Chapter 52: Why Didn’t You Ever Ask Me?

‘I always wondered.’

‘Where the child born into the same fate as me might be now, and what they might be doing.’

He had once tried to find out.

But unfortunately, he had been unable to learn anything about that child.

Clinging to the faintest shred of hope, Kebel looked at Marshel.

“It’s a Brand. Just like the Brand engraved on Your Grace, there will be a Brand engraved on that person as well.”

The anticipation filling Kebel’s eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by disappointment. Even if the Brand could serve as proof, it wasn’t as though they could strip every passerby and check. A dry sigh escaped him.

His divine power was weak, and the whereabouts of that child were unknown. Nearly giving up altogether, Kebel shook his head.

At this rate, it felt more likely that Osh would become a psychopath and destroy the kingdom first.

“That child will awaken once they come of age as well. All we can do is wait for that time. The heavens will surely send a sign when enough darkness begins to gather.”

“But wouldn’t it be disastrous if that child awakens? Shouldn’t we find them first before that happens-”

“It will only be temporary. Just as it was with Your Grace.”

“So we find them then and-”

“Yes, exactly. That is when we deal with them.”

The word “deal with” snapped Kebel back to attention. He had assumed they meant something like confinement or containment. But deal with? It sounded as though they intended to kill the child.

The unexpected statement drained all color from Kebel’s face. Watching him, Marshel spoke.

“For the sake of many lives. I trust you will make the right decision.”

“…”

Kebel couldn’t say anything. He simply left the temple with the potion Marshel had given him.

“The scroll definitely said salvation…”

‘Why had Marshel said deal with? Was there really any need for that?’

The question lingered for a moment before he forced it from his mind. Kebel looked down at the potion. A transparent liquid inside a transparent bottle. Marshel had claimed it could greatly increase divine power.

Considering his close relationship with the Duke, it didn’t seem likely he would hand over something harmful.

Kebel quickly tucked it into his pocket and glanced up at the sky. Dark clouds hung overhead as if rain could pour down at any moment.

It had been sunny before he entered the temple. The weather had changed so suddenly.

Deciding to run to the carriage, Kebel covered his head with both hands and started down the stairs. The rain came down harder than expected, as though it had no intention of stopping anytime soon. Regret washed over him. Maybe he should have waited for Ida after all.

Then he spotted Ida running toward him from afar, and his expression brightened.

“You’re going to fall if you run like that.”

“O… Osh?”

“One should be extra careful on rainy days.”

Osh raised an umbrella over his head.

The unexpected appearance made Kebel’s eyes widen. Ignoring his surprise, Osh brushed the raindrops from Kebel’s clothes.

His expression seemed darker than usual. Even the clothes he wore were dark-colored instead of the bright shades he normally preferred.

For some reason, Kebel had a bad feeling.

He gestured to Ida in the distance to go back. Ida stopped walking and returned toward the carriage.

Only after confirming that did Kebel grab Osh’s hand and pull him somewhere quieter.

“If you stay soaked like this, you’ll catch a cold.”

Osh removed his outer coat and draped it over Kebel’s shoulders. At the same time, he gently brushed the moisture from Kebel’s damp hair.

The rain suddenly intensified.

It crashed down like a waterfall. Though it was still late spring, it poured like a summer downpour.

Fortunately, they had moved under shelter. Otherwise, even with the umbrella, both of them would have been completely drenched.

Osh folded the umbrella and shook it once. Raindrops scattered lightly to the ground.

After spending every day together, seeing him again after so long felt strangely pleasant. Maybe it was the atmosphere, but Kebel even felt a little excited.

Embarrassed for no reason, he fiddled with the edge of Osh’s coat draped over his shoulders. At the same time, he struggled to suppress the smile threatening to split across his face.

“What brings you here?”

“I had something to do nearby and happened to see the carriage. I came over just in case. Looks like it was the right decision.”

“I see. You couldn’t have known it would rain either. Did you bring an umbrella in advance?”

“Yes. For some reason, I felt like it was going to rain today.”

“I see…”

Kebel nodded.

As silence settled between them again, he simply stared at the heavy rain.

Somewhere along the way, a certain awkwardness had definitely formed between them.

How should he describe it?

In the past, he would have immediately run up and clung to Osh without hesitation. Now, he found himself holding back.

Kebel glanced at him cautiously. The moment their eyes met, he hurriedly forced a smile onto his face.

“Kebel…”

“Hm?”

“What brought you to the temple?”

