RODH Side Story Chapter 23

Side Story 23. The Blessing of Kirias

“You are beautiful. Very much so.”

Nevan’s red eyes said the same.

So, he still sees me as beautiful.

Ian calmed his pounding heart and asked,

“Shall we go like this?”

“There’s a place we must stop by first.”

“Where?”

“The study. The children say they’ve prepared a gift.”

A soft smile touched Ian’s lips.

Since they were already close, he leaned in and kissed Nevan’s lips.

He could sense Blony and Bain averting their eyes in surprise, but it didn’t matter.

Life was too short not to do as one wished.

It was a lesson he had learned after dying many times.

Their mouths met briefly and parted.

Nevan whispered softly,

“If we go further, it will be dangerous.”

“How dangerous?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Nevan’s ears flushed red.

Ian wanted to tease him more, but Bain cleared his throat, reminding them of the tight schedule.

Ian nuzzled his beloved mate’s cheek with his nose, brushing him with pheromones.

“I’ll head to the study once I finish getting ready.”

“Yes.”

On the way to the west study.

Through the window, Ian saw the carriages of guests beginning to arrive one after another.

One of the first things he had done after coming here was to tidy the front of the Grand Duke’s estate.

Weapons scattered everywhere were sent to the forge, and the ground pitted by training was filled with fresh soil and leveled flat.

As a result, the satisfaction of visitors to the estate increased.

The small warehouse he had converted into a resting place for coachmen had also grown popular.

After adding a chimney so they could roast potatoes or sweet potatoes, word spread among them.

If you go to the Grand Duke’s estate in Kirias, you must try the piping hot roasted potatoes or sweet potatoes.

So even though the road there was rough, the coachmen never complained.

When had that been?

Ian thought again how quickly time passed.

At the study door.

He knocked gently.

“I’m here to receive my present.”

At once, a bright, ringing voice answered.

“Just a moment! We’re not quite done yet!”

Ian chuckled softly and replied,

“Take your time. I’ll be waiting.”

“Yes!”

* * *

“You are beautiful. So very much.”

Nevan’s crimson eyes echoed the same words.

So, he still sees me as beautiful.

Ian steadied his pounding heart and asked,

“Shall we go like this?”

“There’s somewhere we must stop first.”

“Where is that?”

“The study. The children say they’ve prepared a gift.”

A gentle smile curved Ian’s lips.

Since they were already so close, he leaned in and kissed Nevan’s lips.

He could sense Blony and Bain turning away in surprise, but it didn’t matter.

Life was too short not to live as he wished.

That was the lesson he had learned after dying so many times.

Their lips brushed and parted briefly.

Nevan whispered softly,

“If we go further, it will be dangerous.”

“How dangerous?”

“…”

Nevan said nothing, but the tips of his ears turned red.

Ian wanted to tease him more, but Bain’s discreet cough reminded them of the tight schedule.

Ian rubbed his nose against his beloved mate’s cheek, leaving a trace of pheromones.

“I’ll come to the study once I’m ready.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Elena had told Nevan that what they needed was Nevan himself.

At first, he hadn’t understood at all and had to listen to her explanation at length.

“You see, what Mother likes is Father. So we decorate you nicely and give you as a present!”

“That’s…”

Nevan tried to explain that no matter how much they decorated him, he could never become as beautiful as Ian.

But Elena shook her head fiercely.

“Papa is beautiful!”

“…”

So the paper flowers folded in every color became tropical-looking garlands and bracelets, and the ribbon became a head ornament.

The moment Nevan entered the study, Elena began decorating him with all of it.

“Now we just need to close the box, and it’s done!”

Just as she was about to boast that her plan was perfect, she noticed the problem.

Compared to Nevan, the box was far too small.

Leo sighed and said,

“That’s why I told you to get a bigger box. Father’s bigger than he looks.”

“I didn’t know it’d be like this. Why is Father so big anyway?”

“…”

At his daughter’s complaint, Nevan looked a little downhearted.

But then Elena cried out,

“Let’s just say Father is a flowerpot!”

“What does that even mean?”

Leo asked, baffled, but Elena shrugged.

“Look, the box is the pot, and Father standing inside is the flower.”

Leo glanced at Nevan and muttered,

“Flowers with ribbons exist?”

“They do! Starting today they do!”

“Fine, let’s say they do.”

Leo sighed again.

Nevan recalled something Ian had once said—Elena was stubborn just like him.

