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The outer robe, still warm with Song Seol’s body heat, wrapped around Hae-min.
It was comforting, yet that only made him more flustered.
Gripping the front of the robe tightly, Hae-min looked up at Song Seol.
“This will help prevent your scent from leaking out.”
“…”
“And even if it does, it will be fine once it mixes with mine.”
As he said, Song Seol’s scent lingered faintly in the robe.
It was subtle, detectable only if one heightened their senses, but once noticed, it was impossible to ignore.
Certainly, no alpha would dare approach an omega carrying the scent of the Grand Prince of Byeokran.
‘It’s a bit embarrassing, though…’
The scent was secondary, the real issue was wearing Song Seol’s robe itself.
If he walked around like this, even ordinary people might guess their relationship.
Hae-min had no desire to parade himself as ‘this man’s omega.’
Yet the robe was incredibly warm.
Though it was merely a single layer of fabric, the difference it made was immense.
Like snow melting in a flame, his resolve to refuse it melted away.
“Thank you. Then I will borrow it for a while.”
Hae-min lowered his head slightly.
At that moment, a hand suddenly reached beneath his chin.
Startled, he looked up to find Song Seol tying the robe’s fastening.
“You must secure it properly to keep the cold wind out.”
“…Yes.”
For some reason, it felt as though he had become a child being looked after.
And yet, in his actual childhood, no adult had ever adjusted his clothes for him.
Watching the large hands moving near his chest, Hae-min suddenly asked,
“Has your wrist fully healed?”
“Shall I tell you a secret?”
“No.”
At his immediate answer, Song Seol let out a soft chuckle.
“How dull. At times like this, you should ask to hear it.”
“Secrets learned out of fleeting curiosity often lead to regret.”
“It is nothing you would regret. Though perhaps it might irritate you a little.”
Even with that coaxing, Hae-min did not ask.
At that, Song Seol spoke in a more coaxing tone.
“Do you truly not wish to know?”
“…What is this secret?”
Half-pushed into it, Hae-min finally asked.
As he finished tying the robe, Song Seol spoke.
“In truth, I was never injured.”
“That is the secret? That your right wrist was never hurt?”
“Yes.”
Hah.
Hae-min let out a hollow breath.
“I had already figured that out.”
“Is that so? I thought you had not noticed at all.”
“Your acting is not that convincing, my lord.”
His words carried a sharp edge.
After all, considering how much trouble he had gone through, he had every right to say at least this much.
Perhaps Song Seol thought the same, as he showed no displeasure.
Instead, he asked playfully,
“Aren’t you curious why I pretended to be injured?”
“Well… I assume you had your reasons.”
Hae-min deliberately avoided saying “I’m not curious.”
In truth, he genuinely did not want to know why Song Seol had gone so far as to pretend injury just to use his hand.
What he was more curious about was why Song Seol had told him at all.
“At first, it was merely a whim. But keeping you close turned out to be quite interesting.”
“…”
“More interesting than I expected. Yes, far more than expected.”
Song Seol murmured as if to himself.
He seemed amused, but Hae-min felt uneasy.
Being toyed with was not a pleasant feeling.
Yet, in truth, the one truly deceiving the other was himself.
Song Seol had only lied about his wrist, but Hae-min had hidden everything about himself.
So while it felt unsettling, it did not make him angry.
He merely thought, ‘I knew he was somewhat eccentric, but he is even more so than I expected.’
“Your Highness, I have brought what you requested.”
At that moment, a clerk approached and reported.
Song Seol accepted the document the man offered and began reviewing it.
While he did so, Hae-min moved toward the edge of the ship.
‘This is not the time to chat with Song Seol.’
He reminded himself of his purpose.
He had come to Yesong Port to find a way to prevent the accident.
Yet no plan came to mind.
It was utterly frustrating.
“Hmm…”
Hae-min gazed out at the open sea.
The dark blue waves stretched endlessly like a field.
The scenery that had seemed so beautiful moments ago now felt eerie.
