RHH | Side Story 1.3

Leehwan hesitated to answer. He didn’t want to admit he’d been jealous, and now that he thought about it, using a kiss as a distraction was pretty embarrassing. When he stayed silent, Absalom changed the question.

“What were you two talking about?”

A dark emotion flickered in Absalom’s deep blue eyes. As if trying to hide it, he kissed Leehwan’s neck. Leehwan reflexively closed his eyes and shuddered.

“Ah… Where do you get off asking and then doing this?”

“You didn’t answer quickly enough.”

Absalom’s long fingers slipped under Leehwan’s shirt. He teased Leehwan’s soft nipple with his fingertips, drawing a moan from him.

“What else would we talk about besides you?”

Leehwan answered just as his nipple fully hardened. Instantly, the darkness lifted from Absalom’s face. He casually stroked Leehwan’s chest and said.

“What a shame. It’s so cute, sticking out like it’s begging to be sucked.”

“What are you saying in the store? What if someone comes in? Besides, you’ve got a lot of work left. Hurry back to your shop.”

Leehwan grumbled as he extricated himself from Absalom’s embrace. He wanted to send him back as quickly as possible before he realized the truth. Pushed from behind, Absalom reluctantly took a few steps. But contrary to Leehwan’s wishes, Absalom had already figured it out.

“Hey, Leehwan.”

“Nothing. Just go.”

The abrupt reply made Absalom laugh. His cheerful laughter was filled with joy. Hearing it, Leehwan paused for a moment.

“Were you jealous?”

In the end, Absalom had figured it out. There was no point hiding it now. Leehwan relaxed the arm pushing Absalom away. Absalom turned and hugged him.

“I’m happy you’re jealous, but you know there’s no need, right?”

Leehwan didn’t think Absalom’s feelings would change either. But this was different. After a moment of thought, Leehwan answered.

“I trust you, but I don’t trust others.”

“…If you say so.”

Absalom walked to the counter, still holding Leehwan. Leehwan let him do as he pleased. Though the awkward shuffle was uncomfortable, it was emotionally satisfying.

They sat side by side behind the counter. Finally, Absalom brought up the reason for his visit.

“The incident at the flower market is spreading as a rumor.”

“Joshua told me. He asked if it was me, and I said yes.”

“What if he betrays you? Why did you answer so easily…”

Absalom’s lips twitched. It seemed he didn’t trust Joshua. Leehwan chuckled.

“That’s not even worth calling a betrayal.”

For Leehwan, the standard for betrayal was Lucien and the Empire. So even if Joshua went around blabbing the truth, it wouldn’t count as betrayal to Leehwan. Knowing this, Absalom hugged Leehwan tightly. Leehwan patted his shoulder and said:

“It’s fine. Even if it’s not fine, we can just leave.”

Settling in this village had been a whim in the first place. If things got bad, they could always move or go back to traveling.

“By the way, Joshua said everything would be fine… Do you know what he meant?”

“What exactly did he say?”

Leehwan recounted his conversation with Joshua as best as he could remember. Absalom’s lips twitched as he listened, and when Leehwan finished, he spoke.

“You just need to wait comfortably. I’ll handle it.”

Whenever Absalom said something like this, it always got resolved. Leehwan decided to just enjoy the warmth he felt right now.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

Several days passed, and Leehwan’s surroundings remained quiet. It was as if the source of the rumors had completely disappeared.

Absalom glanced in the direction of Joshua’s house. The most extravagant mansion in the area was visible even from a distance. Most likely, Joshua had used his wealth to silence the witnesses.

From a human perspective, limited in their methods, it was an efficient way to handle things. Absalom, who had considered using magic behind Leehwan’s back to achieve a similar result, had to admit that much. But the unpleasant feeling didn’t go away.

Leehwan’s lover was Absalom. Therefore, the right to protect Leehwan also belonged to him. Yet, he suppressed his discomfort for Leehwan’s sake.

He shifted his gaze from the mansion to the village. What would have happened if the rumors had spread? Though Absalom didn’t fully understand humans, he could easily guess the outcome of this scenario.

A hellish nightmare for Leehwan, just from the memory alone. Absalom turned away, not wanting to dwell on the past. He wanted to see Leehwan as soon as possible.

As soon as Absalom entered the house, he looked for Leehwan. Drawn by his presence, he went into the kitchen, where Leehwan was drinking water. The moment Leehwan saw Absalom, his calm expression changed.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Absalom hugged Leehwan. Burying his face in Leehwan’s neck and taking a deep breath, he caught the scent of peace. Instead of pressing further, Leehwan slowly stroked Absalom’s back.

A kind person, so kind that even after being brutally betrayed, he didn’t dream of revenge. Even if that kindness had been instilled in him, it wouldn’t have been easy if his nature hadn’t been inherently good.

If the rumors had spread, Leehwan would have suffered again because of that kindness. Those who exploit others’ soft spots faster than any other creature in the world wouldn’t have missed Leehwan’s gentleness. Absalom’s eyes darkened with disgust.

‘Should I just wipe them all out?’

In principle, dragons shouldn’t kill humans. Dragons were born to monitor Iella and maintain the balance of the world.

But with Iella sealed, neutrality was no longer required of Absalom. Even if Absalom slaughtered all humans, there was no one who could hold him accountable.

“Rlom.”

Sensing something unusual in Absalom’s demeanor, Leehwan called him. Absalom erased the thoughts that had just crossed his mind and smiled softly.

There was one being who could hold Absalom accountable. He clung to Leehwan. Leehwan sighed softly and lightly smacked Absalom’s back.

