Chapter 92
“Altair?”
“….”
Altair sat frozen, still touching his lips, lost in another world. He seemed completely gone, like he’d fallen into his own universe.
I gave up. Pulling off the coat he had draped over my shoulders, I folded it and placed it neatly beside him. I turned to run off—when he suddenly grabbed my arm hard.
“Altair! The magic is already over…!”
“….”
My breath caught. His unfocused eyes stared blankly at me, and I shivered. With trembling hands, I tapped his shoulder.
Slowly, he took my wrist, turning my palm upward. Blood welled on my fingertips where the thorns had pricked me. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips to my palm.
“Roy…”
His lips brushed over the wounds, his damp breath warming and tickling my pale skin. I tried to pull away, but he clenched my coat tightly, his brows furrowing as if unwilling to let go.
“Altair, I really have to go back. I’ll organize the symptoms and improvements, then send you a letter quickly.”
“…When?”
“I’ll send it by tomorrow at noon.”
“….”
He inhaled deeply against my palm, then lifted his head to look at me.
Ah… why did he have to look at me like that? My guilt stabbed harder. I had replied late, arrived an hour late, and now I was running away after all this… Yes, I was the worst.
“…Fine. I’ll send it first thing in the morning.”
“…Good.”
Altair faintly smiled. With a twist of his fingers, he conjured a small slip of paper and pressed it to my lips. It was a Sleep Spell.
“End the long day quickly, and dream peacefully.”
I chuckled, took his hand, and bent down, brushing a kiss over the back of it.
“Thank you. You too, Altair—sweet dreams.”
Altair dropped his hand as he watched Roy’s back fade away.
“Pip?! Chirp-chirp!”
Omok screeched angrily, eyes sharp like little triangles. He pecked Altair’s hair, tugged hard, even pushed his back with his head—but Altair didn’t move. Birds sleeping nearby lifted their heads.
Altair sighed heavily, brushing his hair.
“No. I can’t hold him now.”
“Chirp?”
“If I let my feelings get ahead of the magic, everything will fall apart. Roy would only grow more afraid of me, more suspicious.”
“…Chirp.”
“I’ll revise the draft tomorrow. Then we’ll meet again. I’ll try the spell one more time…”
He lifted his finger toward Omok. The little bird landed on it.
“Go to Roy.”
He kissed Omok’s head, then flung his hand skyward. The bird flew straight toward the castle.
Left alone in the rose pergola, Altair picked up the coat. He pressed his face into it, breathing deeply.
“Haah…”
Roy’s warmth and scent lingered, filling the emptiness in his chest.
Such a fleeting moment.
Yet the touch of lips, the tangle of tongues—
“It was… so good. Too good.”
He wanted more. To taste every part of Roy—his lips, his mouth, his trembling throat, his flushed ears, his wet eyes…
Altair hugged the coat tight, a quiet laugh spilling out. He lifted his gaze to the red-tinged moon.
“Now then… time to finish the work.”
At his words, the sleeping birds awoke. Owls, swans, ducks, sparrows, crows, pigeons, even peacocks—all spread their wings, eyes glinting in moonlight, and followed Altair into the night.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Forgive me, Duke! I failed to uncover what plots the Crown Prince and the Prince hid in coming north. To think they would dare plan marriage between a cripple and a national hero like yourself—such an insult! I will take full responsibility and handle this matter strictly!”
Lady Mores knelt before Tessarion, weeping.
“….”
Tessarion leaned against the terrace railing, smoking, eyes fixed only on the brightly lit rear garden. He did not even glance at her.
“And how will you ‘handle’ it?”
“Arrest the cursed man who stained Claremont’s honor! Investigate whether this is linked to demonic attacks! Send the Crown Prince and the First Knights to the Hongmok front immediately! Convene the Council, send envoys east and west, and submit a joint petition to the Emperor—only then can we—”
Tessarion finally turned, clapping slowly with the pipe still between his lips.
“Excellent idea.”
His eyes flared sharp and cold. Blue energy gathered in his hand, forming a greatsword. Lady Mores trembled, lips pressed tight. Tessarion slammed the blade into the floor before her.
“At dawn, you will ride west. Tell Grand General Ashur Nahtan of the Emperor’s crimes. Convince him. If you live long enough, then propose the same to Queen Ellojen in the east.”
“D-Duke… that’s not what I meant…”
“What? That wasn’t your plan? Didn’t you just swear to expose the Emperor’s crimes and take responsibility for revenge?”
He sneered.
“The Roswelden Bank gave you 2,000 gold. The Garson family, 1,300. From Count Carresh, 600 and a villa. Use that money to lobby east and west. Raise war with them.”
“…!”
Lady Mores froze.
“Did you think I didn’t know? How you treated the princes, how you prepared the first banquet, how you manipulated the northern nobles behind the scenes. All under the guise of loyalty.”
“…I only thought of your future, Duke.”
“Your future. Not mine. You’re no different from the Emperor who throws me onto the battlefield, or the power-hungry leeches pretending to ‘support’ me.”
“D-Duke!”
Lady Mores clutched at his ankle, weeping.
“Spare me! I overstepped! Please, I beg you!”
“Take her away.”
At his command, the knights at the terrace doors dragged her off. Her screams echoed down the hall.
“Finally. Quiet.”
Tessarion exhaled a plume of blue smoke.
By the central fountain, sparkling lights fell with the music of chimes. Roy spun around, eyes widening at Tessarion.
From across the distance, their gazes locked.
