RHH | Chapter 4.9

“Confirm it with the Fifth Prince. It’s all his plan.”

At Bernard’s answer, Leehwan turned to Lucien. Lucien sneered.

“Surprised?”

Honestly, he was. The Lucien Leehwan had known was a rather passive person.

“How much do you know?”

“If you want answers, answer my question first.”

Leehwan tried to recall Lucien’s question. He couldn’t remember, having brushed it off earlier.

Absalom whispered, “He asked when you knew I was a dr… dragon.”

The word dragon was mumbled, as if it were too frightening to say. Leehwan patted Absalom’s head and suddenly voiced a question that had crossed his mind.

“Did the Imperial family know who you were from the start?”

“Of course not.”

Hearing the answer, Leehwan turned back to Lucien.

“Since autumn. I told you, so answer me. How did you know Absalom was a dragon?”

He had only asked out of suspicion. But Lucien froze, his face turning pale as his gaze flickered between Leehwan and Absalom.

“That’s what you’re concerned about?”

The words made no sense. Leehwan furrowed his brows.

Bernard stepped forward. “Sir Alexander.”

The lips beneath the lowered helmet twisted in contempt.

“Are you really going to turn your back on the Empire, on all its people, for the sake of that monster? Are you going to abandon the citizens who see you as their only hope, who live each day relying on you? Will you let them all become food for monsters?”

The last hope given to humanity by God Iella. The one and only savior of the world.

It was a dazzling honor.

But now, Leehwan knew—it was a yoke, nothing more than a threat that everyone would die without him.

His legs were bound, his shoulders weighed down. Yet he struggled with all his might not to sink. But even that was a futile effort.

Bernard’s words dragged him back to that horrifying time. Leehwan stretched his lips into a thin smile and met Bernard’s gaze.

“What do they have to do with me?”

“Sir Alexander!”

“It’s your country. You protect it. Don’t shift the responsibility to me.”

At that moment, a sickening squelch sounded from behind. The metallic scent of blood followed, and Absalom’s weight on his shoulder grew heavier.

Leehwan turned sharply. At the same time, Absalom’s body tilted.

Long silver hair fluttered. Beneath it, a pale face came into view—his blood-stained lips horrifyingly red.

“Absalom!”

Leehwan pulled Absalom into his arms, but his closed eyes didn’t respond to Leehwan’s call. Blood gushed from his lips, as if that were his only answer.

Though unexpected, it was an opportunity for Lucien. With a single glance from him, the knights charged at Leehwan.

The sound of hooves thundered against the ground. The lead knight raised his sword—but before it could reach Leehwan’s shoulder, it was instantly severed in half. The next moment, the knight’s head tumbled to the ground. His now-riderless horse reared and bolted in confusion.

Blood dripped from the spikes of the morning star. The hand gripping the handle trembled uncontrollably.

Leehwan had thought he didn’t want to kill anymore—for his own sake, if nothing else. But the moment he saw Absalom collapse, those thoughts vanished instantly.

He pulled Absalom onto his horse. The limp, motionless body filled him with terror. Holding Absalom tightly with one arm, he seized the reins.

The horse carrying them surged forward, hooves pounding against the earth. The morning star swung, flashing through the air. The knights blocking their path fell—two lives snuffed out in an instant.

“Aim for the dragon!”

Bernard’s shout rang out. A long spear thrust toward Absalom. Leehwan deflected it and slashed the knight’s throat. At that moment, a sword tore deeply into his back. Gritting his teeth, he swung the morning star behind him.

Thud!

A sickening sound followed, but Leehwan didn’t look back. His gaze locked onto Bernard. He charged.

Bernard braced himself, ready to meet the attack. But just before the clash, Leehwan yanked the reins—his horse veered sharply.

Bernard’s sword narrowly missed. In that instant, Leehwan hurled the morning star.

The heavy iron weapon spun through the air. Bernard’s eyes widened. He raised his sword to block—but it was too late.

With a deafening crack, the sword shattered. The spiked head of the morning star filled Bernard’s vision before his world turned black.

Leehwan urged his horse forward, escaping the battlefield. Behind him, Lucien cursed furiously.

“I know you’re looking for the holy relics! I know you’ve already got some! His Highness said he’d help you get the rest if you just return to your original position!”

Leehwan tightened his grip on the reins, his knuckles turning white. But the horse’s speed didn’t waver.

Words not worth listening to. He had already been fooled once by the same method. More importantly, Absalom came first now.

He had been galloping for a while and was nearing the city when a thought suddenly crossed his mind.Absalom was a dragon. Could a human doctor really heal him properly? As he hesitated, Absalom groaned and opened his eyes.

“Absalom!”

“Leehwan… are you… okay…”

“I’m fine. I’m thinking of taking you to a doctor. Will that be okay?”

Absalom’s lips moved. Leehwan leaned in to listen.

“No need… for a doctor. I used too much… energy… I’ll recover… with rest…”

In the end, Leehwan had no choice but to return to the inn they had stayed at the previous night. He shoved money into the hands of the horrified innkeeper, who recoiled at their bloodied state.

Leehwan carefully laid Absalom on the bed. The vomiting of blood had stopped, but his complexion remained deathly pale. He wiped the blood from Absalom’s lips and chin before changing his own clothes.

Just then, Absalom slowly opened his eyes and looked at Leehwan.

“Healing…”

“Healing? Should I call a doctor?”

