Chapter 17
It wasn’t as if he had always been by his side in this way. That night, after the Star City burned, on the way back to the capital, he had simply started tidying up the mess Del had made inside the carriage—it had been reduced to chaos by the bags spilling everywhere. As the heir to the Duke and acting on the Emperor’s orders, Del had much to do even after his business in Chellion was finished. The workload seemed excessive for a boy who hadn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet. Naturally, his schedule was packed, and as he cleaned up the mess Del left behind, he found himself naturally attending to him. He couldn’t bear to watch, so he stepped in, and somehow, even after returning to the mansion, the habit continued.
The servants of the ducal household strangely found Del difficult to handle. To them, the “young lady” was a frightening figure, and that didn’t change even after Del’s coming-of-age ceremony turned him into “young master.” Though his doll-like, pretty face earned him plenty of affection, his fussy personality and self-indulgent habits had apparently made life difficult for the servants. Since Del at least listened to Ethan, the role naturally fell to him. From Ethan’s perspective, it felt like Del was letting him take the lead because he was his “crow,” but he didn’t mind.
One day, as he was taking care of Del, the butler began whispering Del’s schedule to him. Only then did Ethan realize that Del had been dodging his responsibilities. It wasn’t his place to interfere, but when the duke’s secretary asked for his help, he couldn’t refuse. Before he knew it, he was forcing Del to sit down and get to work, and naturally, he ended up taking on the role of secretary as well. At this point, Del blinked blankly and said:
“We need to talk about your salary again.”
“I’d like the overtime pay included, too.”
“A crow just needs to be by my side.”
“Watching you like this is torture.”
“James found the perfect leash for me.”
The employment contract they drew up was an ordinary piece of paper with ink. Ethan, who had naturally assumed the process would be something mystical, had to cool his flushed face. Del tilted his head at him but didn’t ask further.
There was little to say about how Ethan came to learn the sword to protect Del. By the time Ethan’s presence by Del’s side had become natural, the duke himself suggested it. Del had arrogantly refused, saying, “Is there anyone as strong as me?” Unable to break Del’s stubbornness, the duke’s alternative was to “make Ethan his guard!” His salary went up, but now it was only natural for Ethan to spend most of his day by Del’s side. It wasn’t so bad, all things considered.
Over six years together, Ethan ended up doing everything he could from Del’s side. Del was a mess without Ethan to take care of him, and Ethan’s days felt empty without Del to chase after. They had grown so used to each other’s presence that it became unthinkable for anyone else to take that place.
Even their physical relationship had developed naturally. After Del’s coming-of-age ceremony, the Emperor’s orders became more frequent. Del had obliterated an entire city, proving his magic was beyond imagination—and that power belonged to the Emperor. Why the Emperor took pride in the heir of the Duke being so strong, Ethan didn’t know, but that was the reality.
After his coming-of-age, Del was busy traveling, and physical intimacy became natural after using powerful magic. It was only natural for boys their age, flushed at the sight of a rolling stone, to end up in bed together. The first time Ethan laid Del down, Del looked up at him and asked:
“Do I look like a girl in this position?”
“No. I’ve never been on the bottom before.”
“Do you want to switch?”
Del shook his head, adding awkwardly, “No man has ever bought me.”
Ethan’s heart raced like a boy’s. Del’s eyes widened.
“Unexpected?”
“I guess no one’s ever been into me.”
Hearing the answer, Del laughed. The past was miserable, but strangely, talking to him made it feel like just another memory. It didn’t hurt to bring it up. Del’s hand caressed Ethan’s cheek.
“You have no taste. I’m exactly your type.”
His heart pounded at those words. It had been like that.
***
“What are you thinking about?”
Ethan stopped his thoughts at the feeling of a palm pushing against his forehead. Del’s voice was full of pouting. He looked up to see Del glaring at him, cheeks flushed. Well, having other thoughts in this situation was a bit much. As Ethan’s fingers teased the soft hair, Del let out a small moan. When his fingers naturally slid lower, stirring inside, Del arched his back stiffly and, truly annoyed, lifted his foot to press against Ethan’s forehead. Ethan pushed the attacking foot away and laughed.
“I was wondering why you’re always coming up with weird ways to fly into the sky.”
“Because I can’t fly without magic?”
“I don’t get it, as usual.”
“People who can’t use magic shouldn’t be banned from the sky forever…”
Before Del could finish his incomprehensible rambling, Ethan buried his face in Del’s groin and took his cock into his mouth. The half-hard shaft swelled in his mouth. Del’s hands struck his head, but the weakened punches were softer than a cotton swab. His body, accustomed to Ethan’s pleasure, tensed and relaxed with every touch.
“Ah, hngh… Mmm, I can’t… sleep…”
Ethan pulled away slightly as Del’s grip tightened. Del’s chest heaved with every breath, his flushed eyes and glossy lips unbearably lewd. When Ethan kissed him, Del opened his mouth, their tongues entwining. The wet, squelching sound of flesh filled the air.
“Should I put it in?”
Del nodded weakly, too breathless to answer. Ethan hooked Del’s legs over his own, spreading them wide. The place that had accepted him countless times was slick and glistening. Ethan pressed the tip of his hardened cock against the entrance. Just the slightest penetration made Del’s face pale. Even after so many times, he still made that expression.
“Ugh, seriously… why are you so big for nothing?”
“…I’ll take that as a compliment. But it all goes in, doesn’t it?”
“The mystery of the human body, I swear.”
Even as he grumbled, Ethan felt Del relax below. His cock slid inside, Del’s fingers digging into his thighs. Thankfully, his nails were trimmed short. It was still impossible to take it all at once. Ethan slowly teased the shallow spots, letting Del’s body adjust. When he stimulated the sensitive spot inside, Del’s cock swelled again without even being touched.
“Hah… hngh…”
Below, lubricant and their fluids mixed, already a mess. Ethan licked his dry lips. Del’s hips moved in time with Ethan’s thrusts. The tightness around his cock made Ethan lose control, slamming his hips hard.
“Ngh!”
Del gasped as Ethan buried himself to the root in one thrust. Ethan checked his expression—thankfully, the excitement hadn’t faded. Of course, he had to pay for the surprise by having his hair tugged.
As Ethan moved slowly, the wet, squelching sound of flesh filled the room. The deeper he reached inside Del, the hotter his body burned. Sweat dripped down his jaw onto Del’s nape. Del’s chest heaved as if suffocating from the heat. When Ethan pinched his hardened nipples, Del’s hips jerked up. His excited body was sensitive to every touch. As Ethan leaned down, Del’s fingers scraped down his sweat-slicked arm.
“Ah, hngh! Ethan, I—ah…”
“Ngh.”
Del’s moans grew desperate, his chin tilting up, his hips bucking. Ethan grabbed the hand clutching the sheets and wrapped it around his own back. Del’s fingers, losing control, slid across his skin. Ethan wasn’t in a much better state—his hips moved faster on their own. Muffled moans mixed with ragged breaths.
“Ah, ah, ahh—!”
Ethan’s relentless thrusts made Del’s moans stutter as he came, white, viscous fluid spurting out, his insides clenching tight. Ethan couldn’t hold back either, thrusting a few more times before coming deep inside. Spent, he collapsed on top of Del, burying his face in his nape, gently biting the soft skin to leave his mark. It took a long time for their mingled breaths to settle.
Ethan held the sweaty, hot body close. Del’s laughter brushed his ear. As he embraced the slender frame that fit perfectly in his arms, he thought:
What am I to you?
He had taken every place he could by Del’s side, yet he still had no name. Just Ethan. Nothing more. The thought was bittersweet.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
