“Hyung, what are you even doing here?”
I asked bluntly as I set the tea down on the garden table. Even if he was my brother, having someone from the outside—someone who didn’t understand the situation at the mansion—just show up like this wasn’t exactly welcome. My eldest brother looked like he’d just been slapped.
“What do you mean, why? Can’t a brother come visit his little brother? Don’t you even miss me?”
“Not particularly.”
“Seriously? Do you hate me or something?”
“It’s not that.”
It’s just… thanks to him, all the cute seniors have to stay hidden, and that makes things complicated. Then again, this was just how my brother had always been—overly sensitive, like a touch-me-not flower that bursts open the second you brush against it. I’d forgotten, since it’s been a while.
“So you came all this way just to see me. Well, you’ve seen me now. You can leave.”
“Unbelievable. Look, you need to come with me. That’s why I’m here.”
“What? No way. I don’t have time for that.”
“Dad’s sick.”
“What happened? Did he fall off his horse again?”
“No, nothing like that. He’s just… been bedridden. Seems like he wants to see you.”
Oh, now that he’s sick, he suddenly remembers he has a son he pawned off? I snorted in disbelief.
“He’s not dying, right? Either way, I can’t go right now. I’ll go later—next year.”
“Seriously? What if something happens to him before then?”
“Is it that bad?”
“Who knows? Illness doesn’t exactly follow a schedule.”
Was it really that serious? My brother didn’t seem all that worked up for someone whose father might be dying. Even if this was a father I’d only met after reincarnating, I wouldn’t normally ignore something like this.
But I didn’t have time to spare. I only had one year left with Kalz. Just traveling home and back would eat up a full week. In a situation where every single day counted, I couldn’t afford to waste that kind of time.
“…Sorry, Hyung. I really can’t go. Head back without me. I’ll go later, I promise.”
“Then I’m not leaving either.”
“Come on, don’t be stubborn. Just go.”
“No. I’m staying.”
He insisted on staying at the castle until I agreed to come, and I only managed to kick him out after begging and pleading. But he still didn’t back down.
“I’ll be waiting at the inn in the village below until tomorrow night. If you don’t show up, I’ll take it as you cutting me off. Just so you know.”
At dinner, Kalz brought it up first. He must’ve heard everything from Jack, who was probably pretending to be a statue again and eavesdropping as usual.
“You should go home.”
“It’s fine. My brother’s just being dramatic. I don’t need to go.”
“Aren’t you worried about your father?”
“That man’s not going to die. He’s got a face built to live forever.”
“You’re being stubborn over nothing.”
“It’s not stubbornness. There’s just something more important right now. You know that.”
For some reason, I started getting anxious and began scraping my knife across my plate. Kalz stood up, came over, and sat beside me. He looked into my eyes as he spoke.
“I don’t remember my parents. But I know how precious family is.”
“……”
“You always curse your father for selling you off, but I know you still wanted to see him.”
“…It’s not like I’m refusing to go. I just want to delay it a bit.”
“And what if something happens while you wait? I don’t want you to regret anything because of me. Also—”
He paused.
“…the people here, the ones who’ll stay with you even after I’m gone—don’t take your connection to them lightly.”
“Who said anything about you leaving? When you’re like this, where do you think I’m going to go?”
“Don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying.”
I said it, but I still dabbed the corners of my eyes with a napkin.
“Four days should be doable, right?”
“Just the travel alone takes a week.”
“Not if you use this.”
He set something down in front of me. It was familiar—Arin’s Ear Cuff, the one we’d used during the investigation into the missing people from the village.
“Wasn’t this supposed to be single-use?”
“I’ve got another pair. I kept them in a separate place.”
The treasure vault alone was insane—so he had artifacts stashed elsewhere too? Just how much was this castle even worth?
“Take it and go home.”
“Can’t I just keep this and skip the whole trip?”
“Tch. Greedy as ever. You really are the poster child for unfilial sons.”
“They’re the ones who sold me off first. Call it even.”
“Still no. But if you go, I’ll give you something even better.”
“Better than this? Like what?”
“That’s a secret. But it’s worth way more than the ear cuff. And, just for you, I’ll throw in a four-day paid vacation.”
“…Three days is enough. I’m just going to show my face and come right back. So make sure you keep the ear cuff on, okay?”
“Good boy.”
Kalz gave me a warm, mature smile and reached out to gently pat my head. Then he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Don’t rush. Be careful. I’ll be waiting.”
“…Got it.”
My heart fluttered at the sudden kiss, and I lowered my gaze, flustered. What the hell? This noble, old-fashioned lion suddenly making the first move? The thought of being apart even briefly… maybe Kalz was feeling it too.
If that’s the case…
Tonight was my chance.
***
That night, a full moon hung in the sky.
Knock knock.
I knocked, but didn’t wait for an answer. I opened the door and stepped inside.
Kalz was sitting against the headboard, back straight. His silver hair gleamed in the moonlight, so striking it almost didn’t look real.
He looked up at me, a teasing lilt in his voice.
“Under a full moon, huh? Aren’t you afraid? What if a ghost shows up past midnight?”
“Not anymore. That ghost already belongs to me.”
“I guess you won’t faint again, then. And judging by the pillow, you’re planning to sleep here?”
His gentle eyes made my skin crawl—in a good way. I saw that face every day, but for some reason, tonight it made my chest tighten. Still, I couldn’t let the perfect moment slip by. I launched myself onto his bed in a dramatic dive.
“Pfft. You’re acting like a kid.”
Kalz reached out to smooth my now-wild hair, but I grabbed his hand before he could finish.
“I’m not a kid. I’ve been an adult for a while now.”
“The fact that you’re saying that just proves you’re still young.”
“…Even if I do this?”
I kissed the back of his hand softly, then looked up at him and slowly traced my tongue along his long, pale fingers. Kalz flinched and tried to pull away, but I tightened my grip.
“Let go.”
“If you really didn’t want this, you could stop me. You know that.”
“…Please, don’t do this, Bell.”
“I’m asking you.”
“……”
“Hold me.”
The moment I said it, the reason in his golden eyes shattered.
Kalz let out a low, throaty growl—grrrr—forgetting he was still in human form. The sound wasn’t threatening. It was charged, electric with want. The rumble sent a hot shiver down my spine.
How could a growl be this sexy? God, I’d really gone past the point of no return.
Just before our lips met, Kalz stared at me like he was burning the moment into his memory and whispered,
“…You’ll regret this.”
No chance.
Just like before, I leaned in first and pressed my lips to his. The soft smack of contact was all it took. From there, it exploded into a hungry, breath-stealing kiss that felt like we were trying to consume each other whole.
