Volume 3 – Before The Storm
1
By the time he finally lifted his heavy eyelids, it was already late enough for the sun’s brilliant light to shine through the window. The morning seemed to have arrived early. The moment he moved his head a little, trying to ascertain the hour, Aran realized that he was in someone’s arms. It was Cain.
Ah, he flinched as a sound came out automatically, and his body froze. He immediately awoke from his morning haze. It was understandable because he appeared to be pressed against Cain’s bare chest, and he was not wearing a stitch. Of course it was the same for Cain, who is holding him in his arms. The only thing on top of their naked embracing bodies, was a thick coat that covered them like a blanket. Other than that, there were only traces of what had happened there last night.
As Aran stared vacantly at the unbelievable image, he let out a small sigh.
It really happened! While he was being pushed down by Taejeokrune, Cain suddenly appeared out of nowhere and escaped with him. Then, he was taken to this unknown place, and had an sex all night like animals. It was a crazy night.
As Aran went through the sequence of events that happened last night, he covered his mouth with his hand and let out a short moan. He felt a terrible feeling of exhaustion wash over him.
The more he thought about it, the hotter he felt, and he jumped up and tried to flee. However, the reality was that it was too difficult for him to lift even a finger let alone get up from Cain’s firm embrace, who was holding him tight. It was inevitable because he had spent the night sobbing, and crying out with a pleasure that he had experienced for the very first time. In fact, he couldn’t handle the fierce pounding, and he eventually fainted, in fact it was astounding that he was able to wake up intact.
However, now that he’d come to his senses, he couldn’t just lie still. Cain would open his eyes any minute, and Aran was so embarrassed that he didn’t have the courage to face him. Aran felt hot just thinking about it and turned around, he just wanted to put some clothes on.
“Where are you going?”
It was at that moment that a soft, low-pitched sound rang out. Before he could fully get his creaking body up, a hostile voice broke through the quiet dawn. Aran turned his head in surprise, and he was immediately entangled with Cain’s rough, silver-gray gaze.
Cain furrowed his brow, as he looked at him from his reclining position. Without realizing it, Aran became embarrassed as he looked at the displeasure on Cain’s face. When did he wake up? Aran avoided his gaze as the nape of his neck reflexively heated up.
“I think……I should put some clothes on.”
“It’s okay, come over here.”
Aran tried to speak calmly, as though nothing had happened, but the tension he couldn’t help feeling made his voice tremble. Cain wrapped a large hand around the nape of Aran’s neck and pulled him closer. Because of this, Aran was once again buried in his chest, and his shoulders stiffened in embarrassment. As Cain gently stroked Aran’s back, he let out a short sigh.
“Don’t ever get up again while I’m sleeping. Don’t even leave my side first. Promise me.”
Aran didn’t say anything to Cain, who whispered those words while burying his lips in Aran’s hair, and squeezed his arms around his waist. He just rested his head on his warm firm chest.
The air was still cold in the empty room that didn’t have any heating, but Aran couldn’t feel the cold, all he could feel was the warmth of Cain’s high body temperature.
“I will never leave like that again.”
Aran said quietly as he looked out the dimly lit window. Then Cain closed his eyes with a look of satisfaction. Aran was nervous and moved about, tossing and turning, but Cain just lay there with his eyes closed without moving, as though he were trying to go to sleep again, or just in deep thought.
“I’m sorry.”
As Aran laid there breathing in Cain’s familiar scent with the tip of his nose, he gently began to speak.
“I ran away and left you behind, and I made you worry.”
“As long as you understand.”
“However, I hope you understand that I had no choice but to do it like that.”
If he didn’t, Aran was afraid that he would never get distance again. He felt as though he would never be free from his grip. The words that lingered on the tip of his tongue couldn’t escape, and were swallowed back down.
“Okay, whatever. I understand.”
His short answer had Aran’s heart pounded slightly. What would this stubborn man plan to do in the future? He still vividly remembered last night as he held him, asking him to stay by his side. He was told never to leave again. But he still didn’t know what to do yet.
“It’s all in the past. All that matters is that you are in my arms again, and that I will never let you go again.”
“Cain….”
“Sleep a little longer and then wake up. There’s still time.”
Aran looked at Cain in astonishment at his gentle words, as he calmly said that ‘everything was in the past’.
