RODH Chapter 84

84.

“Spirit, is it true that those blessed by you cannot live outside the North?”

Ian’s mind was filled with images of emaciated people.

Anna Tuhatla, resting her head on her hand, nodded.

“That’s right, more or less.”

“Why is that?”

“It should be written in the book. The mana I bless is bound to be drawn to the North.”

Which meant that unless one lived in a region rich in mana, they would continuously suffer mana depletion.

“Then isn’t that more of a curse than a blessing?”

At Ian’s question, Anna Tuhatla gave him a strange look.

“It is most certainly a blessing, one who brings spring. Those who receive my blessing live longer than others and do not tire easily.”

Then she spoke words Ian had never heard before.

“After all, won’t you live in the North too?”

“I have not decided yet.”

Anna Tuhatla’s lips curled into a sly grin.

“That scar on your palm—you died the day it appeared, didn’t you?”

Ian froze for a moment, then realizing he faced a spirit, gave a small nod.

Anna Tuhatla circled him once, then perched on the table as she spoke.

“No matter how many turns your life has taken, that doesn’t matter. It is only because you died in the North that my mana flowed into you.”

“Then must I live in the North for the rest of my life?”

“Wouldn’t that be better?”

“Ha.”

So that was why she had suddenly insisted he be brought north.

Surely Seor, Lucian, and even Alvis knew and had allowed it.

Seor had used Peter as an excuse not to come along, but Ian knew he was not the sort of man to be ignorant.

“He must have known.”

After so many years of being deceived, Ian suddenly felt a lump in his throat. He had thought Nevan invited him simply because of their formal relationship, not because of such a hidden matter.

But his feelings for Nevan were so strong that another emotion soon surfaced—something like disappointment.

“He might as well have proposed…”

“You like the grand duke that much?”

Anna Tuhatla stretched out across the table, resting her chin in her hand, and asked.

“Lord Nevan is…”

Ian wanted to pour out all sorts of praise and compliments about him.

But suddenly, with a rush of hot breath, strange memories surged up.

‘Haah, my heart feels like it’s going to burst.’

What was this?

His body froze as though seized by a frozen flower.

“Hm? What’s wrong, one who brings spring?”

“N-no, it’s nothing.”

Ian tried to focus on his books, reviewing before his tutor for heir lessons arrived.

But the sticky memories lingered, and every word on the page bounced away.

Beneath him was Nevan.

‘Haah…’

Nevan was flustered, with an expression Ian had never seen before.

Ian remembered trying to seize his lips again, remembered failing and being restrained.

And then—

He couldn’t move.

So… he had cried.

‘Hhic, hhhic, huuuhh!’

“Ahhh! Agh!”

Clutching his head in both hands, Ian ruffled his hair in frustration.

Anna Tuhatla, watching him struggle to control his emotions, thought,

Truly, humans are such emotional creatures.

Red to his neck, Ian ran to the washroom and splashed cold water over his face.

But the heat would not fade.

The shame of showing such disgrace before Nevan made him want to crawl into a hole and hide.

And still—why hadn’t Nevan said anything?

Even in heat, he should have acted rationally.

“Don’t tell me I fainted because of the heat?”

Oh, heavens.

For the first time in a long while, Ian cried out to the gods.

And seeing that Nevan’s pheromones had faintly thickened—could it have been rut as well?

Heat and rut together…

His mother’s words came to mind, and he thought himself an unfilial son.

“I nearly caused a disaster in just one day. Damn it, Ian Pearl Ruben!”

As if bewitched, Ian muttered at the mirror.

That could have ended in catastrophe.

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

Just then, there came a knock at the door.

“Yes.”

Ian quickly dried his face and hair and answered.

Anna Tuhatla vanished on her own.

“My lord, I’ve brought breakfast.”

It was Bain.

Breakfast was two eggs, three strips of bacon, a scone, and hot tea.

“And here’s a letter as well.”

Ian took the letter Bain handed him.

But its condition was odd.

It looked dirty, as though it had been pulled from the trash.

The senders were Seor and Peter.

Surely neither of them would have used such filthy paper.

Ian looked at Bain in confusion, and Bain lowered his voice, as though afraid someone might hear.

