Chapter 22

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Rathil paced around the room for about fifteen more minutes before heading out into the corridor. Despite the night, the corridor was charmingly lit by lanterns hung at regular intervals. The night air was cool, but a pleasant breeze blew, and the sounds of insects could be heard from all around. As he passed by the artificial lake, the gentle sound of water could be heard. Walking aimlessly, Rathil suddenly stopped in the corridor and looked at the lake. That artificial lake. He had once played and splashed water with Hyacinth there, only to get caught by the head steward and receive a scolding.

"..."

The gray eyes visible between his thoroughly wet brown hair were as beautiful as shattered sunlight. He smiled brightly, knocking on Rathil's heart. His heart ached. But that feeling was fleeting. Soon, Rathil felt a sense of doubt: "What am I doing?" He took a deep breath. He's gone. He's married. I decided to forget. Rathil pressed his cheeks with both hands and forced a grin. The knight, who had been watching him, thought the emperor was acting strange but didn't say anything. Rathil, having composed himself, entered the harem. Kalain was standing in the corridor between the doors, the space between the bedroom and the outer door. Unlike when he met Lana, it seemed he had been waiting, having been informed in advance. Rathil, about to say, "You were waiting for me?" smiled awkwardly when he saw him. He realized this was their first conversation. Shouldn't I say something? As he stared, Kalain opened the door with one hand. Once inside, he closed the door himself. Standing in front of it, he looked at Rathil with intense eyes. He wasn't trying to be intense, but his gaze was incredibly strong. His green eyes seemed more ominous than warm. Rathil, staring blankly, swallowed hard. Even the portrait had impressed him, but it seemed to capture only 10% of this man's sexiness. He was really... really sexy.

'But what should I say now? I need to say something impressive, something befitting an emperor...'

At that moment,

"I've been waiting, Master."

Kalain approached and whispered into Rathil's neck.

"For a very long time..."

'Neck right away? When he breathed in, it felt strange.' Rathil's hair stood on end, and he rolled his eyes. It felt odd. He seemed to be trying to smell Rathil.

"Um... hello."

All his thoughts about what to say first vanished, and words just popped out. But even as Rathil greeted him awkwardly, Kalain didn't move, his nose still pressed against Rathil's neck. The cold breath on his skin made Rathil's back tingle. No, what's wrong with him? Why is his breath so cold? Rathil, feeling a bit creeped out, took a step back. Only then did Kalain lift his head, looking disappointed. Rathil stared at him for a moment and laughed awkwardly.

"You say 'a very long time' after waiting just two days."

It was a playful remark, a way to start a conversation with someone who was already exuding pheromones. It had no real meaning. But when Kalain heard "two days," the corners of his mouth twitched.

"You waited for two days?"

Seeing that, Rathil thought he was right and asked, and Kalain's smile grew a little more.

"I've been waiting longer than that."

"Since you submitted your harem application...?"

'Well, technically, that's when he started waiting.'

"Even longer than that."

Rathil blinked. Longer than that?

"Did you know me from a long time ago?"

Rathil thought. Had he seen Kalain before? No, he hadn't. A face like that would have stuck in his mind. He had definitely never seen him. Had he met the mercenary king, perhaps with his face covered or something? But the answer was still no. Rathil had never met the mercenary king.

"I've known you since you were born."

Unable to figure it out, Rathil finally got the answer from Kalain.

"Oh, really?"

'Well, as the emperor, it's natural that even foreigners would know of my existence.'

Rathil interpreted Kalain's answer and nodded.

'So, he must have wanted to marry me from a young age.'

Many children dream of becoming the lover of a prince or princess. Rathil thought Kalain, now a handsome man with a decadent charm, must have once been a young boy with such a cute and innocent dream. He smiled. But as soon as the conversation ended, Kalain approached again and buried his nose in Rathil's neck, making Rathil jump in surprise. Why does he keep rushing in?

"Wait a moment."

Pushing his head away, Kalain reluctantly stepped back but continued to stare at Rathil's neck as if it were prey. Rathil covered his right neck with his hand and took a step back. Why does he keep focusing on my neck? This time, Kalain's gaze shifted to the left side of his neck. Rathil quickly covered that side as well.

"Why do you keep covering it, Master?"

"Well, you keep going for my neck... but, why do you keep calling me 'Master'?"

He's not a slave, and he doesn't even call him 'Master' with respect. It felt a bit strange.

"Because you are my Master."

"Call me 'Your Majesty.'"

"Well, I prefer 'Master.'"

"Call me 'Your Majesty.'"

If a guy who looks so wild keeps calling you 'Master,' people will look at you strangely, won't they? Rathil, who was firmly insisting, was surprised when Kalain approached in three quick steps and naturally moved Rathil's hand away from his neck, causing Rathil to bump his forehead into Kalain's head. The mercenary king, as he was called, seemed to have a high pain tolerance. Even after the impact, Kalain laughed and tried to bury his face in Rathil's neck again.

"Stop, stop."

Rathil's command was obeyed. Kalain slowly lifted his head and looked at Rathil.

