IYAMD: Episode 42

‘I’m hungry.’

The man’s face went blank. The traces of his furrowed brows lingered briefly before disappearing.

“You haven’t had dinner yet?”

‘I have.’

While the meeting dragged on, the knights had prepared dinner, and Jaha had managed with the food Malek had brought him.

But as his body circulated energy, his metabolism sped up, making digestion quicker. Besides, he also wanted to shut that man’s mouth for a bit.

Getting angry wouldn’t do him any good. He knew the emperor wasn’t the type to mistreat those on his side, which was probably why he could act this way.

Jaha rubbed his upper abdomen with one hand, smacking his lips.

‘I’m already hungry again.’

Marsilia smiled gently and lightly ruffled Jaha’s hair with his fingertips.

“Malek, bring something to tide him over.”

“I’ll bring biscuits and tea, Your Majesty. Adding some cheese should help with satiety.”

“Do that.”

After responding to Malek, Marsilia turned to Jaha with a hint of regret in his voice.

“There’s not much I can prepare right now, so you’ll have to make do with this. Once we return to the palace, you’ll be able to eat something proper. Just hold on a little longer.”

Since they were in a wartime situation, it was impossible to have late-night meals like in the palace. Malek shot Jaha a playful wink, relieved, but Jaha ignored it.

Marsilia, who had his back turned, remained oblivious, so Jaha chose not to make a fuss.

Instead, he quietly looked up at Marsilia. The man smiled, seemingly pleased, and absentmindedly stroked Jaha’s cheek.

“I’m glad to see your appetite returning.”

To Jaha, the words sounded different. He couldn’t quite put it into words, but it felt like there was more to that statement than its literal meaning.

So Jaha carefully studied the man’s face, hoping to discern his true intentions.

When their eyes met again, Marsilia’s gaze softened into a quiet smile.

He always smiled too much—Jaha thought this often.

But, somehow, he didn’t dislike it as much anymore.

A smile was a hundred times better than a frown, after all.

The atmosphere remained pleasant as they snacked on tea and biscuits. Outside the tent, the knights were beginning their preparations for the night, and the noise gradually faded.

The number of campfires had also dwindled, allowing less light to seep into the tent.

It was time to sleep.

Jaha had been watching Marsilia’s condition for a while now.

Given how much he had used his abilities today, he should have been exhausted. Yet, the man maintained his usual composed expression.

Was he really fine?

The answer was obvious, so Jaha didn’t bother asking. He wouldn’t get a straight answer anyway.

Still, his own frustration grew the more he worried.

It wasn’t that he wanted Marsilia to pretend to be weak.

But he should at least show some signs of fatigue.

Only then would those around him take care of him properly.

Jaha was sneaking glances at Marsilia—only to realize Marsilia had been sneaking glances at him as well.

He’d been too preoccupied with worrying about Marsilia to notice where the man’s gaze had been.

When their eyes met, they both looked slightly embarrassed.

Marsilia ran a hand through his hair and let out a quiet sigh.

“I have a question… but I don’t know if I’ll understand the answer.”

He seemed to be carefully choosing his words.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Marsilia rubbed his palm against his thigh and asked,

“About your martial arts… I heard that if the energy inside you is blocked, it makes you sick. You pushed yourself a lot today. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Jaha could tell Marsilia had put a great deal of effort into choosing his words carefully.

The concern in his voice was so genuine that Jaha’s chest felt oddly warm.

‘I’m… probably fine.’

To be honest, even Jaha wasn’t entirely sure of his own condition.

However, every time Marsilia used his power on him, he felt better.

Thanks to that, he no longer felt blocked when channeling his inner energy.

Even after using his qinggong skill and Phantom Swordsmanship for a long time today, he only felt a bit fatigued.

Phantom Swordsmanship was a secret technique passed down by Jaha’s master.

It allowed him to manifest swords with sword energy and control them freely.

A master of the technique could control up to 32 swords at its peak, but Jaha, at his current third stage, could only manage a maximum of 12 when he was in good condition.

To control 32 swords purely through sword energy required deep inner power, but Jaha lacked that depth due to his young age.