However, as relieved as he was by him stroking his hair and patting his back, his heart was still beating wildly again.
“The sun…… its mid-day¹”
Aran quickly opened the door, fearing that he could hear his own pounding heart. It felt as though he might say something and be found out.
“You know that I always sleep-in in the mornings.”
He knew better than anyone that Cain always sleeps a lot in the morning. It’s been one of his daily habits that hasn’t changed since Aran first met him in the ‘Forest of Evil Spirits’. That wasn’t all either. He’s also selfish, stubborn, and sometimes acts like an immature child. Nevertheless, he fell in love with him. He was the one who had no choice but to fall In love.
“……where is this place?”
Aran, who was still quietly contemplating things with Cain, calmly asked while lying with his ear on Cain’s chest. However, perhaps it was a question he didn’t want to answer, because Cain didn’t open his eyes and just pretended to be asleep.
“I heard that you are at war with the Northern Prince, how did you get here? Is the war over? It’s only been half a year since I left and came here?”
He had asked Cain the same question last night but he had refused to answer, instead he just furrowed his brow as though it were inappropriate to ask, even now. But now, Aran had no intention of backing down.
“Cain, I think I’ve already given you the answers you wanted. Now it is your turn.”
Cain opened his eyes reluctantly and let out a short sigh.
“Are you still curious about that?”
“Of course.”
It was the first time he’d left Cain’s side. Aran, who had always known his every move, couldn’t help but to wonder. Especially when he’d heard the news that they were at war after a confrontation with the Northern Prince. Aran had been so nervous that he couldn’t concentrate on his work. Now that Cain was in front of him, how could he not ask about it?
“It is true that the Prince of the North has been defeated. I couldn’t wait and watch him revolt against me any longer. Because the incident with Leia’s death was nothing less than a declaration of war against me.”
“… …”
Besides, I had to go catch you after you disappeared overnight, however, if I had the hindrance of the Empire being threatened, I wouldn’t be able to move around the country easily.”
Aran’s mouth was agape after he heard that he was one of the reasons for the war with the Northern Prince,
“Fortunately, the war was ridiculously easy.”
“How? Didn’t Taejeokrune send reinforcements?”
Aran was startled by the answer to the dilemma that had caused him so much worry that it overshadowed everything. It was embarrassing to even recall Ryugen’s pity for him. Aran listened intently to his story without ever bringing it up.
“It is true that reinforcements were sent. There were so few soldiers sent that it was obvious that his true intentions were just to spy on things. Besides, since the rebel army was growing in Kajang, it would have been impossible to send out troops recklessly.”
“Even if Taejeokrun’s support was minimal, the Northern Prince would have still had a formidable military, and yet the war ended in less than half a year……”
It would have taken a lot of work to defeat the Prince of the North, more than just reorganizing the military, and devising tactics. There would have also been the opinions of the ministers, and above all there would have been the opinions of Chateau. However, after completing all of those tasks in half a year, he then followed after him. It was ridiculous!
What sort of things had he done?! As he looked back at him with suspicious eyes, Cain shrugged with an embarrassed expression.
“Like I said before, I was out of my mind after you left. I don’t remember the details of that time. I mean it. I worked frantically, and when I was on the battlefield, I swung my sword randomly, and before I knew it, it was over.”
Aran, who was listening to his awkward speech, swallowed sharply down his dry throat. Even if he hadn’t been there, Aran could clearly picture what had happened as he wielded his sword, slashing his opponents on the battlefield. Just imagining it sent a chill down his spine.
“And, there were some things that the Prince of North had set beforehand.”
Cain added these last words to Aran, who was silent, lost in thought.
“Aran, that’s it. There’s nothing more you need to know.”
Cain, who gave a brief explanation and alluded to a horrifying atmosphere for a moment, rolled his eyes and smiled as he stroked Aran’s cheek with the back of his hand. He had cut Aran off so he couldn’t ask anymore, so instead Aran just stared at him silently. There was something suspicious, but it didn’t matter. As Cain had said, the important thing was that he was there safely.
“Well, this isn’t all sorted out yet…….”
But those last words, Aran got up after the alarming conversation. But then he immediately collapsed again because of the tingling pain coming up from his lower back. Cain chuckled after seeing Aran’s pale face.
“Look, kid. You need some more sleep.”
“Cain, what does that mean, has everything been arranged?”
