RODH Chapter 54

54.

“……”

I could’ve just said I wasn’t asleep, so why was my heart racing?

It felt like I was a kid who’d secretly grabbed a couple extra candies behind the tutor’s back.

After some hesitation, I opened my mouth.

“I’m awake.”

The response came immediately.

“I see.”

“……”

“……”

Silence between us had become so natural, it didn’t feel awkward.

That’s just the kind of person Nevan was.

Someone who didn’t add unnecessary words.

After spending time with Nevan, I started to feel like the people from the central and southern regions were overly expressive with their emotions.

In some ways, that kind of behavior placed a burden on others.

How had I managed to keep laughing and smiling at all those social gatherings where that was the norm?

Thinking back on those days filled me with unexpected nostalgia.

Nevan’s voice rang through the thin wall once more.

“Are you feeling all right?”

The concern in his voice made the corners of my lips turn up.

Nevan cared about me. The inside of my chest tickled pleasantly.

“I’m fine. My thighs ache a little, but that happens to anyone after riding a horse.”

“I see.”

And again, silence.

I wanted to talk about what had happened that afternoon. I’d been unsettled all day by how subdued Nevan seemed.

I couldn’t sleep anyway, maybe because of the unfamiliar surroundings. So I told Nevan how I felt about the two Alphas.

Then Nevan said,

“It might sound rude, but there are people like Lord Alvis who value an Alpha’s imprint deeply.”

“Is there any point in assigning meaning to something that fades over time? I’ve heard Alpha imprints are common.”

“An imprint stems from deep emotion. Usually, an Alpha leaves one on an Omega they’re fond of, during moments of joy.”

His words felt like a plea to recognize an Alpha’s sincerity.

Well, he was an Alpha too, so he likely understood it better than I did.

Pressing my pillow close and almost touching the wall, I asked,

“Do you think Lord Alvis was hurt?”

“He didn’t look well, that’s true.”

“I’ll apologize to both of them tomorrow.”

“Ian.”

Nevan suddenly said my name.

Just hearing it once in his voice left an echo that lingered for quite a while.

Instead of answering, I tapped lightly on the wall.

A soft knock responded, and his voice followed close behind.

“Please don’t receive too many Alpha imprints.”

Why?

They’ll all fade anyway.

I was about to say I understood—not to disregard an Alpha’s feelings—when Nevan shook me again with a vague, cryptic statement.

“Because you are the one who brings spring.”

Was he implying I was Northern?

Before I could ask what he meant, the unlit lamp suddenly flickered on and off.

A scream rang out from the next room.

“Young lord!”

It was Bain.

He barged into my room in his pajamas and clung to me like glue.

“I think this place is haunted. The lights just started flashing on their own!”

“Shouldn’t a haunted house look a little more rundown than this?”

“What are you saying? Even perfectly normal houses can be haunted!”

“Anyway, could you move away?”

“Sorry, young lord.”

Bain was afraid of ghosts.

With no other option, I decided to let him sleep in my room.

He looked visibly calmer as he grabbed a blanket and pillow, laying them out on the floor.

“This really brings back memories. When you were little, you used to ask me to stay nearby because it was too dark.”

“I did.”

“And now look at you, all grown up and carrying out His Majesty’s orders… sniff.”

“Bain, your face will get all puffy tomorrow. Stop crying and go to sleep.”

“Yes, young lord. Hmph.”

Nevan probably heard this entire exchange.

After confirming that Bain had fallen asleep, I tapped the wall that connected our rooms.

And, just like he had done before, I asked,

“Are you asleep?”

“My eyes are closed.”

His answer made me picture those beautiful eyelashes instantly.

I told him about the necklace Lucian had given me.

Nevan had never asked me about things like that.

But for some reason, I felt compelled to confess everything to him—as if I were in a confessional.

After hearing even the secret behind the pendant, Nevan said,

“Lord Lucian may seem frivolous on the outside, but he’s actually quite serious. Even if it’s for political reasons, stepping down from your position as crown princess won’t be easy, Ian.”

“That’s exactly the problem. If Lucian—excuse me, Lord Lucian—refuses to back down, I don’t know what to do.”

“I will help you.”

“What?”

I asked again, thinking I’d misheard, and Nevan replied,

“I’ll help you, Ian. The North longs for the one who brings spring.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“If Lord Lucian steps down from the position of crown prince, that would be enough.”

“Gasp!”

Nevan went on to explain how many people were eyeing the crown prince’s seat.

