* * *

Woohyun hadn’t entirely avoided imagining what Erdian might have looked like as a child.

How cute must that stunning man have been in his younger days?

Did he sleep sprawled out even back then?

Such thoughts usually felt pointless and silly, so he’d always stopped after a few moments.

But now, seeing Erdian’s childlike appearance in front of him, he couldn’t help feeling surprised.

The young Erdian was even more adorable than he had ever imagined.

‘Wow, I thought I’d be in for a nightmare tonight, but…’

Instead, he was graced with the sight of young Erdian’s radiant, innocent face.

“What’s this? You agreed to become my subordinate but now you’re just lying around all weak?”

Woohyun wanted to turn his head, but his body wouldn’t respond.

He sighed inwardly, frustrated by his lack of control.

‘Are there lucid dreams where you can’t move at will?’

He was certain he’d been able to move in previous lucid dreams, able to speak and act as he wished.

Now, though, he could only watch powerlessly.

“Are you hurt?”

Young Erdian crouched beside him, concern in his voice.

Without intending to, Woohyun’s mouth opened, and he heard himself say, “I… I’m hungry.”

The moment the words left his mouth, his vision went dark.

When he reopened his eyes, a child with short red hair was sitting beside him.

“Hey, want some more potatoes?”

The potato the boy handed him was steaming hot, and holding it warmed Woohyun’s body.

“Why’d you try to rob someone as annoying as Erdian, anyway?”

“I was just too hungry… No one would give me food.”

“Oh, poor kid, it’s not your fault. Here, have as many potatoes as you want.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Woohyun ate two potatoes and then sat dazedly, watching from afar as young Erdian walked into view.

“Ciel! Why are you hanging around with that jerk? Are you really gonna become his subordinate?”

“No, I’m Lord Erdian’s subordinate. Where have you been?”

“I went to get you some bread since you were hungry. Here, eat this—it’s got meat inside, unlike those plain potatoes.”

Erdian abruptly held out a paper bag. Inside was freshly baked bread, still steaming.

“Can I have both the potato and the bread?”

“You little glutton.”

“What does glutton mean?”

“Ugh, just eat.”

As Erdian sighed, the red-haired boy beside him chuckled.

“Hey, Ciel, why don’t you be my subordinate instead? I won’t bully you.”

“No. My boss told me not to get too close to Calliope.”

“Oh, come on, that little guy’s already loyal to his leader!”

Though he grumbled, he didn’t seem inclined to tease or bully Woohyun.

Instead, Woohyun was focused on his name.

‘Of all things, his name is Calliope?’

Calliope was the name of the boy who eventually became the first emperor of the Erhartan Empire, someone with deep ties to Erdian.

“By the way, I saw some knights wandering near your house.”

“…What?”

“Obviously, the Count finally noticed you’re not at the villa. You’re in for it now—get ready for a good thrashing! Hahaha!”

“If I get caught, do you think I’ll stay quiet? I’ll tell His Majesty that I was hanging out with you.”

“Like he’d care about me. Go ahead, tell him if you want.”

Erdian laughed with a touch of self-deprecation when a young girl with tearful blue eyes trudged toward them.

“I failed at hunting today…”

She looked so familiar, reminding Woohyun of someone.

‘She looks like Malrang… could she be Lady Cecily as a child?’

Woohyun decided to observe this strange dream as a mere spectator.

He had no way to wake up, and watching young Erdian’s antics was surprisingly entertaining.

This dream was almost like a one-sided play, but he still couldn’t guess who its lead character was.

“Didn’t you say you were a dragon? How can a dragon fail at hunting?”

“If there had been water nearby, it would’ve been different!”

“Oh, so you’re saying you can’t hunt without water? Come on, eat something.”

Erdian grumbled as he handed her some bread from the bag.

“Hey, that’s supposed to be my bread.”

“Come on, you have to share with a friend if they’re hungry.”

“…She’s not my friend.”

“Then I won’t eat Ciel’s bread, either!”

“Ah… what am I going to do with you kids?”

Erdian sighed, putting his hands on his hips.

Though he was only about ten, he acted like a little gang leader.

‘Why am I dreaming about this?’

Strangely enough, all the children around Erdian bore the names of people he knew.

Calliope, the future emperor, and Cecily, the lady he met today.

It was impossible not to connect these names with their adult counterparts.

What felt odd was that they kept calling him “Ciel.”

Just as he felt a vague unease, his perspective shifted.

His field of vision seemed slightly higher, as though he had grown taller.

In a grand hallway adorned with statues and paintings, someone looked at him with a gentle smile.

“Ciel, the prince is calling for you. Go on, hurry.”

“Yes.”

With a spirited reply, “Ciel” dashed through the opulent palace corridor.

He burst into a room where Erdian stood, now in the awkward phase between youth and adulthood.

With his long hair tied back and dressed in an ornate uniform, Erdian looked every bit the prince Woohyun had heard about.

‘Wow, they weren’t kidding about him being a prince…’

About 1200 years ago, he was said to have been human.

‘I wondered what kind of clothes he might have worn back then, but seeing him in person was far more shocking. I wanted to ask what prompted him, now a god, to wear something that could hardly be called clothing.’

“Ciel, come here.”

Instead of a greeting, he extended his hand, and when “Ciel” approached, he pulled him into a tight embrace.

Pressed against the stiff fabric, the “Ciel” in the dream asked softly.

“Your Highness, is something troubling you?”

“I told you not to call me that when we’re alone.”

“Lord Erdian.”

“Not that either.”

“…El, what’s wrong?”

As he tilted his head up, his beautiful face was taut with a deep, solemn look.

“I’m going to war.”

“When will you be back?”

“I can’t say. I can only return once the war ends.”

“…When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow at dawn.”

“That’s so sudden…”

“That damn father of mine had everything prepared and only told me today. I suppose I’m lucky he didn’t order me out immediately. At least I get a little time here with you…”

His lips brushed against “Ciel”’s cheek as if it were the most natural thing.

There was nothing but affection in that gesture.

Erdian loved “Ciel” deeply, and even Seo Woohyun, watching this surreal scene, could feel it.

“In that case, I should start packing for you, El.”

Dream-Ciel tried to pull away, gently kissing Erdian’s pale cheek, but Erdian’s firm grip around his waist didn’t loosen.

“No need. I’m not taking you with me.”

“Why? I’m your attendant. You should take me.”

“What kind of lunatic takes his lover to war? Come on, be reasonable.”

“No, I want to go with you.”

“No. No matter how much you beg, I can’t allow it. You can barely hold a sword—what would you do there?”

“…El.”

“Shouldn’t we spend this time doing something else?”

Erdian caressed my lips with his fingertips, his silvery hair flowing softly as he leaned in.

His golden eyes drew nearer, and his familiar silhouette reflected hazily within them. “Ciel” surrendered as Erdian laid him back on the couch, and he climbed over him.

“Ciel, you’re the only one I want to protect.”

“I don’t care where we are as long as I’m with you. So please, take me with you.”

“Haha. Hearing you say that makes me happy… But I want you to live well-fed and in comfort, with no worries. The head attendant is reliable. He’ll take good care of you.”

“How could I be comfortable here without you?”

“Shh, just focus on me. It’ll be a while before you can see me again.”

He kissed “Ciel” slowly, and the moment stretched until moonlight filled the bedroom.

Watching, Seo Woohyun couldn’t shake the feeling.

“This… this doesn’t feel like just a dream, does it?”

* * *