“As it stands, I haven’t sorted things out in your land yet, but Jar and his father are working hard.”
Cain muttered in a carefree way as he wiped Aran’s cheek, which was frozen in astonishment.
“So, that means that you have a mountain of things to finish but you left it all behind and went out on your own.”
“Well, you could say that.”
“How could the Emperor do…… ”
“My father is better at things like that than I am. It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with.”
Cain muttered the excuse to Aran in a tone that said he was being absurd for criticizing him. Aran closed his mouth. Even though it was completely appropriate to be angry about it, only a faint smirking laughter flowed out of him. There is no other emperor in the world who was as immature as him.
“Aran, only I know just how much this body costs.”
He frowned at the sudden words.
When Aran asked ‘What do you mean’ again, Cain just gave a half-smile and shook his head.
“Don’t overdo it, and try to get some more sleep.”
“You know I don’t have time for this.”
“Why don’t you have time to relax?”
Cain murmured as though he didn’t understand, but Aran lifted his head again and faced him.
“Cain, what are you thinking about doing now?”
Apparently last night he offered to do whatever he wanted. No matter how his emotions provoked him to say it, Aran knew that he was a man who would never go back on his word. However, he still didn’t know what Cain was thinking, or what his thoughts were.
“Didn’t I say I would do whatever you wanted? Once you take a nap and wake up, then we’ll move on. It’s impossible right now, in your current state.”
Cain, who was always easy-going, gave the same answer as last night.
“I will take you wherever you want.”
“… are you sure?”
As he stared at him with suspicious eyes, Cain kicked his tongue like a rebuke.
“What a skeptical kid.”
He smiled bitterly, and ran his hand through Aran’s long hair, smoothing it out. The monotonous touch of winding and unwinding his fingers as he played with his hair was sweet, but his uneasy feelings never subsided.
“What are you going to do after that?”
“I said I wouldn’t leave your side. I left the palace duties to my father, so for the time being, I’ll stick with you.”
“… Are you serious?”
“I’m serious. You’re not going to follow me right away, and I don’t want to leave you, so I’ll have to do it this way.”
Aran turned pale thanks to Cain, who spoke such outrageous words in such a calm manner. How could a man who is an Emperor make such an outrageous decision so casually? Doubtlessly, the Empire’s ministers must be contemplating suicide.
‘What the hell are you—”
“Or will you go back to the palace with me like this?”
“… …”
“To tell you the truth, I’d like to put shackles on your ankles and drag you back right away. It’s not like I didn’t consider covering your eyes so that you couldn’t see anything, covering your ears you couldn’t hear anything, and slashing your ankle so that I can keep you in a cage.”
The whisper that was spoken with a half-smile, was cold enough to give him goosebumps. Of course, he knew just by looking into Cain’s icy silver-gray eyes, that his words were sincere. Aran subconsciously bit his dry lips. Then Cain suddenly rolled his eyes languidly, smiled, and kissed Aran’s long hair that he was holding.
“But if I did, you won’t be you. Since I care about you terribly, kid, I had to give up. I don’t want you to hate me.”
Cain’s quiet whisper sounded infinitely caring. The coldness that made Aran shiver the moment before, was gone. Aran let out a sigh, as he thought how Cain was a completely unpredictable person.
“Ryugen said that the first person to fall in love, loses.”
“Ryugen?”
“So don’t say anything and let me do whatever I want.”
A long sigh escaped automatically. He was always like that. As he said, he is a person who can do anything he wants, but he always suppresses his ferocious nature and takes care of him with kindness and concern. It had been that way from the beginning to the present, always unchanging.
Aran realized that yet again, and let out an awkward laugh. He was fearful and happy, anxious and joyful. His feelings were complicated and he had a hard time expressing them, but it was the reason Aran had no choice but to love him.
“… Thank you.”
Aran didn’t know if Cain heard the faint sound that lingered on the tip of his tongue, because he didn’t answer. There was just the hand that was monotonously stroking his hair. Aran laughed internally at the juxtaposition of his kindness, which did not go well with his rough hands.
“Then can I close my eyes for a moment, just for a moment?’
“Sure.”
After letting go of his anxiety, Aran leaned against his chest as the exhaustion rushed over him. He realized that it was just as Cain had said, he was in no condition to leave immediately, just because he was in a hurry. It was because of the wound on his shoulder, the tension of the last few days, and the terrible love affair they’d shared last night, that it was difficult and exhausting to even move now.
