It’s hard to find a market in a small village because transactions are rare. That’s why Lee Hwan and Absalom set their sights on a fairly large city as their destination.
Presenting a discreet identification to the household steward of the palace, Lee Hwan entered the city without any trouble. They chose the inn with the most bustling activity. The more crowded a place, the harder it was for specific individuals to be remembered.
For that reason, from the moment they arrived in the city, Lee Hwan told Absalom to cover his face. It was because among the many people coming and going, there might be someone who would notice Absalom and even take an interest in Lee Hwan. So, they quietly settled into the inn as if blending in.
“Wait here for a moment.”
After leaving Lee Hwan’s room with those words, Absalom returned shortly after, carrying several items in his arms.
First, Absalom placed a water pitcher filled with warm water and a dry towel on the shelf. Then, he offered Lee Hwan some dried fruits.
“It’s a bit early for dinner, so I brought these. Let’s start with these for now.”
Lee Hwan accepted it without a word and put it in his mouth. The sweet taste, long forgotten, lifted his spirits. As Lee Hwan savored the dried fruit, Absalom spoke up.
“I’ll be back after visiting the market, so don’t go anywhere until then. Got it? Even if the owner knocks, pretend you’re not here.”
After finishing his words, Absalom immediately left Lee Hwan’s room. Even after his presence faded away, Lee Hwan, who had been deep in thought, quickly swallowed what was in his mouth and coughed abruptly.
The frequency of coughing noticeably decreased. His chest, which had felt uncomfortable, also felt much better. Lee Hwan acknowledged that Absalom’s care played a significant role in his improved condition. He didn’t deny Absalom’s efforts.
Yet, part of him felt a bit irritated. Despite Absalom’s promise to pamper him, the results weren’t as satisfactory as expected. The reason Absalom took charge of everything before Lee Hwan became too annoying was precisely this.
Lee Hwan rose from his seat and approached the shelf. Steam was rising from the water pitcher. After washing himself with the water, he dried off with the towel Absalom had brought.
Absalom returned as evening approached. His expression was bright, as if he had carefully chosen his words.
“I found some urgent merchandise and bought it cheaply. Both are sturdy and gentle, so either one would be fine. Tomorrow, take a look and choose the one Lee Hwan likes.”
Absalom looked at Lee Hwan with sparkling eyes, his face filled with anticipation. It seemed like he was expecting something.
“Alright.”
Lee Hwan replied shortly, closing his mouth afterward. Absalom’s face fell into a sullen expression, although it was an expected response, Lee Hwan ignored it.
After dinner, Lee Hwan went to bed early. He planned to leave the city early the next morning.
They were nearing the border now. Once they passed it, they would enter the kingdom of Plzensia. In the city of Sankonia in the northern region of Plzensia, there was a famous cathedral. This was the place where the first sacred object that Lee Hwan was aiming for was stored.
***
The Erementas Cathedral in Sankonia City was a place where pilgrims’ footsteps never ceased. Where people gathered, commerce and accommodation inevitably thrived.
There was a pilgrim’s hostel within the cathedral grounds. However, it was small, and the meals consisted of hard bread and water only, providing only the bare minimum of comforts. Therefore, those with some flexibility often opted to use external facilities.
Naturally, the hostel, which had become the domain of the poor, was always bustling. Sharing a room with strangers was common practice. There were even instances where someone entering a room with a sick person would hastily flee in terror.
“It won’t do to have two rooms.”
So when Absalom dangled a single key, Lee Hwan felt no particular excitement. When Lee Hwan gestured for guidance, Absalom hesitated and asked.
“Will it be alright?”
“What could possibly not be alright?”
In response, Absalom chuckled wryly.
The hostel room was narrower and shabbier than any inn room Lee Hwan had stayed in before. Two beds were placed side by side against the wall, with a gap barely wide enough for an arm’s length. Moreover, the basic cleanliness seemed neglected as the stench of filth pricked the nose. Absalom grabbed Lee Hwan, who had entered ahead.
“Lee Hwan, you can wait outside for a bit. Take a stroll, or maybe go check on the horses in the stable… It’ll just be a moment.”
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After some time passed, he retraced his steps. As he entered the room after passing through the hostel’s long corridor, a pleasant smell greeted Lee Hwan. As he looked around the tidy room, Absalom, holding a basin, approached.
“You’re early. I thought about going to find you.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Lee Hwan muttered with a puzzled expression. No matter how you looked at it, this went beyond the realm of cleaning. However, Absalom just smiled gently with a happy expression.
“Come, sit over here.”
Absalom guided Lee Hwan to sit on the hard wooden bed. Then, he placed the basin on the floor and knelt beside it. Lee Hwan wondered what on earth he was up to.
Absalom’s delicate fingers reached for Lee Hwan’s shoes and gently pulled them off. The worn-out shoes easily slipped off, revealing sweaty socks. As Absalom reached for the socks, Lee Hwan involuntarily spoke up.
“What are you doing?”
In his short question, there was a faint sense of embarrassment. Absalom raised his head upon hearing the words, as if reading the hesitation behind them. As he did, his silver hair, which had been pouring forward, cascaded down his smooth forehead and cheek like a veil.
