* * *
It hadn’t even been a few hours since he got injured.
The doctor had emphasized dozens of times that any intense movement was absolutely forbidden — that was only five hours ago.
His eyes were completely unfocused, as though his mind had been turned inside out rather than his lips.
His excited, shaky breathing echoed softly.
Yet Ashard slowly pulled his lips away.
As they separated, a clear strand of saliva stretched between them.
“Why…?”
‘Stop…?’
Eren was filled with longing but couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence — because Ashard looked even more regretful than he did.
“If we keep going, I won’t be able to let you go all night.”
“Ah…”
“It’s still too much for you, so let’s wait a little longer.”
The doctor had said it would take over three months to fully heal.
To recover faster, he shouldn’t push himself — but Eren couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Could he really last over three months with just kisses?
That doubtful thought had barely formed when a low, seductive voice cut through.
“You seem to be under some illusion. I have no intention of waiting until your ankle heals completely. I don’t have that kind of patience.”
“…What?”
“One week. I’ll hold back with this for just one more week.”
Ashard easily lifted Eren’s body from the bed and settled him onto his lap.
Taking the spoon Eren had been using, Ashard scooped up a mouthful of sherbet, then pressed his lips back onto Eren’s.
The sherbet, which should’ve been ice cold, melted warmly inside Ashard’s mouth and flowed into Eren’s.
Eren accepted it like a baby bird being fed by its mother.
When some dribbled messily from his lips, Ashard naturally licked it away.
Was it because it was Eren, or because the sherbet was so sweet?
His mouth kept tingling with sweetness, refusing to fade.
Whether he was being fed sherbet or kissed, Eren couldn’t tell — the strangely intimate act only ended once the bowl was completely emptied.
Even though they’d been sharing something cold, both their faces were flushed with heat.
“If you want me to fall for it, I will — but don’t lie about things like that.”
“…If I don’t, you’ll dash out recklessly.”
“Even if you do, I’ll still go. So don’t worry about useless things.”
“Still… I don’t want you getting hurt, Ashard.”
“Do I look like someone who’d get beaten up somewhere?”
“That’s not it… Just… don’t leave me behind.”
Eren wrapped his arms tightly around Ashard’s neck, as if never intending to let go.
He’d even lied out of pointless worry, and though he was angry at Helid for treating Eren so harshly, with just that one sentence, Ashard couldn’t help but feel like he was the one who’d done wrong.
“…I’m sorry.”
The apology slipped out before he realized it.
But Ashard had no intention of backing down.
He gently patted Eren’s back — a promise that there would be no more of that in the future.
“With your ankle like this, no more outings, huh.”
“Seems like it…”
“Then I’ll tell His Majesty I can’t participate in the hunting competition—”
“W-Wait!”
Eren quickly stopped him. He’d forgotten.
The setting had changed from the Epentel Empire to Trovien, but if the plot was unfolding the same, the event he knew would happen soon.
And if that were true…
“The prize for the hunting competition should be the same!”
In the original story, the winner’s prize was an “Absolution.”
As the name implied, it was a powerful right that could nullify one of the owner’s crimes — meaning, even if one of the original male leads was killed, the Absolution could be invoked to erase the incident entirely.
Eren, who couldn’t even hunt properly in the original, had entered the competition solely to win the Absolution.
Of course, thanks to Julius’s schemes, winning was impossible, and the story took a nightmarish turn where Eren was assaulted outdoors.
Honestly, everything about this novel seemed designed to have Eren devoured by the male leads — no matter the place, no matter the event.
Either way, the Absolution was the golden ticket — the only chance to legally take down the three male leads.
Eren’s eyes gleamed dangerously.
The original Eren had no allies.
But this version of him… did.
He looked up at Ashard with sparkling, puppy-like eyes.
“Ashard… I have a favor to ask.”
Even if he didn’t win the competition or get the Absolution, that was fine.
What mattered was stopping it from falling into the wrong hands.
“That damn Helid Yulta.”
In the novel, the Absolution ended up with Helid Yulta.
It wasn’t vastly different from what Carlyle or Julius could’ve done, but unfortunately, Helid had been the winner.
That alone wasn’t the issue — the real problem was how Helid had used it with that twisted mind of his.
The incident occurred at the banquet celebrating the hunting competition winner.
Helid had drugged the nobles in the banquet hall with an aphrodisiac, then tossed Eren in the middle like bait.
That’s how the protagonist, Eren — beyond just the three male leads — ended up being violated by even random passing soldiers.
“Fucking hell… just thinking about it makes me sick.”
Helid, with his sadistic tendencies, delighted in watching Eren get taken by multiple people simultaneously.
Of course, he didn’t just watch.
He was the mastermind — drugging the nobles, orchestrating Eren’s assault — and thanks to the Absolution, it all vanished as if it never happened.
“Tell me. Anything. I’ll never say no to your request.”
It was a cliché line, yet Ashard looked as though he’d pluck stars from the sky if Eren asked.
For the first time since transmigrating into this world, Eren felt absolute certainty — someone was on his side.
The man holding him with such care, Ashard, had the gentlest eyes imaginable.
If Ashard hadn’t entered Eren’s tent that day…
If Eren hadn’t followed him so obediently…
Eren didn’t even want to imagine how things would’ve gone.
Everything was perfect now.
He had someone on his side — Ashard.
The original male leads still posed danger, but it was worth it.
Better this than staying in Epentel, being unwillingly violated.
“Did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That I love you very much.”
Ashard blinked in surprise.
‘What did I just hear?’
Unless his hearing was broken, that confession had come from Eren’s lovely lips.
“If only I weren’t hurt…”
Even though he tried not to overinterpret it, Eren’s face was filled with longing — regret that they couldn’t take things further.
That expression… was maddeningly adorable.
“I’m trying so hard to hold back… But with you teasing me like that, what am I supposed to do?”
The urge to pin Eren down and devour him surged within Ashard, but he barely managed to suppress it.
With effort, Ashard ran his hand down his face.
He thought maybe if he didn’t look, he could hold back, even just a little.
But that was pointless.
The confession—the teasing words—he had already heard them.
Eren’s voice kept echoing in his mind.
“…So, what was the favor you wanted to ask me?”
How was he supposed to endure this after seeing that expression?
Grinding his teeth, Ashard forcibly steered the conversation away.
If they kept talking like before, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself.
Noticing Ashard’s strained efforts, Eren’s heart fluttered for no good reason.
If he hadn’t been injured, Ashard would’ve already been in his arms, but seeing how hard he was trying to restrain himself, all for Eren’s sake, made his heart race.
Eren pressed his soft cheek against Ashard’s chest.
“That hunting tournament—”
“No.”
…Huh?
He hadn’t even finished his sentence, but Ashard had cut him off with a flat refusal.
* * *