Also, there was the matter of how to introduce Cain to Jiyul….
The question briefly passed through his mind just before he fell asleep, but Aran, who quickly lost consciousness, closed his eyes without thinking up an appropriate answer.
Cain stroked Aran’s hair, who had quickly fallen asleep and was breathing evenly from inside his arms, as he stroked with a monotonous hand motion. He is like a cat who is very wary, and raises his fur. However, on the other hand, he’s also like an irresistible child who is so adorable as he follows along with him. However, Cain is a pathetic man who is so possessed by Aran’s entire being that he wants to hold him in his arms, and never wants to let him go.
“The one who fell in love first, loses…….”
Ryugen’s teasing words had never felt so keen. Now that Cain realized that he had to be with Aran, he had no choice but to give him everything he wanted…, it was still truly unbelievable. He was doing things without hesitation that he would have never imagined five years ago.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
2
“Cain, you’ve really changed a lot.”
It was something Ryugen had said to him in a patronizing tone, with a long pipe sticking out of his mouth. Contrary to expectations, he had arrived shortly after Aran had left. While Cain was half-mad, preparing for war, Ryugen suddenly appeared, and instead of being surprised, Cain approached him with an indifferent face and grabbed him by the neck.
“Where did you hide him?”
The voice that asked the question was murderous.
Let go of me and I’ll say. You’re going to catch him, really?”
Ryugen clenched his fists and shook it in an exaggerated way. Cain stared at him for a moment as though he were about to kill him, but then he had no choice but to release him, however he continued to look at him with a knife-like gaze. It was an atmosphere where it seemed that if he made a mistake joking around, Cain would’ve cut his throat right away. Ryugen plopped down in his seat smiling bitterly, and put the long pipe back in his mouth again.
“Hiding him, you say that to me first, His Majesty Cain Richen. Did I take him away? He went out on his own! I didn’t hide him.”
“l can’t see anything right now. If you don’t want to lose your head, it would be better to say what you know.”
Cain drew out a blue² sword and widened his glistening eyes as he gazed at him with a sharp penetrating stare.
Ryugen’s eyes were glued to the sword in his hand as sucked on the pipe with a slightly nervous expression on his face.
“Really, the atmosphere here is brutal.”
“Tell me.”
“Calm yourself and come and sit down. You don’t think I’m here to give you my precious neck, do you?”
Muttered Ryugen as he let out a long exhalation of smoke like a sigh, but no matter what he said, or what he did, Cain’s body would never be calm.
Cain sat across from him with his sword. In fact, Ryugen’s mouth would not open even if he used his sword, but his mouth would pour out anything for money, because this rascal was a businessman at heart.
“What do you want?”
“Huh, I like how quick-witted you are, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t stop now.”
“The little boy you cherish terribly, I’ll report everything to you, where he’s heading, who he’s with, when, where, and what he’s doing. Oh, if you want, I can even take care of the pests so that they don’t complicate things.”
Cain raised an eyebrow at his beaming smile. He couldn’t figure out what he was going to ask for after throwing out such large bait. However, Ryugen slowly looked around as though he didn’t want to ask immediately.
“Where are you planning to hit this time?”
“l asked what you wanted.”
“When I arrived, the atmosphere was fierce. Are you going somewhere big?”
In hindsight, It took a tremendous amount of patience not to grab hold of the grinning man’s neck again, and shake it. He was holding a sword in one hand, and tapping the armrest of the chair with the other, all while waiting for Ryugen to spit out his requirements. Only then did Ryugen begin to speak with a serious, subdued face.
“Where are you going? The land of the Northern Prince?”
“……What?”
He almost spewed out a cough. He almost doubted whether he’d heard properly. What the hell was that ridiculous bastard asking for?
“After you beat the current Prince of the North, won’t you need a new obedient manager? What I mean is, I want you to appoint me.”
“You want a lot of wealth.”
“There is no one who’ll work hard for you like me. As a member of the Empire, I want you to know that I will always be dedicated to working hard for your interests.”
Ryugen, who pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile, wasn’t joking. He spoke lightly, but it was like holding a trump card, and waving it at Cain, as though Cain had no other choice but to let him win. He had an arrogant attitude that said he clearly knew what his answer would be. He stared at him as though he wanted to kill him, but Cain did not answer for a long time.