'What is he? A half-trained wild wolf.'

Rathil raised his hand to pull Kalain away but was startled when Kalain took his fingers into his mouth.

"Ah! Why did you bite that!"

Regardless of Rathil's shock, Kalain licked his hand and winked. Rathil felt his heart sink and couldn't even breathe. It was wild. Not just sexy, but really wild. This was beyond just being sexy. Moreover, Kalain repeatedly nibbled on his fingers with his sharp teeth, making Rathil's fingers feel hot. When Rathil pulled his fingers away, Kalain followed the arm and kissed him. In an instant, Rathil found himself under Kalain, who was now hanging onto his neck, which he had long desired. His hands skillfully moved to his ear, neck, and shoulder, and when they touched the clasp of his cloak, Rathil, coming to his senses, shouted, "Stop!" Kalain, who usually obeyed commands, stopped and looked up at Rathil. Rathil, feeling his heart might burst, swallowed hard. It felt like he was under a large wolf, not a harem member.

"Get off."

"..."

Fortunately, the wolf listened. As soon as Kalain moved to the side, Rathil rolled away and placed a spare pillow in the middle of the bed as a warning.

"Don't cross this."

"Didn't you come to sleep, Master?"

"I'm just going to sleep. Don't cross this."

"Do you have restless sleep?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Do you have restless sleep?"

"No, I don't. I sleep straight as a board! If you move me, I'll know, so don't even think about it!"

Finally, Kalain, looking disappointed, placed his head on the other side of the pillow. Rathil, feeling a bit uneasy, sighed. * * * When Rathil woke up in the morning, he stared at the empty pillow next to him. Why is the pillow empty?

'Oh, right. I told Kalain not to cross this pillow.'

Rathil slowly sat up. Fortunately, the pillow was still in place. Kalain was sitting against the headboard, looking down at Rathil. When their eyes met, Kalain smiled and pointed to the pillow.

"From the left of the bed sculpture, straight line. I didn't touch it."

"Good. Well done."

"..."

"What? Why are you smiling?"

"No, nothing."

What's he doing? What's so funny? Rathil, feeling uneasy, got out of bed cautiously. Only when his feet touched the ground did he realize he had slept in his cloak. He had hastily lain down to avoid the "neck ghost" last night, so his clothes were still on. But it was too late to take them off now, so Rathil rubbed his eyes and headed for the door.

"I'm leaving."

As he was about to leave, Kalain approached. Thinking he might go for the neck again, Rathil hesitated, but Kalain tied the loose cloak ribbon instead.

"This way, your cloak won't drag on the floor."

'What? You're normal now that the sun is up?'

"You have skilled fingers."

Looking down at Kalain's long fingers moving near his collarbone, Rathil, feeling a bit embarrassed, looked at Kalain's eyelashes. They were the same light golden color as his hair.

"Do you like them?"

"Um? Oh, they're pretty."

"I'm good with my hands."

Ah, not about the eyelashes. Rathil thought Kalain was asking if he thought he was pretty. He awkwardly added, "You have good skills." Finally, Kalain, having tied the cloak ribbon, opened the door with a cold smile. Rathil, noticing something surprising, looked at Kalain again. Despite having slept all night, his hair was perfectly in place. Moreover, the Kalain who had been so aggressive last night was nowhere to be seen. He wouldn't come back tonight. Even the proud Lana had said that.

'He's a strange man.'

Before leaving, Rathil glanced back at Kalain, who was looking at him with an unreadable expression. Rathil, about to leave, called out to him again.

"Kalain."

"Yes, Master."

"…You said you've been waiting for me for a long time. When did you really start waiting?"

"Actually..."

"Actually?"

"Since before I was born."

"..."

Rathil closed the door and left. * * * He's a strange guy. As Rathil left the harem, he thought about Kalain. Rathil got along well with the knights but had never seen a mercenary, so he couldn't tell the difference. Are all mercenaries that unpredictable? Insisting on calling him 'Master' instead of 'Your Majesty,' or making jokes about knowing him before he was born? Or is Kalain just unique?

'His appearance is even sexier than I thought.'

Just as he was about to leave the harem, he heard a call.

"Your Majesty!"

Someone was calling him from a distance. Rathil turned his head indifferently and was surprised. It was Prince Klein, as arrogant as Prince Lana. Klein was running down the stone path.

'Prince Klein?'

Seeing him running so desperately, Rathil decided to wait. As he watched, Klein, realizing how he looked, awkwardly cleared his throat when he reached Rathil.

"Do you have something to say?"

If he came this far, it must be urgent. Rathil thought and asked. Klein immediately responded.

"Must you play with me like this?"

No, it was a complaint. But Rathil found it hard to understand. Play with him? When did he do that? He hardly ever spoke to Klein, let alone play with him. Looking puzzled, Klein, looking hurt, continued.

"If you were trying to provoke my jealousy, then yes, you succeeded."

"..."

"I admit it. I couldn't think of anything but you. Are you satisfied now?"

"?"

"Wasn't that your goal?"

"Me?"