And that it would be easy to create a situation where Lucian had to choose—either give up the title or give up me.

I was genuinely impressed by Nevan’s sharp thinking.

“Lord Lucian is quite power-hungry. I doubt he’ll let go of the title.”

“You never know.”

“Why not?”

“Find the answer for yourself.”

With that cryptic remark, our conversation ended.

Dawn was beginning to glow, faint and bluish on the horizon.

---

Ian stifled another yawn as he sipped soup from a metal mug.

The warmth of the broth felt like it was melting the tension from his body.

“Was the room cold?” Seor asked, plopping down beside him.

Peter was off to the side, slicing kindling with his sword.

Ian replied, “A little. I suppose winter’s coming soon.”

“Samhain’s over now. Soon, it’ll be my birthday celebration.”

Seor had no intention of letting this opportunity slip by.

He knew full well that his foolish words had once hurt Ian—and nearly driven him to death. It was all part of his own karma.

But if he proposed at a party Ian actually liked, perhaps he would accept the offer with a smile.

Until then, he had to avoid doing anything to fall further out of Ian’s favor.

‘I shouldn’t have let that damn crown prince provoke me yesterday…’

He regretted it, but it was already done.

Seor vowed not to dwell on the past.

“Here, have some grilled bacon.”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“You really eat like a bird.”

Ian shot him a sideways glance, unsure whether that was meant to be a compliment or an insult.

So this is what it feels like when someone just rubs you the wrong way no matter what they do.

Though it was unfair, Seor was determined.

A tactical retreat for long-term gain.

“Then I’ll go pack up. Be sure to eat a hearty breakfast.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As the annoying gnat finally buzzed off on his own, Ian felt instantly lighter.

Just thinking about all the trouble that bastard had caused made his stomach churn.

Seor resembled the Emperor but acted more like a spoiled child.

‘Still, Father told me not to be disrespectful…’

Ian gritted his teeth and endured.

After finishing his soup, he mounted his horse and looked around at the group’s formation.

Today, Alvis looked especially worn out.

And with good reason.

The magical house Alvis had created was rigged with ears in every corner—he had overheard every word Ian and Nevan had exchanged.

Contrary to his assumption that the ignorant northern brute wouldn’t even count as a rival, the two were clearly very close.

And that cursed phrase—the one who brings spring!

“Ian, you are the one who brings spring.”

The direct implication that Ian shouldn’t be entangled with anyone but him had made Alvis so angry that he’d struggled to control his mana.

As a result, the lights in the house had flickered on and off during the night.

Control your emotions, control your emotions.

Alvis repeated the words Ian had once said to himself in an effort to cool his temper.

Meanwhile, Ian approached Lucian to apologize.

“Lord Lucian, please forgive my rudeness yesterday. I spoke out of ignorance regarding Alpha imprints.”

“Hm? No need to apologize. By the way, did you sleep well, Ian? You weren’t startled by the lights flickering during the night?”

Lucian had actually been on standby, ready to barge into Ian’s room at any moment.

But when that fool Bain went in first, he had to abandon his plan.

Bain had felt a chill, but brushed it off.

“I was fine. And Lord Alvis.”

“Yes, please go on.”

Snapped out of his thoughts, Alvis looked at Ian with eyes full of hope.

Seor leaned toward Peter and whispered, “Doesn’t he look just like a dog waiting for a bone?”

“I misspoke yesterday. That’s not what I meant to say… Please forgive me for my ignorance about Alpha imprints.”

“Not at all, Lord Ian. I’m already grateful just for being allowed to imprint on you.”

Even while speaking to Ian, Alvis cast glances at the other Alphas.

He was clearly showing off that he had been granted permission to leave an imprint on Ian.

Seor ground his teeth, and Lucian’s expression turned sour. Nevan’s face remained unreadably calm.

Then it happened.

There was a sudden thundering noise as a group of dwarves and ogres approached the party.

“Form up!” Seor shouted as he leapt from his horse.

Everyone except Ian dismounted and surrounded him, fending off the monsters.

They had probably caught the scent of humans and followed it here.

Alvis hurled a firebolt, blasting the smaller creatures away, then asked Nevan,

“Are these monsters native to this area?”

He was asking whether this was related to the monster wave.

Nevan shook his head.

“I’m not sure about the dwarves, but ogres usually live near the eastern foothills.”

Like snow leopards or grizzly bears, it was clear they had fled here while being chased by something.

Just as they were piecing things together—

Ian’s scream rang out.