“Don’t you think I can find Aran, even without you?”
The conclusion was obvious, but he didn’t want to give an answer easily. Then he shrugged and let out another long exhalation of white smoke.
“You’re Cain ‘Lord of the World’ Richen, of course if you put your mind to it, you can find him…… But, not at this moment. Besides, the place they are at is a secret location that even Taejeokrune doesn’t know about. Also, I’ll do everything within my power to help you win the war that you’re about to start.”
His determined voice contained sincerity. Cain clicked his tongue inwardly. Now he understood why that guy helped Aran so easily. He’s a man who wouldn’t lift a finger to do things unless they benefited him in the first place. He wouldn’t have sat there absent-mindedly while there was an opportunity that was presenting itself.
Cain rubbed the back of his stiff neck and let out a long sigh. Really, that kid was costing him a very expensive ransom. Surely, when he catches him he will tie him up and lock him away, and he will take back a price as expensive as what he paid.
“Alright, when I get the northern lands, as you wish, I will leave the throne to you.”
Ryugen smiled brightly at Cain, who answered him through clenched teeth. Cain, who was glaring at him with a ferocious expression, abruptly rolled up the corners of his lips. Now is the time to say what he wanted.
“You said you would do everything you could to help me win this war. So yes, there is work for you to do.”
“Say it, just name it. What can’t I do?”
As Ryugen sucked on the long pipe, Cain smiled lightly and wiggled his fingers to tell him to come closer to him. Ryugen bowed his head, and leaned in a little, in order to hear the secret.
“As you know, I’m going to strike at the Northern Prince. I want the war to end as soon as possible, regardless of what happens. Anyway, there’s no such thing as a ‘fair’, in all-out war in the first place.
“Naturally I’ll have to go find the Prince, of course. So, what can I do to make you feel better, Your Majesty, our Emperor?”
“You say it easily, that’s good.”
Cain smirked coolly, returning what he was saying. Now that he thought about it, since he’d managed to manipulate himself into this, he’ll treat him appropriately.
“Before I start the war, you take the Prince’s son and grandson, alright? If it’s his daughter, the old man doesn’t care whether or not they die in a foreign country, but he cares for his son and grandson so terribly that he would never want any hurt to befall them.”
“So, shouldn’t I abduct them and bring them to you?”
“No.”
Ryugen looked at Cain, who said that he had no interest in them. In an instant, Cain’s silver-gray pupils gleamed with an unparalleled coldness.
“Make three deliveries to the Prince on the date I set for you. First, send their hands cut off at the wrists, and their teeth. Second, send their feet and their eyeballs. And Third, their heads. Until the third, the decapitation, let them still be immersed in fresh blood to make sure he’ll know that they are still alive.”
“Yes, to be kind.”
“And on the third time, when you send the heads, kill as many of the Prince’s Ministers as you can. On that day, one an hour would be even better. Can you do it?”
Cain, who spit out eerie words without hesitation, waited for Ryugen’s reply with a calm expression. Of course, he knew without an answer this kind of work was a piece of cake for Ryugen. He also knew that although the number of subordinates under Ryugen had been greatly reduced because of Taejeokrune, there were still no assassins who could surpass them. As he waited patiently, thinking about various things, Ryugen smiled.
“Of course I can. But what if he still doesn’t surrender?”
“It doesn’t matter if the Prince surrenders or not. It’s enough to confuse him. I’m ready to destroy them anyway. I’m entrusting you with this task just to cut down on unnecessary time.”
“Great.”
Ryugen responded lightly, and drew on the pipe again. If he could cause confusion, and reduce the time the war took, that would be enough. Although it would be a high price to pay, giving Ryugen the new position of ‘Prince, but if Ryugen did his job properly there was nothing he wouldn’t be willing to pay.
“I suddenly feel sorry for the Prince of the North. It seems that you’re taking out your anger for ‘the kid’ leaving, on him.”
“I tried to settle it peacefully. He was the one who’s been waiting a long time to hit me in the back of the head, while it was turned. There’s no reason to put up with it any longer.”
“I know, I know.”
Ryugen waved his hand and then straightened his back. Then he slowly looked at Cain with languid eyes to see what he was thinking, and muttered quietly as if he was talking to himself.
