Chapter 47: One Step Too Far

“What exactly…?”

Before the words could leave Kebel’s mouth, the corner of Osh’s lips twisted before smoothing out again.

It was a smile chilling enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

Yet with an innocent expression, he tightened their interlocked fingers.

At the same time, he pulled Kebel closer.

Perhaps because they had not seen each other in so long, the sweet scent of acacia lingering around him seemed especially intoxicating.

Just moments ago, Osh had been warning him to be careful.

And yet now he was acting so boldly that Kebel almost laughed.

He barely managed to suppress the smile threatening to spread across his face as he glanced around.

Fortunately, there was no one passing by.

Only Ida, standing in the distance, staring at the wall and awkwardly clearing his throat.

Embarrassment immediately flooded Kebel, turning the tips of his ears red.

“In the end,” Osh murmured, “it always turns out like this.”

“Huh?”

“Dozens of times a day, it feels like my world is being turned upside down. Whenever I reach my limit and think maybe I should just end everything… you calm me down.”

He lifted their joined hands and pressed them against his chest.

Unlike Kebel’s wildly racing heart, Osh’s heartbeat remained steady and calm.

Like the eye of a storm.

The strange sensation made Kebel’s palm grow damp with sweat.

“That’s why I become greedier.”

“…Osh?”

“If you’re not beside me, I don’t know what I might do.”

His emerald eyes rippled like the surface of a tranquil lake.

The simple words you’re precious to me made Kebel’s chest feel oddly ticklish.

At the same time, he could feel how much Osh had suffered.

How much the Count had tormented him.

Even without explanation, those emotions were painfully clear.

Kebel bit the inside of his cheek.

Afraid his feelings might show, he forced himself to smile.

He wanted Osh to see him smiling.

Especially after everything he had endured.

“You’re precious to me too, Osh.”

“Thank you.”

“So even if it’s hard, endure it just a little longer.”

Surely the Count would be finished after this.

At least, Kebel wanted to believe that.

But doubt lingered.

‘Would the Count really give up so easily?’

‘No.’

His ambition was far too great.

Why did Osh have to be the Count’s son?

Why did he have to suffer like this?

If only he had been born into a loving family.

Kebel opened and closed his fists helplessly.

“By the way, Kebel.”

“Hm?”

“Who came to visit that night?”

Kebel froze.

“…No one. Why?”

“When I woke up, the wound on my stomach had healed.”

“Oh? Your wound had healed?”

He had known this question would come eventually.

Although he acted surprised, his lie felt awkward enough that he nearly bit his tongue.

Had Osh noticed?

Anxious, Kebel couldn’t quite manage his expression.

He reached toward Osh’s stomach.

But Osh stopped him.

“I’d like to show you, but not now.”

His eyes curved into a smile.

“Unless… you’d prefer somewhere a little more private?”

The smile was breathtaking.

Like flowers blooming all at once.

Even after weeks of hardship, with dark circles beneath his eyes and a gaunt face, Osh remained absurdly handsome.

‘The protagonist buff really is something,’ Kebel thought.

Then suddenly Osh’s expression darkened.

So dramatically that Kebel wondered if he had ever seen him make such a face before.

He looked as though he had just smelled rotten fish.

Before Kebel could ask what was wrong, a voice rang through the corridor.

“One doesn’t often see the Young Duke these days.”

A thoroughly unwelcome voice.

Turning around, Kebel saw the Count approaching.

Every time he looked at the man, he found himself wondering how someone like Osh could possibly have come from him.

Unlike the Duke, whose features had aged with dignity, the Count seemed permanently twisted with bitterness.

He carried a cane in one hand.

Apparently the rumors about his leg being injured had been true.

The pleasant mood evaporated instantly.

Still, the man was Osh’s father.

Suppressing his irritation, Kebel offered a greeting.

“It has been a while.”

“You’ve grown wonderfully.”

The Count smiled.

“Even from a distance, you look so slender and delicate. I imagine you break quite a few men’s hearts.”

“What did you just say?”

“What? I was simply complimenting you.”

The Count spread his hands innocently.

