It seems Lucas wasn’t the only one who missed the other and felt uneasy about the current situation, even though they were apart for just one night. With this sudden realization, a small smile curved Iberis’s lips. Perhaps he needed Lucas much more than he thought.
“…I can’t help it.”
“Major?”
“I’ve lost.”
“Pardon?”
Lucas blinked at the inexplicable declaration of defeat. Normally, he would have quickly caught on, but now he was unable to think rationally, consumed by the shock of being rejected by Iberis last night and the worry that he might never be forgiven.
For this reason, Lucas stood motionless even as he saw Iberis smiling refreshingly with a somewhat relieved expression. Then he stiffened when Iberis suddenly hugged him.
“Ma-Major?”
Lucas’s voice cracked in surprise at the unexpected embrace. His hands, habitually rising to hug Iberis back, stopped midair.
While Lucas remained in an awkward posture, Iberis buried his face in Lucas’s firm chest and took a deep breath. As the warm, comforting scent like sun-dried blankets seeped deep into his lungs, he felt his body, frozen all night, gradually thawing.
“Ah.”
Letting out a soft exclamation, Iberis tightened his arms around Lucas. This was the warmth he had been craving. He couldn’t help but smile as he felt the emptiness in his heart from when he woke up being filled, and the loneliness of the cold morning dissipating.
He wasn’t sure exactly when he had started to like Lucas, but one thing was certain: now, he couldn’t do without this embrace.
“What are you doing?”
“…Pardon?”
Stiff from the sudden situation, Lucas answered half a beat late when Iberis looked up at him and spoke.
“It’s cold. Aren’t you going to hug me back?”
“…Is it alright?”
Lucas hesitantly asked as Iberis urged him with a blank expression. He wasn’t sure if he dared to hug Iberis back. Nevertheless, Iberis’s words sparked a faint hope. Perhaps Iberis would forgive him sooner than he thought.
“Of course it is. You’re my human heater, aren’t you?”
Iberis pouted his lower lip as if stating the obvious. Lucas’s golden eyes rippled widely at his permission.
“Weren’t you still angry? Earlier…”
“Hmm, honestly, I’m still a bit miffed… but what can I do? I’ll have to be generous and show mercy with my soft heart.”
Iberis playfully narrowed his eyes at Lucas, who looked uncharacteristically timid. His clear face showed not confusion about the unexpected confession or anger at being deceived, but a gentle smile.
At that moment, Lucas hugged Iberis tightly. As intense relief washed over him, the tension in his solar plexus loosened, and he could finally breathe easily.
“Haah.”
Exhaling a sigh as if his heart was melting, Lucas pulled Iberis closer as if he would never let go. Then he bound him tightly with both arms. Though it looked like he was trapping Iberis in his embrace, somehow it felt like Lucas was the one clinging on. He was afraid Iberis might change his mind.
Thump, thump…
As their bodies pressed together as closely as possible, the sound of a heartbeat, whose it was unclear, echoed in their ears. Lucas brought his face to Iberis’s pale, slender neck, nuzzling the soft skin with the tip of his nose. As he inhaled the cool yet fragrant scent like winter air, a hot feeling welled up in his chest.
“Thank you… for forgiving me.”
Lucas expressed his gratitude to Iberis for accepting his true self, suppressing the emotion burning from deep within his throat. In fact, he had been prepared for a long battle. He could imagine how great the shock would be for Iberis when the truth was revealed.
For good reason, Lucas knew that Iberis had feelings for him. And that those feelings were growing.
That’s why he was even more afraid. Even the smallest mistake can hurt more when it disappoints someone you like. Lucas thought it would be inevitable if Iberis avoided and rejected him for a while. Understanding someone’s circumstances and forgiving someone who deceived you are clearly different matters.
At the same time, a small hope welled up in a corner of his heart. If he had been an insignificant existence to Iberis, he wouldn’t have gotten angry in the first place. Moreover, Iberis had firmly stated that he wouldn’t dislike or hate Lucas just because he had deceived him.
So all he had to do was wait quietly until Iberis sorted out his emotions. Lucas tried to interpret the situation as positively as possible.
But such a small hope wasn’t enough to completely suppress his anxiety. In the end, all Lucas could do was fervently pray that Iberis would be able to collect himself as quickly as possible.