“But it’s surprising. It really brings back old times.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing really. Sometimes, when I see your true nature shining through, it’s terrifying.”
“You have no room to talk.”
“I know, but your past was worse.”
Cain, who was staring at Ryugen as he shuddered while calling the past, clicked his tongue.
“Yes, it will be very painful for the ‘little Prince³‘ to learn how wicked you can be.”
Ryugen threw out a sarcastic quip, and Cain’s brow furrowed. Then, he threw aside his shallow patience and suddenly grabbed Ryugen by the neck. Ryugen, who was grabbed tightly by the neck and dragged under Cain’s strength, struggled to exhale.
“If you say anything foolish to Aran, I won’t hesitate to wring your neck. Keep that in mind.”
He had a hard snarling expression as he growled low at him, like he would eat him alive.
“Alright, so you just want to be ‘the good guy’ in front of that upright kid, right?”
“It’s okay to think whatever you want. Just watch your mouth.”
“Oh! So it’s the kid I should feel sorry for.
Ryugen, who had been trying to shake off Cain’s hand with all his might, groaned and collapsed back into his seat. Then he sighed as he groped his neck with his hand, as though the tension in his neck was painful. He shook his head and seemed to know what he was thinking without him saying anything.
“Don’t take your eyes off Aran and take good care of him. If something goes wrong, the contract will be void.”
In an atmosphere where it would be too difficult to stay together any longer, He beckoned Ryugen to leave, and he immediately stood up as if he had been waiting for just that.
“Find out everything.”
“I’ll report every move he makes.”
At the last words he added, Ryugen groaned and stuttered, tongue-tied. But just before he moved Ryugen turned and looked at Cain. It was a serious look that lasted a bit.
“Cain, can I give you one piece of advice?”
Cain raised his eyebrows at the sudden remark.
“No, before that, when the war is over, are you going to just go catch the kid?”
“Of course.”
“So what are you going to do then?”
“You’re asking all sorts of weird questions. I’ll catch him right away and bring him back”
Ryugen shook his head as he looked at Cain, who snorted as if he were asking useless questions. As always, he clicked his tongue and he showed a pitifully arrogant attitude to Cain, without even the slightest bit of courtesy towards the Emperor.
“That’s why the problem is ‘you’. It really shows how you’ve never been in a relationship before, you know.”
“What nonsense is that?”
“Do you think the kid will still love you if you drag him back like a dog? What do you think your relationship will be like if you do that?”
It was a question from out of the blue. However, Cain already knew the answer inside, however he didn’t want to show on the outside, so he kept his mouth shut and nervously tapped, tapped, tapped the edge of the chair with his fingertips. The sound of Ryugen’s low sigh lingered in his ears to the point of being annoying.
“If you really like the little prince, sometimes you should let yourself be dragged along the way he wants.”
“You think you can always say or do whatever you want! However, this time it’s just unacceptable!”
“His Majesty Cain Richen, I’ve seen your rotten nature for a long time, but I still can’t hate you, so listen to my advice.”
Ryugen said with a sarcastic expression on his face.
“As you may know, your little prince is the only sun that can illuminate Kajang, that’s now covered in black clouds. So stop thinking about holding him down and let him do his job. You are the only one who can choose whether you will be hated or loved by your prince forever.”
Cain’s fingers, which were tapping the edge of the chair, stopped moving. He couldn’t think of anything as though he had been suddenly hit over the back of the head by his words.
“Will I be hated or loved forever… you say?”
The expression on Cain’s face, who was muttering to himself, disappeared. On one hand his chest felt like it was sinking, he felt choked up, and on the other hand, it felt titillated. A confused and chaotic emotion lingered in the center of his heart like a whirlwind.
Will he be hated or will you be loved?
It was something he had never even thought of. It was simply painful not to be with Aran, so he was just thinking of making him his own, regardless. At first, he tried to persuade and coax him with sweet words, but in the end, Aran didn’t agree to his proposal and ran away, so he just thought of a plan to catch him unconditionally.
He didn’t want to listen to anything he said anymore. His desire to help him seemed to be fading away with his anger. But the moment he heard Ryugen’s words, he longed to be loved by Aran, the man he had grown to love so deeply and uncontrollably. He didn’t want to be hated. He wanted to be loved by Aran, as much as he loved him.