He had been forced to stop training when his family’s was massacred, and afterward, he had been suffering from qi deviation.

For the time being, even controlling 12 swords would be a challenge.

Still, Marsilia’s power seemed to have a significant effect on healing inner energy.

Having been exposed to his power all day, Jaha wasn’t as exhausted as he should have been.

Marsilia’s expression showed a hint of relief at Jaha’s response.

So Jaha wanted to ask as well.

‘What about you? Are you okay?’

When he gestured toward the man with his hand, Marsilia furrowed his brows slightly.

“I’m fine.”

But his answer didn’t sound fine at all.

‘Liar.’

Jaha’s expression hardened, and in response, Marsilia let out a bright, carefree smile.

“Really, Jaha. As long as you’re here, I think I’m fine.”

Without permission, he once again pulled Jaha’s hand close and pressed a light kiss to the back of it.

Jaha watched as his lips cautiously touched and then withdrew, and without thinking, he twisted his wrist and grasped Marsilia’s hand instead.

A flicker of surprise crossed Marsilia’s face as Jaha mirrored his action—pulling his hand in and pressing his teeth against the back of it.

Firmly.

He felt the bite sink into the flesh, pressing down until it met bone.

“What are you doing?”

Marsilia asked, dumbfounded, and Jaha scowled as he released his hand.

‘Stop doing that.’

Marsilia pulled his hand back and rubbed the small teeth marks with his other palm.

“Don’t do that, Jaha. Even dogs wouldn’t—”

Jaha’s eyes widened.

Even dogs wouldn’t do that? Wasn’t that a bit much?

Who was the one who wouldn’t listen to reason?

Marsilia covered his bitten hand with his face and let out a quiet chuckle.

Then, suddenly, his shoulders began to shake with laughter, his breath catching as he grinned like a madman.

By the time he finally lifted his head, his face was flushed red.

“You really are so aloof, you know that?”

He grinned at Jaha, still amused.

“And it seems… I have a thing for aloof people.”

Before Jaha could react, he swiftly leaned in and stole a kiss.

It was so fast that Jaha didn’t even have time to lift a hand before his lips were taken.

Completely shameless, the man then flopped onto the inner side of the bed and called out to Jaha.

“I’m tired. Let’s sleep.”

At that moment, a long sigh echoed through the tent.

Malek, exhaling deeply, walked over to the candle and held up the candlestick as he gave his nightly farewell.

“I will take my leave now, Your Majesty… but please, maintain your dignity. The head attendant warned me several times—no sharing a bed before the ceremony.”

Marsilia didn’t even pretend to listen.

Still lying down, he waved a hand lazily in dismissal, a clear sign that he couldn’t be bothered.

Malek let out another sigh and inclined his head toward Jaha.

“Have a peaceful night, Lord Jaha.”

With that, he took the candlestick and left the tent, letting the darkness settle inside.

Only then did Marsilia turn onto his side, his voice low and drowsy.

“Lie down, Jaha. I won’t do anything you don’t like.”

Jaha didn’t trust him.

His track record was far too colorful for that.

But something about the languid tone in his voice caught Jaha’s attention.

It felt like he was forcing himself to stay awake.

In the end, Jaha let out a quiet sigh and lay down beside him.

Somehow, Marsilia had already tucked his arm underneath him.

Before Jaha’s head even touched the bed, he felt the solid warmth of his forearm.

“Good night, Jaha.”

What a strange man.

He always acted as if saying goodnight was something he couldn’t skip.

He had done the same when Jaha was first brought to the palace.

In the darkness, Jaha silently mouthed the words back to him.

‘Good night.’

There was no way Marsilia could have heard it.

Yet, as if he had, the man let out a quiet chuckle—one that sounded both satisfied and somewhat wistful.

Then, he fell silent.

It seemed he had finally closed his eyes.

So Jaha lay still, waiting for his own eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Then, he quietly turned to gaze at the sleeping man’s face.

His breathing soon deepened into a steady rhythm.

Jaha could feel the warmth of his arm under his neck, the faint heat of his body against his side.

Closing his eyes, Jaha finally let himself drift off to sleep.