“Lee Hwan?”
Lee Hwan, staring blankly at the sight that seemed otherworldly, snapped out of his trance at the low voice. Absalom’s figure reflected in his focused eyes. He couldn’t believe he had lost himself staring at that guy of all people. Lee Hwan was annoyed at his own foolishness.
“What are you doing right now?”
Lee Hwan spoke sternly, his voice sounding irritated. However, Absalom paid no heed and responded as if it were obvious.
“The room is cramped. Besides, in such a small space, it’s much easier for me to wash your feet. There’ll be less splashing too.”
With that, Absalom casually removed Lee Hwan’s socks. Lee Hwan, who had initially wanted to stop Absalom, changed his mind. He hadn’t thought of resisting to the extent of making a scene. This was nothing.
Absalom carefully took hold of Lee Hwan’s ankles and guided them into the basin filled with warm water.
Lee Hwan forced himself to stay alert, despite his body growing increasingly lethargic, as he looked down at Absalom. Under the silver hair, his forehead and nose peeked slightly. His red lips were also visible intermittently. Regardless of what lay beneath, Absalom’s outer appearance exuded nobility, making Lee Hwan feel with a somewhat ambiguous feeling.
No one had ever attended to Lee Hwan so closely before. He felt awkward, bitten by his own hesitation. If he hadn’t resisted the attention back then, he could have easily commanded Absalom now. A strange sense of regret washed over him.
Absalom meticulously washed Lee Hwan’s feet and dried them thoroughly. Then, he carried the basin of dirty water outside. When he returned a while later, he held a new basin filled with fresh water in his hands.
“This is water for washing up. I’ll fetch something for you to eat.”
Lee Hwan glanced at the door Absalom had left through. Strangely, he felt even dirtier.
The sound of pain echoed through the silence of the night. Absalom rose from his seat and effortlessly navigated through the pitch-black darkness towards Lee Hwan.
Lee Hwan was already asleep. Absalom knew he hadn’t let his guard down, tossing and turning until he finally drifted off. However, even after such turmoil, it was hard to say he had slept properly by morning.
“As expected…”
Absalom sighed, mixing his breath with a murmur. Lee Hwan cried out as if seized by a fit.
“Lucian… don’t go…!”
Absalom gritted his teeth unknowingly. Lucian, Lucian, Lucian! He never imagined he would curse a mere human like this.
A soft sob filled the dark room. Absalom wiped Lee Hwan’s brow with his fingers. The moisture there was warm, salty, and bitter.
The sound of sobbing mixed with breaths gradually subsided. Had the nightmare finally ended? Absalom thought as he looked at Lee Hwan’s slumped shoulders.
As if mocking his thoughts, Lee Hwan’s body jerked suddenly. Now, as if devoid of the strength to sob, he took a deep breath and exhaled with a sigh.
“…Rom?”
The words were faint, but they weighed heavily on Absalom more than anything else.
“Once again, I appear in your nightmares.”
Absalom reached out with a numb voice. He gently removed Lee Hwan’s tightly clenched lips. The pale lips quickly turned red. Absalom wiped the moisture away with his fingers.
If Lee Hwan had shown no sign of movement, it would have ended there.
The red tongue that emerged from between the hot lips licked the white fingers. Absalom, swallowing his breath, bowed his head, following the disappeared flesh.
A silvery curtain enveloped Absalom and Lee Hwan. All they could hear was each other’s breath, and all they could see was darkness and each other’s faces.
Absalom licked his lips. Just a little, ever so slightly, and he could reach what he had longed for all along. Although he had never tasted it before, he knew it was sweet.
However, he sat up. Compared to his long hesitation, his movement was swift. Absalom, who bit his lip until it bled, returned to his own bed. The sound of pulling up the blanket was quite rough.
And the moment he lay down completely, Lee Hwan opened his eyes.
Lee Hwan had been half asleep until he extended his tongue. In his drowsiness, he sensed something disturbing and heard the rough sound of swallowing as he licked. That sound woke him up.
It was unmistakable enough to know without knowing. Absalom was lusting after Lee Hwan.
Neither of them could sleep on through the deepening night.
***
The next morning, Lee Hwan and Absalom, who had given up pretending to sleep early on, were up and about.
The relic was kept in the main building of the cathedral. As they entered, magnificent stained glass greeted them. Lee Hwan pretended to show interest, scanning through them as if he were a curious pilgrim, which was part of the act.
Near the entrance, there was a stained glass featuring a winged wolf, a creature resembling a monster but symbolizing protection in this world. Such symbols were common throughout the area.
Across from him was a stained glass depicting a snake. Lee Hwan glanced at it briefly before heading towards the room where the relic was kept. Colorful lights passed through the stained glass, casting alternating beams onto him.
The subsequent stained glass panels illustrated the story of the relic stored here. It portrayed Yela, who appeared as a poor old woman to survey the earth, Yela begging for water with a parched throat, and Yela, rejected by everyone, choking on the water given by a boy.