The love of that cold guy, what does it really feel like? If that hard-frozen guy smiled sweetly, even a little, and whispered ‘I love you’ with a blush on his cheeks, My God, just imagining it made his heart race like it was going to burst.
Cain subconsciously fell into pleasant thoughts, forgetting that he had been grinding his teeth to catch the finely bred bird, and lock him in a cage. The more he thought about it, the more he could sense a smile creeping up over the corner of his mouth, which was covered by his hands. Not noticing Cain’s reaction, Ryugen sighed briefly and turned around.
‘”The one who falls in love first, loses. Do you understand, Your Majesty?”
After bluntly giving out the last piece of advice, Ryugen quickly left the room. With the sound of a small door closing, the room was enveloped in silence. Cain, who was left alone in the midst of it, was staring blankly out the window.
“The first person who falls in love first, loses, right?”
The faint mumbling of him talking to himself, drifted over the still space. Cain got up from his seat, briefly thinking about how grateful he was to Ryugen for giving him the right advice.
“I can’t let go of my greed to be loved by you, for the rest of my life.”
A faint smile spread across his lips as he stroked Aran’s hair as he was sleeping. Although he had given up on the desire to lock the bird in a cage, it was still a satisfactory result in the end. Seeing him sleeping in his arms revealing such a defenseless appearance. It wasn’t too bad to think that seeing this figure every day would be his responsibility from now on.
“We have a long way to go, but……”
I’ll do whatever you want. So just stay with me like this, like an innocent child who doesn’t know anything. Cain closed his eyes and swallowed the feeling rising up at the back of his throat. There were still many problems remaining. However, if we can go on like this now, things will definitely work out well. Thinking about it, he just stroked Aran’s hair for a while longer.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
3
In the late afternoon by the time they left, and the snow had stopped falling. The fact that the sky was still covered with dark gray clouds remained unchanged, but fortunately, the snow that had been falling so hard that they couldn’t see an inch ahead of them, had ceased. It was when Aran looked up at the sky, that he was able to gauge the future weather. Cain, who was leading the horse, reached out his hand no matter where he was.
“If it wasn’t for your shoulder wound needing to be seen by a doctor, I would have made you rest for a few more days.”
Then he grabbed his hand with a look of regret, and put Aran on his horse’s back. Aran wanted to argue, but he didn’t. It was because as soon as he sat on the horse’s back, he complained of throbbing pain in his bottom and back instead. In particular, his butt that was touching the back of the horse was as hot as if they had suffered lacerations, so he groaned without realizing it.
As Cain said, if it wasn’t for the wound needing to be seen by a doctor, it might have been better to lie down and rest for a day or so. Aran wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and clenched his jaw due to the excruciating pain in the muscles of his whole body, as well as the hips and back.
“If you end up in this state every time I mingle with you, I won’t be able to screw⁴ you.”
Cain came up and sat behind him after finishing the preparations, then Aran said coldly.
“You say the most embarrassing things.”
But Cain just responded slyly and (-loudly⁵) kissed the nape of Aran’s neck. Aran, who had been sitting defenselessly, reflexively shrugged at the shivering sensation.
“Do you want me to fall from the horse?”
Aran responded coolly, contrary to his warm-reddening face, Cain shrugged.
“You’re my sweetheart⁰ who doesn’t have an ounce of sweetness!”
“… Did you say sweetheart⁰?”
“Of course, if not, then what?”
“… …”
“Of course I thought I was your lover⁰, but it looks like I’m the only one who thought so?”
Aran was momentarily speechless at Cain’s question, which showed his obvious disappointment. Cain was alone in his mind, brooding, and had not looked at Aran for a long time.
Miraculously, Aran was finally in a situation that he had longed for, Cain having affection towards him, and even sharing each other’s bodies, but it was true that he had never thought of the word ‘lover⁰’.
Even though his silver-gray eyes held only him in them and no one else, it still didn’t feel real. Everything seemed like a dream. Aran, was unable to hide his embarrassment and could not even turn his head, so he bit his lip instead. The heat from Cain touching his back was exceptionally hot, and he thought about the idea that he might get burned.
“Your neck is red.”
Then, as if Cain were looking into his head, he stroked Aran’s feverish neck with his fingertips. Even though it was a simple action that continued for a brief moment, his body flinched and trembled. He bowed his head and pulled the hem of his clothes up to his chin because of the embarrassment that wouldn’t end.