“Ah… I just had something to take care of.”

“Something to take care of, huh? Then why is the scent so strong?”

“Huh?”

Before Kebel could ask what he meant, Osh bent down.

He brought his face close to Kebel’s neck and took a deep breath.

The sudden action caught Kebel completely off guard.

The heat rushing toward him made him inhale sharply. His eyes blinked rapidly in surprise.

Meanwhile, an entirely different thought filled his head.

‘What scent did I use when I showered today?’

“Maybe because of the rain, but the smell is unusually strong.”

“M-my smell? Do I smell?”

At those words, Kebel’s face immediately turned red.

He quickly raised an arm and sniffed himself.

But all he could smell was the faint scent of fabric.

He almost joked that perhaps Osh had forgotten his scent after not seeing him for so long. But he stopped himself.

No matter how he thought about it, that would sound strange.

“What are you thinking? As if I could ever dislike your scent. It’s just that the temple’s smell seems especially strong today. That’s what bothered me.”

“Oh. There’s a smell like that?”

“Yes. Especially this one. It’s covered in another person’s scent. Enough to make me jealous.”

For a moment, Kebel felt as though he had frozen solid.

He had come into contact with Marshel during the divine power test, but for Osh to notice that…

A chill ran down his spine.

Kebel hurriedly rubbed both hands against his pants.

It was an unconscious action.

Like a guilty thief revealing himself, he drew attention to exactly what he wanted to hide.

Osh silently watched him.

Then he reached out and grabbed both of Kebel’s hands.

“So you touched him here.”

“Ah…?”

“How did you touch him?”

Although Osh was smiling gently, something about the expression felt unsettling.

Like the chaotic rain outside, his eyes seemed dark and ominous.

Kebel’s lips moved, but no answer came out.

Watching him, Osh slowly curled his lips upward.

Threading his fingers through Kebel’s, he clasped them softly.

“I was wondering where it was coming from. So it was here.”

Lifting Kebel’s hand, Osh pressed kisses against his fingers one by one.

He should have asked what he was doing. He should have told him they couldn’t do this here.

Yet for some reason, Kebel didn’t want to stop him either.

It had been so long since they had touched.

He simply wanted to stay like this and quietly savor the warmth.

By the time Osh had kissed all ten fingers, he slowly lifted his head.

The displeased look he had worn earlier was gone.

His face now seemed refreshed, like someone whose energy had been fully restored.

The corners of his eyes relaxed lazily, like a beast basking contentedly in the sun.

Why did that look seem so strangely alluring?

Flustered by his own reaction, Kebel bit the inside of his cheek.

“Kebel, make me a promise.”

“Let me hear it first…?”

Trying to change the subject, Kebel laughed playfully.

Watching him, Osh pulled him closer.

Close enough that their bodies nearly touched.

He gently brushed aside the hair that had fallen over Kebel’s forehead.

“It’s not difficult. Just while I’m gone… Don’t let anyone else touch you. Don’t let them touch you so easily. Do that for me.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“I’m going away for a while starting tomorrow.”

The words struck like a bolt from the blue.

Kebel pressed his lips tightly together.

Even then, he couldn’t calm himself. He bit down on his lower lip.

He had heard Osh would be going to war.

But he hadn’t known it would be tomorrow.

The news came so suddenly that Kebel felt as though he couldn’t breathe.

He had practiced saying “Have a safe trip” dozens of times.

Yet now, the words refused to leave his mouth.

If he opened it, he felt certain a sob would slip out instead.

So Kebel lowered his gaze to his feet.

The atmosphere became heavy.

He continued chewing anxiously on his lip.

Even though he had known this day would come, facing it in reality still hurt.

His chest tightened. The corners of his eyes trembled as though seized by a spasm.

A wave of heat surged through him.

Kebel squeezed his eyes shut.

“You’re not even going to look at me?”

The voice was gentle and warm.

If he looked up now, he felt certain he would burst into tears.

Fear gripped him.

Watching Kebel hesitate with his eyes still closed, Osh whispered once more.

“Open your eyes, Kebel.”

In the end, Kebel couldn’t hold out.

He slowly opened them.

Unable to lift his head, he kept it lowered.

Seeing this, Osh bent one knee and knelt down.

Then he looked up at him.

“Why are you making that face? I’m the one who’s done something wrong.”

“…”

“Kebel, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask for a long time. The person who broke into your room that day. The one who tried to kill you. Why haven’t you ever asked me about any of it?”

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