RHH | Chapter 4.7

There was no officially confirmed relic there. Officially, that is. But Lucien’s informant was the imperial family, and Leehwan’s was the dragon. Lucien thought that if he knew the information, then Leehwan would know it too.

“Let’s go to Weissvalt.”

Leaving the room, Lucien glanced over the twenty knights waiting on the first floor. Unlike the ones who had accompanied him before, these were proper knights. Even Leehwan wouldn’t be able to handle them. A dark smile crossed Lucien’s lips.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

Weissvalt. A forest made entirely of birch trees, its name meaning “White Forest.” According to legend, it is said to be the place where Iella descends to rest. Because of this, people refer to the forest as a sanctuary or Iella’s Forest.

Leehwan and Absalom stood at a distance, gazing at the forest. The leaves had already fallen, leaving only bare branches. Normally, a forest like this would feel desolate, but perhaps because it was filled with white birch trees, it still looked elegant—like a white deer. It was no wonder people had given it such a name.

However, despite its sacred reputation, there was no trace of divine power anywhere in the forest. Leehwan and Absalom urged their horses closer.

There was no visible entrance or path, so Leehwan dismounted and tied his horse to a slender birch tree.

“Ugh.”

Absalom let out a small groan. Leehwan approached him. The tips of his pale fingers were stained red.

“Are you hurt? Did you bump into something?”

“I’m not sure.”

Absalom raised his hand and touched a nearby birch tree. In that instant, a silent flame erupted in a flash of white.

“Absalom!”

Leehwan quickly grabbed his hand and pulled it away, but the red mark had already reappeared on his fingers. As Leehwan stared at it, Absalom muttered,

“I thought it would be better to see for myself…”

Hearing his excuse, the scolding that had been caught in Leehwan’s throat slowly faded. He let out a soft sigh and released Absalom’s hand.

“Don’t do this again. Words are enough.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But…”

Absalom reached out with his uninjured hand. His soft fingers delicately caressed Leehwan’s cheek.

“You look upset.”

His beautiful face drew closer. Leehwan closed his eyes. He felt Absalom’s lips—still slightly rough. The sensation made his heart ache. Absalom, who could have lived a life of dominance, had ended up like this because of him.

Leehwan tried to erase that thought by throwing himself into Absalom. He parted his lips and clung to him with desperate passion. Absalom laughed, the vibration of his throat sending a shiver down Leehwan’s spine.

Every time they pulled away, one of them would chase after the other, and the kiss continued for a long time. When Leehwan finally regained his senses, he pressed his hands against Absalom’s shoulders. Swallowing the heat of Absalom’s breath as it flowed from his damp lips, Leehwan spoke.

“First, Absalom. Let’s talk a bit…”

“Mmm, okay.”

Absalom muttered, still clinging to Leehwan’s lips. His deep blue eyes were hazy. Leehwan gently covered Absalom’s lips with his hand.

“I think I need to go into the forest alone.”

At those words, Absalom’s eyes sharpened, as if snapping back to reality.

“What are you talking about?”

“I can touch the forest without any issues. But you can’t.”

While tying up the horses, Leehwan had touched the birch trees several times. But they showed no reaction to him.

Absalom bit his lip, sensing something in Leehwan’s words. His lips parted and closed several times, looking pitiful. Leehwan lightly tapped his cheek.

“I don’t know why only I can enter. Well, I guess Iella recognizes his own knight.”

“That… must be it.”

“So I’ll go in and come back quickly. You stay here and watch the horse and the luggage. And just in case, take this too.”

Leehwan took out a holy relic he had been carrying and handed it to Absalom. Absalom stared at it blankly. When Leehwan waved his hand to hurry him, he finally took it—hesitant.

“Is it okay to entrust this to me?”

His low voice carried a hint of darkness. Leehwan responded casually.

“Who else would I give it to?”

“…I guess so.”

Absalom’s lips twisted strangely. That expression stabbed at Leehwan’s heart, and he unconsciously averted his gaze. At that moment, Absalom stepped closer and pressed his lips to Leehwan’s forehead.

“W-what?”

“Since I can’t go with you, this is a kiss wishing for your safe return.”

The spot where his lips touched felt strangely hot. Yet, Leehwan couldn’t bring himself to touch it. It felt as if Absalom’s wish would scatter if he did.

As Leehwan stood there, blank-faced and unsure of what to do, Absalom chuckled softly.

“Come back safely.”

“I will.”

Leehwan, carrying only a sword, a small water bottle, and some jerky, stepped into the birch forest. His figure was soon swallowed by the trees. Yet, Absalom didn’t take his eyes off the direction Leehwan had gone.

It wasn’t just Leehwan who could touch the birch trees without issue. Absalom had seen the horse bump its head against a tree trunk. He also knew that Leehwan had noticed it. Yet, Leehwan had accepted his hesitation without a word.

“I’m sorry, Leehwan. For being such a coward…”

Absalom muttered, clutching the holy relic tightly.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

As Leehwan stepped into the forest, he looked up at the sky. Countless birch trees rose sharply, their towering forms creating an imposing sight.