“The butler threw away the letters the moment he saw they were from those two. So I dug them out of the bin and brought them.”

“The butler?”

“Yes! I saw it with my own eyes.”

Nevan had always said the people of House Kirias were honest and kind.

But perhaps there was something even Nevan did not know.

Still bewildered, Ian unfolded the letter.

[…]

The North must be cold.

I worry that, being frail, you may end up confined to your room without stepping out at all.

I should be at your side at a time like this, but I beg your understanding that unavoidable circumstances prevented me from accompanying you.

[…]

Had he come along, wouldn’t he and Nevan have clashed?

Ian continued reading Seor’s letter.

[…]

But I do have good news—I will be coming to the North soon.

Until then, take care of your health, eat well…

[…]

Had that bastard Seor truly repented?

His words of concern grated on Ian’s nerves.

He remembered the self-proclaimed little sun of the Empire, always snapping in anger and making threats, and he flung the envelope aside.

“Shall I put it in the fireplace, my lord?” Bain asked.

“Yes. It’s cold—let’s use it for fuel.”

So Seor’s worthless letter was burned, and Ian opened Peter’s.

[…]

Because of a disgraceful incident within my family, I am under house restriction and cannot pay my respects in person. Please forgive me. And about the matter of becoming your guardian knight…

[…]

Peter seemed desperate to become his guardian knight.

Ian had heard there were omegas who never appointed one, and he intended to be one of them—to let Peter wait in vain until he withered.

No matter how gentle or loyal Peter now appeared, the scar of that past life—when he had mercilessly cut off Ian’s head—remained too deep.

Absentmindedly touching his neck, Ian asked Bain to burn that letter too.

Fwoosh.

The flames flared high, then settled back to normal.

Bain cautiously spoke.

“Were they both bad letters, my lord?”

“No. Just letters of greeting.”

“Ah…”

“You want to ask why I burned them, don’t you?”

“No, only… you seemed upset. Should I bring some fruit tea?”

“I’m fine. With time, I’ll feel better.”

Shuddering at the letters he could never grow used to, Ian waited for his history tutor to arrive.

Not long after, the tutor came, and Ian stayed in his room until the sun had set.

* * *

In the meantime, Nevan had secured a flawless offering and prepared the altar exactly as it should be.

It was not a scene he wished Ian to witness, but since Anna Tuhatla had to be present to receive the offering, he summoned him.

Before long, Ian arrived at the altar accompanied by Klain.

Anna Tuhatla appeared without hesitation before the assembled retainers.

“Lady Anna Tuhatla!”

Sensing the strange power, the retainers dropped to one knee and paid their respects.

With a satisfied smile, Anna Tuhatla ordered that the offering be presented.

Beforehand, Nevan whispered to Ian,

“This is not a sight you should see. Turn your back and cover your ears.”

Ian nodded and did as Nevan instructed.

Soon the cries of a beast rang out, and as the sun set, the sound ceased.

With the death of the offering, the chill of Ferost seeped in, cold and sharp.

Sensing it was over, Ian removed his hands from his ears.

At once, Anna Tuhatla’s angry roar resounded.

“Why is my body still like this!”

“Did you not just receive the offering?”

Nevan asked calmly.

Shaking her head like a sulking child, Anna Tuhatla replied that she still could not wield her strength.

“Something is blocking my power.”

“Then what must we do?”

“Find the sacred stones.”

According to Anna Tuhatla, there were five in total, each buried within the snowy mountains.

“Is there no easier way? It will take too long.”

At Nevan’s question, Anna Tuhatla clicked her tongue and waved her hand once.

In an instant, glittering crystals poured into Nevan’s hands.

“They hold my power. When you find the stones, these crystals will shine.”

“Thank you.”

With that, Anna Tuhatla disappeared.

Nevan distributed the crystals among the retainers.

Then, seeing Ian standing alone in a daze, he strode quickly to him and gently took his hand.

“Your hand is cold.”

Instinctively, Ian flinched and tried to draw back.

In the awkward moment, it was Nevan who first released the hand.

“Let us return inside.”

At his suggestion, Ian only nodded mechanically.

Hhic, hhhic, huuhhh—

The pitiful sobs of a foolish omega, crying over the grief of not consummating, whined ceaselessly in his head.