“Not me… Leehwan… I smell blood.”

His voice had regained some strength, as if he had improved a little. Leehwan felt a wave of relief.

Only then did he become aware of the pain in his back.

Gently, he removed Absalom’s hand, which was tugging at his clothes.

“Got it, so rest.”

“Immediate healing…”

“I said I got it.”

“Show me… your back…”

Leehwan realized that Absalom’s “healing” wasn’t through conventional means like a doctor. His face stiffened.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Though Leehwan knew nothing about magic, he could guess why Absalom had vomited blood. His thoughts drifted to the scent of blood he had noticed in the cave.

Absalom must have coughed up blood after using magic then, too.

“I’ll go get treated.”

Leehwan clenched his teeth and stood up. The sword wound on his back was fully exposed.

Absalom gasped.

“Wait… Leehwan…!”

Leehwan silently left the room and closed the door behind him.

After renting a separate room on the first floor, he had the innkeeper call a doctor. The wound across his back was long, and stitching it took time. Once the treatment was finished, he returned to Absalom’s room.

Thinking Absalom would be asleep, Leehwan quietly opened the door. But instead, he was met with the sight of Absalom—wide awake.

Blinking his tired eyes, Absalom sat up abruptly the moment he saw Leehwan.

“Lee…!”

But the sudden movement made him dizzy, and he collapsed back onto the bed. Leehwan hurried to his side.

“Why are you moving so suddenly when you’re not well? Did you even get any sleep?”

Leehwan laid Absalom back down and covered him with a blanket. Absalom, now free from dizziness, reached out and grabbed Leehwan’s arm.

“How could I possibly sleep peacefully? You left just like that.”

The words that had been broken and breathless earlier now flowed smoothly. Leehwan grasped the meaning a bit late. At the same time, the situation before he left flashed through his mind.

Leehwan took a deep breath and calmly organized his thoughts. There was much he wanted to say, but right now, Absalom’s rest was the priority.

“I got treated and came back. So you should lie down too—you need proper rest.”

As he lightly patted the blanket-covered chest, Absalom raised his eyes. His bloodshot gaze was fierce. Leehwan covered his eyes with his palm.

“Go to sleep. We can talk after you’ve rested.”

Absalom, exhausted, quickly fell asleep. Leehwan stared at the sleeping figure, lost in thought.

Leehwan had narrowed down the possible causes of the regression phenomenon to three. The first was God Iella. The second was himself. The third was Absalom.

Today, Leehwan had clearly witnessed the effects of magic. It was a power that made him understand why humans, despite their overwhelming numbers, couldn’t exterminate monsters. But his focus lay elsewhere.

Absalom’s power was far from absolute. If it had been, the earlier situation wouldn’t have happened. In the same vein, it was also finite.

With such power, to reverse time? Leehwan couldn’t believe Absalom would take such a risk for him.

His thoughts flowed in all directions. But no matter how much he pondered, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Absalom had suffered a loss. The sensation of Absalom collapsing weakly against his back resurfaced in his mind.

Leehwan wished—more than anything—that it had been Iella who caused the regression.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

Leehwan woke to the gentle touch of a hand stroking his hair. Even in his half-awake state, the sweetness of it was unmistakable. As far as he knew, only one being would approach him like this.

Leehwan abruptly sat up. As expected, Absalom was looking at him. An awkwardness lingered in the glances they exchanged.

Breaking the silence, Absalom spoke first.

“Did you sleep well?”

In the room, tightly shut to keep out even a sliver of light, Absalom alone shimmered. His haggard complexion made him look as if he were shining one last time before fading.

Without realizing it, Leehwan reached out and pulled Absalom into an embrace.

“Leehwan?”

Hesitant, Absalom carefully wrapped his arms around Leehwan’s shoulders. His voice, asking if Leehwan had a bad dream, was infinitely gentle.

After a moment, Leehwan quietly pulled away. His gaze swept over Absalom’s complexion. Though noticeably better than the last time he checked, it was still far from normal.

Would it be better to postpone the conversation? But matters like these needed to be resolved immediately.

Hesitating, Leehwan finally spoke a word laden with meaning.

”…Rlom.”

The color drained from Absalom’s face. Whatever he was so afraid of, he couldn’t even meet Leehwan’s eyes. His reaction was starkly different from when Leehwan had called him by that nickname just hours ago.

Had he been forcing a smile back then, suppressing his fear?

“Look at me, Rlom.”

Leehwan firmly gripped Absalom’s shoulders. If he didn’t, it felt like Absalom would run away at any moment.

The lowered silver eyelashes trembled. Slowly, they moved. The deep blue eyes finally turned toward Leehwan.

“Are you disappointed?”

Absalom was the first to speak. Before Leehwan could answer, he continued.

“Or maybe you’re angry.”

“What are you talking about?”

Leehwan studied Absalom carefully. The despair staining his beautiful face, the fear of death in his eyes as he refused to look away—it felt as if this were the last moment he would ever see him. Leehwan narrowed his eyes.

Slowly, he removed his hands from Absalom’s shoulders. That small action alone made Absalom look as if the world had ended. But soon, those fallen hands reached for his face. As Leehwan cupped the once warm, now slightly cool cheek, Absalom’s eyes widened.

“Rlom.”

A single word was enough to stop him. Leehwan met his gaze head-on and spoke.

“Tell me everything. So I don’t misunderstand, tell me properly.”