The deeper he went, the more the light faded. At some point, he realized his breathing had become slightly labored.

Leehwan was someone who could stay awake for days without tiring. There was no way he should feel this way after just a short walk on flat ground.

But that wasn’t the only strange thing. He hadn’t sensed a single sign of life in this forest.

‘This forest gives me the creeps.’

Thinking that, he ventured further inside.

According to the information Absalom had given him, the holy relic was located at the center of the forest. To avoid losing his way, Leehwan checked the position of the sun frequently as he walked.

It was around the time he thought he might be getting close to the center when a faint light appeared through the densely packed trees. Could that be it? Leehwan strode confidently toward it.

As he got closer, the scene became clearer—a clearing bathed in light. He thought he saw something resembling flowers, but given that it was winter, he assumed he must have been mistaken.

The divine power was palpable. It was so intense that it was strange he hadn’t noticed it before.

But Leehwan stopped about five steps away from the clearing.

A chill ran down his spine. Cold sweat drenched his palms. Instinct told him he shouldn’t go any further.

Despite that, Leehwan forced himself to take a step. If the holy relic, radiating such overwhelming divine power, could help him return to Earth, it would be worth it.

But the moment he took a second step, his knees buckled.

He had thought it was fear. But that was an oversimplification. What he felt now was awe—an all-consuming attraction toward an overwhelming presence, a desire to dissolve into it, and the rejection his very being felt toward that desire.

His brain was overloaded, and his body reacted accordingly. Leehwan suppressed the nausea rising in his throat and forced himself to stand.

Is that what a holy relic is like?

It was no wonder he hadn’t seen a single insect in this forest. They must have all been consumed by that power. Even though it was said to be imbued with divine energy, it was still just an object. How could it exert such influence?

Leehwan moved around the clearing, keeping a safe distance. After walking a bit to the side, the entire clearing came into view.

It was a peaceful, gentle space bathed in sunlight. The ground was carpeted with flowers and grass, an impossible sight in the dead of winter. Yet, surrounding the clearing, countless animals lay prostrated—mummified husks.

Leehwan forced himself to look toward the center of the clearing.

There, nestled within a cradle woven from flowers and vines, something lay at rest. Even from a distance, divine power emanated from it. But it was different from the relic—vivid yet shadowy, almost contradictory.

This was a sanctuary. A place where a god rested.

Then, who was lying there—?

The divine power within the cradle stirred. A precursor to awakening.

Leehwan quickly scanned the clearing. A slightly different energy pulsed nearby. That had to be the holy relic he was seeking.

His gaze locked onto a single point.

At the edge of the clearing, a flower made of crystal bloomed.

‘That’s it.‘

Leehwan took a step forward, his legs trembling. Immediately, his head felt foggy. If he got any closer, he might end up like the mummified creatures around him. But he took another step.

“Worship.”

A voice whispered in his mind. A desire to submit surged within him. If he could dissolve into that gentle light, become one with it—he would need nothing else.

With the crystal flower just within reach, Leehwan’s gaze wavered. His toes dug into the soft soil.

If he took another step, he would never be able to return.

Even knowing that, he didn’t hesitate.

Just as his foot was about to fall—

“A kiss, wishing for your safe return.”

A voice, infinitely tender yet tinged with sorrow, echoed in his ears. At the same time, his forehead burned as if it had caught fire.

“Ugh…!”

Leehwan let out a sharp groan and clutched his forehead. Absalom. The holy relic. Thoughts surged through his mind in an instant.

With a desperate lunge, he reached out and roughly grabbed the crystal flower.

The forest, robbed of its treasure, raged. The wind howled in fury. The birch trees twisted, their sharp branches reaching for him like claws.

But Leehwan didn’t even think of defending himself.

He tore through the forest with a speed unlike when he had entered. Despite the identical trees surrounding him, he moved straight ahead. A small warmth on his forehead guided him.

Finally, a faint light appeared.

Leehwan instinctively dodged a final branch that lunged at him and threw himself toward the light.

A firm arm caught him.

“Leehwan!”

Rlom. He thought he responded. But all that escaped his lips was ragged breathing.

Absalom, holding him tight, took a step back.

Leehwan didn’t realize when Absalom placed him on the horse or when they left the forest behind. His mind was solely focused on the warmth enveloping him. Without it, he felt as though he might disappear.

Thankfully, Absalom held him firmly, allowing Leehwan to cling to him.

“I’m here, Leehwan. It’s okay now…”

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

A cold droplet fell onto his cheek. Something warm wiped it away.

Leehwan reached out and grasped the smooth, white thing fluttering before his eyes. It carried a familiar warmth.

“Rlom?”

He muttered without thinking. Only after the word had left his mouth did he realize—this was a nickname for Absalom, one he hadn’t used since his return.

Leehwan had first learned of the name when he was twenty-five. The current him shouldn’t have known it yet.

“Yes, Leehwan.”

But Absalom smiled and answered without hesitation.

Was it simply because it was the last syllable of his name, or was there another reason?

Leehwan’s thoughts scattered the moment he saw Absalom’s face.