars appeared, even if he tried to curse me in front of me, it’s a reasonable inference.
‘And the red eye color is the same.’
And that’s not all. Come to think of it—yes, even their hair color is the same.
‘I guess he’s really my son.’
Then, what about the mother who gave birth to the child?
“So, since I don’t have one, am I being offered here as a bride or a sacrifice? So, my role is to be that little boy’s mother?”
Filiatus was so lost in thought that a deep wrinkle formed between his eyebrows.
At that moment, I suddenly remembered what happened last night.
That night, my body felt terribly hot and my mind was clouded. The strange sensation of a strange man’s body temperature swallowing my own.
No matter how much I thought about it, it wasn’t a dream.
It definitely happened.
‘… … Let’s check again.’
Filiatus rose from his seat and cautiously opened the door.
I searched my memory and wandered the corridors heading east for a while. The damned castle was still as tangled and labyrinthine as ever, and I ended up getting lost again.
“Yesterday, I definitely felt strangely good at finding my way. What was it? What could it have been? How did I do it?”
Philiatus, who had been deep in thought, soon remembered something, closed his eyes quietly, and began to hold his breath as if trying to feel something.
If I remember correctly, my body reacted first, as if I was being led.
Whether it was instinct or whether he had summoned himself with some transcendent power—Piliatus closed his eyes and concentrated on the sensations of his body to confirm.
Soon, Filiatus, startled and trembling, began to walk slowly, like a lost puppy smelling its master’s scent.
After walking for a while past the courtyard, I could hear the sound of water gently flowing from the deepest part of the eastern side of the castle.
As if drawn by the sound, Filiatus opened his eyes and faced an open space as if in a dream.
Surrounded by vines and bushes rather than walls, it was a place that seamlessly connected to nature. Without a single wall, only a few wooden pillars stood here and there, and a white mist rose above the moonlit waters.
It was like a secret garden hidden in the forest. In its center, something sacred and dreamy lingered.
Moonlight dipped into the water, shattering silver along the waves. At that moment, a dark shadow swaying beneath the surface slowly appeared, seemingly raising its head.
In the center of the bath, steaming water, I could see his broad, sturdy back. Waterdrops trickled down his back muscles, stretched out like sculptures, and beyond them, his wet hair flowed in a hazy stream.
That’s right, it was that man. Areias.
His figure, rising through the light and smoke, possessed both an awe and beauty, as if the wildness of nature and the mystery of the divine were intertwined.
Just as he was holding his breath and cautiously approaching, a dry branch crunched beneath Filiatus’s feet.
“omg.”
Before Areias could turn around, Filiatus instinctively hid behind a large pillar. His heart pounded wildly. He heard the sound of something quietly cutting through the water.
‘But, what should I say when I get there? Asking, ‘You rolled around with me last night,’ isn’t that too… too much of a slap in the face?!’
But shouldn’t we know for sure whether it’s a dream or not?
When I made up my mind and raised my head―
“Eww!”
Filiatus, startled by the man’s face appearing right before his eyes, lost his balance and stumbled.
He slipped on the wet leaves on the floor, tilted his body, and was about to fall forward when a strong arm suddenly wrapped around Filiatus’s waist, and his body stopped lightly in mid-air.
The warmth felt from Areias’ palm spread throughout his body.
For a moment, close enough that our breaths could touch.
Areias, dripping with water droplets, looked down at Filiatus and smiled softly.
“I guess your lower body is pretty weak.”
A low-pitched voice echoed through the night air.
Filiatus, his face flushed, glared and said:
“You made this last night!”
Then the man tilted his head slightly with a very sly and affectionate smile.
“Is that so? It probably didn’t hurt.”
He slowly lowered his hand and stroked Filiatus’s waist. The heat radiating from his fingertips spread tingly, and Filiatus instinctively flinched his shoulders.
Areias asked gently, smiling as if he found the reaction amusing.
“The heat cycle must have been put to sleep. My body wasn’t even hot, so why did I come here again?”
The tone was affectionate, but there was a strangely ticklish mischief mixed in.
Filiatus glanced at Areias, who was stroking his waist, and then muttered as if he had suddenly realized something.
“……As expected, it wasn’t a dream.”
Then he continued with a more softened look in his eyes.
“Why did my body react that way… What will happen next… You are the only one I can ask that question to.”
Areias slowly tilted his head in response to Philiatus’ words.
“I told you yesterday. You’re my Omega.”
At those words, Filiatus frowned as if avoiding eye contact for a moment and spoke quietly.
“I was never an Omega to begin with. I was only cursed by the goddess to become an Omega.”
He continued speaking in a slightly firmer tone.
“It’s because of that curse that I came here. … That’s why I’m asking. What must I do to break the curse?”
At that question, Areias remained silent for a moment, then looked at Philiatus intently.
It’s that look again.
A gaze filled with complex emotions, at times pitiful, at times angry, and at times sad.
Why on earth was he looking at me like that? Filiatus, feeling momentarily uncomfortable, tried to avert his gaze, but Areias tightened his grip around his waist and pulled him closer.
Then he whispered.
“To break the curse, you must receive my seed.”
“……Receive seeds……?”
Areias looked at Filiatus, who was asking in a bewildered voice, and added softly but firmly.
“You’re saying I have to have my child.”
“……I, I’m a man?!”
At those words, Areias smiled quietly and nodded.
“I told you. You’re an omega. If you’re given omega status, even a man can get pregnant.”
At those words, Philiatus’ face turned pale.
“So… I’m pregnant now…?”
The corners of my lips trembled. My voice, though unintentional, trembled softly. My face was tinged with fear.
Philiatus’s mother died giving birth to him.
He couldn’t possibly remember that moment, but it was a story he’d heard countless times growing up. He knew better than anyone how painful and fatal it could be to embrace life.
As that fear surged up like an instinct, my body froze for a moment. My fingertips tightened, and my eyes fluttered slightly.
Looking at Filiatus like that, Areias carefully stroked his round cheek and continued speaking as if soothing a frightened child.
“Don’t be too scared. You won’t get pregnant like you did yesterday.”
The words were gentle, yet somehow firm. Filiatus swallowed quietly, unsure whether to be relieved or more concerned.
Then Areias added in a low, calm voice.
“To conceive, I must notate and imprint you. Only then will you be complete.”