“If you chose to take offense, that is hardly my fault.”

“Father.”

Osh’s voice was cold.

The Count had always been like this.

Age had changed nothing.

Seeing the dangerous aura radiating from Osh, Kebel shook his head.

An eye for an eye.

A tooth for a tooth.

If the Count wanted to play games, Kebel could play too.

He composed himself and smiled sweetly.

“Thank you, Count.”

His voice was gentle.

“I’m honored by your praise. Though if I may say so, perhaps you should take better care of your appearance.”

The Count blinked.

“You seem to have aged quite a bit. It pains me terribly to see it.”

“What did you say?”

“Everyone around me looks remarkably youthful for their age, so seeing you was quite shocking.”

Kebel smiled brightly.

“Oh, please don’t misunderstand. I only say this because I’m worried about you.”

The Count’s face began turning red.

“In fact, perhaps I should send you a gift.”

“A gift?”

“Yes.”

Kebel’s smile widened.

“Some Baekmeongcho.”

The herb said to preserve youth.

Not enough to make someone young again.

Only enough to slow aging slightly.

Watching the Count’s complexion cycle between red and blue, Kebel felt thoroughly satisfied.

The Count could do nothing about it.

That was the best part.

Still, after speaking so boldly, Kebel glanced at Osh.

Despite everything, it was still his father.

Would he be upset?

Not at all.

Osh was barely suppressing laughter.

His shoulders shook.

Relieved, Kebel looked at him as if asking, Are you okay?

Osh answered with a warm gaze.

Well done.

The approval in his eyes was so sweet that heat rushed to Kebel’s cheeks.

Unable to endure it any longer, he decided to leave before he embarrassed himself in front of the Count.

“I should get going.”

He stepped back.

“My schedule is quite busy.”

Then he looked at Osh.

“If we get the chance… let’s meet again.”

Before the Count could ask anything troublesome, Kebel fled.

He desperately resisted the urge to look back.

Somehow, it felt like he shouldn’t.

“Three weeks…”

Even so, he couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

The warmth of Osh’s hand lingered.

So did the scent of acacia.

“What was that?”

Ida glanced over.

“Nothing.”

Kebel smiled mysteriously.

“By the way, Ida. Find me some Baekmeongcho.”

“As much as possible.”

“I have someone I’d very much like to give it to.”

****

“I told you not to see that brat!”

“And I told you before.”

Osh’s voice was ice cold.

“The only reason I followed your orders was because of the curse attached to my heart. Nothing more.”

“When you swore to become my dog, I believed you.”

The Count’s expression twisted.

“Had I known you would betray me like this, I never would have sent you to that brat.”

The Count could not kill Osh.

His ambitions depended too heavily on him.

Osh knew that.

And he was using it against him.

Unfortunately, the Count seemed unaware of that fact.

“There is something you should remember.”

The Count smiled.

“A beast is always a beast.”

“…”

“And once a dog serves a master, it never bites.”

He stroked his thin jaw.

“The only reason you’ve managed to rebel until now is because you aren’t complete yet.”

His grin widened.

“In the end, no matter how much you deny it, you’ll become exactly what you were made to be.”

The Count looked almost victorious.

If not for the curse embedded in his heart, Osh would have killed him long ago.

A dark desire stirred within him.

The ugly emotions he had suppressed countless times clawed their way back to the surface.

A voice whispered in his mind.

‘Destroy everything.’

‘Take what you want.’

‘Why keep choosing the difficult path?’

‘Why keep holding back?’

The temptation was overwhelming.

He wanted to drag Kebel away.

To lock him somewhere safe.

To keep him entirely for himself.

But Kebel had become too precious.

Too important.

And so Osh buried those thoughts once more.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Countless times.

Suppressing every monstrous impulse, he curled his lips into a smile.

Seeing that expression only infuriated the Count further.

“Don’t tell me you’ve become arrogant because your power has grown!”

The Count shouted.

“Do you really think you can escape me?”

His face was bright red with rage.

Osh laughed softly.

Then he took a single step forward.

Just one step.

Yet the distance between them vanished instantly.

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