TEB Side Story Ch 5

“Well. I said I don’t want to do anything that Liev doesn’t want to do.” 

“What?” 

As Liev raised his eyebrows and lifted his head, Renard continued, 

“Liev carrying my egg would be incredibly sexy and cute but I also hate seeing Liev in pain. So I don’t want to do that right now.” 

The one who seemed ready to pounce at him at any moment was now speaking with a serious face, so it didn’t seem like he was just saying it to match Liev’s mood. It felt strange to see him acting maturely, unlike when he was whining and throwing tantrums like a child. It wasn’t that he disliked it, but there was a feeling of something missing—a sense of relief yet emptiness. Why was he feeling like this?

“At that time, I thought I had to have an egg to keep from being separated from you. But not anymore.” 

Was he trying to say it’s okay? Liev was about to start speaking without thinking when he realized what he wanted to say and was startled. That couldn’t be right. If that were the case, there would be no reason for him to have been so angry with Renard in the morning about what he had done. Liev thought for a moment and then shook his head inwardly.

The shock he had was that he thought he could trust him, but then he got betrayed.

What if we had talked about it beforehand? If Renard had come to him with a serious face like now and asked if I wanted children, would I have said it was okay? I wasn’t sure. Renard is certainly a cute, lovable, and sometimes reliable family member, but adding a new family member to our relationship of just the two of us would create an unpredictable variable. 

Of course, when I first heard the talk of eggs and pregnancy, I thought it was to torment me, so I dismissed it, but now my thoughts have changed to the possibility that having a lovely being resembling Renard and me wouldn’t be so bad. That’s not to say I’m actively wishing for it, but if Renard really, really wanted it and begged for it, then maybe.

One of the reasons I felt more troubled this morning might have been because Renard seemed to no longer want children, unlike before. I can’t conclude that just because he doesn’t want children means that his feelings toward me have changed, but he is still worried about the possibility. 

I decided not to jump to conclusions on my own anymore.

Liev kept glancing at Renard and finally mustered up the courage to speak. 

“So, if I say I don’t mind anymore, would you want me to give birth then?” 

I had to ask and confirm directly. I didn’t want to avoid it without even trying. However, the answer to Liev’s question, which was filled with his own resolve, was, just like a moment ago, unexpected. 

“Hmm…”

“….?” 

Liev was greatly shocked by the strangely lukewarm moan. Was it not a misunderstanding or overthinking on his part, but had his true feelings changed? Did he no longer want to keep him by his side, even to the extent of making him lay eggs? Despite deciding not to do so, his heart sank in an instant of confusion, and then Renard, looking embarrassed, added a lengthy explanation. 

“No, it’s like that… Back then, I thought if it weren’t for that method, Liev would leave me… If there was a being that needed to be taken care of by his side, I thought Liev, being so sweet, wouldn’t be able to push it away. But it’s not like that now. And…” 

Seeing him flustered, Liev thought it wasn’t what he had just suspected for a moment, but he was feeling confused again. Renard pointed out something Liev had forgotten. 

“If we have a child, it will inevitably meet its end before us. Is that okay with you?” 

“Ah.” 

Only then did Liev recall the fact that he had been too flustered to remember. Renard was right. The way dragons birth new beings is ultimately by creating them through their own magic. Since the magic of the offspring’s generation comes from the source of the parent’s generation, they become more interior as they pass from generation to generation from the ancient dragons. That’s why dragons were reluctant to create new offspring.

“…….”

So the reason he no longer wanted children was not because he no longer needed to use such means to keep him by his side, but because he hoped not to be saddened by the inevitable parting that would come one day. At that realization, Liev’s entire body flushed red from head to toe. 

He completely forgot about that and created a misunderstanding.

He was ashamed to realize how foolish the misunderstandings he was worrying about were. To think that he treated Renard like a child from time to time and yet harbored such a pathetic misunderstanding. Liev hurriedly covered his face with the back of his hand. 

“Sorry. I had a strange misunderstanding. 

He was too embarrassed to even think of what to say next. His mind was blank, and he wished he could just evaporate into steam right here. Maybe someday he will think about having a child despite the future breakup. But that wasn’t the case now. He just managed to clear up a misunderstanding for himself. For the time being, he wanted to spend time just with the two of them, without anything else getting in between. As Liev now truly felt guilty and hung his head low, Renard asked again. 

“What misunderstanding?” 

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Liev hurriedly pressed the back of his hand against his face to hide it, but it was of no use. 

“Why can’t you speak?” 

When Renard grasped Liev’s wrist and lifted it, Liev’s face, red as a ripe tomato, was revealed. I really want to hide somewhere. Unable to push Renard away with force, Liev kept his head down as Renard suddenly asked. 

“Do you really think my feelings have changed?”

Unable to respond due to being struck at the heart of the matter, Liev preferred to be scolded for not speaking rather than to spit out the accusation of doubt after causing such a commotion. As Liev clammed up like a shell, Renard cried out with a childish expression.

“There’s no way that’s true! How could you even think that?”

Liev felt as if his heart was being pricked by needles at Renard’s genuinely hurt expression. It was undoubtedly a problem with his petty low self-esteem. He had no choice but to apologize until Renard’s heart was content. Just as Liev was about to carefully offer some soothing words, Renard suddenly declared. 

“If I haven’t expressed how much I like you enough, I’ll make sure to do so much more from now on.” 

“…Huh?”

After that, without even a chance to escape, Renard wrapped his arms around Liev’s waist and then slipped his hand inside his pants, pulling them down effortlessly, leaving Liev naked below in an instant. 

“Wait a minute, what?”

Then, just like that, Liev was thrown lightly onto the bedsheets. 

“Ah”

Renard then quickly lifted Liev, who was now defenseless and lying on the bed, up as if tossing As Liev lay vulnerable on the bed, he immediately tensed up as Renard’s hand explored between his legs. The expectation of what was to come made his body tense with anticipation as Renard’s fingers traced along the inside of his thigh.

“Even if you complain that you’re tired today, I won’t go easy on you.”

No, that’s not what I meant. The sensation of pressure as Renard explored the narrow, slippery entrance made every nerve in his body tingle. Renard’s slender fingers slowly teased and probed the sensitive area, sending shivers down Liev’s spine.

Despite his expression, which seemed urgent, Renard’s touch was relaxed. Each slow movement seemed to be carefully exploring and confirming every part of Liev’s innermost self. With each probing touch, his lower abdomen clenched. The impulse to have his hand move a little higher and hit the right spot made his head instinctively tilt upward. Why does he keep skimming over the sensitive spot? When Liev glanced at Renard, trying to ignore the flush creeping up his cheeks, Renard met his eyes with a teasing smile. The piercing, transparent gaze felt like it was imprisoning his heart, making it impossible to escape.