Throughout the night, he had resisted the urge to knock on Iberis’s bedroom door several times. For now, the best thing was not to interfere with Iberis’s emotional processing. Fortunately, Iberis responded to Lucas’s patience.
“Really, thank you.”
Smooch. Once again expressing his gratitude to Iberis, Lucas lightly kissed the soft skin.
“Don’t deceive me again. I’m letting it slide just this once.”
“There’s nothing left to hide.”
Iberis flinched his shoulders as if tickled by the breath on his nape, and sternly warned Lucas. Then he raised his hands to pat Lucas’s firm back. In response, strong arms wrapped securely around his waist. He entrusted his body completely to Lucas, gently resting his forehead on the broad shoulders. He was no longer cold.
* * *
“Phew.”
Clink. Iberis emptied his teacup and leaned back on the sofa with a languid expression.
“Would you like some more?”
“Yes.”
Iberis observed Lucas’s face as he poured the tea. Though his eyes were slightly dark from lack of sleep, Iberis felt relieved to see him almost back to his usual self.
“Shouldn’t you sleep? You must be tired.”
“I’m fine.”
Lucas replied as he set down the teapot. The two had been embracing each other for a long time, sharing warmth, until they separated due to the sound from Iberis’s stomach.
‘Shall I call for room service?’
‘Yes, and… I think we both should freshen up a bit.’
Iberis nodded at Lucas’s suggestion of a meal and looked at him. Seeing his gaunt face made him feel oddly sympathetic. Following Iberis’s suggestion, they had a light lunch and each took a shower.
‘I’ll use this bathroom, so you use that one… Hey, why that expression?’
‘It’s nothing.’
‘Oh come on, don’t worry. I won’t lock myself in the bedroom like last night. I have things to talk to you about too.’
Even though it was just going to shower for a moment, Lucas showed an anxious attitude like a dog with separation anxiety. He only relaxed and headed to the shower after Iberis first kissed his cheek to comfort him.
Warm lemon tea and sweet macarons greeted Iberis when he came out after washing. Unlike before, the curtains were wide open. The two chatted while admiring the beautiful scenery visible through the window.
‘So how did you end up living as Luke Illum? I’d like to know the exact story.’
‘Huh? Oh, well…’
Lucas trailed off with a tense face when Iberis asked about the circumstances of living as Luke Illum. But soon realizing that Iberis was genuinely curious, he slowly began his story. What happened the day his parents died, why he came to suspect Livio, why he decided to create a fake identity…
‘Then who is the current Viscount Blake?’
‘Thomas… Lieutenant Denver’s older brother. He’s a B-rank esper with transformation abilities.’
‘Is he also unregistered?’
‘Yes. We’ve known each other since childhood… Thomas and Caleb also lost their families in that accident, so they’re cooperating with me.’
‘I see.’
Iberis listened to Lucas’s story of living as Luke Illum, feeling pain and anger as if it were his own story. Whenever questions arose, he asked with sparkling eyes.
‘Who’s taking care of your younger sister?’
‘She’s staying at our family home with Thomas. For safety reasons, she’s being homeschooled instead of attending school.’
Lucas answered all questions honestly without evading, not wanting to deceive Iberis again.
As they conversed, the sky had turned red before they knew it. Iberis gazed at the sunset outside the window and picked up his teacup again.
This seems like the right timing to bring it up.
Iberis glanced at Lucas while sipping his tea. With yesterday’s confusion gone, all that remained was his ever-growing affection. Now that he knew Lucas’s true identity and had forgiven his deception, there was nothing left to hold back.
I like you too? Shall we date? I’ll accept your previous confession?
Iberis groaned as he tried to think of what to say to Lucas. He wanted to convey his feelings in a cool way for this once-in-a-lifetime moment, but couldn’t find the perfect line. With no dating experience, even steering the conversation in the direction he wanted was a struggle.
“Do you have any more questions?”
“Hmm?”
“You keep glancing at me.”
“Oh, was I?”
Caught stealing glances at Lucas, Iberis awkwardly averted his gaze. He felt too embarrassed to say he was wondering how to gracefully accept Lucas’s confession.