“Stop it.”
“It’s like a ripe fruit. The color, the smell, the taste.”
Cain, who muttered languidly, pulled down the hem of his clothes that had been pulled up, and bit the back of his neck. The moment his moist lips and tongue touched, an exhilarating shiver spread along his spine. Aran crouched his shoulders at the unbearable sensation. The wet sound of him sucking on his neck was palpable.
“I thought we were going to go home again, but at this rate what should I do?”
Cain, who was licking the nape of his neck with his tongue, whispered without lifting his lip as if seducing him, but Aran, who was awakened by those words, turned and looked at him. However, the moment Aran faced him with a face, as Cain put it, ‘as red as a ripe fruit’, Cain bowed his head as if waiting for it, and covered his lips. Aran’s eyes were wide open as he let out a moan. Then, his slightly open lips parted, and Cain’s slick tongue invaded without hesitation. Soft lips rubbed together, and wet breath mixed. It wasn’t like last night’s dizzying, intense kiss.
The slow, careful, movements of Cain’s tongue as he rubbed lips, teeth, and soft flesh of his mouth, was even sweet. Aran closed his eyes and leaned his body against Cain’s shoulder. He forgot the passage of time and fell into it as the slow and sweet kiss continued for a long time.
When the lips that had been softly intertwined finally swelled up slightly, Cain regretfully raised his head. Aran then opened his eyes as if waking from a daydream and looked at him with a far away look. His eyes seemed hazy as though he was having a hard time waking up from the afterglow of the kiss they had shared under the bright light of the late afternoon. Cain, who was quietly facing Aran, suddenly burst into a faint smile.
“I never expected to see such an expression.”
“Ah……”
“However, if you do this everywhere you’ll be in trouble. Aran, remember, this is only for me to see.”
Cain said as though he were instructing a child and gently closed his eyes. Aran came to his senses just then and rubbed his flaming hot face with his palms, and then turned to face the front again. No matter how many kisses they had shared, he couldn’t believe he’d been so mesmerized in broad daylight! The more he thought about it, the more embarrassed he became.
“If you make that face like ripe fruit in front of other people, I will take you back to Shâtteun right away.”
He whispered with his lips above his head in a light tone, but his cold voice contained no laughter at all. His voice said that it wasn’t a joke.
“How is that even possible? At this rate I hope you won’t be like this everywhere.”
Aran answered sternly as well, as he rubbed his still-hot cheeks. At that moment, Cain, who was holding the reins in his hand, laughed out loud.
“I’ll try. But it will be difficult.”
He kissed the back of the head loudly, he drove the horse on slowly. The sound of horse’s hooves hitting the ground was heard regularly. It was the same with their bodies swaying on the back of the horse. Because of that, the pain that had been forgotten for a while came rushing back, and Aran had to bite his lip to suppress it. This added to his inner determination that he would not be sleeping with Cain again for a while.
“How great would it be to hug, bite, suck, and roll around all day on a day like this?”
However, Cain, who did not know what was going on inside the other’s mind, spoke calmly in a complacent voice. Aran gave him a subtle frown which he couldn’t see from behind Aran, and broke into a dejected smile. It was because the word ‘lover’ came to his mind again.
“… Really, is that the way it is?”
The small whisper dispersed in the cold wind. Cain asked what he said, but Aran didn’t answer, he just relaxed his uncomfortable body, and rested his head on Cain’s chest.
He hope that the time he could be with him, like in this moment, would last a long time.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
Foolish Translations 
I love how Ryugen gives great advice, like a real caring friend, underneath his mercenary actions. Thanks for translating! ❤️
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Your welcome, Ya, Ryugen is an interesting character 🙂
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Thanks for the updates and I hope you have a great day ahead.
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You’re welcome, you too 🙂
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Thank you for the new chapter!
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Your welcome
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Thank you so much for the translation Ren, love this chapter ❤️
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Your welcome, I’m glad you liked it. Hope it wasn’t too much trouble getting to it
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Ryugen’s the best. They should always go to him for advice, he never misses 👏🏽 I love the way Cain has surrendered to his feelings. He’s always been completely wrapped around Aran’s finger, but now he’s aware of it. I’m SO curious of how the first interaction of Cain and Jiyul will go! Thanks for the update!
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your welcome, only 5 updates to go!
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