Lee Hwan stopped in his tracks. Beneath the stained glass depicting Yela, who transformed a common cup into a jewel-encrusted golden chalice to offer to the boy, there lay the relic.
There, the relic was placed. To Lee Hwan, who had been accustomed to encountering all sorts of beauty in the palace, the cup looked rather plain. However, Lee Hwan could discern that it was indeed the relic.
It wasn’t something someone had informed him about; he simply felt it instinctively. The intangible energy emanating from the hollow of the cup was undoubtedly divine power.
Eyes under the cloak scanned the surroundings. Six soldiers guarded the relic. Two soldiers nearby seemed ready to intervene if Lee Hwan attempted anything foolish.
Lee Hwan joined his hands like the other pilgrims around him. He slowly bent forward, paused for a moment, then straightened up. As he turned, he spotted Absalom standing a short distance away.
Absalom in the shadow seemed lost in thought, his expression cool. He appeared unfamiliar to Lee Hwan. Lee Hwan thought this might be Absalom’s true nature. Almost simultaneously, memories of last night’s fiery breath and blazing eyes flashed through Lee Hwan’s mind. He narrowed his gaze.
As Lee Hwan took a step, Absalom looked up. Their eyes met. Lee Hwan noticed Absalom’s deep blue irises growing hazy.
Lee Hwan cut through the shimmering air. Absalom forced an awkward smile but was ignored as they passed each other.
As they exited the main hall, Absalom followed closely. His mouth, usually chatty even without prompting, remained shut today. An awkward silence hung between them.
As they neared the inn, Lee Hwan involuntarily turned his head at the mocking golden glow. A blond boy passed by.
Everything from his wavy hair to his short stature, even the dazzling effect under the sunlight, reminded Lee Hwan of someone. Lee Hwan clenched his fists tightly. Absalom grabbed his shoulder.
“Lee Hwan!”
Lee Hwan blinked. Absalom wore a desperate expression. Beyond his shoulder, the blond boy came into view. Only then did the boy’s attire register in Lee Hwan’s mind – the typical robe worn by clergy.
Lucian couldn’t possibly be here. Even if he were, what difference would it make?
“Why?”
However, the sound he managed to make was rough even for Lee Hwan himself to hear. What did Absalom say? However, Lee Hwan could not understand a word.
Absalom grabbed Lee Hwan’s shoulder, urging him forward. Lee Hwan complied, walking obediently.
Arriving in the cramped room of the inn, Lee Hwan sank onto the bed. Absalom sat on the opposite bed. Their knees almost touched.
“It’s narrow here. Are you uncomfortable, Lee Hwan?”
“Yeah.”
Lee Hwan, finally coming to his senses, responded. A cool breeze swept through his calmed heart.
“When should we leave?”
Absalom tensed without responding. Was it due to his mood? His already pale face seemed even more drained. Lee Hwan felt a strange unease.
“You know it too. We can’t leave yet.”
Confirming the location of the relic didn’t mean they could just rush in. Above all, Lee Hwan couldn’t afford to act rashly at the moment. It was best to stay here for a few days like other pilgrims seemed to be doing.
Absalom pursed his lips at Lee Hwan’s response. His pupils noticeably sank into his eyes. If you don’t like it, then leave alone. Lee Hwan suppressed the urge to say that and instead asked for something else.
“Could you bring something to drink? I’m thirsty.”
“Water suffice? No, wine? Beer?”
“Just water will do.”
Absalom, for some reason, left the room with a noticeably brighter expression on his face. Lee Hwan couldn’t fathom the reason behind it.
They stayed at the inn for a few more days. Lee Hwan pretended to be a pilgrim, moving between the main building and the inn. During this time, he grew closer to someone unexpected—a blond boy who had surprised him before.
They met in the stable, where the boy, named Solino, He grew up in a cathedral from a young age and was curious about what went on outside. It is said that that was why he came to the stable.
In fact, Solino had no resemblance to Lucien at all. Besides his blond hair, Solino bore no resemblance to Lucian. His skin was tanned, freckles adorned his cheeks, and when he smiled, his wide mouth stretched fully.
“It might be better not to get too close,” Absalom remarked when he returned one midnight.
While Lee Hwan mostly operated during the day, Absalom was active at night, busily patrolling the escape routes. Despite his busy schedule, his face showed no signs of fatigue.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Lee Hwan agreed.
It will be five days since we arrived here by tomorrow. It’s about time we left. When Lee Hwan mentioned this, Absalom nodded in agreement.
“So, are we leaving tomorrow morning? There must be a lot to prepare,” Absalom murmured with a worried tone. However, Lee Hwan knew. Regardless of the departure time tomorrow, Absalom would have everything ready beforehand.
As expected, Absalom finished preparing for departure before breakfast. Lee Hwan packed his few belongings and headed to the stables.
Lee Hwan loaded his belongings onto his horse. Absalom, who was already there, helped. With Absalom signing the pilgrim register, all formalities were completed. Lee Hwan and Absalom smoothly left the cathedral and departed from the city of Sankonia.
***
Thanks for the chapter
Thanks for the chapter! <33