He could not forget that an accident would occur here.
‘The sea is not merely beautiful.’
For some, it was a sight to admire.
For others, a workplace.
For some, it was life itself.
Yet for others, it became the place of their death.
That contrast was chilling.
If only he could at least prevent the sailors from dying…
But he had no idea how.
Hae-min continued staring at the sea, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a shadow fell behind him.
When he turned, it was Song Seol.
“I told you not to turn your back on me.”
“My apologies.”
He truly found fault in everything.
Though it was an unreasonable remark, Hae-min offered a perfunctory apology.
Standing beside him, Song Seol asked,
“What were you doing?”
“I was simply admiring the sea.”
“With such a serious expression?”
“…Yes.”
Not probing further was perhaps Song Seol’s only redeeming trait.
True to form, he did not press the matter.
Instead, he placed an arm around Hae-min’s shoulders.
For a moment, Hae-min flinched, thinking he was about to be pulled into an embrace.
But Song Seol merely turned him around.
“Let us go elsewhere. This place faces the wind directly, I fear you might be blown away.”
“Surely you wouldn’t be blown away just by a bit of wind, my lord.”
Though he knew the remark was directed at him, Hae-min pretended otherwise.
Song Seol did not correct him and simply began walking.
****
The next day, early in the morning, Hae-min was summoned to the men’s quarters.
Being alone with Song Seol, especially in such a place, was suffocating.
Fortunately, the discomfort did not last long.
Soon, a deep voice sounded from beyond the closed door.
“My greetings, my lord. I am Physician Kim.”
“Enter.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The door slid open carefully.
A man in clean cotton robes stepped inside and bowed deeply to Song Seol.
“Good morning.”
Hae-min studied the physician.
Though it was hard to be certain with his head lowered, he seemed vaguely familiar, and quite recently at that.
“I was told that suppressants are needed.”
As the physician took a seat, his face became clearly visible.
Only then did Hae-min remember.
“Ah, you are the physician who treated my lord’s wrist recently.”
“Yes. We have met once before, young master.”
“Though I later heard that His Highness had not actually injured his wrist.”
“Haha, well… about that…”
The physician trailed off awkwardly.
Not wishing to trouble him further, Hae-min was about to let it go…
But Song Seol spoke shamelessly,
“Come to think of it, Physician Kim must be quite skilled, to treat even an uninjured wrist.”
“…”
Both Hae-min and the physician fell silent.
How could the one who had feigned illness say such a thing so boldly?
Yet given the difference in status, neither could object.
“If it is a suppressant made by Physician Kim, its effectiveness is assured, Hee-yul.”
“Ah, yes… Your Highness is absolutely right.”
Hae-min replied with mild sarcasm.
Though even this would not leave a scratch on Song Seol’s ironclad conscience.
Song Seol turned to the physician.
“Have you brought the suppressants?”
“Yes, my lord.”
The physician promptly took out a bamboo container from his bundle.
“These are suppressants for an omega.”
“Out of curiosity, are suppressants for alpha and omega different?”
Hae-min asked as he received the container.
“Yes, they are distinct. An alpha would not be harmed by taking this, but it would have no effect, so there would be no reason to take it. Likewise, it would be pointless for you to take a alpha suppressant.”
“I will remember that.”
“This may not suit your constitution, so I will provide a small amount first. If it proves ineffective or unsuitable, please inform me, and I will adjust the formula.”
“Understood. And how often should it be taken?”
“Once in the morning upon waking, once after lunch, and once before sleep.”
“So, three times a day. Understood.”
With all his questions answered, Hae-min fell silent in satisfaction.
Song Seol then dismissed the physician briefly.
“You have done well. You may leave.”
“Yes, my lord. Please call for me again if you require more.”
Physician Kim bowed deeply and departed.
After he left, Hae-min opened the bamboo container.
A fragrant herbal scent rose immediately.
He took out one pill and placed it on his palm.
It was small, round, and black, smaller than he had expected.
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