And yet, even that stubbornness looked lovely in Nevan’s eyes.

Such spirit in such a small frame, she could become a fine swordswoman…

No, he couldn’t burden Ian with more worries.

“Then shall we open the door now?”

Leo checked that all the curtains were closed and nodded.

“Come in!”

* * *

“Happy birthday, Mother!”

Elena was the first to scamper forward.

Pointing at a familiar figure, she said,

“We prepared a very special gift.”

“A special…”

Before Ian could finish speaking, his gaze met Nevan’s—standing stiffly in the box, decorated with flowers.

Ian blinked. He was like a tree planted inside the box.

The surprise faded quickly, and Ian stifled his laughter.

Surely this was Elena’s doing.

“What a wonderful gift.”

Ian pulled Nevan out of the box and kissed his cheek.

“Do you like the gift, Mother?”

“Of course. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Then now look at Leo’s gift! He said he prepared something amazing.”

“I never said that.”

Leo’s cheeks flushed red.

Ian assured him it was all right.

Then Leo blew out a single candle and revealed a vision of dancing stars.

“Wow!”

Ian, like Elena, gasped in awe.

When he looked up, he saw Nevan watching Leo with pride in his eyes.

How could Ian not recognize the warmth in those crimson eyes?

He thought with gratitude that the children were growing so well on their own.

“Thank you, Leo. That was an incredible gift.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“When you’re praised, you should say, ‘Thank you.’”

“Yes, Mother.”

At that moment, the study door creaked open.

“The ceremony is about to begin. Your Grace, please come quickly.”

“All right, Blony. I’ll be right there.”

The birthday banquet began in the newly decorated hall.

Family and relatives, as well as the four alphas who were no longer quite so tiresome, raised their glasses.

The cups lifted high, and a hearty shout rang out.

“To Ian Pearl Ruben!”

At the afterparty.

Seor lingered, watching Ian as he greeted the guests.

He wanted to find a chance to speak with him alone.

But the pheromones swirling around Ian’s space kept others at bay.

And of course, Nevan was standing guard nearby.

“So you won’t even let me speak to him.”

Seor still wanted to fill the empty place in his heart with Ian.

The same was true for the other alphas.

Peter seemed content simply to watch from afar, but the others were not.

Even Alvis, who had put his feelings aside for Leo’s sake, found his resolve shaken on this special day, seeing Ian shine brighter than ever.

Lucian came to stand beside Seor and offered him a glass.

Seor frowned.

“I don’t drink what others hand me.”

“Is it just because it’s me?”

“Hmph.”

“Isn’t Ian beautiful tonight? Not being able to say anything and just aching inside—it hurts here.”

Lucian thumped his chest over his heart with his fist.

“What’s your point, Crown Prince?”

“That we should get along, since we’re in the same boat. Who knows? If we wait, we might get some crumbs.”

Lucian smiled slyly.

Seor left his side and moved toward Ian.

Nevan, who had been talking with a guest not far away, moved too.

“Ian, happy birthday.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Do you remember what I once told you?”

“Which words do you mean…?”

Seor, his throat dry, emptied his glass of champagne.

“…That I have never given up on you.”

“I had forgotten.”

Ian tried to leave as if he hadn’t heard, but Seor said clearly,

“You may take me as your consort if you wish. Even if my pride is crushed, my true desire is to remain at your side.”

“Your Highness, you are drunk.”

“Do you think I’d be drunk on a single glass of champagne?”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps not.”

“If you ever grow tired of Kirias, come to me. I will wait every day.”

Ian was about to refuse flatly, certain that would never happen.

But at that moment Nevan arrived.

Ian’s heart lifted, and he opened his mouth to call for his mate.

Yet Nevan’s expression was strangely dark.

Ian quickly took the glass from Nevan’s hand and passed it to a servant.

“Are you all right?”

“I have something to ask…”

“Then let’s step onto the balcony for a moment.”

Nevan nodded.

Turning his back on Seor’s gaze, Ian supported Nevan and guided him away.

Guests asked if everything was fine, but there was no time to answer.

Perhaps he should have gone to a physician instead of the balcony.

As soon as they stepped outside, Nevan pulled Ian into his arms.

“My lord Nevan?”

“Are you going to leave?”

“…What?”

“Are you tired of Kirias?”

For a long moment, Ian couldn’t answer.

It must be because he overheard what Seor had said.

Clutching at the ache in his bones, Ian parted his lips to speak.