“That hurts.”

“You were probably thinking something unnecessary again, so you deserve it.”

Even as he said that, Leehwan gently rubbed the spot he had hit. Perhaps the one who relied most on Leehwan’s kindness was himself. Absalom kissed Leehwan’s cheek, thinking that.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

Joshua, who hadn’t visited for a while, finally came to see them again after the season changed. He looked tired, as if he’d been busy, but his expression was full of satisfaction.

It was unusual for Joshua to come to the bookstore instead of the flower shop, and even more so for him to just silently glance at Leehwan. Getting tired of trying to figure out his intentions, Leehwan focused on the book he was reading. Joshua started grumbling.

“Is this how you treat a customer?”

Joshua’s nitpicking was familiar. Leehwan answered casually.

“Are you buying a book?”

“……If I don’t buy a book, I’m not a customer?”

Leehwan nodded. Joshua muttered something incomprehensible like, “Ha, I can’t believe I’m dealing with this…” and approached the bookshelf.

“Fine, I’ll buy. If I buy, it’s fine, right?”

In this world where printing technology wasn’t advanced, books meant handwritten copies. Moreover, since literacy itself was the privilege of the upper class, books were considered luxury items. Joshua brought several of them to the counter.

“Ring me up.”

Joshua slammed the books on the counter. Instead of calculating, Leehwan pushed the books aside. Joshua yelled.

“Hey, why are you doing that again!”

“You’re not going to read them anyway.”

Leehwan had only responded because Joshua mentioned “customer service.” Joshua roughly ruffled his hair.

“I really… Fine.”

After a short sigh, Joshua composed himself and looked at Leehwan. Then, his face turned red, and he coughed awkwardly. It seemed he had something to say.

“So, uh, have you been well? You haven’t heard any strange rumors, so you must be doing fine, right?”

Finally, Leehwan remembered what Joshua had said the last time they met. Adding the greeting he’d just heard, it seemed Joshua might have done something about the rumors.

“Thanks.”

A faint smile appeared on Leehwan’s lips. Seeing this, Joshua froze. Then, at some point, his face turned bright red, and he started spouting incomprehensible words.

“Joshua?”

Concerned by Joshua’s sudden change, Leehwan started to approach him. Just then, Absalom entered the bookstore.

“I heard some strange noises. What’s going on?”

The gaze that had immediately turned to Leehwan shifted to Joshua. Absalom’s blue eyes narrowed with a cold light. Joshua, who seemed to have regained his composure at Absalom’s appearance, closed his mouth.

“He seems unwell.”

Leehwan nodded, still observing Joshua’s flushed face. He was also bothered by how Joshua had reacted to Absalom. But Joshua seemed to have a different opinion.

“I’m fine! There’s nothing wrong with me.”

As he said this, Joshua glanced at Absalom. Absalom also looked at Joshua. Leehwan’s discomfort grew.

“Joshua.”

When Leehwan called, both Joshua and Absalom turned their heads. For some reason, the side of his cheek facing Absalom felt hot. It couldn’t just be his imagination.

“Like I said earlier, thanks. It’s nice to see you after so long, but we can catch up later. You don’t look well today, so you should head home.”

“Uh, yeah! Let’s grab a meal together sometime…”

Leehwan glanced at Absalom. Even though they were lovers, he couldn’t stop a simple meeting. Still, he didn’t like the idea of Absalom and Joshua meeting alone, so he hoped Absalom would handle it well.

As Leehwan expected, Absalom answered clearly.

“No.”

“Aren’t you being too possessive? It’s just a simple meal.”

Joshua alternated his gaze between Leehwan and Absalom. Leehwan, who didn’t know much about normal relationships, thought Joshua might have a point.

But so what?

‘I don’t like it.’

Leehwan stepped out from behind the counter and approached Absalom. When he took Absalom’s hand, the eyes of the two men, excluding Leehwan, widened simultaneously.

“I said no.”

Hearing Leehwan’s firm answer, Joshua left the bookstore with a sullen face. Absalom’s gaze as he saw him off held a hint of pity. Leehwan quickly noticed it.

Had he been mistaken? Absalom couldn’t possibly love anyone but Leehwan. He trusted that part, but friendship was another matter.

“If you wanted to have a meal with Joshua…”

Leehwan started but stopped mid-sentence. Absalom suddenly hugged him.

“What’s this, all of a sudden?”

“I really like that boar-like side of you.”

“……Is that an insult?”

“I said I like it.”

Absalom let out a satisfied laugh. As long as Absalom was happy, Leehwan decided to accept it, albeit awkwardly.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

The next day, Joshua visited the bookstore again. His sullen face stirred Leehwan’s guilt.

After all, Joshua had helped Leehwan. Leehwan hadn’t asked for it, so it would be strange to repay him, but treating him to a meal seemed fine.

“Hey, Joshua. Want to grab a meal together?”

Today’s lunch, prepared by Absalom, was seafood rosé pasta. It was a shame to miss it, but it was better than Joshua using the repayment as an excuse to approach Absalom again. So Leehwan made the offer, and Joshua’s eyes widened.

“You don’t want to?”

“Ah, no! I’d love to. But yesterday…”

“Like I said yesterday, Absalom can’t come. He’s busy today.”

He was about to add that Joshua should bear with it when he saw Joshua’s ridiculous expression, his mouth hanging open.

“Don’t tell me you thought I liked Absalom all this time…”

Hearing it directly made him feel even worse. Leehwan waved his hand.

“I know, so you don’t have to say it.”

“Know what? Why would you even think that?”